SCENE II.
BIRENO, ASCANIO.
Welcome, Aſcanio! Thanks for this kind ſpeed
To meet my ſummons. I have buſineſs for thee,
Worthy thy ſubtle genius; thou ſhalt aid me
To ſpread a banquet forth, where two ſharp gueſts,
Ambition and Revenge, ſhall both be feaſted,
Even to ſatiety.
ASCANIO.
I will not pall
Performance by proteſting. Is there aught
In which a pliant tongue, and ready hand,
(No deſpicable engines) may do ſervice?
To their beſt cunning uſe them; your poor bondman
Will think himſelf much honour'd in obedience.
BIRENO.
I have profeſs'd myſelf thy friend, Aſcanio!
[29]And when the golden autumn of my hopes,
(Whoſe rich maturity I now wou'd haſten)
Is ripe for bearing, thou ſhall taſte the fruit
That bends my ſwelling branches.
ASCANIO.
I have liv'd
The creature of your bounty; and my life
I would caſt from me, like a uſeleſs load,
When to your gracious ends unprofitable.
BIRENO.
My means have hitherto been poor and ſcanty,
My power confin'd; but I ſhall be, Aſcanio,
Like a great river, whoſe large urns diſpenſe
Abundance to the ſubject rills around him,
Till they o'erpeer their banks.
ASCANIO.
Oh, my good lord!
BIRENO.
I'll truſt thee as I know thee—for a villain.—
Aſide.
Place thyſelf near me when the council meets,
(I ſhall make matter for them they foreſee not)
Whate'er I urge, or whomſoe'er I charge,
Be ready thou with the grave mockery
Of uplift eyes, thy hand thus on thy breaſt,
And heaven-atteſting oaths to ſecond me.
ASCANIO.
Prime in the catalogue of mortal ſins,
I hold unthankfulneſs, and a friend's need,
Makes fiction virtue when its end is kindneſs.
BIRENO.
To give more ready credence to the impoſture,
Put on reluctant ſeeming; earneſtly
Entreat, they urge you not; ſadden thy brow,
And cry, "Alas! compell me not to ſpeak—
"I know not what I ſaw." Mumble ſome cant,
"Of frailty, and compaſſion, ſins of youth,
[30]"The danger of the law, if it were urg'd
"'Gainſt all tranſgreſſions;" thus ſhall thy declining
Be eked out to a ſtubborn certainty
In each ſuſpended hearer.
ASCANIO.
Nay, my Lord;
Diſparage not the good gifts were born with me,
To think I can want ſchooling for this office.
BIRENO.
I pray you pardon me.—Oh, Nature! Nature!
Aſide.
There is a pride even in ſtark villainy,
Which flattery's heat muſt ſoften, ere the metal
Bend to our purpoſes.—Come this way with me,
The hall will ſoon be throng'd; what more remains
I will impart within.—No ceremony.
Exeunt.
SCENE VI.
To the above, BIRENO, ASCANIO.
KING.
Welcome, my couſin! Doubt not of my zeal;
Tho' ill has the ſucceſs kept pace with it,
To ſpeed your amorous ſuit, ſtill let us hope,
Time, and your fair pretenſions, will have weight
To win her to our wiſhes.
BIRENO.
Let it paſs;
I muſt take comfort: women's appetites
Will be their own purveyors. Are we met?
The hall, methinks, ſeems full.
KING.
Where's Paladore?
He had our ſummons, yet I ſee him not:
His ſkill in war, and wiſdom to adviſe,
Have been moſt tutelary to our realm,
And well deſerve the waiting.
BIRENO.
Take your place;
He cannot now be preſent; when we are ſeated,
I will declare the reaſon.
PRINCESS.
[Aſide.]
Ha! not preſent!
[33]What fatal bar prevents him? Oh, my heart!
Is Paladore the fountain of thy life,
That thy ſtream ſcarce can flow, when ſever'd from him?
