University of Virginia Library

ACTVS. 3.

SCÆ. 1.

Enter Astor, Manfredi with Phillippo.
Ast.
Brother Phillippo what auaileth it,
When our state lost the Fauintines compounded,
That I should hold both life and liberty,
With all reuenues of my proper state,
When as my life within the Court of Rome,
Is much more loathsome to my soule then death,
And liberty more griefe then seruitude.

Phil.
I rather choose within the riuer Tiber
To drowne my selfe, or from Tarpeyan hill,
My vexed body to precipitate,
Then to subiect my body to the shame
Of such vild brutish and vnkindely lust.

Ast.
He that with fire and Brimstone did consume
Sodome and other Citties round about.
Deliuer vs from this soule-slaying sinne.
To which our bodies are made prostitute,

Enter Barnardo.
Bar.
Deare salutations from my Lord the Pope,
I recommend vnto your excellence,
With semblable remembrance of his loue,
To you my Lord Phillippo,

Ast.
Good Barnardo.
My dutie bound vnto his Holynesse,
Returne in paiment from his Captiue seruant.

Ber.
Ingenious Prince, I bring a friendly message
Of tender kindnesse, which I must impart:
They draw them-selues aside.
This Ruby from our Holy-fathers finger,
(In priuate token of his faithfull loue)
He bid mee secretly deliuer you:
And there-withall, desireth of your loue,
To haue with him some priuate conference.

Ast.
I was now going to our Ladies masse,
In Saint Iohn Laterans; where my ghostly father
Attendeth me for my confession.
But thanke his Holynesse on my behalfe,
In all due reuerence and humilitie.
Tell him I meane—so soone as I returne,
pawse.
To come according to my bounden duty.
Exit Bar.
My case is desperate, what shall I doe?
Phillippo, was there euer any man
Hunted with such vnsatisfied rage?

Phil.
What hath he sent againe to visit you?

Astor.
To visit me, nay to dishonor me,
Behold this Ruby sent from his owne finger,
Which as a Bawde inuiteth me to shame.

SCENA. 2.

Alexander out of a Casement.
Alex.
Astor? what Astor? my delight my ioy,
My starre, my triumph, my sweete phantasie,
My more then sonne, my loue, my Concubine,
Let me behold those bright Stars my ioyes treasure,
Those glorious well attempted tender cheekes;
That specious for-head like a lane of Lillies:
That seemely Nose loues chariot triumphant,
Breathing Panchaian Odors to my sences,
That gratious mouth, betwixt whose crimosin pillow
Venus and Cupid sleeping kisse together.
That chin, the ball vow'd to the Queene of beauty,
Now budding ready to bring forth loue blossoms,
Astor Manfredi turne thee to my loue,
Come hither Astor we must talke aboue.

Astor.
Betraid? a slaue to sinne? what shall I say?
Most Holy father.

Alex.
Doe not mee forget:
I am thy brother, and thy deerest friend,
And though in age I loue know that desire
In riper yeares is pure and permanent,
Grounded on iudgement, flowing from pure loue:
Whereas the loue lightning from young desire,
Fickle and feeble will not long hold fire,
It is so violent it will not last.
They'r blest whose louers loue when youth is past.

Astor.
To call you friend were too familiar,
To call you brother sorts not with our yeares:
To call you Father doth import some feare,
Due to that age your Holinesse doth beare.

Alex.
Tell me not of mine age and Holinesse,
Thy sight sufficeth me to make me young:
Neither vpbraide me with my sanctimonie,
Loue is the purest essence from aboue,
And to thy soule I would affix my loue.
Come hither then and rest with mee to night,
Giue me fruition of those amorous pits,
Where blinded Cupid close in ambush sits:
Who with his Arrow (when thou laught at Venus)
Shot through thy smiling cheekes, and did inchaine vs.
Thy Chamber with Ambrosiall odors breatheth,
New loues and true loues vnto them that entreateth,
And furious Mars made milde his Faulcheon sheatheth
At thy delicious aspect: see thy Chamber:
The walles are made of Roses, roofe of Lillies,
Be not asham'd to mount and venture it,
Here Cupids Alter, and faire Venus hill is.
Thy bed is made with spice and Calamus,
With Sinamond and Spicnard, Arabick,
With Opobalsam and rich gums of Ægipt,
Musick Angelicall of strings and voyces.
With sundry birds in sugred simphony,
Where whistling Wood-nimphes, and the pleasant choise is
Of Antique action mixt with harmony,
Attend thy ioyous entrance to this Chamber.

