Act 4 — SCENE II.

Another apartment in the castle.

Enter Vermandero and Servant.

Ver. I tell thee, knave, mine honour is in question,

A thing till now free from suspicion,

Nor ever was there cause. Who of my gentlemen

Are absent?

Tell me, and truly, how many, and who?

Ser. Antonio, sir, and Franciscus.

Ver. When did they leave the castle?

Ser. Some ten days since, sir; the one intending to Briamata,^[469] th' other for Valencia.

Ver. The time accuses ’em; a charge of murder

Is brought within my castle-gate, Piracquo’s murder;

I dare not answer faithfully their absence:

A strict command of apprehension

Shall pursue ’em suddenly, and either wipe

The stain off clear, or openly discover it.

Provide me wingèd warrants for the purpose.

[Exit Servant.

See, I am set on again.

Enter Tomaso.

Tom. I claim a brother of you.

Ver. You’re too hot;

Seek him not here.

Tom. Yes, ’mongst your dearest bloods,

If my peace find no fairer satisfaction:

This is the place must yield account for him,

For here I left him; and the hasty tie

268Of this snatch’d marriage gives strong testimony

Of his most certain ruin.

Ver. Certain falsehood!

This is the place indeed; his breach of faith

Has too much marr’d both my abusèd love,

The honourable love I reserv’d for him,

And mock’d my daughter’s joy; the prepar’d morning

Blush’d at his infidelity; he left

Contempt and scorn to throw upon those friends

Whose belief hurt ’em: O, ’twas most ignoble

To take his flight so unexpectedly,

And throw such public wrongs on those that lov’d him!

Tom. Then this is all your answer?s

Ver. ’Tis too fair

For one of his alliance; and I warn you

That this place no more see you. [Exit.

Enter De Flores.

Tom. The best is,

There is more ground to meet a man’s revenge on.—

Honest De Flores?

De F. That’s my name, indeed.

Saw you the bride? good sweet sir, which way took she?

Tom. I've bless’d mine eyes from seeing such a false one.

De F. I'd fain get off, this man’s not for my company,

I smell his brother’s blood when I come near him.

[Aside.

Tom. Come hither, kind and true one; I remember

My brother lov’d thee well.

De F. O, purely, dear sir!—

Methinks I'm now again a-killing on him,

He brings it so fresh to me. [Aside.

269Tom. Thou canst guess, sirrah—

An^[470] honest friend has an instinct of jealousy—

At some foul guilty person.

De F. Alas, sir,

I am so charitable, I think none

Worse than myself! you did not see the bride then?

Tom. I prithee, name her not: is she not wicked?

De F. No, no; a pretty, easy, round-pack’d^[471] sinner,

As your most ladies are, else you might think

I flatter’d her; but, sir, at no hand wicked,

Till they’re so old their sins and vices^[472] meet,

And they salute witches. I'm call’d, I think, sir.—

His company even overlays my conscience.

[Aside, and exit.

Tom. That De Flores has a wondrous honest heart;

He’ll bring it out in time, I'm assur’d on’t.

O, here’s the glorious master of the day’s joy!

'Twill^[473] not be long till he and I do reckon.

Enter Alsemero.

Sir.

Als. You’re most welcome.

Tom. You may call that word back,

I do not think I am, nor wish to be.

Als. ’Tis strange you found the way to this house then.

Tom. Would I'd ne’er known the cause! I'm none of those, sir,

That come to give you joy, and swill your wine;

’Tis a more precious liquor that must lay

The fiery thirst I bring.

270Als. Your words and you

Appear to me great strangers.

Tom. Time and our swords

May make us more acquainted; this the business.

I should have [had] a brother in your place;

How treachery and malice have dispos’d of him,

I'm bound to inquire of him which holds his right,

Which never could come fairly.

Als. You must look

To answer for that word, sir.

Tom. Fear you not,

I'll have it ready drawn at our next meeting.

Keep your day solemn; farewell, I disturb it not;

I'll bear the smart with patience for a time. [Exit.

