 | The Great Dvke of Florence |  |
Actus quinti
Scæna prima.
Sanazarro above.Sanazar.
Tis prov'd in me, the curse of humane frailty
(Adding to our afflictions) makes us know
What's good, and yet our violent passions force us
To follow what is ill. Reason assur'd me
It was not safe to shave a Lyons skinne,
And that to trifle with a Soveraigne, was
Treading upon the neck of understanding,
Compell'd me to put off my naturall shape
Of loyall duty, to disguise my selfe
In the adulterate, and cobweb masque
Of disobedient trecherie. Where is now
My borrowed Greatnesse? or the promis'd lives
Of following Courtiers ecchoing my will?
In a moment vanish'd? Power that stands not on
Its proper base, which is peculiar onely
To absolute Princes, falls, or rises, with
Their frowne, or favour. The great Duke my Master
(Who almost chang'd me to his other selfe)
No sooner takes his beames of comfort from me,
But I as one unknowne, or unregarded,
Unpittied suffer! who makes intercession
To his mercy for me now? who does remember
The service I have done him? not a man;
And such as spake no language, but my Lord,
The favorite of Tuskanies grand Duke
Looks backwards.
Deride my madnesse. Ha! What noise of horses?
A goodly troope! This back-part of my prison
Allowes me liberty to see and know them.
Contarino! Yes, 'tis he, and Lodovico;
And the Dutchesse Fiorinda; Urbins heire,
A Princesse I have slighted; yet I weare
Her favours. And to teach me what I am,
She whom I scorn'd can onely meditate for me.
This way she makes, yet speake to her I dare not,
And how to make suit to her, is a taske
Of as much difficulty; yes; thou blessed pledge
Takes off the ring, & a pane of glasse.
Of her affection ayde me. This supplies
The want of penne and ink, and this of paper.
It must be so, and I in my Petition
Concise and pithie.
Enter Contarino leading in Fiorinda, Alphonso, Lodovico, Hieronimo, Calaminta.
Fiorinda.
'Tis a goodly pile this.
But better by the owner.
Alphonso.
But most rich
In the great States it covers.
Fiorinda.
The Dukes pleasure
Commands us hither.
Contari.
Which was laid on us
To attend you to it.
Lodovico.
Signior Charomonte,
To see your Excellence his guest, will think
Himselfe most happy.
Fior.
Tye my shooe. What's that?
The pane thrown down.
A pane throwne from the window no winde stirring?
Calam.
And at your feet too falne, there's somthing writ on't,
Con.
Some Courtier belike would have it known
He wore a Diamond.
Calaminta.
Ha; it is directed
To the Princesse Fiorinda.
Fiorinda.
We will reade it.
The inscription.
He whom you pleas'd to favour, is cast downe,
Past hope of rising, by the great Dukes frowne,
If by your gracious meanes, he cannot have
A pardon. And that got, be lives your slave.
The subscription.Past hope of rising, by the great Dukes frowne,
If by your gracious meanes, he cannot have
A pardon. And that got, be lives your slave.
Of men the most distressed, Sanazarro.
Of me the most belov'd, and I will save thee,
Or perish with thee. Sure thy fault must be
Of some prodigious shape, if that my prayers
And humble intercession to the Duke
Ent. Coz. & Carolo.
Of me the most belov'd, and I will save thee,
Or perish with thee. Sure thy fault must be
Of some prodigious shape, if that my prayers
And humble intercession to the Duke
Prevaile not with him. Here he comes, delay
Shall not make lesse my benefit.
Shall not make lesse my benefit.
Cozimo.
What we purpose
Shall know no change, and therefore move me not,
We were made as properties, and what we shall
Determine of 'em, cannot be call'd rigour,
But noble justice. When they prov'd disloyall,
They were cruell to themselves. The Prince that pardons
The first affront offer'd to majestie,
Subjects should tremble at, contemptible.
Ingratitude is a monster, Carolo,
To be strangl'd in the birth, not to be cherish'd.
Madame, you are happily met with.
Fiorinda.
Sir, I am
An humble Suitor to you; and the rather
Am confident of a grant, in that your Grace
When I made choyce to be at your devotion,
Vow'd to denie me nothing.
Cozimo.
To this minute
We have confirm'd it, what's your boone?
Fiorinda.
