University of Virginia Library

I. i

A florish.
[OMITTED]j enter Duke of florence solus
what yst to bee borne great? what to Comaund
kingdomes abroad? and haue a bosome full
of mutenous thoughts at home; this Ielesyes adeuill
and that mans brest hee keeps his Court in hell
the proofe liues here my dutches ys a woman
so full of seeming virtues I am sorry
to heare so much as an yll whisper of her.
but when I meet her in her priuate wayes
I find her Cariadg nay her very being
most strangely Changd, not only to light smiles
and wanton lookes but bold and open Courtings
so full & frequent as the generall eye takes veiw on't

fid:
my gratious lord.

Enter fidelio.
duke
the newes? are they surprisd & taken in the act

fid
what act my lord I vnderstand yee not.

duke
thart happy in thy ignorance liue in't still
what ys the newes thou wert about to tell mee

fid
yor generall aspero wt h the venetian princes
yor noble prisoners heald of theire dangerous wounds
intreat a gratious interview about theire ransomes & enlardgments

duke
They may haue that wt hout our leaue, picentio & the dutches

fide
are ernest suppliants to yor grace about yt

duke
picentio & the dutches let 'em hate
for ha'te they will in spight elce, ithe meane while
go fortifie our Castle angelo

fid
yor Castle

duke
nay good signior ignoramus
lay by yor queries and about yt straight

fid
I go my lord & shall wt h speed efect yt.
exit fid

duke
weele not bee long behinde thee, admitt the princes
A florish
enter Aspero. Hortensio. Borgias Victoria. Elinor Isabell: Picentio. Lesbia. Con̄t Gismond, Bentivolee.
now lords of venice and the princly nephewes
of that most royall duke,: who wt hout Iust Cause
proclaimd him selfe our foe, a second welcome
to our glad Court where for yor speedier freedomes
yor selues and freedomes, poynt what summes yow please
wee leaue to our bold generall, by whose valor
yow liue our prisoneres

Asp:
they are allredy greed on.

Horte:
& wt hall expedition shalbee sent for.

duke
then Couradg princes: now now longer prisoners
but royall freinds: wc h to Confirme, this day
wee hold an annuall festiuall to I know not
what amorous diety, not much vnlike
that same mock-reuell of Sn t t Valentine
sister & dutches haue yee prepard the lotts

vict
acording to the Custome of [the] our Country
harmles & homly please these lords acept them
wee haue sett our names vnto some triuiall Iewells

Hort
pritty new way to mirth
and amorous Courtship, wee by this meanes may purchase
not only mistresses but wiues

Vict
yow may

Hort
and tis my hope wee shall Come who drawes first

Vict
The duke,

Borg
and reason: whats yor deuise my lord.

duke
let mee see: a pellican feeding his yong wt h his
bloud: the morrall Come emblazon oracle

Gent
by the pellican ys vnderstood a prince
by his yong the Comon wealth, by his bloud they
are fed wt h his prouident Care ouer their safty

duke
so tis decreed then shee will haue my bloud.
her yong one (lust) Cannot be fed wt hout yt: my mr s

Gent
Lesbia

duke
what a Chambermaid.

Les
I am prowd of such a seruant

duke
and I of such a mr s; for I prefer
an honest Creture that Cryes kitchen stuffe
before a strumpett empresse: now the next
oh prince hortensio

Hort
my deuise: a wounded lion in a toyle Ile bee myne owne
expositor the lion Caracters my state, the toyle or nett
my imprisonment; pritty & not improper, but my mr s

Gent
The princes Elinor.

Elinor
wee haue a noble seruant.

Hort
base seruant & slaue to yor bewty madam, only yor
loue has powre to manumise mee.

Eli
not to fast: wee haue an elder seruant looks to bee
made pertaker wt h yow: my mirth

Count
an[d] elder seruant (my mirth) subaudy my selfe
now my deuise a white liuer wounded wt h a golden arrow
pithy & pregnant, my mr s

Gent
the princes Elinor

Count
well ouertaken prince I Cry halfe in yor mr s

Hort
a whit liuerd Coward my riuall I scorne thy fellowship.

Count
Coward prince, yor misprision ys to obnoxious and quit
beside the Cushion of the Hierogliphick: for the liuer
being seconded, as gallen & hipocrates the sonnes of
the antient Rabbyes very strenuously opose yt; the seate
or wheele properly Called the Draw well of bloud & Con
sequently of loue for Capit amare secur: yt ys said
non respectu Coloris sed puritatis, id est white liuer
quasi pure louer, I Could presse yt into an anagrame
but tis botchers worke & I scorne to like vp the vomit of a tailor

Hort
yow are a scholler.

