University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A room of state. The Duke of Mantua, Basil Rosinberg, and a number of Courtiers, Attendants, &c. The Duke and Basil appear talking together on the front of the stage.
Duke.
But our opinions differ widely there;
From the position of the rival armies,
I cannot think they'll join in battle soon.

Bas.
I am indeed beholden to your highness,
But though unwillingly, we must depart.
The foes are near, the time is critical;
A soldier's reputation is too fine,
To be expos'd e'en to the smallest cloud.

Duke.
An untried soldier's is; but yours, my lord,
Nurs'd with the bloody show'rs of many a field,
And brightest sunshine of successful fortune,
A plant of such a hardy stem hath grown,
E'en envy's sharpest blasts assail it not.
Yet after all, by the bless'd holy Cross!
I feel too warm an interest in the cause
To stay your progress here a single hour,
Did I not know your soldiers are fatigu'd,
And two days' rest would much recruit their strenght.

Bas.
Your highness will be pleas'd to pardon me;
My troops are not o'ermarch'd, and one day's rest
Is all our needs require.

Duke.
Ah! hadst thou come
Unfetter'd with the duties of command,
I then had well retain'd thee for my guest,
With claims too strong, too sacred for denial.
Thy noble sire my fellow-soldier was;
Together many a rough campaign we serv'd;
I lov'd him well, and much it pleases me
A son of his beneath my roof to see.

Bas.
Were I indeed free master of myself,
Strong inclination would detain me here;
No other tie were wanting.
These gracious tokens of your princely favour
I'll treasure with my best remembrances;
For he who shows them for my father's sake,
Does something sacred in his kindness bear,
As though he shed a blessing on my head.

Duke.
Well, bear my greetings to the brave Pescara,
And say how warmly I embrace the cause.
Your third day's march will to his presence bring
Your valiant troops: said you not so, my lord?

Enter Victoria, the Countess of Albini, Isabella, and Ladies.
Bas.
(who changes countenance upon seeing them).
Yes, I believe — I think — I know not well—
Yes, please your grace, we march by break of day.

Duke.
Nay, that I know. I ask'd you, noble count,
When you expect to join th' imperial force.

Bas.
When it shall please your grace—I crave your pardon—
I somewhat have mistaken of your words.

Duke.
You are not well? your colour changes, count.
What is the matter?

Bas.
A dizzy mist that swims before my sight—
A ringing in my ears—'tis strange enough—
'Tis slight — 'tis nothing worth — 'tis gone already.

Duke.
I'm glad it is. Look to your friend, Count Rosinberg,
It may return again —

(To Rosinberg, who stands at a little distance, looking earnestly at Basil — Duke leaves them and joins Victoria 's party).
Ros.
Good heavens, Basil, is it thus with thee!
Thy hand shakes too: (taking his hand).
Would we were far from hence!

Bas.
I'm well again, thou needst not be afraid.
'Tis like enough my frame is indispos'd
With some slight weakness from our weary march.
Nay, look not on me thus, it is unkindly—
I cannot bear thine eyes.

The Duke, with Victoria and her ladies, advances to the front of the stage to Basil.
Duke.
Victoria, welcome here the brave Count Basil;
His kinsman too, the gallant Rosinberg.
May you, and these fair ladies so prevail,
Such gentle suitors cannot plead in vain,
To make them grace my court another day.
I shall not be offended when I see
Your power surpasses mine.

Vict.
Our feeble efforts will presumptuous seem,
Attempting that in which your highness fails.

Duke.
There's honour in th' attempt; success attend ye! —

(Duke retires, and mixes with the courtiers at the bottom of the stage).
Vict.
I fear we incommoded you, my lord,
With the slow tedious length of our procession.
E'en as I pass'd, it went against my heart,
To stop so long upon their tedious way
Your weary troops.—

Bas.
Ah! madam, all too short!
Time never bears such moments on his wing,
But when he flies too swiftly to be mark'd.

Vict.
Ah! surely then you make too good amends
By marking now his after-progress well.
To-day must seem a weary length to him
Who is so eager to be gone to-morrow.

Ros.
They must not linger who would quit these walls;
For if they do, a thousand masked foes;
Some under show of rich luxurious feasts,
Gay, sprightly pastime, and high-zested game;—
Nay, some, my gentle ladies, true it is,
The very worst and fellest of the crew,
In fair alluring shape of beauteous dames,
Do such a barrier form t' oppose their way,
As few men may o'ercome.

Isab.
From this last wicked foe should we infer
Yourself have suffer'd much?

Albin.
No, Isabella, these are common words,
To please you with false notions of your pow'r.
So all men talk of ladies and of love.

Vict.
'Tis even so. If Love a tyrant be,
How dare his humble chained votaries
To tell such rude and wicked tales of him?

Bas.
Because they most of lover's ills complain,
Who but affect it as a courtly grace,
Whilst he who feels is silent.

Ros.
But there you wrong me; I have felt it oft.
Oft has it made me sigh at ladies' feet,
Soft ditties sing, and dismal sonnets scrawl.

Albin.
In all its strange effects, most worthy Rosinberg,
Has it e'er made thee in a corner sit,
Sad, lonely, moping sit, and hold thy tongue?

Ros.
No, 'faith, it never has.

Albin.
Ha, ha, ha, ha! then thou hast never lov'd.

Ros.
Nay, but I have, and felt love's bondage too.

Vict.
Fye! it is pedantry to call it bondage!
Love-marring wisdom, reason full of bars,
Deserve, methinks, that appellation more.
Is it not so, my lord? —

(To Basil.)
Bas.
O surely, madam!
That is not bondage which the soul enthrall'd
So gladly bears, and quits not but with anguish.
Stern honour's laws, the fair report of men,
These are the fetters that enchain the mind,
But such as must not, cannot be unloos'd.

Vict.
No, not unloos'd, but yet one day relax'd,
To grant a lady's suit unus'd to sue.

Ros.
Your highness deals severely with us now,
And proves indeed our freedom is but small,
Who are constrain'd, when such a lady sues,
To say it cannot be.

Vict.
It cannot be! Count Basil says not so.

Ros.
For that I am his friend, to save him pain
I take th' ungracious office on myself.

Vict.
How ill thy face is suited to thine office!

Ros.
(smiling).
Would I could suit mine office to my face,
If that would please your highness.

Vict.
No, you are obstinate and perverse all,
And would not grant it if you had the pow'r.
Albini, I'll retire; come, Isabella.

Bas.
(aside to Ros.)
Ah, Rosinberg! thou hast too far presum'd;
She is offended with us.

Ros.
No, she is not—
What dost thou fear? be firm, and let us go.

Vict.
(pointing to a door leading to other apartments, by which she is ready to go out).
These are apartments strangers love to see:
Some famous paintings do their walls adorn:
They lead you also to the palace court
As quickly as the way by which you came.

[Exit Vict. led out by Ros., and followed by Isab.
Bas.
(aside, looking after them).
O! what a fool am I! where fled my thoughts?
I might as well as he, now, by her side,
Have held her precious hand enclos'd in mine.
As well as he, who cares not for it neither.
O but he does! that were impossible!

Albin.
You stay behind, my lord.

Bas.
Your pardon, madam; honour me so far —

[Exeunt, Basil handing out Albini.