Syl. You do wisely, Exceeding wisely; and, when I have said, Cam. And good reason, In having such a blessing. But the bait is not yet ready. Stay the time, I cannot hold out any longer; heaven forgive me! "Tis not the first oath I have broke; I must take A little for a preparative. Cam. By no means. [Offers to kiss and embrace her. If you forswear yourself, we shall not prosper : I'll rather lose my longing. Syl. Pretty soul ! How careful it is of me! Let me buss yet Thy little dainty foot for't: that, I'm sure, is Cam. Why, if thou canst dispense with't Syl. O most rare leather! Kisses her shoe often. I do begin at the lowest, but in time I may grow higher. Cam. Fie! you dwell too long there: Cam. Be not so hasty : When I go to bed, 'tis thine. Syl. You have my grant too; Cam. Very good; When I'm yours I'll be govern'd. Syl. Sweet obedience! Enter ADORNI. Cam. You are well return'd. Ador. I wish that the success Of my service had deserved it. Cam. Lives Bertoldo ? Ador. Yes, and return'd with safety. In the power of fate to add to, or take from Ador. So I think too; I will discover all that is of weight, To the liveries of her pages and her footmen. This is fit employment for me. Cam. Gracious with The dutchess! sure, you said so? Ador. I will use All possible brevity to inform you, madam, Of what was trusted to me, and discharged With faith and loyal duty. Cam. I believe it; [Ent. gine You ransomed him, and supplied his wants—ima- But, do you hear, lady, though I give way to this, His joy of me, and wonder too, perspicuous: You must hereafter ask my leave, before You part with things of moment. Does not your story end so? Ador. Would the end Had answered the beginning!-In a word, Ingratitude and perjury at the height Cannot express him. Cam. Take heed. Ador. Truth is arm'd, And can defend itself. It must out, madam : I saw (the presence full) the amorous dutchess Kiss and embrace him; on his part accepted With equal ardour; and their willing hands No sooner join'd, but a remove was publish'd, And put in execution. Cam. The proofs are Too pregnant. O Bertoldo ! Ador. He's not worth Your sorrow, madam. Cam. Tell me, when you saw this, Did not you grieve, as I do now, to hear it? I had little reason. Cam. In this you confess The devilish malice of your disposition. As you were a man, you stood bound to lament it; The path mark'd out by virtue, the blest saints Ador. What a temper dwells In this rare virgin! [Aside.] Can you pity him, That hath shewn none to you? Cam. I must not be Cruel by his example. You, perhaps, Expect now I should seek recovery Of what I have lost, by tears, and with bent knees Ador. 'Tis here, madam. Cam. He shall be, then, against his will, my husband; And when I have him, I'll so use him!-Doubt not, Ador. And buries me in the dark mists of error. Cam. I'll presently to court; pray you, give order Loud music. Enter ROBERTO, BERTOLDO, AURELIA, FERDINAND, ASTUTIO, Gonzaga, RODERIGO, JACOMO, PIERIO, a Bishop, and Attendants. Rob. Had our division been greater, madam, Bert. As the princess' grace To me is without limit, my endeavours, With all obsequiousness to serve her pleasures, I owe her as a servant. Aurel. I expect not But fair equality, since I well know, If that superiority be due, 'Tis not to me. When you are made my consort, And freely pay it. Queens themselves, if they Gonz. This done, As it is promised, madam, may well stand for An enemy of our sex; but you, I hope, sir, Bert. I dare not entertain Rob. To my power I will enable him, to prevent all danger more Touching the articles. P Aurel. But, done in heat of blood, Enter FULGENTIO, CAMIOLA, SYLLI, and ADORNI. Ful. In you alone Lie all my hopes; you can or kill or save me ; Cam. I will make your peace As far as it lies in me; but must first Aurel. Or add or alter What you think fit; in him I have my all: Rob. On to the temple. Cam. Stay, royal sir; and as you are a king, Erect one here, in doing justice to An injured maid. He's the man, Exacts your present care, and can admit The cause, and truth, the judge, determine of it; Rob. Nor will I, madam. Aurel. You seem troubled, sir. Gonz. His colour changes too. Grows from his guilt. The goodness of my cause That which, stripp'd naked, will appear deform'd. My greatest enemy, and this stranger prince, Aurel. I ne'er wrong'd you. Cam. In