 | The Magic Picture |  |
SCENE II.
The Court of Ladislaus.Enter Ubaldo and Ricardo.
RICARDO.
Came the courier from the camp last night?
UBALDO.
Yes, as 'tis said, with a letter
From the General Ferdinand.
RICARDO.
Sans question then it is of moment?
UBALDO.
To those who carry lives in either army.
RICARDO.
Was it chearfully received by the King?
UBALDO.
So, so:—soon however as assur'd
The lines approach'd within each other's view,
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With absolute authority from him,
To try the fortune of the day.
RICARDO.
The General then, no doubt, will fight it bravely.
Heav'n prosper him! This military art
I grant to be the noblest of professions;
And yet, I thank my stars! I never was
Inclin'd to learn it; for that bubble honor,
The pretty nothing for which these soldiers fight,
Is, in my judgment, of too dear a purchase.
UBALDO.
Give me our court warfare; eh! Ricardo?
The danger's not so great in the encounter
Of a mistress—the conflict there costs no limbs—
Thou, by thy own report, Ricardo,
Wast a wag when young, and since that time
Hast studied every rank, from the night trader
I' th' street, with certain danger to thy pocket,
To the gay high-flier in the cabinet.
RICARDO.
You talk, Ubaldo, as though you would appear
A novice in love's mysteries; or perhaps
My better genius gives you cause for envy.
UBALDO.
No, thanks to my stars! I no man envy
From my own want, or his abundance;
To tell thee plainly, being, as you see,
The likelier man, and of much more experience,
There's no beauty
But yields ere it be summon'd; and as nature
Has stamp'd me the monopolist of maidens,
There's no man can buy till I have made my market.
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Ha, ha, ha!
UBALDO.
As I live I jest not. Why I'd part
With half my estate, nay, travel o'er the globe
To find that only Phœnix in my search,
That could wing out of my sure shot.
RICARDO.
Who will dare doubt the dexterity of him
That twangs so long a bow? Pray, what d'ye think
Of the Queen?
UBALDO.
No, no, Ricardo; I never yet did aim
At the lip-royal—that I still except:
Yet were she not our Sov'reign's own soft dove,
I would venture this neck to a halter,
To write her in my am'rous catalogue.
RICARDO.
Have you but mark'd with what reserve she looks
When the King himself makes his approach to her,
As she were still a virgin, and his life
But one continued wooing?
UBALDO.
Yes, and how she oft has swoon'd when she has heard
Of other women fam'd for charms or honors.
RICARDO.
I marvel that she does not banish hence
All other female virtue from her court.
UBALDO.
Well, where 'twill end I know not, for the King
Is so indulgent to her humours, that ev'n now,
When both his crown and life are at the stake,
He only studies her content—and when
She's pleas'd to shew herself, music and masques
Are with all care and cost provided.
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This night she promis'd to appear.
UBALDO.
She did, and will, no doubt; for prithee mark
The bustle of her royal harbinger.
Enter LADISLAUS, EUBULUS, and Attendants, with perfumes.
LADISLAUS.
These rooms are not perfum'd as we directed.
EUBULUS.
No, Sir? I am sure the od'rous incense
Cost treble the price of the whole week's provision
Spent in your royal houshold.
LADISLAUS.
How, Eubulus! when my Honoria
Descends to sanctify a place, and make
For me a temple; say, were it not profane
To deck it only with a careless hand?
EUBULUS.
Well; since you so closely hug your fetters,
In love's name wear them; you are King, and that
Concludes you wise—for me, I do subscribe.
LADISLAUS.
Do, and looking up, behold this wonder!
The Scene rising to soft music, discovers HONORIA in State, under a Canopy, attended by the Court.
RICARDO.
Wonder! it is more, great Sir!
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Rapture! enchantment!
What think you?
[To Eubulus.
EUBULUS.
As the King thinks: that is the surest guard,
At least for you court butterflies—for me,
I can see a handsome woman (an' she be so)
Without spectacles,
But yet to adoration look not on her;
Heav'n, how he fawns!
And with what assured gravity she takes it,
As if it were his duty.
Oh, she at last vouchafes
Her hand; and, as if he had suck'd nectar from it,
How he's exalted!—She's about to speak,
What oracles shall we hear now?
