 | The Dvke of Millaine |  |
Scæ. Prim.
Enter Francisco, Eugenia.Franc.
Why could'st thou thinke Eugenia that rewards,
Graces, or fauours though strew'd thick vpon me
Could euer bribe me to forget mine honour?
Or that I tamely would sit downe, before
I had dry'd these eyes still wet with showers of teares
By the fire of my reuenge? Looke vp my deerest
For that proud-faire that thiefe-like step'd betweene
Thy promis'd hopes, and rob'd thee of a fortune
Almost in thy possession, hath found
With horrid proofe, his loue she thought her glorie
And assurance of all happinesse,
But hast'ned her sad ruine.
Eug.
Doe not flatter
A griefe that is beneath it, for how euer
The credulous Duke to me proued false & cruel,
It is imposible he could be wrought
To looke on her, but with the eyes of dotage,
And so to serue her.
Franc.
Such indeed I grant
The streame of his affection was, and ran
A constant course, till I with cunning malice
(And yet I wrong my act, for it was Iustice)
Made it turne back-wards, and hate in extreames
Loue banish'd from his heart to fill the roome,
In a word, know the faire Marcelia's dead.
Eug.
Dead!
Franc.
And by Sforza's hand, do's it not moue you?
How coldly you receiue it? I expected
The meere relation of so great a blessing
Borne proudly on the wings of sweet reuenge
Would haue cal'd on a sacrifice of thankes,
You entertaine it with a looke, as if
You wish'd it were vndone!
Eug.
Indeed I doe,
For if my sorrowes could receiue addition,
Her sad fate would encrease, not lessen 'em.
She neuer iniur'd me, but entertain'd
A fortune humbly offer'd to her hand,
Which a wise Lady gladly would haue kneel'd for.
Vnlesse you would impute it as a crime,
She was more faire then I, and had discretion
Not to deliuer vp her virgin fort
(Though straight besieg'd with flatteries, vowes, & teares)
Vntill the Church had made it safe & lawfull.
And had I been the mistris of her iudgement
And constant temper, skilfull in the knowledge
Of mans malitious falshood, I had neuer
Vpon his hell-deepe oathes to marrie me,
Giuen vp my faire name, and my mayden honor
To his foule lust, nor liu'd now being branded
In the forhead for his whore the scorne & shame
Of all good women.
Franc.
Haue you then no gall,
Anger, or spleene familiar to your sexe?
Or is it possible that you could see
Another to possesse what was your due,
And not growe pale with enuie?
Eug.
Yes of him
That did deceiue me. Ther's no passion that
A maid so iniur'd euer could partake of
But I haue deerely suffer'd. These three yeeres
In my desire, and labour of reuenge,
Trusted to you, I haue indur'd the throes
Of teeming women, and will hazard all
Fate can inflict on me but I will reache
And not proceeded with that fiery zeale
I look'd for from a brother of your spirit.
Sorrow forsake me, and all signes of griefe
Farewell for euer; Vengeance arm'd with furie
Possesse me wholy now.
Franc.
The reason sister
Of this strange metamorphosis?
Eug.
Aske thy feares,
Thy base vnmanly feares, thy poore delayes,
Thy dull forgetfulnesse equal with death,
My wrong else, and the scandall which can neuer
Be wash'd off from our house but in his blood,
Would haue stirr'd vp a coward to a deed
In which, though he had falne, the braue intent
Had crown'd it selfe with a faire monument
Of noble resolution. In this shape
I hope to get accesse, and then with shame
Hearing my sodaine execution, iudge
What honor thou hast lost in being transcended
By a weake woman.
Franc.
Still mine owne, and dearer,
And yet in this you but poure oyle on fire,
And offer your assistance where it needs not,
And that you may perceiue I lay not fallow,
But had your wrongs stamp'd deeply on my hart
By the Yron pen of vengeance, I attempted
By whoring her to cuckold him, that failing
I did begin his tragedie in her death,
To which it seru'd as Prologue, and will make
A memorable storie of your fortunes
In my assur'd reuenge, only best sister
Let vs not loose our selues in the performance,
By your rash vndertaking, we will be
As suddaine as you could wish.
Vpon those termes
I yeeld my selfe and cause to be dispos'd of
As you thinke fit.
Ent. seruant
Franc.
Thy purpose?
Serv.
Ther's one Graccho
That follow'd you it seemes vpon the tract,
Since you left Millaine, that's importunate
To haue accesse, and will not be deni'd,
His hast he saies concernes you.
