Act 1 — [Scene I.][4356]

1 Lord. Who is that? 2 Lord. The duchess’ secretary. 1 Lord. Signior! Ant. Your lordship’s servant. 1 Lord. How does her grace, since she left off her mourning5 For the young Duke Mendoza, whose timeless death At sea left her a virgin and a widow? 2 Lord. She ’s now inclining to a second bride.[4358]—— When is the day of mighty marriage To our great Cardinal’s nephew, Don Columbo? Ant. When they agree; they will not steal to church,11 I guess the ceremonies will be loud and public. Your lordships will excuse me. Exit. 1 Lord. When they agree! Alas! poor lady, she Dotes not upon Columbo, when she thinks15 Of the young Count d’Alvarez, divorc’d from her By the king’s power. 2 Lord. And counsel of the Cardinal, To advance his nephew to the duchess’ bed; It is not well. 1 Lord. Take heed; the Cardinal holds Intelligence with every bird i’ th’ air.20 2 Lord. Death on his purple pride! He governs all; And yet Columbo is a gallant gentleman. 1 Lord. The darling of the war, whom victory Hath often courted; a man of daring, And most exalted spirit. Pride in him25 Dwells like an ornament, where so much honour Secures his praise. 2 Lord. This is no argument He should usurp, and wear Alvarez’ title To the fair duchess; men of coarser blood, Would not so tamely give this treasure up.30 1 Lord. Although Columbo’s name is great in war, Whose glorious art and practice is above The greatness of Alvarez, yet he cannot Want soul, in whom alone survives the virtue Of many noble ancestors, being the last35 Of his great family. 2 Lord. ’T is not safe, you ’ll say, To wrastle with the king. 1 Lord. More danger if the Cardinal he displeas’d, Who sits at helm of state. Count d’Alvarez Is wiser to obey the stream, than by40 Insisting on his privilege to her love, Put both their fates upon a storm. 2 Lord. If wisdom, Not inborn fear, make him compose,[4359] I like it. How does the duchess bear herself? 1 Lord. She moves by the rapture[4360] of another wheel,45 That must be obey’d; like some sad passenger, That looks upon the coast his wishes fly to, But is transported by an adverse wind, Sometimes a churlish pilot. 2 Lord. She has a sweet and noble nature. 1 Lord. That50 Commends Alvarez; Hymen cannot tie A knot of two more equal hearts and blood.

2 Lord. Alphonso! Alph. My good lord. 1 Lord. What great affair Hath brought you from the confines? Alph. Such as will Be worth your counsels, when the king hath read55 My letters from the governor: the Arragonians, Violating their confederate oath and league, Are now in arms: they have not yet marcht towards us; But ’t is not safe to expect,[4361] if we may timely Prevent invasion. 2 Lord. Dare they be so insolent?60 1 Lord. This storm I did foresee. 2 Lord. What have they, but The sweetness of the king, to make a crime? 1 Lord. But how appears the Cardinal at this news? Alph. Not pale, although He knows they have no cause to think him innocent,65 As by whose counsel they were once surpris’d. 1 Lord. There is more Than all our present art can fathom in This story, and I fear I may conclude This flame has breath at home to cherish it.70 There ’s treason in some hearts, whose faces are Smooth to the state. Alph. My lord, I take my leave. 2 Lord. Your friends, good captain. Exeunt.