University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

All the Actors, and Infanta and Cimena on one side; Roderigo, Celimant, and Spheranti on the other.
[K.]
But there they are: sister, I am resolv'd
This day to see you married, and to make
Your joy more perfect, I shall give you leave
To choose your husband: the Prince of Toledo
Courts you with such a love as nought can equall
But his perfections, which you must honour,
As well as he your beauty: yet Roderigo
Is for himself so much to be considered,
That we can hardly finde a Mistris for him,
Which may deserve his vertues; both of them
Out-weigh your merits, yet since equally
They make an offer of their service to you,
Declare which is the object of your choice.

IN.
I cannot, sir, believe my self so happy,
As to have either of em for my husband:
But if they do submit to my desires,
Being both equall, I have no election.

K.
They both adore you, and on this assurance
You may distingish of their love.

IN.
How, both.
I doubt it much.

K.
If you do not believe me,
From their own voice I shall confirme it to you.

SP.
Yes divine beauty from my heart I speak,
That heart which your fair eyes have set on fire,
The light of which may shew you how I love.
And if J lose my hope, J lose my life.

K.
Can you doubt yet of his affection?
And Roderigo sure will say as much.

RO.
Tis true great King, all men adore the Princesse,
She has such universall power ore harts,
She cann't be seen by any, and not lov'd,
But here's the difference between my love
And theirs, they live with hope, I with despaire.

K.
What robs thee of thy hope?

RO.
Love.

K.
Speak more cleerly,
Tis without reason that thou sayst: can love
Take thy hope from thee, when it gives it thee?

RO.
Then when I love, my hope forsakes me quite.

K.
But now it does restore what then it took.

RO.
In doing so it keeps me further from't.

K.
These terms are too obscure, I cann't conceive em;

RO.
Time and my constancie will make it plain.

K.
But I would know their meaning at this present.

RO.
Th'effect will quickly tell you.

K.
What effect.

RO.
My death.

K.
Thy death, who can cause it?

RO.
Cimena, sir.

K.
Cimena, thou hast yielded her to me.

RO.
It was your will prescrib'd that Law unto me,
I am your subject sir, and you my King.

K.
Though you be so, I never had intent
To do you wrong, to do my self a pleasure:
Thou knowst how deare thy person is to me,
And that my sister is thy valours prize,
Will you refuse her your affection.

RO.
I have not, sir, ambition enough
To look so high: pray sir, regard not me,
But leave me to my self, possesse Cimena;
In your love let her drown the memory
Of mine, I am your subject, you my King.

K.
Well then since you refuse my profferd honours,
And that my sister cannot touch your heart,
My promises are disingag'd for me,
I shall accept Cimena, and this Princesse
You are content to part with, are you not?
What do you fix upon?

RO.
On what I ought,
I am your subject sir, and you my King.

K.
Spheranti, if my sister be your choice,
So that your father will give his consent,
I freely shall give mine.

SP.
Your Majestie
Shall quickly see that cleerd, I know my father
Will be well satisfied, when he shall heare
That I have joyn'd the Kingdoms of Toledo
And Sevill by a match: but may I Madam
Receive this happinesse from your consent?

IN.
The King has made you, sir, disposer of me,
And what he chooses answers my desires.

K.
Th'art silent Roderigo, what dost think?

RO.
That she could hardly have a braver Prince,
Nor he hope more then her.

K.
And you Cimena,
Will you not put an end unto my sufferings,
Will you be still obdurate to your King?

CIM.
Sir, I have no other faith then what I have given,
You know your father made me weare these bonds,
Which only death can break.

K.
My constancie
Shall overcome thy stubbornesse, I know
The ground and cause of thy aversion,
Thou hast some feeble hope t'enjoy the Cid,
But that's without apparance; his own mouth
Has ruin'd it, speak it again Roderigo,
Assure her that her hopes but flatter her,
Or if thou dost repent thy courtesie,
Deal freely with me, say thy minde is chang'd,
And that thou lov'st her spight of all her rigors.

RO.
Great sir, my duty here restrains my tongue,
It is enough for me that I have told you,
You are my King, and I your humble vassall.

K.
Though I am so, I will not force my subject
To suffer for concealing his desires.

RO.
Ah sir, cast off all thoughts that may retard
The course of your contentments, when a businesse
Concerns the good of such a gracious King,
What is the death of one unhappy man?
Twill be a faire employment for my arme,
To punish him thats troublesome to his Prince.

K.
Well thou hast overcome, thy extream vertue
Shall serve for an example to thy King.
To Seriffa.
See where I am oblig'd, Madam, Don Sancho,
I hope has tane these blushes off, I know
What right you have to me, and I to you.
This should have been your work Don Diego rather
Then his that did it, you were privy to
All passages between our fathers; but
You'l say, as all else do, 'tis dangerous
To turn the stream of Kings affections.

D. DIE.
Your Majestie is gracious, and prevents
Excuses from your subjects, I could say
No more in my own defence.

K.
Here J restore to thee thine own Cimena,
(Most perfect lover) Madam, I hope your rigour
Is not habituall, he's Roderigo,
Who spight of my desires, has always lov'd
And honour'd you, do not defer then longer,
His and your own contentment, let his love
Wrack'd with so many storms, finde here its harbour,
He has conquer'd still abroad, let him not lose
At home, but adde thy Mirtles to his Lawrels,
And so confirming to him the same faith,
Thou gav'st him once, receive him for thy husband.

CIM.
On what shall I resolve?

RO.
To take my life,
If you denie the price of my deare love,
For since the hope of that has yet preserv'd it,
They both must fall together, and twill be
Some satisfaction to have dy'd your lover.

CIM.
Rise, tis enough, I am Cimena ever,
Thou Roderigo, and I wholy thine.

K.
Live happy Lovers then, and taste the pleasures,
Which with so many crosses you have purchast:
Quit all your cares, and celebrate this day,
My Court shall be Loves Palace, come faire Princesse:
Y are mine by a double tie of love and dutie,
Which J shall still preserve, since J am taught
To do not what J would; but what J ought.