 | The Great Dvke of Florence |  |
Scæna secunda.
Alphonso, Hippolito, Hieronimo, with a Petition.Alphonso.
His Highnesse cannot take it ill.
Hippolito.
However,
We with our duties shall expresse our care
Hieronimo.
And our loves
Enter Cozimo the Duke.
To his person. Here he comes. Present it boldly.
Cozimo.
What needs this form? we are not grown so proud
As to disdaine familiar conference
With such as are to counsaile, and direct us.
This kinde of adoration shew'd not well
In the old Roman Emperors, who forgetting
That they were flesh & blood, would be styl'd gods,
In us to suffer it were worse. Pray you rise.
Still the old suit, with too much curiousnesse
Reades.
You have too often search'd this wound, which yeelds
Security and rest, not trouble to me.
For here you grieve, that my firme resolution
Continues me a Widdower; and that
My want of issue to succeede me in
My government, when I am dead, may breed
Distraction in the State, and make the name
And family of the Medices, now admir'd,
Contemptible.
Hippolito.
And with strong reasons Sir.
Alphonso.
For were you old and past hope to beget
The modell of your selfe; we should be silent.
Hieronimo.
But being in your height and pride of yeeres
As you are now great Sir, and having too
In your possession the daughter of
The deceas'd Duke of Vrbin, and his heire,
Whose Guardian you are made, were you but pleas'd
To think her worthy of you, besides children
The Dukedome she brings with her for a dower,
Will yeeld a large encrease of strength and power
To those faire territories, which already
Acknowledge you their absolute Lord.
Cozimo.
You presse us
VVith solid arguments we grant, and though
VVe stand not bound to yeeld account to any
VVhy we doe this or that (the full consent
Of our Subjects being included in our Will)
The motives that divert us. You well know
That three yeeres since to our much griefe, we lost
Our Dutches, such a Dutches, that the world
In her whole course of life, yeelds not a Lady
That can with imitation deserve
To be her second: in her grave we buried
All thoughts of woman: let this satisfie
For any second marriage. Now whereas
You name the heire of Vrbin, as a Princesse
Of great revenues, 'tis confess'd she is so;
But for some causes private to our selfe,
We have dispos'd her otherwise. Yet despaire not,
For you ere long with joy shall understand,
That in our Princely care we have provided
One worthy to succeed us.
Enter Lodovico Sanazarro.
Hippolito.
We submit,
And hold the counsailes of great Cozimo
Oraculous.
Cozimo.
My Sanazaro. Nay,
Forbeare all ceremony. You looke sprightly friend,
And promise in your cleare aspect some novell
That may delight us.
Sanazarro.
O Sir, I would not be
The Harbinger of ought that might distast you.
And therefore know (for 'twere a sinne to torture
Your Highnesse expectation) your Vice-Admirall
By my directions hath surpriz'd the Gallies
Appointed to transport the Asian tribute
Of the great Turke, a richer Prize was never
Brought into Florence.
Cozimo.
Still my Nightingale,
That with sweet accents doest assure me, that
My Spring of happinesse comes fast upon me.
Embrace me boldly. I pronounce that wretch
An enemy to brave and thriving action,
That dares beleeve, but in a thought, we are
Too prodigall in our favours to this man,
Our Dukedome, still continue us his debtor.
Hippolito.
'Tis farre from me.
Alphonso.
We all applaud it.
Cozimo.
Nay, blush not Sanazarro, we are proud
Of what we build up in thee, nor can our
Election be disparag'd; since we have not
Receiv'd into our bosome and our grace
A glorious lazie Droane, growne fat with feeding
On others toyle, but an industrious Bee
That crops the sweet flowers of our enemies,
And every happy evening returnes
Loaden with wax and hony to our Hive.
Sanazarro.
My best endevours never can discharge
The service I should pay.
Enter Giovanni and Contarino.
Cozimo.
Thou art too modest,
But we will study how to give, and when,
Before it be demanded. Giovanni!
My Nephew; let me eye thee better Boy.
In thee me thinks my Sister lives againe:
For her love I will be a Father to thee,
For thou art my adopted Sonne.
Giovanni.
Your Servant
And humblest Subject.
Cozimo.
Thy hard travaile Nephew
Requires soft rest, and therefore we forbeare
For the present an account, how thou hast spent
Thy absent houres. See Signiors, see, our care
Without a second bed provides you of
A hopefull Prince. Carrie him to his Lodgings,
And for his farther honour Sanazarro
With the rest doe you attend him.
