ZWENO.

Thou didst confess thou hadst a Lady hence.

WILLIAM.

I have, and do.

ZWENO.

Why, that was Blanch, my daughter.

WILLIAM.

Nay, that was Mariana, Who wrongfully thou detainest prisoner.

ZWENO.

Shameless persisting in thy ill!

Thou doest maintain a manifest untroth, As she shall justify unto thy teeth.

Rosilio, fetch her and the Marques hether.

[Exit Rosilio for Mariana.]

WILLIAM.

It cannot be I should be so deceived.

DEMARCH.

I heard this night among the souldiers That in their watch they took a pensive Lady, Who, at the appointment of the Lord Dirot, Is yet in keeping. What she is I know not: Only thus much I over-heard by chance.

WILLIAM.

And what of this?

DEMARCH.

I may be Blaunch, the Kind of Denmarks daughter.

WILLIAM.

It may be so: but on my life it is not; Yet, Demarch, go, and fetch her straight.

[Exit Demarch.]

[Enter Rosilio with the Marques.]

ROSILIO.

Pleaseth your highness, here is the Marques and Mariana.

ZWENO.

See here, Duke William, your compet.i.tors, That were consenting to my daughters scape.

Let them resolve you of the truth herein.

And here I vow and solemnly protest, That in thy presence they shall lose their heads, Unless I hear where as my daughter is.

WILLIAM.

Oh, Marques Lubeck, how it grieveth me, That for my sake thou shouldest indure these bonds, Be judge my soul that feels the marytrdom!

MARQUES.

Duke William, you know it is for your cause, It pleaseth thus the King to misconceive of me, And for his pleasure doth me injury.

[Enter Demarch with the Lady Blaunch.]

DEMARCH.

May it please your highness, Here is the Lady whom you sent me for.

WILLIAM.

Away, Demarch! what tellest thou me of Ladies?

I so detest the dealing of their s.e.x, As that I count a lovers state to be The base and vildest slavery in the world.

DEMARCH.

What humors are these? Here's a strange alteration!

ZWENO.

See, Duke William, is this Blaunch or no?

You know her if you see her, I am sure.

WILLIAM.

Zweno, I was deceived, yea utterly deceived; Yet this is she: this same is Lady Blaunch.

And for mine error, here I am content To do whatsoever Zweno shall set down.

Ah, cruel Mariana, thus to use The man which loved and honored thee with his heart!

MARIANA.

When first I came into your highness court, And William often importing me of love, I did devise, to ease the grief your daughter did sustain, She should meet Sir William masked, as I it were.

This put in proof did take so good effect, As yet it seems his grace is not resolved, But is was I which he conveyed away.

WILLIAM.

May this be true? It cannot be but true.

Was it Lady Blaunch which I conveyed away?

Unconstant Mariana, thus to deal With him which meant to thee nought but faith!

BLAUNCH.

Pardon, dear father, my follies that are past, Wherein I have neglected my duty, Which I in reverence ought to shew your grace; For, led by love, I thus have gone astray, And now repent the errors I was in.

ZWENO.

Stand up, dear daughter: though thy fault deserves For to be punisht in the extremest sort, Yet love, that covers mult.i.tude of sins, Makes love in parents wink at childrens faults.

Sufficeth, Blaunch, thy father loves thee so, Thy follies past he knows but will not know.

And here, Duke William, take my daughter to thy wife, For well I am a.s.sured she loves thee well.

WILLIAM.

A proper conjunction! as who should say, Lately come out of the fire, I would go thrust my self into the flame.

Let Maistres nice go Saint it where she list, And coyly quaint it with dissembling face.

I hold in scorn the fooleries that they use: I being free, will never subject my self To any such as she is underneath the Sun.

ZWENO.

Refusest thou to take my daughter to thy wife?

I tell thee, Duke, this rash denial may bring More mischief on thee then thou canst avoid.