MONTALTO

Sir, Naples cannot study and addition Of fame, beyond what this alliance will Deserve in future story; the excess Of what is good, nay excellent in him would stock a barren Province. But it's not mine; for though I thus disg vise My face, and tongue, my heart is my own friend, And cannot wish my ambition supplanted By any smooth chined Prince alive; my Lords— This is and honest easy Nobleman, Allowed to wear some Court formality; Walk on the tarres, pick his teeth, and stroke Upon a festival some golden sentence Out of his beard, for which the guard admire him, And cry him up a Statesman; he's sent off When he is troublesome to a phlegmatic climb A dull Ambassador; no, that Duke, Guido, Is all my fear, but I have contrived something May rectify my fate. alas he has no employment in the state; He waits Like a dull cipher and I have My spies upon him; if I find him busy, My power with the king shall soon transplant him, Or force him Like Riviero his old friend, But of more brain and faction, to give up His ghost abroad. I had rather feed upon his heart; You promised Sir the Duke to hunt this morning. In this you most Appear a stranger; she is the glory Of Naples, for her person and her virtues That dwells in this obscure place Like the shrine Of some great Saint, to which devotion From several parts brings daily men Like pilgrimss. She is wit, beauty, chastity, and all That can make woman lovely to men soul, So far from the capacity of ill That virtues in all other of her Sex Like stains, but fit of her perfection And when is nam all goodness in her titles, The ornament, nay glory of them all Is Domitilla Sir. Not mine; she was created for some Prince, And can beside her bring a fortune Worth his embrac . Are you there Duke; this meeting was my project; Things may succeed to my ambition, If I do noose your highness. Your grace is sad; excuse My diligence to wait on you; I could wish If it made no intrusion on your thoughts, I had opportunity to express What might not be unworthy of your patience: Duke. To me. The King. This way Ladies to the Garden; let me have The honour to attend you. 'Twill not become me so much as in thought To inquire how long, or with what firm devotion, You affect the Princess, Theodosia; But Naples is more conscious, then to doubt You bring a welcome treaty in your person, And every voiȝ e and heart is busy with The expectation of your marriage; While every eye bright with your stame is able To light a Torch to Hymen; Virgins have No other care then with what flowers sweet As your own name to adorn the smiling altars. I know It cannot but afflict your thoughts that all Your expectation ripe and courted, to The enjoying such a treasure as she is, Must finish in embracing of a shadow, Invited to a fable, not a bride That should with joy dwell in your princely arms For Theodosia without sacrilege Cannot be yours; she is contracted. Your excellency. Calm your blood, I know you must resent it, but let not Your passion make the world believe you should Despair to find one ap er to your bosom; The richest beauty in the world, your birth And fortune must deserve and should curse My forward duty to your grace. My honour is engaged then to convince you Though with the hazard of my life and Fortune's, Both which must now depend upon your mercy; Your breath shall make they bleed or live. To translate the power of all My Stars, and make you Lord of my whole fate The dosias heart Sir should be mine, by free Gift of her self, who has been pleased to take My vows in the exchange, which now may boast Some time and growth, which could not be a sin Against your love, with which all that can spring From me deserves no name, nor dare I take Boldness to call her mine, who am a thing Lighter then air in balance with your grace If you but chide the ambition, and could render, Though I commit a rape on my own life, All that her love hath promised me. But she let me take freedom to be plain Sir, women Love not with that safeguard upon their passion 'Tis fear it should arrive at the King knowledge. In whose displeasure she is lost and not A will to mock your grace, for whom there is Another wound within her mind, that she Should wear a smiling summer in her brow Yet frost within her heart, in which unhappily She comes to near the nature of the Adamant Hard to your grace whom she attracts; but love Your wisdom knows is in the volume of Our fate decreed, whose periods when they are By time made known; greatness on earth, that means To play the tyrant with us, may have strength To punish not reverse. It takes. I am your creature The King. We built upon your piety Until some little time may call our loves Out of this silence. I'll creep and kiss thy Altar love, allow Them flame, and knit more charms upon her brow. 'Tis My duty to attend. The Princess? she is in health; why this to m He is of inward counsel with the Duke, I must be resolute. I Like not that; He knows he may command my services. He has told you then the secret, And not to waste more language, I collect From what you have expressed, he does resolve To destroy me; Montalto must be trod on. Yes, and my heart the ascent, To his Hymeneal altar, which must be Made crimson with the blood of a true lover His will be obeyed, Theodosia shall see To advance her, Montalto will go smiling To his sacrifice, and after many prayers, That she may live the darling of his heart, I'll change my acquaintance of this world to be At peace in my own ashes. I shall not need; the thought of her will kill m With as much silence as I go to sleep; I only shall bleed inward, and my life Remove it self Like a fair appa ition That vanishes to th'eye, and with less noise Then a calm Summer's evening; but when I Am dead, 'tis not impossible, some may Report Theodosia was but revish'd from me; Fear of a