Volume Xiv Part 2 (1/2)

SCENE--_Seville._

THE REBELLION.

ACT I., SCENE 1.

_Enter severally_, ALERZO, FULGENTIO, _and_ PANDOLPHO.

ALER. Colonel?

FUL. Signor Alerzo?

ALER. Here.

PAN. Signors, well-met: The lazy morn has scarcely trimm'd herself To entertain the sun; she still retains The slimy tincture of the banish'd night: I hardly could discern you.

ALER. But you appear fresh as a city bridegroom, That has sign'd his wife a warrant for the Grafting of horns; how fares Belinda After the weight of so much sin? you lay with her To-night; come, speak, did you take up on trust, Or have you p.a.w.n'd a colony of oaths?

Or an embroidered belt? or have you ta'en The courtier's trick, to lay your sword at mortgage?

Or perhaps a feather? 'twill serve in traffic, To return her ladys.h.i.+p a fan, or so.

PAN. Y' are merry.

FUL. Come, be free, Leave modesty for women to gild Their pretty thriving art of plent.i.tude, To enrich their husbands' brows with cornucopias.

A soldier, and thus bashful! Pox! be open.

PAN. Had I the pox, good colonel, I should stride Far opener than I do; but pox o' the fas.h.i.+on!

ALER. Count Antonio.

[_To them enter_ ANTONIO.

FUL. Though he appear fresh as a bloom That newly kiss'd the sun, adorn'd with pearly Drops, flung from the hand of the rose-finger'd morn, Yet in his heart lives a whole host of valour.

PAN. He appears A second Mars.

ALER. More powerful, since he holds wisdom And valour captive.

FUL. Let us salute him.

[_Whilst they salute_ ANTONIO, _enters_ COUNT MACHIAVEL.

MACH. Ha! how close they strike, as if they heard A winged thunderbolt [that] threaten'd his death, And each ambitious were to lose his life; So it might purchase him a longer being: Their breath engenders like two peaceful winds, That join a friendly league, and fill the air With silken music; I may pa.s.s by, and scarce be spar'd a look, Or any else but young Antonio.

Rise from thy scorching den, thou soul of mischief!

My blood boils hotter than the poison'd flesh Of Hercules cloth'd in the Centaur's s.h.i.+rt: Swell me, revenge, till I become a hill, High as Olympus' cloud-dividing top; That I might fall, and crush them into air.

I'll observe.

[_Exit behind the hangings._

ANT. Command, I prythee, all[16]