[Act II, Scene iii]
Enter RICHARDETTO and PHILOTIS
RICHARDETTO |
|
Thou seest, my lovely niece, these strange mishaps, |
|
How all my fortunes turn to my disgrace, |
|
Wherein I am but as a looker-on |
|
Whiles others act my shame and I am silent. |
|
PHILOTIS |
|
But, uncle, wherein can this borrowed shape |
5 |
Give you content? |
|
RICHARDETTO I’ll tell thee, gentle niece: |
|
Thy wanton aunt in her lascivious riots |
|
Lives now secure, thinks I am surely dead |
|
In my late journey to Leghorn for you, |
|
As I have caused it to be rumoured out. |
10 |
Now would I see with what an impudence |
|
She gives scope to her loose adultery, |
|
And how the common voice allows hereof: |
|
Thus far I have prevailed. |
|
PHILOTIS Alas, I fear |
|
You mean some strange revenge. |
|
RICHARDETTO O, be not troubled: |
15 |
Your ignorance shall plead for you in all. |
|
But to our business: what, you learnt for certain |
|
How Signor Florio means to give his daughter |
|
In marriage to Soranzo? |
|
PHILOTIS Yes, for certain. |
|
RICHARDETTO |
|
But how find you young Annabella’s love |
20 |
Inclined to him? |
|
PHILOTIS For aught I could perceive, |
|
She neither fancies him or any else. |
|
RICHARDETTO |
|
There’s mystery in that which time must show. |
|
She used you kindly? |
|
PHILOTIS Yes. |
|
RICHARDETTO And craved your company? |
|
PHILOTIS |
|
Often. |
|
RICHARDETTO ’Tis well: it goes as I could wish. |
25 |
I am the Doctor now, and, as for you, |
|
None knows you; if all fail not we shall thrive. |
|
But who comes here? |
|
Enter GRIMALDI
I know him: ’tis Grimaldi, |
|
A Roman and a soldier, near allied |
|
Unto the Duke of Monferrato; one |
30 |
Attending on the Nuncio of the Pope |
|
That now resides in Parma, by which means |
|
He hopes to get the love of Annabella. |
|
GRIMALDI |
|
Save you, sir. |
|
RICHARDETTO And you, sir. |
|
GRIMALDI I have heard |
|
Of your approvéd skill, which through the city |
35 |
Is freely talked of, and would crave your aid. |
|
RICHARDETTO |
|
For what, sir? |
|
GRIMALDI Marry sir, for this – |
|
But I would speak in private. |
|
RICHARDETTO Leave us, cousin. |
|
Exit PHILOTIS |
|
GRIMALDI |
|
I love fair Annabella, and would know |
|
40 |
|
To move affection. |
|
RICHARDETTO Sir, perhaps there may, |
|
But these will nothing profit you. |
|
GRIMALDI Not me? |
|
RICHARDETTO |
|
Unless I be mistook, you are a man |
|
Greatly in favour with the Cardinal. |
|
GRIMALDI |
|
What of that? |
|
RICHARDETTO In duty to his grace, |
45 |
I will be bold to tell you, if you seek |
|
To marry Florio’s daughter, you must first |
|
Remove a bar ’twixt you and her. |
|
GRIMALDI Who’s that? |
|
RICHARDETTO |
|
Soranzo is the man that hath her heart, |
|
And while he lives, be sure you cannot speed. |
50 |
GRIMALDI |
|
Soranzo! What, mine enemy, is’t he? |
|
RICHARDETTO |
|
Is he your enemy? |
|
GRIMALDI The man I hate |
|
Worse than confusion. I’ll kill him straight. |
|
RICHARDETTO |
|
Nay, then, take mine advice: |
|
Even for his grace’s sake the Cardinal, |
55 |
I’ll find a time when he and she do meet, |
|
Of which I’ll give you notice, and to be sure |
|
He shall not ’scape you, I’ll provide a poison |
|
To dip your rapier’s point in: if he had |
|
As many heads as Hydra had, he dies. |
60 |
GRIMALDI |
|
But shall I trust thee, Doctor? |
|
RDETTO As yourself, |
|
Doubt not in aught. [Aside] Thus shall the fates decree, |
|
By me Soranzo falls, that ruined me. Exeunt |
|