Whene'er he cares to claim mine hand,
'Tis his!
Antonio. Thou speakest bravely.
Julia. Sir, 'tis vain to seek to cross thee more:
Thine honour is as dear to me as is mine own.
Already call me, sir, Count Paris' wife.
Antonio. My heart brims o'er with grateful love,
And knows a double joy! Thy dower, girl,
It shall be great—thy mother's part,
In diamonds rich and rare; the whole at good
Six thousand ducats priced! The Count,
Thy husband, too, shall for his purse
Share full six thousand ducats more.
Julia (aside). Each moment do I die a hundred deaths!
Antonio. I go, my child, to see that all in order runs:
The parchments shall be drawn to-night!
Julia (aside). What poisonous draught can half as deadly be
As that sharp grief which doth encompass me?
Antonio. Fesenio here! Fesenio, quick, go bid our kin,
And say this wedding is a joy for Castelvin. [Exit.
Julia. Portia did seek stern death in stifling flame;
Lucretia's steel was sharp and quick; Dido with sword
At breast, sighed sweet memories 'neath the moon
To her brave Trojan youth, weeping salt tears
To swell the sapphire sea; Iphis a cord
For blind Anaxaretes' love, and for that cold
Proud Roman's threat the subtle poison'd
Draught fair Sophonisba drain'd;
Hero of Sestus on her sea-girt tower waits
Sadly in vain; she sights Leander's corse,
And casts her body headlong in the surge;
