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The second Act.
Enter King, Prince, Alberto, Fabio.King.
Whats to be done?
Pr.
Done, y'are undone all,
Betraid the Crowne you weare, I see it tremble
Vpon your head, give such a licence to
A Rebell, trust him abroad to gather
Strength to the Kingdomes ruine.
King.
What can such
A naked man attempt to make us feare?
Pr.
He carries with him a whole army sir
The peoples love, who want no giddinesse
Had they but opportunity, and such
A master Rebell as Vittori, to
Make spoyle of all, who counceld him to this.
Al.
Not I and please your grace, I wish it heartily
Pr.
You wish it sir, are wishes now
The remedy for such a mischiefe, you
When the state bleeds, will wish it well agen;
Y'are fine court Surgeons, had you staide his Father
It might have check'd his treason, or Cassandra.
Al.
That's his torment.
Pr.
We had beene secure,
Exasperated now with his affront,
As never traitor wanted impudence
To blanch ore his rebellion, he may inflame
The Neighbour Princes, to conspire some warre
For his revenge.
Fa.
his grace sayes right, there may
Be a consequence of much danger, and Vittori
Has fame abroad.
Ki.
I did it for the best,
By his absence thinking to remoue his anger,
I could have beene content, to have honoured him,
For to say truth, his services did challenge
More friendly paiment.
Fa.
To say truth, he was
A noble valiant gentleman, and deseru'd
Pr.
What deseru'd he?
Fa.
A halter, and shall please
Your Highnesse, I did wonder at your patience
He was not put to death.
Pr.
I must acknowledge,
Vittori has deseru'd for many services,
The love and honour of his country, fought
Their battels, and brought conquest home, made tame
The Seas that threatned us, secur'd the Land,
And Rome allowd some Consuls for lesse Victories,
Triumphs, and Statues.
Fa.
Most excellent Prince
How just he is.
Pr.
But when opinion
Of their owne merit swels em into pride,
Should count an act of their obedience,
They forfeit the reward of thankes and honour,
And betray poore and most vaine-glorious soules,
Scipio, and Antony, and other Romanes,
Deseru'd well of the Senate, and were honoured,
But when they ran to faction, and pursued
Ambitious endes to undo their Countries peace,
They were no longer Patriots, but declared
Romes poyson, and like gangrenes on the state
To bee cut off, lest they corrupt the body.
Fa.
Was ever Prince so wise!
Ki.
But sonne, sonne, how
Can these staines reach Vittori? he hath given
No argument to suspect his fall from Loyalty.
Pr.
I do not sir accuse him, nor did I
More then became the spirit of a Prince,
Show I was sensible of his Fathers impudence,
If you remember, when I urg'd what trespasse
His Father had committed, he urg'd aloude,
Was this all his reward, as if his service
Were obligation to make us suffer,
And justifie their affronts, but I waste breath
Since you are so well pleas'd, my duty sir
Shall speake me still your Sonne, but let me take
Boldnesse to prophesie their insolence
Strucke at my person first, but you will find
Their pride reach higher, I am but a branch
Superfluous, and may be prund away,
You have you say no argument to suspect
His fall from Loyalty, if whats done to me
Be dead within you, yet remember now
You have disingag'd by exile his relation
And tie of subject, he owes now no faith to you,
What that, and his disgrace and opportunity
Abroad may frame him to, I leave, to imagine.
Ki.
Nay prethee come backe, thou hast awak'd me,
I finde my rashnesse, I did never thinke
Timely prevention, let em be cald backe,
Fly after em, and in our name command.
Pr.
You shanot need.
Ki.
How shanot need?
Pr.
Your pardon,
In hope your wisedome would allow it, after
I have made that my act, Iulio is gone
With strict commission for that purpose.
Ki.
Iulio?
I thanke thy care.
Fa.
Twas most divinely thought on, most maturely,
Now all your jealousies are laid.
Pr.
I shall
Compose my selfe at his returne, to weare
What countenance you will direct.
Ki.
Cassandra
Y'ave sent for too.
Pr.
By any meanes, she is
So precious to Vittori, had she sinn'd
Alone to merit banishment, hee would follow her
Through all the world.
Ki.
Women are strangly attractive,
Fame speaks her vertuous too.
Pr.
Some vertue she has—
Enter Julio, Alphonso, guarded.
Julio has prospered,
Tha'st done good service,
Alphonso though your late affront to us
Be foule in its owne nature, and may encourage
Others by your impunitie, yet we have
With the remembrance of your former actions
Lost your offence, Vittori too shall find
The honour he deserves.
