somerset; please you to be acquainted with her and give me your opinion: she is but seventeen: there's a periwinkle! I had a gemini before I went to travel, and I am bound in conscience, if you think fit, to see her well provided for Car. With whips,-I'll have her skin flay'd off. Luys. Her skin flay'd off! dost thou know, mortal man, what thou hast said? I tell thee, Don, nothing can come near her in the shape of an officer; she is a very basilisk, and will kill them with her eyes threescore yards pointblank: but you may talk, and do your pleasure with her, for I came o' purpose to bring her to your lodging; if you love me, do but see her; it shall cost you nothing, you shall be my friend; hang money! Car. Thus will my state consume; vexation! What shall I do? when you have slept, Luys, I'll tell you more.-Attend him to his chamber, And make his door fast. Luys. You will consider on't? Upon those terms I will go sleep a twinkling. [Exeunt Servant and Luys. Car. And will not all this take away my senses? My son is lost too! this is all a curse Re-enter ALSIMIRA, and a Servant with a letter. Als. News, Don Carlos, from our daughter. [reads. Als. Know'st thou where she is? Ser. Yes, madam, and her resolution to attend her father, with my master, Don Francisco, if Don Carlos please to admit them; the matter's Als. What matter? [done. Ser. They are as fast as any priest can make them. Car. Wife to Francisco, now his father's heir! That's some allay, if it be true; she writes Don Pedro was contracted to Estefania, who supplied her person in the coach-'twas not Jacinta was ravish'd. Then Don Pedro was not noble, after he had made faith, to intangle my Jacinta.-Hum! say they shall be welcome. Ser. They are present, sir. Enter FRANCISCO and JACINTA. Car. I am not yet collected, but if this Paper be justified, I receive you both.Peruse those wonders, Alsimira. Jac. Sir, [Exit. Enter a Servant. Ser. Don Pedro, sir. Car. You shall for some few minutes Withdraw into that chamber, in his passion He may be violent; leave me to moderate [him]. Fran. I shall obey you, sir. [Exeunt FRANCISCO and JACINTA. Enter DON PEDRO. Ped. Was ever man of my great birth and fortune Affronted thus? I am become the talk Car. My lord, with pardon Of your altesa, you're not injur'd here, Too much to me? Car. I would you had remember'd Ped. Who hath traduc'd my fame, or mention'd me With that dishonour? I disclaim all contracts; Ped. Dares she make saucy claim? My breath dissolves it. If every lady whom we grace with our converse Should challenge men of my nobility Car. I wish, my lord, you could evade it, for The honour of my family; if your conscience Or art can nullify that lady's interest, I am resolv'd-my son Luigi shall Then marry with that widow.-[Aside.]—I have no other Ambition. Ped. You are wise, and I Am fortified to clear myself thought-free Enter ALBERTO, and ESTEFANIA disguised as before, with a paper in her hand. Ha! 'tis Jacinta, and she wears the jewel I did present, conspicnously.-I ask No reason for thy absence, let me chain [Uncovering her face. Ped. Ha! Estefania! Ped. Conspiracy! Estef. When this is read, Don Carlos, Upon my honour; and I thus dissolve Of every picaro and ladron-every regue and thief. 2 altesa-highness. Thee worth my anger, shadow of a lord! Alb. If you please, madam, while he's i' the humour Of being base, I'll make him gather up Alb. It will become me, madam, to attend you. Re-enter DON CARLOS and LUYS. Luys. Contracted to Don Pedro, say [you]? Car. She was.-Where is Estefania? Ped. Gone with Alberto, proud to wait upon The lady I neglected. Car. Follow them, Luys. I do not like he should insinuate, Now she is free, and his hopes desperate in Luys. How long have I slept, sir? Car. Thou dost dream still. Pursue the widow now, Or never look at such a fortune [more]. Luys. Is she gone with Alberto? What if I say I have lain with her, and that she's with child by me? Car. That would stain both your fames. Away, and welcome When thou return'st, and she confirm'd. Luys. I'll confirm her, or confound somebody: No more; I am awake. This is Don Pedro, I'll talk with him first.-Will you justify1 The widow is a widow still, and sweet, For all your contract? that you have not been My rival, as they say, after the flesh, And that you did not know I had a mind, Or not a mind, to do the deed of matrimony? Ped. Not I, upon my honour. 1 justify-prove. Luys. You are witness.Now to Alberto. Car. Manage the business temperately. Luys. Let me alone to be temperate; if I do not cozen somebody, let me never drink sack again. [Exit. Car. What think you of Jacinta now, my lord? Ped. As of the saint I pay my chief devotions to. Enter FERNANDO with his sword drawn. Fer. I come to seek one that I late call'd brother, But he hath forfeited that name, and Justice, Hath arm'd me thus in her revenge.-Don Carlos, Rather than he shall glory in my ruins, If you dare violate, I dare possess you With all my title to your land. Car. How is that? Will you resign the interest to such A fair estate, and wrong my daughter, sir? [Gives the parchment to FERNANDO, who reads it. Fer. Ha! Fran. It was my father's act, not mine; he trembled To hear his curse alive, what horror will Fer. Can this be more than dream? Fran. Sir, you may cancel it, but think withal How you can answer him that's dead, when he Shall charge your timorous soul for this contempt To nature and religion, to break His last bequest and breath, that seal'd your blessings!. Car. These are fine fancies. [Gives back the parchment to FRANCISCO. [Going. Enter RAMYRES, FELISARDA, and THEODORO behind. Fran. So, so; all's well again. Ram. [coming forward with the rest.]-Fernando, stay! Fer. Ha! my father and Felisarda? Car. Don Ramyres and my niece? Fer. Are they both dead? [FERNANDO kneels. I dare kneel too; they do converse.-Don Carlos, Do not you know that shape? 'tis wondrous like Your niece. Car. And that your father; ha? Fer. How long hath Felisarda been a sad Companion to the shades? I did not think To find thee in this pale society Of ghosts so soon. Fel. I am alive, Fernando, And Don Ramyres still thy living father. Fer. It is a joy will tempt me wish to live No staying to tell the money, give't me in lump: Fran. Where is Don Pedro ? Re-enter Dox PEDRO. Ped. The storm is over, sure; I hear no noise. Toledos are asleep.-Jacinta! have I found my love [here]? Fran. Here 'twas lost indeed: I must allow no such familiarity Ped. How! married? Jac. "Tis most true, my lord. Ped. You have not used me thus? Fran. It had been impious to divorce your heart 1 Toledos-swords. From Toledo in Spain, where swords of the finest temper were manufactured. Luys. Sir, for the credit of your wisdom, talk not; The man, you see, 's alive, and married too, And if, when I am free, you dare but trust meCar. Was ever father cheated thus? Come hither; How dar'st thou be so impudent? Luys. I cannot help it, sir; unless you die Or give me better means, I shall make bold With these devices; you are my father, sir, And I am bound Car. To cozen me? Luys. All must be mine, and if I pay myself a little before the day, We'll live together, And, if thy father be not bountiful, Ped. Ladies, I ask your pardon; Unless you hold me desperate, disdain not Ram. You are too bountiful. Car. You're all my guests to-day. Remove may place the scene of joy with me; My house shall be much honour'd. Lead the way, With verse and wine let poets crown this day. [Exeunt. EPILOGUE. Spoken by DON PEDRO. So, so; your danger's over,' and the state 1 The danger of the Spanish plot.' See the Prologue. The next line contains an allusion to the defeat and destruction of the Spanish Armada in 1588.-GIfford. THE END. MURRAY AND GIBB, EDINBURGH, PRINTERS TO HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. |