University of Virginia Library

SCÆ. 2.

Enter Cæsar Borgia the Cardinall, and Frescobaldy a ruffaine.
Cæs.
Wilt thou performe it faithfully?

Fre.
What I? will I liue to eate, to drinke, to sleepe?

Cæs.
Wilt thou performe it valiantly?

Fres.

Will I eate to drinke, will I drinke to sleepe, will I sleepe
to liue?

Cæs.
Will thou be secret, and conceale my plot?

Fres.
My name is Frescobaldi, as for my pedigree,
My mother was of consanguinitie with the Princesse
Of Perugia: my father of the noble family of the Oddi,
Florentine both: I my selfe
Brought vp a Page vnder Rayner King of Sicily,
Haue seru'd against the Turkes and Sarazines,
Where at Uienna (with my single Pike,
Arm'd in a Maly Briggandine of Naples,
And with an old-Fox which I kept in store,
A monument of Mars when I depart)
I did vnhorse three Turkie Ianizaries.
Then (in the warres of Ferdinand the King)
This Hippe was shott through with a Crocadile,
But that it were too tedious I could shew you:
Vnder the King of Romaines I was cut,
Iust from this shoulder to the very pappe:
And yet by fortunes of the warre am heere,
I thanke God, and my Surgion, all fix, trillill.
I fought at Malta when the towne was girt
With Sargeants heads, and bul-beggers of Turkie:
And by my plot (niming below the rampier)
We gaue th'obgoblings leaue to scale our walls,
And being mounted all vpon that place:
I with my Lint-stock gaue fire to the traine,
And sent them capring vp to Capricornus.
Which when the wise Astronomers of Greece,
Prodigiously discouered from a farre.
They thought those Turcaes fiery meteors.
Which with their Pikes were pushing in the clowds,
The learned Booke-men writte strange Almanacks,
Of signes, and apparitions in the ayre:
And by these honors (if I proue a blabbe)
Then call mee villaine, varlet, coward, skabbe.

Cæs.
Then tell mee Frescobaldi
Where I may send to thee when time shall serue.

Fresc.

Faith for the most parte my mansion is in Ciuitanechia
nella sirada di san lorenzo, nere the conduict at a good olde Ladies
house, la dōna sempronia at signe of the glister pipe, where if
you chance to faile of mee. Within three houses more at signe
of the frying-panne you may commande mee, at all houres in
the fore-noone.

Cæs.

Well gramercie Frescobaldi I wil take the note of those
houses in my tables.

But be sure and ready when oportunitie calles vpon you.

Fresco.

May it please your most reuerend grace (without offence
to your Lordship) to deliuer me the parties name vpon
whome I should performe this Tragedy. For I may parcase
catch him in a gilder my selfe before you are aware; and moylie
mufle vp his maistership, with the garotta, or stiletto, perchance
the ponyard or pistol, such as I warrant you shal serue his turne.

Cæs.
Be it sufficient thou shalt know hereafter,
My businesse and affaires are very great:
One word more, and adue.

He rowndeth with Frescobaldi.
Fre.

Secret as mid-night, sure as the sunne, quick as the waters

Cæs.

Why? so sayd braue Frescobaldi like a man of some resolution
farewell remember the watchward—do not faile.

Fresco.

My businesse and affaires are very great my gratious
Lord, one word more with your grace my good Lord, and so I
kisse your foote.

He whispereth with Cæsar.
Cæs.

It was not ingratitud, neither forgetfulnesse in me Frescobaldi:
Here take this and remember me.

He deliuereth him a purse.
Fres.

I encounter your munificence with my loue, and your
loue with my seruice, my loue and seruice with your mony.

Padrone mio multo honorato,

More for your loue then your mony,

And yet your grace wel knowes, clothes must be wrought, weapons
must be bought; and Tauerns must be sought, and all braue
exploits must be done, as they should be done brauely.

Cæs.
But that I keepe my secret to my selfe;
I would not vse this slaue for any gold:
Yet when I trust him he shall not deceiue me.
Exit Cæsar.

Fresc.