Phil.
Is it possible that the Diuil can be so sweet a dissembler?

Ast.
Yes and play the pleasant part of a conceited Amoret,
For he can take the shape of a bright Angell.

Alex.
Now my sweet friend the ioyes of loue doth mutter
Thy mind too bashfull is, speake tounge loues vtter,
Thy Corrall gums cud loues pure quintisence,
And thou thy selfe faire boy loues purest essence.

Ast.
Oh blessed heauens let Sathan tempt no longer,
His force is powerfull yet thy strenght much stronger,
He that with guilefull baites gilded vntruth,
So seekes to blast the blossome of my youth.

Allex.
Delicious fruites diuine Confections,
Of hearbes, roots, flowers of sundrie fashions.
Preseruatiues drawne from the rich Elixar,
Of finest gould pure pearle and precious stones,
Prouided for thy diuine apetite,
Wines of more price (made by th'industrious art,
Insacred distillations) then that Nectar,
Which Hebe bare, when Ioue did most affect her.

Phi.
Sathan false god of lies, and flatterie;
How palpable is this grosse villaine?

Alex.
What wilt thou come Manfredi to my Chamber,
And blesse me with thy precious breath of Amber.

Asto.
After our ladies Masse I will returne.
Deare God what furies in his soule doe burne?
After the Celebration of the Masse,
I come my Lord.

Exeunt Astor and Phillippo. Alexander tinkith a bell.
Alex.
Come then, and let that passe,
Holla Barnardo?
All busines for this night I will adiourne,
Giue good attendance that at his returne,
Astor may come to me for my sicke heart,
Till Astor with his beauty full embrace,
Doe blesse my body wounded with his dart,
Can find no rest, loue hath it in hot chase.

SCÆ. 2.

Enter Cæsar Borgia the Cardinall, and Frescobaldy a ruffaine.
Cæs.
Wilt thou performe it faithfully?

Fre.
What I? will I liue to eate, to drinke, to sleepe?

Cæs.
Wilt thou performe it valiantly?

Fres.

Will I eate to drinke, will I drinke to sleepe, will I sleepe
to liue?

Cæs.
Will thou be secret, and conceale my plot?

Fres.
My name is Frescobaldi, as for my pedigree,
My mother was of consanguinitie with the Princesse
Of Perugia: my father of the noble family of the Oddi,
Florentine both: I my selfe
Brought vp a Page vnder Rayner King of Sicily,
Haue seru'd against the Turkes and Sarazines,
Where at Uienna (with my single Pike,
Arm'd in a Maly Briggandine of Naples,
And with an old-Fox which I kept in store,
A monument of Mars when I depart)
I did vnhorse three Turkie Ianizaries.
Then (in the warres of Ferdinand the King)
This Hippe was shott through with a Crocadile,
But that it were too tedious I could shew you:
Vnder the King of Romaines I was cut,
Iust from this shoulder to the very pappe:
And yet by fortunes of the warre am heere,
I thanke God, and my Surgion, all fix, trillill.
I fought at Malta when the towne was girt
With Sargeants heads, and bul-beggers of Turkie:
And by my plot (niming below the rampier)
We gaue th'obgoblings leaue to scale our walls,
And being mounted all vpon that place:
I with my Lint-stock gaue fire to the traine,
And sent them capring vp to Capricornus.
Which when the wise Astronomers of Greece,
Prodigiously discouered from a farre.
They thought those Turcaes fiery meteors.
Which with their Pikes were pushing in the clowds,
The learned Booke-men writte strange Almanacks,
Of signes, and apparitions in the ayre:
And by these honors (if I proue a blabbe)
Then call mee villaine, varlet, coward, skabbe.

Cæs.
Then tell mee Frescobaldi
Where I may send to thee when time shall serue.

Fresc.

