Is of inferior value.

Lisida. Why inferior?

Lisardo. Because 'tis form'd of emeralds, not diamonds;
And to your eyes hope's colour I conclude

Unpleasing; since who Constancy rejects,

Hope and her gay illusions must despise.

Lisida. Mark now your error; on the contrary,
Because 'tis Hope, that jewel I will purchase.
Lisardo. This jewel?

Lisida. Yes; for, having enter'd here,
I will not suffer you, on your departure,
To be by hope accompanied.

Flerida. Delicious!

This is the masterpiece of thy whole life.

Lisida. Fabio, inquire this jewel's price, and pay for't;
And take you special note, you foreign merchants,
That hence, deprived of hope by me, you go.

Flerida. Even to perfection hast thou play'd thy part.
Lisida. Come with me, lady; I have much to tell.
Prince. Lisardo, I am slain.

Lisardo. Sir, come away;

There's much without these walls to be explain'd.

The scene ends with a few more regrets from the Prince and Flerida, at not finding in each other respectively their unknown affianced partners.

In the next scene Lorenzo and Roberto meet. The latter tells his lord that the stranger and Lisardo are gone to the palace in quest of Lisida, and Lorenzo breaks out into a fit of jealousy, which, considering that he is now enamoured of Flerida, astonishes the servant, and gives birth to much elaborate discussion, as to how a man may, nay, ought to continue jealous of a woman he has ceased to love. Roberto, now observing that Lisardo and the stranger are approaching, proposes to avoid them. Lorenzo answers, that although he might spare Lisardo the necessity of quarrelling with a benefactor, he cannot possibly shun him. The Prince and Lisardo enter, too deep in discourse to notice their neighbours; Lisardo tells the Prince that the lady who personates Flerida was Lisida, upon whose account Prince Federigo was killed. Prince Carlo expresses his joyful hope that the lady he liked may now prove to be Flerida, and his anger at the insult offered him by the choice of Lisida as her representative. Lisardo, thinking he sees Lisida in the balcony, goes out; and the Prince, left alone, observes Lorenzo, accosts, and invites him to join Lisardo, who is impatient to evince his gratitude to his preserver. Lorenzo agrees, only desiring the stranger to take notice that he goes in his company. Lisardo now returns, saying the lady was not Lisida. The Prince calls to him that here is his preserver, and Lisardo advances with the words

Open your arms, that I, embracing you

A thousand times, may-kill you!

(When about to embrace, LISARDO recognizes LORENZO. They separate and draw.)

Lorenzo. That must be

As fate and skill decide.

Prince. What should this mean?

Lisardo. That I have found a traitor, where even now

I met a most ungrateful woman.

Lorenzo. Rather,

A traitor has come hither, where before

I found a tigress.

Roberto. Whilst they kill each other,

I will go fetch a sword.

Prince. Can kindness thus

To rage be suddenly transform'd?-Would you

VOL. XVII.

(Exit.)

4 Q

Murder the man who gave you life ?-you him
Who at your hands received it?

Lisardo. Yes; for I,

Had I suspected who preserved my life,

Would, rather than accept it from his hands,
Have proved a suicide.

Lorenzo. Yes, for if I

Preserved him from the dangers then impending,

'Twas that I might myself resume the life

I had bestowed.

Lisardo. He is my enemy.

Lorenzo. My pity is grown cruel.
Prince. Mark, Lisardo,

That I accompany the stranger; you,
Stranger, that you are in my company.
Lorenzo. 'Twere difficult.

Lisardo. 'Twere hard for any lips

Lorenzo. An action to prevent

Lisardo. My wrath assuaging

Lorenzo. By which I shall avenge my injuries.

Lisardo. To check my taking vengeance for my wrongs.

Prince. Your wrongs? I say no more. You'll pardon me,

I must assist the friend with whom I came,

Be that friend's actions or unjust or just.

Lisardo. I do but ask that you unhand me, sir,

Not your assistance.

Prince. Be't so; fight; but first

Acquaint me with your cause of quarrel-Make me

The duel's umpire.

Lisardo. I can ne'er reveal it.

Prince. Wherefore?

Lisardo. "Twould complicate . .

Prince. Go on.

Lisardo. Involvement

Upon involvement.