brother's anger, and the trick Of politic states, that marry to knit power Not hearts, did force her to Herares arms, While I, torn from the branch where I once grew, Travel I know not whither in the air. Into what Vain thing would the severe apprehension Of grief transform us? coward, let the Duke Move with all amorous haste to his delight, And glory in the hope of his fair bride, Mine by the gift of heaven, and hearts; but all My flowers grow dully on their stalks, and wither; Let her gay Pa animphs with osie Chaplets, Which will take all their colour from her blush, Attend on Theodosia to the Temple, While as they go, no rude wind shall be herd, But so much breath of heaven as gently may Lifting their lose hair up, whisper my wrong To every Virgins care; let them be married, Knit hands, and plighted a ceremonious faith; Let all the triumphs waste; let them be wasted, And night it self bribed with a thousand forms Of mirth and Revels, till the night grow faint And pale with watching, Invite to bed; yet there he shall enjoy But Theodosia S body, and not that As his fair thoughts expect, perhaps the conquest Of one whom he loved better. Is't possible the day should be so old, And not a visit from the Duke. And a lover; Your grace must chide him; other men may have Excuse for their neglect of time, but he That loves deserves no pardon. Not where such Perfection were to engage my service Madam; Pardon the bold comparison; death were not Enough to punish that rude thought that could Start from your bright Idea; or converse With praters that did not first concern your excellence I would not be ambitious of a blessing But from reflex of yours. Your graces pardon; I Speak from and honest freedom taken from The assurance of your goodness, that know better How to distinguish truth; I am not judge Of his breast Madam. And yet being a man another way Conclude his passion are but such as have Been read in humane nature. Nothing but that a Prince May be no Saint in love. It in my fear I should displease. Not for the Empire of the world; I shall Repent I live with your suspicion Upon my humbled soul. Madam he is not dead, And in his life I see no miracles. No miracles of love; He loves as other men that have professed Devotion to a mistress—but Though it wound my self e ar ed and hear it; how I blush within me, To tell your highness Fl rence has transplanted His heart, and all his active thoughts are placed On Do itilla. I did observe they Madam, at her mother's house, Where we were lately feasted after hunting, How strangely he was taken, how his eyes Did wanton with her face, and on her hair Tie many golden knots, to keep love chalnde; But these are but suspicions; he since Confessed to me in hope to win me to Negotiate his affair, how at first sighed He took in desperate flames, and that she rules The intelligence of his soul; I hear the King Hath sent for her to Court, which must give Madam A dangerous opportunity to actuate His ends with your dishonour; I was unwilling To speak this knowledge of his hasty change, But all my bonds of piety and faith Would have been forfeit into a long silence. We see Princes, Whom we call gods on earth, in the affairs Of love turn men again. That's the dishonour Madam, and infects My brain to think on't, and as much beneath Your grace in all the ornaments of soul And person as she is in b ood, if my Impartial thoughts may take so bold commission To judge between your beauty's. 'Tis too certain Madam; I should b A villain to accuse the Duke unjustly, Or bring but shadows of a truth; for though He be unworthy of your love that dares Thus value your perfectio S, below That Phanto me lo not passion Make you to rash in managing a c use, On which depends your fame, compared to which Ten thousand lives added to mine were nothing; Observe him at next visit. You pay me with a blessing, if my name But live within your memory. The Duke Lay such a black aspersion on your sister; 'Tis blasphemy to honour; but as soon He may pollute the Sun beams, or de isle The Due of heaven ere it approach the earth Make us believe the rocks of ice do flame, And may endanger the north star; my wonder Will make me reasonless it throws a poison On your whole family, a stain so deep And so prodigious, all the blood within His Dukedom won't purge it; could he find No excuse for his revolt to Domitilla, But blasting the sweet Princess. Prepared for me? you are too bountiful In you I kneel both to my king and father; But my aspiring will be satisfied To be your servant still: in your grace I Enjoy the bri de my heart affects; let me Grow old with duties here, and not translate My affection till my weary soul throw off The burden of my dust. I am your creature but how this may inflame The Duke. But your sisters fame Were worth your first care; this may be done With more access of joy when she is righted: You have been pleased to hear my counsel Sir And not repented. The Duke is young and apt to err; you cannot Preserve your hospitable Laws to affront Him openly, nor will it be thought prudence To let lose these suspicions to the descant Of peoples tongues; th'aire is dangerous; Let me search the Dukes bosom, for the spring Of this dishonour. Mistake me not; Philoberto is his secret consellour, And the receiver of his thoughts; leave me To manage this great work; I have a way To every angle of his heart; mean time Be pleased to keep your person but retired; A silent discontent will fright him more, And arm us with full knowledge. It never was more precious; My essence is concerned and every minute Brings a fresh siege against Montaltoes life; There's none but Philoberto conscious To my last accusation of the Princess; Then he must be removed; delays are fatal; I'll poison him to night; I have the way; This done, the Duke may follow, or be bribed With Domitillaes person to quit Naples. Guido, Aloisio; Why make I this distinction you're but one, To your Montalto, have one heart and faith; Your love and diligence must now be active. 