The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1300]
Enters Roderick, hastily.
Duke. O welcome, welcome,
Welcome, good Rod’rick! Say, what News?
Cam. Do you bring Joy or Grief, my Lord? For me,
Come what can come, I’ll live a Month or two
If the Gout please; curse my Physician once more,
And then, — —
Under this Stone
Lies Sev’nty One.
Rod. Signior, you do express a manly Patience.
My noble Father, something I have brought
To ease your Sorrows: My Endeavours have not
Been altogether barren in my Journey.
Duke. It comes at need, Boy; but I hop’d it from thee.
Enter Leonora veil’d, Henriquez behind, and Attendants.
Rod. The Company I bring, will bear me Witness
The busiest of my Time has been employ’d
On this good Task. Don Bernard finds beneath
This Veil his Daughter: You, my Royal Father,
Behind that Lady find a wand’ring Son.
How I met with them, and how brought them hither,
More Leisure must unfold.
Henr. My Father here!
And Julio’s! O Confusion! — Low as Earth
I bow me for your Pardon. [To the Duke.
D. Bern.O my Girl!
Thou bring’st new Life. —[Embraces Leonora.
Duke. And you, my Son, restore me[To Roderick.
One Comfort here that has been missing long.
I hope, thy Follies thou hast left abroad. [To Henriq.
Cam. Ay, ay; you’ve all Comforts but I; you have ruin’d me, kill’d my poor Boy; cheated and ruin’d him; and I have no Comfort.
Rod. Be patient, Signior; Time may guide my Hand
To work you Comfort too.
Cam.I thank your Lordship;
’Would Grandsire Time had been so kind to’ve done it;
We might have joy’d together like good Fellows.
But he’s so full of Business, good Old Man,
’Tis Wonder, he could do the Good he has done.
D. Bern. Nay, Child, be comforted. These Tears distract me.
Duke. Hear your good Father, Lady.
Leon.Willingly.
Duke. The Voice of Parents is the Voice of Gods:
For to their Children they are Heav’n’s Lieutenants:
Made Fathers, not for common Uses meerly
Of Procreation; (Beasts and Birds would be
As noble then as we are) but to steer
The wanton Freight of Youth thro’ Storms and Dangers,
Which with full Sails they bear upon: and streighten
The moral Line of Life, they bend so often.
For these are We made Fathers; and for These,
May challenge Duty on our Children’s Part.
Obedience is the Sacrifice of Angels,
Whose Form you carry.
D. Bern. Hear the Duke, good Wench.
Leon. I do most heedfully. My gracious Lord,
[To the Duke.
Let me be so unmanner’d to request,
He would not farther press me with Persuasions
O’th’ instant Hour: but have the gentle Patience
To bury this keen Suit, ’till I shake Hands
With my old Sorrows, —
Cam. Why dost look at me?
Alas! I cannot help thee.
Leon.And but weep
A Farewell to my murther’d Julio, —
Cam. Blessing be with thy Soul, whene’er it leaves Thee!
Leon. For such sad Rites must be perform’d, my Lord,
E’er I can love again. Maids, that have lov’d,
If they be worth that noble Testimony,
Wear their Loves here, my Lord; here, in their Hearts;
Deep, deep within; not in their Eyes, or Accents;
Such may be slip’d away; or with two Tears
Wash’d out of all Remembrance: Mine, no Physick,
But Time, or Death, can cure.
Henr. You make your own Conditions, and I seal them
Thus on your virtuous Hand. [Aside.
Cam. Well, Wench, thy Equal
Shall not be found in haste; I give thee That:
Thou art a right one, ev’ry Inch. — Thy Father
(For, without Doubt, that Snuff never begot Thee,)
Was some choice Fellow, some true Gentleman;
I give thy Mother Thanks for’t — there’s no Harm done. —
Would I were young again, and had but thee,
A good Horse under me, and a good Sword,
And thus much for Inheritance. —
[Violante offers, once or twice, to shew herself, but goes back.
Duke. What Boy’s That,
Has offer’d twice or thrice to break upon us?
I’ve noted him, and still he falls back fearful.
Rod. A little Boy, Sir, like a Shepherd?
Duke. Yes.
Rod. ’Tis your Page, Brother; — One that was so, late.
Henr. My Page! What Page?
Rod. Ev’n so he says, your Page;
And more, and worse, you stole him from his Friends,
And promis’d him Preferment.
Henr. I, Preferment! —
Rod.