Lorenzo. I esteem it better

To tell.

Lisardo. Forbear! Proceed not!
Lorenzo. That 'tis fear,

Which fain would be concealed.

Fighting with him,

Whom even hither I had come to kill,

Before a lady's door, it was my chance

To slay Prince Federigo di Orsini.

Prince. Then is my honour here the most concerned : Thou slew'st my brother? Heaven has heard my prayers. Lorenzo. What do I hear!

Lisardo. Forbear!

Prince. Wilt thou defend

The villainous assassin of

my

brother?

Lisardo. Yes, I must recompense him for the life I have from him received, that afterwards

I may be justified in taking his.

Lorenzo. Then that you may not upon this occasion Defend my life, I here forgive the debt

You owe me for your own. My Lord and Prince,
I slew your brother, but I fairly slew him,

Without advantage or base treachery,
Because he thither came accompanying
The rival of my love. If you desire
To take revenge, 'tis for

your nobleness

To meditate the manner of it. I
Cannot allow his courtesy to hinder

Your vengeance. Jointly if you please to fight me,
I'm here and ready.

Prince. No, not with advantage,

But satisfaction I will have this day.
Lisardo, go.

Lisardo. The duel, sir, is mine.
Prince. I am most deeply interested.
Lisardo. I

Most injured.

Prince. Recollect, he slew my brother.
Lisardo. But slew him at my side.
Prince. Which shall prevail?

Lorenzo. That you must settle.

Prince. Choose with whom you'll fight.

Lorenzo. If I may choose, I take Lisardo; he
Offends me still, pursuing Lisida

Ev'n to my secret shelter.

Prince. Hold, that fault

Is mine. By Heav'n! 'twas I who brought him hither
To see the Princess.

Lorenzo. See the Princess?

Prince. Yes.

Lorenzo. Then, sir, I now select yourself; and since
Already I have challenged both, I will not

Retract, but call upon you both to fight.

Prince. Hold off, Lisardo! Mark, my sword is drawn
Already; should'st thou afterwards draw thine,
The infamy be on thyself, not me.

Lisardo. By Heaven, I cannot look upon a combat,
And hold my hand! Nor should the duel's laws
Govern this case, for if a single man

Falls upon two, justly those two may kill him.

Enter FLERIDA, LISIDA, FLORA, and FABIO.

Lisida. Their swords are drawn!

Flerida. Oh, hasten to the spot!

Lorenzo. Her Highness is at hand.

Flerida. What is the matter?

Prince. Nothing, fair Princess, since you have appear'd.

Though I might urge that whoso would deceive,

Forfeits all claim to others' reverence

(They fight.)

When she conceals the name to which 'tis due,

I wait a future opportunity

Of taking vengeance.

Flerida. Fabio, follow them

Lisardo. Nothing, fair Princess, since you have appear'd.

With questions.You, explain what has occurred.

(Exit.)

Lorenzo gives the required explanation in so enigmatical a form, that the Princess and Lisida respectively understand each that she herself is the cause of the quarrel; he then hastens after his adversaries, lest they should suspect him of fearing them. Flerida, alarmed for her own reputation, should any one of the antagonists be slain, sends Flora to recall Lorenzo. Lisida, whose jealousy

is by this time stronger than her love, tries to prevent her interference, advising that the presumptuous stranger should be abandoned to his fate. Flerida wonders at this change of opinion, and with admirable accuracy of memory, repeats, almost literally, her friend's former arguments, ending her speech, and the second Jornada, with the conclusion,

That every high-born dame

Is bound her suitors to entreat

With COURTESY, if not with Love.

The third Jornada opens with the buffooneries of the Gracioso, from whom, amidst a torrent of jesting falsehoods, Lorenzo learns that the Prince and Lisardo are gone off to the mountains, after having held a secret conference with Fabio. Roberto, terrified at the threatening dangers, urges his lord to fly. He refuses, and Flora now arrives upon her mission from the Princess. Lorenzo accompanies her to the garden, followed at a cautious distance by Roberto, whom he encourages with the remark, that no one knows what Fortune may have in store for them.

