University of Virginia Library

ACTVS. 1.

SCÆN. 1.

Enter marching after drummes & trumpets at two seuerall places, King Charles of France, Gilbert Mompanseir, Cardinall of Saint Peter ad Vincula: soldiers: encountring them Lodowik Sforza, Charles Balbiano, the King of France and Lodowike embrace.
Char.
Renouned Lodowik our warlike Couzen,
Auspiciously encountred on the skirtes
Of Piedmont, we greete you ioyfully.

Lodo.
Thrise and foreuer most renowned Charles,
A faithfull tongue from an vnfained heart
As a iust herrold full of truth and honor
On the behalfe of forlorne Italie
Needing and crauing at your Princely hands,
The patronage and true protection
Of such a Potent and victorious King
Humbly salutes your royall Maiesty.
The shippe of which some-time well guided state,
Is through tempestious times malignity
By worthlesse Pilots, foolish Gouerners
Mutually factious, like to sinck through Schisme.
Into the bottome of the blacke abisme
Through th'imposition of necessity.
Do not! oh do not then (most Christian Charles)
Do not forsake hir holding vp hir hands
For succor to your royall Clemency:
Hir sayles are rent, mastes spent and rudder brooke
And vnder water such wide open leakes
As vnder water soone will make her sinke.
Hauing beene bilg'd vpon so many shelues,
So torne, so rotten and so long vnrig'd,
And playing with the waues to and againe
As one not gouerned with helpe of helme.
One then whome nature in his vowes to God,
Hath tied to tender her forlone estate
With eyes fore-seeing and compassionate.
Retenders her to your high Maiestie,
A Christian Prince so wise so valiant:
Vndoubted heire vnto the Crowne of Naples,
By lawfull right of that greate house of Aniou:
Of which your grace is well knowne lawfull heire,
By th'issues of that Charles the first, that first
Of the bloud royall of the Crowne of France,
Obtain'd that Kingdome ages manie past.
These reasons weare with Lodowik Sforza mou'd,
To moue your Maiesty with martiall force
To passe these mountaines to possesse your owne.
March then most Christian and renowned Prince,
Aduance thy lilly standard potent King:
And since all skandalls are remou'd and cleer'd,
Strike vp your cheerefull drummes and march along
In Gods name; with good auspices of Saint Denys,
I know you doubt not mine integrity:
Can more grosse error rest in pollicy.
Then first to raise a turbulent sharpe storme,
And vnaduisedly to leaue defence
To doubtfull chance and possibilities.
To broach strong poyson is too dangerous,
And not be certeine of the present vertue
Which is contained in his Antidot.
Wilde fire permitted without limmit burnes,
Euen to consume them that first kindled it:
I did aduise you, I inducted you,
And Lodowike, which brought you on with honor,
Will bring you of with triumph and renowne.

Char.
Embrace me Couzen Sforza: by the soules
Of my forefathers I reioyce as much
In thy deare friendship and wise industrie,
As in the more parteof my patrimonie:
Courage togither let vs share all one,
In life, in death, in purchase or in none.
Enter a Messenger with letters to Charles.
These newes are fortunate for Daubigny,
Aduertiseth how that the Coloneses,
(Although Alfonso did accord with them,)
Declared haue them-selues for France and vs,
Without dissembling or hypocrisie.

Lodo.
Why this was it I did expect great Charles,
Our armies and our friends haue beene long sowne,
The ground well plowed, the blade is full come vp,
And doubt not we shall haue a ioyfull haruest.

Char.
Coosen Montpansier
March with your regiments to Pontremolt.
Expect vs, or from vs directions,
To meete our forces, when wee come neere Florence,
There shall you finde the Swisse with their Artillerie,
Newly by sea brought vnto Spetia,
Come Coosen march we cheerefully together,
Faire is the way, faire fortune, and faire wether,

Mompansier with some souldiers and Ensignes before. King Charles with Lodowike and his soldiers after.

