Classic Poem

ACT III. SCENE I.

A Street before Ramyres's House .

Enter RAMYRES and FERNANDO .

Ram. How! no success? where lies the opposition?
Don Carlos, equal with myself, profess'd
His free desires, and to dispose his daughter
To meet thee with all loving entertainments.
What can she argue to thy birth, or person,
Attended with so plentiful a fortune?
I must believe thy courtship dull and faulty.
When I was at thy years, and spring of blood,
I wound myself like air among the ladies,
Commanding every bosom, and could dwell
Upon their lips like their own breath; their eyes
Doubled their beams on me, and she that was
Of hardest composition, whom no love
Could soften, when I came with charm of language,
Her frost would straight dissolve, and from her eyes
Her heart came weeping forth to woo me take it.
Fer. Yet you, that did with a magnetic chain
Attract so many, could possess but one.
I came not to don Carlos' house with cold
Or lukewarm thoughts, but arm'd with active fire,
That would have melted any heart but her's,
Bound up with ribs of treble ice against me, —
By which I find there is another fate
That governs love, against whose secret doom
In vain is eloquence or force.
Ram. So obstinate?
Fer. Nothing that I could say
In my own cause could make her tongue or looks
Promise an expectation to thrive
By any after service; this disdain
I did resent, as it became my honour.
And now confirm'd against her pride, have thought
Of something, that, with your consent, may tame
Her scorn, or punish it to her repentance.
Ram. Name it.
Fer. She has a kinswoman lives with her,
Felisarda, daughter to signior Theodoro,
A trade-fall'n merchant, brother to don Carlos;
This Felisarda,
That now lives on the charity of her uncle,
Half servant, half companion to Jacinta,
And fair, I would pretend to love, observe me, sir,
And in their presence court her as my mistress:
Methinks I see already how Jacinta
Doth fret and frown.
Ram. I like it well.
Fer. To see her cousin so preferr'd, it is
The nature, sir, of women to be vex'd
When they know any of their servants court
Another, and that love they thought not worth
Their own reward, will sting them to the soul,
When 'tis translated where it meets with love,
And this will either break her stubborn heart,
Or humble her.
Ram. But what if this pretence,
By such degrees convey away your heart,
That, when Jacinta comes to sense, you cannot
Retrieve your passion from the last? Or say,
Felisarda should believe you, and give up
Her heart to your possession, when you
Are by your first desires invited back,
What cure for Felisarda's wound, if you
Affect her not? Although I like that part
Of your revenge, I would not have my son
Carry the hated brand of cruelty,
Or hear Fernando broke a lady's heart;
But live upon his clear and honest truth,
And if Jacinta have not valued him,
Find his own estimation in some other
By fair and noble courtship. Virtue is
Above the gaudy shine of gold; and if
My son love where his honour cannot suffer,
The want of dower I can forgive.
Fer. You now
Read excellent charity, and, like a father,
It is the harmony I would hear; I chide
My fears, that did suspect you would prefer
Wealth in a bride.
There is no beauty or estate compar'd
To that resulteth from the soul: I dare
Now ope this narrow closet, and present
The name I love above the world, it is,
Sir, Felisarda, equal in her blood,
Within whose virtuous poverty
More treasures are contain'd, than in those veins
Of earth, which, open'd by our slaves, do bleed
Such floods of gold into the lap of Spain.
Pardon my long concealment of her name,
'Twas sin against your virtue, and once more
Speak in that blessed language, I may hope
To call this virgin mine.
Ram. How long have you
Been taken with this female holiness?
Fer. Before Jacinta was propounded, this
Took firm possession of my faith.
Ram. Thou hast
Discover'd thy destruction, foolish boy!
Was this your policy to be reveng'd
Upon Jacinta, whom my providence
Elected to preserve our name and family,
To doat upon a beggar! Thou hast flung
A fire into my brain; either resolve
To perfect my commands, and, throwing off
That trifle thou hast prais'd, prefer Jacinta
To the best seat within thy heart, and marry her,
Or live a stranger to me, and divested
Of all those rights which nature and thy birth
Have flatter'd thee with hope to find; expect not,
Alive, the stipend of a groom to feed thee,
Nor, dead, the naked charity of a shroud
To hide thee from the worms.
Fer. O, sir, call back
That murdering sentence; it were sin to let
This passion dwell upon you, nor would heaven,
Whose [equal] eyes survey our frailty, suffer
So wild a rage possess you.
Ram. 'Tis within
Thy own obedience to divert it.
Fer. When
You ha' heard what I can say more, you will chide
Your fierce command.
Ram. What riddle's this?
Fer. Jacinta's
Already made another's, and my force
Upon her vows can be no less than sacrilege.
Ram. This is some new pretence.
Fer. Sir, notto waste your patience, she hath given
Herself by holy contract to Francisco.
Ram. Thy younger brother?
Fer. This, I know, will calm
Your fury, and those eyes, that threaten'd lightning,
With smiles applaud Francisco's fate, and praise
My disobedience.
Ram. Francisco's mistress?
Fer. His wife, confirm'd by vows, and change of hearts;
I had it from themselves, when either strove
Whose circumstance should credit most their story,
Her tear, or his conclusive groan, to seal
Their marriage, but both were equal, sir.
What curse had I deserv'd, should I divorce
This innocent pair of lovers?

