 | Sicily and Naples, or, the Fatall Vnion |  |
Scen. I.
A March within, the word, 1. stand, 2. stand, 3. stand: drumme beates a summons, trumpets sound: then enterValenzo, Contareno, Galeotto.
Val.
There, take your orders, and dispatch;
Your known faiths will not let me doubt th'observance
Of the least circumstance.
Gal.
Yet give me leave (most noble Generall
To aske the reason, since his Highnesse left
A free dispose at his departure, why
You should use so much severity in your commands?
Cont.
Not a man enter the citty on forfeiture of his life?
they'r somewhat hard conditions; I've enter'd a Kingdome,
and help't to winne it too, on farre easier termes; this o'th
sudden, and so unexpected may meete with a harsh construction.
Gal.
For mine owne part, I've bin so long absent,
Especially being a poore servant to the state too,
I dare conclude I'me lost to all their memories;
2
To win upon their faiths; urge a tedious catalogue
Of my dead ancestours, and then search records
To shew I was their country-man; all this
For a cold welcome, or an annuall pension;
To shew my scores of wounds, that tally up
So many months pay behind hand: which
After seven yeares misery in an hospitall,
Shall be both wip't off together: yet all
Are not of my humour.
Cont.
What though your dull fat Senators, those land-Porpices,
That skip, and friske i'th storme they n'ere are hurt with,
Those heavy lubbers, lapt in sweaty furres,
Batning on sleepe and ease, lie snorting out
The peace poore Souldiers purchase,
And not so much as dreame of toyle, or danger,
Sleight what they are ignorant of: yet you (my Lord)
May know, if cold and lazy recompences injure
Our high deserts, such usage kils outright:
Gal.
True Contareno, that is their intent.
Cont.
L'as we bring no diseases home with us, unlesse valour
be one; no meager troopes of thinne starvelings, that they
should feare a famine from our commerce, we have fed high,
though somewhat irreverently: nor returne wee in our old
skins, blew coats, thrum'd cappes, that harbour so much vermine,
they might feare we'de scatter one of Egypts plagues
among them; and make e'm all lowsie.
Val.
Enjoy the freedome of your speech; yet know
That they are ignorant of these injunctions,
And for a testimony of their loves
Unto your faire deservings, are all ready
To meete their Countries patriots, (so they terme you)
After their ancient custome, with procession;
Gal.
Shew us an enemy then, or danger that is reall,
And not the birth of feare, and we'le returne:
Val.
Nay, you may stay at home too:
Gal.
At home?
3
'Tis so:
Our sons of peace have caught a surfeit, & would be physick't
for't: ha! doe they mutiny? doe the fierce rammes advance
their hornes, to batter downe the walls that kept them safe?
Val.
Be more compos'd and heare me, though you hate
Treason as ill as cowardice, yet I must
Tell you, you're the men have brought
The enemy home to Naples, I meane the army:
For what lesse can I terme such a vast body,
Consisting of such disproportion'd members;
Flesh't with the spoyles of fertile Sicily,
Enrich't with what a happy soyle can yeeld
To an insulting conquerour; fed too
With glorious hopes of ease, and plenty?
You know how hard a taske you underwent
To governe them abroad, when tam'd by want,
Thirst, hunger, heate, and cold; judge then what sway
Authority can beare, when by this change
They are growne mad, and mutinous; who shall
Compose their private jarres, and quarrels, when
Their full cups adde fury to their pride?
Gal.
Enough: this speech hath cut of all reply,
Val.
Besides, you know Sicily is now in Naples;
The Prince a captive to his Prisoner:
How farre his easie nature may be wrought upon
Is yet uncertaine, his yeares though they have outdone
History, are not yet grown up to the ripenesse of experience.
For my severity; (I'de gladly have
You call it by another name;) it is
My duty, (if not yours) i take it, to be vigilant.
Gal.
My Lord, thinke what I spake was but to gaine
Satisfaction, which you have amply given.
Cont.
And what should I doe i'th City? that retaine
No more of my education there, than what I gain'd
In the Artillery yard: my company
Would be shun'd there more than poverty,
Or a disease; I should be interdicted
4
Or for feare of challenges—Troth for the Ladies,
The homeliest please mee best; I am as much
Too rough hewen for them, as they're too polisht for me
My constitution requires a dispatch
I'th vaulting businesse, beyond that of tedious
Niceties, and wittie prologues.
Val.
Gonçales, and Petrucchio's regiment
I've left aboard to guard the fleete, your's must
Make safe the Castle, and the land forts; you
Cannot endeare mee more than by your circumspection;
The Citty will be all in triumphat
These nuptials, twixt our long divided houses;
Thinke these Sicilian's, though you have wonne
And forc't them to groane beneath your sword, may yet
At heart be traitours; if not, oportunitie
May make them so; at such a time as this
Surprize is easie; history hath such examples,
Unfortunate ones; and you'de be loath to adde
Unto the number.
Gal.
You have chalk't out a way
That leads to honour, and we are hastie
To pursue it:
Val.
I shall report you noble.
Cont.
And Generall, de'e heare, if you meet with
Ere a masculine feminine, that has impudence
Enough, to follow an army, a wench of twagging hanches,
And full thighs, send her to mee, she shall be my laundresse.
Val.
Good Captaine be lesse wild, and use mee,
To the losse of honour.
Exeunt Captaines.
| Sicily and Naples, or, the Fatall Vnion | |