Giovanni.
All true pleasures
Circle your Highnesse.
Sanazarro.
As the rising Sunne
VVe doe receive you.
Giovan.
May this never set,
Exeunt Giovanni, Sanazarro, Hieronimo, Alphonso, Lodovico.
But shine upon you ever.
Contarino!
Contarino.
My gracious Lord.
Cozimo.
What entertainment found you
From Carolo de Charamonte?
Contarino.
Free
And bountifull. He's ever like himselfe
Noble and hospitable.
Cozimo.
But did my Nephew
Depart thence willingly?
Contarino.
He obey'd your summons
As did become him. Yet it was apparent
But that he durst not crosse your will, he would
Have sojourn'd longer there, he ever finding
Variety of sweetest entertainment;
But there was something else, nor can I blame
His youth, though with some trouble he took leave
Of such a sweet companion.
Cozimo.
Who was it?
Contarino.
The daughter sir of Signior Carolo,
Faire Lidia, a virgin at all parts,
But in her birth and fortunes, equall to him.
The rarest beauties Italy can make boast of,
Are but meere shadowes to her, she the substance
Of all perfection. And what encreases
The wonder Sir, Her bodies matchlesse forme
Is better'd by the purenesse of her soule.
Such sweet discourse, such ravishing behaviour;
Such charming language, such inchanting manners,
With a simplicity that shames all Courtship,
Flow hourely from her, that I doe beleeve
Had Circe, or Calipso her sweet graces,
Wandring Vlisses never had remembred
Penelope, or Ithaca.
Cozimo.
Be not rap'd so.
Contarino.
Your Excellence would be so had you seen her
Cozimo.
Take up. Take up. But did your observation
Note any passage of affection
Betweene her and my Nephew?
How it should
Be otherwise betweene 'em, is beyond
My best imagination. Cupids arrowes
Were uselesse there, for of necessity
Their yeeres and dispositions doe accord so
They must wound one another.
Cozimo.
Umh! Thou art
My Secretary Contarino, and more skill'd
In politique designes of State, then in
Thy judgement of a beauty; give me leave
In this to doubt it. Here. Goe to my Cabinet,
You shal find there Letters newly receiv'd touching the state of Vrbin.
Pray you with care peruse them, leave the search
Of this to us.
Contarino.
I doe obey in all things.
Exit Contarino.
Cozimo.
Lydia! A Diamond so long conceal'd,
And never worne in Court! of such sweet feature?
And he on whom I fixe my Dukedomes hopes,
Made Captive to it! Vmh! 'tis somewhat strange,
Our eyes are every where, and we will make
A strict enquiry. Sanazarro!
Enter Sanazarro.
Sanazarro.
Sir!
Cozimo.
Is my Nephew at his rest?
Sanazarro.
I saw him in bed Sir.
Cozimo.
'Tis well, and does the Princes Fiorinda
(Nay, doe not blush, she is rich Vrbins heire)
Continue constant in her favours to you?
Sanazarro.
Dread sir, she may dispense thē as she pleases,
But I looke up to her as on a Princesse
I dare not be ambitious of, and hope
Her prodigall graces shall not render me
Offended to your Highnesse.
Cozimo.
Not a scruple.
He whom I favour as I doe my friend,
May take all lawfull graces that become him.
But touching this hereafter; I have now
(And though perhaps it may appear on trifle)
Serious imployment for thee.
I stand ready
For any act you please.
Cozimo.
I know it friend,
Have you ne're heard of Lidia the daughter
Of Carolo Charamonte?
Sanazar.
Him I know sir
For a noble Gentleman, and my worthy friend,
But never heard of her.
Cozimo.
She is deliver'd
And feelingly to us by Contarino
For a master-peece in nature, I would have you
Ride suddenly thither to behold this wonder:
But not as sent by us, that's our first caution:
The second is, and carefully observe it,
That though you are a Batchelor, & endow'd with
All those perfections that may take a virgin,
On forfeit of our favour doe not tempt her.
It may be her faire graces doe concerne us.
Pretend what businesse you think fit, to gaine
Accesse into her Fathers house, and there
Make full discovery of her, and returne me
A true relation, I have some ends in it
With which we will acquaint you.
Sanazar.
This is Sir
An easie taske.
Cozimo.
Yet one that must exact
Your secrecie, and diligence. Let not
Your stay be long.
Sanazar.
It shall not sir.
Cozimo.
Farewell,
And be, as you would keepe our favour, carefull.
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