My lord, if you can act these things unknowingly,
Know we can know your actions so unknown;
For we are old, I will not say in wit
(For even[217] just worth must not approve itself);
But take your scarf, for she vows she’ll not wear it.
Tib. Nay, but my lord——
Gon. Nay, but my lord, my lord,
You must take it, wear it, keep it,
For by the honour of our house and blood, 440
I will deal wisely, and be provident;
Your father shall not say I pandarised,
Or fondly wink’d at your affection;
No, we’ll be wise. This night our daughter yields
Your father’s answer; this night we invite
Your presence therefore to a feastful waking;
To-morrow to Ferrara you return,
With wishèd answer to your royal father;
Meantime, as you respect our best relation
Of your fair bearing (Granuffo, is’t not good?)— 450
Of your fair bearing, rest more anxious—
(No, anxious is not a good word)—rest more vigilant
Over your passion, both forbear and bear,
Anechou e apechou[218] (that’s Greek to you now),
Else your youth shall find
Our nose not stuff’d, but we can take the wind
And smell you out—I say no more but thus—
And smell you out. What! ha’ we not our eyes,
Our nose and ears? What! are these hairs unwise?
Look to’t, quos ego,[219]— 460
(A figure called Aposiopesis or Increpatio).
[Exeunt Gonzago and Granuffo.
Tib. [reads the embroidered scarfs] Prove you but justly loving and conceive me,
Justice shall leave the gods before I leave thee:
Imagination prove as true as thou art sweet!
And tho’ the duke seem wise, he’ll find this strain,
When two hearts yield consent, all thwarting’s vain.
O quick, deviceful, strong-brain’d Dulcimel!
Thou art too full of wit to be a wife.
Why dost thou love? or what strong heat gave life
To such faint hopes? O woman! thou art made 470
Most only of, and for, deceit; thy form
Is nothing but delusion of our eyes,
Our ears, our hearts, and sometimes of our hands;
Hypocrisy and vanity brought forth,
Without male heat, thy most, most monstrous being.
Shall I abuse my royal father’s trust,
And make myself a scorn—the very food
Of rumour infamous? Shall I, that ever loath’d
A thought of woman, now begin to love
My worthy father’s right?—break faith to him 480
That got me, to get a faithless woman?
Herc. True,
My worthy lord, your grace is verè pius.
Tib. To take from my good father
The pleasure of his eyes and of his hands,
Imaginary solace of his fading life!
Herc. His life, that only lives to your sole good!