University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

CONSUL'S HOUSE. Stamura. Erminia.
Stamura.
Lady! you need not turn your face from me.
I leave the town for aid. But one perhaps
May bring it, if you listen to him.

Erminia.
Who?

Stamura.
I made a captive.

Erminia.
So I hear.

Stamura.
I come
Seeking the consul: he expected me.

Erminia.
And him?

Stamura.
Him also.

Erminia.
Know you what he asks?

Stamura.
I know it.

Erminia.
And you wish it? you, Stamura?

Stamura.
I have no voice in it.

Erminia.
True. Go. I know it. Stamura goes.

Shameless! to ask him! Never did we meet
But, if his eye caught mine, he walk'd aside:
Yet, by some strange occurrence, we meet daily.

The Consul enters.
Consul.
Erminia! didst thou send away Stamura?

Erminia.
He went away: no need for me to send him.

Consul.
Knowest thou whom he made his captive?

Erminia.
Yes:
That insolent young Roman.

Consul.
Speak not thus
Before thou seest him.

Erminia.
I will never see him.

Consul.
Nay, I have promised scarce five minutes since
That thou shalt hear him.

Erminia.
Has he then found favour
With you so suddenly?

Consul.
Stamura speaks
Much in his favour.

Erminia.
Are they friends already?

Consul.
Hardly; we must suppose. But here they come.

Stamura. Clovio. Consul. Erminia.
Clovio.
Sir Consul! I am Clovio Fizzarelli.
Have you received the letter?

Consul.
I received it.

Clovio.
On bended knee permit me to salute
The lady who shall rule my destiny,
Your fair Erminia.

Erminia.
You are the Pope's nephew,
Sir Clovio! I have heard; and you come hither
Most strongly recommended.

Clovio.
True, sweet lady!
But I do trust, with all humility,
There may be a mere trifle in myself,
Not to engage you in the first half-hour,
But so to plead for me, that in a day
Or two, or three at farthest . .

Erminia.
Sir, your pleader
Stands there; you are his captive, and not mine.

Clovio.
He knows me well. He threw my whole boat's crew
(Four of them) overboard, but found his match
In me.

Erminia.
It seems so: does it not, Antonio?

Stamura.
More; how much more!

Clovio.
There! He could not deny it.

Erminia.
And now he has persuaded my kind father
To grant you audience.

Clovio
(to Stamura).
She is proud: I'll tame her.

Stamura
(angrily).
Sir! [Aside.

No: he is my prisoner and my guest.

Erminia.
This gentleman, who is so confidential
With you, and whom you whisper to for counsel,
May give my hand away . . and will most gladly,
I doubt not . . for my father can refuse
Nothing to one who made so great a prize,
Beside the preservation of the city.

Clovio.
Speak then, my worthy friend, if thus the consul
Honours your valour; speak for me; and let me
Who owe my life, owe more than life to you.

Stamura.
The consul knows what suits his honour best,
And the young lady seems not ill disposed
To shower his favour on such high desert.
I have my duties; but this is not one.
Let the young lady give her hand herself.
If I had any wish . . but I have none . .
It should be, Sir, that you had won it first
By a brave action or a well-tried love.
But, what is love? My road lies towards the walls. [To the Consul.

With your permission, Sir! I have yours, lady!

[Stamura goes.
Erminia.
Father! I am unwell. This gentleman
Comes unexpectedly, demands abruptly . .

Clovio.
Impatiently, but not abruptly.

Erminia.
Sir!
I will not marry: never, never, never.

[Erminia goes.
Clovio.
Ha! ha! all women are alike, Sir Cousul.
Leave her to me.

Consul.
Sir Clovio Fizzarelli!
I will do more than what you ask of me.
I grant you freedom. Go aboard the pinnace
Which bore you into port; and say at Rome
That you have seen men starving in the streets,
Because his Holiness refused us help
Unless a father gave a daughter up;
And say the daughter would not sell her heart,
Much less her country; and then add, Sir Clovio,
(O were it true!) “All women are alike.”