They take their places; the Princeſs on the King's right hand, a little beneath him. Bireno and Aſcanio in the front of the ſtage, ſome ſeated, others ſtanding round.
BIRENO.
The danger of our frontiers, you, ſage lords,
Calls this aſſembly; but, as wiſe phyſicians,
The heart being touch'd, neglect the extremities,
Giving their firſt care to the ſeat of life:
So now, the wounded vitals of our honour,
Demand our prior tendence.
KING.
Speak, good couſin!
Do dark conſpiracy, and home-bred treaſon,
(Unnatural leaguers with a foreign foe)
Bid the ſharp ſword of vengeance turn its edge
'Gainſt our own children?
BIRENO.
Yes; though nature bleeds,
Juſtice will take her courſe; I ſee before me
The prime of the kingdom; and from ſome among you,
Since they, in whoſe authority abides
The executive of power, beſt can tell.
I now wou'd hear, why do our regiſters
Contain that rigorous ordinance, which reſpects
The chaſtity of women?
FIRST SENATOR.
To that queſtion,
The law's preamble anſwers. 'Tis rehears'd,
That the wild licence of our countrywomen,
O'erleapt all modeſt bounds. Sweet pudency
(That ruby of the ſex) had been caſt by
For caſual wantonneſs, till our name abroad
Became a by-word, and confuſion, ſtrange,
[34]Diſturb'd domeſtic peace. A ſpurious iſſue,
The ſlips of chance and wildneſs, were engrafted
In rich inheritances, while the ſire
Careſs'd the child, not his, and left to fortune,
The true heirs of his fondneſs: theſe abuſes
Required an iron curb; ſo paſs'd the law,
Making tranſgreſſion death, with no remittance
To high rank, or degree in the offender,
But in its bloody gripe comprizing all.
BIRENO.
And is this ſo allow'd?
FIRST SENATOR.
'Tis ſo allow'd:
Nor is there a decretal, in our rolls,
Of leſs ambiguous import, or more known.
KING.
This is beyond devining: I have mark'd
To the Princeſs, half aſide.
His changing feature: ſome ſtrong paſſion ſhakes him.
PRINCESS.
He plays emotion well, moſt maſterly,
Even to the life of feigning.
BIRENO.
May I on?
Or muſt I, like a novice to your forms,
Firſt prove my right of audience?
KING.
Be not anger'd;
We queſtioned not your right—All counſellors
Speak what they liſt with freedom. You, our couſin,
Have with your right, pre-audience.
PRINCESS.
Pray, proceed.
BIRENO
[35]to the SENATOR.
Moſt learned lord, now pleaſe you to recite
The dangerous predicament of thoſe
Who do awake this ſtatute?
FIRST SENATOR.
Willingly.
'Tis there provided, that, the accus'd being cited
In the king's preſence, he, who brings the charge,
Shou'd ſtate each circumſtance: that done, the herald
Thrice in ſix hours, firſt, in the market place,
Next, in the hippodrome, laſt, in the porch
Of the great temple, muſt invite all knights
(Whether impell'd by pity, love, or juſtice)
To appear her champions in the marſhal'd liſts:
There, if the accuſer falls, ſhe is held free,
And her fair fame reſtor'd; but, if he conquers,
The event confirms her guilt, and the ſharp axe
Severs the wanton's life.
BIRENO.
Then in this peril
Stand I at preſent—Bid your trumpets ſound;
And call forth every bold adventurer.
To try what deſperate valour may achieve
'Gainſt truth, and my keen ſword.
KING.
But whither wou'd'ſt thou?
Suſpenſe and horror fit on every brow;
Like the red comet, thy denouncing eye,
Forebodes diſaſter.
BIRENO.
Oh, relentleſs juſtice!
If theſe be drops of weakneſs, let them fall:
'Tis the laſt tribute of a human ſorrow,
And now I am wholly thine.
KING.
[36]Pr'ythee, go on.
