The Divils Charter A tragaedie Conteining the Life and Death of Pope Alexander the sixt |
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ACTVS. 5.
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 | The Divils Charter |  |
ACTVS. 5.
SCÆ. 1.
Enter Cæsar after a florish of trumpets with Drums, ensignes, soldiers, Barbarossa, Cardinall Caraffa Bentiuogli. Baglioni.Cæsa.
Now that by cunning force and pollicie,
All the free states and citties of Romania
Subiected are vnto the Church of Rome.
And that our pikes and swordes in blood and slaughter,
Are staind and sheath'd quiet in our scaberds,
Our blood and wounds stanch'd and bound vp in scarfs,
Let vs for this could season of the yeare,
Rest vs and cheere our selues till the next spring.
And then march forward with alacrity.
Braue Barbarossa take these souldiers,
Vnto some quarter where by sound of drum,
According to their muster giue them pay,
Let them be satisfied and so dischargd.
Fellowes in armes faithfull and valiant,
I thanke you for your paines and honesties,
In token of our good heart to your seruice,
Wee giue each common soldier more then pay,
Two ducates: and all other officers.
According to their place redoubled,
With many thankes for your exceeding valor,
Assuring you that in these warres with vs,
Cæsar shall make you Captaines of your spoyles,
And so doth he commend you to your ease.
Sold.
A Cæsar a Cæsar God saue Cæsar.
Exit Barba.
Sound trumpets and a florish with drums marching with soldiers.
Sirra come hether you must wayte on me.
My good Lord Cardinall and Bentiuoli,
Much thankes and deere acceptance of your loues,
I louingly returne for your great paines.
Caraff.
His Holinesse gaue vs in serious charge,
To giue you greeting and withall prepares
A sumpteous feast for that solemnity,
To which he doth inuite the Cardinalls
With other Lords your fauourers in Rome.
Cæs.
Humbly commend my duty to my father
Tell him this night I purpose to be with him,
Pointing at letters in his hand.
Tell him I liue in health and touching these,
I pray you certifie his Holinesse,
I will haue speciall care: and so my Lords
For a small season I will take my leaue.
Ben.
We do congratulate your safe returne.
Exit Caraffa & Bent. Casar looketh on his letters.
Cæs.
Come hither Baglioni speake sincerely,
Knowst thou Brandino Rotsi th'apothecary.
Bag.
What I my gratious Lord? know I my selfe?
Cæs.
How should I know that sir?
Ba.
May it please your highnes he serues his Holines.
Cæ.
He did indeed somtime and for his villanies,
Is worthily cast of; but tell me sirra:
Thou do'st remember how for breach of armes
When thou didst stab a certaine lance-prizado:
I pardon'd thee thy life.
Bag.
True my good Lord I very well remember,
He was a lowsie villaine, marry was he,
And if he liued yet such is my stomacke,
That were he chopt in mammockes I could eate him:
But for that honour in a souldiers word
Ile spend my life to do your highnesse seruice.
Cæs.
Hast thou thy peece then ready.
Bag.
Oh my good Lord lies fix, sound as a bell,
Good flask and touch-box, a Valentia blade
A slauish dagger, powder of Rhemes and bulletes
Here they beene.
Cæs.
Somtime this after-noone within the parke,
Next, to the Vattcan, Ratsie wilbe:
And as I know thee stout and resolute,
Bestow a bullet on him as he passeth;
Few words; if any man attach thee for it,
By my protection thou shalt be enlarged.
Bag.
And if I do not my good Lord damme me for it
I haue an old grudge at him cole black curre,
He shall haue two steele bullets strongly charg'd
Nay but heere me my Lord?
Ile tell you what,
By this true fox of steele
I had as good a spaniell for the water,
As euer hunted ducke: and this true villaine
Because my dog did eate vp a pannado
Within his house; what did that Spanish roague?
What did he thinke you my Lord?
