University of Virginia Library

Sena quarta.

Enter Fedele whispering with Pedante.
Victoria.
I was so troubled in my minde, with fright of sudden feare,
That yet I feele my sinewes shake, and tremble euery where.
Alas looke where Fedele comes, I cannot scape vnseene,
He is importunate, I knowe not how to ridde me of him cleene.

Fedele.
Ah cursed dames, their loue is like a flame,
Quiuering in th'Ayre betweene too blastes of wynde,
Borne here and there, by either of the same.
Yet properly to none of both enclinde.
Hate and disdaine is painted in their eyes,
Deceit and treason in their bosome lies.
Their promises are made of brittle glasse,
Grounde with a fillop to the finest dust,
Their thoughtes as streaming riuers swiftly passe.
Their wordes are oyle, and yet they gather rust.
Their vertues mount like billowes to the skyes,
And vanish straight out of the gazers eyes.
True are they neuer founde but in vntrueth,
Constant in naught, but in inconstancie,
The common foes of weale, and fluddes of rueth.
Deuouring cankers of mans libertie.
Here doth the staine of modestie abide:
And shrowdingly desires her selfe to hide.
But get thee streight to Sir Fortunio.
Will him to come and speake a word with me,
Haste and poste haste with speede see that thou goe,
That he this treacherie may quickely see.
Meane while on her whose face beginnes to glow:
The burden of my brest I meane to throw.

Pedante.
Then take you this Image of waxe that you see,
Crackstone the Captaine deliuered it to mee.
Being his turne as he said for to watch this night,
And breaking vp sentinel when it began to be light.
This Image he tould me in the streete he founde,
Lying harde by the chappell vpon the grounde.
This is the same that was made to inchante Fortunio,
Beholde it and see whether I say trueth or no.

Fedele.
He plowghes the seas, and fishes in the lande,
And loseth all the labour of them both,
He fondly reares his fortresse on the sande.
That buildes his trust vpon a womans troth.
But get thee hence about thy businesse,
That I may talke with this my good mistresse.

Pedante.
A Dio.

Exit.
Victoria.
Well met good Sir Fedele, whats the cause
Of these your troubled lookes that I beholde,
What rain is threatned by these stormy flawes:
Which by your gate, and gesture you vnfolde?
Is looue the spark that kindels all this fier:
Or doo you lack the fruit of your desire?

Fedele.
The cause that sets my gestures out of frame,
Is in your selfe if you doo search the same.

Victoria.
And why good Sir?

Fedele.
What make you heer so early in the street?

Victoria.
My longing thoughts did prophesie, that heer I should you meet.

Fedele.
Not mee but Sir Fortunio: you know this I am suer:
Shew her the Image.
And what by magick you haue doon, his fauour to procure.
I neuer thought so fayre a dame, had been so foule within,
But sith continued seruice, had no force thy grace to win:
Be suer vnthankful wretch, periur'd and moste disloyall dame:
I will not rest, before I bee reuenged of the same.
This to Fortunio presently I purpose shall be shown:
And open brute of thy reproche, throughout the Citie blown.
All that in Naples dwell this day, shall wunder at this deed,
And euery wounding tung shall make thine honor now to bleed.
My selfe will help to teare the hart, out of thy body quick,
And giue thy crimson coulered blood, vnto the dogs to lick.
So liuely wil I blaze thee out, to euery gazers eye:
That though thy carcas rot and waste, thy shame shall neuer dye.
As busy will I bee to plague thee more then is exprest:
As thou wast cunning to deceiue the man that lou'd thee best.

Victoria.
I think you are disposed to iest, and make some triall heere,
How trimly you can tread aloft to thunder in mine eare.
For when I slide into my selfe, and there examine well,
What I haue doon, I finde I neuer from Fedele fell.
And yet I see your hart still workes, by which I doo suspect,
Some Sicophants would make you, your Victoria to reiect.
But pacience is a vertue, as the woorthiest wits doo say,
My loue to you, deserues not that you vttred heer this day.

Fedele.
Yes that, and more, in thee's no trueth, loue, faith, nor loyaltye,
But lies, dessembling, falshood, hate, sin, shame, and sorcery.
Bestur thy selfe, enchaunt, and coniure now and doo thy woorst,
The day thow knewst vs both, shall shortly be by thee accurst.

Victoria.
I am not priuy vnto this, nor know Fortunio.
Ah poore Victoria thou art caught, alas what shall I doo?
Now counsaile me Attilia, Attilia, is not heer:
Where be my gallants now, will not Crack-stone appeare?
Now is the time for thee Crack-stone my hart to gaine,
Oh saue my life, and him dispatch that dooth mine honor staine.
Doo this and then I wll be thine, and listen to thy sute,
But til that I may speak with him, tis best that I be mute.
Farwell Sir, be not rash, but Iudge, I cannot answere much:
More you shall know when time hath tried, my truth by perfect tuch. A Dio.

Exit.
Fedele.
A diauolo.
As I haue known thee, so shall Sir Fortunio know thee straight,
For whome I sent, and heer he comes, whose comming I doo wait.