Faith for the most parte my mansion is in Ciuitanechia
nella sirada di san lorenzo, nere the conduict at a good olde Ladies
house, la dōna sempronia at signe of the glister pipe, where if
you chance to faile of mee. Within three houses more at signe
of the frying-panne you may commande mee, at all houres in
the fore-noone.

Cæs.

Well gramercie Frescobaldi I wil take the note of those
houses in my tables.

But be sure and ready when oportunitie calles vpon you.

Fresco.

May it please your most reuerend grace (without offence
to your Lordship) to deliuer me the parties name vpon
whome I should performe this Tragedy. For I may parcase
catch him in a gilder my selfe before you are aware; and moylie
mufle vp his maistership, with the garotta, or stiletto, perchance
the ponyard or pistol, such as I warrant you shal serue his turne.

Cæs.
Be it sufficient thou shalt know hereafter,
My businesse and affaires are very great:
One word more, and adue.

He rowndeth with Frescobaldi.
Fre.

Secret as mid-night, sure as the sunne, quick as the waters

Cæs.

Why? so sayd braue Frescobaldi like a man of some resolution
farewell remember the watchward—do not faile.

Fresco.

My businesse and affaires are very great my gratious
Lord, one word more with your grace my good Lord, and so I
kisse your foote.

He whispereth with Cæsar.
Cæs.

It was not ingratitud, neither forgetfulnesse in me Frescobaldi:
Here take this and remember me.

He deliuereth him a purse.
Fres.

I encounter your munificence with my loue, and your
loue with my seruice, my loue and seruice with your mony.

Padrone mio multo honorato,

More for your loue then your mony,

And yet your grace wel knowes, clothes must be wrought, weapons
must be bought; and Tauerns must be sought, and all braue
exploits must be done, as they should be done brauely.

Cæs.
But that I keepe my secret to my selfe;
I would not vse this slaue for any gold:
Yet when I trust him he shall not deceiue me.
Exit Cæsar.

Fresc.

Now skelder yee scounderels, skelder you maggot-mūgers,
you pompiōs; you wood-wormes, you magatapipicoes,
I am for you, now Frescobaldi, call thy wits togither, let me now
see what a clock it is: very neere eight, and almost breakfast
time at a cleauen, this very night must I stand Perdue for this
bloudy seruice. I know my place and houre; I must confesse and
perchance be hang'd, I haue in the Burdelliaes and in other such
houses of naturall recreation and agility, receiued three or
foure score broken pates in my time: and some bastinadoes for
crossing courting spicy-spirited inamoratoes in their humors.
Besides I was the first that from the Swisse quarter, in the raigne
of king Ferdinand brought vp in his army the fashions of bowsing
and to vsing Greeke and Spanish wines by the flagon, with
that old stinckard Henrico Baglioni, somtime Alferoes to Capitaneo
Piccolomini & my selfe; I remember likewise at Terracina
I broake a glasse (contayning some quart of Robollia) vpon the
face of Capitaneo Fransesco Boccansacchi a very sufficient souldier
in that seruice, and to my knowledge a tall trencherman:
howbeit from the teeth down-ward as base a mettled coward
as euer was coyn'd out of the sooty side of a copper kettle; so he
was: well I will second my Lord in any slaughter for his wages,
and if any man will giue me better hiers (when I haue seru'd the
Cardinalls turne) I will present my pistoll vpon his sacred person
afterward for charities sake: well, now to the drinking
schoole, then to the fence schoole, and lastly to the vaulting
schoole, to my Lady Sempronia.

Exit.
Enter the Duke of Candie and Barbarossa.
Can.
This was an act of such strange consequence,
As neuer yet was heard, a man found dead
Within a priuate chamber of his house;
When all his seruants stird: not one of them
That could giue euidence of what befell
But that he kill'd himselfe. Cosa impossibile.

Bar.
I was the first that found him in his bloud;
Then warme from slaughter: such a ruthfull sight
As yet I tremble to remember it.

Can.
It is impossible (after a search)
No stranger found within Visellies doers,
But that some seruant of his family
Should haue sure notice how the murther was.

Bar.
It was his owne hand sure.

Can.
I cannot thinke it.
The gentleman was honest, full of sport,
And well affected.

Bar.
Pardon me my Lord,
My Ladie Lucrece told it in great griefe
She twise before had rescued his life.

