 | Imperiale, a tragedie |  |
Scena Secunda.
Imperiale. Molosso.Imp.
I am with wonder strucken, not with feare,
At thy relation of this barbarous plot,
Contriv'd against my life, after faith given,
Of firme attonement: but the Leopards spots
Or staines of virgin honor may as soone
Be wip't away, as hatred that hath seizd
A cankred brest; this machination
Is so inhumane, that to lend it credit
Is a degree to inhumanity.
Mol.
To give slow faith to such a horrid plot
Becomes a heart so full of piety;
But in this black designe many presumptions
Vnite themselves to fortifie beliefe;
Nor is it to be thought, the wretch durst feine it
Giving so short a time to be disproov'd;
The heavens forbid your virtuous diffidence
Should lead you to the hazard: I must count
This blest discovery a large recompence,
Of former ills fortune hath throwne on me:
For I am bold to hope, it will by you
Be gratiously accepted, though I finde
Your patience to inflict just punishment
On him that is your slave, and might expect
The restles misery of the painfull oare,
With all the wants that ever were susteyin'd
In a remorsles Galley; but your goodnes
(In spite of fate that meant all this) is pleas'd
To give me shelter under your owne roofe,
And to the emulation of my fellowes
To grant the favour of your houshold service;
A bondage which I truely may prefer
Above the common peoples liberty:
These are the benifites, that invite my soule
To meditate your preservation,
Which ere I cease to doe, Tyber and Poe
Shall quite abandon fruitefull Italy,
And wash th'Arabian sands; though I am rude,
I must abhor churlish ingratitude.
Jmp.
Fortune and thy integrity have found
A weighty occasion to confirme and fixe thee
With rootes of adamant, in my good opinion:
Nor doth it happen often to a servant
T'injoy the happy meanes t'account himselfe
The Saviour of his master: Kings are borne
More frequently, then such examples found:
But if to this unavlu'd benifit
Thy pregnant industry can adde a second,
The mischeife to divert upon himselfe
Thou having sav'd me now, shall crowne me then.
Mol.
Great sir, you owe the thanks of what's yet don
To chance alone; I am ambitious
Of somthing that might merit, if at least
The diligence and industrie of one
Of my condition, may deserue that title.
Jmp.
It may, it may; great merit is in story
Ascrib'd somtimes to bondmen; all our soules
Are free and equall, thence our merits flow:
Why should the person vilifie the worke,
It is the benefit we looke upon,
And not the givers meane condition.
Mol.
I have a ripe designe that shall both give
Assurance of the truth of what I brought
And powre the vengeance on your enemy;
Nor can it ever be discovered
To hurt your fame; it shall amaze the actor
And shall be speedy too; things of long time
Are ever doubtfull, lost in expectation,
Propounded usuallie for private ends,
Gain'd by degrees; an acceptable deede
Hath double welcome when t'is don with speede.
Imp.
Noble Molosso, such thy virtues make thee,
Proceed with Courage in thy enterprize,
Which i'le not presse to know, till the event,
But by inmplicit trust freelie declare
What confidence I meane to place in thee;
And take from me this iust incouragement
To rest assur'd, thy service hath not met
With an ungratefull master: I shall never
Forgive my late credulitie, that meant
T'have added to his former punishment.
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