San. My judicious lord,
It, with the favour of your lordship, may
Concern the general: such high rapture
In admiration of the queen, whom he
Pretends to love! How will her majesty
Smile on his suit, when in the heat of business
He not neglects this amorous way to woo her?
Enter Decastro.
Dec. No man presume t' advance a foot. My lord
Ossuna, I desire your ear.
San. My lord,
I have a piece here of such elegant wit.
Dec. Your pardon, good my lord; we'll find an hour
Less serious to advise upon your papers,
And then at large we'll whisper.
San. As you please,
My lord: you'll pardon the error of my duty. [Exit Sanmartino.
Oss. The queen, my lord, gave free access to what
I spoke o' th' public; but when I began
To mention love——
Dec. How? did she frown, or with
What murdering scorn heard she Decastro named?
Love! of thy labyrinth of art what path
Left I untrodden? Humbly I have labour'd
To win her favour; and when that prevail'd not,
The kingdom in my quarrel vow'd to empty
The veins of their great body.
Oss. Sir, her heart
Is mightier than misfortune. Though her youth,
Soft as some consecrated virgin wax,
Seem easy for impression, yet her virtue
Hard as a rock of diamond, breaks all
The battery of the waves.
Dec. Unkind and cruel!