 | A Duke and no Duke |  |
Trap.
For ever thine Flametta.
Fla.
Thanks my Dear.
But am not I a fond Fool to believe you,
When you have been from me these two long dayes?
I'm sensible I love you but too well,
For truly Dear you are a naughty man.
Trap.
Pretty Rogue! how she fires my heart! now could I cry
like any roasted Lobster.—What would old Lord Barberino
give for one such kind word from her. But young and poor as
she is, she is yet most Constant and Virtuous.—Not that I care
much for Virtue neither.—Alass my Dear, I have been much
opprest with Business since I saw thee. My Honour was at stake
for procuring Convenients for no less than five Ministers of
State. It'as been dead trading of late, but 'tis a comfort to see
times mend, now we are upon our Matrimony.
Fla.
Let me Conjure you leave these vitious courses,
You must indeed, or we must never marry;
But you will be my Convert and reform.
Trap.
All in good time Love; it becomes me to see my Betters
go before me, when I do mend I shall certainly do it to purpose,
leave to be honest, and I think that's fair.—
Enter Barberino and Officers.
Whose here my Rival Lord?
Barb.
Here is the Villain with his handsome Wench,
And what (afflicts me more) an honest One;
I have these many weeks attempted her,
But neither Threats nor Presents can prevail,
She must be virtuous, or her poverty
Could ne'r withstand the Offers I have made;
Yet were she virtuous she would ne'r allow
This wicked Pandar so familiar with her;
This Fidling Parasite, Buffoon, and Beggar:
But on pretence of his enormities,
I have procur'd this Order from the Duke
For his immediate banishment from Florence.
Most certainly, he bears some Spell about him,
And when he's once remov'd, I shall succeed.
Trap.
Again my Dear—My good Lord Barberino, your
Honours humble Servant.—For this free Promise, Love, I
ne'er enough can thank Thee—Your Lordships to Command
—No Fortune shall divide or change our Wills.—Your
Honours humble Slave—What's Wealth or Power where
Hearts consent like ours?—Your Lordships Vassal—
When thou dost sigh, thy Trappolin shall weep.—Your
Honour alwayes shall Command Me—And when thou
sings't—
Fla.
We are observ'd.
Learn to be honest, and I am Thine for ever.
[Exit.
Trap.
I beg your Lordships pardon. Your Lordship saw how
I was employ'd. The poor wretch has taken a Fancy to me,
and your Lordship knows I am a Person of liberal Education:
That I bear not a Breast of Flint, nor was Nurs't with the Milk
of Hircanian Bulls. Now if your Lordship has any thing to
Command me, here I stand ready, I'l fido Trappolino, your Honours
humble Servant in all things possible and impossible.
You are a sawcy peremptory Villain,
And have too long escap'd the stroak of Justice.
Off.
Nor is there such a Coward in all Tuscany,
He's able to corrupt an Army.
Trap.
Fear not that Seignior Capitano, for I never mean to
come into One.
Barb.
So lewd a Pandar ne'er infected City,
What Wife or Daughter of the Noblest Blood
Is she, where such a Hellish Factor breaths.
Trap.
And can your Lordship on your Honour tax me
For want of Diligence in my Vocation?
Barb.
Industrious hast thou been in Villany,
But Florence must no longer be the Scene;
This is your Warrant, Captain, from the Duke,
To drive this Miscreant from our City Gates.
And when he's seen again in Tuscany,
That Minute forfeits his abandon'd life.
Thus has our Duke decreed.
Trap.
At whose request?
Barb.
On mine.
Trap.
I am glad to find your Honour has so much Interest in
His Highness, and therefore make choice of your Honour as the
most proper Person to sollicit my Repeal.
Barb.
Audacious Slave.
Trap.
His Highness knows travelling is chargeable, and besides
my Stomach is of no ordinary Dimensions.
Barb.
Away with him, if he dispute your Orders
Call for the Parish Whips to your Assistance.
Trap.
Seignior Officer you may take his Lordships word when
he says a Thing. You hear his Lordship hath private business
with me, and desires your absence—For certain then His
Highness is upon Treaty of Marriage with the Millanese; your
Lordship and I, were alwayes of opinion it would come to that.
Barb.
Such harden'd Impudence was never seen.
Take him away.
Trap.
My Lord, my Lord—Such a Primrose in a Corner
for your Lordship, never blown upon my Lord;—
Barb.
Force him along.
Flametta my Lord, what says your Lordship to Flametta?
There's Eyes and Bubbies! Shall I bring her to your Lordship
—Nay my Lord, my Lord.
(They bear him off.)
[Exeunt.
Enter Duke Lavinio, Alberto, Guards, and Attendants.
