University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

The Street.
Enter Two Nobles.
FIRST NOBLE.
'Tis passing strange, the King should so degrade
The rank of our nobility, to make
A present on't to one so meanly born—
For such a service too!

SECOND NOBLE.
There must be more
In this than we have heard. But is it certain
Durazzo claims equality with us,
And we must bear it?

FIRST NOBLE.
Some time since I join'd
The Council, in whose presence he was call'd,
And there saluted with his proud additions
By Royal mandate.

SECOND NOBLE.
'Tis a mockery,
But let us farther learn, before we give
Our indignation words.

FIRST NOBLE.
I go with you.

[Exeunt.
Enter Garcia and Anthonio.
ANTHONIO.
So this is the humility we thought
To make account of.

GARCIA.
Nay, 'twill serve our cause,
By spreading discontent: wherefore, though harsh
And galling to our pride, our interest
May stomach it.

ANTHONIO.
But what pretence—what show
Of reason, can the King advance to those
Who have no deep designs to reconcile
Their feelings?

GARCIA.
More than you would guess, Anthonio;
For now it so turns out, that, having gain'd
The Monarch's favour, in obtaining which
Durazzo's smooth devices were employ'd
To shut our eyes, and push us on before
As instruments, not guides, he proves himself
Descended of a stock ennobled once;
And shews the claim of right to wear the title.
You've heard of Lord Gonsalvo?

ANTHONIO.
Many times.

GARCIA.
An age hath 'lapsed since he for practices
Of magic science, which the people loathe—
The law forbids—religion execrates—
Was of his rank deprived, and banish'd hence
A wanderer.

ANTHONIO.
So far I know the fate
Of that corrupted house.

GARCIA.
The exile lived
A careful life; and, dying, left his son,
Durazzo's father, what his prudence saved
From sequestration. Some while since the son
Died also, which brings down their history
Nigh to the point we speak of.

ANTHONIO.
But how came
Durazzo to conceal his birth so long;
Seeing the declaration must have helped
His project more than silence?

GARCIA.
That he saw not,
But rather saw the opposite, and kept
The pulse of his ambition down so low,
That none could say “he 's feverish;”—nay, he had
Some reason, too.

ANTHONIO.
What reason?

GARCIA.
Ere he changed
Italian skies for Spanish, in pursuit
Of his design, he task'd a beldam's skill
To prophesy of the event.

ANTHONIO.
The taint
Was in the race. What said his counsellor?

GARCIA.
Foretold the prosperous issue of his cause,
But one condition nam'd;—that he should keep
The secret of his birth as close as frost
Knits up the waters, 'till by cunning, or
By chance, he found admittance to the king,
And then to speak.

ANTHONIO.
'Twas singular.

GARCIA.
She said,
Moreover, that if he to the other ears
Than those of Majesty first told his tale,
The gates of hope would shut on his endeavour.
He took her word, and triumph'd.

ANTHONIO.
Is the king
Advised of this?

GARCIA.
He is: 'twas from his lips
I heard it now; he from Durazzo's own:
But mark what I have since resolved upon.
'Tis needful to our safety that his pride
Should pay a tribute to our influence.
Durazzo mounts; had he but wings to fly,
He'd bear his very appetites to Heaven,
And slake his thirst i' the clouds. I'll touch his temper.

ANTHONIO.
But how proceed?

GARCIA.
E'en now I'm on my way
To meet him in his home, where, putting off
All ceremony, I will hold myself
As great ones o'er inferiors dominate.

ANTHONIO.
And will he brook your haughty carriage tamely?

GARCIA.
It shall be tried, at least. Do you, my friend,
Meanwhile await the coming of our spies:
I look for notice of the Moor's approach
At every new arrival.

ANTHONIO.
You shall find
My zeal awake.

GARCIA.
Anon we'll meet again.

[Exeunt.