University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

King, Celimant, Don Sancho.
KING.
In this sir, I confesse, Spheranti has
Oblig'd our Family, the Prince is noble,
And I could wish my sister would embrace
The love he offers, what I can conferre,
He may be sure of: but you know th'Jnfanta
Is promis'd Roderigo, to whose valour
She has been long a debt, and yet this businesse
Is not arrived so farre as to cut off
This noble Rivals hopes, sometimes a moment
Alters the state of things; a Ladies minde
Is not lesse changable: tell him from me
He shall have all assistance.

CEL.
Tis the summe
Of his desires, your Majestie wi'l pardon
Th'abruptnesse of my parting, he's my friend
And such a happinesse he longs to heare
As much as I to tell him.

K.
Your own time
You may command brave Celimant: Don Sancho
This Prince has royall thoughts & more your friend,
Then you could hope.

D. SAN.
Your Majesty still puts
Fresh obligations on your humble vassall,
I am your creature, and the Prince through you,
Looking on me, may happily bestow
His grace upon me as I am your servant,
Though otherwise I be not worth his thought.

K.
This modesty becomes thee, and sets off
Thy vertues which I cherish; in reward
Of which, and for thou hast been still an aid
To my desires, I have assisted thine,
The love thou mad'st to Corduba's Infanta,
I have tane notice of, and though another
Might suffer in the like attempt, in thee
I've not dislik'd it, but commend thy choice,
She is as great, in beauty as in birth.

D. SAN.
She is an object for which mighty Kings
Being rivals should take arms, such excellence
Was never meant to be attain'd with ease.

K.
You speak sir, like a lover, but Don Sancho
What would he say, that should be made the owner
Of this rare beauty by consent of all?

D. SAN.
That fortune had left nothing to confer,
Being undone in this, hope cannot look
So high.

K.
She shall be thine, nay more, she is.

D. SAN.
Leave me not now my faith and honesty.
Aside.
For I had nere more need of your assistance.

K.
Thou dost not answer, has thy suddain joy
Surpriz'd thy sences, and shut up thy speech?

D. SAN.
I must confesse, I'me ravish'd with this offer;
And on my knees in signe of gratitude
I here restore her to you.

K.
Dost thou mock,
My courtesie, or is it madnesse in thee?
Return unto thy self.

D. SAN.
Your favours, sir,
Have come so thick upon me, that my thanks
Are still ore taken, only now my fortune,
Has given me leave to shew my gratitude,
This Princesse whom you offer I adore,
But dare not love, nor any but your self.

K.
Thou mak'st me wonder, how can she concern me?

D. SAN.
In justice, sir, she is your wife, if contracts
Can stand in force with Princes, by your father,
In your minority, with her a match
Was made and ratifide, of which Don Diego
Cannot be ignorant, nor Don Arias,
Who did transact the businesse.

L.
Some such thing
I heard, but have forgotten, my Cimena
Cals back my thoughts and fixes them on her;
Beside she lov'd the Cid, and for his sake
Betray'd her Country and her brother.

D. SAN.
True,
She did, but not for him: had you great sir,
But heard the story of her love, and how
It grew up in her fancy, since the time
The King her father mention'd first your name
To her yet infant apprehension,
And gave your picture to her, you would say
Love entring by degrees, gathers his strength
From small beginnings, but makes sure his hold.
In fine, your Majestie has been the object,
For whom she has despis'd the Prince Spheranti.
Endur'd her brothers fury, and at length
To colour her desires, made the occasion
Of Roderigo's being there, the means
To bring her to your Court, and acted that
Unto the Cid, she truly meant to you:
Feigned love is often better shew'd then true.

K.
I must confesse my self a debtor to her,
But yet Cimena is my choice, the Princesse
Consulted well for her own modestie,
And no lesse for her good, when she made you
Her speaker, I shall think on't: call Don Diego,
My sister and Seriffa, to them all
I have to say. Intreat the faire but cruell.
Cimena come, and Roderigo too.
I shall dispose of them: how unhappy
Exit San.
Are Princes that must love by others reason,
And not their own affections, this Princesse
Is faire and loves me, so is my Cimena,
But she abhors me; should I sacrifice
To fame, Seriffa must be mine, but if
To love, Cimena; one of these I'me led to
By reason, to the other forc'd by love:
Must a Prince suffer violence? he must
Or else imprison them that offer it,
(His wilde desires) there being no other course,
But to submit to reason or to force.