SCENA. 2.

Enter 2. Gentlemen with Libels in their hands.
1. Gent.
Nay such prophane and monstrous Sodomie,
Such obscure Incest and Adultery,
Such odious Auarice and perfidie,
Such vinolence and brutish gluttony,
So barren of sincere integritie.

2. Gent.
In whom there is no shame nor veritie,
Faith nor religion, but meere cruelty?
Immoderate ambition, guilfull treacherie,
Such prophanation and Apostacie,
And in all falsehood such dexteritie.

1. Gent.
As heauens detest, and men on earth distaste.

2. Gent.
Such impious sacriledge, such adulation:

1. Gent.
Of all good men such detestation.

2. Gent.
Such Magick skill, such diuilish incantation.

1. Gent.
Apparant figures of damn'd reprobation.

2. Gent.
As in all thoughts is thought abhomination.

1. Gent.
Time will out-strip vs; for the morning starre,
Portends the mounting of faire Phœbus Carre.

2. Gent.
Hast we, for danger drawne on by delay,
Admits no time to tarry till cleere day.

1. Gent.
Fix on your Papers, these for Alexander
And his ambitious Cæsar: set on yours.
Hale reuerent I'asquill Idoll of veritie,
As hee fixeth on his papers.
Accept these sacrifices which we bring.

2. Gent.
These be sinne offrings figuring foule vice.
Oh glorious guider of the golden Spheres,
And thou that from thy pretious lyricke strings
Makes Gods and men in heauen and earth to dance
With sacred touch of sweetest harmony:
Pitty these times, by whose malignitie,
We loose our grace, and thou thy dignity.

1. Gent.
High Muse, which whilome vertues patronized,
In whose eternall rowles of memory
The famous acts of Princes were comprized
By force of euer-liuing Historie:
What shall wee doe to call thee backe againe?
True Chronicler of all immortall glory,
When here with mortall men nought is deuis'd,
But how all stories with foule vice to staine:
So that alas thy gratious Oratorie,
Which with meere truth and vertue simpathiz'd,
Is silent; and wee Poets now with paine,
(Which in Castalian Fountaines dip'd our quilles)
Are forc'd of mens impietie to plaine;
And well thou wotest, wrought against our wills,
In rugged verse, vile matters to containe:
And herein lurkes the worst of mortall ills,
That Rome (which should be Vertues Paradice)
Bare of all good, is wildernesse of vice.

2. Gent.
How luculent and more conspicuous
Euen then the sunne, in cleerest Maiestie,
His vehement and more then hellish thirst
Soaring to pearch vpon the spire of honour
Displaies his bastard wings: and in that nest
Where princely Fawlcons, or Ioues kingly Birds,
Should hatch their young ones, plants his rauenous Harpies,
His gracelesse, impious, and disastrous sonnes,
Euen in the soueraigne Chaire of domination.

1. Gent.
But chiefly one, that diuelish Cardinall,
Proud Cæsar, farst, with fierce impietie:
His Oracle and instrument of shame
In all nefarious plotts and practises,
Is now become as wicked as himselfe:
But hast we now, least any should suspect vs.

2. Gent.
Much conference with Pasquill may detect vs.

Exeunt.

SCÆNA. 3.

Enter Gismond di Visselli, and after him Barbarossa.
Bar.

Dio viguarda Signior illustrissimo: whether in such hast
my noble Lord thus early?

Gis.

Signior Barbarossa in happy time well encountred, for I
haue some businesse this morning with my brother the Duke
of Candie, wherein I would both vse your counsell and countenance.

Bar.

My good Lord Viselli, the countenance of your deuoted
poore friend, is of lesse value then his counsell, yet both of very
small validity: such as they be, with his life and best fortunes he
sincerely sacrificeth all to your seruice.

Gis.

