SCENE III.

_The same. A State-room in the Palace._

_A Flourish. Enter_ PIERIO, RODERIGO, JACOMO, GONZAGA, AURELIA, FERDINAND, ASTUTIO, _and Attendants_.

_Aurel._ A seat here for the duke. It is our glory To overcome with courtesies, not rigour; The lordly Roman, who held it the height Of human happiness to have kings and queens To wait by his triumphant chariot-wheels, In his insulting pride, deprived himself Of drawing near the nature of the gods, Best known for such, in being merciful. Yet, give me leave, but still with gentle language, And with the freedom of a friend, to tell you, To seek by force, what courtship could not win, Was harsh, and never taught in Love's mild school. Wise poets feign that Venus' coach is drawn By doves and sparrows, not by bears and tigers. I spare the application.

_Fer._ In my fortune, Heaven's justice hath confirm'd it; yet, great lady, Since my offence grew from excess of love, And not to be resisted, having paid, too, With loss of liberty, the forfeiture Of my presumption, in your clemency It may find pardon.

_Aurel._ You shall have just cause To say it hath. The charge of the long siege Defray'd, and the loss my subjects have sustain'd Made good, since so far I must deal with caution, You have your liberty.

_Fer._ I could not hope for Gentler conditions.

_Aurel._ My lord Gonzaga, Since my coming to Sienna, I've heard much of Your prisoner, brave Bertoldo.

_Gonz._ Such an one, Madam, I had.

_Ast._ And have still, sir, I hope.

_Gonz._ Your hopes deceive you. He is ransom'd, madam.

_Ast._ By whom, I pray you, sir?

_Gonz._ You had best inquire Of your intelligencer: I am no informer.

_Ast._ I like not this. [_Aside._

_Aurel._ He is, as 'tis reported, A goodly gentleman, and of noble parts; A brother of your order.

_Gonz._ He was, madam, Till he, against his oath, wrong'd you, a princess, Which his religion bound him from.

_Aurel._ Great minds, For trial of their valours, oft maintain Quarrels that are unjust, yet without malice; And such a fair construction I make of him: I would see that brave enemy.

_Gonz._ My duty Commands me to seek for him.

_Aurel._ Pray you do; And bring him to our presence. [_Exit_ GONZAGA.

_Ast._ I must blast His entertainment. [_Aside._] May it please your excellency. He is a man debauch'd, and, for his riots, Cast off by the king my master; and that, I hope, is A crime sufficient.

_Fer._ To you, his subjects, That like as your king likes.

_Aurel._ But not to us; We must weigh with our own scale.

_Re-enter_ GONZAGA, _with_ BERTOLDO _richly habited, and_ ADORNI.

This is he, sure. How soon mine eye had found him! what a port He bears! how well his bravery becomes him! A prisoner! nay, a princely suitor, rather! But I'm too sudden. [_Aside._

_Gonz._ Madam, 'twas his suit, Unsent for, to present his service to you, Ere his departure.

_Aurel._ With what majesty He bears himself! [_Aside._

_Ast._ The devil, I think, supplies him. Ransom'd, and thus rich too!

_Aurel._ You ill deserve [BERTOLDO, _kneeling, kisses her hand_. The favour of our hand----we are not well, Give us more air. [_Descends suddenly._

_Gonz._ What sudden qualm is this?

_Aurel._--That lifted yours against me.

_Bert._ Thus, once more, I sue for pardon.

_Aurel._ Sure his lips are poison'd, And through these veins force passage to my heart, Which is already seized on. [_Aside._

_Bert._ I wait, madam, To know what your commands are; my designs Exact me in another place.

_Aurel._ Before You have our licence to depart! If manners, Civility of manners, cannot teach you To attend our leisure, I must tell you, sir, That you are still our prisoner; nor had you Commission to free him.

_Gonz._ How's this, madam?

_Aurel._ You were my substitute, and wanted power, Without my warrant, to dispose of him: I will pay back his ransom ten times over, Rather than quit my interest.

_Bert._ This is Against the law of arms.

_Aurel._ But not of love. [_Aside._ Why, hath your entertainment, sir, been such, In your restraint, that, with the wings of fear, You would fly from it?

_Bert._ I know no man, madam, Enamour'd of his fetters, or delighting In cold or hunger, or that would in reason Prefer straw in a dungeon before A down-bed in a palace.

_Aurel._ How!--Come nearer: Was his usage such?

_Gonz._ Yes, and it had been worse, Had I foreseen this.

_Aurel._ O such as thou, that have No share in nature's bounties, know no pity To such as have them. Look on him with my eyes, And answer, then, whether this were a man Whose cheeks of lovely fulness should be made A prey to meagre famine? or these eyes, Whose every glance store Cupid's emptied quiver, To be dimm'd with tedious watching? or these lips, These ruddy lips, of whose fresh colour cherries And roses were but copies, should grow pale For want of nectar? or these limbs, that bear A burthen of more worth than is supported By Atlas' wearied shoulders, should be cramp'd With the weight of iron? O, I could dwell ever On this description!

_Bert._ Is this in derision, Or pity of me?

