University of Virginia Library

SCENE. I.

The Street.
Enter Alberto reading a Challenge, follow'd by his Man Lopez.
Alb.
This from Antonio? forbid it freindship!
He tells me that Miranda's false and loves me not;
If he be then that happy Rivall, why shou'd he desire
To take that life her Scorn can look away?

Lop.
Goes it there—I have the business now
[aside
But will prevent your designs my noble valiant Don.

Alb.
This note's ten thousand daggers to my breast,
Cleaves to my heart like Hercules poyson'd shirt,
And tares my Soul in piecemeal.
Shall I go on? my friendship bars the way;
But mighty Love and Honour chide my stay:
Yes, I will go; I'le meet this treacherous man,
And stab her image in his faithless breast,
Or fall my self a Sacrifice to both:

Lop.
That I must prevent, my good furious Master.

[aside.
Alb.
By Heaven he shan't enjoy her. I'le sluce my veins,
Let out a deluge of my bloud to drown 'em,
And follow 'em tho' rocks high as Olimpus,
Oppose and stop my way: Leap Ætna's hideous Vault,
Then catch 'em on the brink and plunge 'em in,
But I will have revenge, and such revenge
As Traytors, nay the damn'd themselves yet never knew:
And I'le about it strait.—

[Exit.
Lo.

So, now is he going to take Horse and Ride Post to the Devill.
A plague on these Female Succubus's, who o' my Conscience are good
for nothing else but to breed and beget quarrells.—Well faith I'le not
lose a good Master so.

Enter Ricardo, and his man Bernardo following.
Lop.

I'le get some friends and neighbours to assist me, then go with
'em to all the slaughtering fields about town and finde them out, and so
prevent their duelling.

Ric.

How's this! friends and neighbours to assist his Master, that must
not be: Bernardo, do you follow Lopez when he goes from hence, and
leave him not till night: I can away with your dilligence till to morrow.

Ber.

Till to morrow Sir?

Ric.

Yes, till to morrow: business of importance obliges me to attend
the Vice-Roy: be gone.

[Bernardo waits at the door.
Lop.

What a pox has Antonio to do with his Mistriss? or can't he
share her with his friend, I warrant She'le give 'em both enough, in as
hot a Skirmish as this is like to be.

Ric.

I must prevent his purpose and design.—Lopez.

Lop.

Bless me! what will become of me now, if this ill-natur'd
Courtier has or'e-heard me?

Ric.

I've heard from you your Masters rash design, of fighting with
Antonio, and must your faithfulness and care commend.

Lop.

I'd rather you'd heard the last Trumpet Summoning you to Hell.
Sir you may commend it, but I can hardly believe that you'l reward it.

Ric.
Why Lopez, thy Master is My dearest friend;
Our hatred's fled to'th air from whence it sprung,
The date is out, and all the bonds are cancell'd:
Canst thou then think, I'de tamely see him fall,
And crack those strings which hold Ricardo's heart?
Friendship's a dearer name to me then Honour,
And I'le expose the one to save the other.

Lop.
As how Sir?

Ric.
I will prevent their fighting Lopez;
Or if that fail, I will assist thy Master:
But if his nicety refuse me that,
I'le stake the utmost cast I have to loose,
And run upon Antonio's Sword;
Then hold it close unto my throbbing heart
Untill my dearest blood cool on the point,
And blunt the stroak of death to save Alberto.

Lop.

Well Sir, since you are so resolv'd to serve my Master, I'le trust
his safety for once with you, and humbly retire.

Ber.
Hist, hist, Lopez.

[Lopez runs to Bernardo:
[both go off together.
Ric.
His safety, dull Buffoon, trust me for that:
Thou coud'st not chuse a better Guardian out,
Tho' thou hadst ransackt all the worlds below,
To cull a Villain of the blackest dye.
One thing I want to finish forth a Hero
But 'tis the meanest virtue—brutall Courage,
Mallice I have enough, and witty mallice:
These greater qualities may infuse the less,
And then Ricardo has a Titans Soul—
Alberto's death makes way for my pretentions,
Unto the coy Miranda's heart; I will about it strait:
Italian spite assist me at this push,
Or blast Ricardo, or his Rivall crush.

[Exit.