Marry very faire and instantly
Poysond my Spaniell with Rosa-solis,
A pox on him micher, faith ile pay him his olde fippence for't now.
Cæs.
Take this to buy thee clothes my trusty seruant,
Nay tis gold be not affeard of it.
Bag.
Affeard my Lord
Were it a tempest in a showre of gold
I would indure it and adore you for't.
Cæs.
Then Baglion fit thee, to thy furniture,
Watch in a corner close beyond some tree:
And when the deed is done repaire to me:
Say that thy peece went off against thy will,
Keepe a light match in cock, weare flaske and touch-box:
And take a murren with thee so fare-well;
And thus must saue a villaine from the gallows
To play my partes in others purposes.
The man whome I to benefit would choose,
I must in matters of more moment vse:
Or els I will not benefit a man,
And cut him of in sequell if I can.
Bag.
Here me, but my good Lord marke my words well,
If old Henrilico shrink in this seruice
Casseir him, call him whip-stock, let him perish,
For want of Spanish wines, and maluasie.
Cæs.
Then faile not my true seruant finely, closely.
Exit Cæs.
Bag.
No more, but by this crosse,
Why now this Noble Cæsars like himself,
Hath fitted me with seruice: if the world,
Had sought out som-what to content a man,
Nothing could better please old Ballion
Then to kill a raskall, coward, curre,
A Spanish squirt-vp, a black poysning toade.
I like this trading better then the warres
For there I serue for two ducates a month,
And not a duck egge richer when I march
And in continuall hazard of my life
For which percase my peece kills twenty persons:
Now shall I march in purse with many ducates,
For one houres seruice but to kill one man,
Free from all danger of mine enemy,
I will about it and take vp my stand.
Exit.
Enter Bernardo.
Bern.
Thus doth one hideous act succeed an other,
Vntill the mouth of mischeife be made vp:
Now must I traine my fellow to his death,
A deed of ruth and I did sweare the same,
Not only for the secrecy thereof.
Of greater moment and high cruelty:
When any deed of murther must be done,
To serue his Holinesse, call for Bernardo.
He must be principall or accessary
To serue all purposes; for gold or pardone,
The Pope giues both; and I can take them both:
Gold can make hard the softest conscience,
And mine is harden'd by the practise of it.
Holla Signeor Bandino.
He knocketh at a dore,
Enter Rotsie.
Rot.
Who calls without there? what my good fellow Bernardo?
Very welcome: what newes with you?
Ber.
My Lord hath sent me for the things he spake of.
Rot.
Here they be very strong and sufficiently compounded
According to directions from his Holinesse,
And speciall warrant vnder his priuy signet
I tried them on three men condemn'd to death:
For rapine and vile murther: but the first
Within lesse then one quarter of an houre,
Puft vp, grew leaprous and his heart strings broake;
Then did I giue allay the second time,
Enter Baglioni with his peece.
The second prizoner died within three houres
I did the third time mittigate, a little,
And saw when it was minister'd the third man,
Who did within eight houres swell, rage and die.
Ber,
Well haue you done your part, set downe your bottels,
And read this letter from the Duke Valentinoys,
He setteth downe his bottels and walking readeth to himselfe.
Bag.
Well sayd braue Pincoginger, by mine honour
Before I do this seruice lie there peece.
For I must haue a saying to those bottels,
He drinketh.
True stingo stingo by mine honour. Oh that mine old friend
and Boccadillio Frescobaldi We are heare aliue againe to taste of
this other bottle, Well I will venter vpon it, that I may drinke
one health To Frescobaldi, I will encounter with this stout Hectorean,
Greeke.
Like a Boracchio armed all in sacke,
Or stoute Achilles in a pewter coate,
Or old Assaracus armed in a wicker Iyrkin,
Or Priamus armed with a leather Iacket,
Lin'd and imbost with Alligant and Hollock
By forch of armes and Mars his valiant hand,
I would encounter them whilst I could stand.
