My happiness, and mighty kings look pale
With envy, while I triumph in mine own.
O mother, look on her! sister, admire her!
For sure this present age yields not a woman
Worthy to be her second.

Fran. Your excellence,

Their numbers full, and in their councils wise
But then, the haughty Spaniard is all fire,
Hot in his executions, fortunate

[Asid [Apar

In his attempts, married to victory.
Ay, there it is that shakes me.
Marc. Speak to him, Francisco.
Fran. Excellent lady,
One gale of your sweet breath will easily

Though I confess you give her but her own, Disperse these clouds; and, but yourself, there

Forces her modesty to the defence

Of a sweet blush.

Sfor. It need not, my Marcelia;
When most I strive to praise thee, I appear
A poor detractor: for thou art, indeed,
So absolute in body and in mind

That, but to speak the least part to the height,
Would ask an angel's tongue, and yet then end
In silent admiration!

Isa. You still court her

As if she were a mistress, not your wife.
Sfor. A mistress, mother! she is more to me,
And every day deserves more to be sued to.
Marc. My worthiest lord!

My pride, my glory, in a word, my all!
Bear witness, heaven, that I esteem myself
In nothing worthy of the meanest praise
You can bestow, unless it be in this,
That in my heart I love you, and desire,
When you are sated with all earthly glories,
And age and honours make you fit for heaven,
That one grave may receive us.

Sfor 'Tis believ'd

Believ'd, my blest one.

Immortal viands ta'en in at his eyes.

Mari. How she winds herself

[Aside. banquets

with

I could live ever thus.

Cour. Delivers a Letter] The letter

will

inform you.

[Exit.

Fran. How his hand shakes,

And I have heard you swear, I being safe,
There was no loss could move you.
day, sir,

Is by your gift made mine. Can you revo
A grant made to Marcelia? your Marcelia
For whose love, nay, whose honour, gentle s
All deep designs, and state affairs deferr'd,
Be, as you purpos'd, merry.

Sfor. Out of my sight!

[Throws away the Lette And all thoughts that may strangle mir forsake me.

Fall what can fall, I dare the worst of fate
Though the, foundation of the earth shou
shrink,

The glorious eye of heaven lose his splendou
Supported thus, I'll stand upon the ruins,
And seek for new life here. Why are you sa
Some music there! by heaven he's not n
friend,

That wears one furrow in his face.
Come, make me happy once again. I am rapt
'Tis not to-day, to-morrow, or the next,
But all my days and years shall be employ
To do thee honour.
[A Trumpet witho
Another post! hang him-
I will not interrupt my present pleasures,
Although his message should import my hea
Marc. Nay, good sir, I am pleas'd
To grant a little intermission to you:
[Aside. Who knows but he brings news we wish
bear,

[Aside. To heighten our delights.
Sfor. As wise as fair!

Sfor. Though it bring death, I'll read it.

[Reads.

May it please your excellence to un

derstand, that the very hour I wrote From Gaspero?
this, I heard a bold defiance delivered by
a herald from the emperor, which was
cheerfully received by the king of France.
The battles being ready to join, and the

Cour. [Delivers a Letter] With the del

very of this, and prayers, can guard committed to my charge, en- To guard your excellency from certain danger Your high- He ceased to be a man. [Music. Er GASPERO. Sfor. All that my fears am nothing. Could fashion to me, or my enemies wish, [Aside. Is fallen upon me. Silence that harsh musi

forces me to end abruptly. ness's humble servant. Ready to join!-By this, then, I Or my estate secure.

Est suffer in my cause, and for me suffer! earthly torments, nay, even those the damn'd lil for in hell, are gentle strokes, compar'dAnd I give up myself to be dispos'd of, That I feel, Marcelia.

And I will put your counsel into act,
And speedily. I only will take order
For some domestical affairs, that do
Concern me nearly, and with the next sun
Ride with you: in the mean time, my best
friend,

Pray take your rest.

