Abi. Why, dost think I’ll make my husband a cuckold?
O here they come!
Enter at several doors Mizaldus[163] with Claridiana; Guido, with Rogero, at another door; Mendoza meets them.
Men. Signior Rogero, are you yet qualified?
Rog. Yes; does any man think I’ll go like a sheep to the slaughter? Hands off, my lord; your lordship may chance come under my hands. If you do, I shall show myself a citizen, and revenge basely. 299
Clar. I think, if I were receiving the Holy Sacrament,
His sight would make me gnash my teeth terribly.
But there’s the beauty without parallel,[164]
In whom the Graces and the Virtues meet!
In her aspect mild Honour sits and smiles;
And who looks there, were it the savage bear
But would derive new nature from her eyes?
But to be reconciled simply for him,
Were mankind to be lost again, I’d let it,
And a new heap of stones should stock the world.
In heaven and earth this power beauty hath— 310
It inflames temperance and temp’rates wrath.
Whate’er thou art, mine art thou, wise or chaste;
I shall set hard upon thy marriage-vow,
And write revenge high in thy husband’s brow
In a strange character.—You may begin, sir.
Men. Signior Claridiana, I hope Signior Rogero thus employed me about a good office: ’twere worthy Cicero’s tongue, a famous oration now; but friendship, that is mutually embraced of the gods,
And is Jove’s usher to each sacred synod, 320
Without the which he could not reign in heaven,—
That over-goes my admiration, shall not
Under-go my censure!
These hot flames of rage, that else will be
As fire midst your nuptial jollity,
Burning the edge off from[165] the present joy,
And keep you wake to terror.
Clar. I have not yet swallowed the rhimatrix nor the onocentaur—the rhinoceros[166] was monstrous!
Gui. Sir, be you of the more flexible nature, and confess an error. 331
Clar. I must; the gods of love command,
And that bright star her eye, that guides my fate.—
Signior Rogero, joy, then, Signior Rogero!