HONORIA.
Since you are pleas'd
With such assurances of love and favour
To grace your handmaid, but in being yours, Sir,
A matchless Queen;
I'm bound in gratitude to deserve
The grace conferr'd upon me.
LADISLAUS.
You transcend in all things, Madam;
And 'tis my glory to depose myself
From absolute command—surrendering up
My will and faculties to your disposure.
And here I vow, not for a day or year,
But my whole life,
That whatsoever I in justice may
Exact from these my subjects, you from me
May boldly challenge.—And, when you require it,
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Thus will I pay my homage.
[Kneels to her.
HONORIA.
O, forbear, Sir,
Let not my lips envy my robe, on them
Print your allegiance often. I desire
No other tribute!
LADISLAUS.
Gracious Sov'reign,
Boundless in bounty!
EUBULUS.
Is not here fine fooling?
(Aside.)
He's questionless bewitch'd!
RICARDO.
There's dainty picking
For all that.
(Aside.)
EUBULUS.
'Though my old life I forfeit
For it, yet I must speak. By your good leave, Sir;
I have no suit to you, nor can you grant one,
Having no power. You are like me, a subject,
Her more than serene Majesty being present;
And I must tell you, 'tis ill manners in you,
Having depos'd yourself, to keep your hat on,
And not stand bare, as we do. Gentlemen ushers,
It does belong to you to see 't reform'd;
He has given away his crown, and cannot challenge
The privilege of his bonnet.
[Tauntingly.
LADISLAUS.
Do not tempt me.
RICARDO.
(Aside.)
A devilish rough councellor this.
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The King seems all amazement!
RICARDO.
The Queen too has her share
Of deep imaginations. Eubulus
Hath put both to't.
UBALDO.
Now she seems resolv'd.
RICARDO.
I long to know the issue.
HONORIA.
Give me leave,
Dear Sir, to reprehend you for appearing
Perplex'd, with what this privileg'd old man
Hath in his taunting irony applied.
—You know it was your own delight
To sue to me with more humility
Than I desir'd, yet 'twas my duty to obey;
I do but act the part you put upon me;
And though you make me personate a Queen,
And you my subject; when the play, your pleasure,
Is at an end, I then am what I was,
Still your humble wife, and you my King.
RICARDO.
Admirable, on my troth!
HONORIA.
(To Eubulus.)
And now to your wise Lordship;
Hath my King
Cause to repent th' excess of favor to me,
Which you dislike? speak! nay, boldly too;
For I'm not ignorant what I can deserve,
And may with justice challenge.
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This I look'd for;
After a seeming humble ebb, I knew
A gushing tide would follow.
(Aside.)
HONORIA.
By my birth,
And liberal gifts of nature, as of fortune,
From you, as what's beneath me, I expect
What's due to Majesty, in which I am
A sharer with your Sov'reign.
EUBULUS.
Good again.
HONORIA.
And as I am most eminent in place,
In all my actions I would appear so.
LADISLAUS.
You need not fear a rival.
HONORIA.
I hope not.
And 'till I find one, I disdain to know
What envy is.
LADISLAUS.
You are above it, Madam.
HONORIA.
For beauty without art, discourse, and free
From affectation, with what graces else
Can in the wife and daughter of a King
Be wish'd, I dare prefer myself.
EUBULUS.
Does the Court afford
No oil-tongu'd parasite, that you are forc'd
To be your own gross flatterer?
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Be dumb
Thou ceaseless spirit of contradiction,
Or thy age, with all its boasted bluntness,
Will not another hour protect thee.
[A Trumpet.
RICARDO.
A courier, my Liege.
LADISLAUS.
Bid him enter.
EUBULUS.
Here's one, I fear, unwelcome as myself.
Enter OFFICER.
LADISLAUS.
From the camp, Sir?
OFFICER.
Ay, my dread Liege, this from the general.
[The King reads the letters.
LADISLAUS.
'Tis well, my Queen! the gallant Ferdinand
Doth here inform us, that by rapid march
He hath so gain'd upon the Turkish lines,
That ere the setting of the sun, the fate
Of either Kingdom must be known. Let's in,
And there, in Council, wait th' approaching tidings.
[Exit King, &c.
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