Act 2 — [Scene II.][3937]

Dia. The place is my charge; you have kept your hour, And the reward of a just meeting bless you! I hear my lady coming. Complete gentleman, I dare not be too busy with my praises, They’re dangerous things to deal with. Exit. Als. This goes well;5 These women are the ladies’ cabinets, Things of most precious trust are lockt into ’em.

Beat. I have within mine eye all my desires. Requests that holy prayers ascend Heaven for, And brings ’em down to furnish our defects,10 Come not more sweet to our necessities Than thou unto my wishes. Als. We ’re so like In our expressions, lady, that unless I borrow The same words, I shall never find their equals. Beat. How happy were this meeting, this embrace,15 If it were free from envy! This poor kiss It has an enemy, a hateful one, That wishes poison to ’t. How well were I now, If there were none such name known as Piracquo, Nor no such tie as the command of parents!20 I should be but too much bless’d. Als. One good service Would strike off both your fears, and I ’ll go near ’t too, Since you are so distrest. Remove the cause, The command ceases; so there’s two fears blown out With one and the same blast. Beat. Pray, let me find[3938] you, sir:25 What might that service be, so strangely happy? Als. The honourablest piece about man, valour: I ’ll send a challenge to Piracquo instantly. Beat. How? Call you that extinguishing of fear, When ’t is the only way to keep it flaming?30 Are not you ventured in the action, That ’s all my joys and comforts? Pray, no more, sir. Say you prevail’d, you ’re danger’s and not mine then; The law would claim you from me, or obscurity Be made the grave to bury you alive.35 I ’m glad these thoughts come forth; O, keep not one Of this condition, sir! Here was a course Found to bring sorrow on her way to death; The tears would ne’er ha’ dried, till dust had chok’d ’em. Blood-guiltiness becomes a fouler visage;—40 [Aside.] And now I think on one; I was to blame, I ha’ marr’d so good a market with my scorn; ’T had been done questionless: the ugliest creature Creation fram’d for some use: yet to see44 I could not mark so much where it should be! Als. Lady—— Beat. [Aside.] Why, men of art make much of poison, Keep one to expel another. Where was my art? Als. Lady, you hear not me. Beat. I do especially, sir. The present times are not so sure of our side As those hereafter may be; we must use ’em then50 As thrifty folks their wealth, sparingly now, Till the time opens. Als. You teach wisdom, lady. Beat. Within there! Diaphanta!

Dia. Do you call, madam? Beat. Perfect your service, and conduct this gentleman The private way you brought him. Dia. I shall, madam.55 Als. My love ’s as firm as love e’er built upon. Exit with Diaphanta.

