University of Virginia Library

SCEN. VI.

Ferrando. Ursini. (Valenzo, Piero, with guard about them.)
Fer:
—Let mee eternally perish to honour,
If their heads answer not for this foule insolence.

Urs:
Though't be a sin of that portentous bulke,
That 'tstartles all the gods, and justice selfe
Wakes from a long dead lethargie to meete it:
Yet Kings are great as they, and spight of fate
Or rigorous lawes, may triumph in their mercy.

Fer:
Away with 'em to execution;
Him, and his fellow murderer, away:
—Pardon a Traytour?

Urs.
Though you might urge, 'twere treason of that height,
That none but they could thinke of, much lesse act:
That murder cries for murder, blood for blood:
That he whose innocence they sacrific'd
To their mad fury, was your loyall subject;
This on your marriage day—to affront Hymen.
And when your nuptiall torch burnt brightest, dead it
With bloud, into a sickly glimmmering taper:
That they should dare assault me!—i'th' Court—
One whom your goodnesse has bin pleas'd to looke
Into a life, and honours, plac't i'th' state,
Only to interpose my selfe betweene,
And meet all dangers that are shot at you.

Fer.
'T was a murder
Intended on our person, but that Heaven—

Urs.
Was just in the prevention; True it might be so,
And were it, yet upon submission
Such faults have beene remitted.

Fer.
Away with 'em, I'le heare no more.

Val.
Downe holy anger!—
(aside)
One word, and I'me gone—you are my Soveraigne,
And there's divinitie worne in that title,
Which I adore, and thinke my selfe as happy
In this so early doome, since you are pleas'd with't,
As heaven had spoke it; though not till old age,
When nature claim'd it as a due! Yet Sir
Be gentle to my memory; and if
At any time my crimes appeare before you,
Fresh in your thought, to staine my Heraldrie,
The happy mention of my vertuous acts,
From some that love my dust, shall rise to pleade
My innocence—; and may you never live
To curse th'untimely hand; or houre that rob'd you
Of so much loyaltie!—for you Ursini—
If ere your name shall fall in mention, when
I come i'th other world, expect me not
Your friend; I feare me, I shall tell sad tales
In th'eares of heaven;—Farewell—

Exeunt Val. Pier. with a guard.
Fer.
Impudent Traytour!

Urs.
Yet still I dare be good; and spight of all
His hate, or malice to me, thus stand up
To begge his life.

Fer.
Not after so much injury?

Urs.
Yes, if Valenzo dare be sinfull still
In wrongs, it shall be call'd my piety
To suffer.

Fer.
Th'art all goodnesse;—for thy sake
Wee'le mixe some mercy with our doome,
He that submits first to thee, has his pardon,
See justice done on th'other; this sentence
Shall stand irrevocable;—
Exit. Fer.

Urs.
This sentence stand irrevocable?
Plague to your easie nature!—
Ha! this 'tis to over-act; how have I almost fool'd my self, out
Of my owne plots; (He that doth first submit?)
I were in a fine case now, if Piero
Should not accept a life on this condition.
I'le send to him—Cassio! Grutti! who waites there?—
(Exit Ursin.