It is Sir,
That you in being gracious to your servant,
The ne're sufficiently prais'd Sanazarro,
(That now under your heavy displeasure suffers)
Would be good unto your selfe. His services
So many, and so great (your storme of fury
Calm'd by your better judgment) must inform you,
Some little slip (for sure it is no more)
From his loyall duty, with your justice cannot
Make foule his faire deservings. Great Sir, therefore
Looke backward on his former worth; and turning
Your eye from his offence (what 'tis I know not)
And I am confident, you will receive him
Once more into your favour.
Cozimo.
You say well,
You are ignorant in the nature of his fault,
Which when you understand (as we'll instruct you)
Your pitty will appeare a charity
(It being conferr'd on an unthankfull man)
To be repented. He's a traytor Madame
To you, to us, to gratitude, and in that
All crimes are comprehended.
Fiorinda.
If his offence
Aym'd at me onely, what so e're it is
'Tis freely pardon'd.
Cozimo.
This compassion in you
The honors we have hourely heap'd upon him,
The titles, the rewards, to the envie of
The old Nobility, as the common people,
We now forbeare to touch at, and will onely
Insist on his grosse wrongs to you. You were pleas'd
Forgetting both your selfe and proper Greatnesse,
To favour him, nay, to court him to embrace
A happinesse, which on his knees with joy
He should have su'd for. Who repin'd not at
The grace you did him? yet in recompence
Of your large bounties, the disloyall wretch
Makes you a stale; and what he might be by you
Scorn'd, and derided, gives himselfe up wholly
To the service of another. If you can
Beare this with patience, we must say you have not
The bitternesse of spleene, or irefull passions
Familiar to women. Pause upon it,
And when you seriously have waigh'd his cariage,
Move us againe, if your reason will allow it,
His trechery knowne: and then if you continue
His advocate for him, we perhaps, because
We would denie you nothing, may awake
Our sleeping mercy. Carolo!
Carolo.
My Lord.
They whisper.
Fiorin.
To endure a rivall, that were equall to me,
Cannot but speake my poverty of spirit,
But an inferiour more; yet true love must not
Know, or degrees, or distances. Lidia may be
As farre above me in her forme, as she
Is in her birth beneath me, and what I
In Sanazarro lik'd, he loves in her.
But if I free him now, the benefit
Being done so timely, and confirming too
My strength & power, my soules best faculties being
Bent wholly to preserve him, must supply me
With all I am defective, and binde him
My creature ever. It must needes be so,
Cozimo.
Does our Nephew
Beare his restraint so constantly, as you
Deliver it to us?
Carolo.
In my judgement Sir
He suffers more for his offence to you,
Then in his feare of what can follow it.
For he is so collected and prepar'd
To welcome that, you shall determine of him,
As if his doubts and feares were equall to him.
And sure he's not acquainted with much guilt,
That more laments the telling one untruth
Under your pardon still (for 'twas a fault Sir)
Then others that pretend to conscience, doe
Their crying secret sinnes.
Cozimo.
No more, this Glosse
Defends not the corruption of the text,
Carolo and the others whisper.
Urge it no more.
Fiorinda.
I once more must make bold Sir
To trench upon your patience. I have
Consider'd my wrongs duly. Yet that cannot
Divert my intercession for a man
Your Grace like me, once favour'd. I am still
A suppliant to you, that you would vouchsafe
The hearing his defence, and that I may
With your allowance see, and comfort him.
Then having heard all that he can alleadge
In his excuse, for being false to you,
Censure him as you please.
Cozimo.
You will o're-come,
There's no contending with you. Pray you enjoy
What you desire. And tell him, he shall have
A speedy tryall. In which we'll forbeare
To sit a Judge, because our purpose is
To rise up his accuser.
Fiorinda.
All encrease
Of happines wait on Cozimo.
Exeunt Fiorin. Calaminta.
Alphonso.
VVas it no more?
My Honor's pawn'd for it.
Contarino.
I'll second you.
Lodovi.
Since it is for the service and the safety
Of the hopefull Prince, fall what can fall, I'll runne
The desperate hazard.
Hieroni.
He's no friend to vertue
That does decline it.
They all kneele.
Cozimo.
Ha; what sue you for?
Shall we be ever troubl'd? doe not tempt
That anger may consume you.
Corolo.
