 | The Change of Crownes |  |
SCENE THE FOURTH
State scene of the CourtEnter ALBERTO, MALVECCHIO, SEMPRONIO, ANTONIO, FLORELLI, LODOVICO, ARIANA in state with Ladyes Attendants.
MAL.
Most Royall Sir you are wellcome vnto Naples.
whither your Armes had sent your Name before
with wounder, but not with such a Tytle to Command
As your Great merrits here may Challenge.
ALB.
My Lord, your Care and Prudence I Confide
in much, 'tis well Employd for this Great State
And me, whose happy Calme, and Restauration
I am obligd to study, to which fayre purpose
I haue left my power of Armes, some station off,
more to Allay the Peoples Buissy feares.
MAL.
You are wise and Gracious.
ALB.
And now but Clayme
the Honour to Present this most Illustrious Princesse
Heauen and my Armes thus happily Preserv'd,
To Crowne in her this Nations peace.
MAL.
shee must be wellcome Sir, both for her owne Desert
And yours—if there be no Remedy.
asyde
LODO.
How finely he Cajoules the King.
FLO.
And the Princesse Ariana too, he hitherto
has Disaffected. of all Toungs Giue me
A Politicians to find a way to the Devill
By Hippocrisy.
asyde
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But where's the Counterfeyt Leonidas?
The Titular Queene Artemia sett up here,
Like some bold Idol, to Affront the sacred
Name I Beare.
MAL.
Your Majesty will soone Receaue his head
nor has it wanted Care in me to make it
the first great Expression of your wellcome here.
ALB.
I long to see it done, and then twere fitt
to haue it plac'd on some tall Pyramid,
whence the world may Read the wounder
of the owners Impudence.
MAL.
He is Dispatch'd by this tyme.
Enter ANDRUGIO, CASTRUCHIO and others In long mourning Cloaks, Bearing In a scarfe a Bloody head.
ALB.
Ha! Mourners! what meanes this sad appearance?
MAL.
I know not Sir vnlesse it be some fancy
In Artemia to Mourne his Death.
ALB.
Then this must be his head—
Andrugio, Castruchio too in Mourning?
I thought you would haue Joy'd to haue seene
me Disabus'd.
AND.
And euer shall; but now
Tis our misfortune to Tell you Sir, (though late)
what came to our most certayne Knowledge
After the Fact Committed. This Head is—Sir—
ALB.
Whose? speake it out, I dare boldly heare it.
AND.
Your brother Carolos.
ALB.
My Brother Carolos?
Tis Dreame & Fantasme, it cannot be.
CAST.
As sure as you had one, which own'd that Name.
ALB.
Then I am Abus'd most Treacherously;
Robb'd of an Honour Id haue Glory'd in
Aboue my Crowne, or Conquest, had I but seene
his Person liuing.
MAL.
Some Princes Sir, I
will not say as wise would be content to
Call it a Mistake, and Joy in the occasion
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Competition, as an Elder Brother.
ALB.
you now My Lord lesse merrit from my Honour,
then I expected of your Prudence.
AND.
Now weele Appease him.
Exit ANDRUGGIO
ALB.
And yet I find this Question he has put,
does make a Dangerous search within me.
Enter BARSANES and ANDRUGIO
AND.
Then Know your Brother liues.
ALB.
My Brother liuing? what Prodigy is this?
MAL.
It cannot be Sir.
AND.
Behold him here.
Enter LEONIDAS
CAST.
The same, most Certayne.
ALB.
I may be yet Abus'd—
offers to Runne at him
Tis, tis he, my elder Brother Carolo,
my Joyes are much too Ready for my tounge.
Let me a whyle Embrace thee thus.
layes his sword at his feet and Embraces him.
LEO.
Is't possible, I am Reserv'd for so
much happynesse?
ALB.
And with myselfe, I lay downe
at thy Feet the Name of King, with all the
Splendour of a Throne, makeing it hence
my Glory to Behold Its Luster plac'd on thee.
LEO.
Thy virtues has no equall Deare Alberto,
Rumor will find too great a Burthern while
shee wings thy prayse; and makst me Blush to owne
A Crowne, thou dost Deserve to weare before
the Tytle of my blood.
ALB.
Andrugio,
I thanke thy wise Deceipt, the secret was
too great without some proofe to Trust my Heart with—
LODO.
This is a Turne I did not looke for.
FLO.
Twas Great, and Noble.
MAL.
My Ruine's neere.
Except some starre does lead Guarini hither.
AND.
Barsanes Sir my Father.
ALB.
Barsanes liuing too?
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The meanes, next heauen of my Preservation.
ALB.
let me Embrace thee worthy man—
And now in Breife the story from thy lips.
which next to that of sacred, shall Receaue
a Reuerence from my heart.
BAR.
Tis not unknowne, Royall Sir,
that your late mother Queen to Crowne her Blood
In you Contriv'd this Princes Deprivation
In his Tender yeares.
