University of Virginia Library

SCÆN. 4.

Alexander in his study with bookes, coffers, his triple Crowne vpon a cushion before him.
Alex.
With what expence of money plate and iewels
This Miter is attayn'd my Coffers witnesse:
But Astaroth my couenant with thee
Made for this soule more pretious then all treasure,
Afflicts my conscience, O but Alexander
Thy conscience is no conscience; if a conscience,
It is a leoprouse and poluted conscience.
But what? a coward for thy conscience?
The diuill is witnesse with me when I seald it
And cauteriz'd this conscience now seard vp
To banish out faith, hope and charity;
Vsing the name of Christian as a stale
For Arcane plots and intricate designes
That all my misty machinations
And Counsels held with black Tartarian fiends
Were for the glorious sunne-shine of my sonnes;
That they might mounte in equall paralel
With golden maiesty like Saturnes sonne
To darte downe fire and thunder on their foes.
That, that was it, which I so much desir'd
To see my sonnes through all the world admir'd,
In spight of grace, conscience, and Acharon
I will reioyce, and triumph in my Charter.
Alexander readeth.

Astaroth.
The diuill prouideth in his couenant
I should not crosse my selfe at any time;
I neuer was so ceremonious.
Well this rich Miter thought it cost me deare
Shall make me liue in pompe whilst I liue heere.
Holla Bernardo?
He tincketh a bell.
Call hether my two sonnes the Duke of Candy and the
Cardinall of Valence.
Happie those sonnes whom fathers loue so well
That for their sakes they dare aduenture hell.
Enter the Duke of Candy and Cæsar Borgia striuing for priority.
Come my deare sonnes the comfort of my life
Yours is this earthly glory which I hold.
Cannot the spacious boundes of Italy
Diuided equally containe you both?
From France and Swisserland I will beginne
With Naples and those Townes in Peadmont
And all the signories in Lombardy
From Porto di Volane to Sauona
And Genes on th'other side of Italy
Vpon the Mediterranean towards Greece;
Allotted Candy for his patrimony.
And in Romania from Pontremoli
And Prato to faire Florence; and from thence
In Tuskany within the Riuer Narre
And fruitfull Arno those sweete Prouinces
Euen to Mont Alto, Naples, Policastro
And Petrasilia in Calabria
The furthest home of Italy for Cæsar.
Gaine dubble strength with your vnited loues
Loue one another boies you shal be Kings:
Fortune hath beene auspicious at my birth
And will continue gratious to mine end.
Castor and Pollux would not liue in Heauen
Vnlesses they might be stellified togither,
You for a little-turfe of earth contend
When they togither shine the welkin cleeres:
And gentle gales beare fourth the winged sailes,
But when they shine a parte they threaten stormes
And hiddeous tempests to the Marriners
Castor would not be called but Pollux Castor
And Castor Castors Pollux: so my Candy
Be Cæsars Candy, Cæsar, Candies Cæsar,
With perfect loue, deare boyes loue one another
So either shal be strengthened by his brother.

Cæ.
Most blessed reuerend and renowned father,
The loue by nature to my brother Candy,
Enforceth me some-times in plainer sort
To cleere my conscience issuing from pure loue,
It is meere loue which mooues these passions,
When I do counsell or aduise your good.

Ca.
I know deere brother when your counsell tends
Vnto my good it issueth from pure loue.

Cæ.
As when I tax your princely conscience
Like an vnpitted penetentiarie,
Brother with reuerence of his Holinesse
Your heart is too much spic'd with honesty.

Alex.
I and I feare me he will find it so,
Your brother Cæsar tells you very true:
You must not be so ceremonious
Of oathes and honesty, Princes of this world
Are not prickt in the bookes of conscience,
You may not breake your promise for a world:
Learne this one lesson looke yee marke it well,
It is not alwaies needfull to keepe promise,
For Princes (forc'd by meere necessity
To passe their faithfull promisses) againe
Forc'd by the same necessity to breake promise.

Cæ.
And for your more instructiōs learne these rules!
If any Cedar, in your forrest spread,
And ouer-peere your branches with his top,
Prouide an axe to cut him at the roote,
Suborne informers or by snares intrap
That King of Flies within the Spiders Webbe;
Or els insnare him in the Lions toyles.
What though the multitude applaud his fame:
Because the vulgar haue wide open eares
Mutter amongst them and possesse their hearts
That his designements wrought against the state
By which yea wound him with a publicke hate.
So let him perish, yet seeme pittifull
Cherrish the weakenesse of his stocke and race
As if alone he meritted disgrace.
Suffer your Court to mourne his funeralls,
But burne a bone-fire for him in your Chamber.

