Angel. Draw in
The bed nearer the fire: silken rest,
Tie all thy cares up. [Exeunt.
Enter Ferdinand and Benvoglio privately after him.
Ferd. Oh blessed solitude! here my grief may speak;
And sorrow, I will argue with thee now:
Nothing will keep me company: the flowers
Die at my moan; the gliding silver streams
Hasten to flee my lamentations;
The air rolls from 'em; and the Golden Sun
Is smother'd pale as Phœbe with my sighs:
Only the earth is kind, that stays. Then earth,
To thee will I complain. Why do the Heavens
Impose upon me Love, what I can ne'er enjoy?
Before fruition was impossible,
I did not thirst it. Gerrard, she is thine,
Seal'd and deliver'd; but 'twas ill to stain
Her virgin state, e'r ye were married.
Poor Infant, what's become of thee? thou know'st not
The woe thy parents brought thee t[o]. Dear earth,
Bury this close in thy sterility;
Be barren to this seed, let it not grow;
For if it do, 'twill bud no Violet
Nor Gillyflower, but wild Brier, or rank Rue,
Unsavory and hurtful.
Ben. Ferdinand,
Thy steel hath digg'd the Earth, thy words my Heart.
Ferd. Oh! I have violated faith, betraid
My friend and innocency.
Ben. Desperate youth,
Violate not thy soul too: I have showers
For thee, young man; but Gerrard flames for thee.
Was thy base pen made to dash out mine honor,
And prostitute my Daughter? Bastard, whore,
Come, turn thy femal tears into revenge,
Which I will quench my thirst with, e'r I see
Daughter, or Wife, or branded Family.
By —— both dye: and for amends,
Ferd'nando be my heir. I'll to my brother,
First tell him all, then to the Duke for justice:
This morning he's receiv'd. Mountains nor Seas
Shall bar my flight to vengeance: the foul stain
Printed on me, thy bloud shall rinse again. [Exit.
Ferd. I have transgress'd all goodness, witlesly
Rais'd mine own curs[es] from posterity:
I'll follow, to redress in what I may;
If not, your heir can dye as well as they. [Exit.
Dumb Shew.
Enter Duke Rinaldo with Attendants, at one door; States, Randulpho, and Gerrard, at another: they kneel to the Duke, he accepts their obedience, and raises them up: they prefer Gerrard to the Duke, who entertains him: they seat the Duke in State. Enter Benvoglio and Ferdinand: Benvoglio kneels for justice; Ferd. seems to restrein him. Benvog. gives the Duke a paper; Duke reads, frowns on Gerr. shews the paper to the States, they seem sorry, consult, cause the Guard to apprehend him; they go off with him. Then Rand. and Benv. seem to crave justice; Duke vows it, and exit with his attendants. Rand. Ben. and Ferd. confer. Enter to them Cornelia with two servants; she seems to expostulate, Rand. in scorn, causeth her to be thrust out poorly. Exit Rand. Benv. beckons Ferd. to him (with much seeming passion) swears him; then stamps with his foot. Enter Dorothea with a Cup, weeping, she delivers it to Ferd. who with discontent exit; and exeunt Benvoglio and Dorothea.
Enter Violanta.