Pes. Indeed, I have travell'd hard; And will embrace your counsel.

Sfor. With all care

Attend my noble friend.

[Exit.

Stay you, Francisco.
You see how things stand with me!
Fran. To my grief:

And if the loss of my poor life could bo
A sacrifice to restore them as they were,
I willingly would lay it down.

Sfor. I think so;

For I have ever found you true and thankful,
Which makes me love the building I have rais'd
In your advancement; and repent no grace
I have conferr'd upon you. And, believe me,
Though now I should repeat my favours to you,
The titles I have given you, and the means
Suitable to your honours; that I thought you
Worthy my sister and my family,

And in my dukedom made you next myself;
It is not to upbraid you; but to tell you

I find you are worthy of them, in your love
And service to me.

Fran. Sir, I am your creature;
And any shape that

I gladly will put on.

That were before us; and such as succeed,
Though taught in hell's black school, shall ne'er

come near us.

Art thou not shaken yet?

Fran. I grant you move me:
But to a man confirm'd-
Sfor. I'll try your temper:
What think you of my wife?

Fran. As a thing sacred;

To whose fair name and memory I pay gladly
These signs of duty.

Sfor. Is she not the abstract

Of all that's rare, or to be wish'd in woman?
Fran. It were a kind of blasphemy to dis-
pute it.
But to the purpose, sir.

Sfor. Add too, her goodness,

Her tenderness of me, her care to please me,
Her unsuspected chastity, ne'er equall'd;
Her innocence, her honour-Oh, I am lost
In the ocean of her virtues and her graces,
When I think of them!

Fran. Now I find the end

Of all your conjurations; there's some service To be done for this sweet lady. If she have enemies,

That she would have remov'd

Sfor. Alas! Francisco,

Her greatest enemy is her greatest lover;
Yet, in that hatred, her idolater.

you would have me wear, One smile of hers would make a savage tame;

Sfor. Thus, then, Francisco:

I now am to deliver to your trust

A weighty secret; of so strange a nature,
And 'twill, I know, appear so monstrous to you,
That you will tremble in the execution,
As much as I am tortur'd to command it:
For 'tis a deed so horrid, that, but to hear it,
Would strike into a ruffian flesh'd in murders,
Or an obdurate hangman, soft compassion;
And yet, Francisco, of all men the dearest,
And from me most deserving, such my state
And strange condition is, that thou alone
Must know the fatal service, and perform it.
Fran. These preparations, sir, to work
stranger,

Or to one unacquainted with your bounties,
Might appear useful; but to me they are
Needless impertinences: for I dare do
Whate'er you dare command.

a

Sfor. But you must swear it;
And put into the oath all joys or torments
That fright the wicked, or confirm the good;
Not to conceal it only that is nothing-
But, whensoe'er my will shall speak, "Strike
now!"

To fall upon't like thunder.

Fran. Minister

One accent of that tongue would calm the seas,
Though all the winds at once strove there for

empire.

Yet I, for whom she thinks all this too little,
Should I miscarry in this present journey,
From whence it is all number to a cipher,
I ne'er return with honour, by thy hand
Must have her murder'd.

Fran. Murder'd!-She that loves so,
And so deserves to be belov'd again!
And I, who sometimes you were pleas'd to
favour,
Pick'd out the instrument!
Sfor. Do not fly off.

What is decreed can never be recall'd.
Tis more than love to her, that marks her out
A wish'd companion to me in both fortunes:
And strong assurance of thy zealous faith,
That gives up to thy trust a secret, that
Racks should not have forc'd from me. Ob
Francisco!

There is no heaven without her, nor a hell
Where she resides. I ask from her but justice
And what I would have paid to her, had sickness
Or any other accident, divorc'd

Her purer soul from her unspotted body.
Express a ready purpose to perform
What I command, or, by Marcelia's soul,
This is thy latest minute.

