University of Virginia Library

Scæ. Prim.

Enter Francisco, Graccho.
Franc.
And is it possible thou should'st forget
A wrong of such a nature, and then studie
My safetie and content?

Grac.
Sir, but allow me
Only to haue read the elements of Courtship
(Not the abstruce & hidden acts to thriue there)
And you may please to grant me so much knowledge,
That iniuries from one in grace, like you,
Are noble fauours. Is it not growne common
In euerie sect, for those that want, to suffer
From such as haue to giue? Your Captaine cast
If poore, though not thought daring, but approu'd so
To raise a coward into name, that's rich,
Suffers disgraces publiquely, but receiues
Rewards for them in priuate.

Franc.
Well obseru'd.
Put on, we'le be familiar, and discourse
A little of this argument. That day,
In which it was first rumour'd, then confirm'd,
Great Sforza thought me worthy of his fauor,
I found my selfe to be another thing,
Not what I was before. I passed then
For a prittie fellow, and of prittie parts too,
And was perhaps receiu'd so: but once rais'd,
The liberall Courtier made me Master of
Those vertues, which I ne're knew in my selfe.
If I pretended to a iest, 'twas made one
By their interpretation. If I offer'd
To reason of Philosophy, though absurdly,
They had helps to saue me, and without a blush
Would sweare, that I by nature had more knowledge,
Then others could acquire by any labor.
Nay all I did indeed, which in another
Was not remarkeable, in me shew'd rarely.

Grac.
But then they tasted of your bountie.

Franc.
True,
They gaue me those good parts I was not borne too,
And by my intercession they got that,
Which (had I cross'd them) they durst not haue hop'd for.

Grac.
All this is Oracle. And shall I then,
For a foolish whipping leaue to honour him,
That holds the wheele of Fortune? No, that sauors
Too much of th'antient freedome: Since great men
Receiue disgraces, and giue thankes, poore knaues
Must haue nor spleene, nor anger. Though I loue
My limbes aswell as any man, if you had now
A humor to kick me lame into an office,
Where I might sit in State, and vndoe others,
Stood I not bound to kisse the foot that did it?
Though it seeme strange there haue been such things seene
In the memorie of man.

Franc.
But to the purpose,
And then, that seruice done, make thine owne fortunes.
My wife, thou say'st, is iealous, I am too
Familiar with the Dutches.

Grac.
And incens'd
For her commitment in her brothers absence,
And by her Mothers anger is spur'd on
To make discouerie of it. This her purpose
Was trusted to my charge, which I declin'd
As much as in me lay, but finding her
Determinately bent to vndertake it,
Though breaking my faith to her may destroy
My credit with your Lordship, I yet thought,
Though at my peril, I stood bound to reueale it.

Franc.
I thanke thy care, and will deserue this secret,
In making thee acquainted with a greater,
And of more moment. Come into my bosome,
And take it from me. Canst thou thinke, dull Graccho,
My power, and honours, were confer'd vpon me,
And ad to them this forme, to haue my pleasures
Confin'd and limited? I delight in change,
And sweet varietie, that's my heauen on earth,
For which I loue life only. I confesse,
My wife pleas'd me a day, the Dutches, two,
(And yet I must not say, I haue enioy'd her)
But now I care for neither. Therefore Graccho,
So farre I am from stopping Mariana
In making her complaint, that I desire thee
To vrge her to it.

Grac.
That may proue your ruine,
The Duke alreadie being, as 'tis reported,
Doubtfull she hath play'd false.

Franc.
There thou art cosen'd,
His dotage like an ague keeps his course,
And now 'tis strongly on him. But I loose time,
And therefore know, whether thou wilt or no,
Thou art to be my instrument, and in spite
Of the old sawe, that sayes, it is not safe
On any termes to trust a man that's wrong'd,
I dare thee to be false.

Grac.
This is a language
My Lord, I vnderstand not.

Franc.
You thought, sirra,
To put a trick on me for the relation
Of what I knew before, and hauing woon
Some weightie secret from me, in reuenge
To play the traytor. Know thou wretched thing,
By my command thou wert whip'd, & euery day
I'le haue thee freshly tortur'd, if thou misse
In the lest charge that I impose vpon thee,
Though what I speake, for the most part is true.
Nay, grant thou had'st a thousand witnesses
To be depos'd they heard it, 'tis in me
With one word (such is Sforza's confidence
Of my fidelitie not to be shaken)
To make all void, and ruine my accusers.
Therefore looke to't, bring my wife hotly on
T'accuse me to the Duke (I haue an end in't)
Or thinke, what 'tis makes man most miserable,
And that shall fall vpon thee. Thou wert a foole
To hope by being acquainted with my courses
To curbe and awe me, or that I should liue
Thy slaue, as thou did'st sawcily diuine.
For prying in my councels, still liue mine.

Exe. Franc.
Grac.
I am caught on both sides. This 'tis for a punie
In Policies Protean Schoole, to try conclusions
With one that hath commenc'd & gon out doctor.
If I discouer, what but now he bragg'd of,
I shall not be beleeu'd. If I fall off
From him, his threats and actions go togeither.
And ther's no hope of safetie, till I get
A plummet, that may sound his deepest counsels.
I must obey and serue him. Want of skill
Now makes me play the rogue against my will.

Ex. Grac.