The slaues are buisie reading their paphlagonian papers,
I must haue a saying to you sir I must; though,
You be prouided for his Holmes owne mouth; I will be,
Bould to be the Popes taster by his leaue.
Now trusty Troylus, base los manos.
Rot.
Let him alone it is the Dukes pleasure,
That if he will taste he shall be suffered,
And therefore I was commanded to set them downe,
In presence of such a fellow whome for his sawcinesse,
I haue pepered.
Bern.
Oh tis a perilous villeine if you knew him so well as I,
beleeue me he would peper you for it if he vnderstood so much,
peace man he hath broken vp the bottle let him drinke.
Rotsi.
Nay let him drinke and burst, for beleeue me I was
enform'd before of such a fellowe; for whome I was commanded
to lay bate; oh notable villeine, how he sealeth death.
Brg.
This is a Noble nipster ifaith, so so.
He drinckth.
Backe againe to kennell slaue.
Rot.
He hath his full wages dout not Bernardo, to serue him
till he die, seeme not to respect him in any case doe I pray you.
Ber.
Nay but doe not you respect him, least he doubte you
suspect him.
Rot.
Oh doubt you not, doubt you not, I wil neuer looke, let vs
composed of all those drugges mentioned in your letter, giue
the Duke right humble thankes for his token, and with all reuerence
kisse his excellent hand.
Bern.
And by this signet you are to deluiuer me the bottles.
Rot.
Haue a care of them and deliuer them.
Bernardo receaueth the bottles.
Ber.
Farewell fellow Rotsi.
Rot.
Adieu Bernardo.
Ber.
Now doe not I pitty this Spanish villaine because hee
consented to the poysoning of this soldier, but for that I am
innocent.
They goe forth two seuerall wayes and Rotsi is shot by Baglioni.
Bag.
What is the wild goose fallen? haue at you Sir, might a
poore soldier speake halfe a score woords to your venemous
worship and according to your accustomed surlinesse haue no
reply all: I beleeue you sir, your wordes are not offenciue in any
sort I must confesse. Now thou infectious slaue, thou compictious
Rascal, thou confectionary villeine: where is you sublimatum
now sir? where is your Ratsbanatum now? now where are your
poysoned pullets in stued-broth? where bee they? you neuer
drempt of a poysoned bullet, did you goe too? now Signor currigantino
will I romage in the worme eaten keele of your rotten
hulke: passion of my soule what papers are these. Foh powder,
powder foh, whats here I marry sir I like this well, are you so
pursie sir, this may serue to stop a gap in my neighbours hedg,
what is this you show me with a shame to you, yea and maister
of the small ordinance to, this Basilisk hath beene often mounted
where there hath beene hot and dangerous siruice in the Ile
of Iapan, hold passion of me my guts, out vpon thee thou hast
poysoned mee with thy stinking breath or with thy villonous
powders out alasse alasse what firie commotions I feele in
my bodie gryping fretting and suming, a plague on your
in all these extreame agonies! must draw this villeine further:
and throw him into a ditch, Deh veleno dell Diabolo, farewell
farewell my old Shurcordillio Frescobldi: farewell Madam
Sempronia, for in conscience I am guilty of mine owne death oh
the pangs of hell and purgatory; come you lowsie Raskall I
will bury thee with carryon in the next ditch.
He draweth in Rotsi by the heeles groning.
SCÆ. 3.
Alexander, Cæsar Borgia.Alex.
Haue you deliuered to the bottleman,
The fatall wine.
Cæs.
I I gaue charge to Bernardo,
Hauing them safely seald with mine owne signet,
That when feasting I do call for wine,
He shall breake vp the seales and fill that out,
For the two Cardinalls Cornetto and Modina.
Alex.