Pardon mee deere sir no seruice more then reciprocall,
and in due paritie betwixt vs, and since wee be so neere it, let vs
not passe Pasquill without an Aue: what scandalous hyerogliphickes
haue wee heere?

A. S. P. M.

Auaritia, Superbia, Perfidia, Malitia,

Alexander, Sextus, Pontifex, Maximus.

Against my Lord the Popes holinesse such blasphemous impudence,
such intollerable bitternesse!

M. P. S. A. These are the same letters with the first beginning
at the last, Magnum Petrum Sequitur Antichristus, Phy
Diabolo, our blessed Alexander (beeing Saint Peeters successor)
this diuilish libeller calls Antichrist.

Bar.

Pause there my Lord a litle, some-what here concernes
my Lord the Cardinall Borgia.

Gis.

Read it good Barbarossa.

Bar.

Alexander Cæsarem suum Galero et purpura donauit vt
menstruoso spiritus sui veneno, vniuersum simul conclaue suffocaret.

Gis.

Oh most intollerable abhomination?

Bar.

Alexander adopted his sonne Cæsar into the fellowship
of Cardinalls, that he with the menstruous poyson of his
breath might choake the whole Conclaue.

Gis.

By the blessed alter of Saint Peeter this villanie surpasseth
patience.

Bar.

My Lord here's a long libell.

Gis.

Read it good Barbarossa: more mischeife of my wife nay
read it.

Bar.
Quid mirum? Romæ facta est Lucretia Thais,
Vnica Alexandri filia, sponsa nurus.
The same in effect inseueth.
Welcome good Post from Rome tell vs some newes,
Lucrece is turned Thayis of the stewes:
In whome her father Alexander saw,
His onely daughter, wife, and daughter in law,
Shall I read on my Lord? here is much more.

Gis.
Nay read out all, it is but of a whore.

Bar.
Francesco di Gonsaga was the first,
That married Lucrece Alexanders daughter,
And yet the Pope those bains of bridale burst,
And made of marriage sacrament a laughter,
His reason was because that fellow poore,
Lackt maintenance for such a noble whore.

Gis.
Malignant aspect of vngratious stars,
Why haue you poynted at my miseries?

Bar.
Haue patience good my Lord and here the rest,

Gis.
Patienza per forza, but this wounds to th'quick.

Bar.
Iohn Sforza now Lord Marques of Pescare,
Was second husband to this ioly dame,
Of natures faculties he being bare,
In like state with his predecessor came,
Because he, when he should haue writ his mind,
Paper well might; but pen or incke none finde.

Gis.
Oh villainies of monstrous people,
Fashions and times deformed and vnseasonable,

Bar.

Yet my Lord a little haue patience in your
owne cause.

Gis.
Mallice performe thy worst least comming late,
I with anticipation crosse that fate. Read it, toot man.

Bar.
Gismond Viselli, nobly descended,
Is for his shamefull match much discommended.
For neuer was the shamelesse Fuluia,
Nor Lais noted for so many wooers,
Nor that vnchast profuse Sempronia.
A common dealer with so many dooers,
So proud, so faithlesse, and so voyd of shame,
As is new brodell bride Lucretia,
Take to thee Gismond both the skorne and shame,
And liue long iealous of Lucretia.
With pushing hornes keepe out all commers in,
For now thy mortall miseries begin.

Gis.
Mortall miseries? but we are all mortall,
Fortune I scorne thy malice, and thy meed,
Keepe them vp safe that I may shew them to his holines,
Is this the licence which our citty Rome
Hath giuen to beastly Bardes, and satyrists,
Ribbaldly Rimesters, and malicious curs,
To leaue no state of Church nor seculer,
Free from their ordure, and polution.
Good Barbarossa beare me Company:
Exile and Punishment for such base poets,
And stripes with wiery scourges were too litle.
Which breathing here in Rome, and taking grace:
From the faire Sunne-shine of this hemisphere,
Contaminate that ayre with their vile breath,
Obumbrating this light by which they liue,
If these were truth: this times impietie,
May soone sincke downe vnder the diety.

