Act 1 — [Scene I.][3906]

Als. ’T was in the temple where I first beheld her, And now again the same: what omen yet Follows of that? None but imaginary. Why should my hopes or fate be timorous? The place is holy, so is my intent:5 I love her beauties to the holy purpose; And that, methinks, admits comparison With man’s first creation, the place blessed,[3907] And is his right home back, if he achieve it. The church hath first begun our interview,10 And that ’s the place must join us into one; So there ’s beginning and perfection too.

Jas. O sir, are you here? Come, the wind ’s fair with you; You ’re like to have a swift and pleasant passage. Als. Sure, you’re deceived, friend, ’t is contrary,15 In my best judgment. Jas. What, for Malta? If you could buy a gale amongst the witches,[3908] They could not serve you such a lucky pennyworth As comes a’ God’s name. Als. Even now I observ’d The temple’s vane to turn full in my face;20 I know it is against me. Jas. Against you? Then you know not where you are. Als. Not well, indeed. Jas. Are you not well, sir? Als. Yes, Jasperino, Unless there be some hidden malady Within me, that I understand not. Jas. And that25 I begin to doubt, sir. I never knew Your inclinations to travels at a pause With any cause to hinder it, till now. Ashore you were wont to call your servants up, And help to trap your horses for the speed;30 At sea I ’ve seen you weigh the anchor with ’em, Hoist sails for fear to lose the foremost breath, Be in continual prayers for fair winds; And have you chang’d your orisons? Als. No, friend; I keep the same church, same devotion.35 Jas. Lover I ’m sure you’re none; the stoic was Found in you long ago; your mother nor Best friends, who have set snares of beauty, ay, And choice ones too, could never trap you that way. What might be the cause? Als. Lord, how violent40 Thou art! I was but meditating of Somewhat I heard within the temple. Jas. Is this Violence? ’T is but idleness compar’d With your haste yesterday. Als. I ’m all this while A-going, man.

Jas. Backwards, I think, sir. Look,45 Your servants. 1 Ser. The seamen call; shall we board your trunks? Als. No, not to-day. Jas. ’T is the critical day, it seems, and the sign in Aquarius.51 2 Ser. We must not to sea to-day; this smoke will bring forth fire. Als. Keep all on shore; I do not know the end, Which needs I must do, of an affair in hand55 Ere I can go to sea. 1 Ser. Well, your pleasure. 2 Ser. Let him e’en take his leisure too; we are safer on land. Exeunt Servants.

Als. And I have show’d you all my skill at once; I want more words to express me further, And must be forc’d to repetition; I love you dearly. Beat. Be better advis’d, sir: Our eyes are sentinels unto our judgments,75 And should give certain judgment what they see; But they are rash sometimes, and tell us wonders Of common things, which when our judgments find, They can then check the eyes, and call them blind. Als. But I am further, lady; yesterday80 Was mine eyes’ employment, and hither now They brought my judgment, where are both agreed. Both houses then consenting, ’t is agreed; Only there wants the confirmation By the hand royal; that ’s your part, lady.85 Beat. Oh, there ’s one above me, sir.—[Aside.] For five days past To be recall’d! Sure mine eyes were mistaken; This was the man was meant me. That he should come So near his time, and miss it! Jas. We might have come by the carriers90 from Valencia, I see, and sav’d all our sea-provision; we are at farthest sure. Methinks I should do something too; I meant to be a venturer in this voyage. Yonder’s another vessel, I ’ll board her;95 If she be lawful prize, down goes her topsail. [Accosts Diaphanta.]

De F. Lady, your father—— Beat. Is in health, I hope. De F. Your eye shall instantly instruct you, lady; He ’s coming hitherward. Beat. What needed then Your duteous preface? I had rather100 He had come unexpected; you must stall[3909] A good presence with unnecessary blabbing; And how welcome for your part you are, I ’m sure you know. De F. [Aside.] Will ’t never mend, this scorn, One side nor other? Must I be enjoin’d105 To follow still whilst she flies from me? Well, Fates, do your worst, I ’ll please myself with sight Of her at all opportunities, If but to spite her anger. I know she had Rather see me dead than living; and yet110 She knows no cause for ’t but a peevish will. Als. You seem’d displeas’d, lady, on the sudden. Beat. Your pardon, sir, ’t is my infirmity; Nor can I other reason render you Than his or hers, of[3910] some particular thing115 They must abandon as a deadly poison, Which to a thousand other tastes were wholesome; Such to mine eyes is that same fellow there, The same that report speaks of the basilisk.[3911] Als. This is a frequent frailty in our nature; There ’s scarce a man amongst a thousand found121 But hath his imperfection: one distastes The scent of roses, which to infinites Most pleasing is and odoriferous; One oil, the enemy of poison;125 Another wine, the cheerer of the heart And lively refresher of the countenance. Indeed this fault, if so it be, is general; There ’s scarce a thing but is both lov’d and loath’d:129 Myself, I must confess, have the same frailty. Beat. And what may be your poison, sir? I ’m bold with you. Als. What[3912] might be your desire, perhaps; a cherry. Beat. I am no enemy to any creature My memory has, but yon gentleman. Als. He does ill to tempt your sight, if he knew it.135 Beat. He cannot be ignorant of that, sir, I have not spar’d to tell him so; and I want To help myself, since he ’s a gentleman In good respect with my father, and follows him. Als. He ’s out of his place then now.140 [They talk apart.] Jas. I am a mad wag, wench. Dia. So methinks; but for your comfort, I can tell you, we have a doctor in the city that undertakes the cure of such. Jas. Tush, I know what physic is best for the state of mine own body.146 Dia. ’T is scarce a well-govern’d state, I believe.