Benti
sfoot hee Calls yow begger by Craft will yow put yt vp.

Count
I and thanke him to, I vnderstand shanke, apollo & the
peggasian offspring, the sinderisis of grace & true Hierogliphick[s]
of languadge in the most sublime & metaphisicall dialect extant

Hort
and a Coward for all that I wonder yor whit liuer does not
blush at yt

Benti
death hee playes vpon him still yt may bee sir yor liuers akin to his

Hor
why my liuer

Bent
as the one has not bloud enough to blush so the other has
spleene enough to bite

Hort
and that has not this has

Bent
yt has not

Hort
has not

Bent
dares not, Cannot, must not, here but a tale Ile tell yee
and youle Confesse as much,

duke
well said ould telltale tis harmles humor my lord haue patience

Bent
vpon a time a youthfull lion full of pride & Courage thinking
his owne forrest to litle to Containe him, pickt a quarrell & made
warr vpon one of his neigbors in wc h Conflict yt hapned this
furious hott lion; (whither by warr or policy I do not find in my
tale) was taken prisoner shutt vp in a little grate, and Caried
Captiue to the enimyes Country (though the lion himselfe vsd him
nobly) yet the other beasts remembring his former insolence [as]
as they durst (for feare of the king) exprest theire loue to him
the bull pusht him wt h his hornes, the boare wt h his tusks the beare
wt h his paw, nay not so much but the asse the white liuerd asse
pluckt vp his eares in Contempt of his insolence, scorning
his pride kickt at his ambition, & spurnd at his society wt h his
heeles, and the spite was hee knew not how to mend him selfe
for all this

Hort
the slaue insults vpon mee

duke
Come ya're to plaine ould man.

Benti
a tale my lord the meere litterall sence of a tale I Can produce
mine author

duke
Æsop I thinke

Benti
thats a fable the prince will find this a true tale & hee looke
not better toote the soonnere

Hor
diswade me not thers nether worth the shape
nor name of man that putts vp these disgraces

Asp
nay good my lord bee pleasd to know them better
before yow take their words to hart so.

Hor
my only wish what are they

Asp
The first thinks him selfe (as indeed hee ys) a very talle man, not of
his hands but of his toung, a reasonable handsome outside but very slite
or to speake truth no lining at all; his languadg nothing but trencher
scraps & peeces of broaken discourses left in tauernes & ordinaryes
as harsh and vntunable as a still lute & a loud bagpipe, and as schoole-
boyes Cast vp all kind of summes wt h one sett of Counters so does
hee manadge all maner of discourse wt h one sett of words, yet
thinks him selfe the A per se A. of Courtship & merchant royall
of languadge, the princesse takes much delight in him & Calls him
her mirth

Borg
a fellow not worth [my] anger whats the other—that ould fellow

Asp
lesse vainglorious but much more valiant, and yet as euery man
has one ydle humor or another hee wants not his, and the traine
this peacocke ys so prowd of ys his tale

Hort
does hee take such pleasure in an ould tale

Aspe
ould or yong so yt bee in the likenes of a tale yt neuer Comes
amisse to him the duke knowes his humor so well hee giues way &
indeed lends a kind of priuiledge too't & Calls him his telltale

Hort
hees valiant then.

Asp
forward & fortunate

Hort
that shalbee shortly tryed not intermitting
the noble purposes wee stand ingaged for

duke
I Charge yow mildly as yow respect our fauour
lets heare no more of this

Benti
let mee heare no more of the other then I am as free borne as
any prince, and ere Ile liue slaue to a stranger espetially

duke
youle liue our subiect I hope

Benti
peranter I peranter no euen as the tale tickles mee ithe head
by yor leaue & thus yt was, vpon a time a bandog hauing broake
loose from his kennell walking into the forest to see his ould aquaintance
mongst many other hee mett the woolfe his nere kinsman and play
fellowes of little puppyes very poore & quite out of a parrell,
the woolfe seing his Cossen Come full flankt rownd butockt & in a
new suit for indeed hee had Cast his ould Coate the Christmas
hollidayes before & pickt vp his Crums pritely well to.

