IACOMO

She is my Lord. He was this morning early sent for by the King. My Lord I will. Exit. What a dull Slave was I; had not I last night over herd their loving parley, I never once should have suspected that they had been in love: she always seemed and enemy to love, yet hath been long most desperate in love with this young Lord, which quite will spoil my Hope's at Court; yet when I better think, it will be for my advantage, as I may handle it and further my revenge; for I will insinuate my self into the Dukes good opinion, by making a discovery of their loves: and then advise him that there is no way to gain Clarinda's heart, till first Lysander be removed by some employment; for out of sighed with women out of mind; or if he impatient of delays; I will advise him to use some bloody means; which if he want and Instrument to do, I will effect it my self, pretending that it is out of love to him when it is indeed the satisfaction of mine own revenge; and when the Duke is once a partner of my vil lany, I will be richly paid for what I do, or else for all his great ness I will affright him. For though great men for bloody deeds Give money to a Knave; Yet if he be a witty one Like me, He'll make that Lord his Slave. My noble Lord. My Lord, the business I have to deliver, Concerns your Grace. My Lord, it is a secret, and does concern Clarinda, And therefore send your people off, That with more freedom I may speak with you. What thinks your Lordship is the cause That moves Clarinda to neglect your Love? Never, my Lord. She vow Chastity! Great Sir, mistake me not. I smile to think How she deceives your Grace, telling you She never means to marry, when I dare Pawn my life she is already contracted. My Lord, do not thus wast your self In fruitless passion, but hear the remedy That I'll propound. My Lord, it is a man, to whom Your valorous hand gave life. It is the young Lord Lysander. How! struck: is this my hoped reward? By all that's good, I'll be revenged. My Lord, I am a Gentleman, And were you not a Kinsman to the King, The blow you gave me might have cost you deer. I think he does not, it is long since, Since I suspected it; and to assure my self, The other night I crept behind the Arbour, Where they use to meet sometime, and soon by their Discourse, I found what I suspected, to be most true: My love unto your Grace made me so curious; For I protest there is no man alive, That's more ambitious to do your Lordship service; It grieved my soul to see a man that so deserved, So much neglected and abused. Some of this is true. So your Grace will not discover your self, I'll promise you once within three nights. Be sure you show not At your return to them the least distemper. Fortune, I see thou art a friend to working spirits, Thou wouldst not else have given me this occasion So soon to compass my ends by; I overheard Clarinda, When she entreated Lysander to meet her in the Accustomed place, and thither will I bring the Duke. He from Clarinda's promise of Marriage, Is now grown something doubtful, whither that Which I did tell him be true or no; but now his own ear Shall be his witness; for which service he cannot choose But both love and reward me. But I loose precious time, which wise men ever Consider of, but fools seldom or never. Exit. My Lord, remember your Oath. Your oath my Lord. My Lord, My Lord, hear me but speak, and then do what you will: if you should thus in the night, and in the house of the Count Ʋ trante kill Lord Lysander, your honour Clarinda's, and her Father's would be tainted, and so breed strange combu scions: but if you be resolved that he must die, which in my judgement is most necessary, if you still love Clarinda, I will undertake for to dispatch him by some means or other; but should you now here in Clarinda's presence kill him she loves, her mind is so noble she would never endure you. My plots are dashed, the Duke does turn his eyes upon me as though he would look me dead, I shall gain hate on all sides, if I be not wary and cunningly dissemble; revenge and profit are the ends I aim at; since I have missed the one, I'll make the other sure. Lysander, I do hate thee for coming into the world to rob me of my land; yet I do think thou art not only false; my Brother did tricks, which when I would have proved in open Court the Dukes power bolstered up against me; but I do hope I shall be now revenged upon them both. I'll poison the Duke my self, and to the King accuse Lysander, as if he had done it, fearing that the Duke should rob him of his Mistress: I have a servant shall swear what I would have him, I keep him for the purpose; since the Duke would not give me leave to use my drug for him, he shall himself taste of them; lest for that kindness I offered him, I should my self be punished: He that to honour looks is not for my black ends, Revenge & profit I'll pursue through blood of foes and friends. And if it please your Majesty, I think I have a guess. If he be gone to fight, it is with Young Lysander. I will tell your Majesty in private. I am a servant to the Count Ʋ trante, and was employed by that most noble Duke, (whom I do fear sleeps now in death) for to solicit his true love to my young Lady, which I did faithfully perform: but I found all I did was vain, for she long time hath been in love with young Lysander, which when I knew, I gave the Duke straight notice; this hath so far incensed the Duke against Lysander, that they are gone to fight. He was the noblest Gentleman That I shall ever know. He weeps. I hope he never shall come back alive, he knows I am a villain, I was too forward in my offers to him, till I had tried his dispositions better. It is kindly done of him and of Lysander yet to spare my pains: there now wants nothing