Now skelder yee scounderels, skelder you maggot-mūgers,
you pompiōs; you wood-wormes, you magatapipicoes,
I am for you, now Frescobaldi, call thy wits togither, let me now
see what a clock it is: very neere eight, and almost breakfast
time at a cleauen, this very night must I stand Perdue for this
bloudy seruice. I know my place and houre; I must confesse and
perchance be hang'd, I haue in the Burdelliaes and in other such
houses of naturall recreation and agility, receiued three or
foure score broken pates in my time: and some bastinadoes for
crossing courting spicy-spirited inamoratoes in their humors.
Besides I was the first that from the Swisse quarter, in the raigne
of king Ferdinand brought vp in his army the fashions of bowsing
and to vsing Greeke and Spanish wines by the flagon, with
that old stinckard Henrico Baglioni, somtime Alferoes to Capitaneo
Piccolomini & my selfe; I remember likewise at Terracina
I broake a glasse (contayning some quart of Robollia) vpon the
face of Capitaneo Fransesco Boccansacchi a very sufficient souldier
in that seruice, and to my knowledge a tall trencherman:
howbeit from the teeth down-ward as base a mettled coward
as euer was coyn'd out of the sooty side of a copper kettle; so he
was: well I will second my Lord in any slaughter for his wages,
and if any man will giue me better hiers (when I haue seru'd the
Cardinalls turne) I will present my pistoll vpon his sacred person
afterward for charities sake: well, now to the drinking
schoole, then to the fence schoole, and lastly to the vaulting
schoole, to my Lady Sempronia.

Exit.
Enter the Duke of Candie and Barbarossa.
Can.
This was an act of such strange consequence,
As neuer yet was heard, a man found dead
Within a priuate chamber of his house;
When all his seruants stird: not one of them
That could giue euidence of what befell
But that he kill'd himselfe. Cosa impossibile.

Bar.
I was the first that found him in his bloud;
Then warme from slaughter: such a ruthfull sight
As yet I tremble to remember it.

Can.
It is impossible (after a search)
No stranger found within Visellies doers,
But that some seruant of his family
Should haue sure notice how the murther was.

Bar.
It was his owne hand sure.

Can.
I cannot thinke it.
The gentleman was honest, full of sport,
And well affected.

Bar.
Pardon me my Lord,
My Ladie Lucrece told it in great griefe
She twise before had rescued his life.

Can.
Go too, go too.

Bar.
Besides my Noble Lord.
Papers both writ, and sealed with his hand
Were found about him't stifying this.

Can.
Good Barbarossa pray my sister Lucrece,
Here to encounter me with her good company:
Som-what I would in priuate talke with her.

Bar.
My Lord I will.
Exit Barb.

Can.
High God be mercifull.
Thou that doest know the secrets of al hearts,
If Lucrece (as my father doth suspect)
Was priuie to this murther of my life
Enter Lucrece Barb with her.
I can learne all she knowes.
But yet I will not either suspect, or vrge her were it true
Being indeede a violation of brother-hood & common humanity
She maketh towards me—sister how faires it with you?

Luc.
As with a dead Corse in a Sepulcher
Cold liuelesse, comfortlesse, opprest with sorrow.
Nor since my ioy did leaue me desolate
Euer could I brooke well this open ayre
But still lamenting and disconsolate
Kept vp in Chamber, mourning for my Lord.

Can.
What order tooke you for his funnerall?

Luc.
He that aliue was shrined in my brest,
Now dead liues yet intombed in my thoughts,
There is a modell of it in my closet.

Can.
Performe it decently with dilligence.

Lu.
Brother me thinkes the ayre is cold and raw,
And as you please let vs conserre within.

Can.
Gladly deere sister with what hast you may,
And I desire you noble Barbarosa
To meete vs at my Chamber after supper.
My brother Cæsar hath appoynted with me
Some businesse, and I craue your company.

Bar.
Thankes my good Lord: but matters of much moment,
I haue at that time with my Lord Caraffa;
And I must speake this night with my Lord Cæsar.

Can.
Tell him I will attend by nine of clocke.

Bar.
I will my good Lord.

Cand.
Farewell Barbarossa.

Bar.
Ioy to you both.
Exit Barbarossa.

Can.
My trembling liuer throbs, my cold hearts heauy;
My mind disturbed and I know not why
But all as he will, heauens aboue for me.

Exeunt omnes.