 | The Second Part of The Cid |  |
Act IV.
Scene I.
Spheranti, Infanta.SP.
Madam, tis true, I may have bin too rash
To offer you a heart unworthy of you
But yet my fault is such as cannot give
Consent to any low thoughts of repentance;
And if my service find no other grace,
Let me have leave to cherish my attempt,
And let me love my self for loving you,
My soule may do the office of mine eyes
Which may contemplate what these cannot see,
And if my love cannot appeare from thence,
From this you shall perceive my obedience.
IN.
Though I am better read in my own faults,
Then to believe J could charm any man;
Yet for your sake, because you'le have it so,
J am content to think you love me sir,
And J am sensible of what J owe you,
But you must know that J depend upon
A brother to whose will J am confin'de,
So that J am not Mistris of my heart,
Nor dare I hazard it without his leave,
Therefore to warrant your pretensions
Make your addresse to him, till then J dare not
Be known to entertain you for a suitor.
SPH.
Tis fit J be obedient to this law
Which is most reasonable, but may J be
As sure of your favour, as his leave.
IN.
Your vertue, sir, will be your best assurance,
My love proceeds not freely, but deserts
Must challenge it.
SP.
Kissing your faire hands, Madam,
J go to make my way to blisse or ruine.
Exit.
IN.
What shall J do, my heart, this Prince is lovely,
So is the Cid, but he lesse tractable,
Spheranti is more soft and courteous,
And yet not of lesse spirit then the other,
Let Roderigo then endeare his Mistris,
And since that love is th'only price of love,
Alas, what did J say? how can J leave
That object, which rules all within my heart?
Roderigo's free possessor there, and yet
Me thinks, there is a room left for Spheranti.
What shall J do then in this labyrinth?
Shall J to oblige Cimena, quit the Cid.
No Ile not leave him, but with patience wait
The pleasure of my brother and my fate.
Exit.
SCENE II.
King, Celimant, Don Arias.KING.
Don Sancho, sir, and Arias do wait you
With the conditions of your liberty,
They are but gentle ones, that you forgive
Your sister, in the recompence of which
Your ransome is remitted.
CEL.
Greatest Monarch,
Who may dispose my life, you know that here,
I am no lesse without a will then power
I must obay, what ever you impose,
But yet her crime joyn'd with the insolence
In facing it is such, that giving me
My Kingdome back with her, is worse to me
Then to live here your captive, with what pleasure
Can I behold that power re-deliver'd
K.
Ile quit you of that feare, in taking care
To keep Seriffa in the terms of duty
You shall command her wholy, but at present
Till you be better satisfied, her fight
Shall not offend you, since her love has caus'd
The treason which you blame her for; I mean
To keep her fast in fetters, untill love
And Hymen be the executioners
Of the sweet sentence which I will pronounce.
CEL.
Such is her want of worth, the Prince you meant
To joyne her to, despises her, and truly
I should believe him to be worth my pity,
Of whom so base an object were consider'd.
K.
Sir, your too quick resentment makes you speak so,
But leave that care to me, there is a Lord
Within my Court, of birth, as great as any,
But vertue much beyond his quality,
Which does adore your sister, though it be true
That he has mingled with his love some boldnesse,
Since he can't plead any descent from Kings,
Yet if our spirit bids us despaire nothing,
This noble Lover must obtain his wishes.
In a word tis Don Sancho that I mean.
CEL.
Sir, I beseech you think how great the distance
Is between their conditions: Don Sancho
Has much worth in him, but he is no Prince,
And though Seriffa has disgrac'd her birth,
She's nere the lesse discended from a King.
K.
Don Sancho, sir, is all you can desire
Being my Favourite, I will advance
Seriffa's and your love: but did you know
How much he has employ'd his favour with me
For your advantage, you would recompence
His care with this alliance, but if all
That he has done, cann't make you flexible,
Yet heare me that am King, and do conjure you
To love your sister, and confirme this match,
A Kings entreaties must have no deniall.
CEL.
Sir, I am yours, and since this marriage
Is welcome to your thoughts: Don Sancho may
In Celimant meet a brother, and Seriffa
Being look'd on by me, through you and him,
Shall see J can forget what she has done.
K.
Now you oblige me, and this clemencie
Shews whence you are descended: how J love
This sweetnesse in you, trust me your sister
(Now J may tell you so) will well deserve
This favour of you; such a beautie, sir,
Ought not to dwell clouded in your dislikes:
But you are for your businesse: Arias.
See he finde no delay, and call Roderigo
My sister too; I know they are without,
So good successe when J speak for another
Makes me hope all things in my own behalf:
But J must change my countenance: Roderigo.
SCENE III.
The King, Roderigo, Infanta.[K.]
All Spain from thy brave hand has felt that peace
And quiet, which thy Prince cannot obtain,
This work is wanting to fill up thy glory,
Therefore to make thy victory more perfect,
For my sake undertake this enemy,
That would cut from thy valor half thy conquest.
RO.
How sir? dares any, who may be so blest
As to live under your just laws, shake off
Their due obedience? what vain insolence
Dares lift it self against so sweet a power:
Name him sir, to me, that I may destroy him.
K.
There's none can do't Roderigo.
RO.
None sir, Why?
K.
Tis love that little tyrant which rules all,
The enemy which makes this warre upon me,
Regards not majesty, but as a victor
Triumphs already in my captiv'd heart,
Which has consented to its own defeat
If Roderigo's hand sustain me not.
RO.
If your ease sir, depend upon my service,
You may be sure of my readinesse,
Only sir, let me know what you desire?
K.
Oh, Roderigo!
RO.
Why do you sigh, sir?
Ist that you doubt of my obedience?