Tis well, now if our plot proue right,
Thou shalt be maister of much welth to night,
Dying in estate all comes to my share,
Caraffa loues a sallet passing well,
And I haue fitted one to serue his turne,
Their gould will make thy soldiers fight in blood,
And winge thy victories with good successe.
Cæsa.
Let vs noe longer entertaine the time,
By this the Cardinalls expect our presence.
Allex.
On with auspicious steps triumphant Cæsar.
And entertaine them in braue iollity.
Exit.
SCÆ. 4.
Sound loud musicke: a cuppord of plate brought in. Enter with bottles Bernardo with the bottleman.Ber.
Haue spetiall care you that haue these in charge,
That these two sealed bottels be not stird,
Vntill his Holines call for that wine
Bot.
Feare not I will attend it as my life.
Sound trumpets solemnly, enter a table spread, Viandes brought in: after the trumpets sound drums and fif; enter Alexander in his pontificalls, after him Cornetto with Cæsar, Barbarossa with Modina, Bentiuoli with Caraffa, the Pope taketh his place, three Cardinalls on one side and captaines on thother.
Alx.
Martiall your selues heere sworne-men and there Church-men.
Cæs.
Here sit we swordmen to defend the Church.
Alex.
My Lords giue answere in sinceritie,
Hath not my Cæsar fought well for the Church?
That hath so soone subiected in her right.
Imola, Furly, Camerino, Capua,
Vrbine, Faenza, Sinegaglia.
Braue Cæsar I must bost of it in presence,
That I Christes vicare of his Church on earth,
Haue such a sonne which issued fuom my loynes,
That being vicare of the Churches warres.
Hath in reuolution of one year,
Done more then all the generalls haue done,
In honor of our Church for fortie yeares,
Corn.
Your Holines with all your Cardinalls,
Your barrons and indeed all christendome
Are bound to giue God thankes for such a Prince.
The Deuill commeth and changeth the Popes bottles.
Mod.
Your excellence did in a blessed hower.
Surrender vp your Holy robes and hat,
Betaking you to burganet and armes,
By which you might enlarge our liberties.
Car.
Ifaith my Lord and soe we haue all of vs good cause to
reioyce, would I had bene with your excellence at Capua, I
would had one bout with them as old as I am.
Cæs.
You might my Lord haue had your choyse of Ladies,
Bewtifull prisoners to be sent to Rome.
Cara.
I marry my Lord some what might haue beene said to
this geere in diebus illis, but transeant cum ceteris erroribas, would
to GOD I weare as young as when I was a Scholler in Padua,
faith then I could haue swingd a sword and a buckler, and I
did that then wil being but a spring all of 24. yeares which be
talkt of in Padua these 40. yeares I warrant it faith my Lord
were I so lusty now I would goe with you to the warres this
next spring thats flat, wil you eate any sallet my Lord, faith here
are excellent herbes if you loue them.
Cæsa.
They be my Lord too cold for my stomacke, wilt please
you my Lord to drinke a cup of old Greeke wine with it, bring
me some wine here.
Alex.
Bring me some wine here I will drinke a Ioy to Cæsar
and this Noble company.
Cæs.
Some wine for his Holines owne mouth, Bernardo.
Wine is brought to Alexander.
Alex.
Cæsar your selfe are master of this feast,
I drinke a good successe and victory,
Alexander drinketh, trumpets sound.
To Cæsar and great happines to all.
Cæsar drinketh.
Cæsa.
Happy successe and fortune to you all.
Alex.
Hold Cæsar; stay for wee are poysoned,
rush from the table.
My Lord it is all of.
Alex.
Then art thou quite vndone.
Cæs.
Some villanous conspiracie lyes hid
Within this company, and this pernicious villaine
Cæsar stabbeth Bernardo.
Hath practiz'd with them; goe with thy soule to hell,
I feele the raging of it.
Corn.
Away my Lord Modina come away,
This traine was laide of purpose for our liues.
