[Embraces Antonio.
Ant. Madam, last night I kissed his princely hand,
And took a treasured blessing from his lips.
O mother, you arrive in jubilee,
And firm atonement of all boist’rous rage;
Pleasure, united love, protested faith,
Guard my loved father, as sworn pensioners:
The dukes are leagued in firmest bond of love, 180
And you arrive even in the solsticy
And highest point of sunshine happiness.
[One winds a cornet within.
Hark, madam, how yon cornet jerketh up
His strain’d shrill accents in the capering air,
As proud to summon up my bright-cheek’d love!
Now, mother, ope wide expectation;
Let loose your amplest sense, to entertain
Th’ impression of an object of such worth
That life’s too poor to——
Gal. Nay, leave hyperboles.
Ant. I tell thee, prince, that presence straight appears
Of which thou canst not form hyperboles; 191
The trophy of triumphing excellence,
The heart of beauty, Mellida appears.
See, look, the curtain stirs; shine nature’s pride,
Love’s vital spirit, dear Antonio’s bride.
[The curtain’s drawn, and the body of Feliche, stabb’d thick with wounds, appears hung up.
What villain bloods the window of my love?
What slave hath hung yon gory ensign up
In flat defiance of humanity?
Awake, thou fair unspotted purity!
Death’s at thy window, awake, bright Mellida! 200
Antonio calls!
Enter Piero, unbraced, with Forobosco.