Or that my power is lesse then your desires.
K.
By no means Roderigo, but I feare
Lest some ill fortune, stead of putting me
Into the haven, cast me further from't,
And lest the difficulty should change thy courage,
And leave me to my self in this fierce storm.
RO.
My courage is exempted from such feare.
K.
I'me well assur'd of thy faith and valour,
And yet in this I feare, because thou must
Combat thy self, subdue thy own desires,
Conquer thy own deare passions to make
Thy self a sacrifice to my affections.
RO.
Your Majesty may dispose then of my life.
K.
Tis not my purpose, nor for all Castile
Shall it be said that I wish'd any good
Which must be purchast at so deare a rate.
RO.
What can I do then for you.
K.
Thou mayst put
Cimena: do not start, they are her charms
By which I'me caught and suffer, nor can I
Believe though now she slight my offerd love
Any thing else withholds her, but the thought
Of being thine.
RO.
Oh sir, assure your selfe,
If that be all, and that your Majestie
Vouchsafe to cast your eyes upon this beautie,
I shall not be so rash to hope that good,
Which has the honour to please you my Prince.
In this sir, you may free me from suspect,
My love is (much indeed) more my respect,
And howsoere my heart be link'd to hers,
J owe more to my Master then my Mistris.
K.
Oh royall soule, and truly generous,
Great Cid, this instant thou hast made me happie:
Now I am King indeed, for what thou giv'st me,
I prize above the value of a Crown,
In liew of which J mean to give thee one,
Behold th'Infanta, whom J freely offer:
Tis fit, the state, which owes all to thy valour,
Should make thee a great sharer in her fortune.
IN.
Every thing smiles upon me, blest effects
Aside.
O're take my wishes, what could I hope more?
Love is made for me to my hand, Cimena
Ingag'd, to which Roderigo gives consent.
K.
Thou dost not answer me.
RO.
Excuse me sir,
I am your subject, and you are my King,
Tis not a Kingdome, which I wish or hope for
Obaying you, I learn how to command,
And since—But see Cimena.
SCENE IV.
Cimena.KING.
Oh, Madam,
The date now of your crueltie is out,
Your coldnesse, and your hate no more in season:
Roderigo for my sake has quitted you,
And if he had an interest in your person,
He has now put me in full possession of it.
CIM.
Sir, Roderigo's free and may renounce me,
I have no scepters to bestow upon him,
But yet I think my birth is not so mean,
As to live under his command; A slave
I am not yet, and my affections
Are not to be inclin'd and rule by his,
Since greatnesse is the thing, not love he aymes at,
Let him have his desires, I shan't be jealous
Though love do wound him with more pleasing darts
So that the tyrant which shall end his sufferings,
Do not put me on new, nor that his great
Felicitie be purchast at the rate
Of my lost honour, or my libertie.
Madam, think better of the man which loves you,
To get you happinesse I quit mine own:
And to obtain the sovereigne power for you,
I make my affection stoop unto my duty,
If when I see a Crown is offerd you,
I should come in, to crosse your better fortune,
I must believe my love did then betray you,
And had relation to my self not you.
CIM.
This Roderigo were a faire pretext,
If both our thoughts were levell'd at one height,
But let not any right that I can plead
Divert your deare ambition, mount upon
A throne, and taste its sweetnesse, as for me
I am so farre from blaming this your change,
You cannot finde more pleasure then I praise,
T'applaud your act; you see sir, I submit
To the same laws your self has made.
IN.
Oh, heavens!
Aside.
How am I faln from all my hopes at once,
He is Roderigo still, and she Cimena.
K.
You are resolv'd then Madam, to continue
In the same cruelty? my love I see
Is uselesse, and my vowes superfluous:
Yet think I am a King, and can command.
What you deny my love, you'l give my power,
And since I can't perswade, I must constrain.
CIM.
Sir since my presence does but move your anger
Suffer me to retire I beseech you.
Exit.
K.
See Roderigo, how my love is answered,
She flies my presence; leaving not so much
She thinks to coole the fire which burns my heart,
She is deceiv'd; for this her suddainnesse
Does not restrain but quicken more my flame,
Tell me was ever King so rudely treated?
RO.
This her judicious and wise retreat,
Being no effect of spight or arrogance,
Should not excite your anger: sir you know
A modest feare keeps subjects in restraint,
When they are neer their King, and in that sex
The dazling lustre of a Princes person,
Strikes more respect into their hearts then love.
K.
Why, was I made a King then? if my quality
Must crosse my dearest wishes, let me be
A subject, any thing, so I have her:
Some kinde fare rob me of my crown and scepter,
And you shall see that I will blesse your rigour,
If in exchange you'le give me but one heart:
Cimena limits my ambition,
On her depends either my life or death,
Then if thou ever hadst a thought to please me,
Roderigo winne Cimena to my love,
Accomplish what thou hast begun, and try
To melt the ice which circles in her heart,
Or if it be a fire, oh turn it this way,
From thee I must expect all my content:
Exit.
RO.
And I from you sir, all my punishment:
Did ever any mischief equall this,
I'me made the confident of my own rivall,
To my self faithlesse, true to him that wrongs me,
My duty and my love run contraries,
One bindes me to obay a wilfull Prince,
Th'other my Mistris, whom my heart adores,
And if my dutie, I must lose her love,
But that I may however, since the King
Has power to take her from me when he will:
Then let me serve my King which I have promis'd,
But that Cimena claims as well as he;
On both sides thus engag'd, and thus distracted.
Roderigo, what canst thou resolve to do,
Since with thy love or dutie thou must part
Give him thy life, and let her have thy heart.
Exit.
| The Second Part of The Cid | |