duke
bee breife the woolfe made his Complaint to him

Benti
my tale sayes hee did: hee tould him that yf hee would go along
wt h him hee should fare no worse then hee fard. the woolf thankt
him & looking wistly vpon him hee spied his neck & his throat all bare

duke
The woolfe askd him how his neck & his throat Came so bare

Benti
hee tould him that though hee had gott loose now by stealth yet
at other times hee staid all day tied vp like a dog (as he was) [.] to
the manger, hee fed well indeed but twas more for his masters
proffitt then his owne pleasure, only to make him strong to keep
his house from theeues, his sheep from beares, & his lambs from
woolues, & yf his mr sett him vpon his owne fellow he must wurry
him or bee terribly beaten, nay perhaps hangd for his Cowardise
the woolfe thankt him & shook him by the paw but wt hall tould him
hee had rather goe wt h a ragged Coate, & an empty belly wt h
his liberty about him then in a veluet Iacket wt h a full paunch
haue his foot vnder another mans table and his head tyed to another
mans girdle as his was & so left him

duke
and yow are I warrant yee of the woolfes mind now and had

Benti

nay no exposition and ye loue mee I hate these impertinent glosses
to the death, and yee Can pick any thing out of the litterall sence
so yf not thers no harme done & so go onward w
t h the sport

duke
nay wee must haue yee freinds first

Hort
wt h all my hart my lord thow art a saucy ould knaue

Benti
yor hand my lord, thart a scuruy malipert boy & thow lyest

Hort
thast wrongd myne honor & I Chalendg satisfaction

Benti
I haue done thee right & Ile makt good vpon thee: time & place

Hort
the northgate of the parke betwixt 7 & 8 i the morning

Benti
at tennis for a Chase & away I'me yor man my hand and hart vpont

duke
Tis nobly done now onward wt h the reuells
what drawes picentio

picen
a wounded hart my lord

Aspero
an amorous motto: yor mr s? ha the dutches

duke
my head goes next. hee has her hart allredy

asp
on to the next

duke
weele draw no more her hart, wounded,
& shee his mr s most aparant

victo
I hope my gratious lord y'are not offended
that I among the rest haue entertaind
a noble seruant

duke
to my teeth? offended
at what victoria I Comend thy Choyse
& to aproue how wee alow yor fauors
weele seale yt wt h an honor of our owne
wc h ys to seat him in our Chaire of state
and make him our liuetenant in our absence
wc h both a soddaine & a serious Cause deeply enforceth

Victo.
enforce sir why what serious Cause
Can force my soueraigne lord to leaue my presence

duke
true Crocadile whine when shee meanes to murder
a Cause important but not dangerous
to life or state Constraineth mee: nay loose
no time to aske, I am Constant none shall know.
once more picentio wee leaue thee lieftenant

picen
though most vnworthy my most worthy lord
wt h all submission I asume the Chardge
these wings of honor mount mee to my raigne

Vict
deare sir.

duke
as I shall thinke thow fauorst mee
in my retourne inquire no more begone
& giue these lords the best of entertaiment
our Court Can yeild.

all
heauen and our praiers atend yee

Hort
Iust vpon eight

Benti
and I faile yee one minute hang mee weelbee mery
& haue an ould tale to breakfast or somwhat

Exeunt
duke
aspero

asp
my lord.

duke
Thow seest the exceding fauours our dutchesse shewes picentio

asp
and suspect them. done in a kind of high & prowd reuendge
about her brother Iulios banishment
the rather Cause yt pleasd yor grace Confer
the traitors staffe of office vpon mee

duke
thats happyly none of the least motiues too't
yet I Conceaue a further mischeife aspero.
and to make triall of the euent haue giuen
fidelio Charge to fortifie my Castle
whither I purpose Couertly to goe
& leaue thee heare by art to wind thy selfe
into theire bosomes, pry among theire secrets
and bee one of them to.

aspe
how meane yee my lord their pandar

duke
that title ys to harsh loues orator
or Cupids barrister. yt ys a title
of no smalle gaine, & yet to I would haue thee
doo'te but as actors play such parts in ieast

aspe
I vnderstand yee

duke
watch theire priuate walks
Close at their amorous Courtships aprehend them
Call in the lords and wt hout further triall
somon a sessions & off wt h theire heads

asp
Twill tast to much of tirrany my lord

duke
giue yt what name yow please tis our Comaund.
thers a firme warrant vnder our hand and seale for yor discharge

asp
but say they bandy faction. back lust wt h insurection.

duke
to preuent that the armyes vndischargd keep them in pay
& send mee word to Castle angelo
whilst I atend the issue; rather then haue
a lustfull bed giue mee an honored graue

Exit
asp
I hope the last; and will make other vse
of this Comission then hee thinks

I. ii

Enter Captaine Lieftenant Antient
Cap
saue yee generall

asp
my valiant freinds & felow soldiers welcome
tis somwhat strandge to see yow here at Court