Al.
How's this?
Pr.
Where is he?
He does not scorne our mercy; Iulio,
Where is Cassandra?
Iulio.
Shipt with Vittori, thanke Alphonso fort
Pr.
Whirle-winds pursue em.
Ki.
Where's your sonne Alphonso?
Al.
Embark'd with his faire Mistresse, I observe
My Lord which way your anger moves, in vaine
You vex your soule for them, the Sea's no part
Of your command, the winds are masters there,
Which cannot raise a storme so blacke and ominons,
As their owne countrey.
Pr.
By what meanes escaped they?
Alp.
Take it from me, and after cut my head off,
I charg'd him as his heart wish'd to enjoy
A Fathers blessing, as he lov'd the honour
Of his Cassandra, fearing some new plot
To hire a Barke, and quickly put to Sea,
Whilst I made some stay to dispose affaires,
That might befriend us in another countrey,
He did obey and had my prayers, the winds
Convey'd him swiftly from the shore, and had
Your creature Iulio not made such haste,
I had dispatch'd, and in another vessell
Followed his ship, but heaven determined I
Should be agen your prisoner, use your power
But looke to give account for every haire
Of this old head, now withered in your service.
Pr.
To the Castle with him.
Al.
I, there's the King,
Let me use one word more Royall sir, to you.
Pr.
You'le heare him.
Al.
Feare not Prince, my soule's not falne
So low to beg compassion.
Ki.
Speake Alphonso?
Al.
My duty still preserv'd, I would advise
Your age to quit the trouble of your Kingdome,
And aske the Princes leave to turne a Capuchin,
Why should you stoups with burthen of such a state,
And have a sonne so active, turne Fryer, my Lord,
And make the youngman King.
I must endure.
Ki.
Away with him.
Fab.
Ile see him safe my Lord.
Enter a Messenger.
Pr.
What hasty newes with you.
Mess.
To Armes great sir for your defence, there are
New dangers from the Sea.
Kin.
Another Fleet?
Mes.
And sailing this way, we suspect they are
Sicilians.
Ki.
Vittori gave ablow to their designe.
Pr.
Dee but suspect it vilaine?
Iu.
It may bee
Some scattered ships.
Pr.
Has not Vittori mock'd us,
And plaide the vilaine with your trust.
Ki.
They could not be reinforcd so soone, what number?
Mes.
They cover sir the seas.
Pr.
Gather up forces to
Prevent the landing.
Mes.
Tis impossible?
They touch our shore by this time.
Ki.
Then make safe
The City.
Al.
It may be another Fleet, meant to releeve
The first, and came not forth so soone.
Ki.
Now we want Vittori.
Exit.
Pr.
All the diseases Naples ever gron'd with
Ore take Vittori, but Alphonso shall
Pay deerely for this mischiefe.
Iu.
Be not sir
Dejected, tis more easie to defend
At home, then thrive in forraine warre, these men
Will find as proud resistance.
Pr.
Canst thou thinke
I do looke pale for this! no Iulio,
Although the suddaine newes might move me somewhat
I have a heart above all feare, and can
Know no distraction but Cassandra's absence,
With the imagination.
Iu.
But the state
We are in requires you should be active sir.
Pr.
Ah Iulio, the armies which I feare
Are not abroad, they have made entrenchment here.
Exit.
A shout within, Enter the King of Sicily, Horatio, Trivulsi, Fabrichio.
Hor.
Though Naples do not bid you welcome sir
A shore, the joyes and duties of your subjects
Cannot be silent.
Ki.
We do thanke you all,
The seas were kinde, and the winds kissd our sailes.
All things conspir'd to our revenge.
Tr.
Your Iustice
Our very enemies acknowledge it,
And conscious of their injurie, are afraid
To looke upon us.
Ki.
Marshall of the field
Give present order for entrenchments.
Weele quarter here, you shall make good that part
With your horse troupes, and plant Canons on that hill,
To play upon the towne, Naples shall find
We did not venter all upon one stake,
That petty losse at sea which made them triumph,
And perhaps carelesse of more opposition
Shall dearely be accounted for, beside
Dishonouring our Daughter, and our Court
By such a rude departure.
Hor.
As they had
Scorn'd your alliance.
Ki.
Thy particular
Suffrings Horatio, and wounds are put
Into the scale.
Hor.
They are not worthy sir,
Had his sword reach'd my heart, my death had beene
No sinne compar'd to that affront he threw,
Vpon your selfe and Daughter, I was bound
And I doe love those drops that in a cause
So just made haste to shew their duty to you
Better than those that dwell within my heart.
