[Goes forward, sees _Hippolyta_, who justles him in pa.s.sing by; he stops and looks.
_Hip._ You seem, Sir, to be he whom I expect.
_Ant._ I"m call"d _Antonio_, Sir--
_Hip._ And I _Alonzo_; the rest we need not ask, For thou art well acquainted with my Injuries, And I with thy Perfidiousness. [Draws.
_Ant._ I know of none you have receiv"d from me, If on _Hippolyta"s_ account you fight: She lov"d me, and believ"d; and what dull Lover Would have refus"d a Maid so easily gain"d?
_Hip._ Ah, Traytor, by how base a way Thou wouldst evade thy Fate?
Didst thou not know she was my Wife by promise?
Did not _Marcel_, _Ambrosio_, all consent To make her mine as soon as I arriv"d?
_Alon._ Who the Devil"s that young Bully that takes my Name, and my Concerns upon him?
[Aside.
_Hip._ But why should I expect a Truth from thee, Who after so much time, so many Vows, So many Tears, Despairs and Sighs, at last Didst gain a Credit with this easy Fool, Then left her to her shames, and her despairs?-- Come, Sir-- Or I shall talk my self to calmness-- [Aside.
_Ant._ I"m ready, Sir, to justify the Deed.
[They offer to fight, _Alonzo_ steps forth.
_Alon._ Hold! hold! fair Thief that rob"st me of my Name, And wouldst my Honour too; [Puts her by.
If thou hast wrong"d the fair _Hippolyta_, [To _Antonio_.
No Man but I has right to do her justice.
Or you are both my Rivals-- tell me which, Which of you is it I must kill-- or both?
I am _Alonzo_, who dares love _Hippolyta_?
_Hip._ Let not your friendship, Sir, proceed so far, To take my Name, to take my Quarrel on you.
_Alon._ In this Dispute none"s more concern"d than I, And I will keep my ground in such a cause, Tho all the Rivals that her Beauty makes me, Were arm"d to take my Life away.
_Ant._ Come, Sir, I care not which of you"s _Alonzo_.
[They go to fight, she holds _Alonzo_.
_Hip._ This Gallantry"s too much, brave Stranger.
_Antonio_, hurt him not; I am the wrong"d _Alonzo_, And this a perfect Stranger to the business, Who seeing me appear less Man than he, And unacquainted with my Deeds abroad, In Bounty takes my Name and Quarrel on him.
_Alon._ Take heed, young Man, and keep thy Virtue in, Lest thus misguided it become a Crime.
But thou, he says, hast wrong"d _Hippolyta_, [To _Antonio_.
And I am he must punish it.
_Hip._ Sure it is he indeed-- For such a Miracle my Brother render"d him, [Aside.
Hold, hold, thou Wonder of thy s.e.x-- [They fight.
_Alon._ Stand by, I shall be angry with thee else, And that will be unsafe--
[As _Alonzo_ fights with one Hand, he keeps her off with t"other; she presses still forward on _Antonio_ with her Sword, indeavouring to keep back _Alonzo_.
Enter to them _Marcel._
_Mar._ Sure I heard the Noise of Swords this way!
[Draws.
Hah, two against one! Courage, Sir. [To _Antonio_.
[They fight all four, _Marcel_ with _Hippolyta_ whom he wounds, and _Alonzo_ with _Antonio_, who is disarmed.
_Hip._ Good Heaven, how just thou art!
_Mar._ What, dost thou faint already?-- Hah, the pretty talking Youth I saw but now!
[Runs to her, and holds her up.
Alas, how dost thou?
_Hip._ Well, since thy Hand has wounded me--
_Ant._ My Life is yours, nor would I ask the Gift, But to repair my Injuries to _Hippolyta_.
_Alon._ I give it thee-- [Gives him his Sword.
_Mar._ How, _Antonio_!-- What unkind Hand has rob"d me of the justice Of killing thee?
_Alon._ His that was once thy Friend, _Marcel_.
_Mar._ Oh! dost thou know my Shame? [Turns away.
_Alon._ I know thou art false to Friendship, And therefore do demand mine back again, thou"st us"d it scurvily.
_Mar._ Thou knowst too much to think I"ve injur"d thee.
_Alon._ Not injur"d me! Who was it promis"d me _Hippolyta_?
Who his Alliance, and his Friendship too?
And who has broke them all, but thou perfidious?
Come, "tis _Hippolyta_ that I demand.
_Mar._ By this he should not know my Sister"s Shame. [Aside.
Oh, Sir, you must not have _Hippolyta_.
_Alon._ How! not have _Hippolyta_!
Tho every Step were guarded by a Brother, Tho she were circled round about with Rivals, Ye should not all have Power to keep her from me.
Not have _Hippolyta_!-- "Sdeath, Sir, because I do not know my Birth, And cannot boast a little empty t.i.tle, I must not have _Hippolyta_.-- Now I will have her; and when you know I can, You shall pet.i.tion me to marry her.
And yet I will not do"t. Come, Sir-- [Offers to fight.
_Hip._ Hold, hold, brave Man, or turn your Sword on me.
I am the unhappy Cause of all your Rage: "Tis I, generous _Alonzo_, that can tell you What he"s asham"d to own, And thou wilt blush to hear.
_Mar._ _Hippolyta_! thou wretched wicked Woman: Thus I reward thy Sins-- [Offers to kill her, _Antonio_ steps between.
_Ant._ Hold, Sir, and touch her not without my leave, She is my Wife; by sacred Vows my Wife.
_Alon._ I understand no riddling; but whoever thou be"st.