English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Duke_. Oh doe not threaten; _Fredericke_ is so mild
He will not prove such a degenerate child.
I cannot blame him tho' hee rise in armes:
'Twas not in hate to me, but in disdaine
That I should sell my royaltie so vaine;
But did he know the value of the jem,
Hee would not crase[204] it for a Dyadem.
That shee was common her owne words approve,
But many faults are cover'd where men love.
As thou respects my blessing and good dayes,
Restore her, _Fredericke_, and augment her prayse.
_Fred_. Restore her?
_Albert_. Never.
_Duke_. _Albert_, thou wert kind
And I ne're wrong'd thee; doe not change thy minde.
_Hat_. You doe abase your honour to intreate.
_Duke_. How can I choose? my affection is so great.
_Alfred_. Your power is strong, the enemy is but weake.
_Duke_. In her destruction all my powers will breake.
As thou dost hope of kindnesse in thy choyse
If ere thou love, give eare unto my voice;
Turne not aside thy eye, the feares I feele
Makes me to bow, where tis thy part to kneele.
Loe vassailelike, laying aside command,
I humbly crave this favour at thy hand:
Let me have my beloved, and take my state;
My life I undervalue to that rate.
Crave anything that in my power doth lye,
Tis thine, so faire _Valentia_ may not dye.
_Fred_. My soule is griev'd, and it appals my blood
To see my father pusseld in such mood.
Yet shall shee dye, Ile doe as I have said;
With mine hand Ile chop off the Strumpets head.
_Alberto_. Kill her, my Lord, or let me have the honour.
_Duke_. Tigers would save her, if they lookt upon her;
Shee is so beautifull, so heavenly bright,
That she would make them love her for the sight.
Thou art more rude then such if thou proceede
In the execution of so vilde a deede.
Remember one thing, I did never love
Till thou, my _Fredericke_, broughtst that fatall Glove.
That and the Owners name thou didst descry;
Onely for that cause, let not my love dye.
_Fred_. O gods!
_Duke_. Cannot my kneeling serve, my teares prevaile,
When all helpes faile mee, yet this will not faile:
Proffer thy weapon to her beautious side,
And with her heart my heart I will divide.
Intreaty Ile urge none more then are past,
And either now relent or heres my last.
_Fred_. Stay: if I should relent, will you agree
To sign our general pardon presently?
_Duke_. By heaven I doe, I freely pardon all
And a reward I give in generall.
_Fred_. Then take her, you deserve her were shee better,
Making your Crown and life to be her Debter.
_Duke_. Welcome a thousand times, welcome, sweete wife,
Never more deare then now I have saved[205] thy life.
_Valen_. This more then kindnesse I turne backe to you,
Doubling my chast vow to bee ever true.
_Fred_. Then here the warres end, here[206] our fightings marde,
Yet by your leave Ile stand upon my Guard.
_Duke_. Take any course you please, Citie or Towne,
My royall word Ile keepe by this my Crowne.
_Fred_. Then thus Ile take my leave.
_Duke_. Since we must part,
Farewell, my Sonne, all farewell with my heart.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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