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She does her duty, both of them deserve her, Both sprung from brave and noble families, Both young, yet such as in their faces show the illustrious virtue of their Ancestors, But above all, in Roderigo's face There's not a line which speaks not a brave man; His family has been fruitful still in soldiers, As if they had been born ith' amid of laurels. His father's valour, in his time, unequaled, (Whilst his strength lasted) was a prodigy. The furrows in his forehead seem to be the ingravements of his noble actions, And Roderigo's person seems to promise The virtues of his father. In conclusion, My daughter if she love him shall please me; Go entertain her with it, but be sure You hide m' intentions, and discover hers, At my return we'll speak of it together, Time calls me now to wait upon the Council, Where the King means to choose a Governor Unto the Prince his son, or rather seat me In that high place of honour, for my merits Forbid me to expect and opposition. WEll sir, you have God the day, the Kings high favour Has lifted you to that which was my endue, He has made you governor to the Prince of Castille. Though Kings Be great, they are Like us, and as much subject To be deceived, as we, and this his choice Makes us (which are his servants) see, how ill He recompenses present services. Oh Sir, Roderigo must look higher now, The splendour of this honour newly done you Ought to put greater thoughts into his heart. Look to your office well; govern the Prince, Show him the way how he may rule a Province, Make people every where obey his law, Teach him to love the good, to awe the bade, Add to these virtues, those of a General, Instruct him how to harden his soft body With pain and travel, till he leave himself Without a Rival in the art of War, To fit continued days and nights on horseback, To take his rest in's Arms: To force a Rampire, And not to owe a victory but to himself, Show him this by example, and remember You ought to represent what you would teach. Living examples move more forcibly Than books, in which a Prince scarce learns his duty: But what I pray has all your long years done That one day of my actions has not equaled? If you were valiant once, I still am so, This arm's the firm supporter of Castille, My sword once drawn has made Granado tremble, Arragon quake; without me other laws You must have had, and other Princes served: Each day, each instant, to my eternal glory, Has piled up victory on victory. The Princeto set and edge upon his valour, Marching by me shall be victorious, Far from your cold instructions, he shall learn (Though to my valour they're preferred by some) In seeing my actions, how to overcome. That which was my desert, you have obtained. He that can best discharge it, best deserves it. Like and old Courtier, by much suit you God it. Come, come, the King thus honoured your grey hairs If so, the honour had been mine, not yours. Not I deserve it, mean you? Take that, rash Dotard, for thy impudence. What dost thou hope to do thou feeble fool, Thy sword is mine, but yet I scorn to take it, Go now and bid the Prince read over thy life, And let him not omit this partly of it, In which he'll find the just revenge I take Of this thine insolence, a fair example. I'm satisfied; Mine eyes cry shame unto mine hands for this. If I should, I did but cut the thread of three days lasting. I Must needs say, when I did give the affront My blood was overheated, and my hand Somewhat too ready, but now who can help it? Since it is done, it cannot be recalled. Then let him take my life, it's in his power. Sir, to preserve my honour, I cannot think It's such a crime, somewhat to disobey, But were it greater, what I've done for him, Would be more than enough to make my excuse. I shall believe you when I find it so. One day destroys not such a man as I am. Let him arm all his power to punish me, The state shall rather perish, than I suffer. What? of that Sceptre? which if not for me Had ere now fallen out of his hand: my person Is Sir, of so much consequence to the King, That if my head fallen, his crown cannot stand. The thought's already taken. This: that I know not how to give consent To mine own shame. Let they be so, The Die is cast Sir, let's talk no more on't. I'll wait it without fear. If it do, Worser. Diego's satisfied. How little am I scared with these poor threats? My honour once engaged, a thousand death's Presented to me in the most hideous forms, Cannot once startle me. Speak. I do. Perhaps he might be so. What's that to me? Presumptuous boy! But who has led thee to that vanity? To set thee upon me, thou that didst never Bear arms, perhaps thou knowest not who I am. This courage which appears in thy discourse, I have been long acquainted with, and hoping To see the honour of Castille in thee, 'Twas in my thoughts to give my daughter to thee; I know thy love, and am amazed to see It's motions to give place unto thy honour, And meaning to find out a perfect man, And complete Cavalier for my son in law, I'm not mistaken in the choice I've made. But here my pity intervenes, and though I wonder at thy courage, yet I grieve To see thy rashness: do not seek thy death, Prithee excuse my valour from a combat So far unequal. If thou fallest by me, It'll be no honour to me. To overcome Where there's no danger, will be a triumph Where there's no glory: for thou wilt be thought To have with ease been ruined, and my self Shall alone feel the grief that I have done it. Leave me good youth. Art thou so weary of thy life? Come then, thou dost no more Than is thy duty, he's a degenerate son That will outlive one jot his father's honour.