Lor. You are, then,

Admitted to the cabinets of great ladies,

And have the government of the borrow'd beauties Of such as write near forty.

Doct. True, my good lord,

And my attempts have prosper'd.
Lor. Did you never

Minister to the princess?

Doct. Sir, not yet;

She's in the April of her youth, and needs not
The aids of art, my gracious lord; but in
The autumn of her age I may be useful,
And sworn her highness' doctor, and your grace
Partake of the delight.-

Lor. Slave! witch! impostor!

[Strikes him down. Mountebank! cheater! traitor to great nature, In thy presumption to repair what she, In her immutable decrees, design'd

For some few years to grow up, and then wither!
Or is't not crime enough thus to betray

The secrets of the weaker sex, thy patients,
But thou must make the honour of this age,
And envy of the time to come, Matilda,
Whose sacred name I bow to, guilty of
A future sin in thy ill-boding thoughts,
Which for a perpetuity of youth
And pleasure she disdains to act, such is
Her purity and innocence!

Alon. Long since

[Sets his foot on the Doctor's breast.

I look'd for this l'envoy.

Mart. Would I were well off!

He's dangerous in these humours.

Oct. Stand conceal'd.

Doct. O sir, have mercy! in my thought I never Offended you.

Lor. Me! most of all, thou monster!
What a mock-man property in thy intent
Wouldst thou have made me? a mere pathic to
Thy devilish art, had I given suffrage to it.
Are my gray hairs, the ornament of age,
And held a blessing by the wisest men,
And for such warranted by holy writ,
To be conceal'd, as if they were my shame?
Or plaister up these furrows in my face,

As if I were a painted bawd or whore?
By such base means if that I could ascend
To the height of all my hopes, their full fruition
Would not wipe off the scandal: no, thou wretch !
Thy cozening water and adulterate oil

I thus pour in thine eyes, and tread to dust
Thy loath'd confection with thy trumperies :-
Vanish for ever!

Mart. You have your fee as I take it, Dear domine doctor! I'll be no sharer with you. [Exit Doctor.

Lor. I'll court her like myself; these rich

adornments

And jewels, worn by me, an absolute prince,
My order too, of which I am the sovereign,
Can meet no ill construction; yet 'tis far
From my imagination to believe

She can be taken with sublimed clay,
The silk-worm's spoils, or rich embroideries :
Nor must I borrow helps from power or greatness,

But as a loyal lover plead my cause;

If I can feelingly express my ardour,
And make her sensible of the much I suffer
In hopes and fears, and she vouchsafe to take

But with a fit restraint, and not take from her
To give himself: he should make it the height
Of his ambition, if it lie in

His stretch'd-out nerves to effect it, though she fly in

An eminent place, to add strength to her wings, And mount her higher, though he fall himself Into the bottomless abyss; or else

The services he offers are not real,

But counterfeit.

Matil. What can Hortensio

Infer from this?

Hort. That I stand bound in duty, (Though in the act I take my last farewell Of comfort in this life,) to sit down willingly, And move my suit no further. I confess, While you were in danger, and heaven's mercy made me

Its instrument to preserve you, (which your good-
Prized far above the merit,) I was bold [ness
To feed my starv'd affection with false hopes
I might be worthy of you: for know, madam,
How mean soever I appear'd in Mantua,
I had in expectation a fortune,

Though not possess'd of't, that encouraged me
With confidence to prefer my suit, and not
To fear the prince Uberti as my rival.

Gon. I ever thought him more than what he
Lor. Pray you, forbear.
[seem'd.

Hort. But when the duke of Florence Put in his plea, in my consideration Weighing well what he is, as you must grant him A Mars of men in arms, and, those put off, The great example for a kingly courtier To imitate; annex to these his wealth, Of such a large extent, as other monarchs Call him the king of coin; and, what's above all, His lawful love, with all the happiness This life can fancy, from him flowing to you; The true affection which I have ever born you, Does not alone command me to desist, But, as a faithful counsellor, to advise you To meet and welcome that felicity, Which hastes to crown your virtues.

Lor. We must break off this parley: Something I have to say.

Matil. In tears I thank

[Exeunt above.

Your care of my advancement; but I dare not
Follow your counsel. Shall such piety
Pass unrewarded? such a pure affection,
For any ends of mine, be undervalued ?
Avert it, heaven! I will be thy Matilda,
Or cease to be; no other heat but what

Glows from thy purest flames, shall warm this

bosom,

Nor Florence, nor all monarchs of the earth, Shall keep thee from me.

