University of Virginia Library

Act. III.

Scene. I.

Gonzaga, Astutio, Roderigo, Iacomo.
Gonzaga.
VVhat I have done Sr by the law of armes
I can, and will make good.

Astutio.
I have no commission
To expostulate the act. These letters speake
The King my Masters love to you, and his
vow'd service to the Duchesse, on whose person
I am to giue attendance.

Gonz.
At this instant.
Shee's at Pienza; you may spare the trouble
Of riding thither: I have advertized her
Of our successe, and on what humble termes
Siena stands: though presently I can
Possesse it deferre it, that shee may
Enter her owne, and as she please dispose of
The prisoners and the spoyle.

Astut.
I thanke you, Sir.
I'the meane time, if I may have your licence,
I have a Nephew, and one once my ward
For whose liberties and ransomes, I would gladly
Make composition.

Gonz.
They are, as I take it.
Call'd Gasparo, and Anthonio,

Astut.
The same, Sir.

Gonz.
For them you must treat with these, but for Bertoldo,
He is mine owne, if the King will ransom him,
He payes downe fifty thousand crownes, if not
He liues, and dies my slave,

Astut.
Pray you a word.
The King will rather thanke you to detaine him,
Then give one crowne to free him.

Gonz.
At his pleasure.
I'll send the prisoners under guard, my businesse
Calls me another way.
Exit Gonzaga.

Astut.
My service waits you,
Now Gentlemen do not deale like Merchants with me,
But noble Captaines, you know in great mindes
Posse, & nolle nobile.

Rod.
Pray you speake
Our language.

Iacom.
I finde not in my commission
An officers bound to speake or understand
More then his Mother tongue.

Roder.
If hee speake that
After midnight 'tis remarkable.

Astu.
In plaine termes then,
Anthonio is your prisoner. Gasparo yours

Iacom.
You are i'the right.

Astu.
At what summe doe you rate
Their severall ransomes.

Rod.
I must make my market
As the commodity cost me.

Astut.
As it cost you?
You did not buy your Captainship? your desert
I hope advanc'd you.

Rod.
How? it well appeares
You are no souldier. Desert in these daies?
Desert may make a Serieant to a Colonel,
And it may hinder him from rising higher,
But if it ever get a company,
A company, pray you marke mee, without money
Or private seruice done for the Generalls Mistresse,
With a commendatory Epistle from her,
I will turne Lansprizadoe.

Iacom.
Pray you observe, Sir:
I serv'd two prenticeships, just foureteene yeere,
Trayling the puissant pike; and halfe so long
Had the right hand file, and I fought well, 'twas said too:
But I might have serv'd, and fought, and serv'd til doomsday
And never have carryed a flagge, but for the legacy
A buxsome widdow of threescore, bequeath'd mee,
And that too, my backe knowes, I labour hard for,
But was better paid.

Astut.
You are merry with your selves
But this is from the purpose.

Roder.
To the point then.
Prisoners are not tane every day, and when
We have 'em we must make the best use of 'em.
Our pay is little to the part we should beare,
And that so long a comming, that 'tis spent
Before we have it, and hardly wipes off scores
At the Taverne, and the Ordinary.

Iacom.
You may adde to
Our sport tooke up on trust.

Roder.
Peace, thou smocke vermin.
Discover commanders, secrets! In a word, Sir,
We have requir'd, and find our prisoners rich:
Two thousand crownes a piece, our companies cost vs,
And so much each of us will have, and that
In present pay.

Iacom.
It is too little; yet
Since you haue said the word, I am content,
But will not goe a gazet lesse.

Astut.
Since you are not
To be brought lower, there is no evading
I'll be your pay-master.

Roder.
Wee desire no better.

Astut.
But not a word of what's agreed between us,
'Till I have schoold my gallants.

Iacom.
I am dumb, Sir.

Enter a guard: Bertoldo, Anthonio, Gaspero, in yrons.
Bert.
And where remov'd now? hath the Tyrant found out
Worse usage for us?

Antho.
VVorse it cannot be.
My grewhound has fresh straw, and scraps in his kennell,
But wee have neyther.

Gasp.
Did I ever thinke
To weare such garters on silke stockings? or
That my too curious appetite, that turn'd
At the sight of godwits, pheasant, partidge, quales
Larkes, wood-cocks, caluerd sammon, as course diet,
Would leape at a mouldy crust?

