SCENE III.

_Venice._--ROBERTO'S _house_.

_Enter_ ISABELLA, _and a_ Page _with a letter_.

_Isa._ Here, take this letter, bear it to the count. But, boy, first tell, think'st thou I am in love?

_Page._ Madam, I cannot tell.

_Isa._ Canst thou not tell? Dost thou not see my face? Is not the face the index of the mind? And canst thou not distinguish love by that?

_Page._ No, madam.

_Isa._ Then take this letter and deliver it Unto the worthy count. No, fie upon him! Come back: tell me, why shouldst thou think 10 That same's a love-letter?

_Page._ I do not think so, madam.

_Isa._ I know thou dost; for thou dost ever use To hold the wrong opinion. Tell me true, Dost thou not think that letter is of love?

_Page._ If you would have me think so, madam, yes.

_Isa._ What, dost thou think thy lady is so fond? Give me the letter; thyself shall see it. Yet I should tear it in the breaking ope, And make him lay a wrongful charge on thee, 20 And say thou brokest it open by the way, And saw what heinous things I charge him with. But 'tis all one, the letter is not of love; Therefore deliver it unto himself, And tell him he's deceived--I do not love him. But if he think so, bid him come to me, And I'll confute him straight: I'll show him reasons-- I'll show him plainly why I cannot love him. And if he hap to read it in thy hearing, Or chance to tell thee that the words were sweet, 30 Do not thou then disclose my lewd intent Under those siren words, and how I mean To use him when I have him at my will; For then thou wilt destroy the plot[225] that's laid, And make him fear to yield when I do wish Only to have him yield; for when I have him, None but myself shall know how I will use him. Begone! why stayest thou?--yet return again.

_Page._ Ay, madam. 39

_Isa._ Why dost thou come again? I bade thee go. If I say go, never return again.

[_Exit_ Page.

My blood, like to a troubled ocean, Cuff'd with the winds, incertain where to rest, Butts at the utmost shore[226] of every limb! My husband's not the man I would have had. O my new thoughts to this brave sprightly lord Was fix'd to [by?] that hid fire lovers feel! Where was my mind before--that refined judgment That represents rare objects to our passions? Or did my lust beguile me of my sense, 50 Making me feast upon such dangerous cates, For present want, that needs must breed a surfeit? How was I shipwrack'd? Yet, Isabella, think; Thy husband is a noble gentleman, Young, wise, and rich; think what fate follows thee, And naught but lust doth blind thy worthy love. I will desist. O no, it may not be. Even as a headstrong courser bears away His rider, vainly striving him to stay; Or as a sudden gale thrusts into sea 60 The haven-touching bark, now near the lea, So wavering Cupid brings me back amain,[227] And purple Love resumes his darts again: Here of themselves, thy shafts come as if shot, Better than I thy quiver knows 'em not.

_Enter_ Count MASSINO[228] _and the_ Page.

_Page._ Madam, the count.

_Mass._[229] So fell the Trojan wanderer on the Greek, And bore away his ravish'd prize to Troy. For such a beauty, brighter than his Danae,[230] Jove should (methinks) now come himself again. 70 Lovely Isabella, I confess me mortal-- Not worthy to serve thee in thought, I swear; Yet shall not this same overflow of favour Diminish my vow'd duty to your beauty.

_Isa._ Your love, my lord, I blushingly proclaim it, Hath power to draw me through a wilderness, Were 't armed with furies, as with furious beasts. Boy, bid our train be ready; we'll to horse.

[_Exit_ Page.

My lord, I should say something, but I blush; Courting is not befitting to our sex. 80

_Mass._ I'll teach you how to woo. Say you have loved me long, And tell me that a woman's feeble tongue Was never tuned unto a wooing-string; Yet for my sake you will forget your sex, And court my love with strain'd immodesty: Then bid me make you happy with a kiss.

_Isa._ Sir, though women do not woo, yet for your sake I am content to leave that civil custom, And pray you kiss me.

_Mass._ Now use some unexpected ambages[231] 90 To draw me further into Vulcan's net.

_Isa._ You love not me so well as I love you.

_Mass._ Fair lady, but I do.

_Isa._ Then show your love.

_Mass._ Why, in this kiss I show 't, and in my vowed service This wooing shall suffice: 'tis easier far To make the current of a silver brook Convert his flowing backward to his spring Than turn a woman wooer. There's no cause Can turn the settled course of Nature's laws.

_Isa._ My lord, will you pursue the plot? 100

_Mass._ The letter gives direction here for Pavy. To horse, to horse! Thus on Eurydice,[232] With looks regardiant [_sic_], did the Thracian gaze, And lost his gift while he desired the sight: But wiser I, led by more powerful charm, I'd see the world win thee from out mine arm.

[_Exeunt._

[225] Ed. 1631 "plots."

[226] Old eds. "share."

[227] Old eds. "againe."

[228] Old eds. "ARSENA."

[229] The prefix to Massino's speeches in old eds. is "_Rog._"

[230] Old eds. "Dana."

[231] Old. eds. "vmbages." The word _ambages_ (= roundabout statements) is not uncommon. Cf. _Spanish Tragedy_:-- "Tush, tush, my lord, let go these _ambages_, And in plain terms acquaint me with your love." --Hazlitt's _Dodsley_, v. 30.

[232] Old eds. "once Eridace" (and "Fridace").