Franc. My dearest Luce, were thy old sire as just
As thou art truly constant, our firm love
Had never met these oppositions.
All my designs as yet, all practices
That I have us'd, I see are frustrated;
For, as my fair intelligencer writes,
He will before the next court-day provide
Some careless parson, that in spite of laws
Shall marry her to Shallow: this being done,
He means to hold the court's severity
In by a golden bit, and so he may.
Alas! it is too true; I must prevent it,
And that in time, before it grow too far:
But how? there lies the point of difficulty:
But what strange sight is this that greets mine eyes?
Alphonso, my old captain! sure, 'tis he.
Enter Alphonso.
Alph. Thus once again from twenty years' exile,
Toss'd by the storms of fortune to and fro,
Has gracious heaven given me leave to tread
My native earth of Sicily, and draw
That air that fed me in my infancy.
Franc. 'Tis he! Most noble captain, O, what power
Has been so gracious as to bless mine eyes
Once more with sight of my most honour'd master?
Alph. Kind youth, the tears of joy that I have spent
To greet my native country have quite robb'd
Mine eyes of moisture, and have left me none
To answer thy affection. But tell me—
Tell me how thou hast liv'd in Syracuse
These five years here, since that unlucky storm
Divided us at sea.
Franc. Faith, poorly, sir:
As one that knows no kindred or alliance,
Unknown of any have I shifted out.
But I have heard you say that I was born
In Syracuse: tell me what stock I come of,
What parentage; how mean soe'er they be,
They cannot well be poorer than myself:
Speak, do you know them, sir?
Alph. Yes; very well,
And I am glad the fates have brought me home,
For thy dear sake, that I may now disclose
Thy honourable birth.
Franc. Honourable!
Alph. Yes, noble youth, thou art the second son
To old Lord Euphues; a man more worthy
And truly noble never drew this air.
Thy name's Lysandro: this discovery
Will be as welcome to your friends as you.
Franc. You do amaze me, sir.