Antho.
And goe without it;
So oft as I doe, O how haue I jeer'd
The City entertainment. A huge shoulder
Of glorious fat Ramme Mutton, seconded
With a paire of tame cats, or conies, a crabbe tart
With a worthy loyne of veale, and valiant Capon,
Mortifi'd to grow tender. These I scorn'd
From their plentifull horne of abundance, though invited:
But now I could carry my owne stoole to a tripe,
And call their chitterlings charity, and blesse the founder.

Bertol.
O that I were no farther sensible
Of my miseries then you are! you like beasts
Feele onely stings of hunger, and complaine not
But when you are empty: but your narrow soules
(If you have any) cannot comprehend
How insupportable the torments are,
Which a free and noble soule made captiue, suffers:
Most miserable men! and what am I then,
That enuy you? Fetters though made of gold,
Expresse base thraldome and all delicates
Prepar'd by Median cookes for Epicures,
When not our owne, are bitter quilts fill'd high
With gossamire and roses, cannot yeeld
The body soft repose, the mind kep't waking
With anguish and affliction.

Astut.
My good Lord.

Ber.
This is no time, nor place for flaterry Sir,
Pray you stile me as I am, a wretch forsaken
Of the world, as my selfe.

Astut.
I would it were
In me to helpe you.

Ber.
I if that you want power Sir,
Lip comfort cannot cure me, pray you leave mee
To mine owne private thoughts.

Astu.
My valiant Nephew!
walkes by.
And my more then warlike-ward! I am glad to see you
After your glorious conquests. Are these chaines
Rewardee for your good service? If they are
You should weare 'em on your necks (since they are massie)
Like Aldermen of the war.

Antho.
You jeere us to!

Gasp.
Good uncle name not (as you are a man of honor)
That fatall word of war, the very founde of't
Is more dreadfull then a Cannon.

Antho.
But redeeme us
From this Captivitie, and I'll vow hereafter
Never to weare a sword, or cut my meate
With a knife, that has an edge or point. I'll starve first

Gasp.
I will crie broome or cats meate in Palermo;
Turne porter, carrie burthens; any thing,
Rather then live a souldier.

Astut.
This should have
Beene thought upon before. At what price thinke you
Your two wise heads are rated?

Antho.
A calves head is
More worth then mine, I am sure it had more braines in't
Or I had never come here.

Roder.
And I will eate it
With bacon, if I have not speedy ransome.

Ant.
And a little garlick too, for your own sake Sir
Twill boyle in your stomacke else.

Gasp.
Beware of mine
Or the hornes may choake you. I am married Sir.

Antho.
You shall have my row of houses neare the pallace

Gasp.
And my villa all.

Antho.
All that we have.

To Astutio.
Astut.
Well, have more wit hereafter
For this time you are ransom'd.

Iacom.
Off with their irons.

Rod.
Do do If you are ours again, you know your price.

Antho.
Pray you dispatch us: I shall nere beleeve
I am a freeman, till I set my foote
In Sicilie agen, and drinke Palermo,
And in Palermo too.

Astut.
The wind sits faire,
You shall aboord to night with the rising Sun
You may touch upon the coast. But take your leaves
Of the late Generall first.

Gasp.
I will be briefe.

Antho.
And I, my lord heaven keepe you.

Gasp.
Yours to use
In the way of peace, but as your souldiers never.

Antho.
A pox of war no more of war.

Ber.
Have you
Exeunt Roderig. Iaco. Anthonio. Gasparo.
Authority to loose their bonds, yet leave
The brother of your King, whose worth disdaines
Comparison with such as these, in irons?
If ransome may redeeme them, I have landes,
A patrimony of mine owne assign'd me,
By my deceased sire to satisfie
What ere can be demanded for my freedome.

Astut.
I wish you had Sir, but the king who yeelds
No reason for his will, in his displeasure
Hath seas'd on all you had; nor will Gonzaga,
Whose prisoner now you are, accept of lesse
Then fiftie thousand crownes.

Ber.
I finde it now
That misery nere comes alone. But grant
The King is yet inexorable, time
May worke him to a feeling of my sufferings.
I have friends, that swore their lives and fortunes were
At my devotion, and among the rest
Your selfe my lord, when forfeited to the Law
For a foule murther, and in cold blood done,
I made your life my gift, and reconcil'd you
To this incensed king, and got your pardon.
Beware ingratitude. I know you are rich
And may pay downe the Sum.

Astut.
I might my lord,
But pardon me.

