SCENE III.
Enter the two French Lords, and two or three Soldiers.
1 Lord.
You have not given him his mother's letter?
2 Lord.
I have deliver'd it an hour since; there
is something in't that stings his nature, for on the reading it
he chang'd almost into another man.
1 Lord.
He has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking
off so good a wife and so sweet a lady.
2 Lord.
Especially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure
of the King, who had even tun'd his bounty to sing happiness
to him. I will tell you a thing, but you shall let it dwell
darkly with you.
1 Lord.
When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the
grave of it.
2 Lord.
He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in
Florence, of a most chast renown, and this night he fleshes his
will in the spoil of her honour; he hath given her his monumental
ring, and thinks himself made in the unchast composition.
1 Lord.
Now God delay our rebellion; as we are our selves,
what things are we!
2 Lord.
Meerly our own traitors; and as in the common
course of all treasons, we still see them reveal themselves, 'till
they attain to their abhorr'd ends; so he that in this action
-- 434 --
contrives against his own nobility in his proper stream, o'erflows
himself.
1 Lord.
Is it not meant damnable in us to be the trumpeters
of our unlawful intents? we shall not then have his company
to-night?
2 Lord.
Not 'till after midnight; for he is dieted to his hour.
1 Lord.
That approaches apace: I would gladly have him
see his company anatomiz'd, that he might take a measure of
his own judgment, wherein sob notecuriously he had set his counterfeit.
2 Lord.
We will not meddle with him 'till he come; for his
presence must be the whip of the other.
1 Lord.
In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?
2 Lord.
I hear there is an overture of peace.
1 Lord.
Nay, I assure you a peace concluded.
2 Lord.
What will Count Rousillon do then? will he travel
higher, or return again into France?
1 Lord.
I perceive by this demand, you are not altogether
of his council.
2 Lord.
Let it be forbid, Sir, so should I be a great deal of
his act.
1 Lord.
Sir, his wife some two months since fled from his
house, her pretence is a pilgrimage to St. Jaques le grand;
which holy undertaking, with a most austere sanctimony, she
accomplish'd; and there residing, the tenderness of her nature
became as a prey to her grief; in fine made a groan of her last
breath, and now she sings in heaven.
2 Lord.
How is this justified?
1 Lord.
The stronger part of it by her own letters, which
makes her story true, even to the point of her death; her death
it self (which could not be her office to say is come) was faithfully
confirm'd by the rector of the place.
2 Lord.
Hath the Count all this intelligence?
-- 435 --
1 Lord.
Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from
point, to the full arming of the verity.
3 Lord.
I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this.
1 Lord.
How mightily sometimes we make us comforts of
our losses!
2 Lord.
And how mightily some other times we drown our gain
in tears! the great dignity that his valour hath here acquired
for him, shall at home be encounter'd with a shame as ample.
1 Lord.
The web of our life is a of mingled yarn, good and
ill together: our virtues would be proud if our faults whipt
them not; and our crimes would despair if they were not cherish'd
by our virtues.
Enter a Servant.
How now? where's your master?
Ser.
He met the Duke in the street, Sir, of whom he hath
taken a solemn leave: his lordship will next morning for France.
The Duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the
King.
2 Lord.
They shall be no more than needful there, if they
were more than they can commend.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