Modi,
Our refuge and defence is from aboue,
Let Sathan worke, he neuer shall preuaile.
Exit Corn. and Modiua.
Caraff.
How doth my gratious Lord.
Alex.
Oh very sick: bring me preseruatiues,
I thinke I haue as good as any man.
Alex. to his studie.
Cæs.
My Lord Bentiuogli take heere my keyes,
You know my study, search my Cabbinet,
There shall you finde a little Christall Phiall,
Wrapt vp in Sarcenet bring it hether straight,
I feele Vesenus raging in my guttes.
Exit.
Alex.
Heere Cæsar taste some of this precious water,
Against all plague, poison, and pestilence
A present helpe: I bought it of a Iew,
Borne and brought vp in Galily.
Cæsar tasteth.
Cæs.
My Lord it is too forceable and hotte.
Alex.
The flames of Mongibell consume my liuer,
Bring me to some repose.
Caraff.
Comfort your selfe my Lord.
Alex.
Cæsar take rest,
Send for Physitions, all my feare remaines
That Cæsar shall miscarry.
Cæs.
And all my griefe that both.
Noble Bentiuogli with-draw we both,
Vnto my Chamber, I am very sick.
Exeunt omnes.
SCEN. 5.
Enter Astaroth and calleth.Asta.
Belchar, Belchar, Belchar;
Bel.
Varca, Uarca, Varca,
Var.
Astaroth, Astaroth, Astaroth.
The diuills meete and embrace.
Asto.
Let Orcus Erebus and Acheron,
And all those Ghosts which haunt the pitchy vaultes
Of cole black hags in Cimerian shades
Muster themselues in numbers numberlesse,
To daunce about the Ghost of Alexander.
Uar.
Our firy region voyd of all religion,
And diuilish order by necessity,
Compell'd requires his present policy.
Bel.
That fatall wine which for his Cardinalls,
He destined I tooke out of the place:
And plac'd his owne wine for those Cardinalls.
Bar.
The date of his damnation is at hand.
Asta.
Be ready then for I the first will beare,
As swift as wirl-winde his black soule to Stix.
Bel.
And I with poysned toads will stop his mouth,
Whose heart was neuer satisfied with lust.
Asta.
And I with snakes and stinging Scorpions
Will scourge him for his pride and insolence.
Var.
And I with force of fiends will hall his limmes,
And pull them till he stretch an achor length.
Bel.
And for his auarice I will fill his paunch,
With store of moulten gold and boyling leade.
Asto.
Then let vs for his sake a horne-pipe treade.
They dance an antick.
SCEN. Vltima.
Alexander vnbraced betwixt two Cardinalls in his study looking vpon a booke, whilst a groome draweth the Curtaine.Alex.
You talke of pennance and of penitence,
Compunction with contrition and remission
For all my sinnes; I pray you thinke of yours
You vex your selues too much I cannot thank you,
Haue patience sirs; oh tis a goodly exorcisme
Quem penitet peccasse pæne est innocens
Giue leaue, giue leaue, come hither when I call
Eyther mere fooles or good phisitions all.
They place him in a chayre vpon the stage, a groome setteth a Table before him.
Nay leaue me good my lords, faine would I meditate,
Leaue me I pray you.
Caraf.
We leaue our praiers with your Holinesse,
Call vpon God, thinke of his endlesse bounty.
Ale.
Pray for your selues, troble not me with praiers,
I pray you troble not your selues with praying.
Alex.
solus.
What is repentance? haue I not forgotten?
He looketh vpon a booke.
Why repentance is a spirituall martiredome,
Which mortifieth sinnes and heales the soule:
Hauing beene wounded with the spirits sword
This sword Gods booke: that booke by me profain'd
And by which booke of God my soule is damn'd,
I damn'd vndoubtedly.
