I disaffect a monarchy, which how Should I, for the aid and talk of a new govern ment, A commonwealth, lose all my certainties? Lor. But I am tame, as if I had no sense, A desperate exile.-Is it possible A treason hatch'd in Florence, 'gainst the duke, waking About your person, how have I appear'd To say you have one) with the story of Sci. My sister! Though he be the duke, he dares not. Patience, patience! if there be such a virtue, Deserves a wrath next to your own. - My sister! Has he not sins enough in's court to damn him, Lor. Temper your rage. Sci. Are all the brothels rifled? no quaint piece Left him in Florence, that will meet his hot Lor. My lord Sci. He is no prince of mine; he forfeited His greatness that black minute he first gave Consent to my dishonour. 1 Deserves a wrath next to your own This is not expressed with our author's usual perspicuity; it means, a vengeance next to an affront offered to Heaven.GIFFORD. Lor. Then I'm sorry Sci. Why should you be sorry, sir? You say it is my sister he would strumpet, Mine! Amidea! 'tis a wound you feel not; My lord, I have given proof, although he be But it strikes through and through the poor My duke, and kinsman, I abhor his vices, Sciarrha. Be such a fact the blood of any other But Alexander could no less than expiate, Yet this sin stretches further, and involves, Howe'er the world, without examination, Shoot their malicious noise, and stain my actions: A favourite, who must bear all the guilt Heaven knows how I have counsell'd this young Sci. To lance it; is't not ripe ? Let us draw cuts, whether your hand or mine And send this tyrant to another world. Lor. How! I draw cuts? Sci. Coy it not thus, Lorenzo, But answer: by your name and birth, you are With hers, your greater stain. Did you e'er pro- We know that too; and, let me tell you more, mise him? Yet, why do I make any question? It were another crime to think Sciarrha Could entertain a thought so far beneath His birth. You stoop to such a horrid baseness! And soon take leave of earth. Sci. You torture me. We know you but disguise your heart, and wish Lor. How is this? Sci. We know you have firm correspondence The banish'd men, whose desperate fortunes wait Not to feed your ambition with a dukedom, Lor. What then could the duke find, to give By the remove of Alexander, but him any Encouragement, you would be guilty of An act so fatal unto honour? What, When you were least yourself (as we are all Frail compositions), did appear so wicked In you, he should conceive a hope, and flatter Himself with possibility to corrupt Your soul to a deed so monstrous? Sci. To what? To serve your country, and create their peace Lascivious monarch.-Is't not true, Lorenzo ? Lor. My genius And thine are friends; I see they have convers'd, That made me for his friendship who preserves The same religious fire. I will confess, Lor. Though all the teeming glories of his When Alexander left his piety dukedom, Nay, Florence' state, offer'd itself a bribe, And tempted the betraying of your name To infamy, yet to imagine you Would turn officious pander to his lust! 'Tis horrid, affrights nature; I grow stiff With the imagination. Sci. Ha! Lor. Yet this To Florence, I placed him beneath my country, Or changed our active spirits, for a dull I do want breath; my voice is ravish'd from To quicken earth; thy flame is but a prophecy Sci. Thou hast a fire beyond Prometheus', Does not my face look parch'd, and my skin Our liberty, restore the ancient laws Into a heap? my breath is hot enough To thaw the Alps. Lor. Your fancy would transport you. Sci. It is my rage; but let it cool, [Lorenzo], Lor. From horrid rape--'las, Amidea! Of the republic, rescue from the jaws Sci. I am resolv'd; by all that's blest, he dies. Return my willingness to be his pander, My sister's readiness to meet his dalliance; Enter FLORIO and AMIDEA. Ami. You make me wonder; Appear so ignorant? I speak the dialect [Exit. Have it confirm'd; you shall; the duke himself Flo. Now, brother, what news brings the great Sci. Let me have truce, vexation, for some [Aside. What news? preferments, honours, offices. Sister, you must to court. Ami. Who, I to court? Shall swear he loves you. And ask him; be not you too peevish now, Sci. Or else the court will come to you. The Love him, andduke Hath sent already for us, Amidea: Oh that I knew what happy stars did govern At thy nativity! It were no sin To adore their influence. Ami. What means my brother? Flo. He is transported. Ami. I shall suspect your health. Sci. I easily could forget I am Sciarrha, heaven. Ami. What, for Heaven! be the duke's -? Ami. Give up my virgin honour to his lust? Sci. No, no, my meaning is so broad, you cannot. Ami. I would I did then. Is't not possible That this should be a dream? where did you drop Your virtue, sir?