University of Virginia Library

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
Which with my enemies I must receive.

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
His fortune to that height as shall deserve,
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.