your knowledge of the injury, I believe Nor will you, in your justice, when you are [it ; Acquainted with my interest in this man, Which I lay claim to. Rob. Let us take our seats. What is your title to him? Cam. By this contract, Seal'd solemnly before a reverend man, Charm'd by her flatteries, as. no doubt, he was, To be dispens❜d with. Fer. Add this, if you please, The distance and disparity between Cam. What can Innocence hope for, Aurel. Is this true? Rob. In his silence 'tis acknowledged. A witness to this purpose, I'll depose it. Cam. If I have dwelt too long on my deservings To this unthankful man, pray you pardon me: The cause required it. And though now I add A little, in my painting to the life His barbarous ingratitude, to deter Others from imitation, let it meet with A fair interpretation. This serpent, Frozen to numbness, was no sooner warm'd In the bosom of my pity and compassion, But, in return, he ruin'd his preserver, The prints the irons had made in his flesh Still ulcerous; but all that I had done, My benefits, in sand or water written, As they had never been, no more remember'd! And on what ground, but his ambitious hopes To gain this dutchess' favour? Aurel. Yes; the object, Look on it better, lady, may excuse The change of his affection. Cam. The object! In what? forgive me, modesty, if I say Gonz. Well said, i'faith! I see fair women on no terms will yield Cam. Down, proud heart! Why do I rise up in defence of that, Which, in my cherishing of it, hath undone me! No, madam, I recant,-you are all beauty, I feel all fires of love quench'd in the water Desires, fair maid, composed of worth and honour, Freeing Bertoldo from his vow, makes way Bert. Oh, how have I stray'd, And wilfully, out of the noble track Mark'd me by virtue! till now, I was never Of Fortune; you, that conquer'd me, confessing Some desart ne'er yet haunted with the curses It justly falls upon me; and one tear, Cam. This compunction For the wrong that you have done me, though you should Fix here, and your true sorrow move no further, Will, in respect I loved once, make these eyes Two springs of sorrow for you. Bert. In your pity My cruelty shews more monstrous: yet I am not, To ask your pardon. If, as now I fall To act your own revenge, treading upon me I owe my being, 'twill take from the burthen Cam. Pray you, rise; As I wish peace and quiet to my soul, : By the favour of the dutchess, seconded In which you stand bound to me. And, what's more, in despite of sorrow, live Syl. My blood begins To come to my heart again. Cam. Pray you, signior Sylli, Call in the holy friar; he's prepared For finishing the work. Syl. I knew I was The man heaven make me thankful! Rob. Who is this? Ast. His father was the banker of Palermo, And this the heir of his great wealth: his wisdom Was not hereditary. Syl. Though you know me not, Your majesty owes me a round sum; I have Rob. And I'll grant your suit. Syl. Gracious madonna, noble general, Brave captains, and my quondam rivals, wear them, [Gives them favours. Since I am confident you dare not harbour A thought, but that way current. Aurel. For my part, I cannot guess the issue. Re-enter SYLLI with Father PAULO. Syl. Do your duty; [Exit. And with all speed you can, you may dispatch us. Paul. Thus, as a principal ornament to the I seize her. All. How! Rob. So young, and so religious! Paul. She has forsook the world. Syl. And Sylli too! I shall run mad. [church, Rob. Hence with the fool!-[SYLLI is thrust off]-Proceed, sir. Paul. Look on this MAID OF HONOUR, now Truly honour'd in her vow She pays to heaven: vain delight The feasts of sensuality. Her jewels, beads; and she must look Perséver in it, and good men, With saints and angels, say, Amen! Cam. This is the marriage! this the port to which My vows must steer me! Fill my spreading sails With the pure wind of your devotions for me, That I may touch the secure haven, where Eternal happiness keeps her residence, Temptations to frailty never entering ! I am dead to the world, and thus dispose Of what I leave behind me; and, dividing My state into three parts, I thus bequeath it: The first to the fair nunnery, to which I dedicate the last and better part Of my frail life; a second portion To pious uses; and the third to thee, Adorni, for thy true and faithful service. [Gives his hand to FULGENTIO. |