Franc.
Bring him to me,
Ex. seruant
Though he hath lay'd an ambush for my life,
Or apprehension, yet I will preuent him
And worke mine own ends out.
Ent. Grac.
Grac.
Now for my whipping,
And if I now out-strip him not, and catch him,
And by a new and strange way to, hereafter
I'le sweare there are wormes in my braines.
Franc.
Now my good Graccho,
We meet as 'twere by miracle!
Grac.
Loue, and dutie,
And vigilance in me for my Lords safetie,
First taught me to imagine you were here,
And then to follow you. Al's come forth my Lord
That you could wish conceal'd. The Dutchesse wound
In the Dukes rage put home, yet gaue her leaue
To acquaint him with your practises, which your flight
Did easily confirme.
Franc.
This I expected,
But sure you come prouided of good counsaile
To helpe in my extreames.
Grac.
I would not hurt you.
Franc.
How? hurt me? Such another word's thy death,
Why dar'st thou thinke it can fall in thy will,
T'outliue what I determine?
Grac.
How he awes me?
Be briefe, what brought thee hither?
Grac.
Care to informe you,
You are a condemn'd man, pursu'd, and sought for,
And your head rated at ten thousand Ducates
To him that brings it.
Franc.
Very good.
Grac.
All passages
Are intercepted, and choyce troopes of horse
Scoure o're the neighbour plaines, your picture sent
To euerie State confederate with Millaine.
That though I grieue to speake it, in my iudgement
So thicke your dangers meet, and run vpon you,
It is impossible you should escape
Their curious search.
Eug.
Why let vs then turne Romanes,
And falling by our owne hands, mocke their threats,
And dreadfull preparations.
Franc.
'Twould show nobly,
But that the honour of our full reuenge
Were lost in the rash action: No Eugenia,
Graccho is wise, my friend to, not my seruant,
And I dare trust him with my latest secret.
We would (and thou must helpe vs to performe it)
First kill the Duke, then fall what can vpon vs,
For iniuries are writ in brasse, kind Graccho,
And not to be forgotten.
Grac.
He instructs me
What I should doe.
Franc.
What's that?
Grac.
I labour with
A strong desire t'assist you with my seruice,
And now I am deliuer'd of't.
Franc.
I tould you.
Speake my oraculous Graccho,
Grac.
I haue heard Sir
(In all such places where it could be thought
They would take shelter) chose for sanctuarie,
Their lodgings vnderneath their creditors noses,
Or neere that prison to which they were design'd
If apprehended, confident that there
They neuer should be sought for.
Eug.
'Tis a strange one!
Franc.
But what inferre you from it?
Grac.
This my Lord,
That since all wayes of your escape are stop'd,
In Millaine only, or what's more, i'the Court
(Whether it is presum'd you dare not come)
Conceal'd in some disguise you may liue safe.
Franc.
And not to be discouered?
Grac.
But by my selfe.
Franc.
By thee? Alas I know thee honest Graccho,
And I will put thy counsell into act,
And suddainly. Yet not to be vngratefull
For all thy louing trauell to preserue me,
What bloody end soe're my starres appoint,
Thou shalt be safe good Graccho. Who's within there?
Grac.
In the deuils name what meanes he?
Ent. seruants;
Franc.
Take my friend
Into your custodie, and bind him fast,
I would not part with him.
Grac.
My good Lord.
Franc.
Dispatch,
'Tis for your good to keepe you honest Graccho.
I would not haue ten thousand Ducates tempt you
(Being of a soft and waxe like disposition)
To play the traytor, nor a foolish itch
To be reueng'd for your late excellent whipping
Giue you the opportunitie to offer
My head for satisfaction. Why thou foole,
Appeare to me as written in thy forhead
In plaine and easie caracters. And but that
I scorne a slaues base blood shold rust that sword
That from a Prince expects a scarlet dye,
Thou now wert dead, but liue only to pray
For good successe to crowne my vndertakings,
And then at my returne perhaps I'le free thee
Ex. seruants with Gracc.
To make me further sport. Away with him,
I will not heare a sillable. We must trust
Our selues Eugenia, and though we make vse of
The counsaile of our seruants, that oyle spent,
Like snuffes that doe offend we tread them out.
But now to our last Scene, which we'le so carry,
That few shall vnderstand how 'twas begun,
Till all with halfe an eye may see 'tis don.
Exeunt
| The Dvke of Millaine | |