Leo. And, with the like tame gravity, you saw
A raw young warrior take your baffled work,
And end it at a blow.
Bert. I humbly take my leave; but they, who blast
Your good opinion of me, may have cause
To know, I am no coward.[He is going.
Leo. Bertran, stay.
[Aside.] This may produce some dismal consequence
To him, whom dearer than my life I love.
433 [To him.] Have I not managed my contrivance well,
To try your love, and make you doubt of mine?
Bert. Then, was it but a trial?
Methinks I start as from some dreadful dream,
And often ask myself if yet I wake.—
This turn's too quick to be without design;
I'll sound the bottom of't, ere I believe.[Aside.
Leo. I find your love, and would reward it too,
But anxious fears solicit my weak breast.
I fear my people's faith;
That hot-mouthed beast, that bears against the curb,
Hard to be broken even by lawful kings,
But harder by usurpers.
Judge then, my lord, with all these cares opprest,
If I can think of love.
Bert. Believe me, madam,
These jealousies, however large they spread,
Have but one root, the old imprisoned king;
Whose lenity first pleased the gaping crowd;
But when long tried, and found supinely good,
Like Æsop's Log, they leapt upon his back.
Your father knew them well; and, when he mounted,
He reined them strongly, and he spurred them hard:
And, but he durst not do it all at once,
He had not left alive this patient saint,
This anvil of affronts, but sent him hence
To hold a peaceful branch of palm above,
And hymn it in the quire.
Leo. You've hit upon the very string, which, touched.
Echoes the sound, and jars within my soul;—
There lies my grief.
Bert. So long as there's a head,
Thither will all the mounting spirits fly;
Lop that but off, and then—
Leo. My virtue shrinks from such an horrid act.
Bert. This 'tis to have a virtue out of season.
434 Mercy is good, a very good dull virtue;
But kings mistake its timing, and are mild,
When manly courage bids them be severe:
Better be cruel once, than anxious ever.
Remove this threatening danger from your crown,
And then securely take the man you love.