Cap
Court why? why strange to see souldiers at the Court

asp
I meane not soldiers in generall but such

leif
such what such

Cap
such poore soldiers as wee are or such prowd Comaunders
as yow would bee for yow haue nether the worth nor the
way on't yet.

asp
y'are bold.

all
how

asp
and dangerous muteners
and where I thought to haue dealt nobly wt hyee
and begd yor pentions

Cap
how beg swonds what nobillityes in that

sargiant
giue vs our dew deale like a gentleman in that

asp
yor dew? whats that the whipping poast or the Iaile

all
Iaile swounds Iaile

asp
tis yor desert then hence gett yee gone

lief sar
gone whither

Cap
gone for what? wee that like lions Chast leopards & tigers
in the feild scorne to budge at the braying of an asse

sar
the sent of a muscatt

leif
the questing of a spaniell. thy behauiour speaks thee no better.

asp
no better.

sar
scarce so good the meanes thow spendst ys ours

lief
those raggs thow werst ours

sar
the meat thow east ours the wine thow drinkst ours

Cap
wee wonne the Creditt thow wearst by the princes imprisonment

lief
our swords beat him from his horse

Cap
this hand by the same token yt lost a fellow in the seruice
tooke him prisoner & led him to thy tent, thow werst the honor
but as a pick pockett does stolne goods befor the owners face
and thadst ether grace or valor thow wouldst blush & be ashamd on't

leif
then how so euer wee lend yow the honor giue vs our soldiers
pay and the princes ransome to an asper for feare we make
yor Cowardice knowne to the duke de heare generall to the duke

asp
I must disemble wt h them valiant soldiers
for tis as great a virtue not to suffer wrronge
as to winn Conquest; now I haue found yow men
redier to dye then part wt h the least dram
of that dread honor yow haue bought wt h bloud
I am all yors Comend mee to my soldiers
beare um this gold shar't equally amongst yow

sar
I mary sir this ys some what like a generall

asp
and for the late good seruice done asure yow
they shall haue double pay and a gratuity
from the duks Coffers.

lief
ha noble spirit; who would not liue & dye wt h such a generall

asp
tis my desire to make mee worthy of
such noble harts; and for the princes ransome
as soone as they Come in they are yors; I nether
merritt, nor mind them the end to wc h I moue
ys to liue happy in my soldiers loue

sarg
kind gentleman I am a vilaine yf I bee not sorry
I vsd him so tempestuously

Cap
must beare wt h vs [Captaine] generall wee are a kinn to march
wee Come in blustring like a lion when wee are angry
wee go[w] out as mild as a lamb when wee are pleasd
so heauen guard our generall

asp
stay see the Celler first ye haue spent a flood
& must renew yt strong wine begetts fresh blood

leif
good motion generall weele follow our leader in thats flatt

Cap
heele not bee worthy of a knightly scarr
will not drinke deep in peace bleed deep in warr.

Exeunt

I. iii

Enter victoria & picentio.
vict
then yow beleeue the fauour that I gaue yow was mine

pice
I do.

vict
& that I loue yee

picen
firmly

victo
troth then opinion fooles yee to bee plaine
I neuer held yow of a meritt fitt
the fauor of a meaner loue then mine
the signes of loue I brought yow, yow may thanke
my Cossen Isabella that foole for.

picen
yes Cossen madam.

vict
yes my Cossen loues yow
the scarfe I gaue yow & the bleeding[es] hart
true embleme of yor Childish Cowardice were hers

picen
all hers troth I was foold indeed then.
but shee most happily yor pardon gratious madam
tis boldly whisperd in the Court yow loue mee

vict
I loue thee? heauen how strangely are the times
diseasd. that a Chast lady Cannot walke
her owne plaine way but shee must stumble at
the Ielosyes mistakings or (the triccks I feare
me rather) but I forgett my errand what answer send yow

picen
that yf I may presume
Ile giue yor eare in priuat
Ent Aspero Gismond Cosmo behind to obserue
wt hall this ring seale of my loue pray beare her

Cos
I Can indure no longer
giue & take rings the slaues Contracted to her

Gis:
for shame atach them harke yee my lord.

vict
pray wait a little of.

