[Act III, Scene ii]

Enter FLORIO, GIOVANNI, SORANZO, ANNABELLA, PUTANA, and VASQUES

FLORIO
My lord Soranzo, though I must confess
The proffers that are made me have been great
In marriage of my daughter, yet the hope
Of your still-rising honours have prevailed
Above all other jointures. Here she is;	5
She knows my mind. Speak for yourself to her;
And hear you, daughter, see you use him nobly.
For any private speech I’ll give you time;
Come, son, and you the rest, let them alone,
Agree as they may.
SORANZO                I thank you, sir. 10
GIOVANNI
[Aside to ANNABELLA] Sister, be not all woman: think on
me.

SORANZO
Vasques!
VASQUES
My lord?
SORANZO
Attend me without.

Exeunt all but SORANZO and ANNABELLA

ANNABELLA
Sir, what’s your will with me?	15
SORANZO
Do you not know what I should tell you?
ANNABELLA                                                Yes,
You’ll say you love me.
SORANZO                          And I’ll swear it, too;
Will you believe it?
ANNABELLA     ’Tis not point of faith.

Enter GIOVANNI above

SORANZO
Have you not will to love?
ANNABELLA                       Not you.
SORANZO                                       Whom then?
ANNABELLA
That’s as the Fates infer.
GIOVANNI                        [Aside] Of those I’m regent now.	20
SORANZO
What mean you, sweet?
ANNABELLA                    To live and die a maid.
SORANZO
O, that’s unfit.
GIOVANNI
[Aside] Here’s one can say that’s but a woman’s note.

SORANZO
Did you but see my heart, then would you swear –
ANNABELLA
That you were dead.
GIOVANNI      [Aside] That’s true, or somewhat near it.	25
SORANZO
See you these true love’s tears?
ANNABELLA                       No.
GIOVANNI                            [Aside] Now she winks.
SORANZO
They plead to you for grace.
ANNABELLA                            Yet nothing speak.
SORANZO
O grant my suit!
ANNABELLA           What is’t?
SORANZO                                       To let me live –
ANNABELLA
Take it.
SORANZO -Stillyours.
ANNABELLA        That is not mine to give.
GIOVANNI
[Aside] One such another word would kill his hopes.	30
SORANZO
Mistress, to leave those fruitless strifes of wit,
I know I have loved you long, and loved you truly;
Not hope of what you have, but what you are
Have drawn me on; then let me not in vain
Still feel the rigour of your chaste disdain.	35
I’m sick, and sick to th’ heart.
ANNABELLA                           Help, aqua-vitae!
SORANZO
What mean you?
ANNABELLA                 Why, I thought you had been sick!

SORANZO
Do you mock my love?
GIOVANNI        [Aside] There, sir, she was too nimble.
SORANZO
[Aside] ’Tis plain, she laughs at me! [To ANNABELLA]
These scornful taunts
Neither become your modesty, or years.	40
ANNABELLA
You are no looking-glass, or, if you were,
I’d dress my language by you.
GIOVANNI                 [Aside] I’m confirmed.
ANNABELLA
To put you out of doubt, my lord, methinks
Your common sense should make you understand
That if I loved you, or desired your love,	45
Some way I should have given you better taste;
But since you are a nobleman, and one
I would not wish should spend his youth in hopes,
Let me advise you here to forbear your suit,
And think I wish you well I tell you this.	50
SORANZO
Is’t you speak this?
ANNABELLA               Yes, I myself. Yet know –
Thus far I give you comfort – if mine eyes
Could have picked out a man amongst all those
That sued to me, to make a husband of,
You should have been that man. Let this suffice.	55
Be noble in your secrecy, and wise.
GIOVANNI
[Aside] Why, now I see she loves me.
ANNABELLA                                        One word more:
As ever virtue lived within your mind,
As ever noble courses were your guide
As ever you would have me know you loved me,	60

Let not my father know hereof by you.
If I hereafter find that I must marry,
It shall be you or none.
SORANZO                 I take that promise.
ANNABELLA
O, O my head!
SORANZO        What’s the matter, not well?
ANNABELLA
O, I begin to sicken!
GIOVANNI              [Aside] Heaven forbid!                       Exit from above	65
SORANZO
Help, help, within there, ho!
Look to your daughter, Signor Florio.
Enter FLORIO, GIOVANNI, PUTANA
FLORIO
Hold her up, she swoons.
GIOVANNI
Sister, how d’ee?
ANNABELLA       Sick, brother, are you there?
FLORIO
Convey her to her bed instantly, whilst I send for a physician –	70
quickly I say!
PUTANA
Alas, poor child!
Exeunt [FLORIO, ANNABELLA, GIOVANNI, PUTANA];
SORANZO remains

Enter VASQUES

VASQUES
My lord.
SORANZO
O Vasques, now I doubly am undone.
Both in my present and my future hopes:	75
She plainly told me that she could not love,
And thereupon soon sickened, and I fear
Her life’s in danger.

VASQUES
[Aside] By’r Lady sir, and so is yours, if you knew all.
[Aloud] ’Las, sir, I am sorry for that. Maybe ’tis but the	80
maid’s sickness, an overflux of youth – and then, sir, there is no
such present remedy as present marriage. But hath she given you
an absolute denial?
SORANZO
She hath and she hath not. I’m full of grief,
But what she said I’ll tell thee as we go.                           Exeunt	85