Can.
Go too, go too.

Bar.
Besides my Noble Lord.
Papers both writ, and sealed with his hand
Were found about him't stifying this.

Can.
Good Barbarossa pray my sister Lucrece,
Here to encounter me with her good company:
Som-what I would in priuate talke with her.

Bar.
My Lord I will.
Exit Barb.

Can.
High God be mercifull.
Thou that doest know the secrets of al hearts,
If Lucrece (as my father doth suspect)
Was priuie to this murther of my life
Enter Lucrece Barb with her.
I can learne all she knowes.
But yet I will not either suspect, or vrge her were it true
Being indeede a violation of brother-hood & common humanity
She maketh towards me—sister how faires it with you?

Luc.
As with a dead Corse in a Sepulcher
Cold liuelesse, comfortlesse, opprest with sorrow.
Nor since my ioy did leaue me desolate
Euer could I brooke well this open ayre
But still lamenting and disconsolate
Kept vp in Chamber, mourning for my Lord.

Can.
What order tooke you for his funnerall?

Luc.
He that aliue was shrined in my brest,
Now dead liues yet intombed in my thoughts,
There is a modell of it in my closet.

Can.
Performe it decently with dilligence.

Lu.
Brother me thinkes the ayre is cold and raw,
And as you please let vs conserre within.

Can.
Gladly deere sister with what hast you may,
And I desire you noble Barbarosa
To meete vs at my Chamber after supper.
My brother Cæsar hath appoynted with me
Some businesse, and I craue your company.

Bar.
Thankes my good Lord: but matters of much moment,
I haue at that time with my Lord Caraffa;
And I must speake this night with my Lord Cæsar.

Can.
Tell him I will attend by nine of clocke.

Bar.
I will my good Lord.

Cand.
Farewell Barbarossa.

Bar.
Ioy to you both.
Exit Barbarossa.

Can.
My trembling liuer throbs, my cold hearts heauy;
My mind disturbed and I know not why
But all as he will, heauens aboue for me.

Exeunt omnes.

SCEN. 5.

Enter Frescobaldi solus.
Fres.
This is the black night, this the fatall hand:
These are the bloudy weapons which must be
Witnesse and actors of this Tragedy.
Now Frescobaldi play thy masters prize:
Here is a rich purse cram'd with red crusadoes
Which doth inspire me with a martiall spirit,
Now could I combate with the diuill to night.
First did I wash my liuer, lungs, and heart.
In Cretane wines and head strong Maluesse
(Such as would make a coward fight with Mars)
Then least I should with any weapons drawne
Be driuen to danger of mine enemy;
I practised my martiall feicts of fence:
As for example if with armes vnsheath'd,
I were to kill this conduct here I come.
he fenceth.
He makes a thrust, I with a swift passado,
Make quick auoydance, and with this stoccado
(Although he fence with all his finest force)
Bar'd of his body thrust him in the throate.
Guardateui bene, signori honoreuoli.
Suppose this conduict or my duellist,
Should falsifie the foine vpon me thus.
Here will I take him, turning downe this hand.
Enter Henrico Baglioni looking earnestly vpon Frescobaldi.
Il punto verso indrizzato, thus.
Admit he force me with his ambroccado
Here I deceiue then, with this passado
And come vppon him in the speeding place.

Bag.
what Mandragon or saluage Ascapart,
what Pantaconger or Pantagruell
Art thou that fightest with thy fathers soule
Or with some subtill apparitions.
Which no man can behould with mortall eyes
Or art thou rauished with bedlamy
Fighting with figments and vaine fantazies
Chimeraes ot blacke spirrits of the night.

Fresc.
Come not within 9. furlongs of this place.
My name is Rubosongal the grimme ghost
Of Bembocamber king of Calicute.
And here for this night I keepe centrenell
For Muscopateron great king of flyes;
Great grandsier of ten thousand hecatombes.

