University of Virginia Library

Scene. V.

A long charge after a Flourish for Victory.
Gonzaga. Iacomo. Roderigo wounded. Bertoldo. Gasparo. Anthonio Prisoners.
Gonz.
VVe have 'em yet, though they cost vs deer. This was
Charg'd home, and bravely follow'd. Be to your selves
True mirrors to each others worth, and looking
With noble Emulation on his wounds,
(The glorious Livery of triumphant war)
To Iacomo and Roderigo.
Imagine these with equall grace appeare
Vpon your selfe. The bloody swsat you have suffer'd
In this laborious, nay toylesome harvest,
Yeelds a rich crop of conquest, and the spoyle
Most precious balsum to a souldies hurts
Will ease and cure 'em. Let me looke upon
To Gasparo and Anthon.
The prisones faces. O how much transform'd
From what they were. O Mars! were these toyes fashion'd
To undergoe the burthen of thy service?
The weight of their defensive armor bruiz'd
Their weak, effeminate limbes, and would have forc'd em
In a hot day without a blow to yeeld.

Antho.
This insultation shewes not manly in you.

Gonz.
To men I had forborne it, you are women,
Or at the best loose carpet knights, what fury
Seduc'd you to exchange your ease in Court
For labour in the field? Perhaps you thought,
To charge through dust, and blood, an armed foe,
Was but like gracefull running at the ring
For a wanton mistrisse glove, and encounter
A soft impression on her lips. But you
Are gawdie butterflies, and I wrong my selfe
In parling with you.

Gaspa.
Ua victis. Now we prove it.

Rod.
But here's one fashion'd in another mould,
And made of tougher mettall.

Gonz.
True, I owe him
For this wound bravely given.

Ber.
O that mountaines
Were heap'd upon me, that I might expire
A wretch no more remembred.

Gonz.
Look up Sr.
To be orecome deserves no shame. If you
Had falne ingloriously, or could accuse
Your want of courage in resistance, 'twere
To be lamented: But since you perform'd
As much as could be hop'd for from a man,
(Fortune his enemy) you wrong your selfe
In this direction, I am honor'd in
My victory ore you: but to have these
My prisoners, is in my true judgement rather,
Captivitie then a triumph; you shall finde
Faire quarter from me, and your many wounds
(Which I hope are not mortall) with such care
Lookt to, and cur'd, as if your nearest friend
Attended on you.

Ber.
When you know me better
You will make void this promise: Can you call me
Into your memory.

Gonz.
The brave Bertoldo!
A brother of our order! By Saint Iohn,
(our holy patron) I am more amaz'd,
Nay thunder strooke, with thy Apostacy,
And præcipice, from the most solemne vowes
Made vnto heaven, when this, the glorious badge
Of our redeemer was conferr'd upon thee,
By the great master, then if I had seene
A reprobate Iew, an Atheist, Turke, or Tartar
Baptiz'd in our religion.

Ber.
This I look'd for,
And am resolv'd to suffer.

Gon.
Fellow Souldiers.
Behold this man, and taught by his example
Know that 'tis safer far to play with lightning,
Then trifle in things sacred. In my rag
Weepes.
I shed these at the funerall of his vertue,
Faith and religion; why I will tell you
He was a gentleman, so trayn'd up, and fashion'd
For noble uses, and his youth did promise
Such certainties, more then hopes, of great atchievments,
As if the Christian world had stood oppos'd
Against the Ottoman race to trie the fortune
Of one encounter, this Bertoldo had beene
For his knowledge to direct, and matchles courage
To execute, without a rivall, by
The votes of good men chosen generall,
As the prime souldier, and most deserving,
Of all that weare the crosse, which now in justice
I thus teare from him.

Ber.
Let me dye with it,
Vpon my breast.

Gonz.
No, by this thou wer't sworne
On all occasions, as a knight to guard
Weake Ladies from oppression, and never
To draw thy sword against 'em, where as thou
In hope of gaine or glory, when a Princesse
And such a Princesse as Aurelia is,
Was dispossess'd by violence, of what was
Her true inheritance, against thine oth,
Hast to thy uttermost labour'd to uphold
Her falling enemie. But thou shalt pay
A heavy forfeiture, and learne too late,
Valour, imploy'd in an ill quarrell, turnes
To cowardice, and vertve then puts on
Foule vices vizard. This is that which cancells
All friendships bands between vs Beare 'em off
I will heare no replie. And let the ransome
Of these, for they are yours, be highly rated.
In this I doe but right, and let it be
Stil'd justice, and not wilfull cruelty.

Exeunt.