University of Virginia Library

SCENA I.

Honorio, Constantia, Clara,
Hon.
Sister, I'le canvass your affair at leasure,
And as you satisfie my doubts,
Conclude your guilt, or innocence.

Con.
My Virtue Sir dare suffer any Test.

[Exit.
Hon.
I do both wish, and hope it, now thy message.

Cla.
Y' are to resolve me a short question first.

Hon.
Willingly, proceed.

Cla.
Do you entirely love fair Arabella?

Hon.
Do I love honour, life, or health? she's more,
Commands my soul, governs my heart.

Cla.
She that has all the power you confess,
Has sent you a Command.

Hon.
Which I'le obey more joyfully, than Slaves.
Receive their liberties, speak thy command.

Cla.
'Tis to leave loving her.

Hon.
Cease to love her! I tell thee cruel youth
I must first cease to live.

Cla.
Behold the truth of men! did you not say
She sway'd your heart, yet see if you'l obey.

Hon.
You must distinguish Boy, if she by love
(As that's her only Title) sway my heart,
I am no longer bound to an obedience,
Than whil'st her high commands suit with that love:
But when she waves that right, and bids it cease,
I justly disobey her hate, not her.
For if a Monarch shou'd command me kill him,
Were't not in me a Treason to obey?
Surely it were, nor can my Inconstancy,
'Cause she commands it, a less Treason be.

Cla.
He argues cunningly—But you'l appear
A double Traytor, both to her, and love,
If you obey not, for on this command
Depends her love, and life.

Hon.
I understand you not, explain your self.

Cla.
Sir, I shall both explain my self, and her.
Love gives her to Garbato, she'd have you
Cease your false claim, and let him have his due.

Hon.
My answer Boy, shall be as home, and brief.
Her duty makes her mine, and I'de have her
Banish my Rival, and my Love prefer.

Cla.
It rests in you to mitigate her Crime,
Her Father too with duty may dispense,
But there are none, when mutual vows are knit
Can cancel Love, till death determine it.
Is she contracted then?

Cla.
Less cou'd not disingage her from her duty.

Hon.
Tell her I shall not discompose her peace,
Nor long I fear survive her cruelty.

Cla.
Oh that he had but this concern for me!

Hon.
Having deliver'd this short message to her,
Obtain her leave to visit me again:
Methinks your Faces have such sweet resemblance
I cou'd delude my Passion, and adore
In thee my Arabella.

Cla.
I will not fail to visit you.

Hon.
Do my kind Boy, and then we'll weep together,
And sigh, and sing grief to a Lethargy,
Shall we not Boy?

Cla.
You shall command me any thing.

[Exeunt severally.