Bag:
I Coniure thee fowle fiende of Acheron
By puissant Hoblecock and Bristletoe,
By Windicaper Monti-bogglebo.
Polipotmos and the dreadfull names
of Mulli-sacke and Hermocotterock.
By Petrouidemi, by the dogged spirrits
Of Bacchus which Canary land inherrits.
By purple Aligant the bloudy gyant.
And leaden headed hollock pure and pliant.
By Birrha Martia and by Sydrack sweete
Who did with mathew Glynne in combat meete.
And by this awfull crosse vppon my blade
Of which black curres and hedghogges are affraid.
And by this fox which stinkes of Pagan bloud,
Do'st thou walke there for mischiefe or for good.

Fres.
Braue man whose spirit is approued well,
(As most aprooued panders truly tell)
Vnder greene hedges, vnder Coblers stalles,
In portall, porches, vnder batterd walles,
Which day; by night keepes watch-full centinell
To guaze the pleasures of faire Claribell
Profane arch patriark of Pancridge steeple,
The bauldy beaken of vngodly people.
With other matter which I might alleadge
To the Grand Captaine of Collman-hedge,
Marching fowle Amazonian trulls in troupes
Whose lanthornes are still lighted in their Poupes.
Some without kerchiefes, others with torne smockes;
Certaine imboch'd with piles, and some with poxes.
Others with rotten shooes and stockings rente
With carrine in each ditch keepe parliament.
In petticotes all patch'd and wast-coate torne,
And wandring with some ragge blesse euery thorne.
Which with their Targets neuer make retire,
From any breach till they their foomen sire.
Rebating the stiffe pointes of their keene blades
Till all their champions masculine proue lades.
To thee saith Frescobaldi case thy steele
Least thou the rigor of my furie feele.

Bag.
And yet I loue thee for thy martiall grace,
Thine in all seruice: shake hands and embrace.

Fresc.
A pox vpon thy coward fistes foule knaue,
And yet I loue thee roague: aske roague and haue.

Embrace fantastically.
Bagb.
Come and embrace: tis blith when malte-men meete,
And drinke till they haue lost both head and feete.
And driueling sleepe on euery stall and bench
With euery man a knee in his hand and in his Can a prettie wench
But Frescobaldi my braue Bodigonero,
Varlet of veluet, my moccado villaine,
Old heart of durance, my stript canuase shoulders,
And my Perpetuana pander tell me;
Tell me what humors Cataplasmatick,
Excited haue thy Bacchick fantasies:
To draw that triumphant swerli dildido,
Vpon some spirit of the Buttery,

Fris.
This was no barmie spirit of the bottle,
It was a bloudy spirit of the battell:
And if I lye, call me thy Wimble-cock.

Bag.
A mouldy iest, well I will answere thee:
I coniure thee by Negra Luciaes name,
By Dol Pattenti, by the subtill shape,
Of Nanna Baliker, by the cunning fleights
Of Vini Clerilicks with hir faire sprights:
By Mega Court, with Marga Marichalus,
That in Turnuliball doth keepe an Ale-house:
By Nan Riuehomo that hote stigmatist,
Now bedded with th'Italian Vitraillist,
Which in the fierie Phlegitonian flames,
Did worke strange vitriall dildidoes for Dames,
Her spirits haue no power to touch this strand.
Till they transported from Lambechia land,
By Charon Ferriman of Black Auerne,
Fall Anchor at the Stilliard Tauerne,
And by Tartarean Plutoes Heben bowle,
Why didst thou combate with thy Fathers soule?

Fres.
Learned Magitian, skild in hidden Artes,
As well in prior as posterior parts,
I see thou kennist the secrets of all sorts,
Of sharpe siringues and salacious sports:
Venerall Buboes, Tubers Vlcerous,
And Iannes De fisticanckers venemous,
Doubtlesse Don Vigo then his vigor pour'd
Into thy braines, when he thy bottle scour'd.
Noble Henrilico question no further,
My meditations are of bloud and murther,
I ieasted haue too long, pree-thee be gone.
Henrico Baglioni (by this sword)
I am to morrow to performe a duell,
And practising in this nights melancholie,
How to dispatch it with a braue stoccadoe.
Heere I did make a proofe, prithie good-night,
Trouble me now no more: early to morrow,
Ile march vnto the signe oth frying-panne,
And take thee timely with thy pointes vntrust,
To drinke a flagon of greeke wine with thee.

Bag.
Goodnight my noble Rillibilbibo,
Thou shalt be welcome in the darkest midnight.
Exit Bagli.