Exeunt.

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.

SCÆ. 5.

Enter Lucretia alone in her night gowne vntired, bringing in a chaire, which she planteth vpon the Stage.
Luc.
Lucretia cast off all seruile feare,
Reuenge thy selfe vpon thy iealous husband
That hath be raid thine honor, wrong'd thy bed:
Feare not; with resolution act his death:
Let none of Borgias race in policies
Exceed thee Lucrece: now proue Cæsars Sister,
So deepe in bloudy stratagems as hee:
All sinnes haue found examples in all times.
If womanly thou melt then call to minde,
Impatient Medeas wrathfull furie,
And raging Clitemnestraes hideous fact:
Prognes strange murther of her onely sonne,
And Danaus fifty Daughters (all but one)
That in one night, their husbands sleeping slew.
My cause as iust as theirs, my heart as resolute,
My hands as ready. Gismond I come,
Haild on with furie to reuenge these wrongs
And loue impoison'd with thy iealousie,
I haue deuised such a curious snare,
As iealious Vulcan neuer yet deuis'd,
To graspe his armes vnable to resist,
Deaths instruments inclosed in these hands.
Shee kneeleth downe.
You griefly Daughters of grimme Erebus,
Which spit out vengeance from your viperous heires,
Infuse a three-fold vigor in these armes;
I marble more my strong indurate heart,
To consumate the plot of my reuenge.
Shee riseth and walketh passionately.
Enter Gismond di Viselli vntrussed in his Night-cap, tying his points.
Heere comes the subiect of my Tragedy.

Gis.
What my Lucretia walking alone?
These solitarie passions should bewray
Some discontentment, and those gracious eyes
Seeme to be moon'd with anger, not with loue:
Tell me Lucretia, may thy Gismond know?

Luc.
Demaundst thou the cause iniurious Gismond?
When like a recluse (shut vp from the world)
I liue close prisoner to thy iealousie?
The'Esperian Dragons kept not with more watch,
The golden fruit then thou my fatall beauty:
Thou wouldst exclude me from the sight of Sunne,
But that his beames breake through some creuisies
Thou wouldst debarre me from the common ayre,
But that against my will I suck it in,
And breath it out in scalding sighes againe:
Were I in Naxos where no noise is heard
But Neptunes rage, no sights but ruthelesse rocks.
Or in the Libian deserts or exchang'd
This Hemisphere of Rome forth' Antipodes,
Were not so grieuous as to dwell in Rome,
Banish'd from sight and conference of friends.

Gis.
Banist thou my iealousie? nay blame thy beauty,
And loue imprison'd in those amorous lookes:
I feare the Sunnes reflections on thy face,
Least he more wondring at thy precious eyes,
Then any Nimphes which he most honored,
Should beare thee to some other Paradice,
And rob me, silly man, of this worlds ioy.
I feare the windes least amorous Ioue in them,
(Enuying such pretious nature amongst men)
With extreame passion hence should hurry thee.
Oh loue is full of feare all things I feare,
By which I might be frustrate of thy loue.

Luc.
Scoffst thou mee Gismond with continuall taunts?
Oh God of heauens, shall I both suffer shame
And scorne, with such dispisd captiuitie.

Gis.
Here in the presence of the powers in Heauen,
I doe not speake in scorne, but in meere loue:
And further Lucrese, (of thy clemencie,
For loue, and beautie, both are riche in bountie)
Forgiue me what is past, and I will sweate,
Neuer to vex thee with more iealousie.

Luc.
Thou wilt forsweare thy selfe: Gismond come hither?
Sit downe and answer me this question.
Gismond sitteth downe in a Chaire, Lucretia on a stoole beside him.
When I bestowed on thee this diamond
A Iewell once held precious as my life;
And with it cast away my selfe on thee
Didst thou not promise to maintaine mine honour,
Neither in word nor deed to giue suspect
Of thy dislike; and hast thou not since then
In presence of my neerest Noble friends
Rebuk'd me like a Layis for my lightnesse?
And as a miser lockes his mony vp
So me restraind from speech and sight of them?

