Act II [Scene i]

Enter GIOVANNI and ANNABELLA, as from their chamber

GIOVANNI
Come, Annabella, no more sister now
But love, a name more gracious. Do not blush,
Beauty’s sweet wonder, but be proud to know
That yielding thou hast conquered, and inflamed
A heart whose tribute is thy brother’s life.	5
ANNABELLA
And mine is his. O, how these stol’n contents
Would print a modest crimson on my cheeks,
Had any but my heart’s delight prevailed!
GIOVANNI
I marvel why the chaster of your sex
Should think this pretty toy called maidenhead	10

So strange a loss, when, being lost, ’tis nothing,
And you are still the same.
ANNABELLA                    ’Tis well for you;
Now you can talk.
GIOVANNI              Music as well consists
In th’ear, as in the playing.
ANNABELLA                      O, you’re wanton!
Tell on’t, you’re best, do.
GIOVANNI                   Thou wilt chide me, then.	15
Kiss me. [They kiss] So. Thus hung Jove on Leda’s neck
And sucked divine ambrosia from her lips.
I envy not the mightiest man alive,
But hold myself, in being king of thee,
More great than were I king of all the world.	20
But I shall lose you, sweetheart.
ANNABELLA                              But you shall not.
GIOVANNI
You must be married, mistress.
ANNABELLA                                Yes, to whom?
GIOVANNI
Someone must have you.
ANNABELLA                               You must.
GIOVANNI                                                  Nay, some other.
ANNABELLA
Now prithee do not speak so without jesting:
You’ll make me weep in earnest.
GIOVANNI                                What, you will not!	25
But tell me, sweet, canst thou be dared to swear
That thou wilt live to me, and to no other?
ANNABELLA
By both our loves I dare; for didst thou know,

My Giovanni, how all suitors seem
To my eyes hateful, thou wouldst trust me then.	30
GIOVANNI
Enough, I take thy word. Sweet, we must part.
Remember what thou vowst: keep well my heart.
ANNABELLA
Will you be gone?
GIOVANNI             I must.
ANNABELLA
When to return?
GIOVANNI              Soon.
ANNABELLA                          Look you do.
GIOVANNI                                                  Farewell.            Exit
ANNABELLA
Go where thou wilt, in mind I’ll keep thee here,	35
And where thou art, I know I shall be there.
Guardian!

Enter PUTANA

PUTANA
Child, how is’t, child? Well, thank Heaven, ha?
ANNABELLA
O guardian, what a paradise of joy
Have I passed over!	40
PUTANA
Nay, what a paradise of joy have you passed under! Why, now I
commend thee, charge. Fear nothing, sweetheart: what though he
be your brother? Your brother’s a man I hope, and I say still, if a
young wench feel the fit upon her, let her take anybody, father or
brother, all is one.	45
ANNABELLA
I would not have it known for all the world.
PUTANA
Nor I indeed, for the speech of the people; else ’twere nothing.

FLORIO            (Within)
Daughter Annabella!
ANNABELLA
O me, my father! [Calls off-stage] Here, sir! [To PUTANA] Reach
my work.                  [PUTANA passes her a piece of needlework]	50
FLORIO (Within)
What are you doing?
ANNABELLA            So, let him come now.

Enter FLORIO, RICHARDETTO like a doctor of physic, and PHILOTIS with a lute in her hand

FLORIO
So hard at work, that’s well: you lose no time.
Look, I have brought you company: here’s one,
A learned doctor, lately come from Padua,
Much skilled in physic; and for that I see
You have of late been sickly, I entreated	55
This reverend man to visit you some time.
ANNABELLA
You’re very welcome, sir.
RICHARDETTO                      I thank you, mistress.
Loud fame in large report hath spoke your praise
As well for virtue as perfection;	60
For which I have been bold to bring with me
A kinswoman of mine, a maid, for song
And music, one perhaps will give content.
Please you to know her?
ANNABELLA                        They are parts I love,
And she for them most welcome.

PHILOTIS           Thank you, lady.	65
FLORIO
Sir, now you know my house, pray make not strange;
And if you find my daughter need your art,
I’ll be your paymaster.
RICHARDETTO            Sir, what I am
She shall command.
FLORIO          You shall bind me to you.
Daughter, I must have confidence with you	70
About some matters that concerns us both.
Good master Doctor, please you but walk in,
We’ll crave a little of your cousin’s cunning.
I think my girl hath not quite forgot
To touch an instrument; she could have done’t.	75
We’ll hear them both.
RICHARDETTO             I’ll wait upon you, sir.      Exeunt