Let it Sir,
The losse is lesse, though Innocents, we perish,
Then that your sisters sonne should fall unheard
Under your fury. Shall we feare to entreate
That grace for him, that are your faithfull servants,
VVhich you vouchsafe the Count, like us a subject?
Cozimo.
Did not we vowe, till sicknesse had forsooke
Thy daughter Lidia, and she appear'd
In her perfect health and beauty to pleade for him.
VVe were deafe to all perswasion?
Carolo.
And that hope Sir
Hath wrought a miracle. She is recover'd,
And if you please to warrant her, will bring
The penitent Prince before you.
Cozimo.
To enjoy
Such happines, what would we not dispense with?
Al. Ludo. Hie.
We all kneele for the Prince.
Contarino.
Nor can it stand
With your mercy, that are gracious to Strangers,
To be cruell to your owne.
Cozimo.
But art thou certaine
I shall behold her at the best?
Carolo.
If ever
She was hansome, as it fits not me to say so,
She is now much better'd.
Cozimo.
Rise, thou art but dead
If this prove otherwise. Lidia appeare,
And feast an appetite almost pin'd to death
Thy excellencies; thou as beauties Queene
Shalt censure the detractors. Let my Nephew
Be led in triumph under her command,
We'll have it so; and Sanazarro tremble
To think whom he hath slander'd; we'll retire
Our selves a little, and prepare to meete
A blessing, which imagination tells us
We are not worthy of; and then come forth
But with such reverence, as if I were
(My selfe the Priest, the sacrifice my heart)
To offer at the Altar of that goodnesse
That must or kill or save me.
Exit Cozimo.
Carolo.
Are not these
Strange gambols in the Duke?
Alphonso.
Great Princes have
Like meaner men their weaknesse.
Lodovico.
And may use it
Without controule or check.
Contarino.
'Tis fit they should,
Their priviledge were lesse else, then their Subjects.
Hier.
Let them have their humors, there's no crossing 'em.
Scæna ultima.
Fiorinda, Sanazarro, Calaminta.Sanazar.
And can it be your bounties should fall down
In showers on my ingratitude? or the wrongs
Your Greatnesse should revenge, teach you to pittie?
What retribution can I make? what service
Pay to your goodnesse, that in some proportion
May to the world expresse, I would be thankfull?
Since my engagements are so great, that all
My best endevours to appeare your creature
Can but proclaime my wants, and what I owe
To your magnificence.
Fiorinda.
All debts are discharg'd
I shall impose some termes of satisfaction
For that which you professe your selfe oblig'd for,
They shall be gentle ones, and such as will not
I hope afflict you.
Sanazar.
Make me understand
Great Princesse, what they are, and my obedience
Shall with all cheerefull willingnesse subscribe
To what you shall command.
Fiorinda.
I will binde you to
Make good your promise. First, I then enjoyne you
To love a Lady, that a Noble way
Truly affects you, and that you would take
To your protection and care the Dukedome
Of Urbin, which no more is mine, but yours.
And that when you have full possession of
My person, as my fortunes, you would use me
Not as a Princesse, but instruct me in
The duties of an humble wife, for such
(The priviledge of my birth no more remembred)
I will be to you. This consented to
All injuries forgotten, on your lips
I thus signe your quietus.
Sanazar.
I am wretched
In having but one life to be imploy'd
As you please to dispose it. And believe it,
If it be not already forfeited
To the furie of my Prince, as 'tis your gift,
With all the faculties of my soule, I'll study
In what I may to serve you.
Fiorinda.
I am happy
Enter Giovanni and Lidia.
In this assurance. What
Sweet Lady's this?
Sanazar.
'Tis Lidia Madame, she.—
Fiorinda.
I understand you:
Nay, blush not, by my life she is a rare one!
And if I were your Judge I would not blame you,
To like and love her. But Sir you are mine now,
That I dare not be jealous.
Sanazarro.
All thoughts of her
Are in your goodnesse buried.
Lidia.
Pray you Sir
Be comforted, your innocence should not know
What 'tis to feare, and if that you but looke on
The guards that you have in your selfe, you cannot.
The Duke's your Uncle Sir, and though a little
Incens'd against you, when he sees your sorrow
He must be reconcil'd. What rugged Tartar,
Or Canniball, though bath'd in humane gore,
But looking on your sweetnesse, would forget
His cruell nature, and let fall his weapon,
Though then aym'd at your throat?
Giovanni.