Beat. My father, sir. Ver. O Joanna, I came to meet thee. Your devotion ’s ended? Beat. For this time, sir.— [Aside.] I shall change my saint, I fear me; I find A giddy turning in me.—Sir, this while I am beholding to this gentleman,165 Who left his own way to keep me company, And in discourse I find him much desirous To see your castle. He hath deserv’d it, sir, If ye please to grant it. Ver. With all my heart, sir. Yet there ’s an article between; I must know Your country; we use not to give survey171 Of our chief strengths to strangers; our citadels Are plac’d conspicuous to outward view, On promonts’[3913] tops, but within our secrets. Als. A Valencian, sir. Ver. A Valencian?175 That ’s native, sir. Of what name, I beseech you? Als. Alsemero, sir. Ver. Alsemero? Not the son Of John de Alsemero? Als. The same, sir. Ver. My best love bids you welcome. Beat. He was wont To call me so, and then he speaks a most180 Unfeign’d truth. Ver. O sir. I knew your father; We two were in acquaintance long ago, Before our chins were worth iulan[3914] down, And so continued till the stamp of time Had coin’d us into silver. Well, he ’s gone;185 A good soldier went with him. Als. You went together in that, sir. Ver. No, by Saint Jacques, I came behind him; Yet I ’ve done somewhat too: an unhappy day Swallowed him at last at Gibraltar,190 In fight with those rebellious Hollanders. Was it not so? Als. Whose death I had reveng’d, Or followed him in fate, had not the late league Prevented me. Ver. Ay, ay, ’t was time to breathe.— O Joanna, I should ha’ told thee news;195 I saw Piracquo lately. Beat. [Aside.] That ’s ill news. Ver. He ’s hot preparing for this day of triumph: Thou must be a bride within this sevennight. Als. [Aside.] Ha! Beat. Nay, good sir, be not so violent; with speed200 I cannot render satisfaction Unto the dear companion of my soul, Virginity, whom I thus long have liv’d with, And part with it so rude and suddenly. Can such friends divide, never to meet again, Without a solemn farewell? Ver. Tush, tush! there ’s a toy.[3915]206 Als. [Aside.] I must now part, and never meet again With any joy on earth.—Sir, your pardon; My affairs call on me. Ver. How, sir? By no means: Not chang’d so soon, I hope? You must see my castle,210 And her best entertainment, e’er we part; I shall think myself unkindly us’d else. Come, come, let ’s on; I had good hope your stay Had been a while with us in Alicant; I might have bid you to my daughter’s wedding.215 Als. [Aside.] He means to feast me, and poisons me beforehand.— I should be dearly glad to be there, sir, Did my occasions suit as I could wish. Beat. I shall be sorry if you be not there When it is done, sir; but not so suddenly.220 Ver. I tell you, sir, the gentleman ’s complete, A courtier and a gallant, enricht With many fair and noble ornaments; I would not change him for a son-in-law For any he in Spain, the proudest he,225 And we have great ones, that you know. Als. He ’s much Bound to you, sir. Ver. He shall be bound to me As fast as this tie can hold him; I ’ll want My will else. Beat. [Aside.] I shall want mine, if you do it. Ver. But come, by the way I ’ll tell you more of him.230 Als. [Aside.] How shall I dare to venture in his castle, When he discharges murderers[3916] at the gate? But I must on, for back I cannot go. Beat. [Aside.] Not this serpent gone yet? [Drops a glove.] Ver. Look, girl, thy glove ’s fallen. Stay, stay; De Flores, help a little.235

De F. Here, lady. [Offers her the glove.] Beat. Mischief on your officious forwardness; Who bade you stoop? They touch my hand no more: There! For t’ other’s sake I part with this; [Takes off and throws down the other glove.] Take ’em, and draw thine own skin off with ’em! Exit [with Diaphanta and Servants].240 De F. Here ’s a favour come with a mischief now! I know She had rather wear my pelt[3917] tann’d in a pair Of dancing pumps, than I should thrust my fingers Into her sockets here. I know she hates me, Yet cannot choose but love her. No matter,245 If but to vex her, I will haunt her still; Though I get nothing else, I ’ll have my will. Exit.