INFANTA

Go boy, look out Cimena, and from me Tell her, her presence was expected sooner, My friendship must complain of this her sloth. How should it not? when I my self have made her Receive the hurt wherewith her soul is wounded, She loves Done Roderigo by my means, And by my means he has vanquished her disdain, Then since to take they I have laid the snare, To free they unto me belongs the care. To stifle it increases more my grief! Leonora, thou shalt know it, and now hear What a strange conflict I have had within me, And when the hast herd it, pitying my weakness, Admire my virtue, love is such a Tyrant As will spare none, this Gentleman, this lover Which I've bestowed on her, I love my self. Lay thy hand upon my heart And feel now how it pants at the hearing of The name of its own Conqueror. Yes, yes, Leonora, and will rather die Than do a thing unworthy of my birth: Though I could tell thee that in noble souls Merit alone ought to produce true love, And if my passion would fly to excuses, Many examples might authorise it, Yet I'll not follow that in which my honour Must be engaged. If I have much of love, I have much more of courage, and me thinks A noble true disdain tells me that I, The daughter of a King, should deem all others Below my love, unless it were a Monarch: But when I see my heart is not of force To make its own defence, I give away That which I dare not take: instead of my self I put Cimena fast into his fetters, And kindle their fire to put out mine own. Be not amazed then, if with distraction I still expect their marriage; you see All my repose only depends on it, If love do live on hope, it die with it; It's a fire, that not nourished will go out, And spite of my ill fortune, if Cimena Marry Done Roderigo, my long Hope's Dying, my mind will be at ease; till then I'm still in torment; till his day of marriage Roderigo is my love, whom though I labour To loose, I cannot choose but grieve to loose him; I find my soul divided in two parts, My heart with honour fired as well as love: This Hymen's fatal, I both wish, and fear it. Nor can I hope for any perfect joy, Since whither he obtain his love, or no, So many baits my love and honour have, In stead of comfort I must find a grave. My best of Hope's is to cast off all hope. Go, entertain her in the Gallery. No, I will spite of all my grief, put on A face of gladness. Go, I'll follow you. Just heaven, from whence I do expect my aid, Put now at length some perjod to my evils; Assure mine honour with some ease of love, I seek my happiness in another's bliss, To which give speed good heaven, or more strength To my yet feeble soul, which never can be (Till Hymen have bound them) at liberty. BE not so grieved, Cimena, dry thine eyes, Use now thy constancy in this misfortune, Thou'lt see't clear up after a little tempest: Thy happiness is but clouded for a while, And some small time will make thee no great loser. Thou hast no reason To fear their quarrel, which on a sudden born, Will as soon die: there's too much noise of it To let it live. The King shall take it up, And for thy sake I'll see't shall go no farther. But the holy knot which shall once join Cimena To Roderigo, will dissolve the hatred Of both their father's, and the bonds of love, As being more strong, will quickly stop their discord. Dost thou fear what a weak old man can do? But he's too young. But that thou needest not fear. He loves thee too well To anger or displease thee, one poor word Out of thy mouth, will quickly stay his heat. Cimena's generous, and though she be Engaged, she cannot suffer a base thought. But if I make a prisoner of this lover Until this business be taken up betwixt them, Will not your love turn into jealousy? Boy, look out Roderigo, bring him hither. Speak. Alone? Let's spend no more time then, but go look um out. I Come not here, Cimena, with faint comforts To plead against thy grief, but with sad sighs To mingle with thy tears. It's true, Cimena, He has done wonders. How comes this news to be unwelcome to you? Was not the man they praised your servant once? And had not he your heart? in honouring him They honour much your choice. But will you, Madam, Believe the counsel of a faithful friend. Though yesterday purfuing your revenge, You did so much that all the Court admired Your height of spirit, and bewailed your love; Yet the same way is not now to be taken. Roderigo's now the only hope and stay Of all Castille. The terror of the Moors. His valour has restored us what before It took away, in him your father seems To live again, and in a word pursuing His death, you go about the public ruin, What? to revenge a father, is it lawful To give your Country up to its Enemies? And are we to be punished for his fault? I say not this, that I would have you marry The man you are bound to prosecute. I'de rather You should avoid that envy, and deprive Him of your love, but not us of his life. I must confess, it is a mark of spirit To prosecute the life you loved so dearly, Yet I should think, it were more noble fat To give up to the public interest The private ones of blood. For credit me, Cimena, it's enough, to leave to love him: Banish him from your heart and he will find A heavy punishment. Your Countries good Requires this, beside you must not think The King should grant you your request. Consider well, Cimena, what it is You go about, and think of it at leisure. IS it to me you come now Leonora? My heart? Can rest come to a heart that's filled with griefs? But how canst thou assure me it is dead, If upon these conditions Roderigo Do entertain the Combat, have not I Inventions enough to break it off? Love the sweet Author of my punishment, Can teach the wits of lovers many slights. I see it well enough, and yet my heart Strives with Cimena's, who shall most adore him, What had I best resolve on, Leonora? No, no, my thoughts are off from their first object, I love not Roderigo as a Gentleman, He that I love now, is the Valiant CID, The Master of two Kings. And yet I mean T'orecome my self, not for the fear of blame, But that I won't disturb so fair a flame, And though they would now crown him, yet I should not Resume the gift which I have given another Then since thou sayest Roderigoe's Victory Is certain, let's go give him to Cimena. And thou that knowest how far my love has run, Come, see me finish what I have begun. COme Cimena, Dry thy eyes: And receive with a glad heart This noble Conqueror, from thy Princess's hand.