Fern. Sir, I know

Ros. The duke's at hand,

You are so well acquainted with your own,
You need not flatter mine; trust me, my lord,
I'll be a suitor for you.

Pet. And I'll second

My nephew's suit, with importunity.

Ros. You are, my lord Fernando, late return'd From travels; pray instruct me :-since the voice Of most supreme authority commands My absence, I determine to bestow Some time in learning languages abroad; Perhaps the change of air may change in me Remembrance of my wrongs at home: good sir, Inform me; say I meant to live in Spain, What benefit of knowledge might I treasure?

Fern. Troth, sir, I'll freely speak as I have found.

In Spain you lose experience; 'tis a climate
Too hot to nourish arts; the nation proud,
And in their pride unsociable; the court
More pliable to glorify itself

Than do a stranger grace: if you intend
To traffic like a merchant, 'twere a place
Might better much your trade; but as for me,
I soon took surfeit on it.

Ros. What for France ?

Fern. France I more praise and love. You are my lord,

Yourself for horsemanship much famed ; and there,
You shall have many proofs to shew your skill.
The French are passing courtly, ripe of wit,
Kind, but extreme dissemblers; you shall have
A Frenchman ducking lower than your knee,
At th' instant mocking even your very shoe-ties.
To give the country due, it is on earth
A paradise; and if you can neglect

Your own appropriaments, but praising that
In others, wherein you excel yourself,
You shall be much beloved there.

[neat,

Fern. I'll tell you what I found there; men as As courtly as the French, but in condition Quite opposite. Put case that you, my lord, Could be more rare on horseback than you are, If there (as there are many) one excell'd You in your art as much as you do others, Yet will the English think their own is nothing Compared with you a stranger; in their habits They are not more fantastic than uncertain; In short, their fair abundance, manhood, beauty, No nation can disparage but itself.

And I must hence; my service to your lordships. [Exit.

Pet. Now, nephew, as I told you, since the duke Hath held the reins of state in his own hand, Much altered from the man he was before,

*

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(As if he were transformed in his mind,)
To sooth him in his pleasures, amongst whom
Is fond Ferentes; one whose pride takes pride
In nothing more than to delight his lust;
And he (with grief I speak it) hath, I fear,
Too much besotted my unhappy daughter,
My poor Colona; whom, for kindred's sake,
As you are noble, as you honour virtue,
Persuade to love herself: a word from you
May win her more than my intreats or frowns.
Fern. Uncle, I'll do my best; mean time, pray
tell me,

Whose mediation wrought the marriage
Betwixt the duke and duchess, who was agent?

Pet. His roving eye and her enchanting face,
The only dower nature had ordained

T' advance her to her bride-bed. She was daughter
Unto a gentleman of Milàn—no better-
Preferr'd to serve i' th' Duke of Milan's court;
Where for her beauty she was greatly famed:
And passing late from thence to Monaco,
To visit there her uncle, Paul Baglione,
The abbot, Fortune (queen to such blind matches)
Presents her to the duke's eye, on the way,

As he pursues the deer: in short, my lord,

He saw her, lov'd her, woo'd her, won her, match'd No counsel could divert him.

Fern. She is fair.

[her;

Pet. She is; and, to speak truth, I think right In her conditions.

Fern. If, when I should choose,

Beauty and virtue were the fee proposed,

I should not pass for parentage.

Pet. The duke

Doth come.

Fern. Let's break off talk; if ever, now,

[noble

Good angel of my soul, protect my truth! [Aside.

Enter the Duke, BIANCA, FIORMONDA, NIBRASSA,
FERENTES, JULIA, and D'AVOLOS.

Duke. Come, my Bianca, revel in mine arms;
Whilst I, wrapt in my admiration, view
Lilies and roses growing in thy cheeks.
Fernando! oh, thou half myself! no joy
Could make my pleasures full without thy presence:
I am a monarch of felicity,

Proud in a pair of jewels, rich and beautiful;
A perfect friend, a wife above compare.

Fern. Sir,-if a man so low in rank may hope, By loyal duty and devoted zeal,

To hold a correspondency in friendship
With one so mighty as the Duke of Pavy,
My uttermost ambition is to climb

To those deserts may give the stile of servant.
Duke. Of partner in my dukedom, in my heart,
As freely as the privilege of blood
Hath made them mine ;-Philippo and Fernando
Shall be without distinction. Look, Bianca,
On this good man; in all respects to him
Be as to me only the name of husband,
And reverent observance of our bed,
Shall differ us in persons, else in soul
We are all one.

Bian. I shall, in best of love, Regard the bosom-partner of my lord.

Fior. Ferentes.

Fer. Madam ?

Fior. You are one loves courtship;

[Aside to FER.