Fran. Tis not fear

The dutchess having silenc'd us, and these lords May be interpreted to do her honour,

My brother, being not by now to protect her, But I am one in power; and, for the dutchess, I am her equal. But yesterday we were merry for her pleasure; Well now be for my lady's.

Marc. If doting age could let you but Than in a paradise at her entreaty.

remember,

You have a son; or frontless impudence,
You are a sister; and, in making answer
To what was most unfit for you to speak,
Or me to hear, borrow of my just anger;
You durst not then, on any hire or hope,
Rememb'ring what I am, and whose I am,
Put on the desp'rate boldness to disturb
The least of my retirements.
Mari. Note her now.

[Apart.

And for you, upstart

Offi. What shall become of these?
Fran. See them well whipp'd,
As you will answer it.

Grac. I preach patience,

And must endure my fortune.

[Exeunt all but Francisco and Marcelia.

Fran. Let them first know themselves, and how you are

Marc. For both shall understand, though To be serv'd and honour'd; which, when they

the one presume

Upon the privilege due to a mother;

confess,

You may again receive them to your favour;

The duke stands now on his own legs, and And then it will show nobly.

needs

Marc. For you,

Marc. With my thanks,

The duke shall pay you his, if he return
To bless us with his presence.

Fran. Any service done to so much sweet

ness,

In your favour finds

A wish'd and glorious end.
Marc. From you I take this

From this hour learn to serve me, or you'll feel As loyal duty; but in any other,

I must make use of my authority,

And, as a princess, punish it.

Isa. A princess!

It would appear gross flattery.
Fran. Flattery, madam!

You are so rare and excellent in all things,

Mari. I had rather be a slave unto a Moor, And rais'd so high upon a rock of goodness, Than know thee for my equal.

Enter FRANCISCO and Guards.
Fran. What wind hath rais'd this tempest?
A tumult in the court! What's the cause?
Speak, Mariana.

Mari. Do you hear, sir?

As that vice cannot reach you: who but looks on
This temple, built by nature to perfection,
But must bow to it; and out of that zeal,
Not only learn to adore it, but to love it?
Marc. Whither will this fellow? [Aside.
Fran. Pardon, therefore, madam,
If an excess in me of humble duty,

Right me on this monster, or ne'er look to Teach me to hope my piety and love

have

A quiet hour with me.

Isa. If my son were here,

And would endure this, may a mother's curse
Pursue and overtake him!

Fran. O, forbear:

In me he's present, both in power and will;
And, madam, I much grieve that, in his ab-

And death with torments tyrants ne'er found
out,

Yet I must say I love you.
Marc. As a subject,

And 'twill become you.

Fran. Farewell circumstance!
And since you are not pleas'd to understan

As when himself perform'd the willing office.
Grac. I would I were well off! [Aside.
Fran. And therefore I beseech you, gentle But by a plain and usual form of speech,

Mari. And I will justify it.

Fran. Remember she's the dutchess.
Marc. But us'd with more contempt than
if I were
A peasant's daughter.

Fran. Think not then I speak
(For I stand bound to honour, and to serve you);
But that the duke, that lives in this great lady,
For the contempt of him in her, commands you
To be close prisoners.

Isa. Mari. Prisoners!
Fran. Bear them hence.
Marc. I am not cruel,

But pleas'd they may have liberty.
Isa. Pleas'd, with a mischief!

Marc. Keep off! O, you powers!
Are all the princely bounties, favours, honour
Which, with some prejudice to his own wisdo
Thy lord and raiser hath conferr'd upon
In three days absence, buried? And is this,
This impudent attempt to taint mine honou
The fair return of both our ventur'd favou
Fran. Hear my excuse.
Marc. Read my life,

And find one act of mine so loosely carrie
That could invite a most self-loving fool,
Set off with all that fortune could throw
him,

Mari. I'llrather live in any loathsome dungeon, To the least hope to find way to my favo