Cos:
yor pleasure: what a state shee takes vpon her

Gis
obserue but what a frowne shee darted at vs

asp
Come neuer blame her fort
turtles would Chafe to bee disturbd at sport
my lord my noble lord.

vict
againe yare rude
to presse into my walke when tis my pleasure
to bee in priuate wt h this gentleman

asp
growne impudent: madam yt ys suspected
& since yow vrdg yt from me wilbee proud
yaue beene to priuat wt h this gentleman

victo
to priuat tis the languadge of a villaine

Cos
yor husband speaks yt

[vict] picen
hees a traitor thinks yt

Cosmo
a truer subiect then yor selfe will proue yt

picen
truer then I hee liues not

asper
then wee are all traitors, for by that title I arest yee

pice
mee sir

aspe
pardon mee madam my Comission includs yow too

victo
mee for a traitor why I dare the world
what Can yow infer a gainst mee

Gis
wee? nothing madam heres his highnes warrant
for both yor deaths

pice
in heauens name doe yor office
& yet euen in my way toote I proclaime
the dutchesse honest & picentio loyall

vict
& thats enough [for when] ther needs no Circumstance
for when the husband sayes the wife shall dye
yt ys to much shew mee no reason why

Cos
wee alas madam yow may read our feares
in our pale Cheekes, our sorow in our teares

vict
pray bee more thrifty let not one teare bee spent
nor sigh lost for mee: yf Innocent
I dye a martir and haue need of none
yf as a strumpett Ime not worthy one
now on wee are redy to atend yor office

pice
so far are wee from being mourners that
youle hardly find in our vntainted bloud
water enough to make a teare of. Come

asp
pray stay for though yow thinke mee harsh & bloody
for being obedient to my soueraignes Chardge
I haue yet so much Compassion lying in mee
to thinke that two such temperate resolutions
as yow are both going to suffer wt h
should not bee guilty pray say then.
why did the dutchesse giue yow such fauours
enterchange a ring & vsd such priuate Courtship

picen
thats indeed an answer that fitts: y'aue worthyly
Cald mee to account fort, the reason on't was sir
to giue mee notice of her neeces loue

aspero
who Isabella

picen
that same modest lady
by an induction through a second hand
wc h bashfullnes denyed in her sellfe asurance of

asper
now my good lords yow heare
for my part I was euer Confident
(how ere the dukes rash anger misconceiud)
they both are inocent

Cos:
so theire words striue to make them.

Gis
the Chardg ys yors

asp
myne bee the danger then
for dye they shall not, yf at least they please
to stand the hazard of a publique triall

pice
& thanke yor loue

victo
not wt hout great Cause nether
for should wee fall in the dukes anger thus
our honors would bee buried, though
wee do vniustly suffer

picent
therfor triall wc h Clears our honors
ys a benifitt worth the efecting

asp
& that Ile freely giue yow
vpon no slender hassard liffe & honor
are both engaged

vict & pi:
wee liue yor debters sir

Cosmo
& so for theire sakes do wee all

asp
tis nether to fawne on them nor flatter yow
but pitty of iniurd harts works mee toote

all
yare noble

picen
in the meane time wee must liue prisoners

aspero
only for fashion sake yow shal Corbino

Enter Iulio as a slaue
Iulio
do yow Call sir

aspe
take picentio & the dutchesse vnto thy Charge

Iuli
as prisoners sir?

aspero
as prisoners: lett them haue noble vsadge

Iul
shall sir.

aspe
none must atend them but thy selfe

Iuli
my selfe so sir.

Cos
and yet in hope thoult vse them kindly drinke yt for my sake

Iuli
thanke yee will yee go sir.

vict
yes to my graue thow hast a fatall looke
writt full of dead mens bones

[Iuli] pice
yes a funerall booke

Exeunt
Cosmo
take Comfort madam wt h the generalls leaue
weele bee yor visitants

Exeunt
asp
and welcome: picentio my riuall hee the Cause
the lady Isabella scornd my loue & slighted mee
no more, I haue made a lucky & a quick discouery
picentio & the dutches are both myne owne
& then the duke: my toyles are pitcht for him to.
tis an infinite labor to bee a villaine, he must swim
against the streame of Iudgments, fawne vpon ocasion
and haue an eye to see the least sand that falls
through times howrglasse; had hee a thousand eyes
& twise as many hands hee shall find proiect
to emply them all: but I wast time [OMITTED] Corbino.

Enter Iulio.
Iuli
do yow Call

asp
I did: thow art my slaue

Iuli
Ime sure yow vse mee like one

asp
what wouldst thow do to gaine thy liberty
of a base slaue be fellow wt h thy lord
haue thy variety of suits, & panders
to fetch thee Chandge of wanton Curtesans

Iu
and Can Cash, how the deuill should I Com by all this

asp
Ile tell thee by murthering picentio & the dutches

Iuli
& Ile tell thee I am a man of few words but by all
the gods of olimpus were theire harts bosomd in a rock
of marble Ide pearce them

asp
doot & share fortunes wt h mee, the maner how
weele plott wt hin now my last stake ys downe
and this Casts fort a Coffin or a Crowne

Exeunt