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Scæna Tertia.
Enter Henrique and Violante.Viol.
Is it my fault (Don Henrique) or my fate,
What's my offence? I came young to your Bed
I had a fruitfull Mother and you met me,
With equall ardour in your May of blood;
And why then am I barren?
29
'Tis not in Man
To yield a reason for the will of Heaven;
Which is inscrutable.
Viol.
To what use serve
Full fortunes, and the meaner sort of Blessings,
When that, which is the Crowne of all our wishes,
The period of humane happines,
One only Child that may possesse what's ours,
Is cruelly denide us?
Hen.
'Tis the curse,
Of great Estates to want those Pledges which,
The poore are happy in: They in a Cottage,
With joy, behold the Modells of their youth,
And as their Roote decaies those budding Branches,
Sprout forth and flourish, to renew their age;
But this is the beginning, not the end
To me, of, that misery against my will,
(Since Heaven denies us Issue of our owne)
Must leave the fruit of all my care and travell
To an unthankfull Brother that insults,
On my Calamity.
Viol.
I will rather choose,
A Bastard from the Hospitall and adopt him,
And nourish him, as mine owne.
Hen.
Such an evasion
(My Violante) is forbid to us;
Happy the Romane State, where it was lawfull,
(If our owne Sonnes were vicious) to choose one
Out of a vertuous Stock, though of poore Parents,
And make him noble. But the Lawes of Spaine,
(Intending to preserve all ancient Houses)
Prevent such free elections; with this my Brothers
Too well acquainted, and this makes him bold to
Reigne 'ore me, as a Master,
Viol.
I will fire
The Portion I brought with me, 'ere he spend,
A Royall of it: No Quirck left? no Quiddit
That may defeate him?
Hen.
Were I but confirmed,
That you would take the meanes I use, with patience,
As I must practise it with my dishonour,
I could lay levell with the earth his hopes
That soare above the clouds with expectation
To see me in my grave.
Viol.
Effect but this
And our revenge shall be to us a Son
That shall inherit for us.
Hen.
Do not repent
When 'tis too late.
Viol.
I feare not what may fall
He disposess'd that doe's usurpe on all
Exeunt.
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