Gis.
When first thou didst bestow this Diamond,
It had a precious lustre in mine eye:
And was possest of vertue, when I vow'd
To maintaine that, which was impossible:
But since that time this stone hath had a slaw,
Broken within the ring, his foile growne dimme,
The vertue vanisht, and the luster lost.

She graspeth him in his chaire.
Luc.
I can no longer brooke these base rebukes.
These taunting riddles and close libellings

Gis.
Oh helpe I am strangled.

She stoppeth his mouth, pulleth out his dagger and offereth to gagge him.
Lu.
Peace wretched villaine, then reciue this quickly:
Or by the liuing powers of heauen ile kill thee.
She gaggeth him, and taketh a pape out of her boosome.
Take pen and incke: tis not to make thy will;
For if thou wilt subscribe, I will not kill.
Tis but to cleere those scandalls of my shame,
With which thy iealousie did me defame.
Gismonde subscribeth.
So now that part is playd, what followes now?
Thou Ribbauld, Cuckcold, Rascall, Libeller,
Pernicious Lecher voide of all performance;
Periurious Coxcombe, Foole, now for those wrongs
Which no great spirit could well tollerate
Come I, with mortall vengeance on thy soule.
Take this for sclandring of his Holinesse
My blessed father and my brother Cæsar
She stabbeth
With incest: this take for my brother Candy:
And this for Noble Sphorza whom thou wrongest;
And since the time is shorte I will be shorte:
For locking vp of me, calling me whore,
Setting espialls tending at my taile;
Take this, and this & this to make amends.
three stabs togither.
And put thee from thy paines;
She vnbindeth him, layeth him on the grownd, putteth the dagger in his hand, a paper on his knee, & taking certaine papers out of his pocket putteth in others in their steede: & cōuaieth away the chaire
Now will my father Alexander say
That I did take the best and safest way,
And Cæsar will approue it with his heart,
That Lucrece hath perform'd a cunning parte.
If others aske who Gismonde kild or why
It was himselfe repenting iealousie.
Exit Lucretia.

Barbarossa knocketh at a dore.
Bar.
Holla within there?
Why fellowes?

Seruingman.
Heere my Lord.

Bar.
What is my Lord Uiselli stirring yet?
My Lord the Pope expects him and the ambassadors
Of Naples craue his company.

Enter Bar. and Seruingman.
Ser.
My Lord I haue not seene him yet this morning.

Bar.
Is not your Lady Lucrce stirring yet?

Ser.

No my good Lord I thinke shee be not yet come from
her chamber, her custome is not to be seene so soone.

Bar.
Tis well, tis wel, let her take ease in gods name,
But make hast, call vp my Lord thy maister honest fellow.

Ser.
With patience of your Lordship I will speake:
For three daies space I did finde in my Lord
Passionate motions, and strange melancholie
'T may be his solitude hath drawne him forth,
I will first looke the garden and the galleries.

Bar.
Do my good friend I will expect thee in this parler here?
As Barbarossa goes on hee findeth Viselli murthered vpon the ground, and starteth.
Fellow come backe, come back, fellow come back:
Your Lord lies murthred here call vp your Lady;
Call in your fellow seruants. Deh Santa Croce.
This dagger grasped in his fatall hand
Reueales some violence, wrought on himselfe:
Could nature so much violate her selfe?
Was it not wrought by bloudy Borgines race?
I doubt in this the diuills hypochrisie,
Iustice of Heauens firme and inscrutable
Reueale it, oh reueale it in thy mercy.

Enter Lucrecia with Moticilla.
Luc.
Where is my Lord? my deare Lord?

