 | The Vnfortunate Mother |  |
3 Scene.
Enter Corvino, Bonardo, and Cardente.Mel.
Even when
It pleaseth the high providence.
Card.
My Lord
Observe how they are pair'd. Doubtlesse all's cleere:
And sure hee'l make amends.
Bon.
My Lord Corvino,
If your consent will ratifie—
Corv.
You need not
Urge it agen. Have you observ'd Cardente
Ought in Melissas inclination
(Corvino & Card. whisper.
Towards Fidelio?
Card.
That's it; she is strucke
With the blind Archer.
Spu.
From a cloud of errour
To Bonardo.
A light is broken that hath made new day
In our darke treasons, and directed me
To that which yeelds my being here a happinesse,
'Bove any forme I could prescribe my wishes:
My knowledge learnt it from th'imperfect motives
To your suspition; without which discovery
My ignorance had lost it: but it cannot
Be full till crown'd with your consent,
Bon.
You have it;
And I as freely pardon both your faults:
Your frailty doth excuse them.
Spu.
You'l returne
To your first errour; let not a new jealousie
Stagger our faire proceedings: We have climb'd
Halfe of our height already: and to fall
From such bright hopes.
Am.
As you would cherish duty
That hangs before your reason; you shall see
The whitenesse of my innocence: confirme it
With your beliefes (for truth is onely valued
As 'tis receiv'd) I shall meet his embraces
With all my Virgin sweets, like evening ayre
Without a cloud; when it but onely blusheth
To kisse the Sun at parting.
Spu.
'Tis receiv'd
As positive a truth as e're came from
A Sybills mouth.
Bon.
It hath restor'd thee likewise
To my now rectifi'd opinion:
Blessings dwell with you.
Fid.
Please you Lord Corvino
To Corvino.
With your consent to perfect what's begun
So fairely here; and make our union adde
Something to this dayes glory.
Corv.
Shee Fidelio
Wants much to meet your full deserts; your love
Perhaps she may: when I have order'd her
With some becomming counsells.
Bon.
Hee's my sonne,
And shall inherite honours and possessions,
With vertues to their best dependances;
Grant that you like of the election,
And the solemnities of both their marriages
To morrowes sun shall gaze at.
Corv.
Pray my Lord
Give me a fathers priviledge to prepare her
With some fit precepts; then few minutes shall
Resolve it.
Bon.
Wee'l expect.
Exeunt Bonar. Spur. Am. Fide.
Corv.
Melissa, you
Have made my age conceive as many hopes
As ever father did to make him happy.
Kill not their issue by a rash neglect,
And voluntary losse of that which perfect
And order'd judgements doe call happinesse;
Confin'd to a meane person too; if greatnesse
Were not a relative to all that's good,
And glorious in the generall speculation
Of things that doe affect us, not in sence,
But the bright part of reason; emulous man
Would not through danger mannage actions
So full of wonder, nor imploy his faculties
In high designes: but like a heavy lumpe
That onely by its weight moves to its center,
And there sleepes, so should we: leave no? so much
As the Record of any memorable
And brave atchievement, for a monument
That such men once had being. To be Dutchesse
Will not impaire your vertues; they would take
More luster from the title. Now Melissa
I'ld have you quench that low and common flame
That burnes towards Fidelio; and embrace
Those high desires I point you to: my pollicy
Hath order'd the successe, and your obedience
By your subjecting of it to my will,
Shall crowne you with full blessings.
Mel.
Honour'd Sir,
The duty which I owe you, and which ought not
Be mention'd without reverence, humbles me
Kneeles.
Thus to expresse it. If I could new mould
My frame and temper fit for such great honours.
I should embrace them with the entertainement
Of my most ready will. My constitution
Is of too course a matter to receive
Such nice impressions. Those whom Heaven hath
Ordain'd for Princes, are of purer earth
Then common mortals sure; and by instinct
Both know, and order their high difference,
To make it fit for greatnesse. If I were
The Dutchesse sir, my thoughts would still betray
Me to my selfe; and such imperfect actions
Receive their ordering from my weake abilities,
They'ld render me a scorne to those, that otherwise
Corv.
Your unwillingnesse
Playes with illusions that are vaine and empty.
In what are you defective but your will,
That's regulated by a childish humour?
Let your consideration weigh th'events
Are incident to both: when you are Dutchesse
You'l be above the danger of your fortune;
And awe that weake necessity to which
The other may be subject.
Card.
Sure your father
Saith right sweet Lady; there's much difference
Betwixt the Dutchesse and a subjects wise;
Betwixt a chaire of State, and a thrum'd couch;
A Wardrobe that would furnish a Iewes Lumbre,
And one embroydred petty-coate for Sundaies;
And that perhaps not paid for too. Be wise,
Obey your father Lady and be Dutchesse:
'Twill be the better choice.
Mel.
Content abounds
In riches, when the owners of cramb'd Treasuries
Unsatisfi'd are beggers. Sir, the Duke
Having refus'd me, how can I affect him?
And where love is enforc'd.
Card.
Why there's your priviledge,
Great Ladies ought not love: their husbands more
Then in a just proportion of state.
Corv.
Melissa, I doe find your inclination:
And though my zeale intended your advancement
Which you your selfe refuse yet my: indulgence
Tyes up mine anger: onely I must wish you
Consider throughly.
Mel.
Sir, my duty shall not
Give way to any act without your liking;
Although I have desires I can restraine them
From satisfaction.
Exit.
Corv.
Would Fidelio were not
His love, a love diverts her.
Card.
There are meanes;
Corv.
Thou art wise Cardente,
And canst be secret too for thou and I
Know something hidden to the world: 'Tis better
Give her some Philter, that may raise in her
A flame towards the Duke.
Card.
But is there vertue in any such?
Corv.
My youth hath made experience,
And I am furnisht with that is powerfull:
I beare it still about me.
Card.
Good my Lord
Impart it to my use; I faine would have A Husband yet.
Cor.
Why thou maist have Fidelio,
A yong and handsome Lord. It chiefly workes
Upon such disproportions; share it justly.
You both must take it; for in that consists
The magick Sympathy.
| The Vnfortunate Mother | |