 | The Wife |  |
SCENE III.
—A Room in the Palace.Enter Florio and Cosmo.
Florio.
Where is the regent?
Cos.
With the confessor
In the chamber of the duchess. Nay, my lord,
He has quitted it, and is here.
Florio.
You may withdraw.
[Cosmo goes out on one side. Enter Ferrardo on the other.
Fer.
Well? where's St. Pierre?—I thought you were together!
Florio.
We were, but parted for a moment. Fortune,
In the task you set me, kindly has forestalléd me.
Halting to bait within some miles of this,
He met a friend, whose hand he scarce had shaken
Ere the ready dice were out. In brief, your grace,
He has enter'd Mantua ducatless!—Of my own counsel
I broke to him your need of his assistance,
Touching your cousin's wife—and promised him—
A pledge, I knew your highness will redeem—
Replenish'd coffers, would he undertake
To pleasure you.
Fer.
Will he do it?
Florio.
Sullenly,
But fully he consented—He is here.
Fer.
Retire a little.
[Count retires.
Enter St. Pierre.
Welcome, St. Pierre!—welcome my friend!—I'm glad
To see you.
St. P.
Would you take me for a knave?
Fer.
What mean you?
St. P.
Would you take me for a knave?
Fer.
No.
St. P.
No? Why then I'm fit to do your pleasure.
Come!—To my work!—When am I to begin?
Fer.
The matter?
St. P.
I have lived an honest life
These six months—Knavery is new to me!
I set about it feverishly.
Fer.
What!
Is't knavery to net a pretty woman?
They catch birds so.
St. P.
Pshaw!—I am past the time.
Fer.
Mind is the brightness of the body—lights it,
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Begins to dim. Man, I could tell thee how
She conn'd thy visage from her casement; sent
Her confidante to learn thy name: seem'd lost
At losing thee! Win thou discourse with her,
And hold it when thou winn'st it.—'Twill content me
Thou make her but the object of remark.
Away! Go lean on yonder pedestal,
And watch thy opportunity to draw
Her notice towards thee—Thy obeisance does it;
Or anything most slight; her lord's success
Is plea that you accost her. She is new
To the court,—a stranger to its law of distance,
Which 'tis expedient thou infringe! Couldst master
Aught that's about her person—say a ring,
A brooch, a chain, in curiosity
Besought of her for near inspection, then
Mislaid or dropp'd—not to be found again,—
It were a thousand ducats in thy hand!
'Sdeath, man, hold up thy head, and look at Fortune,
That smiles on thee, and asks thee to embrace her!
What dost thou gaze at?
St. P.
Who is that?
Fer.
The duchess.
St. P.
Indeed, a lady of surpassing beauty!
Fer.
An irksome task, methinks, I've set you—Come!
About it!—To thy post!
St. P.
Surpassing fair!
[Goes out.
Fer.
[Looking after him.]
He has caught her eye already,—excellent!
He bows to her! Does she curtsey?—yes, i' faith!
And to the very ground! You're welcome, sir!
He speaks to her! How takes she his advances?
She entertains them! They pass on in converse!
Hold it but on, she's lost!
[Florio comes down.
Do you see?
Florio.
So soon!
I wish him fortune! As I loved her once,
I even loathe her now!
Fer.
Could you believe it?
He crosses her, and straight her eye is caught!
He speaks, and straight is master of her ear!
Solace for baffled hopes! From infancy
I loathed my cousin for his elder right,
And leap'd into his seat with lighter spring,
Than he, I thought, had miss'd it! He returns,
And I, with humbled brow, in sight of all
Descend, that he may mount! I'll pay him shame
For shame;—but he shall have't with interest!
Where is the confessor? I must to him.
Mix with the company, and point to them
The eye of questioning remark. With looks
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One wave another wave, than marvel grows
On marvel.—Interjections have a world
Of argument! “Incredible!”—“Odd!”—“Strange!”
Will make a thousand hearers prick their ears,
And conjure wonders out of commonest things!
Then with commiseration you may do
A murder easily! “Alack!” “Alas!”
Use daggers that seem tears.—Away! Away!
For now or never is the golden hour!
[They go out.
| The Wife | |