Bar.
Tarry Lady.
Approch not neere this ruthfull spectacle;
Approch not neere this spectacle of bloud,
This ruthfull spectacle of bloud and death,
Least suddaine horror of these bleeding wounds
Wound thy distracted spirits to pale death.

Luc.
What horror or what mortall spectacle.
Vpon such suddaine hath astonished me?
Oh my deere Lord: Viselly speake to me:
Oh most disastrous accident and houre;
Ay me most wretched and vnfortunate,
My deerest Lord the treasure of my life,
The sweetest paradice of my best hopes,
Is murthred: seeke out the murtherers
Leaue not vnseartcht a corner nor a Crany:
Locke vp the dores there least that homicide
Escape vs in this passion—

Bar.
Haue patience Lady
Heauens will reueale the murther doubt it not.

Luc.
Ah Noble Barbarossa much I feare
Now with these eyes I see the murtherer,
Staind with the guilt of nature; oh my Lord
You little know that these weake womans hands
Twise rescued haue the violence of his
From killing of himselfe before this time:
Oh fie vpon the diuill, and melancholy;
Which leaue me desolate a forelorne widdow.

Mot.
Madam these papers will bewray some matter.

Luc.
Oh might I finde an other murtherer.

Bar.
These do containe some matter read them Lady.

Luc.
My heart swolne vp with sorrow, lends no light
Vnto mine eyes nor force vnto my tongue
To see one letter, or to reade one word,
I pray you reade it good Lord Barbarossa.
Barbarossa readeth.

I Gismond di Viselli through desperate griefe conceiued in iealousie
(which I bare against my Lady Lucrecia) hauing found
out by much triall, and examination her faithfulnesse and innocency,
make this my protestation as the last piacular oblation
to her for those wrongs that with mine own vnfortunate hands
I haue ended my life, desiring her and all others to forgiue me,
and pray for me, subscribed with mine owne hand, and sealed
with my seale.

Gismond de Viselli.

Il veleuo d'amore,
A me trafisse il cuore.

Mot.
Oh Lord of heauens haue pardon on his soule.

Luc.
This is his hand and seale, speake now my Lord:
Did not I soone disclose the murtherer?
Told I not that the murtherer was present?
Ah neuer neuer shall I liue to see.

she soundeth.
Bar.
Comfort you selfe deere Lady God will send succor
Your husband hath paied deerely for these wrongs.

Luc.
Giue me my Lord againe, death shall not haue him,
Come my deere Gismond, come againe my ioye:
Delay me not least I preuent thy loue
I cannot brooke delay's, Lucrece shall follow.

Lucrece offereth to stab her selfe Barbarossa preuenteth her.
Bar.
Tempt not Gods iustice Lady, fall to praier,
Helpe, in the take your Lord out of her sight.

Luc.
Oh my deare friends that see my miseries,
I you beseech in dearest tendernesse
Bring in the body of my dearest Lord;
That I before my death may (with these eyes)
Behold him honor'd in his obsequies.

Bar.
And I wil beare these papers to his Holines,
Whose sorrow wil exceed for Gismonds death.

Exeunt.
Enter Guicchiardin.
Cho.
Thus soule suspition, feare and iealousie
Of shame, dishonor, and his wiues hot lust,
Hath seaz'd vpon Viselli; whose reuenge,
Was to restraine Lucrece from Company-
But swelling pride, and lust, both limitles,
Answer'd his louing feare and shame with death.
Attend the sequell. Now successiuely
(After such warlike preparations,
So many firme hopes found in Italy)
King Charles with fifteene hundred men at armes,
Three thousand Archers, with six thousand Swisse.
French men, and Gascons twise as many more,
With martiall measures, ouer Piemont
Treads a long march after his drums and fife,
With Milans force, and now his trumpets hard,
Vnto the gates of Rome giue fresh allarms,
Vnto the Pope, who stirreth vp in armes,