Act 4 — [Scene II.][4389]

Ant. Madam, you are the welcom’st lady living. Cel. To whom, Master Secretary? Ant. If you have mercy To pardon so much boldness, I durst say, To me—I am a gentleman. Cel. And handsome. Ant. But my lady has5 Much wanted you. Cel. Why, Master Secretary? Ant. You are the prettiest,— Cel. So! Ant. The wittiest,— Cel. So!10 Ant. The merriest lady i’ th’ court. Cel. And I was wish’d, to make the duchess pleasant?[4390] Ant. She never had so deep a cause of sorrow; Her chamber ’s but a coffin of a larger Volume, wherein she walks so like a ghost,15 ’T would make you pale to see her. Cel. Tell her grace I attend here. Ant. I shall most willingly.— A spirited lady I would I had her in my closet! She is excellent company among the lords. Sure she has an admirable treble.—Madam.20 Exit. Cel. I do suspect this fellow would be nibbling, Like some, whose narrow fortunes will not rise To wear things when the invention’s rare and new: But treading on the heel of pride, they hunt24 The fashion when ’t is crippled, like fell tyrants. I hope I am not old yet; I had the honour To be saluted by our Cardinal’s nephew This morning: there ’s a man!

Ant. I have prevail’d. Sweet madam, use what eloquence you can Upon her; and if ever I be useful30 To your ladyship’s service, your least breath commands me. [Exit.]

Duch. Madam, I come to ask you but one question: If you were in my state, my state of grief, I mean, an exile from all happiness Of this world, and almost of Heaven, (for my35 Affliction is finding out despair,) What would you think of Don Columbo? Cel. Madam? Duch. Whose bloody hand wrought all this misery. Would you not weep, as I do, and wish rather An everlasting spring of tears to drown40 Your sight, than let your eyes be curst to see The murderer again, and glorious? So careless of his sin, that he is made Fit for new parricide, even while his soul44 Is purpled o’er, and reeks with innocent blood? But do not, do not answer me; I know You have so great a spirit, (which I want, The horror of his fact[4391] surprising all My faculties), you would not let him live: But I, poor I, must suffer more. There ’s not50 One little star in Heaven will look on me, Unless to choose me out the mark, on whom It may shoot down some angry influence.

Pla. Madam, here ’s Don Columbo says he must Speak with your grace. Duch. But he must not, I charge you.55 [Exit Placentia.] None else wait?—Is this well done, To triumph in his tyranny? Speak, madam, Speak but your conscience.

Ant. Sir, you must not see her. Colum. Not see her? Were she cabled up above The search of bullet or of fire, were she60 Within her grave, and that the toughest mine That ever nature teem’d and groan’d withal, I would force some way to see her.—Do not fear I come to court you, madam; y’ are not worth The humblest of my kinder thoughts. I come65 To show the man you have provok’d, and lost, And tell you what remains of my revenge.— Live, but never presume again to marry; I ’ll kill the next at th’ altar, and quench all The smiling tapers with his blood: if after,70 You dare provoke the priest and Heaven so much To take another, in thy bed I ’ll cut him from Thy warm embrace, and throw his heart to ravens. Cel. This will appear an unexampled cruelty. Colum. Your pardon, madam; rage, and my revenge,75 Not perfect, took away my eyes. You are A noble lady, this not worth your eye-beam; One of so slight a making, and so thin, An autumn leaf is of too great a value To play, which shall be soonest lost i’ th’ air.80 Be pleas’d to own me by some name in your Assurance, I despise to be receiv’d There; let her witness that I call you mistress; Honour me to make these pearls your carkanet. [Gives her a necklace.] Cel. My lord, you are too humble in your thoughts.85 Colum. [Aside.] There ’s no vexation too great to punish her. Exit. Ant. Now, madam. Cel. Away, you saucy fellow!—Madam, I Must be excus’d, if I do think more honourably Than you have cause, of this great lord. Duch. Why, is not90 All womankind concern’d to hate what ’s impious? Cel. For my part— Duch. Antonio, is this a woman? Ant. I know not whether she be man or woman; I should be nimble to find out the experiment. She look’d with less state when Columbo came. Duch. Let me entreat your absence [Aside.] I am cozen’d in her.—96 I took you for a modest, honest lady. Cel. Madam, I scorn any accuser; and Deducting the great title of a duchess, I shall not need one grain of your dear honour To me make full weight: if your grace be jealous,101 I can remove. Exit. Ant. She is gone. Duch. Prithee remove My fears of her return. [Exit Ant.]—She is not worth Considering; my anger ’s mounted higher. He need not put in caution for my next105 Marriage.—Alvarez, I must come to thee, Thy virgin wife, and widow; but not till I ha’ paid those tragic duties to thy hearse Become my piety and love. But how? Who shall instruct a way?