-Florio, why move you not? And so much, that we may have cause to fear, Have you consider'd better o' the motion. 1 Sci. You will not help?i.e., you will not then assist me in persuading Amidea to yield to the duke? I do not, however, quite see the purport of Florio's answer; and suspect an error of the press: 'Ill never kill thee,' should probably be, 'Ill rather kill thee;' to which Sciarrha's ''Tis very well,' forms an apt reply. GIFFORD Sci. And what is your resolve? Ami. To have my name Stand in the ivory register of virgins When I am dead. Before one factious thought Should lurk within me to betray my fame And boldly with a poniard teach my heart Sci. Let me kiss thee, My excellent, chaste sister.-Florio, Thou hast my soul; I did but try your virtues. Enter a Servant. Ser. My lord, Pisano is come. [Exit. Weeping? Where is Pisano, and his friends? Ami. Guess by my eyes you may, Sci. I had forgot his promise. Look up, sister, In's countenance, and though we pray'd him to And shine with thine own smiles; Pisano's come, Enter PISANO, COSMO, and FREDERICO. Repose with us, he would straight back again; And Signior Cosmo, he return'd. Flo. The alteration was strange and sudden. Your face again, we hope it will not last: But you above the rest, my brother shortly. Must not forget prepare for the duke's coming; Ami. You are not cheerful, sir; [Exit. How is't, my lord? you were not wont to look So sad when you came hither. Pis. I am not well, Amidea. Ami. Oh my heart! Pis. Be you Comforted, lady; let all griefs repair To this, their proper centre. Pis. Here's witness, all is cancell'd betwixt us; Nay, an you weep-Farewell! Ami. He's gone! Flo. I am amazed. Pis. Now lead me to my blessing. [Exeunt PIS. COR. and FRED. Flo. Shall a long suit and speeding in his love, With the world's notice, and a general fame A marriage is expected, be broke off With infamy to our house? Ami. Brother, if ever You loved poor Amidea, let not this The Garden of MOROSA's House. Enter MOROSA, ORIANA, and Servant. Mor. You should not rashly give away your Nor must you, without me, dispose yourself.- Cosmo [Exit Servant. Cos. Lose no time, Take the other walk. [Exeunt PISANO and MOROSA. Ori. My dear Cosmo. Cos. My best Oriana. Ori. You have been too much absent, I must chide you. Cos. You cannot, sweet; I would I knew which way To make thee angry; yes, that I might see Ori. You will make me angry. Cos. But you will love me still, I fear. goes. Let us examine all the creatures, read The book of nature through, and we shall find Nothing doth still the same; the stars do wander, And have their divers influence; the elements Shuffle into innumerable changes: Our constitutions vary; herbs and trees Admit their frosts and summer; and why then Should our desires, that are so nimble, and More subtle than the spirits in our blood, Be such stay'd things within us, and not share Their natural liberty? Shall we admit a change In smaller things, and not allow it in What most of all concerns us? Ori. What? Cos. Our loves. Ori. Have you suspicion I am changed, and thus Would school me for it? or shall I imagine Cos. Yes, I am, and therefore Ori. What riddle's this? Cos. I will explain. Upon maturity Of counsel, Oriana, I have found I am not worthy of thee, therefore come And person, will become thy affection better. Ori. You have a pretty humour. Of brave Pisano? shall his merit plead Succession in thy chaste thoughts? Ori. I do know him. Cos. Thou canst not choose, and I could study none Worthy thy love but him. Ori. 'Tis very likely You would resign then? Cos. Ay, to honour thee; His service will deserve thee at the best Ori. Why, it shall be so. Cos. Nay, but be serious, and declare me happy, That I may say, I have made thee just amends, [And] I will thank thee. Ori. Why, sir, I do love him. Cos. Oh, when did Cupid aim that golden shaft? But dost thou love him perfectly, with a Ori. Why, sir, did you ever think I was so taken with your worth and person, By your favour, there be many as proper men, Direct my fancy. I did love Pisano You did love me. Cos. Now, by my heart, I love thee. This act shall crown our story, Oriana, [Aside. Thou dost not know how much thou honourest |