The Wonder-Working Magician Part 3

FLORUS. This I also say, and ask thee, With thy people, that thou quittest, Leaving us to end our quarrel Without any help or hindrance.

CYPRIAN. Though it seems to you my calling Makes me know the laws but little Of the duel--that strict code Valour and vain pride have written, You are wrong, for I was born With the obligations fitting Rank like yours, to know in truth Infamy and honour's limits.

The devotion to my studies Has my courage not diminished, For they oftentimes shake hands Arms and letters as though kinsmen.

If to meet here in the field Was the quarrel's first condition, Having met and fought, its lies Calumny can never whisper.

And the cause you thus can tell me Of the feud that brings you hither; For I promise, if, on hearing What to me is thus committed, I perceive that satisfaction Must on either side be given, Here to leave you both alone, Un.o.bserved by any witness.

LELIUS. Then on this condition solely, That you leave us, when the bitter Truth is told, to end our quarrel, I to tell the cause am willing.

I a certain lady love, The same lady as his mistress Florus also loves; now see, How incompatible are our wishes!-- Since betwixt two jealous n.o.bles No mediation is admitted.

FLORUS. I this lady love so much, That the sunlight I would hinder From beholding her sweet face.

Since then all interposition Is in vain, pray stand aside, And our quarrel let us finish.

CYPRIAN. Stay, for one more thing I'd know.

Tell me this of your fair mistress, Is she possible to your hopes, Or impossible to your wishes?--

LELIUS. Oh: she is so good and wise, That if even the sun enkindled Jealousy in the heart of Florus, It was jealousy pure and simple, Without cause, for even the sun Dare not look upon her visage.

CYPRIAN. Would you marry with her, then?

FLORUS. This is all my heart's ambition.

CYPRIAN. And would you?

LELIUS. Ah, would to heaven, I were destined for such blisses!-- For although she's very poor, Virtue dowers her with its riches.

CYPRIAN. If you both aspire to wed her, Is it not an act most wicked, Most unworthy, thus beforehand Her unspotted fame to injure?

What will say the world, if one Of you two shall marry with her After having killed the other For her sake? The supposition Is not probable in fact, To imagine it is sufficient.

I by no means say you should Each your chances try to win her At one time, for I would blush Such a craven proposition Came from me, because the lover Who could keep his jealousy hidden, Would condone even shame thereafter, Were the opportunity given; But I say that you should learn Which of you it is your mistress Gives the preference to, then....

LELIUS. Stay!-- For it were an act too timid, Too faint-hearted thus to ask Of a lady such admission As the choosing him or me.

For if me she chose, more fixed Is my call for satisfaction; For his fault has this addition, He loves one who loves but me.

If to him the choice is given, This intensifies my anger All the more, that she, my mistress, Whom I love, should love another.

Her selection could do little In the matter, which at last To our swords should be committed,-- The accepted for his honour, The refused for his dismissal.

FLORUS. I confess that I adopt Altogether that opinion, Still the privilege of selection May to ladies be permitted; So to-day I mean to ask her Of her father. 'Tis sufficient To have come here to the field, And my naked sword uplifted, (Specially as one is by Who the further fight resisteth,) For my honour;--so to sheathe, Lelius, my sword I'm willing.

[Sheathes his sword.

LELIUS. By your argument and action, Florus, you have half convinced me; I forego the remaining half-- True or false, I thus act with you.

[Sheathes his sword.

I to-day will seek her father.

CYPRIAN. On, of course, the supposition, That this lady you pay court to Suffers naught by the admission, Since you both have spoken proudly Of her virtue and her strictness, Tell me who she is; for I, Who am held throughout the city In esteem, would for you both Speak to her at first a little That she thus may be prepared When her father tells your wishes.

LELIUS. You are right.

CYPRIAN. Her name?

FLORUS. Justina, Daughter of Lysander.

CYPRIAN. Little, Now that I have heard her name, Seem the praises you have given her; She is virtuous as she's n.o.ble.

Instantly I'll pay my visit.

FLORUS [aside]. May heaven grant that in my favour Her cold heart be moved to pity!

[Exit.

LELIUS. Love, my hopes with laurels crown When they are to her submitted!

[Exit.

CYPRIAN. Further mischief or misfortune, Grant me, heaven, that I may hinder!

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

MOSCON, CLARIN.

MOSCON. Has your worship heard our master Now is gone to pay a visit To Justina?

CLARIN. Yes, my lord.

But what matter if he didn't?

MOSCON. Matter quite enough, your worship; He has no business there.

CLARIN. Why, prithee?

MOSCON. Why? because I die for Livia, Who is maid to this Justina, And I wouldn't have even the sun Get a glimpse of her through the window.

CLARIN. Well, that's good; but, for a lady, To contend were worse than silly, Whom I mean to make my wife.

MOSCON. Excellent, faith! the fancy tickles Quite my fancy. Let her say Who it is that annoys or nicks her To a nicety. Let's go see her, And she'll choose.

CLARIN. A good idea!-- Though I fear she'll pitch on you.

MOSCON. Have you then that wise suspicion?

CLARIN. Yes; for always these same Livias Choose the worst, th'ungrateful minxes.*

[Exeunt.

[footnote] *The 'asonante' versification in 'i-e', which has been kept up through these six scenes, ends here. The seventh scene commences in rhymed five-line stanzas, which change to the asonante in e-e, at the beginning of Lysander's long speech.