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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1302]

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this a Page?[To Henr.

Rod. One that has done him Service,

And he has paid her for’t; but broke his Covenant.

Viol. My Lord, I come not now to wound your Spirit.

Your pure Affection dead, which first betray’d me,

My Claim dye with it! Only let me not

Shrink to the Grave with Infamy upon me:

Protect my Virtue, tho’ it hurt your Faith;

And my last Breath shall speak Henriquez noble.

Henr. What a fierce Conflict Shame, and wounded Honour,

Raise in my Breast! — but Honour shall o’ercome.—

She looks as beauteous, and as innocent,

As when I wrong’d her. — Virtuous Violante!

Too good for me! dare you still love a Man,

So faithless as I am?— I know you love me.

Thus, thus, and thus, I print my vow’d Repentance:

Let all Men read it here.— My gracious Father,

Forgive, and make me rich with your Consent,

This is my Wife; no other would I chuse,

Were she a Queen.

Cam. Here’s a new Change. Bernard looks dull upon’t.

Henr. And fair Leonora, from whose Virgin Arms

I forc’d my wrong’d Friend Julio, O forgive me.

Take home your holy Vows, and let him have ’em

That has deserv’d them. O that he were here!

That I might own the Baseness of my Wrong,

And purpos’d Recompence. My Violante,

You must again be widow’d: for I vow

A ceaseless Pilgrimage, ne’er to know Joy,

’Till I can give it to the injur’d Julio.

Cam. This almost melts me: — But my poor lost Boy —

Rod. I’ll stop that Voyage, Brother. — Gentle Lady,

What think you of this honest Man?

Leon. Alas!

My Thoughts, my Lord, were all employ’d within!

He has a Face makes me remember something

I have thought well of; how he looks upon me!

Poor Man, he weeps. — Ha! stay; it cannot be —

He has his Eye, his Features, Shape, and Gesture.—

’Would, he would speak.

Jul.Leonora, —[Throws off his Disguise.

Leon. Yes, ’tis He.

O Ecstacy of Joy! —[They embrace.

Cam. Now, what’s the Matter?

Rod. Let ’em alone; they’re almost starv’d for Kisses.

Cam. Stand forty Foot off; no Man trouble ’em.

Much Good may’t do your Hearts! — What is he, Lord,

What is he?

Rod. A certain Son of yours.

Cam. The Devil he is.

Rod. If he be the Devil, that Devil must call you Father.

Cam. By your Leave a little, ho, — Are you my Julio?

Jul. My Duty tells me so, Sir,

Still on my Knees. — But Love engross’d me all;

O Leonora, do I once more hold thee?

Cam. Nay, to’t again: I will not hinder a Kiss,

’Tis he—, [Leaps.

Leon. The righteous Pow’rs at length have crown’d our Loves.

Think, Julio, from the Storm that’s now o’erblown,

Tho’ sour Affliction combat Hope awhile,

When Lovers swear true Faith, the list’ning Angels

Stand on the golden Battlements of Heav’n,

And waft their Vows to the Eternal Throne.

Such were our Vows, and so are they repaid.

Duke. E’en as you are, we’ll join your Hands together.

A Providence above our Pow’r rules all.

Ask him Forgiveness, Boy. [To Henriquez.

Jul. He has it, Sir:

The Fault was Love’s, not his.

Henr.Brave, gen’rous Julio!

I knew thy Nobleness of old, and priz’d it,

’Till Passion made me blind — Once more, my Friend,

Share in a Heart, that ne’er shall wrong thee more.

And, Brother, —

Rod. This Embrace cuts off Excuses.

Duke. I must, in part, repair my Son’s Offence:

At your best Leisure, Julio, know our Court.

And, Violante, (for I know you now;)

I have a Debt to pay: Your good old Father,

Once, when I chas’d the Boar, preserv’d my Life:

For that good Deed, and for your Virtue’s Sake,

Tho’ your Descent be low, call me your Father.

A Match drawn out of Honesty, and Goodness,

Is Pedigree enough. — Are you all pleas’d?

[Gives her to Henriquez.

Camil. All.

Henr. All, Sir,

D. Bern. All, Sir,

Jul. All.

Duke. And I not least. We’ll now return to Court:

(And that short Travel, and your Loves compleated,

Shall, as I trust, for Life restrain these Wand’rings.)

There, the Solemnity, and Grace, I’ll do

Your sev’ral Nuptials, shall approve my Joy;

And make griev’d Lovers, that your Story read,

Wish, true Love’s Wand’rings may like yours succeed.

[Curtain falls.

FINIS.

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