University of Virginia Library

Scæna Sexta.

Enter Marciano, Borasco.
Bor.
'Tis true, my Lord; yet, I don't much approve
Your Dukes severe proceedings: Florence will not
Endure the lash of Monarchy, like France
Or Spain:—No, they must be their own carvers.
—I hope the Lord Barbaro, who is now
President of the Senate, will reform
Many of our abuses—

Marc.
Well, you will
Come all to taste of your own vintage yet;
So I believe: for, never yet, rebellion
Escap'd unpunished:—But, you remember
You promis'd that the Lady Arabella
Might see me e're I dye.

Bor.
She shall, my Lord;
—So—by this hand, a plot,
(in going off.
A very plot: he is my Rival sure—
But shortly, Signior, you shall carry your head
Upon a Seaffold; and then, who dares
Claim her, besides my self.
Exit Bor.

Marciano
solus.
When men begin to quarrel with their Prince,
No wonder if they crush their fellow Subjects.
We are eye-sores to th'State: their black designes
Are cross'd by us; and therefore we march off.—

Enter Arabella weeping.
Marc.
Am I not yet sufficiently plagued
With crosses: but you must add one, which is
Heaviest of all,—why weeping—prethee cease
To vex thy self: I am all resolution,
And long to show my courage: since my stars
Have ordain'd my departure: rest contented.

Ar.
Alas—and is my plot thus come to nought—

Marc.
Peace, prethee, for although I am not able
To pay what your perfections claim, yet sure
All generous souls (my true executors)
Shall pay my debt, fair Nymph.

(embraces her.
Ar.
My Lord, your death can be no more couragiously
Endur'd by you, then deplor'd by me—

Marc.
Tush, as for death, I fear the varlet not,
I've often stare'd him out of countenance:
I have considered, that love to my Prince,
Should over-sway all others: have chosen
Rather t'endure one stroke, and dye, then live,
And undergo the censure (of all crymes,
The most detestable) Disloyalty.

Ar.
Ay me! incensed heavens, can nothing else,
Appease your wrath but such an offering?
O, cannot I, (speak) I, although a woman,
Supply his place: I'le be an Amazon,
Expose my naked breast to steel, and show
All women are not fetter'd to the distaffe.

Marc.
Be not so cruel: all good things forbid,
The world should see such a fair soul expire,
And not dissolve it self: thou cannot dye,
(Although thou wouldst) and Marciano live,
No, no more then a watch can move, if once
The cord be broke; can I live after thee.

Ar.
Alas, Alas, unheard of tyranny!
Unjust, even in injustice: thus to be
So cruell, as to murder him, and yet
Spare me; as much as if I should becom
My own soul murderer; villains, how unjust!
—But here's my passing bell.
(A bell rings within,
I must away—farewell—Oh, oh, my heart,
My heart dissolves, my Lord, I must away.

Marc.
Away—farewell bright love—

(embraces.
Ar.
Farewell, my Lord—

Marc.
Farewell—now all good things preserve thee here,
The gods hereafter: thus—and thus I leave
(kisses, &c.
My heart in legacy:—thus, I take my last
Morsel of pleasure: never shall my lips
Kiss any thing hereafter, save the block—

Ar.
So, thus—and thus, I willingly resign
All, what is yours, this heart: and so farewell.
Farewell for ever—oh—Farewell, my Lord.

Exit.
Marciano
solus.
—So, down goes dust and ashes, powers and honours,
Riches and joyes, the smoak of our desires,
With all we can call ours: our youth, our strength,
Fly like the sullen clouds, when Boreas swells
Their entrails with his breath: we, suddenly,
Like wilde fire, disappear, and streight another
Steps in our place; and so we are no more—
—Then heart, as thou hast still afford me courage,
Inspire me now, that I may valiantly
Act the last part of this my Tragedy.

Exit.