 | The Great Dvke of Florence |  |
Scæna prima.
Fiorinda. Calaminta.Fiorinda.
How does this dressing show?
Calaminta.
'Tis of it selfe
As it does from your Grace, that daines to weare it,
Incomparable.
Fiorinda.
Thou flatter'st me.
Calaminta.
I cannot,
Your Excellence is above it.
Fiorinda.
Were we lesse perfect,
Yet being as we are an absolute Princesse,
We of necessity must be chast, wise, faire,
By our prerogative. Yet all these faile
To move where I would have them. How receiv'd
Count Sanazarro the rich Scarfe I sent him
For his last Visit?
Calaminta.
With much reverence,
I dare not say affection. He express'd
More ceremonie in his humble thanks
Then feeling of the favour; and appear'd
Wilfully ignorant in my opinion
Of what it did invite him to.
Fiorinda.
No matter,
He's blinde with too much light. Have you not heard
Of any private Mistresse he's ingag'd to?
Calaminta.
Not any, and this does amaze me Madame,
That he, a Souldier, one that drinks rich wines,
Feedes high, and promises as much as Venus
Could wish to finde from Mars, should in his manners
Be so averse to women.
Fiorinda.
Troth I know not,
He's man enough, and if he has a haunt,
He preyes farre off like a subtill Fox.
Calaminta.
And that way
I doe suspect him. For I learnt last night
(When the great Duke went to rest) attended by
One private follower, he tooke horse, but whither
He's rid, or to what end I cannot guesse at,
But I will finde it out.
Fiorinda.
Doe faithfull servant.
Enter Calandrino.
We would not be abus'd. Who have we here?
How the foole stares?
Fiorinda.
And lookes as if he were
Conning his neck-verse.
Calandrino.
If I now proove perfect
In my A. B. C. of Courtship, Calandrino
Is made for ever, I am sent; let me see,
On a how doe you, as they call't.
Calaminta.
What would'st thou say?
Calan.
Let me see thy notes. These are her lodgings. Well.
Calaminta.
Art thou an Asse?
Caland.
Peace, thou art a Court wagtaile
Calandrino still looking on his instructions.
To interrupt me.
Fiorinda.
He has giv'n it you.
Calandrino.
And then say to th'illustrious Fi. o. rin. da.
I have it. VVhich is she?
Calaminta.
VVhy this; Fopdoodle.
Calan.
Leave chattering Bulfinch: you would put me out,
But 'twill not doe. Then after you have made
Your three obeysances to her, kneele and kisse
The skirt of Gowne. I am glad it is no worse.
Calaminta.
And why so sir?
Calandrino.
Because I was afraid
That after the Italian garbe I should
Have kiss'd her backward.
Calaminta.
This is sport unlook'd for.
Calandrino.
Are you the Princesse?
Fiorinda.
Yes sir.
Calandrino.
Then stand faire
(For I am cholerick) and doe not nip
A hopefull blosome. Out againe. Three low
Reades.
Obeysances.
Fiorinda.
I am ready.
Calandrino.
I come on then.
Calaminta.
With much formality.
Makes Antique curtesies.
Calandrino.
Umph. One. two. three.
Thus farre I am right. Now for the last. O rare!
Shee is perfum'd all over! Sure great women
Instead of little dogges are priviledg'd
Fiorinda.
Now the ceremony
Is pass'd, what is the substance?
Calandrino.
I'll peruse
My instructions, and then tell you: Her skirt kiss'd,
Informe her Highnesse, that your Lord,
Calaminta.
Who's that?
Calandrino.
Prince Giovanni, who entreates your Grace,
That he with your good favour may have leave
To present his service to you. I think I have nick'd it
For a Courtier of the first forme.
Fiorinda.
To my wonder:
Enter Giovanni and a Gentleman.
Returne unto the Prince: but he prevents
My answer. Calaminta take him off,
And for the neate delivery of his message
Give him ten Duccats, such rare parts as yours
Are to cherish'd.
Calandrino.
We will share. I know
It is the custome of the Court; when ten
Are promis'd, five is faire. Fie, fie, the Princesse
Shall never know it, so you dispatch me quickly,
And bid me not come to morrow.
Calaminta.
Very good sir.
Exeunt Calandrino and Calaminta.
Giovanni.
Pray you friend
Informe the Duke I am putting into act
What he commanded.
Gentleman.
I am proud to be imploy'd sir.
Exit Gentlemaā They salute.
Giovan.
Madam, that without warrant I presume
To trench upon your Privacies, may argue
Rudenesse of manners. But the free accesse
Your Princely courtesie vouchsafes to all
That come to pay their services, gives me hope
To finde a gracious pardon.
Fiorinda.
If you please, not
To make that an offence in your construction,
Which I receive as a large favour from you,
There needes not this Apologie.
Giovanni.
You continue
Faire entertainment.
Fiorinda.
