University of Virginia Library

5 Scene.

Enter Corvino.
Cor.
Will you yet wedde Melissa?

Spu.
Never sir;
I would you'ld cleare my doubts.

Cor.
Oh never sir,
Till you performe that act.

Spu.
My ignorance
And innocence shall then preserve me safe;
There may be danger in the knowledge of it:
Hence forth Ile not be curious.

Exeunt Spurio, Fide. Beneventi.
Not.
Sir, my duty
That taught me humble knees, and an obedience
Is somewhat stagger'd; something hath begot
A jealousie within me, that I ought not
Pay them to you: but still my vertuous reason
Doth fight against that sin.

Cor.
What meane you Notho?

Not.
My brother sir, or Spurio (for the name
Of brother he refuseth) sayes we are not
The issue of one blood.

Cor.
It was a folly,
And inconsiderate rashnesse to betray
Himselfe to so much hazard.

Not.
Sir, the knowledge
Would settle my disturbances, and make
Agen that duty perfect, which yet doubts
To whom it owes it selfe.

Cor.
Those words of his
Might be interpreted; and I confesse
My wanton youth had much unlawfull issue:
Of which perhaps he's one.

Not.
My lawfulnesse
Had then first priviledge to take exception:
I must not now owne him.

Cor.
Yes; for my love
Is equall to you both.

Not.
In that you are
Unjust to the deserts of my dead mother;
And th'Honour'd family whence she deriv'd
Her blood and vertues.

Cor.
It becomes not you
To taxe my partiall humour, since your selfe
Is equally unlawfull.

Not.
You have aw'd me,
'Twas not my sin; and thus my duty beggs
Kneeles.
The publicke knowledge may not be my shame.

Cor.
That shall not staine, thy fame staines not thy conscience
And tell me Notho, dar'st be great?

Not.
I dare bee
What fortune or my reason prompts me to,
If warranted for lawfull.

Car.
Dar'st be Duke?

Not.
Forbid it loyalty.

Car.
'Tis in my power
To make thee justly so.

Not.
If't be my right,
There's no attempt that can have danger in't
Enough to fright me.

Cor.
Shall't attempt no danger:
The prosecution shall be politicke
And safe. But first thou must resolve to doe
What I command thee.

Not.
Speake it.

Cor.
Wed Melissa.

Not.
Did ever father yet command his Children
To be incestious! is your reason perfect?
This shewes distraction.

Cor.
All depends upon it;
And Heaven knowes 'tis lawfull: Therefore be
Suddaine in thy resolves.

Exit.
Not.
What fit hath seaz'd him?

Pole.
The Ladies eyes have shot some wanton fire
Into his heart: my Lord.

Not.
Polemici
I have heard wonders, and your bosomes shall
Partake the secret, so you'l keepe it safe:
'Tis of high consequence.

Pole.
They are the same
Safe Closets you have trusted.

Not.
You'ld not envy me
If I were Duke.

Pole.
We should not sure unlesse
It made you proud.

Not.
But dare your valours aide me
In the designe?

Pole.
Why what disloyall divell
Hath put these thoughts into you? have we sav'd
Our throates from cutting by the enemy
To feele the Hang-mans Axe? why how dare you
Cherish such vaine ambition? if you should
Marry the Dutchesse, she must have no sonne first:
And then 'tis doubtfull whether the election
Will be conferr'd on you. There are more worthies
That hold as good opinion in the state.

Not.
But say it be my rig

Pole.
I never studied
Your Genealogy so much, to find
How there might be relation; if there's any
Let it appeare.

Not.
You shall know more hereafter;
Strange misteries in fortunes hidden lye,
Cannot be judg'd of by a common eye.

Exeunt.