University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Another Apartment in the Castle. Enter Costanza and Filippia.
Filippia.
Would I wed Marsio? Would I wed the—

Costanza.
There!
Your common phrases have sufficient strength,
Without appealing to another world.

Fil.
Would I wed Marsio? (Laughing.)
Why, 't is something new
To hear you jesting, cousin! Would I wed
A man who ever thrusts his money forth
As his best quality?—a man who feels
No inward stir of man's nobility,
But, like the poor ass with his golden freight,
Is worth just what he carries? Then he has
A wicked, subtle, and consuming devil,
Pent in the corners of his red-rimmed eyes,
That 's always dodging, like a serpent's tongue,
Angry but fearful.

Cos.
What a character!

Fil.
'T is Marsio to an eye-lash.

Cos.
Your wild tongue
Ever outruns your stricter meaning, cousin.
I shall wed Marsio.

Fil.
What a woful sigh!
That is the tone Gonsalvo gave me, when,
Tearing his tattered ruff—worn for the nonce—
He cried, “I shall drink poison!” But he did not.

Cos.
But I will.

Fil.
Drink poison?

Cos.
No; wed Marsio.

Fil.
The poison in another shape.

Cos.
Fie! fie!
Are quibbling jests the best advice you give?

Fil.
'T was jest chase jest. You are not serious?

Cos.
Indeed I am.

Fil.
Then here 's a weeping matter.

Cos.
Marsio has made an offer for my hand,
Which I intend accepting.

Fil.
O, you shall not,
You shall not, by my faith!

Cos.
By mine I shall.

Fil.
I hate him, hate him!

Cos.
I 'm not jealous of you.

Fil.
Who 's jesting, now?

Cos.
You 've taught me your own tongue.

Fil.
I see through this. You marry that base wretch—
That sallow, spider-legged, bow-shouldered wretch—
That man of money—that great human purse—
That—that—

Cos.
Hie forward, forward, cousin dear!
I would not have you keep such humors to yourself;
They might breed inward danger.

Fil.
Out upon you!
Your father's wants have driven you to this end.
You should not dare—I say, you should not dare,
If famine wrestled with us throat to throat—
Offer the holiest portion of your nature
To this gold calf. 'T will have a grievous answer,
One day, Costanza; for 't is mortal sin
To strike at the dim instincts of the heart.
Why are you weeping? Cousin, dear Costanza,
The sun shines upon nothing that I love
As I love you. That 's generous; smile again.—
But, lo! the gentle lover! lo! sweet Marsio!
Dragging his fingers o'er the entrance wall
Like a belated school-boy!

Cos.
Cousin, cousin!

Fil.
He sees you—blushes! Ay: by my faith, blushes,
Through all his leathern skin, from ear to chin!
Come, that is cheering! Marsio can blush.

Cos.
Do leave, Filippia.

Fil.
I! I dare not leave.
Look to your trade, Costanza. Push him sharply.
He'll get the better of you. I'll be witness;
And if he slip one tittle, we will close
Upon him roundly. Tell him hearts are dear
This season; the supply of maiden hearts
Has dwindled down; he may have widows' cheaper;
Old maidens' for the asking. Money 's plenty,
And begs for usury. Nay, mark these things;
He'll trick you else. We must protect our interest.

Cos.
Have done! have done!
(Enter Marsio.)
Good welcome, sir!

Marsio.
I thank you.
A fair day, lady!

Fil.
Dare the knave say that,
With such a falling-weather face? Perhaps,
Some day, he'll find I 'm not invisible,—
The ill-bred cur! [Aside.]


Mar.
May we converse alone?

Fil.
Better and better! He has seen my ears;
I'll show my tongue, next.

[Aside. Seats herself apart.]
Cos.
Signore Marsio—

Mar.
Yes, lady, yes.—I have a mortal dread
Of girls and babies. [Aside.]


Cos.
You would speak with me?

Mar.
Ay; if I could. [Aside.]
Has not your mother—Pshaw!
I came to lay my fortune at your feet;
And I will hold it doubled fifty times,
If you bestow one smile upon the act.

Fil.
Prolific smile! [Aside.]


Cos.
Sir, if my simple smile—

Fil.
Or my compounded laughter, shout on shout.

[Aside.]
Cos.
This is deceit. [Aside.]


Mar.
O, horror, what a strait!
Never a word! Her silence will upset me.
Would she might fall to cursing!

[Aside.]
Fil.
Conny, dear,
A million, Conny; 't is well worth a million.

Mar.
What means yon lady?

Fil.
You shall see, anon.

[Aside.]
Cos.
'T would pose my cousin, signore Marsio,
To show a meaning in one half she says.

Mar.
Your servant, lady.

[Bowing.]
Fil.
Of the latest date.

[Curtseying.]
Mar.
Here 's my excuse.

[Pointing to Costanza.]
Fil.
A fair excuse, indeed:
I know no fairer, sir.

Mar.
I said not so:
You might teach schoolmen, if you knew yourself.

Fil.
Well done! We get on bravely.

[Aside.]
Mar.
Gentle lady,
Our business waits.

[To Costanza.]
Fil.
There the mart speaks again.

[Aside.]
Cos.
Has not my mother told you of the terms.
On which I listen to your suit?

Mar.
She has—
O, golden chance! here comes the Marchioness!
I'd have gone mad, ere long.

[Aside.]
(Enter the Marquis and Marchioness.)
Marquis.
Daughter, Costanza,
Do you love signore Marsio?

Cos.
I hope
To love him better, sir.

Marchioness.
Well said, well said!
Love 's but a baby, Hymen is a boy;
He grows apace in wedlock.—Well said, daughter!
This coyness is the privilege of maids:
Do not compel her to a public blush.

[Apart to the Marquis, who walks up the stage, gloomily.]
Cos.
How sad my father seems!

March.
'T is very natural;
He parts from you; but it is like the parting
Of a young twig, that, when it sunders, adds
A vigorous life to the old parent tree.
Think of that, daughter.

Cos.
But the twig will wither.—
So be it, though, if it revive the tree.

Marq.
You would wed signore Marsio?

Cos.
I will wed,
With your approval, signore Marsio.

Mar.
It irks me much that you must bare your heart;—
Both irks and pleases.

March.
Are these questions decent?

[Apart to the Marquis.]
Fil.
She changes words, and never answers straight.
She 's mad for misery. There 's something wrong.
If I but dared—I will— (Aside.)
My lord, my lord—

Marq.
She has declared it. Take her, signore, take her!
And may she never want the duteous love
A wife should show a husband! May she lean,
In an unbroken confidence, upon
The upright manhood she has found in you;
And may you never know what bitterness
Burns in the silent chambers of a heart
That loves, yet cannot trust! God bless you, child!—
Yea, give your husband all you held from me!

[Aside.]