University of Virginia Library

Scena secunda.

Sforza.
Sforza as yet thou but beginst to act,
And yet beginst to stagger: wert thou not
A Princes sonne? why art thou not a Prince?
Protectors are but subiects, and this staffe
But shewes me vnder whose command I am.
Is this our hindrance that our mother first
Swell'd with another? what her wombe denyde
Our head shall giue, or we will loose our head,
What was her labour to a Crowne? Perhaps
A monster might haue fill'd her first, a thing
Of royall prodegy, and should this thing
Grow to be hooted to a crowne before vs?
Or if that Crownes be due to the most yeares,
Why should the Nephew be the Vncles Lord?
And Lawes of Nations conquer those of Nature?
Nature intended of Sov'raignty to them
Of soueraigne vnderstanding; to the rest,
How euer aged, but subiection,
Which Isabella would detaine vs in:
And whilst she trusts to Naples, our sad brow
May sooner weare willow, then Diadems.
Enter Belgiosa.
Return'd so soone, my Belgiosa? thankes,
Before I heare thy message, for thy hast.

Bel.
My Lord, our sudden comming into France,
Left fame behind vs, where ariu'd, we crau'd
A priuate audience?

Sf.
But had you it?
Did not our enemies sharpe espies descry
The depth of our hid counsells?

Bel.
They might first
Desery the subtill path of a swift ship,
The voyage of a bullet, or of thought,
Before your more mysterious purposes?

Sf.
Then since we are alone, and in a place
Free from the bold intrusion of an eye,
Feigne Vs the Prince to whom we sent you forth,
And speake our Embassy vnto our selfe.

Bel.
Grear Prince, to haue the offer of a Crowne
Is rare, and your felicity: my Lord,
Millans Protector, but your seruant, knowing
The ancient right your predecessors had
Is vsurpt Naples, by vs wooes your Grace
(Consider vnto what he wooes your Grace)
Not to maintaine his pow'r, but make your owne,
To take a Kingdome that e'ne sighes for you.
So shall the infamy of a lost crowne
Rot in the earth with your dead Ancestors,
And the recouery reuiue their names
To waite vpon your triumph with your foes:
For so much iustice needs no other power,
And yet such is your pow'r, that it is able
To make what euer you should fancy, iust:
But that your vertue is aboue that pow'r.
I will not call you vsurer of Fame,
By this large act, when the astonisht world
Now fifty Ages off from vs, shall reade
Not in the boastings of a painted tombe
(The flatteries of great rottennesse) but your name
Writ in Æternities true Characters,
For making conquer'd Crownes the iudiments
Of your victorious infancy in armes,
When France shall know no other Charlemaigne.

Sf.
But should we faile in the attempt? what then?

Belg.
Can Heau'n faile Iustice? or those pow'rs commit
Sinnes which they punish? O my gracious Lord
Sinne not with that weake thought: but if they should,
Sforza will neuer:

Sf.
He is alwaies noble,
But hee'l vndoe vs with a benefit,
To giue a kingdome is aboue requitall.

Belg.
His hopes are but the prayse of honest deeds,
If in the rereward of your spreading Fame,
That fils all mouthes, some happy tongue may glance
At him, as a poore engine of your glory,
That could impart, but nor possesse a Fame.

Sf.
Excellent man, if to this welcome speech
Thou giu'st as faire an answer.

Bel.
This in briefe
After some scruple, and a little pause
He whisper'd he would come.

Sf.
Exactly done,
But leaue vs now, my noble Belgiosa,
Till we may study a reward for thee.
Ex. Belg.
The twilight hastens, when Vitellio
And Malatesta one of an high trust
Ent. Vitell. & Malat.
With our fond Nephew, promised conference.
And here they are Is it decreed braue friends?
Shall it be swiftly done? nay, tis no matter,
Your colour sayes you dare not.

Vit.
It lyes then:
If that my colour shew me disobedient
To my good Lord, be I for euer pale:
But when shall Galeazzoes wish'd-for death
Shew we dare somewhat?

Sf.
We would gladly haue
A poyson teach him linger to his death,
And a month hence we shall expect his knell.
Ex.
Now are we entred, and now to retire
Were the worse treason: like an inrag'd fire
The more we are oppos'd, the more wee'l spred
And make our foes our fewell: to be head
Wee'l cut off any member, and condemne
Vertue of folly for a Diadem,
Banish Religion, and make blood as cheape
As when two Armies turn'd into one heape
Of carcasses, lye grou ling, what care we
For the slight tainture of disloyalty?
None will commend the race till it be run,
And these are deeds not prais'd till they are done.