Ram. All this talk,
Which foolish thou interpret'st thy defence,
Hath but enlarg'd thy folly; and that act
Which in Francisco I commend, upbraids
Thy own degenerate baseness: shall thy brother,
Who carries all his portion in his blood,
Look high, and, careful of his honour, aim
At fortunes, and with confidence achieve
His glorious end, and shall his elder brother,
Engag'd by nearest tie to advance his name,
Lie beating in the common track of gulls,
And sacrifice his birth and expectations
To a cozening face, and poverty? Instead
Of adding monuments, that to the world
Should be his living chronicle, to bury
His own, and all the antique honours, he
Ne'er sweat for, but were cast into his blood,
Within a dunghill? — Thou hast forfeited
Thy birthright, which Francisco shall inherit,
Nor shall the loss of my estate be all
Thy punishment; hear, and believe with horror;
If thou renounce not her that hath bewitch'd
Thy heart, Felisarda, and, by such a choice
I shall affect, redeem this scandal nobly,
Fernando, from this minute, I pronounce
Heir to his father's curse; be wise or perish.
Fer. Why does not all the stock of thunder fall?

Enter FRANCISCO .

Or the fierce winds from their close caves let loose,
Now shake me into atoms?
Fran. Fie, noble brother, what can so deject
Your masculine thoughts? is this done like Fernando?
Whose resolute soul so late was arm'd to fight
With all the miseries of man, and triumph
With patience of a martyr? I observ'd
My father late come from you.
Fer. Yes, Francisco,
He hath left his curse upon me.
Fran. How?
Fer. His curse; dost comprehend what that word carries,
Shot from a father's angry breath? unless
I tear poor Felisarda from my heart,
He hath pronounc'd me heir to all his curses. —
Does this fright thee, Francisco? thou hast cause
To dance in soul for this, 'tis only I
Must lose and mourn; thou shalt have all, I am
Degraded from my birth, while he affects
Thy forward youth, and only calls thee son,
Son of his active spirit, and applauds
Thy progress with Jacinta, in whose smiles
Thou may'st see all thy wishes waiting for thee,
Whilst poor Fernando, for her sake, must stand
An excommunicate from every blessing,
A thing that dare not give myself a name,
But flung into the world's necessities,
Until in time, with wonder of my wants,
I turn a ragged statue, on whose forehead
Each clown may carve his motto.
Fran. Will it call
His blessing back, if you can quit your love
To Felisarda? she is now a stranger
To her uncle's house; I met one of his servants,
Who told me, on some jealous apprehension,
Don Carlos had discharg'd and banish'd her.
Fer. He could not be so barbarous.
Fran. You know
Her father's poverty.
Fer. And her wealth of virtue.
Fran. It is worth your counsel
To examine what you may preserve, if wisely
You could persuade your heart to love some other. —
Fer. What was't Francisco said?
Fran. Whose equal birth
And virtues may invite a noble change.
Fer. Do not you love Jacinta?
Fran. Most religiously.
Fer. If you can but contrive your hearts at distance,
And in contempt of honour, and your faith,
Sacred to heaven and love, disclaim your mistress,
I may be happy yet; what say [you]? I know
Jacinta's wise, and when she understands
How much it will advance her charity —
Fran. Our case is not the same with your's, good brother;
We have been long acquainted, to contract
Affections; if I understand, your loves
Are young, and had no time for growth.
Fer. Do not wound me.
'Tis false, by Love itself! thou hast deserv'd
I should forget thee now; dost thou consider
Love, (that doth make all harmony in our soul,
And seated in that noblest place of life,
The heart,) with things that are the slaves of time,
And that, like common seeds, thrown into earth,
It must have leisure to corrupt, and after
Much expectation, rise to name and vigour?
Love is not like the child that grows, and gets
By slow degrees perfection; but created,
Like the first man, at full strength the first minute;
It makes a noble choice, and gains from time
To be call'd only constant, not increas'd.
Preserve thy own affections, and think mine
Noble as they, I shall suspect thy love
To me else; prithee leave me.
Fran. I'll obey,
And study how to serve you.