Lav.
I'm stung with Adders and shall go distracted;
Let me have breathing room.
Alb.
Your Highness knows
I ever have been watchful for your Honour,
And next to that, I would preserve your quiet.
Lav.
Choice Method, first blow poyson in my Ears,
And after preach patience to me.
Alb.
I fear my Duty has been too officious;
Dread Sir, reflect where was the mighty harm
In holding talk with him by open day?
I hope this fanning will incense the flame.
[Aside.
Lav.
What harm? the very Bawd to their desires
Could never have Forehead to dispute the harm:
A Virgin and a Princess seen to walk
And hold discourse apart with one of Race
Obscure, at least unknown, and no harm in't?
'Twere lewd, though they had only pray'd together:
Bring the audacious Traytor to Our Presence.
(Brunetto brought in here.
Enter Brunetto.
Bru.
Dread Sir, and twice my Noble Conquerour,
[Kneeling.
First in the Field, in which your Self alone
Could stop my Conquest with resistless Might,
And since in Gen'rous Princely favours.
Lav.
Rise.
I am not us'd to hearken after Praise,
Or Thanks for Benefits by me conferr'd,
For hitherto they always fell on Merit,
Only in this Acknowledgment, I hear
Ingratitude from it's own mouth condemn'd:
This Lord, the watchful Argus of my Honour,
Has charg'd you with a Crime will stain the Worth
You shew'd in Battel, and make Valour blush.
Alb.
I but inform'd your Highness what I saw.
Bru.
He's prejudic'd, I kill'd his Son in fight
In Service of my Prince, as he of you.
Lav.
I have a Sister, dear to me as Fame,
Our Royal Father's only Care and Comfort,
‘My Dukedome (said he dying) I bequeath thee,
‘A slender Present and thy Due by Birth;
‘But with it all the Glory of our Race,
‘The spotless Honour of the Medices;
‘Preserve the Princely Blood from base-born taint,
‘But most secure it in the weaker part,
‘And match Prudentia with her Peer in Birth;
‘So shall I with my Ancestors have rest.
Now Sir, how far you have infring'd these Orders,
And brought a guilt unknown upon my head,
I leave your self to judge: Confess your Crime,
And Torture shall revenge it; smother it,
And Tortures shall extort it.
Bru.
My charmed Soul
Came panting to my Lips to meet your Charge,
And beg forgiveness for its high presumption.
But since you talk of Tortures, I disdain
The servile threats, and dare your utmost Rage;
I love the Princess, and have urg'd my passion,
Tho' I confess all hopeless of return.
This with a Souldiers freedom I avouch,
Who scorns to lodge that Thought he dares not own:
Now Sir, Inflict what punishment you please.
But let me warn you, that your vengeance reach
My head, or neither of us can have rest.
Chains, Straw and Darkness! this is meer distraction!
To Prison with him; you that waited on him
(They lead off Brunetto.
Be now his Guard: Thin Diet and no Light;
Such usage may restore him—Vengeance thus
Converts to Charity.
Enter Prudentia.
Prudentia,
Your entrance has prevented me a Visit
To your Apartment, and half sav'd a Chiding;
Yet I must tell you, you have been too blame,
But Sister learn reserv'dness for the future,
Such as becomes your Quality, and hold
That place which Nature and unspotted Virtue
Has hitherto secur'd you in my heart.
Pru.
Most gracious Sir, If e're my secret Soul
Admits one thought that is not first submitted
For Approbation to your Royal Will,
The Curse of Disobedience fall upon me;
As I in you have found a Fathers Love,
I shall repay't with more than Filial Duty.
Lav.
Virtue and Honour ever guide thy way.
Thou'rt solitary, but shal't quickly enjoy
A sweet Companion in our Royal Bride.
Sforza the Duke of Millain, our old Friend,
Who always in our Wars hath sent us aid,
Here offers me the beauteous Isabella
His Daughter for my Wife, and instantly
We will to Millain on the Expedition,
That Treatment once determin'd, wee'l return
To Florence, where wee'l celebrate our Nuptials
With that Magnificence becomes our State.
Pru.
Go and be happy Sir in your fair Choice.
Barb.
That Blessing's only wanting to our State.
Lav.
Lord Barberino and Alberto, you
Whom I have always found most faithful to me,
To you I do commit the Government
I leave unlimited, keep open Ear
To just Complaints: Allow and Act no wrong;
Look closely to our Prisoner Brunetto.
Alb.
So may your wish't Return be safe and speedy.
Lav.
Sister, your tears afflict us; a few Weeks
Shall grace our Court with the fair Millanese.
Lead on, 'tis time we were upon our way.
[Exeunt.
| A Duke and no Duke | |