Pla. Madam, Don110 Hernando much desires to speak with you. Duch. Will not thy own discretion think I am Unfit for visit? Pla. Please your grace, he brings Something, he says, imports your ear, and love Of the dead lord, Alvarez. Duch. Then admit him.115 [Exit Placentia.]

Her. I would speak, madam, to yourself. Duch. Your absence. [Exit Placentia.] Her. I know not how your grace will censure so Much boldness, when you know the affairs I come for. Duch. My servant has prepar’d me to receive it, If ’t concern my dead lord. Her. Can you name120 So much of your Alvarez in a breath, Without one word of your revenge? O, madam, I come to chide you, and repent my great Opinion of your virtue, that can walk, And spend so many hours in naked solitude;125 As if you thought that no arrears were due To his death, when you had paid his funeral charges, Made your eyes red, and wept a handkerchief. I come to tell you that I saw him bleed; I, that can challenge nothing in his name130 And honour, saw his murder’d body warm, And panting with the labour of his spirits, Till my amaz’d soul shrunk and hid itself: While barbarous Columbo grinning stood, And mock’d the weeping wounds. It is too much,135 That you should keep your heart alive so long After this spectacle, and not revenge it. Duch. You do not know the business of my heart, That censure me so rashly; yet I thank you; And, if you be Alvarez’ friend, dare tell140 Your confidence, that I despise my life, But know not how to use it in a service To speak me his revenger: this will need No other proof, than that to you, who may Be sent with cunning to betray me, I145 Have made this bold confession. I so much Desire to sacrifice to that hovering ghost Columbo’s life, that I am not ambitious To keep my own two minutes after it. Her. If you will call me coward, which is equal150 To think I am a traitor, I forgive it For this brave resolution, which time And all the destinies must aid. I beg That I may kiss your hand for this; and may The soul of angry honour guide it— Duch. Whither?155 Her. To Don Columbo’s heart. Duch. It is too weak, I fear, alone. Her. Alone? Are you in earnest? Why, will it not Be a dishonour to your justice, madam, Another arm should interpose? But that160 It were a saucy act to mingle with you, I durst, nay, I am bound in the revenge Of him that ’s dead, (since the whole world has interest In every good man’s loss,) to offer it. Dare you command me, madam? Duch. Not command;165 But I should more than honour such a truth In man, that durst, against so mighty odds, Appear Alvarez’ friend, and mine. The Cardinal— Her. Is for the second course; Columbo must Be first cut up; his ghost must lead the dance:170 Let him die first. Duch. But how? Her. How! with a sword; and, if I undertake it, I wo’ not lose so much of my own honour, To kill him basely. Duch. How shall I reward This infinite service? ’Tis not modesty175 While now my husband groans beneath his tomb, And calls me to his marble bed, to promise, What this great act might well deserve, myself, If you survive the victor; but if thus Alvarez’ ashes be appeas’d, it must180 Deserve an honourable memory; And though Columbo (as he had all power, And grasp’d the fates) has vow’d to kill the man That shall succeed Alvarez— Her. Tyranny! Duch. Yet, if ever185 I entertain a thought of love hereafter, Hernando from the world shall challenge it; Till when, my prayers and fortune shall wait on you. Her. This is too mighty recompense. Duch. ’Tis all just. Her. If I outlive Columbo, I must not190 Expect security at home. Duch. Thou canst Not fly where all my fortunes, and my love Shall not attend to guard thee. Her. If I die— Duch. Thy memory194 Shall have a shrine, the next within my heart, To my Alvarez. Her. Once again your hand. Your cause is so religious, you need not Strengthen it with your prayers; trust it to me.

