University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

ALPHONSO, CLAUDIO.
CLAUDIO.
Good God! it is ALPHONSO!—
This is astonishing!—My dear dear friend,
This unexpected pleasure quite transports me.
Thrice welcome, dear ALPHONSO!

ALPHONSO.
Generous ALPHONSO,
I know it, and I thank your courtly words.
Would thoughts were visible, that it might appear
With what sincerity we love eash other.
But compliments apart, pray are you not
Ashamed to see me?

CLAUDIO.
Why, ALPHONSO?

ALPHONSO.
Nay,
I know how nobly some despise all shame.
But are you not afraid to see the man
Who feels his wrongs, and will no longer bear 'em?

CLAUDIO.
I never was afraid to meet my foe,
Much less to see my friend. You have no cause
I'm sure, ALPHONSO, not to be my friend.
Were all the truth known it would soon appear
How from my heart I am, and still have been,
My generous brave ALPHONSO's. Hitherto
Indeed my friendly aims have still been cross'd;
And I have felt it more perhaps than you.
Tho' now those rubs to me seem rather fortunate:
For little steps, by which each ass can climb,
Are rather checks to merit, and disgrace
Generous ambition; which at one bold flight
Should seize a station worthy of itself.
And now the time draws near, when I shall prove
By deeds with what sincerity I still
Have lov'd ALPHONSO. Something that may suit
Aspiring worth I purpose to resign;
And but retain it till my interest has
Secured it yours. Nay were you not my friend,
Of all men living I should wish it yours:
Because I love my country as I ought,
And would be honoured in my successor.

ALPHONSO.
Fine words! enough to make a gull of one
That did not know you. But they cost you nothing—
You talk of friendship! and to me, presumptuous!
You never was a friend, nor ever can be:
I know what spurious metal you are made of.
I come not here to dangle or amuse
The fool of hope with catching slippery promises.
I scorn the paultry sport.—Yet there's one favour.
The only one that I shall ever deign
To ask or to receive of you.

CLAUDIO.
What's that?

ALPHONSO.
There is a fountain in the grove behind
The gardens, if you'll meet me there alone
Within this half hour, 'twill oblige me.

CLAUDIO.
Ha! ha!
If one could guess why, this would seem a challenge.
You're pleasant, dear ALPHONSO. Ha! ha! ha!

ALPHONSO.
You will not laugh it off so.

CLAUDIO.
If you're serious,
Why should I from the mere contagion of
An angry look, or a few hasty words,
Give up my calm mind to a giddy storm?
Or be with impotent madness drawn into
The eddy of my erring friend's conceits?
If when my friend is drunk with causeless rage
I lose my sober temper, I become
The greater lunatic. Hear me, good ALPHONSO:
I can and dare; but yet I should be sorry
To use my sword without some solid cause.
'T must be a solid cause indeed that spurs me
To point it at the honest breast of one
I've lov'd so truly. And, for all your anger,
Believe me (for I know myself and you)
Which of us ever falls, the other leads
A life of horror and remorse no time
Can ever cure. Then ere we fight at least
Let us explain ourselves. 'Tis chiefly from
Fantastic jealousies, childish fits of spleen,
Mistakes on one side and false pride on th' other,
That honest men e'er quarrel.—Pray, ALPHONSO,
In what have I offended?

ALPHONSO.
Holy Heaven!
Who would not think this cheat a saint, an oracle?
But there's no devil to a smooth-tongued villain.—
In what have you offended?—Hark ye, tell me
Who was it that procured my banishment?
Who was it that embargoed sacred truth,
To give free traffic to pernicious lies?
And by the most persidious arts contriv'd
To step between me and my dearest right?—
I see by your look you're innocent of the matter.
Deny it if you dare, I'll force the lie
Down that false throat.

CLAUDIO.
In one not given to wine;
Such frolics must proceed from want of sleep.
Calm these wild spirits with one night's repose,
And then I'll talk with you.

ALPHONSO.
Buffoon, no shuffling!
One of us two shall sleep his last to-night.—
You'll meet me presently.

CLAUDIO.
Excuse me now,
I'm otherways engaged.

ALPHONSO.
You lie.

CLAUDIO.
Beware,
I must not hear this.

ALPHONSO.
You lie.

CLAUDIO.
Nay, then—

ALPHONSO.
A stab!
Well aimed to miss. Now have at your false heart.