University of Virginia Library

Scena quarta.

Uitellio.
This is the place, and this the time: good heau'n!
What an odd place, and what an vncouth time?
Had I beene hyr'd to murther Sforza here,
Hell could not prompt more fit occasion.
I like nor it, nor him: but here he comes.

Ent. Sforza.
Sf.
Welcome Vitellio, thy hast is welcome:
Nay complement with him, whom thou wouldst kill,
Be free to vs as we doe know thee true.
Speak, yet I need not bid thee, for thine eye
Sparkles a ioyfull answer. It is done.

Vit.
Tis done my Lord, and now my Lord, 'tis told
(That Galeazzo is no more a man)
And with an euen scruple, for to me
The act's as easie as relation.

Sf.
Thou speak'st true manhood: 'tis thy art alone
That giues vs certaine honour: there are some
Striue for Æternity with losse of life,
At least with hazard of the losse of it,
And thinke they are reueng'd when they are kill'd?
These are our valiant duellists, and these
Doe bleed whilst we doe conquer, heale their wounds,
Whilst we receiue none: then, at last, vnfold
(Man of deepe Art, that canst preuent the Fates,
And cut a thread, which they had thought to spunne
Fourty yeares yonger) thy wise mysteries.
Thy constant, neuer-failing stratagems,
Which cause a death, without a feare of death,

Vit.
Here are some drugs, but of these some, not one
But can command a life where ere it is,
And ruinate the strongest workemanship
That Heau'n ere brag'd to haue compos'd of Earth.
Powders of speedy Fate, but aboue all
The instruments, which make me neere to death
Of such indear'd familiarity,
This glasse has nimblest operation:
Whose liquor cast vpon the face of man
Straight dulls him to an euerlasting sleepe.

Sf.
Is this the liquor of Æternity?
Vitellio fals as dead.
Then take thy Lethe, and goe sleepe for euer.

Enter Malat.
Mal.
I am deceiu'd, or else this is the place
Which Sforza chooseth when he is alone.
Yes, this is it.

Sf.
What Malatesta come?
What Deuill brought him hither? O crosse starres!
Be sudden, Sforza, now, or thou art lost:
He must beleeue our guilt was accident.
He falls vpon Uitellio.
Speake, my Vitellio O tune thy lips
But to one syllable, but to one groane
And I am satisfi'd.

Mal.
What fight is here?
Vitellio dead, and Sforza tur'nd a Mourner?

Sf.
Shouldst thou dye thus, how would my name be soyld?
For though I am as guiltlesse of thy death,
As Innocence, or if there be a name
That hath lesse beeing: yet the enuious world
Will quit curst Fortune of so great a crime,
And giue it me: yet speake.

Mal.
I'me bold my Lord,
To aske your Honor when dismall chance
First frighted Heau'n?

Sf.
Now, Malatesta, now:
When could vnhappinesse raigne so, but now?
As if he meant to be before his Lord,
He had no sooner told the Prince must dye,
But he straight dy'd.

Mal.
Then courage, my good Lord,
Since it is thus, make the best vse of it:
For now you need not feare to be reueal'd,
When one mouth's stopt, and th'other is your owne.
But since your last retyrement, we haue beene
Instructed by the speed of frequent Poasts,
Of the ariuall of the king of France.

Sf.
With thankes, a while, my Malatesta, leaue vs.
Ex.
Why should we longer thinke of other pow'rs,
And not bring offrings now to our owne braine?
Which giues vs Agents of all kinds of men,
And Kings as well as poys'ners: this wise King
Must trouble Naples, who would trouble vs,
Diuert inuasions which are yet not made,
And thus our ends are cheapely brought about,
We onely at the charge of plott: they fight,
And Galiazzo dyes, whom either King
Were they not thus intangled, would preserue:
We shall be conquerors without fighting thus,
And their poore swords shall cut a way for vs.
Surgit Vitellio.
I'me for you France.

Vit.
And I am for you, Sforza,
Not poyson'd yet, vnlesse 'twere by thy teares.
The other liquor had an Antidote.
Happy suspect! had I beene credulous
And thought his loue as free as it would seeme
I had not beene, distrust has ransom'd me.
But Malatesta is intrapp'd, I know
Sforza for nothing did not aske the skill:
My equall villaine perishes, and I
Thus being accessary to his death
May sinne to Innocence, by poasting off
The Princes fate to him; whilst a disguise
Shall keepe aliue the fame that I am dead.
And thus halfe truth shall come to light, and I,
Be wisely cleer'd by double villany.

Ex.