Act 2 — [Scene III.][4375]

King. The war is left to him; but we must have You reconcil’d, if that be all your difference. His rage flows like a torrent, when he meets With opposition; leave to wrastle with him, And his hot blood retreats into a calm,5 And then he chides his passion. You shall back With letters from us. Her. Your commands are not To be disputed. King. Alvarez. [Takes him aside.] 1 Lord. Lose not Yourself by cool submission; he will find His error, and the want of such a soldier.10 2 Lord. Have you seen the Cardinal? Her. Not yet. 1 Lord. He wants no plot— Her. The king I must obey; But let the purple gownman place his engines I’ th’ dark, that wound[4376] me. 2 Lord. Be assur’d Of what we can to friend you; and the king15 Cannot forget your service. Her. I am sorry For that poor gentleman. Alv. I must confess, sir, The duchess has been pleas’d to think me worthy Her favours, and in that degree of honour That has oblig’d my life to make the best20 Return of service, which is not, with bold Affiance in her love, to interpose Against her happiness, and your election. I love so much her honour, I have quitted24 All my desires; yet would not shrink to bleed Out my warm stock of life, so the last drop Might benefit her wishes. King. I shall find A compensation for this act, Alvarez; It hath much pleased us.

Duch. Sir, you are the king, And in that sacred title it were sin30 To doubt a justice: all that does concern My essence in this world, and a great part Of the other’s bliss, lives in your breath. King. What intends the duchess? Duch. That will instruct you, sir. [Gives the letter.]—Columbo has,35 Upon some better choice, or discontent, Set my poor soul at freedom. King. ’T is his character. Reads. “Madam, I easily discharge all my pretensions to your love and person; I leave you to your own choice; and in what you have obliged yourself to me, resume a power to cancel, if you please.41 Columbo.” This is strange! Duch. Now do an act to make Your chronicle belov’d and read for ever. King. Express yourself. Duch. Since by divine infusion,—45 For ’t is no art could force the general to This change, second this justice, and bestow The heart you would have given from me, by Your strict commands to love Columbo, where ’T was meant by Heaven; and let your breath return50 Whom you divorc’d, Alvarez, mine. Lords. This is But justice, sir. King. It was decreed above; And since Columbo has releas’d his interest, Which we had wrought him, not without some force Upon your will, I give you your own wishes:55 Receive your own Alvarez. When you please To celebrate your nuptial, I invite Myself your guest. Duch. Eternal blessings crown you! All. And every joy your marriage! Exit King, who meets the Cardinal; they converse. Alv. I know not whether I shall wonder most,60 Or joy to meet this happiness. Duch. Now the king Hath planted us, methinks we grow already, And twist our loving souls, above the wrath Of thunder to divide us. Alv. Ha! the Cardinal Has met the king! I do not like this conference;65 He looks with anger this way. I expect A tempest. Duch. Take no notice of his presence; Leave me to meet, and answer it. If the king Be firm in ’s royal word, I fear no lightning. Expect me in the garden. Alv. I obey;70 But fear a shipwrack on the coast. Exit. Car. Madam. Duch. My lord. Car. The king speaks of a letter that has brought A riddle in ’t. Duch. ’T is easy to interpret.74 Car. From my nephew? May I deserve the favour? [Duchess gives him the letter.] Duch. [Aside.] He looks as though his eyes would fire the paper. They are a pair of burning glasses, and His envious blood doth give ’em flame. Car. [Aside.] What lethargy could thus unspirit him? I am all wonder.—Do not believe, madam,80 But that Columbo’s love is yet more sacred To honour and yourself, than thus to forfeit What I have heard him call the glorious wreath To all his merits, given him by the king, From whom he took you with more pride than ever85 He came from victory: his kisses hang Yet panting on your lips; and he but now Exchang’d religious farewell to return, But with more triumph, to be yours. Duch. My lord, You do believe your nephew’s hand was not90 Surpris’d or strain’d to this? Car. Strange arts and windings in the world! most dark And subtle progresses! Who brought this letter? Duch. I enquir’d not his name; I thought it not Considerable[4377] to take such narrow knowledge. Car. Desert and honour urg’d it here, nor can96 I blame you to be angry; yet his person Oblig’d you should have given a nobler pause, Before you made your faith and change so violent, From his known worth, into the arms of one, However fashioned to your amorous wish,101 Not equal to his cheapest fame, with all The gloss of love and merit. Duch. This comparison, My good lord Cardinal, I cannot think Flows from an even justice; it betrays105 You partial where your blood runs. Car. I fear, madam, Your own takes too much license, and will soon Fall to the censure of unruly tongues. Because Alvarez has a softer cheek, Can, like a woman, trim his wanton hair,110 Spend half a day with looking in the glass To find a posture to present himself, And bring more effeminacy than man, Or honour, to your bed, must he supplant him? Take heed, the common murmur, when it catches115 The scent of a lost fame— Duch. My fame, lord Cardinal? It stands upon an innocence as clear As the devotions you pay to Heaven. I shall not urge, my lord, your soft indulgence At my next shrift. Car. You are a fine court lady!120 Duch. And you should be a reverend churchman. Car. One That, if you have not thrown off modesty, Would counsel you to leave Alvarez. Duch. ’Cause You dare do worse than marriage, must not I Be admitted what the church and law allows me?125 Car. Insolent! Then you dare marry him? Duch. Dare! Let your contracted flame and malice, with Columbo’s rage, higher than that, meet us When we approach the holy place, clasp’d hand In hand we ’ll break through all your force, and fix130 Our sacred vows together there. Car. I knew When, with as chaste a brow, you promis’d fair To another. You are no dissembling lady! Duch. Would all your actions had no falser lights About ’em!135 Car. Ha! Duch. The people would not talk, and curse so loud. Car. I ’ll have you chid into a blush for this. Duch. Begin at home, great man, there ’s cause enough: You turn the wrong end of the perspective[4378]140 Upon your crimes, to drive them to a far And lesser sight; but let your eyes look right, What giants would your pride and surfeit seem! How gross your avarice, eating up whole families! How vast are your corruptions and abuse145 Of the king’s ear! at which you hang a pendant, Not to adorn, but ulcerate, while the honest Nobility, like pictures in the arras, Serve only for court ornament. If they speak, ’T is when you set their tongues, which you wind up150 Like clocks, to strike at the just hour you please. Leave, leave, my lord, these usurpations, And be what you were meant, a man to cure, Not let in, agues to religion: Look on the church’s wounds. Car. You dare presume,155 In your rude spleen to me, to abuse the church? Duch. Alas, you give false aim, my lord; ’t is your Ambition and scarlet sins, that rob Her altar of the glory, and leave wounds Upon her brow; which fetches grief and paleness160 Into her cheeks, making her troubled bosom Pant with her groans, and shroud her holy blushes Within your reverend purples. Car. Will you now take breath? Duch. In hope, my lord, you will behold yourself In a true glass, and see those injust acts165 That so deform you, and by timely cure Prevent a shame, before the short-haired men[4379] Do crowd and call for justice; I take leave. Exit. Car. This woman has a spirit, that may rise To tame the devil’s: there ’s no dealing with Her angry tongue; ’t is action and revenge171 Must calm her fury. Were Columbo here, I could resolve; but letters shall be sent To th’ army, which may wake him into sense Of his rash folly, or direct his spirit175 Some way to snatch his honour from this flame. All great men know the soul of life is fame. Exit.