Alex.
Cæsar deliuereth Oracles of truth.
Tis well sayd Cæsar, yet attend a little,
And binde them like rich bracelets on thine armes
Or as a precious iewell at thine care.
Suppose two factious Princes both thy friends;
Ambitious both, and both competitors,
Aduance in hostile armes against each other
Ioyne with the strongest to confound the weake
But let your wars foundation touch his Crowne,
Your neerest Charity concernes your selfe;
Els let him perish; yet seeme charitable.
As if you were meerely compos'd of vertue:
Beleeue me Candy things are as they seeme,
Not what they be themselues; all is opinion:
And all this world is but opinion.
Looke what large distance is twixt Heauen and Earth,
So many leagues twixt wealth and honesty:
And they that liue puling vpon the fruits
Of honest consciences; starue on the Common.
Cæsar can tell thee this in ample sorte.
And Cæsar loue him, loue him hartily;
Though mildenesse do possesse thy brother Candie,
It is a gentle vice, vicining vertue.

Can.
Vnder correction of your Holinesse,
Those warres which vertue leuies against vice,
Are onely knowne to some particulers
Which haue them wrytten in their consciences.
Those are the same they seeme and in such warres
Your sonne shall make remonstrance of his valour,
And so become true Champion of the Church.

Cæs.
It is the precious Ornament of Princes
To be strong hearted, proud, and valiant,
But well attempted with callidity,
Brother with reuerence of his holinesse
(Whose sacred words like blessed Oracles
Haue pointed at your prudence) Cæsar would
Haue giuen the like aduise: but (in conclusion)
Vndoubtedly to worke out thy confusion.

Enter Barnardo.
Ale.
Vpon my blessing follow Cæsars counsell;
It tendeth to thy glory.

Bern.
Most blessed Lord,
Embassadors from Ferdinande of Naples
Arriued heere attend your holinesse.

Ale.
This is a welcome messenger for Godfrey,
To make a marriage with the Lady Saunce:
And Candy for so much as this requires
A ioyfu'l entertainment; take that honor
And bid him welcome with due complements.
Shew courteous, language laudable apporte;
Let them be feasted in more sumpteous sort
Then ordinary messengers of state:
Obserue his speeches, fathome his designes;
And for I know thy nature tractable,
And full of courtesie: shew courtesie
And good intreatie to them: Gentle Candie
Now shew thy selfe a polititian;
I neede not giue thee large instructions;
For that I know thee wise, and honorable
Greete them from vs: Cæsar shall at a turne
Giue correspondence to thy courtesie:
I as well sitteth with my state and honor
Within these ten daies wil admit them hearing:
Meane while learne out by lore of policie
The substance of their motions, that we may
Be better arm'd to giue them resolution.

Can.
Your holinesse in this shall see my skill,
To do you seruice,
Exit Candy.

Alex.
Cæsar now to thee.
This taske vpon thy shoulders onely leanes;
I rest vpon thee Cæsar: were it not
That thou must second it, or first it rather
I durst not trust such things of consequence,
To feeble spirits: therefore from our stables
Six Persian Coursers arm'd and furnished
With rich Caparisons of gold and Pearle,
With six rich Complet Armots for their saddles,
And such a Cabbinet of pretious Iewels
As we shall choose within to morrow morning
Present from vs in token of our loue.
Let for no cost in sumptuous banqueting,
Beleeue me Cæsar some-times at a banquet,
More ground is got then at a bloudy battell.
Worme out their humors, fathom their delights,
If they delight in that which Naples couets,
Fine, witty, loue-sick, braue, and beautifull,
Eloquent, glancing, full of fantasies.
Such Sugar harted Syrens, or such Commets,
As shine in our imperiall state of Rome,
True pick-locks in close wards of policie,
Present them with the Paragons of Rome:
And spare not for a Million in expence,
So long as here they keepe their residence.

Cæsar.
Cæsar in such a case will prooe true Cæsar,
Wise, franke, and honorable.

Alex.
I doubt it not:
And Cæsar, (as thou doost imbrace my loue,
More then the world besides) accomplish this,
And wee shall Cæsar with high blessings blisse,

Exit.
Cæs.
By this time is my faire Lucretia,
Befitted for a businesse of bloud,
Neerely concerning her estate and mine.

Exit.