University of Virginia Library

2 Scene.

Enter Amanda, & Melissa meeting them.
Fid.
There will not be
Much Fallacy.

Offer to goe.
Am.
Is your beleefe good brother
Yet rectifi'd?

Fid.
I must not owne thee: hence.

Spu.
Since she is heere—

Fid.
This trifling smells of cowardise.

Spu.
Away then.

Offer to goe agen.
Am.
What's the meaning? two such friends
To be divided!

Mel.
By that interest
To Fidelio.
My love doth challenge, let us know the motives
To this strange anger.

Fid.
Pardon me Melissa,
I must (though willingly I would not doe it)
Forget your vertues.

Am.
Let our teares divert
To Spurio.
Your rash and violent purpose: trust me sir,
Unlesse a noble cause hath fir'd your spirits—

Spu.
'Tis yours Amanda.

Am.
Then I understand it;
And challenge it my priviledge to order
Your reconciliation. Brother, know
Your errour hath dishonour'd you so much,
That till you have cald backe to your opinion
My fame and inocence, I must not owne you.
To raise a scandall of high consequence
From such an empty and perverse suspition
And not to cleere it with the satisfaction
Both of protests and testimonie, argues
A soule lesse noble than the generous blood
Of our brave Ancestors successively
Inherited; producing actions,
The subject of large stories. Let Melissa
Witnesse th'intent; a humorous counterfeit,
To mocke Cardendte curiosity
Into an apt discovery of her selfe
And wicked inclinations; that we knowing them
Our care might shun her courses.

Fid.
This Amanda
Beleev'd would bring me peace agen.

Mel.
Beleeve it; For 'tis a truth cleere as the innocence
Of babes: after the holy ceremony
Hath purg'd th'originall staine.

Fid.
I am confirm'd;
And aske agen your pardon! Yours Amanda
I doe presume upon.

Am.
Your noble anger
Hath such a faire excuse, that I must thanke you.
Your errour onely was your fault, and that
My pitty pardons freely.

Spu.
This hath likewise
Restor'd me to new hopes: and faire Amanda,
If your esteeme hath added any worth
To my defects that make them seeme perfections,
Such as may please your chast and free desires;
If you'l possesse me with the happinesse
Of blessed union, 'tis the onely one
That I would covet.

Am.
Let my blushes speake
A maids consent, and in them you may read
My thoughts direction that made you their object;
Mixing themselves with feares, hopes, jealousies;
And all that's incident to earnest love,
May it be crown'd with such a faire event,
'Twill make your hand-maid happy.

Spu.
'Twill but be A mutuall exchange.

Fid.
I hope our loves
To Melissa.
Are growne so ripe, the fasting of our joyes
Will not be long protracted.