SCENE II. A Banqueting Hall.
A Banquet, under a Canopy the King, Leonora, Florella, Ladies waiting; Philip, Mendozo, Alonzo, Ordonio, Antonio, Sebastian, Lords and Attendants: As soon as the Scene draws off, they all rise, and come forward.
King. My Lords, you’re sad to Night; give us loud Musick—
I have a double Cause to mourn;
And Grief has taken up his dwelling here—
Beyond the Art of Love, or Wine to conquer—
’.is true, my Father’s dead—and possibly
’.is not so decent to appear thus gay;
But Life, and Death, are equal to the wretched,
And whilst Florella frowns—’tis in that Number [To Flor.
I must account her Slave—Alonzo,
How came thy Father so bewitch’d to Valour,
(For Abdelazer has no other Virtue)
To recompense it with so fair a Creature?
Was this—a Treasure t’ inrich the Devil with?
Alon. Sir, he has many Virtues, more than Courage,
Royally born, serv’d well his King, and Country;
My Father brought him up to martial Toils,
And taught him to be brave; I hope, and good;—
Beside, he was your Royal Father’s Favourite.
King. No, Alonzo, ‘twas not his Love to Virtue,
But nice Obedience to his King, and Master,
Who seeing my increase of Passion for her,
To kill my Hopes, he gave her to this Moor.
Alon. She’s now a virtuous Woman, Sir.
King. Politick Sir, who would have made her other? Against her Will, he forc’d her to his Arms, Whilst all the World was wondring at his Madness.
Alon. He did it with her Approbation, Sir.
King. With thine, Florella! cou’dst thou be so criminal?
Flor. Sir, I was ever taught Obedience; My humble Thoughts durst ne’er aspire to you, And next to that—Death, or the Moor, or any thing.