Re-enter below LORENZO, GONZAGA, UBERTI, FARNEZE, and MANFROY.

Hort. I fear, gracious lady,

Our conference hath been overheard.

Matil. The better:

Your part is acted; give me leave at distance
To zany it.-Sir, on my knees thus prostrate
Before your feet-

Lor. This must not be, I shall

Both wrong myself and you in suffering it.

Matil. I will grow here, and weeping thus turn marble,

In a dream, and now begin to wake.
Matil. And will you

Forbear to reap the harvest of such glories,
Now ripe, and at full growth, for the embraces
Of a slight woman? or exchange your triumphs
For chamber-pleasures, melt your able nerves
(That should with your victorious sword make way
Through the armies of your enemies) in loose
And wanton dalliance? be yourself, great sir,
The thunderbolt of war, and scorn to sever
Two hearts long since united; your example
May teach the prince Uberti to subscribe
To that which you allow of.

Lor. The same tongue

That charm'd my sword out of my hand, and threw
A frozen numbness on my active spirit,
Hath disenchanted me. Rise, fairest princess!
And, that it may appear I do receive
Your counsel as inspired from heaven, I will
Obey and follow it: I am your debtor,

And must confess you have lent my weaken'd

reason

New strengths once more to hold a full command Over my passions. Here, to the world,

I freely do profess that I disclaim

All interest in you, and give up my title,
Such as it is, to you, sir; and, as far
As I have power, thus join your hands.
Gon. To yours

I add my full consent.

Uber. I am lost, Farneze.

Farn. Much nearer to the port than you sup

pose :

In me our laws speak, and forbid this contract.
Matil. Ah me, new stops!

Hort. Shall we be ever cross'd thus?
Farn. There is an act upon record, confirm'd
By your wise predecessors, that no heir
Of Mantua (as questionless the princess

Is the undoubted one) must be join'd in marriage,
But where the match may strengthen the estate
And safety of the dukedom. Now, this gentleman,
However I must style him honourable,
And of a high desert, having no power
To make this good in his alliance, stands
Excluded by our laws; whereas this prince,
Of equal merit, brings to Mantua

The power and principality of Parma:

And therefore, since the great duke hath let fall
His plea, there lives no prince that justlier can
Challenge the princess' favour.

Lor. Is this true, sir?

Gon. I cannot contradict it.

Welcome e'en to my heart. Rise, I should kneel To thee for mercy.

Oct. The poor remainder of My age shall truly serve you.

Matil. You resemble A page I had, Ascanio. Mar. I am

Your highness' servant still.

Lor. All stand amazed

At this unlook'd-for meeting; but defer

Your several stories. Fortune here hath shewa
Her various power; but virtue, in the end,

Is crown'd with laurel: Love hath done his parts
And mutual friendship, after bloody jars,
Will cure the wounds received in our wars.

[too:

You have indirectly answered my question.
I did not doubt the fundamental grounds
Of law in general, for the most solid;
But this particular law that me concerns,
Now, at the present, if that be firm and strong,
And powerful, and forcible, and permanent?
I am a young man that has an old father.

2 Law. Nothing more strong, sir.

It is-Secundum statutum principis, confirmatum cum voce senatus, et voce reipublicæ; nay, consummatum et exemplificatum.

Is it not in force,

Sim. Faith, near her days too; Wants some two of threescore.

1 Law. So she'll drop away

One of these days too: here's a good age now, For those that have old parents, and rich inherit

ance !

Sim. And, sir, 'tis profitable for others too :

Are there not fellows that lie bedrid in their offices, That younger men would walk lustily in? Churchmen, that even the second infancy

Hath silenced, yet have spun out their lives so

Were they removed, would leap into their dignities? 1 Law. Dic quibus in terris, et eris mihi magnus Apollo.

Sim. But tell me, faith, your fair opinion:
Is't not a sound and necessary law,
This, by the duke enacted?

1 Law. Never did Greece,

Our ancient seat of brave philosophers,
'Mongst all her nomothete and lawgivers,
Not when she flourish'd in her sevenfold sages,
Whose living memory can never die,
Produce a law more grave and necessary.
Sim. I am of that mind too.