Ki.
We are confident of thy loyalty.
Tr.
The Princesse.
Enter Rosinda and Flavia.
Ki.
Alas Rosinda thou wert not bred to these
Tumults and noyse of warre, has not the sea
Impair'd thy health, I was too rash to allow
Thy travaile, and expose thy tendernesse
To this rude voyage.
Ro.
It appeares to me
A pleasant change of ayre, I have heard men talke
Of many horrours that attend the seas
Of tempests, and of dangers, I have seene
Nothing to fright me, if the waves put on
No other shape, I could exchange me thinkes
My dwelling on the land.
Ho.
We owe this happinesse
To you faire Princesse, for whose safer passage
The breath of heaven did gently swell our sailes,
The waves were proud to beare so rich a lading,
And danc'd toth' musicke of the windes.
Ro.
You shew
Your complement my Lord, call you this Naples?
Ki.
The kingdome of our enemy which shall
groane for the inhabitants. Are all our forces
Landed?
Tr.
Safe to your wishes, and expect
What they shall be commanded.
King.
We must first
Secure the ground we have, being defenc'd
With workes, we may prevent their sallies, and
Assault to our best advantage, still preserve
Thy courage my Rosinda, tis for thee
We have adventurd hither.
Ros.
And you have
Beene kinde to the petition of your daughter,
At home, I should have withered in your absence,
I shall grow valiant here.
Ki.
My deerest child,
Whose very eyes doe kindle flames of courage
In every souldier, be still safe, and promise
Thy selfe a brave revenge.
Fla.
What will become of us Madam?
Ro.
We must take our fortunes, I am sorry
For thee
Fla.
You have some reason for your selfe, if any danger follow
I know where to place the cause, but I dare suffer with
your grace,
Passerello Madam, and the Page
Ro.
Hee's come in good time to releeve our thoughts.
Paz.
Madam.
Pag.
Come plucke up a good heart.
Paz.
Tis comming out as fast as it can, sweete Didimo hold
my head.
Pag.
Come, tis but a little sea sicknesse.
Paz.
Seasicke quotha—a vengeance of all drunken voyages,
I can doe nothing but—
Ros.
How now Pazzorello?
Paz.
Oh Madam, never did man cast up so much, and had so
little skill in Arithmeticke, nothing grieves me, but I have not
drunke for't. I have a perpetuall motion in my belly, the foure
winds are together by the eares in my small guts, would I
had never knowne the Sea, little did I thinke—oh—
Fla.
Thou art a fresh water souldier.
Paz.
Fresh water? I know not, be judge by the whole ship,
If I was not in a sweete pickle.
Ro.
The worst is past; this is but physicke.
Paz.
If I had thought the sea would have given me so many
vomits, I would have seene it burn'd, ere I would ha ventured
so farre, I ha purg'd both wayes, and the enemie had met
us before we landed, I should have scour'd some on em.
Pa.
How doe you now?
Paz.
The fit is not so violent altogether, a shipboard I runne
agen.
Ro.
There is no way by land.
Pag.
And a little more jogging at sea—
Paz.
The very word Sea, boyles in my stomacke, and will
make my mouth runne over presently—ho it comes, it
comes.
Exit.
Pag.
Madam I have a great desire to attend him,
I have cast a plot to make your, highnesse merry.
Ros.
Youle play the wag with him, wee'le trust you to pursue it
Pa.
I humbly thanke your grace.
Exit.
Ros.
Flavia does not the day looke blacke o'th suddaine,
Fla.
It has not the same complexion, I heare
A noyse too.
Ro.
From the sea it growes loud.
Fla.
Tis well we are a shore, oh me I tremble
To thinke what would be come on's, and we had
Not beene afore this tempest, I thanke providence
I was upon the Sea once in a storme,
But they use to clap the women under hatches,
I never prayd so in my life; the King!
Enter King Horatio, Trivulsi, Fabrichio.
Ki.
I know not what to thinke, no sooner Landed,
But such a storme pursue us, does not this
Affright Rosinda into palenesse? dost
Not feele an ague?
Ro.
I have rather cause
Sir to rejoyce, it overtooke us not
Vpon the sea, the furie of it there
Might have beene fatall.
Hor.
