ACT II.
SCENE I.
Venice.—Hall in Roberto’s house.
Enter Roberto, Lord Cardinal, Isabella, Lady Lentulus, Abigail, and Thais. Lights.
Rob. My grave Lord Cardinal, we congratulate,
And zealously do entertain your love,
That from your high and divine contemplation
You have vouchsafed to consummate a day
Due to our nuptials. O may this knot you knit—
This individual Gordian grasp of hands,
In sight of God so fairly intermixt—
Never be sever’d, as Heaven smiles at it,
By all the darts shot by infernal Jove!
Angels of grace, Amen, Amen, say to ’t! 10
Fair lady-widow, and my worthy mistress,
Do you keep silence for a wager?
Tha. Do you ask a woman that question, my lord, when she enforcedly pursues what she’s forbidden? I think, if I had been tied to silence, I should have been worthy the cucking-stool ere this time.
Rob. You shall not be my orator, lady, that pleads thus for your self.
Enter a Servant.[182]
Ser. My lord, the masquers are at hand.
Rob. Give them kind entertainment.—Some worthy friends of mine, my lord, unknown to me, too lavish of their loves, bring their own welcome in a solemn masque. 23