_Gon._ What! twice admonish'd, twice again offending,
And, now grown blushless? You promis'd to get into
Her chamber, she to get a priest:
Indeed she wish'd me tell you she confess'd it: 680
And there, despite all father's jealous fears,
To consummate full joys. Know, sir, our daughter
Is our daughter, and has wit at will
To gull a thousand easy things like you.
But, sir, depart: the parliament prepar'd,
Shall on without you: all the court this night
Shall triumph that our daughter has escaped
Her honour's blowing up: your end you see
We speak but short but full, Socratice.
[_Exeunt all but_ HERCULES _and_ TIBERIO.
_Tib._ What should I think, what hope, what but imagine 690
Of these enigmas?[271]
_Herc._ Sure, sir, the lady loves you
With violent passion, and this night prepares
A priest with nuptial rites, to entertain you
In her most private chamber.
_Tib._ This I know,
With too much torture, since means are all unknown
To come unto these ends. Where's this her chamber?
Then what means shall without suspicion
Convey me to her chamber? O these doubts
End in despair----
_Enter_ GONZAGO _hastily_.
_Gon._ Sir, sir, this plane-tree was not planted here 700
To get into my daughter's chamber, and so she pray'd me tell you.
What though the main arms spread into her window,
And easy labour climbs it, sir, know
She has a voice to speak, and bid you welcome
With so full breast that both your ears shall hear on't,
And so she pray'd me tell you. Ha' we no brain!
Youth thinks that age, age knows that youth is vain.
[_Exit._
_Tib._ Why, now I have it, Fawn,--the way, the means,
and meaning. Good duke, and 'twere not for pity, I
could laugh at thee. Dulcimel, I am thine most miraculously;
I will now begin to sigh, read poets, look
pale, go neatly, and be most apparently in love; as
for---- 713
_Herc._ As for your old father----
_Tib._ Alas! he and all know, this an old saw hath bin,
Faith's breach for love and kingdoms is no sin.
[_Exit._
_Herc._ Where are we now, Cyllenian Mercury?
And thou, quick issue[272] of Jove's broken pate,
Aid and direct us; you better stars to knowledge,
Sweet constellations, that affect[273] pure oil, 720
And holy vigil of the pale-cheek'd muses,
Give your best influence, that with able spright
We may correct and please, giving full light
To every angle of this various sense:
Works of strong birth end better than commence.
[_Exit._
[222] As I am not sure whether we should read "Master" or
"Messer," (_Ital._), I follow the old copies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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