Enter FELISARDA .

Fer. Ha! 'tis Felisarda.
Fel. Turn'd out like one that had been false! where shall
Poor Felisarda wander? Were it not
To ask a father's blessing, I would visit
Some wilderness, ere thus present myself,
His burden and his sorrow.

Enter don Pedro .

Ped. Had you no
Relation to Jacinta, pretty one?
Fel. I was her servant.
Ped. Come, you shall be my mistress; they have us'd
Thee scurvily, I will provide thee a lodging.
Fer. I shall not use your bounty, sir, for that.
Ped. Thou art a handsome donna; here's a pistolet;
Meet me i' the evening, wilt?
Fel. Where, and for what?
Ped. The where, at thy own choice, the what, thy honour.
Fel. You are not noble.
Ped. Don Pedro will embrace thy buxom body.
Fer. [ coming forward .] You must unhand this virgin.
Fel. For goodness, sir,
Add not your anger to my sufferings.
Unhappy Felisarda!
Ped. Is she a friend of your's, signior?
Fer. She is not for your sinful knowledge, don.
Ped. Beso las manos; a Dios, senora! — Diablo!
My blood is high and hot, unless I marry timely,
I must seek out a female julap.
Fel. Don Carlos' fear of you was my first error,
But I accept my banishment, and shall
Humble myself to my poor father's fortune —
You will be, sir, dishonour'd to be seen
With such a walking misery.
Fer. Thy uncle
Hath play'd the tyrant with thee; but lose not
Thy virtuous courage; how our stories meet
And challenge kindred in affliction!
Oh, Felisarda! I do suffer too,
And for thy sake; thou shalt know more: till I
Salute thee at thy father's house, preserve
Good thoughts of thy Fernando, and accept
This little gold, no bride against thy honour.
Fel. My best return must be my prayers.
Fer. Farewell? —
'Tis not impossible my father may
Retract his cruelty, and by time, and some
Discreet ways, yet be wrought to like what now
His passion will not let him see, her virtue.
How many seas are met to wrestle here!

SCENE II.

A Room in don Carlos's House .

Enter JACINTA and ALBERTO .

Jac. I love you, sir, so well, that I could wish
You were a witch.
Alb. A witch! your reason, lady?
Jac. Then 'twere within the circle of your art,
By some device to rid me of don Pedro,
Or, if you could by any spell but get
My father disaffect him. —
Alb. A witch! that's a way about; I were best cut his throat a little.
Jac. You're much beholding to my brother, sir,
He still commends you; such an advocate
Deserves his fee.
Alb. Unless my cause succeed,
He has been feed too much. [ aside .] — Your brother, lady,
Preserves a noble friendship. If I were sure
You would be mine, Jacinta, I could tarry
Till your father die.
Jac. But how can you procure
Don Pedro to have patience so long,
Whom my father pleads for, and prefers?
Alb. There, there's the mischief; I must poison him;
One fig sends him to Erebus, 'tis in
Your power and wit to spin out time; I may
Invent a means for his conveyance. — Ha!

Enter don CARLOS , ESTEFANIA , and LUYS .

Jac. The lady Estefania!
Car. Welcome again;
This is an honour to us. Where's Jacinta?
Salute this noble lady. — Ha, Luigi,
Hast thou prevail'd already?
Luys . I am i' the way, you see;
She has not been observ'd, they say, to walk
So freely with some men that boast more favour.

Enter don Pedro .

