University of Virginia Library

SCENA SECUNDA.

Carlos, Isabella, Clarina.
Carlos.
Pardon me
This bold intrusion, seeing the dore open,
I could not but lay hould of the occasion;
And following my love, I thought I might
With out offending you with disrespect
Enter, to cast my selfe at your faire feet.

Isabella.
How fancie you that I can be so little
Respectfull of my honour, as to suffer
A vissit from you without being offended?
No, Sir, your hope deceives you, and this libertie
You take, denoteth in you little love,
Or too much Vanitie: can I believe
You love me well, in giving to your selfe
A licence thus to make foule-mouth'd detraction
In veigh against me, or can you imagine,
Without great follie in your selfe, that I
Can approve this designe so little modest,
And not b'offended at it?

Carlos.
Though I can
Produce some reason here for my defence,
I hould me criminall, since I offend you,
And should but little profit to persist
In the opinion of my innocence
When your faire mouth condemnes me,

Isabella.
I condemne you,
Tis very true, and for your punishment
I bannish you; you must goe forth.

Carlos.
I dare not
Appeale upon your sentence, but retire;
I obey with regreet, but without murmur.

Isabella.
How Sir, begone so soone, what motives pray you,
Induce you thereunto?

Carlos.
Since you ordaine it
I must depart, tis fitt that I obey you.

Isabella.
I should think, Carlos, that you obey here
Some what too quickly for a perfect Lover:
Believing that you lov'd me, I appear'd
Too proud, and scornefull: t'is an assur'd maxime,
That one loves coldly what he quitteth easily;
Love is but il expressed by respects;
Who readilie obeyes, knowes not to love

Carlos.
I am astonished at this discourse;
Can you Complaine, I quit you, Isabella,
When I obey you gainst my sentiment
When my love glittereth in my submission,
And when by a kinde heat, which is not common,
My happines displeaseth me, when it
Offendeth you? what would you then have faid,
If seeking onelie my owne satisfaction,
I had preferred my desires and wishes
Before yours? in what manner can I please you,
If in obeying you, I anger you?

Isabella.
Yon argue too well for a man in love.
VVhere love is strong, reason is impotent;
The one can't be establish'd, whilst the other
Subsists; sometimes a mayd would be resisted,
And obstinatelie lov'd gainst her consent;
And as her close desires are verie seldome
Express'd, she often speaketh with intent
To meet a contradiction, and to be
Enforced unto that which she desires:
According to this maxime, possibly,
I have on this occasion discours'd
Contrarie to my sentiment, and perhaps,
I should be so farre from believing me
Injur'd thereby, that you would have oblig'd me,
In not obeying me.

Carlos.
I'm rap'd in pleasant wonder, if those words
Astonish me, they charme me more; if I
Must stay to please you, nothing is more easie,
Then to content you fully in that point:
Seeing obedience is not pleasing to you;
I will stay, Madame, and will not obey.

Isabella.
It is too late; be gone, my mind is chang'd;
Occasion is lost assoone as' pass'd;
You would have too much pride, and I should have
Too little, if after such a confession
I should detaine you here.

Carlos.
This order is
Severe and rigourous.

Isabella.
But it is just:
I love not alwaies to be disobey'd.
Follow Clarina, goe, and have a care
You be not seen. O Heaven! I heare my Father.

Clarina.
Alas! we are undone; perhaps, he doubted
Of your intelligence, enter forthwith
Into this closet.