Fred. Come, Ascanio, follow me. [Exeunt severally.

SCENE IV.—­The Nunnery Garden.

  Enter DUKE and LUCRETIA.

Luc. In making this appointment,
I go too far, for one of my profession;
But I have a divining soul within me,
Which tells me, trust reposed in noble natures
Obliges them the more.

Duke. I come to be commanded, not to govern: 
Those few soft words, you sent me, have quite altered
My rugged nature; if it still be violent,
’Tis only fierce and eager to obey you;
Like some impetuous flood, which, mastered once,
With double force bends backward. 
The place of treaty shows you strongest here;
For still the vanquished sues for peace abroad,
While the proud victor makes his terms at home.

Luc. That peace, I see, will not be hard to make, When either side shows confidence of noble dealing From the other.

Duke. And this, sure, is our case, since both are met alone.

Luc. ’Tis mine, sir, more than yours.  To meet you single, shows I trust your virtue; But you appear distrustful of my love.

Duke. You wrong me much; I am not.

Luc. Excuse me, sir, you keep a curb upon me;
You awe me with a letter, which you hold
As hostage of my love; and hostages
Are ne’er required but from suspected faith.

Duke. We are not yet in terms of perfect peace; Whene’er you please to seal the articles, Your pledge shall be restored.

Luc. That were the way to keep us still at distance; For what we fear, we cannot truly love.

Duke. But how can I be then secure, that, when Your fear is o’er, your love will still continue?

Luc. Make trial of my gratitude; you’ll find I can acknowledge kindness.

Duke. But that were to forego the faster hold,
To take a loose, and weaker. 
Would you not judge him mad, who held a lion
In chains of steel, and changed them for a twine?

Luc. But love is soft, Not of the lion’s nature, but the dove’s; An iron chain would hang too heavy on a tender neck.

Duke. Since on one side there must be confidence,
Why may not I expect, as well as you,
To have it plac’d in me?  Repose your trust
Upon my royal word.

Luc. As ’tis the privilege of womankind,
That men should court our love,
And make the first advances; so it follows,
That you should first oblige; for ’tis our weakness
Gives us more cause of fear, and therefore you,
Who are the stronger sex, should first secure it.

Duke. But, madam, as you talk of fear from me, I may as well suspect design from you.

Luc. Design! of giving you my love more freely;
Of making you a title to my heart,
Where you by force would reign.