 | The tragedie of Lodovick Sforza Dvke of Millan |  |
Scena sexta.
Picinino.Fortune is merry, and the heau'n dispos'd
To play with me, I am turn'd Fauourite.
Me thinkes my haires asham'd of their white hue
Should blush to youth: O how I could looke big,
Take Gyant strides, doat on my louely selfe,
And talke as silly as any Lord.
To see the prettinesse of action,
Of State-imployment: Sforza's to be crown'd,
And I must winne the popular suffrages.
Good Heau'ns! was euer such a merry load
Impos'd on Man: some cry the times are ill,
Others could wish them better, and a third
Knowes how to make all well, but tels not how,
And, cause, that he is silent, would be wise.
But in conclusion I doe finde them ready
(On supposition of no more expence,
And that their voice is su'd for, not their purse)
To giue a lusty acclamacion.
29
Song.
Io, Io, gladly sing,
Till the Heau'n with wonder ring.
Till the Heau'n with wonder ring.
He is fled, let Millan say
Once more, he is fled, the day
Cleares againe, and makes vs see
A brauer light of victory.
Once more, he is fled, the day
Cleares againe, and makes vs see
A brauer light of victory.
Io, Io, &c.
Yet he had before he fought
(By the speedy warre of thought)
Conquer'd Italy, and so
Has hasten'd his owne ouerthrow.
(By the speedy warre of thought)
Conquer'd Italy, and so
Has hasten'd his owne ouerthrow.
Io, Io, &c.
Henceforth let them learne to liue
In the peace, that home doth giue,
Nor againe so fondly raue,
To trauell for a forren graue.
In the peace, that home doth giue,
Nor againe so fondly raue,
To trauell for a forren graue.
Io, Io, &c.
Sf.
First we thanke Heau'n, by whose most gracious ayd
We haue the meanes, and reason to thanke you.
Now we beginne to lift vp our faint heads,
And entertaine, though scarce beleeue a peace:
Now Italy at length has lost her yoake,
Which she was wont to giue, but neuer beare,
And therefore wondred at the strangenesse more
30
Sforza claimes nothing but the happinesse,
Which he acknowledges receiu'd from you.
1 Amb.
Sforza's deserts exceed the height of praise.
2 Amb.
He has slau'd Italy by freeing it.
3 Amb.
Millan must know him for her Romulus.
Sf.
We know our selfe so vnderneath this praise,
That could we but suspect vntruth in you,
Wee'd call all this but mockery.
Pic.
D'yee doubt?
Make you a question of the name of it?
Why call it as it is, plaine flattery.
Caiaz.
We wondred lately at the prouder French,
And gaue too high a valew to their acts:
When in a serious estimation,
Their chiefest victory was of the miles,
And more a iourney then a warre: if they
Could gaine a fame by nimble trauelling,
How shall we reare a trophee to his name,
That made them goe farre faster then they came?
For my part (though I know his Modesty,
Which will refuse the honours he deserues)
I'de haue him forc'd vnto the gouernment,
To rule that happy land which he hath sau'd.
Omnes.
A Sforza, a Sforza.
Ascanio crowns him.
Sf.
Sforza will ne're gainesay the gen'rall voice,
Your loue I like beyond your gift: kind Heau'ns!
Shew by my gouernments integrity
You were the peoples prompter, and I'le shew
(If you but actuate my iust desires)
I onely am their Duke in goodnesse: since
Millan hath chose, it shall applaud her Prince.
| The tragedie of Lodovick Sforza Dvke of Millan | |