O Lidia,
Of Mayds the honor, and your sexes glory.
It is not feare to die, but to loose you
That brings this Feaver on me. I will now
Discover to you, that which till this minute
I durst not trust the ayre with. Ere you knew
What power the magique of your beauty had,
I was inchanted by it, lik'd, and lov'd it,
My fondnesse still encreasing with my yeares:
And flatter'd by false hopes, I did attend
Some blessed oportunity to move
The Duke with his consent to make you mine.
But now, such is my starre-cross'd destinie,
When he beholds you as you are, he cannot
Denie himselfe the happinesse to enjoy you.
And I as well in reason may entreat him
To give away his Crowne, as to part from
A jewell of more value, such you are:
Yet howsoever, when you are his Dutchesse,
And I am turn'd into forgotten dust,
Pray you love my memory. I should say more
But I am cut off.
Ent. Coz. Carol. Con. & others.
Sanazar.
The Duke? that countenance once,
But now 'tis folded up in clouds of fury,
'Tis terrible to looke on.
The Duke admiring Lidia.
Lidia.
Sir.
Cozimo.
A while
Silence your musicall tongue, and let me feast
My eyes with the most ravishing object that
They ever gaz'd on. There's no miniature
In her faire face, but is a copious theme
Which would (discours'd at large of) make a volume.
What cleare arch'd browes? what sparkling eyes? the Lillies
Contending with the Roses in her cheekes,
Who shall most set them off? what ruby lips?
Or unto what can I compare her neck,
But to a rock of christall? every limb
Proportion'd to loves wish, and in their neatnesse
Add lustre to the riches of her habit,
Not borrow from it.
Lidia.
You are pleas'd to shew Sir
The fluencie of your language, in advancing
A Subject much unworthy.
Cozimo.
How unworthy?
By all the vowes which Lovers offer at
The Cyprian Goddesse Altars, eloquence
It selfe presuming, as you are, to speake you,
Would be struck dumb. And what have you deserv'd then?
(VVretches you kneele too late) that have endevour'd
To spout the poyson of your black detraction
On this immaculate whitenesse? was it malice
To her perfections? or—
Fiorinda.
Your Highnesse promis'd
A gracious hearing to the Count.
Lidia.
And Prince too;
Doe not make voyde so just a grant.
Cozimo.
We will not,
Ladies in the chaires of State
Yet since their accusation must be urg'd,
And strongly, ere their weak defence have hearing,
We seat you here as Judges to determine
Whose Deputies you are, be neither sway'd,
Or with particular spleene, or foolish pittie,
For neither can become you.
Carolo.
There's some hope yet
Since they have such gentle Iudges.
Cozimo.
Rise, and stand forth then,
And heare with horror to your guilty soules
What we will prove against you. Could this Princesse
(Thou enemie to thy selfe) stoope her high flight
Of towring greatnesse to invite thy lownesse
To looke up to it, and with nimble wings
Of gratitude, couldst thou forbeare to meet it?
Were her favours boundlesse in a noble way,
And warranted by our allowance, yet
In thy acceptation there appear'd no signe
Of a modest thankfulnesse?
Fiorinda.
Pray you forbeare
To presse that farther, 'tis a fault we have
Already heard, and pardon'd.
Cozimo.
We will then passe over it, & briefly touch at that
Which does concern our selfe. In which both being
Equall offenders, what we shall speake, points
Indifferently at either. How we rais'd thee
(Forgetfull Sanazarro of our Grace)
To a full possession of power, and honors,
It being too well knowne, we'll not remember.
And what thou wert (rash youth) in expectation
(And from which headlong thou hast throwne thy selfe)
Not Florence, but all Tuskany can witnesse
With admiration. To assure thy hopes,
We did keepe constant to a widdowed bed,
And did deny our selfe those lawfull pleasures,
Our absolute power and height of blood allow'd us.
Made both, the keyes that open'd our hearts secrets,
And what you spake believ'd as Oracles.
But you in recompence of this to him
That gave you all, to whom you ow'd your being
This jewell from our knowledge, which our selfe
Could onely lay just clayme too.
Giovanni.
'Tis most true Sir.
Sinazar.
We both confesse a guilty cause.
Cozimo.
Looke on her,
Is this a beauty fit to be imbrac'd
By any Subjects armes? Can any tyre
Become that forhead, but a Diadem?
