University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

[The Camp before Milan. The tent of Sforza at the side, and watchfires in the distance. Enter Sforza and Brunorio.]
SFORZA.
Is the guard set?

BRUNORIO.
All set, my Lord!

SFORZA.
And blaze
The watch-fires where I ordered?

BRUNORIO.
Every one.
Hold you your purpose, Sir?

SFORZA.
To-night, at twelve,
I will set on! This fickle Duke of Milan
Has changed for the last time. Brunorio!

BRUNORIO.
You seem disturb'd, Sir.

SFORZA.
I would have to-night
The best blood up that ever rose for Sforza.
Are your spears resolute?

BRUNORIO.
As yourself, my Lord!

SFORZA.
We'll sleep in Milan then. By heav'n I know not
Why I have waited on the changing pleasure
Of this old Duke so long.

BRUNORIO.
Twelve years ago
He promised you his daughter.

SFORZA.
Did he not?
And every year he has renew'd and broken
This promise of alliance.

BRUNORIO.
Can you hold
Milan against the Florentine, my Lord?
'Tis said the fair Bianca is betroth'd
To their ally Ferrara! They will join
Naples against you, and cry out “usurper!”

SFORZA.
Ay—I have thought on't. I'm the second Sforza!
The first hew'd wood! There lies enough to bar me,
Were I another Cæsar, from authority!
'Tis by this whip I have been driv'n so long—
'Tis by the bait of this old man's alliance
I have for ten years fought the wars of Milan.
They've fool'd me, year by year, and still found means
With their curs'd policy, to put me off—
And, by the saints, they've reason. Could I point
The world to such a thread 'twixt me and Milan
As weaves a spider thro' the summer air,
I'd hang a crown upon it. Once possess'd
Of a fair seat in Lombardy, my spears
Would glisten in St. Mark's!

BRUNORIO.
And thence to Naples!

SFORZA.
Ay—with what speed we might! My brave lieutenant,
You echo my own thought!

[Enter a Sentinel.]
SENTINEL.
A flag of truce
By torch-light comes from Milan.

[Enter Sarpellione, in haste.]
SARPELLIONE.
Noble Sforza!
I've rudely used my privilege to seek you!

SFORZA.
By right of office you are ever welcome.

SARPELLIONE.
If I might speak to you a timely word
In haste and privacy?

SFORZA.
Brunorio, leave us!

SARPELLIONE.
A flag of truce comes presently from Milan
With terms of peace. The Duke would give his daughter
To save his capital.

SFORZA.
The Duke does well!

SARPELLIONE.
You'll wed her then!

SFORZA.
If fairly offer'd me,
Free of all other terms, save peace between us,
I'll wed her freely.

SARPELLIONE.
Then I pray you pardon!
You're not the Sforza that should be the son
Of him who made the name!

SFORZA.
Bold words, ambassador!
But you are politic, and speak advisedly.
What bars my marriage with Duke Philip's daughter?

SARPELLIONE.
Brief—for this herald treads upon my heels—
Bianca was not born in wedlock!

SFORZA.
Well!

SARPELLIONE.
She's been betrothed to other suitors—

SFORZA.
Well!

SARPELLIONE.
Is't well that you can ne'er thro' her inherit
The ducal crown? Is't well to have a wife
Who has made up her mind to other husbands—
Who has been sold to every paltry prince
'Twixt Sicily and Venice?

SFORZA.
Is that all?

SARPELLIONE.
No—nor the best of it. There lives a son,
By the same mother, to the Duke of Milan.

SFORZA,
(seizing him by the arm.)
Said you a son?

SARPELLIONE.
A son!—and—had I time—

SFORZA.
Without there! Pray the embassy from Milan
To grant me but a moment.
[Turning to Sarpellione]
Is it sure?

SARPELLIONE.
Upon the honor of my royal master,
Who'll make it good.

SFORZA.
Have you authority
For what you say?

SARPELLIONE.
In court or camp, Alfonso
Will prove this story true. His mother fled,
As the world knows—in peril of her life—
To Naples.

SFORZA.
From the jealousy of the Duke—
I well remember.

SARPELLIONE.
Ere he could demand her
From young Alfonso, newly king, she died;
But in her throes brought prematurely forth
A son; whom, fearing for his life, she hid,
And rear'd him, ever like a Prince, till now.

SFORZA.
Some fourteen years.

SARPELLIONE.
Scarce that—but he is forward,
And feels his blood already.

SFORZA.
Say he does—
What make you out of it to change my purpose?

SARPELLIONE.
Seeing you cannot thrive by conquering Milan,
Which Milan's allies will pluck back from you
To put the prince upon his father's seat—
My royal master wishes you forewarned.

SFORZA.
He's kind—if that is all!

SARPELLIONE.
He'd make a friend
Of the best sword in Italy.

SFORZA.
What scheme
Lies under this?

SARPELLIONE.
No scheme—but your own glory!
Your star stoops to the south. Alfonso's army
Gathers at Capua to war on Florence!
(More earnestly.)
He'll add Ravenna to your marquisate
For but a thousand spears!

SFORZA.
I'll take Ravenna
Without his leave! Admit the herald there!
No, Count! your policy has overshot!
The King Alfonso needs no spears of mine—
But he would have them farther off from Milan—
A blind mole would see that!

SARPELLIONE.
My Lord! My Lord!

SFORZA.
Hear me, Sarpellione! I have been
Too long the sport of your fine policy!
With promises of power and fair alliance
I've fought for every prince in Italy—
And against all, in turn; now leagued with Venice
To beat back Florence from the Brenta; now
With Florence against Milan; then with Milan
To drive the Tuscan home again, and all
For my own glory, by some politic reason.
I'll have a place—or I'll be in the track on't—
Where the poor honor that my hand may pluck
Shall be well garner'd. By Visconti's daughter
I'll set my foot in Milan. My poor laurels,
Such as they are, shall root there!—and, by heaven,
I'll find a way to make their branches flourish!
Call in the herald, there!

SARPELLIONE.
But Lionel,
Prince of Ferrara, whom Bianca loves—

SFORZA.
Glory has been my mistress many years
And will suffice me still. If it should chance
Bianca loves another, 'tis an evil
To wed with me, which I will recompense
With chainless freedom after. In my glory
She'll find a bright veil that will hide all errors,
Save from the heart that pardons her.

SARPELLIONE.
Farewell!
You'll hear o' the young Prince soon!

SFORZA.
I'll never wrong him—
If there be one!—Our stars will rise together!
There's room enough!
[Exit Sarpellione and enter Rossano.]
Fair welcome, brave Rossano.
I know your news.

ROSSANO.
The Duke sends greeting to you—

SFORZA.
And offers me his daughter—is't not so?

ROSSANO.
Seeing your preparations as I came
I marvel your anticipate so well!

SFORZA.
A bird i' th' air brings news, they say—but this
Came by a serpent. How's the spear-wound now,
You took for me at Pisa? Brave Rossano!
We'll break a lance once more in company—
It warms my blood to find myself again
O' the same side. Come out in the open air!
We'll talk more freely, as we used to do,
Over a watch-fire. Come out, old comrade!

[Exeunt Sforza and Rossano.