Ber.
And will Astutio prove then
To please a passionate man, the kings no more,
False to his maker and his reason? which
Commandes more then I aske? ô summer friendship,
Whose flattering leaves that shaddowed us in
Our prosperity, with the least gust drop off
In th'Autumne of adversity! How like
A prison is to a grave! when dead we are
With solemne Pompe brought thither, and our heires,
(Masking their joy in false dissembled teares)
Weepe ore the hearse, but earth no sooner covers
The earth brought thither, but they turne away
With inward smiles, the dead no more remembred.
So enter'd in a prison.

Astut.
My occasions
Command me hence my lord.

Ber.
Pray you leave me, doe;
And tell the cruell king, that I will weare
These letters 'till my flesh, and they are one
Incorporated substance. In my selfe,
As in a glasse, I'll looke on humane frailty,
And curse the height of Royall blood: since I
In being borne neare to Ioue, am neare his thunder.
Cedars once shaken with a storme, their owne
Exit Astutio.
Waight grubs their rootes out. Lead me where you please;
I am his, not fortunes martyr, and will dye
The great example of his cruelty.

Exit cum suis.

Scene. II.

Adorni.
Adorn.
He undergoes my challenge, and contemnes it,
And threatens me with the late Edict made
'Gainst duellists, then altar cowards flie to.
But I that am ingag'd, and nourish in me
A higher aime then faire Camiola dreames of,
Must not sit down thus. In the court I dare not
Attempt him; and in publike, hee's so guarded
With a heard of Parasites, Clients fooles and sutors,
That a musket cannot reach him, my designes
Admit of no delay. This is her birth-day,
Which with a fit and due solemnitie
Camiola celebrates; and on it, all such
As love or serve her, usually present
A tributary duty. I'll have something
To give, if my intelligence prove true,
Shall find acceptance. I am told, neare this grove
Fulgentio very morning makes his makets
With his petitioners. I may present him
With a sharpe petition. Ha, 'tis he: my fate
Be ever bless'd for't.

Exit Fulgen.
Fulgen.
Command such as waite me
Not to presume at the least for halfe an houre
To presse on my rettirements.

Page.
I will say, Sir, you are at your prayers.

Fulg.
That will not finde beliefe,
Courtiers have something else to do, be gon, Sir,
Challeng'd ! 'tis well! and by a grome! still better !
Was this shape made to fight? I have a tongue yet,
How e'r no sword to kill him, and what way
This morning, I'll resolve of.
Exit Fulgentio.

Adorn.
I shall crosse
Your resolution, or suffer for you.
Exit Adorni.

Scene. III.

Camiola: divers servants with presents: Sylli, Clarinda.
Sylli.
VVhat are all these?

Clar.
Sevants with serverall presents,
And rich ones too.

1. Serv.
With her best wishes, Madam,
Of many such daies to you, the Lady Petula
Presents you with this fanne.

2. Serv.
This Diamond
From your Aunt Honoria.

3. Serv.
This piece of plate
From your Vncle, old Vincentio, with your armes
Graven upon it.

Cam.
Good friends they are too.
Munificent in their love, and favour to me.
Out of my cabinet returne such jewells
As this directs you, for your paines; and yours;
Nor must you be forgotten. Honour mee
With the drinking of a health.

1. Serv.
Gold on my life!

2. Serv.
She scornes to give base silver.

3. Serv.
VVould she had beene
Borne every moneth in the yeere!

1. Serv.
Moneth? every day.

2. Serv.
Shew such another maid.

3.
All happinesse wait you.

Exeunt Sylli, Clarinda, Servants.
Sylli.
I'll see your will done.

Cam.
How, Adorny wounded?

Enter Adorni wounded.
Ador.
A scratch got in your service, else not worth
Your observation; I bring not Madame
In honour of your birth-day, anticque plate,
Or pearle, for which the savage Indian dives
Into the bottome of the Sea; nor Diamonds
Hewne from steepe rockes with danger: Such as give
To those that have what they themselves want, aime at
A glad returne with profit: yet despise not
My offering at the altar of your favour;
Nor let the lownesse of the giver lessen
The height of whats presented. Since it is
A pretious jewell, almost forfeyted,
And dimn'd with clouds of infamy redeem'd
And in in its naturall splendor, with addition,
Restor'd to the true owner.

Cam.
How is this?

Ador.
Not to hold you in suspence, I bring you, Madame,
Your wounded reputation cur'd, the sting
Of virulent malice, festring your faire name,
Pluck'd out and trode on. That proud man, that was
Deny'd the honour of your bed, yet durst
With his untrue reports, strumpet your fame,
Compell'd by mee, hath given himselfe the lye,
And in his owne blood wrote it, you may read
Fulgentio subscrib'd.

