Alph. I'll tell you all.
It was my fortune twenty years ago,
Upon the Tyrrhene shore, whose sea divides
This isle from Italy, to keep a fort
Under your noble father, where yourself,
Then but a child, was left to my tuition:
When suddenly the rude assailing force
Of strong Italian pirates so prevail'd,
As to surprisal of the fort and us.
Your name and noble birth I then conceal'd,
Fearing some outrage from the enmity
Of those fell pirates; and since from yourself
I purposely have kept the knowledge of it,
As loth to grieve your present misery
With knowledge of what fortunes you had lost.
That this is true, you straight shall see th' effect:
I'll go acquaint your father with the tokens.
And make his o'erjoy'd heart leap to embrace
Thee his new-found and long-forgotten son.
Franc. Worthy captain, your presence was always
Welcome to me, but this unlook'd-for news
I cannot suddenly digest.
Alph. Well, I'll go to him presently.
[Exit Alphonso.
Franc. Now, my dear Luce, I shall find means to 'quite
Thy love, that couldst descend so low as I,
When I was nothing, and with such affection.
This was my suit still to the powers above,
To make me worthy of thy constant love.
But I'll about the project I intended.
[Exit Francisco.
Enter Virro and Polymetes.
Pol. Why, now, my lord, you are nearer to her love than ever you were yet; your rival by this accident shall be removed out of the way; for before the scornful girl would never fancy any man else.
Vir. I conceive you, sir.
Pol. I laboured it for your sake as much as for my own, to remove your rival and my enemy: you have your love, and I have my revenge.
Vir. I shall live, my lord, to give you thanks. But 'twill be after a strange manner, if Irus has despatched what he was hired to: then, my kind lord, I shall be a little too cunning for you.
[Aside.