University of Virginia Library

First Scene.

The Scene the Grove.
Corvino and Notho.
Corv.
This preparation of your high resolves
I must allow with wonder: sure you had
Some revelation of the weighty secret;
Or else instinct hath taught your knowledge more
Then a weake judgement could conclude from doubts;
And those bare circumstances I have us'd
T'instruct you by.

Not.
But if Ferrara must
Owne me her Duke, what progresse yet is order'd
For my establishment? great actions ought not
Want equall meanes: and sure my single force
May not encounter such an opposition
As I shall meet. To challenge it my right
And not mainetaine it, renders me the lawes:
I would not pay my life for a distracted
Unwarrantable action. If it may
Be pleaded or with force, or testimony,
I am above all feares.

Corv.
I have a faction
Which with your party will make up a power
Of strength enough: but there is no such need.
Melissa joyn'd unto you will be more
Than any numerous Army of resolv'd
And faithfull spirits: she alone shall cleere
All that is yet in mists.

Not.
If you'l take from me
The scruples that I have about its lawfulnesse,
Ile court her to prevaile.

Corv.
You may command her,
Confirme it with an Oath as y'are a Prince;
And as I hope the ends of my ambition
Will meet successe, you shall be satisfi'd.

Not.
By all the vertuall powers that make an Oath
Sacred, I vow onely to wedde Melissa;
Provided it be lawfull.

Corv.
Then accept
My duty sir, that owes subjection
Duely to none but you. It is your birth-right
That shall preferre you 'fore this yong usurper;
And thus his knee to whom yours oft hath bended
Kneeles.
Humbles it selfe for pardon, that my brest
So long conceal'd what should make many happy.

Not.
I then am elder sonne to the late Duke!
And onely yours suppos'd: I must acknowledge
A large debt to you for my education,
Which answer'd my high birth. But can this have
Cleere confirmation?

Corv.
As the brightest ayre
The Sun illumines.

Not.
I am then a Prince,
And you my onely Subject:
For I know not
Who else will pay obedience to me.

Corv.
All Will follow my example; for the rumour
As it growes bigger will incense the multitude:
From whom your fortunes and deserts have won
Both love and admiration. Fury then
Runnes them into a lumpe, or monstrous forme
With many heads, that carry their mad body
Reelingly forward, where they find resistance
Growing more violent: when to prevent
The mischievous effects of such an uproare:
The cause is askt and knowne; expostulated:
And your right prov'd by me, the generall voyce
Salutes you Duke. And shortly after you
May call Melissa Dutches.

Not.
I have heard
She doth affect Fidelio, And unlesse
She be diverted—.

Corv.
By this time Fidelio
Hath not his being,

Not.
Have you kild him then?

Cor.
Both politickly 'tis and safely order'd,
Cardente poisons both him and her selfe.

Not.
Could you have such a conscience?

Car.
Nice religion
Awes not a Politician. They both stood
Betwixt me and my ends.

Not.
You have confest
Your selfe a murderer, 'twas a bad act;
And you have added to it: the discovery
Hath made me guilty by the knowledge of it.
I cannot but with horrour now embrace
Her love, for which his innocence hath suffer'd:
Nor will I marry her.

Cor.
Dare you then be
Unjust to your owne honour? and neglect
That which you call religion, we but forme?

Not.
You have instructed me: all other vertues
Depend on Iustice; she alone is perfect
Without addition in her selfe. A Prince
Cannot deserv'dly weare the royall title,
That orders not it, nor is order'd by it.
Justice with tyranny may be allow'd
Rather than partiality, for that
Emboldens sin; the other makes it feare.
If this day I should not be just (the first
Of my uncertaine government) a blessing
Would not preserve it; for the bad example
Would teach bad subjects (such as thou) to be
Presumptious in their errours.

Cor.
What proceeding Intends this ambage?

Not.
Such a sin as thine
Is not allow'd the plea of an excuse.
Then since thou stand'st convicted by thy selfe,
I thus pronounce thy sentence: thou shalt dye.

Corv.
Your selfe is not immortall Prince.

Not.
By th'hand Of Justice.

Cor.
Who's the executioner?

Not.
Thy selfe, I have no other to command.
Doe't with that instrument.

Throwes him his Dagger.
Cor.
'Tis a command
Becomes a Prince; and chiefly such a one
As makes it scruple to preserve his rayser,
Or to connive at a slight petty sin;
Whose execution hath confirm'd his title:
'Tis a lesse sin to kill thee than my selfe.

Not.
Honour must yeeld then to necessity:
Ile doe't my selfe. My sword that hath bin just
Drawes.
In war, in Peace shall be so. Therefore pray;
And if the apprehension of thy death
Presents thy guilty conscience with an horrour,
Meete it with holy thoughts, that thy repentance
May beare thy best part upwards. I am loath
To kill thy soule.

Corv.
What strange conceits are these
Transport your reason from its use? pray kill me,
And when y'have done it, call my silent ashes
To tell the people how you are their Prince.
What then shall give my cold tongue motion
To justifie your right?

Not.
Iust Hevens want not
Miraculous meanes. My Justice is too slow,
And flies with lazie wings. Therefore be suddaine;
I cannot give thy preparations
A longer time.

Cor.
Put up your sword, and take
Throwes backe the Dagger.
Your Hang-mans toole agen. Put up I say,
And call your duty backe. Son I have plaid
My trialls into danger, heare the reason.
Observing in thee haughtinesse of spirit,
Forward to noble action, that was alwaies
Attended with successe, I fear'd ambition
Might tempt thy vertue, therefore order'd this
To prove its truth.

Not.
You cannot trifle me
Into new errour. I have shaken off
That loose and vulgar out-side I was drest in
By ignorance; but now I know my selfe
To be a Prince: 'Tis I that have discover'd
Ambition in thee, and thy practises;
To make thy daughter Dutchesse. But I play
Too much with Justice. Take thy punishment
For murder.

Offers to kill him.