Cam.
I am amaz'd!

Adorn.
It does deserve it, Madam. Common service
Is fit for hindes, and the reward proportion'd
To their conditions. Therefore looke not on mee
As a follower of your fathers fortunes, or
One that subsists on yours, you frowne! my service
Merits not this aspect.

Cam.
Which of my favours,
I might say bounties, hath begot, and nourish'd
This more then rude presumption? since you had
An itch to try your desperate valour, wherefore
Went you not to the warre? couldst thou suppose
My innocence could ever fall so low,
As to have need of thy rash sword to guard it
Against malicious slander? O how much
Those Ladies are deceiv'd and cheated, when
The clearnesse and integrity of their actions
Doe not defend themselves, and stand secure
On their owne bases? Such as in a colour
Of seeming service give protection to 'em,
Betray their owne strengthes. Malice scorn'd, puts out
It selfe, but argu'd, gives a kinde of credit
To a false accusation. In this
This your most memorable service, you beleev'd
You did me right, but you have wrong'd mee more
In your defence of my undoubted honour,
Then false Fulgentio could.

Adorn.
I am sorry, What
Was so well intended, is so ill receiv'd,
Yet under your correction you wish'd
Ente Clarinda
Bertoldo had beene present.

Cam.
True I did:
But he and you, Sir, are not parallells,
Nor must you thinke your selfe so.

Adorn.
I am what
You'll please to have mee.

Cam.
If Bertoldo had
Punish'd Fugentio's insolence, it had showne
His love to her, whom in his judgement hee
Vouchsafe to make his wife. A height I hope
Which you dare not aspire to. The same actions
Sure not all men alike: but I perceive
Repentance in your lookes. For this time leave me
I may forgive, perhaps forget your folly,
Conceale your selfe till this storme be blowne over.
You will be sought for, yet for my estate
Gives him her hand to kisse.
Can hinder it, shall not suffer in my service.

Ador.
This is something yet, tho I mist the mark I shot at.
Exit Adorni

Cam.
This Gentleman is of a noble temper.
And I too harsh, perhaps in my reproofe,
Was I not Clarinda?

Clarind.
I am not to censure
Your actions Madame: but there are a thousand
Ladies, and of good fame, in such a cause.
Would be proud of such a servant.

Cam.
It may be;
Enter a Servant.
Let me offend in this kinde. Why uncall'd for?

Serv.
The Signiors, Madame, Gasparo and Anthonio,
(Selected friends of the renowned Bertoldo)
Put a shore this morning.

Cam.
Without him?

Serv.
I thinke so.

Cam.
Never thinke more then.

Serv.
They have beene at Court.
Kiss'd the Kings hand; and there first duties done
To him, appeare ambitions to tender
To you their second service.

Cam.
Waite 'em hither.
Eexeunt Servant.
Feare doe not racke me, reason, now if ever,
Haste with thy ayds, and tell me such a wonder,
As my Bertoldo is, with such care fashion'd,
Enter Anthonio. Gasparo. Serv.
Must not, nay cannot, in hev'ns providence,
So soone miscarry; pray you forbeare, ere you
Take the priviledge, as strangers to salute mee,
(Excuse my manners) make me first understand,
How it is with Bertoldo?

Ber.
The relation
Will not I feare deserve your thankes.

Antho.
I wish
Some other should informe you.

Cami,
Is she dead?
You see, though with some feare, I dare enquire it.

Gasp.
Dead! Would that were the worst, a debt were pay'd then,
Kings in their birth owe nature.

Cami.
Is there ought
More terrible then death?

Antho.
Yes to a spirit
Like his. Cruell imprisonment, and that
Without the hope of freedome.

Cami.
You abuse me,
The royall King cannot in love to vertue,
(Though all springs of affection were dri'd up)
But pay his ransome.

Gasp.
When you know what 'tis
You will thinke otherwise; No lesse will do it
Then fifty thousand crownes.

Cam.
A prettie sum,
The price waigh'd, with the purchase, 50. thousand?
To the King 'tis nothing. He that can spare more
To his minion for a masque, cannot but ransome
Such a brother at a million, you wrong
The Kings magnificence.

Antho.
In your opinion,
But 'tis most certaine. He does not alone
In himselfe refuse to pay it, but forbids
All other men.

Cam.
Are you sure of this?

Gasp.
You may reade
The edict to that purpose, publish'd by him,
That will resolve you.

