RIVIERO

We must not be too open, truest friend, Thy bosom is my Sanctuary. Pity so sweet a nature as the Kings Should be abused by Parasites; but I may In time dissolve these court mists, that so long Have hung upon't, and render the Kings eyes ee to distinguish objects, if there be No witchcraft ex rciz'd upon his senses. He made me his companion many years; No brother's were more chained in their aff ctions. He did impart much of his bosom to me. He did trust me, with the cause my Lord, and every circumstance The Kings minority, and Montaltoes power, Gainst which no innocent could plead in Naples. Your pardon. It is my wonder The King so strangely should continue this Affection to Montalto. Dare none complain. Pray give me sir this boldness; He that does lift and Axe to strike the root Of any family, cannot be without A thought to wound the branches; you were left. By computation, but and Infant when Your father's discontents, and faction of This Montalto made him forsake Naples, Which added to your mother's death, the guard And comforts of your life, were taken from you; Having expressed this malice to your father, A thousand ways he might have sent you to Another world, and taken off all fear Of a revenge; how comes it that you live, And vis it Sir the Palace with this freedom? I observed Some gestures very loving to your Lordship. 'Tis stange; This news will cool my resolution. 'Tis not impossible he may be honest. I must presume, you want no counsel from My Lord who loved your father, how to manage Your self to best advantage of your am And honour; unto both I am a servant. It is not safe we be observed too much. You too much grace your servant; I shall present a trouble. Montaltoes change hath staggard me already; These favours may be hearty to Octavio, And argument of penitence; I'll observe And sift his close heart; if it prove unsound, He whets revenge to make the deeper wound 'Tis not that I question Sir, But that partly which concerns her love to him Sounds Like a plot upon your nature, to Secure his own ambition. Your grace should else in vain court her your self And late your highness thought she me to your person A fair design of love, with all the soft Behaviour of a Princess. Allow her but the honour she was born with, And sheel'e not stain her blood so much. Then the King. There is some mystery; But will you rest and take for granted she Does love Montalto; if it be a truth You're in the same condition when she Confirms it. But so your jealousy may wound her honour, Which you may cure by knowledge. You must challenge my whole bosom, And I am confident your highness will Steer all your resolutions by honour, Which in a Prince is sacred. I obey My honoured Lord. If yowl but excuse a few minutes How is it with the Princess my good Lord? I ask, because, His grace intends a present visit to her, And was but now in mention of your Lordship To bear him company. He will deserve your love; pray my Lord tell m , And let us be plain breasted; you enjoy The King, as I, but with less stock of merit, The favour of his excellence; how affect you The present state of things; wilt be a match? There is loud expectation in the world, And after all, my Master's found to have it Proceed; to these, I am of opinion Theres no retreating now without dishonour; Yet as I am Philiberto I much pity He should through any wound to your affection Perfect his love. Not so my Lord. You will not Commit a violence upon your self? I begin To think him worth some pity. How was that. It His bold conclusion. I see through gh Mont altoes soul, and have been so long tame In my own sufferings; but this will make Him ripe for punishment; Andrugio and My son. Then I must appear so. Thou hast but Prevented me Octavio; I was Weary of my concealment. My best friend, And my own spirited boy, fear not Montalto; He's now upon a precipice; his fate Stoops with the glorious burden of his pride. Things may be worth our counsel; we shall see This prodigy that would be held a Star, And did so fright us with his streaming hair, Drop Like a Comet, and be lost i'th air. I have some affairs with the King, and that Dispatched I'll wait upon him. I come from the Duke. Perhaps there is some cunning; nay preserre The business of the soul, I may presume He has no long Catalogue to account for. 'Tis picus, and you three by Montaltoes knaves here placed, to keep away Discoveries: in spite of all your subtleties, The king shall know my mind, and understand The history of your patrons and your service; Let time speak your reward in your own chronicles. 'Tis all my business; Be careful of your watch and look about you, Some We fell may get in else. His conscience dares not Sir deny't. The King is troubled. I begin To fear there is some spell upon the King; If after this Montalto shall prevail, Let innocence be stronger to the world, And heaven be afraid to punish vice. I obey. Your sister and the Duke Fit. Never so lovingly united; The pleasant language of their eyes and gestutes Does speak their hearts at peace. Lord Montalto, Sir. How's this: So, so; The King is charmed. The King would have your Lordship peruse this. That you may know your friends and enemies. Sir you know You have obliged the Princess Theodosia And the Duke to you, and you may presume To use their favours, they are here. That last w ll be the greatest He will sink Apace without that weight upon him; malice Shall have no share in my revenge. I live again by your acknowledgment. Yes, and to me this tenders him the more To be suspected and I am so far From thinking she affects Montalto, that I am convinced he loves her not; can he Have any noble thought of Theodosia, That dares traduce her honour; think of that; And can revenge in any lover be A reason to wound a Ladies fame; it tastes Of rank injustice, and some other end Time will discover; and yet your grace is bound To have his accusation confirmed, Or hant this spotted panther to his ruin, Whose breath is only sweet to poison virtue. My honoured Lords. This was not won. Things are not yet mature for my discovery.