He hath some change of words, 'twere no lost labour

To stuff your table-books; the man speaks wisely! Fer. I am glad your highness is so pleasant. Duke. Sister!

Fior. My lord and brother.

Duke. You are too silent,

Quicken your sad remembrance: though the loss
Of your dead husband be of more account
Than slight neglect, yet 'tis a sin against
The state of princes, to exceed a mean
In mourning for the dead.

Fior. Should form, my lord,

Prevail above affection? no, it cannot.

You have yourself here a right noble duchess, Virtuous at least, and should your grace now pay, Which heaven forbid! the debt you owe to nature, I dare presume, she'd not so soon forget

A prince that thus advanced her.-Madamı, could you?

D'Av. Bitter and shrewd.

[Aside. Bian. Sister, I should too much bewray my weakness,

To give a resolution on a passion
I never felt nor fear'd.

Nib. A modest answer.

Fern. If credit may be given to a face, My lord, I'll undertake on her behalf; Her words are trusty heralds to her mind. Fior. [Aside to D'Av.] Exceeding good; the Observe it, D'Avolos. [man will "undertake!"

D'Av. Lady, I do ; "Tis a smooth praise.

Duke. Friend, in thy judgment I approve thy love,

And love thee better for thy judging mine.
Though my gray-headed senate, in the laws
Of strict opinion and severe dispute,
Would tie the limits of our free affects,
(Like superstitious Jews, to match with none
But in a tribe of princes like ourselves,)

Gross nurtur'd slaves, who force their wretched souls

To crouch to profit; nay, for trash and wealth,
Dote on some crooked or misshapen form;
Hugging wise nature's lame deformity,
Begetting creatures ugly as themselves :-
But why should princes do so, that command
The storehouse of the earth's hid minerals?-
No, my Bianca, thou art to me as dear
As if thy portion had been Europe's riches;
Since in thine eyes lies more than these are worth.
Set on; they shall be strangers to my heart,
That envy thee thy fortunes.-Come, Fernando,
My but divided self; what we have done
We are only debtor to heaven for.-On!
Fior. [Aside to D'Av.] Now take thy time, or
never, D'Avolos;

Prevail, and I will raise thee high in grace.
D'Av. Madam, I will omit no art.

[Exeunt all but D'Av, who recals FERN. My honour'd lord Fernando ! Fern. To me, sir?

D'Av. Let me beseech your lordship to excuse me in the nobleness of your wisdom, if I exceed

good manners: I am one, my lord, who, in the admiration of your perfect virtues, do so truly honour and reverence your deserts, that there is not a creature bears life, shall more faithfully study to do you service in all offices of duty, and vows of due respect.

Fern. Good sir, you bind me to you; is this all? D'Av. I beseech your ear a little; good my lord, what I have to speak, concerns your reputation and best fortune.

Fern. How's that! my reputation? lay aside Superfluous ceremony; speak, what is it?

D'Av. I do repute myself the blessedest man alive, that I shall be the first gives your lordship news of your perpetual comfort.

Fern. As how?

D'Av. If singular beauty, unimitable virtues, honour, youth, and absolute goodness be a fortune, all those are at once offered to your particular choice.

Fern. Without delays, which way?

D'Av. The great and gracious lady Fiormonda loves you, infinitely loves you.-But, my lord, as ever you tendered a servant to your pleasures, let me not be revealed, that I gave you notice on't.

Fern. Sure you are strangely out of tune, sir. D'Av. Please but to speak to her; be but courtly ceremonious with her, use once but the language of affection, if I misreport ought besides my knowledge, let me never have place in your good opinion. Oh, these women, my lord, are as brittle metal as your glasses, as smooth, as slippery, their very first substance was quicksands: let them look never so demurely, one fillip chokes them. My lord, she loves you; I know it. - But I beseech your lordship not to discover me; I would not for the world she should know that you know it by me.

Fern. I understand you, and to thank your care, Will study to requite it; and I vow

She never shall have notice of your news
By me, or by my means. And, worthy sir,
Let me alike enjoin you not to speak

A word of that I understand her love;
And as for me, my word shall be your surety,
I'll not as much as give her cause to think
I ever heard it.

D'Av. Nay, my lord, whatsoever I infer, you may break with her in it, if you please; for, rather than silence should hinder you one step to such a fortune, I will expose myself to any rebuke for your sake, my good lord.

Fern. You shall not, indeed, sir; I am still your friend, and will prove so; for the present I am forced to attend the duke. Good hours befal you! I must leave you. [Erit.

D'Av. Gone already? 'sfoot, I have marr'd all! this is worse and worse; he's as cold as hemlock. If her highness knows how I have gone to work, she'll thank me scurvily. A pox of all dull brains! I took the clean contrary course there is a mystery in this slight carelessness of his; I must sift it, and I will find it. Uds me, fool myself out of my wit! well, I'll choose some fitter opportunity to inveigle him, and, till then, smooth her up that he is a man overjoyed with the report. [Erit.