You are Sir the Master,
And in the Country have learnt to out-doe
All that in Court is practis'd. But why should we
Talke at such distance? You are welcome sir.
We have beene more familiar, and since
You wil impose the Province, you should governe,
Of boldnesse on me, give me leave to say
You are too punctuall. Sit sir, and discourse
As we were us'd.
Giovanni.
Your Excellence knowes so well
How to command, that I can never erre
When I obey you.
Fiorinda.
Nay, no more of this.
You shall o'recome; no more I pray you sir.
And what delights, Pray you be liberall
In your relation, hath the Country life
Afforded you?
Giovanni.
All pleasures gracious Madame,
But the happinesse to converse with your sweet vertues.
I had a grave Instructer, and my houres
Design'd to serious Studies yeelded me
Pleasure with profit in the knowledge of
What before I was ignorant in. The Signior
Carolo de Charomonte being skilfull
To guide me through the labyrinth of wilde passions,
That labour'd to imprison my free soule
A slave to vitious Sloath.
Fiorinda.
You speake him well.
Giovanni.
But short of his deserts. Then for the time
Of recreation I was allow'd
(Against the forme follow'd by jealous Parents
In Italy) full liberty to pertake
His daughters sweet society. She's a virgin
Happy in all endowments, which a Poet
Could fancie in his Mistresse: being her selfe
A Schoole of goodnesse, where chast Mayds may learne
By the example of her life and purenesse
To be as she is, excellent. I but give you
A briefe Epitome of her vertues, which
Dilated on at large, and to their merit,
Would make an ample Story.
Fiorinda.
Your whole age
So spent with such a Father, and a Daughter,
Could not be tedious to you.
Giovanni.
True great Princesse:
And now since you have pleas'd to grant the hearing
Of my times expence in the Conntry, give me leave
To entreate the favour, to be made acquainted
What service, or what objects in the Court
Have in your Excellence acceptance, prov'd
Most gracious to you?
Fiorinda.
I'll meete your demand,
And make a plaine discovery. The Dukes care
For my estate and person holds the first
And choycest place. Then the respect the Courtiers
Pay gladly to me, not to be contemn'd.
But that which rais'd in me the most delight
(For I am a friend to valour) was to heare
The noble actions truly reported
Of the brave Count Sanazarro. I professe
When it hath beene, and fervently deliver'd.
How boldly in the horror of a fight
Cover'd with fire and smoake, and as if nature
Had lent him wings, like lightning he hath falne
Upon the Turkish Gallies, I have heard it
With a kinde of pleasure, which hath whisper'd to me
This Worthy must be cherish'd.
Giovanni.
'Twas a bounty
You never can repent.
Fiorinda.
I glory in it.
And when he did returne (but still with conquest)
His Armour off not young Antinous
Appear'd more Courtly; all the Graces that
Like Pages wayting on him, and it does
VVorke strangely on me.
Giovanni.
To divert your thoughts
Though they are fixt upon a noble Subject,
I am a suitor to you.
Fiorinda.
You will aske
I doe presume, what I may grant, and then
It must not be deni'd.
Giovanni.
It is a favour
For which I hope your Excellence will thank me.
Fiorinda.
Nay, without circumstance.
Giovanni.
That you would please
To take occasion to move the Duke,
That you with his allowance may command
This matchlesse virgin Lidia (of whom
I cannot speake too much) to waite upon you.
She's such a one, upon the forfeit of
Your good opinion of me, that will not
Be a blemish to your trayne.
Fiorinda.
'Tis ranke! He loves her;
Aside.
But I will fit him with a suit. I pause not
As if it bred or doubt or scruple in me
To doe what you desire, for I'll effect it,
And make use of a faire and fit occasion.
Yet in returne I aske a boone of you,
And hope to finde you, in your grant to me
As I have beene to you.
Giovanni.
Command me Madame.
Fiorinda.
'Tis neere allyde to yours. That you would be
A Suitor to the Duke, not to expose
(After so many trialls of his faith)
The noble Sanazarro to all dangers,
As if he were a wall to stand the furie
Of a perpetuall batterie: but now
To grant him after his long labours, rest
And liberty to live in Court, his Armes
And his victorious sword and shield hung up
Giovan.
Umph. I'll embrace faire Princes
Enter Cozimo.
The soonest oportunity. The Duke!
Cozimo.
Nay, blush not; we smile on your privacie,
And come not to disturbe you. You are equalls,
And without prejudice to eithers Honors.
May make a mutuall change of love and Courtship,
Till you are made one, and with holy rites,
And we give suffrage to it.
Giovanni.
You are gracious.
Cozimo.
To our selfe in this. But now break off. Too much
Taken at once of the most curious viands
Dulls the sharp edge of appetite. We are now
For other sports, in which our pleasure is
That you shall keepe us company.
Fiorinda.
We attend you.
Exeunt.
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