Ped. What makes the lady Estefania here?
I like not their converse; this day is ominous.
Car. Was't not the count don Pedro that retir'd?
What object here displeas'd him?
Alb. Ha, ha! didst see the don?
Car. Preserve your mirth — I must be satisfied.
Luys . I'll lay a thousand ducats that my costive
don has been tampering with my widow: I observ'd,
When I by chance let fall discourse, how much
He was an amorous servant to Jacinta,
She chang'd her colour, and did make
Such business how my sister did affect him,
That I may guess, though I make use on't otherwise
To the old man, to keep the pulses of
His purse in play, she came to examine chiefly
How matters here proceeded. Well, if she love him —
Alb. She is thy mistress.
Luys . My mistress! yes, but any man shall marry her.
Alb. How?
Luys . She is a widow, don, consider that;
Has buried one was thought a Hercules,
Two cubits taller, and a man that cut
Three inches deeper in the say, than I;
Consider that too:
She may be cock o'twenty, nay, for aught know, she is immortal.
Alb. What dost with her?
Luys . Faith, nothing yet,
And have but little hope; I think she's honest.
Alb. Does she love thee?
Luys . At her own peril: we are not come to articles;
There is no wit in wiving; give me a whore;
But that I owe thee money, thou shouldst never
Marry my sister either.
Alb. Not Jacinta?
Luys . No,
Nor any other simpering piece of honesty,
If I might counsel thee, while any wench
Were extant, and the stews inhabited.
Is't fit, a freeborn gentleman should be chain'd
Tenant for life to one? Hang marriage shackles!
Tie the town bulls to the stake, we must have concubines.
Jac. Don Pedro was to blame; and, trust me, madam,
He shall find nothing here t' advance his triumph.
Estef. You are virtuous, Jacinta; I presum'd
When I should land my sufferings on your knowledge,
You would excuse my unexpected visit.
Jac. My brother has been just in the relation
How he pursues my love; but I shall be
Happy to serve your justice, and must tell
The noble Estefania, my heart,
By all that love can teach to bind a faith,
Is placed where it shall never injure what
Your mutual vows contracted. I smile not
With mine own eyes upon him; 'tis my father's
Severe command to love him; but this story,
Clear'd to my father, would secure us both.
Estef. If any faith or service in me can
Deserve this goodness, cheerfully employ it.
Jac. I will be confident to use your virtue.
Estef. I will refuse no office.

Re-enter don CARLOS .

Jac. My father comes most aptly.
Alb. Ha! ha! ha! have pity on my spleen,
I shall crack a rib else; ha, ha, ha!
Car. You are very merry, don Alberto. — Son,
You may be of the counsel, too; this house
Is mine, I take it, I advise you would
Frequent it less.
Alb. How, sir?
Car I do not like your visits,
And, to remove the cause, my daughter is
Already, sir, dispos'd to one above
Your birth and fortune; so, [sir,] fare you well!
Your understand, now laugh and pick your teeth. —
Daughter — —
Alb. Did you hear this, Luys?
Luys. Ay, the old man raves.
Alb. Must not frequent his house!
Luys. Would 'twere in a flame, so his money and I were out on't.
Alb. But thy sister —
Luys. Would be refin'd i' the fire; let her burn, too.
Alb. My friend, if I have not Jacinta,
There are certain sums of money —
Luys. I am not
Of your mind, don; the sums are most uncertain.
Come, you did laugh too loud, my father is
A stoic; but despair not; go to your lodging.
I'll see thee anon, and either bring thee money,
Or else some reasons why I do not bring it;
We will not go to law, I'll pawn the widow
Rather than thou shalt want; go, say thy prayers,
And shew thy teeth no more, till I come to thee. —

Now, the business here?
Car. We have agreed, Jacinta;
And he, to-morrow, privately,
Will at the church expect thee; 'tis an age
Till I salute thee bride to this great don,
Whose thoughts are wing'd t' enjoy thee, and resolve
No more delay; prepare to meet this honour.
Luys. To-morrow! this must be cross'd.
Car. My next ambition, madam, will be perfect,
To call you by some nearer name: my son —
Estef Is a most noble gentleman, I know not
Where lives so clear a merit.
Luys. Oh, sweet madam!
Car. Jacinta!
Luys. I have a suit to you.
Estef. To me?
Luys. Only that you would not doat too much upon me, a gentle, easy, sober pace in love goes far, and is much better than a gallop; if you please, we may hold one another in hand, and love this seven years without sealing and delivering.
Estef. With all my heart.
Luys. You'll do me a pleasure, madam.
Estef. You instruct well.
Luys. This courtship is not common.
Estef. I confess it
Car . Son Luys.
Luys. Sir.
Car. Let her not cool.
Luys. An she do,
I know the way to heat her again.
Estef. I will not yet reveal my abuse, Jacinta;
And if you please to favour a design,
I have a plot may serve to both our happiness.
Jac. I'll obey.
There is a trembling in my heart.
Car. You must not leave us yet, madam.
Estef. You may command me.
Luys. My don so rampant! there's something in this pannier
Shall spoil your match to-morrow: don Alberto,
When I disclose, shall worship me, be drunk,
Cancel arrears, and beg to lend more money.