BIRENO.
'Twere vain to waſte your patience in perſuaſion;
I would not wantonly play with the fangs
Of ſuch a lion law, whoſe terrible roar
Muſt be appeas'd with blood—So reſts my truth.
A lover's fondneſs, laſt night, prompted me,
Attended by this gentleman.
Pointing to Aſcanio.
ASCANIO.
Curs'd chance!
Oh, would the darkneſs of the delving mole
Had been my portion; then I had not ſeen—
What have I ſaid? Nay, do not call on me;
Was it for this I was commanded hither?
I'll cloſe my lips for ever.
FIRST SENATOR.
We have ways
To force a neceſſary truth—My Lord,
Pleaſe you, proceed—The rack ſhall make him anſwer.
Have eye upon him—He was your companion.
BIRENO.
He was, he was, when love or deſtiny
Led me a wanderer, in the palace garden,
To gaze upon the window of the princeſs.
When, Oh, ſad object for a lover's eyes!
The caſement open'd, and the full-orb'd moon,
Bright as the radiance of meridian day,
Shew'd me a luſty rival in her arms,
Embracing, and embrac'd—
All riſe from the table.
KING.
Shame! Death! Confuſion!
My daughter! Oh, my daughter!
PRINCESS.
Hoſt of heaven!
Does no deep thunder roll, no lightning flaſh?
[37]Can the tremendous courriers of your wrath,
Sleep o'er this perjury?
BIRENO.
My gage is thrown;
And here I ſtand to anſwer with my life,
If I have charg'd her falſely.
ASCANIO.
[Kneeling.]
On my knees,
If ever pity touch'd your noble breaſt,
I beg you ſpeak no more.
PRINCESS.
[To Aſcanio.]
Thou vile confederate
Of his bloody-thirſty malice! Have I liv'd
To hear a wretch ſuborn'd, his ſycophant,
Mock me with interceſſion?
[To Bireno.]
I behold thee,
And ſcorn ſo ſtruggles with aſtoniſhment,
That my full heart, and intercepted tongue
Almoſt refuſe their active offices,
Till paſſion's choak'd in ſilence.
KING.
Powers of mercy!
Am I reſerv'd for this? My only child,
The pride, the joy, the treaſure of my ſoul,
My age's cordial, and my life's beſt prop,
In the ſweet ſpring, and bloſſom of her youth,
Thus blaſted in my ſight!—
[To Bireno.]
But, Oh, dark fiend!
Whom hell lets looſe to ſpread deſtruction round thee,
Why does thy vengeance faſten upon me?
Have I deſerv'd this from thee? Well thou know'ſt,
I ſtrove to make her thine; I would have given thee
My crown, and daughter. Thou requit'ſt my love,
By daggers ſteep'd in poiſon to my heart.
BIRENO.
I thank thy kindneſs, and forgive thy rage;
The father ſhall have licence—Honor, witneſs!
Nor malice, nor ambition loos'd my tongue,
[38]To this heart-rending office. Reverend Lords!
Let your unclouded wiſdom judge between us.
PRINCESS.
Can I be patient? Moſt abandon'd ruffian!
Thou ſcoffer at all ties! with the ſame breath
That violates a virgin's ſanctity,
(Holy and pure beyond thy groſs conceiving)
Thus conſcious of thy lie, dar'ſt thou invoke
Honour to witneſs for thee? Wherefore call
On theſe to judge between us? See, barbarian!
Amaz'd, and ſtruck with horror, they have heard thee;
Too well, thou know'ſt, they muſt pronounce me guilty;
Thy oath muſt be their law: but there is one,
An unſeen judge, an all diſcerning eye:
Now if thou dar'ſt look up, poor ſhivering wretch!
He views the dark receſſes of thy ſoul:
Tremble at him thy judge.
BIRENO.
