_Aurel._ He is, as 'tis reported, A goodly gentleman, and of noble parts; A brother of your order. _Gonz._ He was, madam, Till he, against his oath, wrong'd you, a princess, Which his religion bound him from. _Aurel._ Great minds, For trial of their valours, oft maintain Quarrels that are unjust, yet without malice; And such a fair construction I make of him: I would see that brave enemy. _Gonz._ My duty Commands me to seek for him. _Aurel._ Pray you do; And bring him to our presence. [_Exit_ GONZAGA. _Ast._ I must blast His entertainment. [_Aside._] May it please your excellency. He is a man debauch'd, and, for his riots, Cast off by the king my master; and that, I hope, is A crime sufficient. _Fer._ To you, his subjects, That like as your king likes. _Aurel._ But not to us; We must weigh with our own scale. _Re-enter_ GONZAGA, _with_ BERTOLDO _richly habited, and_ ADORNI. This is he, sure. How soon mine eye had found him! what a port He bears! how well his bravery becomes him! A prisoner! nay, a princely suitor, rather! But I'm too sudden. [_Aside._ _Gonz._ Madam, 'twas his suit, Unsent for, to present his service to you, Ere his departure. _Aurel._ With what majesty He bears himself! [_Aside._ _Ast._ The devil, I think, supplies him. Ransom'd, and thus rich too! _Aurel._ You ill deserve [BERTOLDO, _kneeling, kisses her hand_. The favour of our hand----we are not well, Give us more air. [_Descends suddenly._ _Gonz._ What sudden qualm is this? _Aurel._--That lifted yours against me. _Bert._ Thus, once more, I sue for pardon. _Aurel._ Sure his lips are poison'd, And through these veins force passage to my heart, Which is already seized on. [_Aside._ _Bert._ I wait, madam, To know what your commands are; my designs Exact me in another place. _Aurel._ Before You have our licence to depart! If manners, Civility of manners, cannot teach you To attend our leisure, I must tell you, sir, That you are still our prisoner; nor had you Commission to free him. _Gonz._ How's this, madam? _Aurel._ You were my substitute, and wanted power, Without my warrant, to dispose of him: I will pay back his ransom ten times over, Rather than quit my interest. _Bert._ This is Against the law of arms. _Aurel._ But not of love. [_Aside._ Why, hath your entertainment, sir, been such, In your restraint, that, with the wings of fear, You would fly from it? _Bert._ I know no man, madam, Enamour'd of his fetters, or delighting In cold or hunger, or that would in reason Prefer straw in a dungeon before A down-bed in a palace. _Aurel._ How!--Come nearer: Was his usage such? _Gonz._ Yes, and it had been worse, Had I foreseen this.