Or should we grant your being false to us
Could be excus'd, your trechery to her
In seeking to deprive her of that greatnesse
(Her matchless forme consider'd) she was born too,
Must ne're finde pardon? we have spoken Ladies
Like a rough Orator, that brings more truth
Then rhetorique to make good his accusation,
And now expect your sentence.
The Ladies descend from the State.
Lidia.
In your birth Sir
You were mark'd out the Iudge of life, and death,
And we that are your Subjects to attend
With trembling feare your doome.
Fiorinda.
VVe doe resigne
This Chaire as onely proper to your selfe.
Giovan.
And since in justice we are lost, we flie
Unto your saving mercie.
All kneeling.
Sanazarro.
VVhich sets off
A Prince much more then rigour.
Carolo.
And becomes him
When 'tis express'd to such as fell by weaknesse
(That being a twin-borne brother to affection)
Better then wreathes of conquest.
Hie., Lod., Con., Alph.
VVe all speake
Their language mighty Sir.
Cozimo.
You know our temper,
And therefore with more boldnesse venter on it.
And would not our consent to your demands
Deprive us of a happinesse hereafter
Might hearken neerer to you, and could wish
With some qualification or excuse
You might make lesse the mountaines of your crimes,
And so invite our clemencie to feast with you.
But you that knew with what impatiencie
Of griefe we parted from the faire Clarinda
Our Dutchesse, (let her memory still be sacred)
And with what imprecations on our selfe
We vow'd, not hoping e're to see her equall,
Ne're to make triall of a second choyce,
If Nature fram'd not one that did excell her,
(As this Mayds beauty prompts us that she does)
And yet with oathes then mix'd with teares, upon
Her monument we swore our eye should never
Againe be tempted, 'tis true, and those vowes
Are registred above, something here tells me.
Carolo thou heardst us sweare.
Carolo.
And sweare so deeply,
That if all vvomens beauties were in this
(As she's not to be nam'd with the dead Dutchess.)
Nay, all their vertues bound up in one story
(Of which mine is scarce an Epitome)
If you should take her as a vvife, the waight
Of your perjuries would sink you. If I durst
I had told you this before.
Cozimo.
'Tis strong truth Carolo,
And yet what was necessity in us
Cannot free them from treason.
Carolo.
There's your error.
The Prince in care to have you keepe your vowes
Made unto heaven, vouchsaf'd to love my daughter.
Lidia.
He told me so indeed Sir.
Fiorinda.
And the Count
Averr'd as much to me.
Cozimo.
You all conspire
To force our mercy from us.
VVhich giv'n up
To after-times, preserves you unforsworne,
An Honor, which will live upon your Tombe
When your Greatnesse is forgotten.
Cozimo.
Though we know
All this is practise, and that both are false,
Such reverence we will pay to dead Clarinda,
And to our serious oathes, that we are pleas'd
VVith our owne hand to blinde our eyes, and not
Know what we understand. Here Giovanni
VVe pardon thee, and take from us in this,
More then our Dukedome, love her. As I part
VVith her, all thoughts of vvomen flie fast from vs.
Sanazarro, we forgive you. In your service
To this Princesse merit it. Yet let not others
That are in trust and grace, as you have beene,
By the example of our lenity,
Presume upon their Soveraignes clemencie.
A showt.
All.
Long live great Cozimo.
Enter Caland. Petro.
Caland.
Sure the Duke is
In the giving vaine they are so lowd. Come on Spouse,
We have heard all, and we will have our boone too.
Cozimo.
What is't?
Caland.
That your Grace, in remembrance of
My share in a dance, and that I play'd your part
When you should have drunk hard, would get this Signiors grant
To give this Damsell to me in the Church,
For we are contracted; in it you shall doe
Your Dukedome pleasure.
Cozimo.
How?
Calandr.
Why the whole race
Of such as can act naturally fooles parts,
Are quite worne out, and they that doe survive,
Doe onely zanie us; and we will bring you,
If we die not without issue, of both sexes
Such chopping mirth-makers, as shall preserve
Perpetuall cause of sport, both to your Grace,
Shall ne're approach you.
Cozimo.
We are pleas'd in it,
And will pay her portion. May the passage prove
Of what's presented, worthy of your love,
And favour, as was aym'd, and we have all
That can in compasse of our vvishes fall.
The end.
| The Great Dvke of Florence | |