I were a ſlave,
Fit for abuſes, cou'd I tamely bear
To ſee the rich reverſion of my blood
Seiz'd by a baſe, and ſpurious progeny,
An alien Briton, in his ſport of luſt,
Stamping a brood of illegitimate kings,
To bend our necks to baſtard tyranny.
KING.
An alien Briton!
BIRENO.
Bid her anſwer thee,
Call for her paramour, her Paladore.
Say, why is he not preſent?
PRINCESS.
Why indeed!
Haſt thou not practis'd on his precious life?
And to conſummate this day's guilt and horror,
Crown'd perjury with murder?
KING.
[39]Paladore!
Search, find him out; put pinions to your ſpeed,
And bear him to our preſence.
BIRENO.
Spare your labour—
Fear will outſtrip their haſte—The daſtard's gone;
He had my challenge for this injury,
And anſwer'd it by flight.
KING.
Confuſion! fled!
Am I then doubly wretched? Muſt ſhe die?
And die diſhonour'd too?
PRINCESS.
[Kneeling.]
All-ſeeing Heaven!
If e'er thy interpoſing Providence
Daſh'd the audacious councils of the wicked;
If innocence, enſnar'd, may raiſe its eye,
In humble hope, to thy eternal throne,
Look down, and ſuccour me! I kneel before thee,
Diſtreſt, forlorn, abandon'd to deſpair,
By all deſerted, and my life beſet;
The man, my ſoul adores, traduc'd, and wrong'd:
Yet, Oh, there is a pang ſurpaſſing all!
While the envenom'd rancour of this fiend
Caſts its contagion on my ſpotleſs fame,
And, unrebuk'd, perſiſts to blaſt my virtue.
BIRENO.
Hear, ſhe avows her love—
PRINCESS.
Yes, glory in it—
KING.
Ha, have a care, raſh girl! nor turn my grief
To curſes on thy head—Dar'ſt thou confirm
Thy doubtful infamy?
PRINCESS.
[40]A love ſo pure,
What boſom might not feel, what tongue not own?
It was a fault to hide the ſecret from you:
But are ſuch fighs as veſtal breaſts might heave,
Such ſpotleſs vows as angels might record,
Pollution worthy death? Theſe are my crimes;
And if I labour with with a guilt more black,
May the full malice of that villain reach me.
KING.
What can I think? His abſence—Yet thy truth,
Thy nature's modeſty plead ſtrongly for thee—
Away with doubt—Oh, thou obdurate heart!
BIRENO.
We trifle time—The liſts muſt be-prepar'd,
The heralds ſound defiance—
PRINCESS.
Hold a moment—
I'll tell thee how to arm thee for the combat:
Steep thy keen ſword in poiſon, that no balm
May heal the wounds it gives, but each be mortal;
Let a ſtaunch blood-hound, with devouring fangs,
And eye-balls fiery red, couch o'er thy helm;
The deadly ſable of thy mail beſmear'd
With ſcaffolds, wheels, and engines, virgin's heads
Freſh bleeding from the axe's ſevering ſtroke:
Scorn thou the mean device of vulgar knights,
Who fight for what they reverence, truth and honour;
But be profeſs'd their champion whom thou ſerv'ſt,
And write in bloody letters, hell and falſhood.
BIRENO.
This paſſion, lady! ill becomes your ſtate:
Shame is waſh'd out by ſorrow, not by anger.
KING.
[41]Hence, from my ſight, deteſted parricide!
Aſſaſſin! butcher! leſt theſe feeble hands,
Brac'd by my wrongs to more than mortal ſtrength,
Fix on thy throat, and bare thy treacherous heart.
BIRENO.
Old man, I go—Compaſſion for thy grief,
Forbids me to retort theſe outrages.
Let frenzy take its courſe—When next we meet,
Summon thy fortitude; and learn, mean time,
Crowns cannot ſave the wearer from affliction,
But kings, like meaner men, were born to ſuffer.
Exeunt Bireno, Aſcanio, Senators.
END OF THE THIRD ACT.