Act the First: Scene V

MOSCON. Yonder, where we left our master,I hear sword-strokes; run, run quickly.

CLARIN. Well, except to run away,I am anything but nimble;--Truly a retiring person.

CYPRIAN. No more: your gabble irks me.--How? What's this? Two noble friends,Who in blood, in birth, in lineage,Are to-day of Antioch allIts expectancy, the city'sEye of fashion, one the sonOf the Governor, of the princelyHouse Colalto, one the heir,Thus to peril, as of littleValue, two such precious livesTo their country and their kindred?

LELIUS. Cyprian, although respectWhich on many grounds I give thee,Holds my sword suspended thusIn due deference for an instant,--To the scabbard's calm reposeIt hath got no power to win it.Thou of science knowest more,Than the duel, pretermittingThis, that when two nobles meetIn the field, no power can link themFriends again, save this, that oneMust his life give as a victim.

FLORUS. This I also say, and ask thee,With thy people, that thou quittest,Leaving us to end our quarrelWithout any help or hindrance.

CYPRIAN. Though it seems to you my callingMakes me know the laws but littleOf the duel--that strict codeValour and vain pride have written,You are wrong, for I was bornWith the obligations fittingRank like yours, to know in truthInfamy and honour's limits.The devotion to my studiesHas my courage not diminished,For they oftentimes shake handsArms and letters as though kinsmen.If to meet here in the fieldWas the quarrel's first condition,Having met and fought, its liesCalumny can never whisper.And the cause you thus can tell meOf the feud that brings you hither;For I promise, if, on hearingWhat to me is thus committed,I perceive that satisfactionMust on either side be given,Here to leave you both alone,Unobserved by any witness.

LELIUS. Then on this condition solely,That you leave us, when the bitterTruth is told, to end our quarrel,I to tell the cause am willing.I a certain lady love,The same lady as his mistressFlorus also loves; now see,How incompatible are our wishes!--Since betwixt two jealous noblesNo mediation is admitted.

FLORUS. I this lady love so much,That the sunlight I would hinderFrom beholding her sweet face.Since then all interpositionIs 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 enkindledJealousy in the heart of Florus,It was jealousy pure and simple,Without cause, for even the sunDare 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 beforehandHer unspotted fame to injure?What will say the world, if oneOf you two shall marry with herAfter having killed the otherFor her sake? The suppositionIs not probable in fact,To imagine it is sufficient.I by no means say you shouldEach your chances try to win herAt one time, for I would blushSuch a craven propositionCame from me, because the loverWho could keep his jealousy hidden,Would condone even shame thereafter,Were the opportunity given;But I say that you should learnWhich of you it is your mistressGives the preference to, then....

LELIUS. Stay!--For it were an act too timid,Too faint-hearted thus to askOf a lady such admissionAs the choosing him or me.For if me she chose, more fixedIs 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 angerAll the more, that she, my mistress,Whom I love, should love another.Her selection could do littleIn the matter, which at lastTo our swords should be committed,--The accepted for his honour,The refused for his dismissal.

FLORUS. I confess that I adoptAltogether that opinion,Still the privilege of selectionMay to ladies be permitted;So to-day I mean to ask herOf her father. 'Tis sufficientTo have come here to the field,And my naked sword uplifted,(Specially as one is byWho the further fight resisteth,)For my honour;--so to sheathe,Lelius, my sword I'm willing.

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.I to-day will seek her father.

CYPRIAN. On, of course, the supposition,That this lady you pay court toSuffers naught by the admission,Since you both have spoken proudlyOf her virtue and her strictness,Tell me who she is; for I,Who am held throughout the cityIn esteem, would for you bothSpeak to her at first a littleThat she thus may be preparedWhen 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 noble.Instantly I'll pay my visit.

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

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

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