_Aurel._ In your charity Believe me innocent. Now you are my prisoner, You shall have fairer quarter: you will shame The place where you have been, should you now leave it, Before you are recover'd. I'll conduct you To more convenient lodgings, and it shall be My care to cherish you. Repine who dare; It is our will. You'll follow me?

_Bert._ To the centre, Such a Sybilla guiding me. [_Exeunt_ AURELIA, BERTOLDO, _and Attendants_.

_Gonz._ Who speaks first?

_Fer._ We stand as we had seen Medusa's head.

_Pier._ I know not what to think, I am so amazed.

_Rod._ Amazed! I am thunderstruck.

_Jac._ We are enchanted, And this is some illusion.

_Ador._ Heaven forbid! In dark despair it shows a beam of hope: Contain thy joy, Adorni. [_Aside._

_Ast._ Such a princess, And of so long experienced reservedness, Break forth, and on the sudden, into flashes Of more than doubted love!

_Gonz._ They come again, Smiling, as I live!--Some fury hath possess'd her. If I speak, I may be blasted.

_Re-enter_ BERTOLDO _and_ AURELIA.

_Aurel._ Let not, sir, The violence of my passion nourish in you An ill opinion; or, grant my carriage Out of the road and garb of private women, 'Tis still done with decorum.

_Bert._ Gracious madam, Vouchsafe a little pause; for I am so rapt Beyond myself, that, till I have collected My scatter'd faculties, I cannot tender My resolution.

_Aurel._ Consider of it: I will not be long from you. [BERTOLDO _walks by musing_.

_Gonz._ Pray you, fair lady, If you can, in courtesy direct me to The chaste Aurelia.

_Aurel._ Are you blind? who are we?

_Gonz._ Another kind of thing. Her love was govern'd By her discretion, and not ruled her reason: The reverence and majesty of Juno Shined in her looks, and, coming to the camp, Appear'd a second Pallas. I can see No such divinities in you: if I, Without offence, may speak my thoughts, you are, As 'twere, another Helen.

_Aurel._ Good! ere long You shall know me better.

_Gonz._ Why, if you are Aurelia, How shall I dispose of the soldier?

_Ast._ May it please you To hasten my despatch?

_Aurel._ Prefer your suits Unto Bertoldo; we will give him hearing, And you'll find him your best advocate. [_Exit._

_Ast._ This is rare!

_Gonz._ What are we come to?

_Rod._ Grown up in a moment A favourite!

_Ferd._ He does take state already.

_Bert._ No, no; it cannot be:--yet, but Camiola, There is no step between me and a crown. Then my ingratitude! a sin in which All sins are comprehended! Aid me, Virtue, Or I am lost!

_Gonz._ May it please your excellence---- Second me, sir.

_Bert._ Then my so horrid oaths, And hell-deep imprecations made against it!

_Ast._ The king, your brother, will thank you for the advancement Of his affairs.

_Bert._ And yet who can hold out Against such batteries as her power and greatness Raise up against my weak defences?

_Gonz._ Sir,

_Re-enter_ AURELIA.

Do you dream waking? 'Slight, she's here again! Walks she on woollen feet[163]!

_Aurel._ You dwell too long In your deliberation, and come With a cripple's pace to that which you should fly to.

_Bert._ It is confess'd: yet why should I, to win From you, that hazard all to my poor nothing, By false play send you off a loser from me? I am already too, too much engaged To the king my brother's anger; and who knows But that his doubts and politic fears, should you Make me his equal, may draw war upon Your territories? Were that breach made up, I should with joy embrace what now I fear To touch but with due reverence.

_Aurel._ That hinderance Is easily removed. I owe the king For a royal visit, which I straight will pay him; And having first reconciled you to his favour, A dispensation shall meet with us.

_Bert._ I am wholly yours.

_Aurel._ On this book seal it.

_Gonz._ What, hand and lip too! then the bargain's sure.---- You have no employment for me?

_Aurel._ Yes, Gonzaga; Provide a royal ship.

_Gonz._ A ship! St. John, Whither are we bound now?

_Aurel._ You shall know hereafter. My lord, your pardon for my too much trenching Upon your patience.

_Ador._ Camiola! [_Aside to_ BERTOLDO.

_Aurel._ How do you?

_Bert._ Indisposed; but I attend you. [_Exeunt all but_ ADORNI.

_Ador._ The heavy curse that waits on perjury And foul ingratitude pursue thee ever! Yet why from me this? in his breach of faith My loyalty finds reward: what poisons him, Proves mithridate[164] to me. I have perform'd All she commanded, punctually; and now, In the clear mirror of my truth, she may Behold his falsehood. O that I had wings To hear me to Palermo! This, once known, Must change her love into a just disdain, And work her to compassion of my pain. [_Exit._

FOOTNOTES:

[163] _Walks she on woollen feet._] The expression is classical (_lanei pedes_), but does not bear the classical sense. How Massinger understood it I cannot tell; perhaps, as equivalent to motion without noise.--GIFFORD.

[164] _Mithridate._] An antidote. "_Mithridate_ is one of the capital medicines of the shops, consisting of a great number of ingredients, and has its name from its inventor, Mithridates, King of Pontus."--QUINEY.