SCENE II.-Another Room in the same.

Enter FERENTES and COLONA.

Fer. Madam, by this light I vow myself your servant; only yours, inespecially yours. Time, like a turn-coat, may order and disorder the outward fashions of our bodies, but shall never enforce a change on the constancy of my mind. Sweet Colona, fair Colona, young and sprightful lady, do not let me, in the best of my youth, languish in my earnest affections.

Col. Why should you seek, my lord, to purchase glory,

By the disgrace [s] of a silly maid?

Fer. That I confess too. I am every way so unworthy of the first fruits of thy embraces, so far beneath the riches of thy merit, that it can be no honour to thy fame, to rank me in the number of thy servants; yet prove me how true, how firm I will stand to thy pleasures, to thy command; and, as time shall serve, be ever thine. Now, prithee,

dear Colona

Col. Well, well, my lord, I have no heart of flint ;

Or if I had, you know by cunning words
How to outwear it :-but-

Fer. But what? do not pity thy own gentleness, lovely Colona. Shall I? Speak, shall I ?—say but aye, and our wishes are made up.

Col. How shall I say aye, when my fears say no?

Fer. You will not fail to meet [me] two hours hence, sweet?

Col. No;

Yes, yes, I would have said; how my tongue trips!

Fer. I take that promise, and that double yes as an assurance of thy faith. In the grove; good, sweet, remember; in any case alone,-do you mark, love?—not as much as your duchess' little dog;-you'll not forget?-two hours hence-think on't, and miss not: till then

Col. Oh, if you should prove false, and love

another!

Fer. Defy me then! I'll be all thine, and a servant only to thee; only to thee. [Exit COLONA.]— Very passing good! three honest women in our courts here of Italy, are enough to discredit a whole nation of that sex. He that is not a cuckold or a bastard is a strangely happy man; for a chaste wife, or a mother that never stept awry, are wonders, wonders in Italy. 'Slife! I have got the feat on't, and am every day more active in my trade; 'tis a sweet sin this slip of mortality, and I have tasted enough for one passion of my senses. Here comes more work for me.

Enter JULIA.

And how does mine own Julia? Mew upon this sadness! what's the matter, you are melancholy?Whither away, wench?

Jul. 'Tis well; the. time has been when your smooth tongue

Would not have mock'd my griefs; and had I been More chary of mine own honour, you had still Been lowly as you were.

Fer. Lowly? why I am sure I cannot be much more lowly than I am to thee; thou bring'st me on my bare knees, wench, twice in every four-andtwenty hours, besides half turns instead of bevers. What must we next do, sweetheart?

Jul. Break vows on your side, I expect no other;

But every day look when some newer choice
May violate your honour and my trust.

Fer. Indeed, forsooth! how say you by that, la ? I hope I neglect no opportunity to your nunquam satis, to be call'd in question for. Go, thou art as fretting as an old grogram; by this hand I love you for't; it becomes thee so prettily to be angry well, if thou should'st die, farewell all love with me for ever! go, I'll meet thee soon in thy lady's back-lobby, I will, wench; look for

me.

Jul. But shall I be resolved you will be mine? Fer. All thine; I will reserve my best ability, my heart, my honour only to thee, only to thee. Pity of my blood, away! I hear company coming on; remember, soon I am all thine, I will live perpetually only to thee; away!-[Exit JULIA.] 'Sfoot! I wonder about what time of the year I was begot; sure it was when the moon was in conjunction, and all the other planets drunk at a morris-dance; I am haunted above patience; my mind is not as infinite to do, as my occasions are proffered of doing. Chastity! I am an eunuch if I think there be any such thing; or if there be, 'tis amongst us men; for I never found it in a woman thoroughly tempted yet. I have a shrewd hard task coming on; but let it pass. Who comes now?

Enter FERNANDO.

My lord, the duke's friend! I will strive to be inward with him.-My lord Fernando !

Fern. My lord Ferentes, I should change some words

Of consequence with you; but since I am,
For this time, busied in more serious thoughts,
I'll pick some fitter opportunity.

Fer. I will wait your pleasure, my lord. Good day to your lordship! [Exit.

Fern. Traitor to friendship, whither shall I run, That lost to reason, cannot sway the float Of the unruly faction in my blood! The duchess, oh the duchess! in her smiles Are all my joys abstracted:-death to my thoughts! My other plague comes to me.

Enter FIORMONDA and JULIA.

Fior. My lord Fernando, what, so hard at study! You are a kind companion to yourself, That love to be alone so.