of my wish but that the Duke be killed, and I to find out where Lysander is, then I shall be revenged upon them both, and be possessed of that which is my endue, ( Lysander's land) for so the King hath pro mised. My way to find Lysander if he hath killed the Duke, is for to give Clarinda a firm belief that I do dearly love him; for sure if he be living, she shall hear of him, and if I find him, I have another villainy in my head, which I will put in act, beside my giving notice of him to the King. My vil nigh shall Virtue be in show, For all shall think me honest Giacomo. Madame. Madame, I hope you make no doubt of it. If it be that that I suspect, torture shall Hardly make me to conceal it. Madame, I say although I should be racked, Yet what you tell me shall be still concealed. It is not above a Mile; but are you sure He is there? Madame, if you be weary, here is a fair Cool shade, where you may rest your self a while. But Madame, I am weary, and I have No such strong desire as love to carry me. Madame. you must refresh me with a kiss, I cannot walk else. Why, does not the pains that I have taken Deserve a greater recompense then that? If it will trouble you to give it, then let Me take a kiss. You will not kiss me then? He was a fool then, And did not know his own advantage, Which you shall find I do, you that Denied me now a kiss, shall give me that Which you perchance the first night Would have denied your husband. Your Maidenhead. Are you so crafty, stay and hear me. Not too honest neither, I know you are wise, and there before I'll use no persuasions, else, but only letting of you see the danger. Lysander you told me was at the Lodge, and there the King shall find him, except you will redeem him from that dan her, by the lose of your Virginity; I know you would be well content to kiss me now, but now it will not serve. Who would not prove a villain for so sweet a recom pence: How I do glory in this purchase of my wit, the Duke striving to gain the happiness, I shall have offered me, paid down his life fort; beside, he went about the ceremonial way of Marriage; but I shall meet my happiness a nearer way, which will be and addition to the pleasure. Come, are you resolved? If for a word, for honour is no more, You can endure to see Lysander suffer cruel death, It seems you love him little, do as you will; Make hast unto the Lodge, you know the way well The King may chance be there before you, As I will handle the business. All torments that man did ever feel, Light upon me, if I do not perform What I say. Stay Lady. It is true indeed, I did so. Be not deceived: I tried indeed if you would give con sent, because the pleasure would have been the greater so; but since I have you once again within my power, I will enjoy you whither you will or no. It is in vain to strive or cry, There is none to help you. Tush, they shall still believe me to be Honest Giacomo; Yet I will let the King know where Lysander is. Yes, I do know you would; but I will take a course with your Ladyship for telling, when I have done with you. Yes, fear it not, rather then I will be hanged for a short minutes pleasure. It may be you'll be of another mind anon, and wish to live. The trees stand here too thin, I'll carry you into a thicker place. Yes, I'll transform you, you may bear fruit too, if you will be willing. Exeunt. Slave that I was, that did not stop her mouth, as well as bind her hands; it was well the bushes were so thick; for had he once God sighed of me, he would have cold my heat: since I have missed this pleasure, my revenge shall be the greater; I'll to the King and tell him what I know concerning Lysander, which will ingraft me in his favour, and for Clarinda's accusall, let me alone. Exit. Sir, set the houseround, lest he should escape At some back door. Now have at me, but I have forearmed the King with such a tale, that and mine own impudence, which never failed me, shall well enough defend me. Your majesty may mark by this how true the rest is that she hath to say. Madame, then you would seem as if I had deceived your trust, and that you had to me discovered where Lysander was; make me not so odious, I never was a traitor, had you to me discovered it, wild horses should have torn me in a thousand pieces, ere I would have confessed; no, this same country fellow one day being within the Lodge saw him, and so discovered it to me. Madame, I did not think that love to any man could ere have turned that excellent wit of yours so ill away, as thus unjustly to accuse a man that is innocent, and one that ho nors you. Hell take you all, I dare not fight might I have all the world given. I'll rather to the Galleys. I shall get out there with some trick or other, and then I'll poison twenty of you, I'll not discover what I am that will but show me more. My Brother! Thus Sir, was I defeated of my right; My Lord the Duke there by his power, though I did prove this in the open Court, by witness of the Nurse and Midwife; yet he made me to be banished as and injurer of others. Brother, thou art wise, Thou shouldst have been the first that should Have felt mine anger. My Lord, if you will with patience hear me, I will tell you whom. Madame the King desires your company. Mark you Sir, she knows of no such thing. Madame, he does desire that you will make you ready, To come to Supper to the Dukes to night. Madame he desires you not to fail. But come and bring my Lord here with you. What news at Court? Why, must brave Lysander suffer to day? The Kingdom will be poor in such a lose, For he leaves none behind him worth his equal. His extreme love unto the Duke makes him Love Giacomo, who does profess that he did not Discover Lysander in hope of gain; but only Out of love to the Dukes memory.