Cami.
Possible! pray you stand off,
If I doe not mutter treason to my selfe
My heart will breake; yet I will not curse him,
He is my king. The newes you have delivered,
Makes me wearie of your company, wee'll salute
When we meete next. I'll bring you to the dore,
Nay pray you no more complements.

Gasp.
One thing more
And that's substantiall. Let your Adorni.
Looke to himselfe.

Antho.
The king is much incens'd
Against him for Fulgentio.

Camio.
As I am
For your slownesse to depart

Both.
Farewell swoet Lady.

Exeunt Gaspa. Antho.
Cam.
O more then impious times! when not alone
Subordinate Ministers of justice are
Corrupted, and seduc'd, but kings themselves,
(The greater wheeles by which the lesser move)
Are broken or disjonted; could it be else
A king, to sooth his politique ends, should so far
Forsake his honor, as at once to breake
Th'Adamant chaines of nature and religion,
To binde up Atheisme, as a defence
To his darke counsailes? will it ever be
That to deserve too much is dangerous,
And vertue, when too eminent a crime?
Must she serve fortune still? or when stripp'd of
Her gay, and glorious favours, loose the beauties
Of her owne naturall shape? O my Bertoldo!
Thou onely Sun in honors Spheare, how soone
Art thou eclipsed and darkened! not the nearnesse
Of blood prevailing on the king; nor all
The benefits to the generall good dispens'd
Gayning a retribution! But that
To owe a courtesie to a simple Virgin
Would take from the deserving, I finde in me
Som sparks of fire, which fann'd with honors breath
Might rise into a flame, and in men darken
Their usurp'd splendor. Ha! my aime is high,
And for the honor of my sex to fall so,
Can never prove inglorious. 'Tis resolv'd:
Call in Adorni.

Clar.
I am happy in
Such imployment, Madam.
Exit Clarin.

Cam.
Hee's a man,
I know that at a reverend distance loves me,
And such are ever faithfull: What a Sea
Of melting ice I walke on! what strange censures
Am I to undergoe! but good intents
Deride all future rumors.

Ador.
I obey
Exit Clarin. & Adorn.
Your summons, Madam.

Cam.
Leave the place Clarinda,
One woman, in a secret of such waight,
Wisemen may thinke too much, nearer Adorni.
I warrant it with a smile.

Adorn.
I cannot aske
Safer protection, what's your will?

Cami.
To doubt
Your ready desire to serve me, or prepare you
With the repetition of former merits,
Would in my diffidence wrong you. But I will
And without circumstance, in the trust that I
Impose upon you, free you from suspition.

Adorn.
I foster none of you.

Cami.
I know you do not.
You are Adorni by the love you owe me.

Adorn.
The surest conjuration.

Cami.
Take me with you,
Love borne of duty, but advance noe further,
You are Sir as I sayd to do me service,
To undertake a taske, in which your faith,
Iudgement, discretion, in a word, your all
That's good, must be ingag'd, nor must you studie
In the execution, but what may make
For the ends I aime at.

Adorn.
They admit no rivalls.

Cam.
You answer well, you have heard of Bertoldo's
Captivity? and the kings neglect? the greatnesse
Of his ransome, fiftie thousand crownes, Adorni,
Two parts of my estate.

Ador.
To what tends this?

Cam.
Yet I so love the gentleman (for to you
I will confesse my weaknesses) that I purpose
Now, when he is forsaken by the king,
And his owne hopes to ransome him, and receive him
Into my bosome as my lawfull husband,
Adorni starts and seems troubl'd
Why change you colour

Ador.
'Tis in wonder of
Your vertue, Madam.

Cami.
You must therefore to
Si na for mee, and pay to Gonzaga
This ransome for his liberty, you shall
Have bills of exchange along with you. Let him sweare
A solemne contract to me, for you must be
My principall witnesse, if he should. But why
Do I entertaine these jealousies? you will do this?

Adorn.
Faithfully, Madam. But not live long after

aside
Cam.
One thing I had forgot. Besides his freedome
He may want accomodations, furnish him
According to his birth. And from Camiola
Deliver this kisse, printed on your lips
kisses him
Seal'd on his hand! you shall not see my blushes,
I'll instantly dispatch you.
Exit Camiola.

Adorni.
I am halfe
Hang'd out of the way already, was there ever
Poore lover so imploy'd against himselfe
To make way for his rivall? I must doe it,
Nay more, I will. If loyalty can finde
Recompence beyond hope, or imagination
Let it fall on mee in the other world,
As a reward, for in this I dare not hope it.

Exit