Dul. Faith, only a woman’s reason, because I was expressly forbidden to love him. At the first view I liked him; and no sooner had my father’s wisdom mistrusted my liking, but I grew loth his judgment should err; I pitied he should prove a fool in his old age, and without cause mistrust me. 248
Phi. But, when you saw no means of manifesting your affection to him, why did not your hopes perish?
Dul. O Philocalia! that difficulty only enflames me: when the enterprise is easy, the victory is inglorious. No, let my wise, aged, learned, intelligent father,—that can interpret eyes, understand the language of birds, interpret the grumbling of dogs and the conference of cats,—that can read even silence,—let him forbid all interviews, all speeches, all tokens, all messages, all (as he thinks) human means,—I will speak to the prince, court the prince, that he shall understand me;—nay, I will so stalk on the blind side of my all-knowing father’s wit, that, do what his wisdom can, he shall be my only mediator, my only messenger, my only honourable spokesman;—he shall carry my favours, he shall amplify my affection;—nay, he shall direct the prince the means, the very way to my bed;—he, and only he, when he only can do this, and only would not do this, he only shall do this. 267
Phi. Only you shall then deserve such a husband. O love, how violent are thy passages!
Dul. Pish, Philocalia! ’tis against the nature of love not to be violent.
Phi. And against the condition of violence to be constant.
Dul. Constancy?—constancy and patience are virtues in no living creatures but centinels and anglers. Here’s our father!
Enter Gonzago, Hercules, and Granuffo.
Gon. What, did he think to walk invisibly before our eyes? And he had Gyges’ ring I would find him.
Herc. ’Fore Jove, you rated him with emphasis.