Be not troubled sir,
My soule doth from this omen prophesie
The victorie you wish upon this kingdome,
Nor is it superstition to beleeve,
That heaven doth point us out the scourge to Naples,
By seconding our comming with a tempest;
The waves were proud to entertaine our Navie:
The fish in amorous courtship danc'd about
Was sent to hang upon our linnen wings,
To interrupt our wishes, not a starre
Muffled his brightnesse in a sullen cloud,
Till we arriv'd, and then observe how heaven
Threatens the fall of this proud enemie,
By this prodigious tempest, which but gives
Them warning of a greater.
Ki.
We are confident
Thou hast happily expounded, what lightning
Darts from those angry exhalations.
Ho.
It speakes the flame of our revenge.
Ki.
What thunder?
Ho.
The loudnesse of our canon, let their feares
Apply it, and runne mad with apprehension.
Tri.
Our ships must needes fall foule on one another,
Riding ith haven.
Ho.
Let em cracke their ribs,
We have the more necessity to tug for't.
Ki.
Yet would thou wert at home.
Ros.
Feare not for me sir,
Your absence would present my imagination
With more affliction, I suffer lesse
In knowledge, and shall rise by brave examples,
Valiant above my sex, these horrors fright
Not me.
Ki.
This fire will quicken the whole army.
Souldiours pursued by Vittori, Cassandra halfe dead under his arme.
What mutinie is here?
Vi.
Base vilaines, to take part
With all the malice of the world against me.
Ki.
What are you?
Vi.
I am a Gentleman, and dare
Rather than suffer a rude hand divorce
This burden from my armes, defie you all.
Alas she will be gone, oh my Cassandra
Thy soule shannot forsake thee thus, ile take it
Tr.
Some whom the wracke has cast
Vpon the shore.
Ro.
Pitty the gentlewoman.
Vi.
Come not too neere, the man that first attempts
This Lady, had better rip his mothers wombe.
Ki.
Whence are you?
Vi.
You are strangers I perceive,
Then I presume to tell you, I have more justice,
To tread upon this earth, then you, or any
The proudest, it once gave us birth, and fate
Vngentle fate, hath sent us backe to dye here,
But I will not outlive my deere Cassandra.
Ki.
Doe you delight in wounds, resigne that Lady.
Vi.
Not while my hand can manage this, the blood
You take, will make us walke on even pace
To death, and when my soule can stay no longer,
Ile leave a curse to blast you, but if you
Beare hearts of flesh about you, and will promise
A pitty to this poore departing Spirit
I will not use a sword, but give my life
To be commanded from me at your pleasure,
Your care will come too late.
Ki.
I promise by
The word and honour of a King, she shall
Be carefully attended.
Vi.
Though that name
Breed wonder in me, it secures all thoughts
That may concerne her safety.
Ki.
See Rosinda
With as much diligence to this Ladies health,
As you'd preserve your owne.
Hor.
An excellent creature!
Ki.
My faith is past,
Now if you please you may acquaint us with
Your name and quality,
Vi.
Something on the sudden
Weighes my hart lower, I ha not power to thanke him.
Already you have exprest your selfe this Country man,
Be more particular.
Vi.
My name's Vittori.
Ki., Hor.
The Admirall of Naples?
Vi.
It was a title!
I had too late, and lost it for my service;
I cannot conjure up the dead to witnesse,
There be some living that remember me,
It was my chance to have the best at sea,
Against the bold Sicilian.
Ki.
A chance sayst?
Vi.
Few victories can boast more, all is but
The dye of Warre, which valour must obey,
My lot was to bring peace, and triumph home,
And my reward was banishment, the sea
Held me a sinfull burden to the waves,
Or else the blood I shed to mixe with em,
In anger and revenge conspir'd to throw
Our Barke, with the distressed lading backe
Vpon this flinty bosome of your Country,
You have at full my misery, be just
To that poore Lady, whatsoe're I suffer.
Ki.
Your fame was with us earlier, entertaine him,
They disarme Vittori.
You are welcome man, there's cause we should
Be kinde to you.
Vi.
Will a King staine his honour?
Ki.
Know miserable man, thy destinies
Have made thee his, that will exact severe
Account for many lives, most happy storme,
Thy master too shall finde a punishment
Great as his pride, how fortunate we are?
Vi.
I aske no mercy for my selfe, be kind
To that poore Lady, as y'are a Prince, and I
Will kisse my fate.
Ki.
We violate no promise made to her,
Though torment make thee curse thy selfe, blest heavens?
You shall pay deere for all.
Oh my Cassandra,
When at the expence of all my blood, I have bought
Thy precious life from these hard hearted men,
Shed one teare on me; and I am pay'd agen.
Exeunt.
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