 | The Dvke of Millaine |  |
Scæ. Secund.
Enter Marcelia, Tiberio, Stephano, Gentlewoman.Marc.
Command me from his sight, & with such scorne
As he would rate his slaue.
Tib.
'Twas in his furie.
Steph.
And he repents it Madame.
Marc.
Was I borne
To'bserue his humors, or, because he dotes,
Must I run mad?
If that your Excellence
Would please but to receiue a feeling knowledge
Of what he suffers, and how deepe the least
Vnkindnesse wounds from you, you would excuse
His hastie language.
Steph.
He hath payed the forfeit
Of his offence, I'me sure, with such a sorrow,
As, if it had been greater, would deserue
A full remission.
Marc.
Why, perhaps he hath it,
And I stand more afflicted for his absence,
Then he can be for mine? So pray you, tell him.
But till I haue digested some sad thoughts,
And reconcil'd passions that are at warre
Within my selfe, I purpose to be priuate.
And haue you care, vnlesse it be Francisco,
That no man be admitted.
Tib.
How, Francisco!
Steph.
He, that at euerie stage keeps liuerie Mistresses,
The stallion of the State!
Tib.
They are things aboue vs,
And so no way concerne vs.
Steph.
If I were
The Duke (I freely must confesse my weakenesse)
I should weare yellow breeches. Here he comes.
Ent. Frac.
Tib.
Nay spare your labour, Lady, we know our exit,
And quit the roome.
Steph.
Is this her priuacie?
Though with the hazard of a check, perhaps,
This may goe to the Duke.
Marc.
Your face is full
Of feares and doubts. The reason?
Franc.
O best Madam,
They are not counterfeit. I your poore conuert,
That only wish to liue in sad repentance,
That haue no ends, nor aymes, but that your goodnesse
Might be a witnesse of my penitence,
Which seene would teach you, how to loue your mercie,
Am robb'd of that last hope. The Duke, the Duke,
I more then feare, hath found, that I am guiltie.
Marc.
By my vnspotted honor, not from me,
Nor haue I with him chang'd one sillable
Since his returne, but what you heard.
Franc.
Yet, malice
Is Eagle-ey'd, and would see that which is not.
And Iealousie's too apt to build vpon
Vnsure foundations.
Marc.
Iealousie?
Franc.
It takes.
Marc.
Who dares but only thinke, I can be tainted?
But for him, though almost on certaine proofe,
To giue it hearing, not beleefe, deserues
My hate for euer.
Franc.
Whether grounded on
Your noble, yet chast fauors showne vnto me,
Or her imprisonment, for her contempt
To you, by my command, my frantique wife
Hath put it in his head.
Marc.
Haue I then liu'd
So long, now to be doubted? Are my fauors
The theames of her discourse? Or what I doe,
That neuer trode in a suspected path,
Subiect to base construction? Be vndanted,
For now, as of a creature that is mine,
I rise vp your protrectesse. All the grace
I hither to haue done you, was bestowed
With a shut hand. It shall be now more free,
Open, and liberall. But let it not,
Though counterfeited to the life, teach you
Franc.
May I be blasted
When I proue such a monster.
Marc.
I will stand, then,
Betweene you, and all danger. He shall know,
Suspition o're-turnes, what confidence builds,
And he that dares but doubt, when ther's no ground,
Is neither to himselfe, nor others sound.
Ex. Marc.
Franc.
So, let it worke, her goodnesse, that deny'd,
My seruice branded with the name of Lust,
Shall now destroy it selfe. And she shall finde,
When he's a sutor, that brings Cunning arm'd
With power to be his aduocates, the denyall
Is a disease as killing as the plague,
And chastitie a clew, that leads to death.
Hold but thy nature, Duke, and be but rash,
And violent enough, and then at leasure
Repent. I care not.
And let my plots produce this long'd-for birth,
In my reuenge I haue my heauen on earth.
Ex. Franc.
| The Dvke of Millaine | |