University of Virginia Library

SCEN. I.

The Cornets sound a cynet.
Enter two mourners with torches, two with streamers: Castilio & Forobosco, with torches: a Heralde bearing Andrugio's helme & sword, the coffin: Maria supported by Lucio and Alberto, Antonio by himselfe: Piero, and Strozzo talking: Galeatzo and Matzagente, Balurdo & Pandulfo: the coffin set downe: helme, sworde, and streamers hung vp, placed by the Herald: whil'st Antonio and Maria wet their handkerchers with their teares, kisse them, and lay them on the hearse, kneeling: all goe out but Piero. Cornets cease, and he speakes.
Pie.
Rot ther thou cearcloth that infolds the flesh
Of my loath'd foe; moulder to crūbling dust:
Obliuion choake the passage of thy fame.
Trophees of honor'd birth droppe quickly downe:
Let naught of him, but what was vitious, liue.
Though thou art deade, thinke not my hate is dead:
I haue but newly twone my arme in the curld locks
Of snakie vengeance. Pale beetle-brow'd hate
But newly bustles vp. Sweet wrong, I clap thy thoughts.
O let me hug my bosome, rub my breast,
In hope of my what may happe. Andrugio rots:
Antonio liues: vmh: how long? ha, ha; how long?
Antonio packt hence, Ile his mother wed,
Then cleare my daughter of supposed lust,
Wed her to Florence heire. O excellent.
Venice, Genoa, Florence, at my becke,
At Piero's nod, Balurdo, ô ho.
O, twill be rare, all vnsuspected donne.
I haue bin nurst in blood, and still haue suckt
The steeme of reeking gore. Balurdo, ho?

Enter Balurdo with a beard, halfe of, halfe on.
Ba.

When my beard is on, most noble prince, when
my beard is on.

Pier.

Why, what dost thou with a beard?

Ba.

In truth, one tolde me that my wit was balde, &
that a Meremaide was halfe fish, and halfe fish: and
therefore to speake wisely, like one of your counsell,
as indeede it hath pleased you to make me, not onely
being a foole, of your counsell, but also to make me of
your counsell, being a foole; If my wit be bald, and a
Mermaid be halfe fish and halfe cunger, then I must be
forced to conclude the tyring man hath not glewd
on my beard halfe fast, enough. Gods bores, it wil not
stick to fal off.

Pie.

Dost thou know what thou hast spoken all this while?

Ba.

O Lord Duke, I would be sorie of that. Many
men can vtter that which, no man, but themselues can
conceiue: but I thanke a good wit, I haue the gift to
speake that which neither any man els, nor my selfe
vnderstands—

Pi.

Thou art wise. He that speaks he knows not what,
shal neuer sin against his own conscience: go to, thou

art wise.

Ba.

Wise? O no. I haue a little naturall discretion, or
so: but for wise, I am somewhat prudent: but for wise,
ô Lord.

Pie,

Hold, take those keyes, open the Castle vault, &
put in Mellida.

Bal.
And put in Mellida? well, let me alone.

Pi.
Bid Forobosco, and Castilio guard,
Indeere thy selfe Piero's intimate.

Bal.

Indeere, and intimate: good, I assure you. I will
indeere and intimate Mellida into the dūgeon presētly.

Pie.

Will Pandulfo Feliche waite on me?

Ba.

I will make him come, most retort and obtuse, to
you presently. I thinke, sir Ieffrey talks like a counseller.
Go to, gods neaks, I thinke I tickle it.

Pie.
Ile seeme to winde yon foole with kindest arme.
He that's ambitious minded, and but man,
Must haue his followers beasts, dubd slauish sots:
Whose seruice is obedience, and whose wit
Reacheth no further then to admire their Lord,
And stare in adoration of his worth.
I loue, a slaue rak't out of common mud
Should seeme to sit in counsell with my heart.
High honour'd blood's too squemish to assent,
And lend a hand to an ignoble act.
Poyson from roses who could ere abstract?
How now Pandulfo, weeping for thy sonne?