ACT II. SCENE I.

_The same. A Room in_ FIORINDA'_s House_.

_Enter_ FIORINDA _and_ CALAMINTA.

_Fior._ How does this dressing show?

_Calam._ 'Tis of itself Curious and rare; but, borrowing ornament, As it does from your grace, that deigns to wear it, Incomparable.

_Fior._ Thou flatter'st me.

_Calam._ I cannot, Your excellence is above it.

_Fior._ Were we less perfect, Yet, being as we are, an absolute princess, We of necessity must be chaste, wise, fair, By our prerogative!--yet all these fail To move where I would have them. How received Count Sanazarro the rich scarf I sent him For his last visit?

_Calam._ With much reverence, I dare not say affection. He express'd More ceremony in his humble thanks, Than feeling of the favour; and appear'd Wilfully ignorant, in my opinion, Of what it did invite him to.

_Fior._ No matter; He's blind with too much light[69]. Have you not heard Of any private mistress he's engaged to?

_Calam._ Not any; and this does amaze me, madam, That he, a soldier, should in his manners Be so averse to women.

_Fior._ Troth, I know not.

_Calam._ I do suspect him; for I learnt last night, When the great duke went to rest, attended by One private follower, he took horse; but whither He's rid, or to what end, I cannot guess at, But I will find it out.

_Fior._ Do, faithful servant;

_Enter_ CALANDRINO.

We would not be abused.--Who have we here?

_Calam._ How the fool stares!

_Fior._ And looks as if he were Conning his neck-verse.

_Cal._ If I now prove perfect In my A B C of courtship, Calandrino Is made for ever. I am sent--let me see, On a _How d'ye_, as they call 't.

_Calam._ What wouldst thou say?

_Cal._ Let me see my notes. These are her lodgings; well.

_Calam._ Art thou an ass?

_Cal._ Peace! thou art a court wagtail, [_Looking on his instructions._ To interrupt me.

_Fior_. He has given it you.

Cal. _And then say to the illustrious Fi-o-rin-da_-- I have it. Which is she?

_Calam._ Why this; fop-doodle.

_Cal._ Leave chattering, bull-finch; you would put me out, But 'twill not do.--_Then, after you have made Your three obeisances to her, kneel, and kiss The skirt of her gown._--I am glad it is no worse.

_Calam._ This is sport unlook'd for.

_Cal._ Are you the princess?

_Fior._ Yes, sir.

_Cal._ Then stand fair, For I am choleric; and do not nip A hopeful blossom. Out again:--_Three low Obeisances_--

_Fior._ I am ready.

_Cal._ I come on, then.

_Calam._ With much formality.

_Cal._ Umph! One, two, three. [_Makes antic courtesies._ Thus far I am right. Now for the last. [_Kisses the skirt of her gown._]--O, rare! She is perfumed all over! Sure great women, Instead of little dogs, are privileged To carry musk-cats.

_Fior._ Now the ceremony Is pass'd, what is the substance?

_Cal._ I'll peruse My instructions, and then tell you.--_Her skirt kiss'd, Inform her highness that your lord_----

_Calam._ Who's that?

_Cal._ Prince Giovanni, who entreats your grace, That he, with your good favour, may have leave To present his service to you. I think I have nick'd it For a courtier of the first form.

_Fior._ To my wonder.

_Enter_ GIOVANNI _and a Gentleman_.

Return unto the prince--but he prevents My answer. Calaminta, take him off; And, for the neat delivery of his message, Give him ten ducats: such rare parts as yours Are to be cherish'd.

_Cal._ We will share: I know It is the custom of the court, when ten Are promised, five is fair. Fie! fie! the princess Shall never know it, so you despatch me quickly, And bid me not come to-morrow.

_Calam._ Very good, sir. [_Exeunt_ CALANDRINO _and_ CALAMINTA.

_Giov._ Pray you, friend, Inform the duke I am putting into act What he commanded.

_Gent._ I am proud to be employ'd, sir. [_Exit._

_Giov._ Madam, that, without warrant, I presume To trench upon your privacies, may argue Rudeness of manners; but the free access Your princely courtesy vouchsafes to all That come to pay their services, gives me hope To find a gracious pardon.

_Fior._ If you please, not To make that an offence in your construction, Which I receive as a large favour from you, There needs not this apology.

_Giov._ You continue, As you were ever, the greatest mistress of Fair entertainment.

