Mass. I do; ’tis Count Gniaca, my endeared friend.
Gni. Welcome to Pavy; welcome, fairest lady.
Your sight, dear friend, is life’s restorative;
This day’s the period of long-wish’d content,
More welcome to me than day to the world,
Night to the wearied, or gold to a miser: 30
Such joy feels friendship in society.
Isa. [Aside.] A rare-shaped man: compare them both together.
Mass. Our loves are friendly twins, both at a birth;
The joy you taste, that joy do I conceive.
This day’s the jubilee of my desire.
Isa. [Aside.] He’s fairer than he was when first I saw him.
This little time makes him more excellent.
Gui. Relate some news. Hark you; what lady’s that?
Be open-breasted, so will I to thee.
[They whisper.
Isa. [Aside.] Error did blind him that paints love blind; 40
For my love plainly judges difference:
Love is clear-sighted, and with eagle’s eyes,
Undazzled, looks upon bright sun-beam’d beauty.
Nature did rob herself when she made him,
Blushing to see her work excel herself;
’Tis[245] shape makes mankind femelacy.
Forgive me, Count Massino,[246] ’tis my fate
To love thy friend, and quit thy love with hate.
I must enjoy him; let hope thy passions smother;
Faith cannot cool blood; I’ll clip him were ’t my brother.
Such is the heat of my sincere affection, 51
Hell nor earth can keep love in subjection!
Gni. I crave your honour’s pardon; my ignorance
Of what you were may gain a courteous pardon.
Isa. There needs no pardon where there’s no offence.
[Aside.] His tongue strikes music ravishing my sense:
I must be sudden, else desire confounds me.