Als. ’Tis somewhat ominous this; a quarrel enter’d

Upon this day; my innocence relieves me,

Enter Jasperino.

I should be wondrous sad else.—Jasperino,

I've news to tell thee, strange news.

Jasp. I ha' some too,

I think as strange as yours: would I might keep

Mine, so my faith and friendship might be kept in’t!

Faith, sir, dispense a little with my zeal,

And let it cool in this.

Als. This puts me on,

And blames thee for thy slowness.

Jas. All may prove nothing,

Only a friendly fear that leapt from me, sir.

Als. No question, ’t may prove nothing; let’s partake it though.

Jas. ’Twas Diaphanta’s chance—for to that wench

I pretend^[474] honest love, and she deserves it—

271To leave me in a back part of the house,

A place we chose for private conference;

She was no sooner gone, but instantly

I heard your bride’s voice in the next room to me;

And lending more attention, found De Flores

Louder than she.

Als. De Flores! thou art out now.

Jas. You’ll tell me more anon.

Als. Still I'll prevent^[475] thee,

The very sight of him is poison to her.

Jas. That made me stagger too; but Diaphanta

At her return confirm’d it.

Als. Diaphanta!

Jas. Then fell we both to listen, and words pass’d

Like those that challenge interest in a woman.

Als. Peace; quench thy zeal, ’tis dangerous to thy bosom.

Jas. Then truth is full of peril.

Als. Such truths are.

O, were she the sole glory of the earth,

Had eyes that could shoot fire into kings' breasts,

And touch’d,^[476] she sleeps not here! yet I have time,

Though night be near, to be resolv’d^[477] hereof;

And, prithee, do not weigh me by my passions.

Jas. I never weigh’d friend so.

Als. Done charitably!

That key will lead thee to a pretty secret,

[Giving key.

By a Chaldean taught me, and I have

My study upon some: bring from my closet

A glass inscrib’d there with the letter M,

And question not my purpose.

Jas. It shall be done, sir. [Exit.

272Als. How can this hang together? not an hour since

Her woman came pleading her lady’s fears,

Deliver’d her for the most timorous virgin

That ever shrunk at man’s name, and so modest,

She charg’d her weep out her request to me,

That she might come obscurely to my bosom.

Enter Beatrice.

Beat. All things go well; my woman’s preparing yonder

For her sweet voyage, which grieves me to lose;

Necessity compels it; I lose all else. [Aside.

Als. Push!^[478] modesty’s shrine is set in yonder forehead:

I cannot be too sure though. [Aside.]—My Joanna!

Beat. Sir, I was bold to weep a message to you;

Pardon my modest fears.

Als. The dove’s not meeker;

She’s abus’d, questionless. [Aside.

Re-enter Jasperino with vial.

O, are you come, sir?

Beat. The glass, upon my life! I see the letter.

[Aside.

Jas. Sir, this is M. [Giving vial.

Als. ’Tis it.

Beat. I am suspected. [Aside.

Als. How fitly our bride comes to partake with us!

Beat. What is’t, my lord?

Als. No hurt.

Beat. Sir, pardon me,

I seldom taste of any composition.

273Als. But this, upon my warrant, you shall venture on.

Beat. I fear ’twill make me ill.

Als. Heaven forbid that!

Beat. I'm put now to my cunning: th' effects I know,

If I can now but feign ’em handsomely.

[Aside, then drinks.

Als. It has that secret virtue, it ne’er miss’d, sir,

Upon a virgin.

Jas. Treble-qualitied?

[Beatrice gapes and sneezes.

Als. By all that’s virtuous, it takes there! proceeds!

Jas. This is the strangest trick to know a maid by.

Beat. Ha, ha, ha!

You have given me joy of heart to drink, my lord.

Als. No, thou hast given me such joy of heart,

That never can be blasted.

Beat. What’s the matter, sir?

Als. See, now ’tis settled in a melancholy;

Keep[s] both the time and method. [Aside.]—My Joanna,

Chaste as the breath of heaven, or morning’s womb,

That brings the day forth! thus my love encloses thee.

[Exeunt.