Pla. Madam, the Cardinal. Duch. Will you appear? Her. An he had all the horror of the devil200 In ’s face, I would not baulk him. He stares upon the Cardinal in his exit. Car. [Aside.] What makes Hernando here? I do not like They should consult; I’ll take no note.—The king Fairly salutes your grace; by whose command I am to tell you, though his will and actions205 Illimited, stoop not to satisfy The vulgar inquisition, he is Yet willing to retain a just opinion With those that are plac’d near him; and although You look with nature’s eye upon yourself,210 Which needs no perspective to reach, nor art Of any optic to make greater, what Your narrow sense applies[4392] an injury, (Ourselves still nearest to ourselves,) but there’s Another eye that looks abroad, and walks215 In search of reason, and the weight of things, With which, if you look on him, you will find His pardon to Columbo cannot be So much against his justice, as your erring Faith would persuade your anger. Duch. Good my lord,220 Your phrase has too much landscape, and I cannot Distinguish at this distance you present[4393] The figure perfect: but indeed my eyes May pray your lordship find excuse, for tears Have almost made them blind. Car. Fair peace restore ’em!225 To bring the object nearer, the king says, He could not be severe to Don Columbo Without injustice to his other merits, Which call more loud for their reward and honour, Than you for your revenge; the kingdom made230 Happy by those; you only, by the last, Unfortunate:—nor was it rational, I speak the king’s own language, he should die For taking one man’s breath, without whose valour None now had been alive without dishonour.235 Duch. In my poor understanding, ’tis the crown Of virtue to proceed in its own track, Not deviate from honour. If you acquit A man of murder, ’cause he has done brave Things in the war, you will bring down his valour240 To a crime, nay, to a bawd, if it secure A rape, and but teach those that deserve well To sin with greater license. But dispute Is now too late, my lord; ’tis done; and you, By the good king, in tender of my sorrows,245 Sent to persuade me ’tis unreasonable That justice should repair me. Car. You mistake; For if Columbo’s death could make Alvarez Live, the king had given him up to law, Your bleeding sacrifice; but when his life250 Was but another treasure thrown away, To obey a clamorous statute, it was wisdom To himself, and common safety, to take off This killing edge of law, and keep Columbo To recompense the crime by noble acts,255 And sorrow, that in time might draw your pity. Duch. This is a greater tyranny than that Columbo exercis’d; he kill’d my lord; And you have not the charity to let Me think it worth a punishment. Car. To that,260 In my own name, I answer: I condemn, And urge the bloody guilt against my nephew; ’T was violent and cruel, a black deed; A deed, whose memory doth make me shudder; An act, that did betray a tyrannous nature,265 Which he took up[4394] in war, the school of vengeance; And though the king’s compassion spare him here, Unless his heart Weep itself out in penitent tears,— Duch. This sounds As you were now a good man. Car. Does your grace270 Think I have conscience to allow the murder? Although, when it was done, I did obey The stream of nature, as he was my kinsman, To plead he might not pay his forfeit life, Could I do less for one so near my blood?275 Consider, madam, and be charitable; Let not this wild injustice make me lose The character I bear, and reverend habit. To make you full acquainted with my innocence, I challenge here my soul, and Heaven to witness,280 If I had any thought, or knowledge with My nephew’s plot, or person, when he came, Under the smooth pretence of friend, to violate Your hospitable laws, and do that act, Whose frequent mention draws this tear, a whirlwind285 Snatch me to endless flames! Duch. I must believe, And ask your grace’s pardon. I confess I have not lov’d you since Alvarez’ death, Though we were reconcil’d. Car. I do not blame Your jealousy, nor any zeal you had290 To prosecute revenge against me, madam, As I then stood suspected, nor can yet Implore your mercy to Columbo. All I have to say is, to retain my first Opinion and credit with your grace;295 Which you may think I urge not out of fear, Or ends upon you, (since, I thank the king, I stand firm on the base of royal favour,) But for your own sake, and to show I have Compassion of your sufferings. Duch. You have clear’d300 A doubt, my lord; and by this fair remonstrance, Given my sorrow so much truce, to think That we may meet again, and yet be friends.— But be not angry, if I still remember By whom Alvarez died, and weep, and wake305 Another justice with my prayers. Car. All thoughts That may advance a better peace dwell with you! Exit. Duch. How would this cozening statesman bribe my faith With flatteries, to think him innocent! No; if his nephew die, this Cardinal must not310 Be long-liv’d. All the prayers of a wrong’d widow Make firm Hernando’s sword! and my own hand Shall have some glory in the next revenge. I will pretend my brain with grief distracted, It may gain easy credit; and beside315 The taking off examination For great Columbo’s death, it makes what act I do in that believ’d[4395] want of my reason, Appear no crime, but my defence.—Look down, Soul of my lord, from thy eternal shade,320 And unto all thy blest companions boast Thy duchess busy to revenge thy ghost! Exit.