 | The Cid |  |
SCENE IV.
KING. D. ARIAS. D. ALONSO. D. SANCHO.KING.
Is he so vaine, has he so little reason,
That he dares thinke his crime yet pardonable!
D. ARIAS.
I treated long with him on your behalfe,
I did (Sir) my devoir, but obtain'd nothing.
KING.
Just heaven! can a subject be so rash
H'as strucken Don Diego, scorn'd his King,
In my owne Court he meanes to give me lawes:
Be he ne're so good a souldier or commander,
I'le make him know what 'tis to disobey,
I would ha' treated him with all faire meanes,
But since he has abus'd my patience,
Goe some of you and looke him out, and whether
He doe resist, or not, make sure of him.
D. SANCHO.
Perhaps some little time will bring him in.
He was taken boiling in his choller, Sir,
And a stout heart will hardly yeeld to reason,
In the first motion of its rage and heat.
Here's no man, that not thinks he is to blame,
But yet so high a spirit is not brought
At first so easily to confesse his fault.
KING.
Don Sancho, hold your peace, and let me tell you,
He that shall take his part is alike faulty.
D. SANCHO.
I obey Sir, and am silent, but with favour,
A word in his defence.
KING.
What can you say?
D. SANCHO.
Sir, that a soule accustom'd to great actions,
Cannot abase it selfe to low submissions.
It knowes not how to doe it without shame,
And that's the word which troubles most the Count.
He finds it somewhat hard to doe his duty.
He would obey if he had lesse of courage;
If you'd command, that he being us'd to arms,
Should with his sword repaire this injury,
I'le undertake he shall make satisfaction.
You are too bold Sir, but your age I pardon,
Thinking it to proceed from heat of youth.
A prudent King knowes better how to husband
His subjects bloud, then so to venture 'em.
For mine, I meane my care shall still conserve 'um.
As the head cares for th'members which doe serve it.
You speake Sir, as a souldier, but I must
Doe as a King, and whatsoere the Count
Does say or thinke, I'me sure he cannot lose
Ought of his honour in obeying me:
Th'affront he did to him whom I have made
Governour to my sonne, does touch me neerly,
And this his insolence hath quarrell'd me,
And th'choice I made: So if he doe submit,
I am the man he satisfies. But no more,
Don Arias, by an advice of late receiv'd,
I heare the Moores meane shortly to supprise us.
D. ARIAS.
Dare the Moores stirre?
KING.
Their vessels are discover'd
At the Rivers mouth, and you know how easily
At a full Sea they may come up.
D. ARIAS.
The battailes
Tthey' ve lost already, should make 'um loose the heart
To set on such a Conquerour as you.
KING.
They cannot but with Jealouzy looke on,
Seeing me rule in Andalouzia,
And this faire Country, which I tooke from them,
Keepes their designes awake. It is the reason,
Why here in Sevill I have plac'd my Throne,
That being neere 'um I may be more ready
To meet with their attempts.
Sir, they have learnt,
At the great charge of their owne heads by this time,
How much your presence does assure your conquest,
Y'have nothing Sir, to feare.
KING.
Nor to neglect:
Too much assurance still drawes danger with it:
The enemy which we now thinke to destroy,
If he can take his time, may annoy us.
But yet since I'me not certaine of my newes,
I would not stirre up in my subjects hearts
Vaine panique terrors, or this present night
Affright the City with a false alarme:
Let the haven be well guarded, and the wals,
And for this night it shall suffice.
D. ALONSO
enters againe.
Sir, the Count is dead,
Roderigo's hand has satisfied his father.
KING.
I divin'd what would follow, when I first
Heard of th'affront, and would ha' then prevented it
D. ALONSO.
Sir, here's Cimena, who presents her griefe
Upon her knees, with teares demanding justice.
KING.
Although my soule suffer with his misfortunes,
Th'affront he did, deserv'd the punishment,
Which though it were most just, yet can't I lose
Without regret, a servant of his merit.
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