_Fior._ You are, sir, the master; And in the country have learnt to outdo All that in court is practised. But why should we Talk at such distance? You are welcome, sir. We have been more familiar, and since You will impose the province (you should govern) Of boldness on me, give me leave to say You are too punctual. Sit, sir, and discourse As we were used.

_Giov._ Your excellence knows so well How to command, that I can never err When I obey you.

_Fior._ Nay, no more of this. You shall o'ercome; no more, I pray you, sir.-- And what delights, pray you be liberal In your relation, hath the country life Afforded you?

_Giov._ All pleasures, gracious madam, But the happiness to converse with your sweet virtues. I had a grave instructor, and my hours Design'd to serious studies yielded me Pleasure with profit, in the knowledge of What before I was ignorant in; the signior, Carolo de Charomonte, being skilful To guide me through the labyrinth of wild passions, That labour'd to imprison my free soul A slave to vicious sloth.

_Fior._ You speak him well.

_Giov._ But short of his deserts. Then for the time Of recreation, I was allow'd (Against the form follow'd by jealous parents In Italy) full liberty to partake His daughter's sweet society. She's a virgin Happy in all endowments which a poet Could fancy in his mistress; being herself A school of goodness, where chaste maids may learn, Without the aids of foreign principles, By the example of her life and pureness, To be as she is, excellent. I but give you A brief epitome of her virtues, which, Dilated on at large, and to their merit, Would make an ample story.

_Fior._ Your whole age, So spent with such a father, and a daughter, Could not be tedious to you.

_Giov._ True, great princess: And now, since you have pleased to grant the hearing Of my time's expense in the country, give me leave To entreat the favour to be made acquainted What service, or what objects in the court, Have, in your excellency's acceptance, proved Most gracious to you.

_Fior._ I'll meet your demand, And make a plain discovery. The duke's care For my estate and person holds the first And choicest place: then, the respect the courtiers Pay gladly to me, not to be contemn'd. But that which raised in me the most delight, (For I am a friend to valour,) was to hear The noble actions truly reported Of the brave count Sanazarro. I profess, When it hath been, and fervently, deliver'd, How boldly, in the horror of a fight, Cover'd with fire and smoke, and, as if nature Had lent him wings, like lightning he hath fallen Upon the Turkish galleys, I have heard it With a kind of pleasure, which hath whisper'd to me, This worthy must be cherish'd.

_Giov._ 'Twas a bounty You never can repent.

_Fior._ I glory in it. And when he did return, (but still with conquest,) His armour off, not young Antinous Appear'd more courtly; all the graces that Render a man's society dear to ladies, Like pages waiting on him; and it does Work strangely on me.

_Giov._ To divert your thoughts, Though they are fix'd upon a noble subject, I am a suitor to you.

_Fior._ You will ask, I do presume, what I may grant, and then It must not be denied.

_Giov._ It is a favour For which I hope your excellence will thank me.

_Fior._ Nay, without circumstance.

_Giov._ That you would please To take occasion to move the duke, That you, with his allowance, may command This matchless virgin, Lidia, (of whom I cannot speak too much,) to wait upon you. She's such a one, upon the forfeit of Your good opinion of me, that will not Be a blemish to your train.

_Fior._ 'Tis rank! he loves her: But I will fit him with a suit. [_Aside._]--I pause not, As if it bred or doubt or scruple in me To do what you desire, for I'll effect it, And make use of a fair and fit occasion; Yet, in return, I ask a boon of you, And hope to find you, in your grant to me, As I have been to you.

_Giov._ Command me, madam.

_Fior._ 'Tis near allied to yours. That you would be A suitor to the duke, not to expose, After so many trials of his faith, The noble Sanazarro to all dangers, As if he were a wall to stand the fury Of a perpetual battery: but now To grant him, after his long labours, rest And liberty to live in court; his arms And his victorious sword and shield hung up For monuments.

_Giov._ Umph!--I'll embrace, fair princess,

_Enter_ COZIMO.

The soonest opportunity. The duke!

_Coz._ Nay, blush not; we smile on your privacy, And come not to disturb you. You are equals, And, without prejudice to either's honours, May make a mutual change of love and courtship, Till you are made one, and with holy rites, And we give suffrage to it.

_Giov._ You are gracious.

_Coz._ To ourself in this: but now break off; too much Taken at once of the most curious viands, Dulls the sharp edge of appetite. We are now For other sports, in which our pleasure is That you should keep us company.

_Fior._ We attend you. [_Exeunt._

FOOTNOTE:

[69] _He's blind with too much light._] Ennobled by Milton--"dark with excess of light."