# Castelvines y Monteses (Cosens)/Act 1/Scene 3

Scene III.—Gallery in the house of Arnaldo; Arnaldo, off a journey, and Lidio.
Arnaldo. Take off my spurs, good Lidio.
Lidio. Good sir, thou seemest out of breath, Fatigued, and worn.
Arnaldo. The country tires me not so much. 'Tis household cares that to Verona bring me. But for family and estate, I fain would pass my life 'Mid country and its solitude! Here, take my arquebuse.
Lidio. It grieves me that you ever thus do Come and go alone.
Arnaldo. Look, Lidio, have a care!
Lidio. Is't loaded, then?
Arnaldo. If that its barrel doth contain Were housed in heart of Castelvin, Mine own would know repose enough. What of my son, Roselo?
Lidio. Well, very well, heaven be thank'd.
Arnaldo. Does he study?
Lidio. A little, and he lacks not Fancies fitted to his age?
Arnaldo. What?
Lidio. Fencing, horses, and with tennis ball And dicing now and then.
Arnaldo. And call you dicing virtuous?
Lidio. 'Tis thought so in the case of noble blood, ​But dice and cards most ugly vices be Amongst the common herd.
Arnaldo. By night he sallies forth?
Lidio. I go to bed so early That in truth I know not, but His man Marin and he Do well agree together.
Arnaldo. That rogue Marin, I have my fears He doth not lead him to the church The preacher's sermons there to hear. A fort which hath no barbacan Is easy entrance for a foe. My son is yet but young; a boy— I fear these Castelvines know That through his eyes I see the light; And, choosing the black darkness of the night, Close mine and his with one sharp stroke; For darkness covers treasons with her cloak.
Lidio. Discharge Marin, the halter Pulling which they lead him. Arnaldo. Think'st thou he'll lack Another rogue, and one as bad as he? For in the case of serving men I know but one experience.
Lidio. And that is?
Arnaldo. The worst who always serves you now; And hath he long time served, Why, then, the master is the man, And so much more if any secrets known And locked within his breast there be.
Lidio. But if the servant be well born, and true The longer time he serves ​The more loyal in his faith he'll grow.
Arnaldo. Lidio, I fain would make a captive of the boy, And bind him fast in Cupid's silken chains. No other prison for such tender years— Nor one so strong as wedlock's iron bars. 'Tis said that, of its many virtues known, It giveth brains to thoughtless boys.
Lidio. With such an arrant knave as this Marin Still at his side, wedlock will scarce give brains, And stretching soon may break such silken chains.
Arnaldo. How, what mean you?
Lidio. Whatever freedom now he hath Is but the freedom of untutor'd youth. But this Marin will lead him Headlong by the downward path, E'en after wedded. Where then His honour, and that of Montes house Whose unsullied name he bears? The parents of the lady will dispute, Some clamorous creditors will their quittance press, And then the young and trusting wife, All tears and jealous rage, and pale, Will fear he loves another; She lacking, 'mid her jewels rare, That rarer one named prudence. He often sups or dines abroad; And when he's served at home Is out of humour with the food, And storms at those who cook'd it. Then, mayhap, when sunrise tips the hills He'll seek his couch to rest and sleep, ​While she, all bitter tears, doth watch and weep. And then will bickering be rife, and woe; So should he in his anger lay But finger on his wife, feuds, floutings, And dishonours dark arise. Such matrimony is a perjured life, And man and wife as chainèd galley-slaves Do go in pairs, and find unhappy graves.
Arnaldo. Can this Marin such mischief coin?
Lidio. Already have I said too much, And think my counsels sound amiss.
Arnaldo. Malice is ever found when sought, I know; So when some servants nod and shrug, Speaking soft slanders of their craft, I then suspect that malice leads, Or envy cankers in the heart, and breeds.
Lidio. Such may be known in palaces.
Arnaldo. Envy a crevice finds in every wall.
Lidio. So telling all I know and think, I'm like the judge who rated well and flogg'd The cheat; and when the flogging's o'er, The cheat has stripes and fame to boot, Some thinking him an injured man. To thy taste this rogue Marin, this cheat, May be both good and most discreet.
Arnaldo. Thy tongue doth wag too fast; And I am tired and care not now to answer thee.
Lidio. Stern truth no answer doth admit, I confess, yon rogue, I much distrust; And I am bound, with loyalty unshaken,
Enter Marin.
Marin. Hah, worthy Lidio, what's the news abroad? Thou household grunter now at home, What say you to our noble boy? What said Arnaldo; did he not Question with a thousand words?