ALB.
Shee was my too Indulgent
mother. Heauen forgiue her for it.
BAR.
To which purpose, as I apprehended,
being sent a voyage into Greece, Heauen was
pleas'd to speake its frowne by storme wracking our vessell
within sight of land, whither my strength
held out to swimme, bearing his Royall
Burthern on my Armes.
ALB.
May All thats Good Reward thee fort;
Castruchio you Accompanyd this voyage?
CAST.
And as miraculous preserv'd, while few
else 'scap'd the waues.
LEO.
My lyfe, for some yeares after,
was obscur'd in severall Countryes, till
my happyer starrs Conveyd me hither,
where the late Deceas'd King soone gaue me Honour
And to Exceed his Graces since his Daughter,
fayre Artemia, when vnknowne a prince,
was pleas'd to thinke me worthy of her best Affection.
ARI.
let me Congratulate your happy Knowledge.
ALB.
My Lords, & Gentlemen—here you must pay
your Dutyes now,
OMNES.
with all Submission.
Kneele.
SEM.
And I with myne Implore your pardon
Royall Sir, I was too bold a Dubitant
In your Discovery.
LEO.
Thy Embassy was happy, good Sempronio,
And shalt be neere and Great in my Respects.
ALB.
where is Artemia? Valerio, wayte her forth.
Exit VALERIO
shee has a part of high Concernment in theise Joyes.
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AND.
The Queene Sir.
ARTE.
And does Leonidas yet liue?
ALB.
To be my Elder Brother and my King.
ART.
what worth haue I then Prov'd does Dwell vpon
His Soul!
ALB.
And thanke you Madam for his
Wm Hughes
Preservation; I hope your Hearts are
Ready to Compleate a happy vnion.
ARTE.
I haue Giuen him myne alreadye Sir.
LEO.
And myne as firmely yours.
ARTE.
But pardon me most worthy Prynce, if I
am taught from your great President
to Doe a Duty here—Forgiue me Dearest Sister.
Kneeles
ARI.
you cannot Aske and be Deny'd from me
Artemia, and doubt not Heauen will Doe as much.
ARTE.
Tis what I Blush to Begg, that wore your
Gloryes, with the stayne of my Ambition,
Like to the spotted Moone, that with a Borrow'd
Luster, does Ecclipse the elder, and the brighter
orbe of Day.
ARI.
Thou hast outdone thy Crime.
In this Contrition—Rise, thou hast my pardon.
takes her vp
ARTE.
Let me Begg leaue to further Expiate it.
And as you are Remou'd vnto the Gloryes
of your Crowne, let me withdraw, and fill your
late Abode in solitude.
ARI.
I hope Heauen has Decreed
Artemia a more easy Pennance.
ALB.
else you would
Cloud Madam this Dayes happynesse—once more
let me oblige theise hands. I would not for
the world, loose the Relation of so great,
and fayre a sister.
Enter ANTONIO
ANTO.
The Duke Guarini is Arriv'd.
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Then I have layd the scene vnto my wish.
Ile wayte his Grace.
Exit MALVECCHIO and ANTONIO
Enter A Messenger
within.
Guarini, Guarini, Guarini.
Shout
ALB.
What shout is this?
MESS.
the peoples Buissy Joyes.
to bidd the Duke Guarini wellcome.
ALB.
Ha! Guarini Come? Malvecchio has Betrayd vs.
Enter GUARINI, whispering with MALVECCHIO, ANTONIO, and Officers.
MAL.
you haue them all within your power Sir
I did Decoy 'em fitly for your purpose.
GUA.
It speakes your Care.
MAL.
I hope you'l soone Compleate it
In your Happynesse, tis but your taking
which of theise fayre Princesses you will, and
after giue their Royall Louers to what Fate
you please.
LEO.
Art thou Arriv'd Guarini thus?—
GUA.
Why stare you Princes? haue I not Tytle
good enough to owne my face in Naples?
though I Confesse I come a Gossip to
your Gloryes vninvyted.
LEO.
If it be me thou seekst Guarini,
that late didst Rivall this my Happynesse
Doe but Discharge thy Crowds, & Tumults,
And as I am now my selfe, a King, Ile Giue
thy sword an Honour to Encounter myne.
GUA.
Your offer is below my Ayme, or End.
LODO.
He meanes the Crowne.
MAL.
I hope for his owne wearing.
asyde
ALB.
I look'd vpon thee as thou wert a Noble
Ennemy, but thou it seemes art come to Head
a Bold Commotion here.
GUA.
I scorne to black
my Quarrel with so vilde an Ayde: Tis thee
I singly seeke Alberto, and wish thy sword,
86
had made a braue Decision of our Quarrell,
that wouldst Improue thy victory by such
a matchlesse Trophee as Arianas loue;
whose preservation I was first Concern'd in,
And hope yet to haue Interest in her best
Affections.