Oh wretched Alexander, slaue of sinne
And of damnation; what is he that can
Deliuer thy poore soule? oh none but he
That when thou didst renounce him cast of thee,
Repentance is in vaine, mercy too late,
Whose languashing breath liues in his nostrills
Vex and torment himselfe with dayly trauell
To scrape vp heapes of gold to gape for honors?
What were the conquests of great Alexander:
Of Cyrus, Cayus Cæsar? what were it
To be possessed of this vniuerse
And leaue it all behind him in a moment?
Might some one man attaine that happinesse
Which our first Adam had in Parradice,
Before he did preuaricate? why then
It were a worke oflasting worthinesse
To rippe the bowells of our mother Ops
For treasure; and to conquer all the world,
Because eternity would promise it,
Out, out alas my paines, my guttes, my liuer
And yet I feare it not: though in security
Once more I will with powrefull exorcismes,
Inuoke those Angells of eternall darkenesse
To shew me now the manner of death.
Alexander draweth the Curtaine of his studie where hee discouereth the diuill sitting in his pontificals, Alexander crosseth himselfe starting at the sight.
Diu.
What dost thou start foule child of reprobation
Vaine are thy crosses, vaine all exorcismies,
Those be no fruites of faith but mere hypocrisie:
Signa te signa temere me tangis & angis
Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor.
Rome Which once was thy gorgeous concubine
Hath now forsaken thee: now doth she finde,
Thy falshood which did her adulterate
What dost thou tremble slaue of sinne and hell?
Alexander taketh his booke of Magike, the Diuil laugheth.
I exorcise thee foule malignant spirit
In the names of, of, of—
Diuil.
Of what? foule mouth, poluted soule?
Corrupted flesh; God hath forsaken thee,
Thy date expired is, thy powre determined.
Alex.
Dissolue, dissolue, break, breake, black soule dissolue,
And poyson all this hemisphere with sinne.
Diu.
Thy death and dissolution stand at dore,
Resolue now to dissolue, thy soule is ours.
Alex.
Proud Lucifer Traytor, to great Iehouah,
Father of lies my time is not expir'd
I will not do that violence to God,
Taking that which is his from him
To be bestow'd on his great enemy.
Diu.
Thou that hast throwne those graces in his face,
How canst thou think vpon saluation?
Think that th'art damn'd. I will declare it plainely.
They sit togither.
Alex.
Seauen years are yet to come, I look for them.
Diu.
Examine thy soule with this counterparte.
Alex.
Behold it? is it not for eight years & 8. daies?
Diu.
Thou foole examine in Arithmetik,
Numbers without distinction placed thus.
Annos with the figure 11. signifying eleuen years, & the figure,
Seauen applyed to Dies importing seauen daies.
Alex.
How? how? how? how? howes that?
Deh quella malitia del Diabolo: Deh quello veleno del inferno.
And for what stands this figure then?
Diu.
Why for eighteene this figure stands for octauo referred
vnto die last before, signifying th'eight day after, so that Annos
vndicem without distinction signifying eleauen years; and this
figure seauen added to daies; and that octauo post, importing the
eight day following, moriere, thou shalt die. I meane thy bodie
with thy soule in respect of Heauen.
And this is thy last day design'd by fate.
Thou canst not mock me with thy Sophistrie,
My soule is more diuine and cannot perish.
Diuil.
Thy soule foule beast is like a Menstruous cloath,
Poluted with vnpardonable sinnes.
Alex.
Know then malignant Angell of confusion,
My soule is a diuine light first created
In liknesse liuely formed to the word,
Which word was God, that God the cause of causes,
My soule is substance of the liuing God,
Stampt with the seale of heauen, whose Carracter
Is his eternall word, at which hell trembles.
Diuil.
And what of that? thou therein hast no part,
I do confesse thy soule was first ordayn'd
To good: but by free-will to sinne thou slaue,
Hast sold that soule from happinesse to hell.
Alex.
Marke yet what I can answer for this soule.