'Tis but to wait close And contrive excuses, if the Duke Desire access to the King. Be careful None of his train nor faction be admitted, In special Philoberto; if he appear, Present my service, and desire to speak with him; This is no mighty Province gentlemen To waste you much; yet this neglected will Destroy my tall fate, in hot fallen you must Stoop and be strucken dead with the large ruins. You divide me. I date his molice, to aff to; and 'tis not Done Like your self to sully with one breath Two sames. Dear Sir, collect your self, and let not passion To Domitilla whom you may passesse, Here after make you so unjust. Go threaten babes; this would exalt my rage, But I remember , Nor would I grieve the genius of my country, To place my own revenge above her honour. Now. 'Twill not be safe; you know your change. Sir your pleasure. Not yet. You cannot think her guilty Sir. Of her you cannot; Sir unthink again, What ever would betray her to your jealousy; A Virgins Monument cannot be more chaste Ith Temple. Do you then suspect her. You are Sir provided Of more then that can rise to in my service. My duty to your Majesty Shall marry me to death; let not this trouble The quiet of your heart; I'll take Theodosia, And think upon her as she had the whiteness Of my good Angel. Great Sir, no more; your favours Flow from a bounty, which hath only heaven Above it. Ther's nothing good or great you have not Freely possessed me with; your favours would, So mighty have they fallen upon me, rather Express a storm, and I had sum ke beneath The welcome violence, had not your love From whence they flowed, enabled me to strength And manly bearing. Nothing Sir. Sir you amaze me, And shame my want of merit. That were a precious knowledge, Were it in nature; with your highness pardon The hearts of men are not to be measured With what we reach the stars, fathom Seas; O he thats active in a state has more. Chainde to him by the power and strength of office, Then genuine respect; and 'tis not worth Or person, but the Fortune's of a Statesman That sometime men adore. Strange. How Sir? You have found out a way I must confess; But with your pardon, I shall be more able To do: you service in the other ignorance, Then ru a desperate hazard in this knowledge; Some hold it sin, and capital enough To have the Princes favour, which once lost Though but in suspicion; they may rage, And Like a torrent rise to overwhelm nature. And how other Judges May wrest the actions of a man employed Though never so faithful to his King and state. Something wo'd creep Like a dead sleep upon me; I am in A Labyrinth; but hence with coward fear; I know the worst; grim death can but translate Me hence, and there's and end of death and fate. Where should honour Shine with his pure and Where there is such a King, so good, so great, The example and reward; he must be A rebel twice to that can live To be convinced of a dishonour near Such and instructive goodness. So may all reason fly the brow of innocence We are undone Guido, and I see more Engines are leveled at my fate. It better For me they had no being. I did never Expect this; to accuse me for the death Of Riviero; but I must obey This fatal revolution. I dare not ask your pardon, Only I beg you would put on a brow Rough as the cause you have to make it frown, And that may strike me dead without more torment. You have been a Royal Master. Some policy Must cure this fear; my bold resolves are fixed; I have made some attempts, and courted her, But she h S not understood me; I must work By countermine and scatter into air His swelling Hope's: Octavio— First let me kiss your hand, on which I swear To speak all truth; 'tis justice to your person, Your merit and my faith; next though the secret May both concern and benefit your knowledge, I shall desire your pardon But all truths meet not With charitable ears; there is a descant That pleases not sometime though the best art Present it, if our sense be indisposed To patience and calm hearing. It will come To fast upon your knowledge; have you never Looked from the prospect of your Palace window When some fair sky courted your eye to read The beauty's of a day, the glorious Sun Enriching so the bosom of the earth That trees and flowers appeared but Like so much Enamel upon gold; the wanton birds And every creature but the drudging Ante Despising providence, and at play and all That world you measure with your eye, so gay And proud, as winter were no more to shake His Icy Locks upon they, but the breath Of gentle Zephire to perfume their growth, And walk eternally upon the Springs; When from a coast you see not, comes a cloud Creeping as overladen with a storm Dark as the womb of night, and with her wings Surprising all the glories you beheld; Leaves not your frighted eyes a light to see The r ines of that flattering day. I shall I had in vain prepared you thus else; Pardon again the story; Theodosia, More beautiful then the day I figured by her, Is quite orecast and looks through and Eclipse Upon your love: she has no heart, but what Another is possessed of. 'Tis my duty To clear his honour in't he has a pure Intention to make his sister yours; her close Though honourable love's designed without His knowledge, and you will but waste your rage Upon her destiny which will bury her In her own ruins, if your anger make The King her enemy. Most noble hilberto, Where is the Duke? If he do love you Madam, that will teach him Above what ceremony prescribes to honour you. How may this Sir be done? You do amaze my understanding Si To require I should justify a tale Made to the blemish of so chaste a Lady. Lost, lost for ever.