Fris.
Now to my watchword it is quight forgot, oh
Col nuuolo la Pioggia: thinke vpon it.
The clocke strikes eleuen.
This is mine hower appoynted this the place,
Here will I stand close till tha'llarum call,

he stands behind the post.
Enter a Page with a torche, Duke of Candie and Cæsar Borgia disguised.
Can.
What ist a clocke boy now?

Pag.
My gratious Lord,
By Sistoes horologe tis strooke eleuen.

Cæsa.
A fit hower for our purpose noble brother,

Can.
But hath La Bella formiana notice,
Of our aproch to night.

Cæs.
Oh doubt it not, villaine put out that torch,
The boy putteth out the torch.
Being disguis'd we will not be discryed,
Depart you to my lodging presently,
Paine of thy life not one word that thou saw vs.

Exit page.
Can.
Tis very darke, good brother goe before,
You know the streets best.

Cæsa.
Oh keepe your way; you cannot lightly fall,
But if you doe.

Can,
How then.

Cæsa.
You shalbe supported.

Can.
My heart begins to throb, my soule misdoubts,
I feare some treachery A che me fido, guarda me Dio,
On in Gods name.

Cæs.
Giue me your hand brother, fie doe not faint.

Can.
Cæsar I can scarse goe,
A suddaine qualme hath seaz'd vpon my spirits.

Cæs.
Tut brother forward with alacritie,
My life for yours youle be at ease anon,

Can.
Tis a foule busines let vs retire,
And seeke some other seasone for our sports,

Cæs.
I am asham'd thou should'st be generall,
To lead those forces that fight for the Church,
And heere shew such faint harted cowardize.

Can.
Are you dispos;d to quarrell in the streets,
Neither the time nor place serues instantly;
To call you to some audit for these words.

Cæs.
Abortiue Coward borne before thy time,
Cæsar trips vp Candies heels.
I will not brooke thy foolish insolence.
Col nuuolo la pioggia.

Cæsar and Frescobaldi stab him.
Can.
Deere God reuenge my wrongs, receaue my soule.

Cæs.
Let him receaue thy soule when he thinkes good,
Ile take an order for thy buriall.
Helpe Frescobaldi let vs heaue him ouer,
That he may fall into the riuer Tiber,
Come to the bridge with him.

Fres.
Be what he will the villaine's ponderous,
Hath he some gould about him shall I take it?

Cæs.
Take it were there a million of duckets,
Thou hast done brauely Frescobaldi,
Stretch thee, streth out thine armes feare that he
Fall not vpon the arches.

Fres.
Ile wash him doubt you not of a new fashion.

Cæs.
I thinke thou neuer hadst thy Christendome,
Follow for Company prenitious villaine.

Fres.
Hold hold, Coxwounds my Lord hold,

Cæs.
The diuell goe with you both for company.

Cæsar casteth Frescobaldi after
Cæsar
solus.
Now Cæsar Muster vp thy wittes together.
Summon thy sences and aduance thy selfe,
Ware and Earth haue interpos'd their bodies,
Betwixt the worldes bright eye and this blacke murther.
Sweete silent night (guarded with secret starres)
Keepe silence, and conceale this Tragedie;
Saturne is lord ascendant of this hower,
Propitious patron of assassinates
Of murthers, Paracides, and massacres:
Lord of my birth, auspitious to my life,
This is my first degree to domination.
Who can, or (if they could) who dare suspect,
How Cæsar Borgia kild his brother Candie?
This is infallible, that many crimes
Lurke vnderneath the robes of Holinesse:
And vnderneath my Purple tunicle
This fact concealed is: Ascanio Sforza
Shall strangely (by some wilie policies)
Be brought into suspect for Candies death.
Sister Lucretia thou must follow next:
My fathers shame and mine, endeth in thee.
Now shew thy selfe true Cæsar; Cæsar shall
Either liue Cæsar like, or not at all.

Guicchiardine.
Death and bloud onely lengthen out our Scœne,
These be the visible and speaking shewes,
That bring vice into detestation,
Vnnaturall murthers, cursed poysonings,
Horrible exorcisme, and Inuocation,
In them examine the rewarde of sinne.
What followes, view with gentle patience.