University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE THIRD.

Diego, Piero.
Di.
Thou, my brother?
We evermore were too dissimilar.

Pi.
Appease thyself; thy generous resentment
He merits not. Heard'st thou his insolence?
Heard'st thou how proudly he exults in treason,
Much less then blushes at it?

Di.
Thou shalt see
One day, that he will be forced to renounce
His foolish pride: wait till I reign, and then ...

Pi.
To thee, 'tis true, the throne belongs by right;
But not by accident speaks Garcia thus.
Well know I, that my father hath reposed
All his affection, all his hope in thee;
To him art thou far dearer than the light:
But he descends towards the decline of life.
Thou know'st how love in aged hearts grows cold;
How feebly hoary age defends itself
'Gainst female stratagems. This Garcia is
His mother's darling: she's possess'd by him:
And, thou know'st, loves us little ...

Di.
What fear I?
The throne to me is due; not e'en my sire
Could take it from me. Grant that he could do it,
I should suffice to re-obtain it. Well,
Our father knows us.

Pi.
It is true; but art ...

Di.
Art to the vile I give. I know that he
Is too dear to his mother. Equally
Were he to Cosmo, should I heed it? no!
I fear not, hate not, envy not my brother.

Pi.
But thou know'st not what culpable designs
Garcia hides in his heart ...

Di.
And do I ever
Investigate the purposes of others?

Pi.
But unknown to his father ...

Di.
And would I,
Think'st thou, repeat them to him? That would be
In me far viler than in other men:
Since betwixt us harsh menaces have past,
Each word of mine would seem like craft or vengeance.
I know my father, and am well aware
How little he is able to subdue
The first assaults of rage; to fatal proof
'Twere better not to bring him. If my brother
Deteriorates spontaneously, let him
Alone abide the consequence of this.
But if he any more attempts to offend me,
I hope, he cannot say, that for his wrongs
I've sought redress from any but himself.