ALB.
This stirres me strangely here.—
Madam, you must be your owne speaker now.
ARI.
And thus farre my owne Chuser Sir.
Goes toward GUARINI
Though I am much Diuided 'twixt you both,
yet must Acknowledge that this Dukes Attempts
In my Defence did first oblige my Gratitude.
LODO.
what will be the next Change?
FLO.
I cannot Guesse.
ARI.
But yet must tell you Dearest Kinsman, that
Albertos worth Deserves aboue all Recompence
from me, that did Devote his Armes, and Person
for my Assistance, when I was left without
a meanes of help from you or any mortall.
OCT.
Shee Temporizes brauely.
LODO.
Her virtues must,
(if ere she weare it) blesse this Crowne.
GUA.
I did not thinke to heare myselfe thus Rivall'd
from your lips.
ARI.
Tis but a Justice to his merrit.
GUA.
And Ile make myne yet greater though I
Depriue my selfe of Interest in your Affection—
MAL.
What meanes the Duke?
GUA.
Permit me but the Honour of your hand—
Tis but to Place it here, I hope I haue
your fayre Complyance—
ALB.
Wounder of Honour!
GUA.
shee is a Jewell fitt to yeild a Lustre
where your virtues shine, and Giue a Race of
Princes from her blood that Crownes will Court to owne.
ALB.
This Act obliges Fame.
87
And me for euer.—
most Royall Sir I now am yours.
ALB.
you more then make me happy Madam.
MAL.
Consider Sir a little—
GUA.
I Dare not Heare thee—
and must Confesse my too propense Inclynements
to Ambition which Due Pennitence shall
wash off from my Soul; I hope Madam
to ARTEMIA
you haue had yours already.
ARTE.
My Sister has been pleas'd to Giue me Pardon,
And begg as much of Heauen.
ALB.
This Day is
full of wounder, my elder Brother liuing.
GUA.
I vnderstand it Sir; and wish you happy
to LEONIDAS
in the Beautuos Princesse.
LEO.
I thanke you Braue, & Deare Guarini.
what Tounge can speake enough thy worth?
GUA.
All that I now must Begg is that youd thinke
of some Due Justice on this Traytrous
Contriver Malvecchio whose Brayne has
been so fruitfull in bold Treasons.
MAL.
I thought my Turne would Come.
FLO.
To be Hang'd I hope.
GUA.
As you haue Right vnto this Royall Lady Sir
you must Pronounce his sentence.
ARI.
His Soul I've made
the Soveraigne of myne, therefore now Command
but from his Lips.
ALB.
Since you will haue it so—
this Day's too happy to be stayn'd with Blood;
And though you haue Deserv'd Malvecchio
A Just Displeasure from this Gracious Queene,
Ile so farre Expiate your Crimes, as onely to
Injoyne you a perpetual Bannishment from Naples.
the Rest that Acted by your Influence
haue free Forgiuenesse.
MAL.
You are Mercyfull.
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Exit MALVECCHIO
ALB.
But Madam wee haue yet a higher peice
of Justice to Expresse, I meane our Thanks
vnto this Princely Duke by some Transcending Act.
ARI.
I know not what can speake our Gratitude.
GUA.
My Satisfaction's nobly great, thus to
Behold you happy splendor.
ALB.
you shall Pertake it Braue Guarini.
GUA.
Rather by your Great leaues permit I hence
withdraw, and where the world has vse of Soldiers
spend my dayes in Armes, my past Acheivements
may I hope without a Boast Giue me Tytle
Act Ready
to Command?
ARI.
That were to Robb us of a Glory here.
ALB.
Accept to be Arianas Generall & myne,
Italy is not so well at Peace, but Naples
may haue Cause to want so fam'd a Cheife.
Besides Addition of some larger Honour
yet to be thought on for thy virtues.
ARI.
It must be so.
GUA.
I am oblig'd to your Disposalls.
ALB.
There's nothing wanting now but that your Brother
Joyne with me in Acts of Bounty to this
Patron of your safety Dear Barsanes.
LEO.
with all Readynesse.
BAR.
your Graces putt
too high a valew on me, that Clayme no
merrit from an Act of Duty.
LEO.
Madam
you now will but exchange a Crowne for that
to ARTEMIA
of Lombardy.
ALB.
which may Heauen send you Issue
to Enjoy as long, as tyme has Name.
89
And may your Comforts be as endlesse here—
to ARIANA
ARI.
wee now shall Raigne indeed lyke Sisters.
LEO.
Let's wayte on Heauen to Joyne its Blessings
As wee Giue our Hearts.
ALB.
which being Done,
By publicke Joyes wee'll Blaze our Happynesse—
who from the hand of Providence must owne.
This Happy Change of Princes to each Crowne.
Exeunt
| The Change of Crownes | |