University of Virginia Library

Scena quinta.

Enter at one doore, Triulcio, Aubeny, Caiazzo: at the other some Senators of Millan, who deliuer the keyes of the City.
Sen.
We here present you with our keys great Lords,
Yet doe not thinke vs cowards, who doe part
So easily with that, which if we pleas'd
We might, in spite of force, as easily keepe:
We know your right, iustice does ope these gates,
And not your swords, nor our disloyalty;
We leaue a Traytor that hath first left vs,
And now are glad to entertaine our Prince.

Triv.
Is he fled then? O our vnhappy sloath!
Why ranne we not as well as we did fight?
Are Cowards swifter then their Conquerors.

Aboue as in the Cittadell appeare Isabella, and Iulia.
Is.
Doe not disswade me, Iulia, 'tis true
I may escape, but whither? all is lost,
In Naples we find France, as well as here.
O who'od indure the tyranny of hope,
That could so quickly gaine a liberty?
If I but fall I'me free; ô Iulia,
The greatest distance twixt my blisse, and me,
Reacheth no farther then to the next earth.
Can I behold in a perplexed flight
(Of which I know no comfort, and no end)
This my sweet infant crying for the food,
Which I'me vncertaine where to beg for him?
No, Ile descend, and if the greedy French
Will haue our blood with our Dominions,
She comes down with some souldiers.
Yet I shall ioy to haue a speedy end
And call a nimble enemy, a friend.

Tri.
What answer from the Cittadel? once more
Giue them a summons, if they yeeld not then
Enter Isabella
Giue an assault.

Is.
You shall not need my Lords,
What you could wish you haue, most cheapely haue,
The conquest of a woman, and a child.
I'me Isabella, (let not that sad name
Be ominous to conquerors,) and this
This pretty infant, is my lucklesse child,
Borne Prince of that, which you haue made your prey.
Why doe you one consult anothers face,
As you would see, who could be cruell first?
Be not at all, or if at all, to me.
O doe not warre with infants! can these hands
Deserue your feare or anger? these weake hands
That cannot reach themselues vnto their teat?
Who haue so much of yong infirmity,
They cannot lift themselues to ask your mercy?
O let them haue, because they cannot aske.
How many dismall accidents may chance
To take him hence, before he grow to man,
And so excuse, and yet fulfill your purpose?
O let disease be cruell, and not you.

Tri.
Madame, you shall be honourably vs'd,
You, and your faire sonne: take your liberty
To chuse your owne free course: for this yong Lord,
He must to France with vs, where he shall learne
The good of royall education:
Where he shall know the happy difference
Betweene a petty, and a kingly Court.
Some waite vpon the Princesse.

Is.
O my starres!
What haue I done? ay me? I haue betrayd,
What Tyranny had left me, my sweet boy:
For whom I neuer knew a griefe; till now
I brought him forth with pleasure, when I thinke
Vpon this paine of parting; my deare child,
O too too like thy mother; if thou chance
To draw thy life vnto that hated length,
That thou arriue to the discretion
To know, what by my folly, thou hast lost,
Call it no more, ô doe not call it crime,
No mother willingly would lose a sonne:
Whilst in some darker cell I will intombe
Thy ruines cause, where whatsoeuer teare
Sorrow did once force, no deuotion shall:
That my new name vnto the heau'ns may reach
Whom misery the way to blisse did teach.

Exit.
Tri.
Neuer till now had we the victory,
And now no single one, this happy houre
Has gain'd a a conquest for Posterity.
They may be idle now, now the French youth
May grow vp without wounds, and at their homes,
Steale to a priuate graue, no more being forc't
To death, though by a glory; nay this Land
May thanke vs, for our thrift of victory,
For lighting on this blest occasion,
Which makes vs need no more to conquer them:
If heau'n continue vs this kindnesse still,
Wee'll measure out our conquests by our will.