Mightie Iehouah most exuperant,
Two creatures made in feature like himselfe,
The world and man: world reasonable and immortall,
Man reasonable, but dissoluble and mortall,
And therefore man was called Microcosmus,
The little world, and second tipe of God,
Conteyning those high faculties and functions,
And elements which are within the world.
Man then that doth participate with all,
Through operation, conuersation, and simbolisation,
With matter in the subiect properly,
With th'elements in body quadrifarie,
With growing plants in vertue vegitatiue
In sence with beasts; with heauens by th'influence
Of the superiour spirits into th'inferiour
In wisedome and capacitie with Angels,
With Eloym in that great continent,
Is without doubt preserued by that God,
Finding all things conteined in himselfe.
Diuil.
Answer me vaine Philosopher to this,
Not looking on thy detestable soule,
Which first like a pure leafe of whitest Lilly,
Cleere from all blemish was bestow'd by God,
And thou foule beast didst shamefully polute it.
Is it not one of humaine faculties,
To propose for your selues the best you can,
Where other creatures carryed with blinde force,
Make them-selues bond-slaues to the present time.
The scope of mans creation was to glorifie
The most all potent maker of all things,
The Alpha and Omega of all bountie.
But he that wilfully betrayes this soule,
That pretious Iewell wherein God delights,
Dishonors God and doth depriue himselfe,
Of all saluation and beatitude.
Alex.
Rest with this answer, that my soule is Gods
Whose habitacle is prepar'd in heauen.
First it doth know God being figured
According to that Image of himselfe,
And then the world whose liuely shape it beares,
And to conclude, the soule of man knowes all,
Because with all things it doth simbolize,
For in this Man there is a minde intelligent,
A quickning word and a celestiall spirit,
That like a lightning euery way diffused,
All things which are made by the mighty power,
Vniteth, moueth, and replenisheth.
Diu.
These things should haue beene thought vpon before,
The summum bonum which liues in the soule,
Is an eternall pleasure to behold,
And haue fruition of the mightie power.
Which thou didst neuer see, nor canst enioy.
Alex.
Pawse yet a little, let me meditate.
Alexander holdeth vp his hands wringing and softly crying.
Mercy, mercy, mercy; arise arise: vp, vp, vp: fy, fyino, no? stirre
stubburne, stonie, stiff indurate heart not yet, vp. why, what? wilt
thou not foule traytor? to my soule? not yet?
Arise, arise, aduaunce heart clogg'd with sinne,
Oppressed with damnation: vp aduaunce yet.
Wilt thou not stirre stiffe heart? what am I damn'd?
Yet a little, yet a little, oh yet: not yet? alas.
High God of heauens and earth if thou beare loue,
Vnto the soule of sinfull man shew mercy,
Mercy good Lord, oh mercy, mercy, mercy.
Oh saue my soule out of the Lyons pawes,
My darling from the denne of blacke damnation,
My soule, my doue, couer with siluer wings,
Her downe and plumage make of fine tryed gould,
Help, help, help, aboue stirre, stirre, stupiditie.
Diu.
He charmes in Dauids words with Iudas spirit,
Alex.
It will not, no it will not, yet alas, no, no, no? is that my
sentence to damnation?
Diuill.
He shall dispaire, vassall of sinne and hell,
Prouide thy selfe in black dispaire to dwell.
He ceazeth on his face.
Alex.
I tell thee I cannot be resolu'd,
To dwell in darkenesse breake black soule dissolue,
And poyson all this Hemisphere with sinne,
Heere Alexander is in extreame torment and groneth whilst the diuill laugheth at him.
Alex.
And if I may not reach that happinesse,
Since for my sonnes sake I my selfe inthral'd,
Tell me shall Cæsar die this death with me?
Diuill.
Cæsar; his youth and strength of blood driues out
This fatall poyson and shall liue a while.
Alex.
Oh shew me then the manner of his death,
Diu.
