_Duke._ O Frederick, you are too much a son, [_Embracing him._ And I too little am a father: you, And you alone, have merited Lucretia; 'Tis now my only grief, I can do nothing to requite this virtue: For to restore her to you, Is not an act of generosity, But a scant, niggard justice; yet I love her So much, that even this little, which I do, Is like the bounty of an usurer; High to be priz'd from me, Because 'tis drawn from such a wretched mind. _Fred._ You give me now a second, better life; [_Kissing his hand._ But,--that the gift may be more easy to you,-- Consider, sir, Lucretia did not love you,-- I fear to say, ne'er would. _Duke._ You do well to help me to o'ercome that difficulty: I'll weigh that, too, hereafter. For a love, So violent as mine, will ask long time, And much of reason, to effect the cure. My present care shall be to make you happy; For that will make my wish impossible, And then the remedies will be more easy. _Enter_ SOPHRONIA, LUCRETIA, VIOLETTA, LAURA, HIPPOLITA. _Soph._ I have, with joy, o'erheard this happy change, And come with blessings to applaud your conquest Over the greatest of mankind, yourself. _Duke._ I hope 'twill be a full and lasting one. _Luc._ Thus, let me kneel, and pay my thanks and duty, [_Kneeling._ Both to my prince and father. _Duke._ Rise, rise, too charming maid, for yet I cannot Call you my daughter: that first name, Lucretia, Hangs on my lips, and would be still pronounced. Look not too kindly on me; one sweet glance, Perhaps, would ruin both: therefore, I'll go And try to get new strength to bear your eyes. 'Till then, farewell. Be sure you love my Frederick, And do not hate his father. [_Exeunt Duke and_ VALERIO. _Fred._ [_At the door._] Now, friends, you may appear. _Enter_ AURELIAN, CAMILLO, BENITO. Your pardon, madam, that we thus intrude On holy ground: yourself best know it could not Be avoided, and it shall be my care it be excused. _Soph._ Though sovereign princes bear a privilege Of entering when they please within our walls, In others 'tis a crime past dispensation; And therefore, to avoid a public scandal, Be pleased, sir, to retire, and quit this garden. _Aur._ We shall obey you, madam; but that we may do it with less regret, we hope you will give these ladies leave to accompany us. _Soph._ They shall. And, nieces, for myself, I only ask you To justify my conduct to the world, That none may think I have betrayed a trust, But freed you from a tyranny. _Lau._ Our duty binds us to acknowledge it. _Cam._ And our gratitude to witness it. _Vio._ With a holy and lasting remembrance of your favour. _Fred._ And it shall be my care, either by reason to bend your uncle's will, or, by my father's interest, to force your dowry from his hands. _Ben._ [_To_ AUR.] Pray, sir, let us make haste over these walls again; these gardens are unlucky to me; I have lost my reputation of music in one of them, and of wit in the other.