Alb. How, sir? ACT IV.-SCENE I. Car. I do not like your visits; And, to remove the cause, my daughter is Already, sir, dispos'd to one above A Room in DON RAMYRES' House. Your birth and fortune; so, [sir,] fare you well! Enter RAMYRES reading a paper, FRANCISCO, and You understand; now laugh and pick your teeth. [Aside. Car. My next ambition, madam, will be perfect, To call you by some nearer name; my son— Estef. Is a most noble gentleman; I know not Where lives so clear a merit. Luys. Oh, sweet madam! Luys. I have a suit to you. Luys. Only that you would not dote too much upon me: a gentle, easy, sober pace in love goes far, and is much better than a gallop. If you please, we may hold one another in hand, and love this seven years without sealing and delivering. Estef. With all my heart. Luys. You'll do me a pleasure, madam. Estef. You instruct well. Luys. This courtship is not common. Estef. I confess it. Car. Son Luys. Luys. Sir. [CAR. and LUYs converse aside. Car. Let her not cool. Luys. An she do, I know the way to heat her again. Estef. I will not yet reveal my abuse, Jacinta; And if you please to favour a design, I have a plot may serve to both our happiness. Jac. I'll obey. There is a trembling in my heart. Car. You must not leave us yet, madam. Shall spoil your match to-morrow: Don Alberto, [Exeunt. a Notary. Ram. 'Tis most exactly done, and firm. Omitting or inserting but a word, Or particle, trouble the whole conveyance, Nota. You do not know the quirks of a serivano. A dash undoes a family,-a point, An artificial accent i' the wrong place, Ram. There is more [Gires him money. Nota. I humbly thank you, signior; su criado. Fran. Farewell. Thrive in the application.-What now? And, having made him heir, is loath your presence [Exit. Fer. Francisco may be honest, yet, methinks, And not Fernando take his leave?-I dare not.- Re-enter Servant with a Confessor. Make haste, good father, and if Heaven deny [Exit. Fer. Do your holy office.- To cells and unfrequented woods, they knew not Re-enter Physician and FRANCISCO. Is teeming with new fears.-Ha! is he dead? Fran. Is there no hope of life left, then? Fer. Is he not merciful to Fernando yet? Phys. I find he takes no pleasure To hear you nam'd: Francisco, to us all, He did confirm his heir, with many blessings. Fer. And not one left for me! Oh, take me in, Thou gentle earth, and let me creep through all Thy dark and hollow crannies, till I find Another way to come into the world, For all the air I breathe in here is poison'd. Fran. We must have patience, brother; it was no Ambitious thought of mine to supplant you: Fer. That was some kindness yet, Francisco: but I charge thee by the nearness of our blood, When I am made this mockery, and wonder, Francisco the sole master of his fortunes Is all the benefit I bring. Fer. Ha! blessing! Speak it again, good father. Conf. I did apply some lenitives to soften His anger, and prevail'd; your father hath Revers'd that heavy censure of his curse, And in the place bequeath'd his prayer and blessing. Fer. I am new created by his charity. Conf. Some ceremonies are behind: he did Fran. His will in all things I obey, and yours, Fer. Why you alone obey? I am your brother, Of such a title; you shall find me kind, Fer. I may live here, Francisco! Enter a Gentleman with a letter, and whispers FRANCISCO. Luys. You'll give me now a general release For all the sums I owe you? Alb. Thou hast bless'd me. Luys. I was born to do you good; about it presently, Now you know where to ambush. Away! I say, Thy mother will not know thee in a vizard. Luys. You must excuse me, friend: I would join wi' ye I' the surprise, but that Alb. What, I pr'y thee? Luys. I have extraordinary business, that concerns me As near as life. Alb. May not I know't? Thou art going To the widow, now, thy mistress. Luys. "Tis a business of more consequence. Dost think I would leave thee an there were not such a necessity? Alb. For what? Luys. An there were no more sisters in the world, You must excuse me. Alb. Nay, nay; we must not part, unless I know This mystery; some reason why you leave me. Luys. If you will needs know, there's a wench stays for me, The toy I told thee of. Farewell, Alberto. Alb. But will you leave such business and a friend? Luys. Business! art thou a gentleman, and wouldst have me leave a lady I have not seen this three year For business or a friend? I must to her. In nature as a wench; and if thou art my friend, Alb. Why, art thou desperate? Dost not thou fear thy body? Luys. A wench is physic My body has been us'd to. Leave thy prating And let me take my course. Alb. An you be so resolute Luys. I must give you one advice before you go. When my sister's in thy custody, observe The time and place, and things convenient, And stand not fooling about ceremonies, But put her to't. 1 adamant-magnet. Jac. 'Tis strange. Estef. Your stars smile on you. Jac. Yet I much pity the poor gentleman. Estef. Busy your thought about your own; Francisco Jac. Hath promis'd not to fail? Estef. He waits where he can easily observe How soon the coast is clear, to visit you. Jac. So, so: thus hooded, The day cannot distinguish our two faces, Estef. Let me alone; there I'll produce the contract, Which will surprise Don Pedro and your father To see me challenge him. I have prepar'd the priest, too, Whose holy eloquence may assist; however, Jac. I hear some approach; [Exit ESTEFANIA. Ambition to hope he should be just Theo. There is no fear of his revolt: lose not Fel. Will you leave me? Theo. My stay shall not be long. The garden will With smiling flowers encourage thee to walk, And raise thy drooping eyes with hope to see A spring like theirs upon thee. Fel. Why should I [Exit. Give any entertainment to my fears? Enter FERNANDO. My poor heart trembles like a timorous leaf, Which the wind shakes upon his sickly stalk, And frights into a palsy. Command me, on his blessing, to forsake thee. The soul, and curse his son for honest love? Fer. But not so mortal; For his last breath was balsam pour'd upon it, Where night and heavy shades hung round about me, Found myself rising like the morning star Fel. Never, I hope, to be Eclips'd again. Fer. This was a welcome blessing. Fel. Heaven had a care of both my joys are mighty. Vouchsafe me, sir, your pardon, if I blush, Fer. Do not, I pr'ythee, do not; I am lost, Is nothing but the empty name of him Fer. Desert me goodness, When I upbraid thy wants. 'Tis I am poor, Of so much dust as would contrive one narrow But the small earth I borrow, thus to walk on; And having nothing left, I come to kiss thee, And take my everlasting leave of thee too. Farewell! this will persuade thee to consent To my eternal absence. Fel. I must beseech you stay a little, sir, And clear my faith. Hath your displeased father Depriv'd you then of all, and made Francisco The lord of your inheritance, without hope To be repair'd in fortune? Fer. "Tis sad truth.' Fel. This is a happiness I did not look for. Fer. A happiness! Fel. Yes, sir, a happiness. Fer. Can Felisarda take delight to hear What hath undone her servant? Fel. Heaven avert it. But 'tis not worth my grief to be assured I can deserve you now, and love you more Two poverties will keep but a thin table; And while we dream of this high nourishment, We do but starve more gloriously. Fel. 'Tis ease And wealth first taught us art to surfeit by: And the kind earth keep us alive and healthful, Health to our loves; our lives shall there be free Just here above my sciatica, and quoited mo Into the coach again upon my head I had a larum in't for half an hour, And so I 'scap'd with life. Ped. Did they use her With any rigour? Als. To say truth, they were Ped. That mollifies, and they may live. |