Attend it time growes short all feare is past.
Alex.
What meanes that ghastly shadow which came first?
Diuil.
By that which represents Lucretia,
Leprous and poisoned is thy death declar'd,
By poyson which now struggleth with thy spirits,
And by that other which sets out to thee,
The murther of thy sonne the Duke of Candy,
Prefigur'd is the death of thy sonne Cæsar,
Thou for the poysoning of thy daughter poysoned:
He for the murthering of his brother murthered.
Alex.
Thus God is onely iust.
Diu.
The Diuill cannot deny it.
Alex.
Man onely false.
Learne miserable wretched mortall men,
By this example of a sinfull soule,
What are the fruites of pride and Auarice,
Of cruell Empire and impietie,
Of prophanation and Apostacie,
Of brutish lust falsehood, and perfidie,
Of deepe dissembling and hypocrisie,
Learne wicked worldlings, learne, learne, learne by me
To saue your soules, though I condemned be.
Sound a Horne within, enter a Diuill like a Poast.
1 Diu.
Here comes a fatall message, I must hence.
Exit.
Alex.
My roabes, my roabes; he robs me of my roabes,
Bring me my roabes, or take away my life,
My roabes, my life, my soule and all is gone.
Alexander falleth in an extasie vpon the ground.
2. Diuil.
From the pale horror of eternall fire,
Am I sent with the wagon of blacke Dis,
To guide thy spirit to the gates of death,
Therefore I summon thee to come with speed,
For horrizons now stand thee not insteed.
Alexander aduanceth a little.
Alex.
Horror and horror, feare ensueth feare,
Dispaire vpon dispaire, damnation
Vpon damnation, hell and consience,
Murther, lust, auarice impiety,
Vaine prophanation and apostacie,
Rage and distraction tiranize: away,
Away proud Lucifer, away.
Diuill.
away, away.
The Diuill windeh his horne in his eare and there more diuills enter with a noise incompassing him, Alexander starteth.
Alex.
Holla, holla, holla, come, come, come, what, when, where
when, why, deaf, strike, dead, aliue, oh alas, oh alas, alwaies burning,
alwayes freezing, alwayes liuing, tormented, neuer ending,
neuer, neuer, neuer mending, out, out, out, out, why, why, whether,
whether, thether.
Diuills.
Thether, thether, thether.
Thunder and lightning with fearefull noise the diuells thrust him downe and goe Triumphing.
Enter Cardinalls and Bentiuoli.
Bent.
What is he dead?
Car.
Dead, and in such a fashion,
As much affrights my spirits to remember,
Thunder and fearfull lightning at his death,
Out cries of horror and extremity.
Bent.
Cause all your bells to ring my lords of Rome,
Rome is redeemed from a wicked Pope.
Car.
God hath beheld vs with his eyes of mercy,
His name be glorified, ioyne all in prayer,
And giue him praise that tooke away your shame.
Bent.
Goe your procession, sing your letinies,
And let your Churches through with multitudes,
Banquets and bonfiers through the Citty make.
In signe our Church is freed from infamy,
Car.
Euen as his spirit was inflate with pride,
His corps shall be conuaied to saint Peeters,
Open for all beholders, that they may
See the reward of sinne, amend and pray.
Guicchiardine.
Th'omnipotent great guider of all powers,
(Whose essence is pure grace, and heauenly loue,
As he with glorie crownes heroyick actions,
Bearing a taste of his eternall vertue)
So semblably doth he with terror strike,
In heauie vengeance sinnes detestable:
As in this tragike myrrour to your eyes,
Our sceane did represent in Alexander,
Flagicious Cæsar his ambicious sonne,
Reseru'd for more calamities to come,
After he was imprisoned by the Church,
Escap't into the kingdome of Nauarre,
Vnto King Iohn then brother to his wife:
Where in an ambush at Viano slaine,
Iust Nemesis repaide his treacherie.
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