Fern. Madam, no;

I rather chose this leisure to admire

The glories of this little world, the court,

Where, like so many stars, on several thrones,
Beauty and greatness shine in proper orbs;
Sweet matter for my meditation.

Fior. So, so, sir! (leave us, Julia) [Exit JUL.] your own proof,

By travel and prompt observation,
Instructs you how to place the use of speech.-
But since you are at leisure, pray let's sit;
We'll pass the time a little in discourse:
What have you seen abroad?

Fern. No wonders, lady,
Like these I see at home."

Fior. At home! as how?

I see how opposite to youth and custom,
You set before you, in the tablature
Of your remembrance, the becoming griefs
Of a most loyal lady, for the loss

Of so renown'd a prince as was your lord.
Fior. Now, good my lord, no more of him.
Fern. Of him!

I know it is a needless task in me,
To set him forth in his deserved praise,
You better can record it; for you find,
How much more he exceeded other men
In most heroic virtues of account,

So much more was your loss in losing him.
Of him! his praise should be a field too large,
Too spacious, for so mean an orator
As I to range in.

Fior. Sir, enough: 'tis true

He well deserv'd your labour; on his death-bed
This ring he gave me, bade me never part
With this, but to the man I lov'd as dearly
As I loved him; yet since you know which way
To blaze his worth so rightly, in return
To your deserts, wear this for him and me.

Fern. Oh, then far be it my unhallow'd hand, With any rude intrusion, should unveil A testament enacted by the dead.

Fior. Why man, that testament is disannull'd,
And cancell'd quite by us that live. Look here,
My blood is not yet freez'd; for better instance,
Be judge yourself; experience is no danger-
Cold are my sighs; but feel, my lips are warm.
[Kisses him.

Fern. What means the virtuous marquess?
Fior. To new-kiss

The oath to thee, which whilst he lived was his :
Hast thou yet power to love?

Fern. To love!

Fior. To meet

Sweetness of language in discourse as sweet?

Fern. Madam, 'twere dulness, past the igno

rance

Of common blockheads, not to understand Whereto this favour tends; and 'tis a fortune So much above my fate, that I could wish

No greater happiness on earth; but know, Long since, I vow'd to live a single life.

Fior. What was't you said?

Fern. I said, I made a vow

Enter BIANCA, PETRUCHIO, COLONA, and D'AVOLOS. Blessed deliverance !

Fior. Prevented? mischief on this interruption: (Aside

Bian. My lord Fernando, you encounter fitly, I have a suit t'ye.

Fern. 'Tis my duty, madam,

To be commanded.

Bian. Since my lord, the duke,

Is now dispos'd to mirth, the time serves well
For mediation, that he would be pleased
To take the lord Roseilli to his grace.
He is a noble gentleman; I dare
Engage my credit, loyal to the state;
And, sister, one that ever strove, methought,
By special service, and obsequious care,
To win respect from you: it were a part
Of gracious favour, if you pleas'd to join
With us, in being suitors to the duke
For his return to court.

Fior. To court! indeed,

You have some cause to speak; he undertook,
Most champion-like, to win the prize at tilt,
In honour of your picture ;-marry did he.

There's not a groom o' th' querry could have

match'd

The jolly riding man; pray get him back;

I do not need his service, madam, I.

Bian. Not need it, sister? why, I hope you 'Tis no necessity in me to move it, More than respect of honour.

Fior. Honour? puh!

[think

Honour is talk'd of more than known by some.
Bian. Sister, these words I understand not.
Fern. (aside.) Swell not, unruly thoughts!—
Madam, the motion you propose, proceeds
From the true touch of goodness; 'tis a plea
Wherein my tongue and knee shall jointly strive
To beg his highness for Roseilli's cause.
Your judgment rightly speaks him; there is not,
In any court of Christendom, a man
For quality or trust more absolute.
Fior. How! is't even so?

Pet. I shall for ever bless

[Aside.

Your highness, for your gracious kind esteem
Of my dishearten'd kinsman; and to add
Encouragement to what you undertake,

I dare affirm, 'tis no important fault
Hath caus'd the duke's distaste.

Bian. I hope so too.

D'Av. Let your highness, and you all, my lords, take advice how you motion his excellency on Roseilli's behalf; there is more danger in that man than is fit to be publicly reported. I could wish things were otherwise for his own sake; but I'll assure you, you will exceedingly alter his excellency's disposition he now is in, if you but mention the name of Roseilli to his ear; I am so much acquainted in the process of his actions. Bian. If it be so, I am the sorrier, sir.

I am loth to move my lord unto offence;
Yet I'll adventure chiding.

Fern. Oh, had I India's gold, I'd give it all T'exchange one private word, one minute's breath, With this heart-wounding beauty!

[Aside.