We next find Flerida and Lisida in the garden, discussing the course to be pursued with regard to Lorenzo. The Princess declares, that in order to prevent his being killed in her palace, she has resolved to dismiss him, and has now summoned him to command his departure. Lisida highly approves, and Flerida adds, that, lest a personal interview should inflame his vanity, she will not see him; Lisida shall communicate her orders, and she will amuse herself by witnessing the scene betwixt them, concealed behind a hedge of myrtles. Lisida vainly endeavours to avoid the commission; Flerida hides herself, Flora brings in Lorenzo, points to Lisida as the Princess, and leaves him. Lorenzo advances, saying,

Lady, I come most humbly at your feet,
To learn your will.

Lisida. Her Highness sent for you,

'Tis true; but she deputes me, in her name,
Here to await your coming.

Lorenzo. It is clear

That thou must ever be perfidious,
Ever ungrateful, and to me a tigress;
Thou, the occasion of my timeless death!
For here, between you both, I meet the fate
Of the poor wanderer, whose ear drinks in
The Siren's song, enamouring, enchanting,
But to deprive their victim of his life.
Thus, artfully combining, have you shared
Betwixt you sweetness, and fierce cruelty,
That, whilst she with the one allures me hither,
Thy hand may surely strike the fatal blow.

Lisida. Good gentleman, I understand you not,

I cannot even guess wherefore so strangely

You speak to me, unless, perchance, you hope,

By thus displaying different strains of madness,

You may escape. (Aside.) Heav'n grant he comprehend
The signs I make!

Lorenzo. Art thou so false, fair tyrant?

But that's not wonderful; for always thou
To me wert false !

Lisida. How is that possible!

Till now, I never saw you.

(Flerida aside.) What is this?

Will it appear upon the proof, not I,

But Lisida, has been his passion's object?

Lorenzo. Briefly, what would you with me? Pray proceed,

If you are not content with the misfortunes,

Which, through your treachery, your inconstancy,
I suffer, which have hither, to these wilds,

Driven me, a human, reasoning, wild beast.

Flerida, (aside.) Can I be wounded if he loves another?
Lisida. I understand you not,-but this suffices;
The Princess, through my lips, on pain of death,
Commands that you should instantly forsake
These mountains, where-

Lorenzo. Forbear; pr'ythee, no more!

Already, cruel fair, I understand

Thy meaning. Since thou here hast seen Lisardo
Lisida. Lisardo?-Who is he?-Whom speak you to?
Lorenzo. Insult me not. Dost thou presume, that hither
I came for thee?

Lisida. Wherefore should I presume it,

Knowing nor thee, nor thy Lisardo? (Aside.) Strange!
He cannot comprehend a single one

Of all the signs I make incessantly!

Lorenzo. Thou bidst me leave these mountains, lest I trouble Your intercourse.

Lisida, (aside.) Alas! I can repress

Neither my gushing tears nor his reproaches.

Lorenzo. But my departure is not therefore needful;

For though 'twas jealousy that brought me thither,

Thy vanity no more shall hope the trophy.

Lisida. When did I ever see thee or Lisardo?

What is't you talk of jealousy or hope?

Lorenzo. I'm jealous of his comrade, not of him, For it is Flerida whom I adore,

And lose.

Flerida, (aside.) So it is well. To be beloved
Though I desire not, to have been deceived,
Had angered me.

Lisida. Man, I conjecture not

Wherefore to me you utter such wild ravings.
The Princess bade me tell you, you must quit
These mountains.

Lorenzo. That is false, I know the Princess
Could never give such orders.

Flerida, (coming forward.) She, herself,

Repeats those orders. If you do not quit

These territories instantly, your life

Is forfeited. Already, my compassion
Has been too bountiful.

Lorenzo. I shall obey

Your pleasure, but with anguish so profound,

That death and absence will appear to be,

Not, as you stated them, alternatives,

But so entirely one, or 'twixt themselves

So far equivalent, that life must fail

As I forsake your loved vicinity.

Flerida. Now, tell me, Lisida, of which opinion

Art at this present time? Say, shall he live,

Or must he die?

Lisida. Permit me, at your feet,

Madam, to speak my answer.

Flerida. As thou wilt.

Lisida. This noble gentleman, whom cruel Fortune

Thus outrages, with undeserved mischance,

Obscuring honour, dignity, renown,

And lofty birth, in Naples

(Exit.)

(Clashing of swords heard.)