De F. [Aside.] I ’ve watcht this meeting, and do wonder much What shall become of t’ other; I ’m sure both Cannot be serv’d unless she transgress; haply Then I ’ll put in for one; for if a woman60 Fly from one point, from him she makes a husband, She spreads and mounts then like arithmetic; One, ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, Proves in time sutler to an army royal. Now do I look to be most richly rail’d at,65 Yet I must see her. Beat. [Aside.] Why, put case I loath’d him As much as youth and beauty hates a sepulchre, Must I needs show it? Cannot I keep that secret, And serve my turn upon him? See, he ’s here— De Flores. De F. [Aside.] Ha, I shall run mad with joy! She call’d me fairly by my name De Flores,71 And neither rogue nor rascal. Beat. What ha’ you done To your face a’ late? You ’ve met with some good physician; You ’ve prun’d[3939] yourself, methinks: you were not wont To look so amorously.[3940] De F. Not I;—75 [Aside.] ’T is the same physnomy, to a hair and pimple, Which she called scurvy scarce an hour ago: How is this? Beat. Come hither; nearer, man. De F. [Aside.] I ’m up to the chin in Heaven! Beat. Turn, let me see; Faugh, ’t is but the heat of the liver, I perceive ’t; I thought it had been worse. De F. [Aside.] Her fingers toucht me!81 She smells all amber.[3941] Beat. I ’ll make a water for you shall cleanse this Within a fortnight. De F. With your own hands, lady?84 Beat. Yes, mine own, sir; in a work of cure I ’ll trust no other. De F. [Aside.] ’T is half an act of pleasure To hear her talk thus to me. Beat. When we ’re us’d To a hard face, it is not so unpleasing; It mends still in opinion, hourly mends; I see it by experience. De F. [Aside.] I was blest90 To light upon this minute; I ’ll make use on’t. Beat. Hardness becomes the visage of a man well; It argues service, resolution, manhood, If cause were of employment. De F. ’T would be soon seen If e’er your ladyship had cause to use it;95 I would but wish the honour of a service So happy as that mounts to. Beat. We shall try you.— O my De Flores! De F. [Aside.] How ’s that? She calls me hers Already! My De Flores!—You were about To sigh out somewhat, madam? Beat. No, was I?100 I forgot,—O!—— De F. There ’t is again, the very fellow on’t. Beat. You are too quick, sir. De F. There ’s no excuse for ’t now; I heard it twice, madam; That sigh would fain have utterance: take pity on ’t, And lend it a free word. ’Las, how it labours For liberty! I hear the murmur yet106 Beat at your bosom. Beat. Would creation—— De F. Ay, well said, that is it. Beat. Had form’d me man! De F. Nay, that ’s not it. Beat. O, ’t is the soul of freedom! I should not then be forc’d to marry one110 I hate beyond all depths; I should have power Then to oppose my loathings, nay, remove ’em For ever from my sight. De F. [Aside.] O blest occasion!—— Without change to your sex you have your wishes; Claim so much man in me. Beat. In thee, De Flores?115 There is small cause for that. De F. Put it not from me, It is a service that I kneel for to you. [Kneels.] Beat. You are too violent to mean faithfully. There ’s horror in my service, blood, and danger; Can those be things to sue for? De F. If you knew120 How sweet it were to me to be employed In any act of yours, you would say then I fail’d, and us’d not reverence enough When I receive[d] the charge on ’t. Beat. [Aside.] This is much, Methinks; belike his wants are greedy; and125 To such gold tastes like angel’s food. Rise. De F. I ’ll have the work first. Beat. [Aside.] Possible his need Is strong upon him.—There ’s to encourage thee; [Gives money.] As thou art forward, and thy service dangerous, Thy reward shall be precious. De F. That I ’ve thought on;130 I have assur’d myself of that beforehand, And know it will be precious; the thought ravishes! Beat. Then take him to thy fury! De F. I thirst for him. Beat. Alonzo de Piracquo. De F. [rising.] His end ’s upon him; He shall be seen no more. Beat. How lovely now135 Dost thou appear to me! Never was man Dearlier rewarded. De F. I do think of that. Beat. Be wondrous careful in the execution. De F. Why, are not both our lives upon the cast? Beat. Then I throw all my fears upon thy service.140 De F. They ne’er shall rise to hurt you. Beat. When the deed ’s done, I ’ll furnish thee with all things for thy flight; Thou may’st live bravely in another country. De F. Ay, ay; We ’ll talk of that hereafter. Beat. [Aside.] I shall rid myself145 Of two inveterate loathings at one time, Piracquo, and his dog-face. Exit. De F. O my blood! Methinks I feel her in mine arms already; Her wanton fingers combing out this beard, And, being pleased, praising this bad face.150 Hunger and pleasure, they ’ll commend sometimes Slovenly dishes, and feed heartily on ’em. Nay, which is stranger, refuse daintier for ’em: Some women are odd feeders.—I am too loud. Here comes the man goes supperless to bed,155 Yet shall not rise to-morrow to his dinner.

Alon. De Flores. De F. My kind, honourable lord? Alon. I ’m glad I ha’ met with thee. De F. Sir? Alon. Thou canst show me The full strength of the castle? De F. That I can, sir. Alon. I much desire it. De F. And if the ways and straits160 Of some of the passages be not too tedious for you, I’ll assure you, worth your time and sight, my lord. Alon. Pooh, that shall be no hindrance. De F. I ’m your servant, then. ’Tis now near dinner-time; ’gainst[3942] your lordship’s rising I ’ll have the keys about me. Alon. Thanks, kind De Flores.165 De F. [Aside.] He ’s safely thrust upon me beyond hopes. Exeunt [severally].