Lidio. A thousand tongues would be too few For all his words just now: he question'd me Most closely.
Marin. He spoke of me, how could I doubt it?
Lidio. Many things he said concerning thee, My answers were, Take thou no heed; With such a master as a tutor, thou May'st sleep the sleep of trust, Confiding in such virtue, truth, and wit. I told him of the counsel that you gave, And of temptations from his path removed.
Marin. A lucky day it was for me, When first I press'd thy honest hand, And in good wine did toast with thee The fairest damsels of our hearts; Whose houses and whose gardens green We had made our own that day. And I swear, good Lidio, trusty friend, That by your caution thou shalt nothing lose.
Lidio. For me enough it is to know I deal with one of gentle birth, And one so honest as Marin.
Marin. This very night we'll join a merry crew, And with guitar and dance will revel at our ease.
​Lidio. I'll go see if our old master sleeps, Meanwhile, get thee in.
Marin. I hold me at your pleasure.
Lidio. From this moment, and for ever,
Marin. This fellow is the greatest cheat; An envious, ill conditioned knave; With dangling rosary and in cassock neat, He preaches rankest treasons; But he who cares to live at peace Within his neighbour's walls, Must hear and see, but nothing say; Flatter with lip and eye, be cheery, And talk, and laugh, and joke; Small deeds, and use high sounding words. And though the devil's tongue be long, He doth not prick it with his tail. But how to serve, I comprehend; while he Who deals alone with truth will gain but poverty.
Enter Roselo and Anselmo.
Roselo. No greater ill could e'er befall a man.
Anselmo. Is such indeed her name And lineage?
Roselo. Oh! ill assorted beauty, that Of Antonio Castelvin such seraphim be born. Oh! fate most cruel and unkind, sad chance, There's flame-eyed madness in each seraph glance.
Anselmo. Why soughtest thou her house?
​Roselo. Marin, Marin.
Marin. Señor, thy father is within.
Roselo. Soon shall he know this maddening love, Which doth consume my heart.
Marin. Here's crazy nonsense!
Roselo. I feel as if my reason waver'd.
Marin. Know you that the lady is Of Castelvines' kin?
Roselo. I do, and am undone.
Marin. There is no ill which, taken timely, But it will yield to cautious cure.
Anselmo. Already are my fears aroused, Still, if thou wilt but counsel take All will be well. Fancy 'twas The limner's art enslaved thine eye. Or that in a glass reflected, seen And, having pass'd along, Thou findest 'twas a mirror'd dream.
Roselo. I bear her beauty mirror'd in mine eyes, Her sweet self reflected, and her angel-look Is ever present to my sight.
Anselmo. To think of loving this Castelvin fair; 'Twould mar thy life; the city too Aroused would cry out nay. For, look you, should you pass By door or window of Castelvin kin His rapier would be quickly out; the Very stones would topple on your head.
Roselo. How little dost thou know of love, Anselmo!
Anselmo. What need know more than this, A bitter quenchless hatred doth divide Your houses?
​Roselo. Yet what befell me, and that beauteous maid? Sweet witching words she spake.
Anselmo. What! could'st thou speak When eyes did only meet?
Roselo. She placed her trembling hand in mine.
Anselmo. She might do this, and yet her kin would seek To kill thee.
Roselo. Her rosy fingers placed This shining ring upon mine hand.
Anselmo. Blind eyes in that may even find deceit.
Roselo. She bade me in the orchard Await her coming, and to-night.
Anselmo. Then need I say no more Than this, that orchard green Will for Roselo Montes be the sward of death.
Roselo. Think'st thou so lightly of my love? She knew not when she spake 'Twas luring love did beckon. We saw and loved. Fear not for me, Anselmo; I go well arm'd. This very night We meet to hold sweet converse 'neath the trees, Despite the hatred of our houses. Hear me, Anselmo; art thou not my friend? And thou, Marin, my servant? I yield me to this fond delight, Madness, delusion, if ye will, And with me he who loves me well.
(Some lines are wanting).
​ Anselmo. Although my heart be heavy as a stone, I'll aid thee, though I face a thousand deaths.
Marin. Am I not most rashly brave? I'll live And die with thee, my lord, my aid I'll give.
Roselo. Counting such loving help as this, Mischances may assail; yet hoping bliss I count mischances naught, So little does our prudence weigh When love the balance trims. Julia, I swear that thou shalt be mine own, My truly wedded love, my gentle wife; And happy then that day will be
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "errata", but no corresponding <references group="errata"/> tag was found
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "errata", but no corresponding <references group="errata"/> tag was found