 | The Change of Crownes |  |
SCENE THE THIRD
The Scene a Camp, a Pavillyon RoyallA Camp Scene
KING ALBERTO, ANDRUGIO, CASTRUCHIO and Officers Appearing as at a Councell of Warre.
ALB.
Your Counsells haue been wise, and prosperous;
And wee shall still be Guided by your prudence.
AND.
In this you will Encourage Sir our Dutyes.
ALB.
I must Confesse it will be punnishment
as high, as her neglect of vs to Advance
by our Armes, her Sisters Interest to the Crowne.
CAST.
And be Proclaym'd to th'world a Piety.
ALB.
Although her Quarrell gaue not the first Rise
to our Designe wee can Embrace it Honorably.
CAST.
you could not Sir Declare more plausibly
to the Natives, who are high in Discontents.
ALB.
Wee heare not what Successe Attends our Generall,
whome wee sent lately to Attaque the Castle
vpon the Confynes.
AND.
Twas considerable to be secur'd.
Enter VALERIO
what Newes?
VAL.
Wee are Masters of the Castle;
after a more fierce Dispute then wee Expected,
for Duke Guarini—
ALB.
Was He there?
VAL.
yes, but not mov'd with our pretence to Assert
the Queene Arianas Interest, gaue vs
a Braue Defyance; but after a long
and Desperate Engagement with some Horse
Fled toward the Mountaynes.
ALB.
where is the Princesse?
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The Princesse Ariana, whom wee Expected
not so neere, is now
Approaching to our Camp: this Chance of warre
transcended all our hopes.
Enter the Embassador SEMPRONIO
My Lord Sempronio.
ALBERTO and SEM. whisper
AND.
The Princesse in our power, and Guarini fled?
our worke is Done already. ha! observe the King,
hee's troubled on the sudden, something does
Rise in his face to Ecclipse the cheerefull Day
that shyn'd so late with our Successe; it must
be a matter of Concernment, that so soone
could worke this violent change.
SEM.
And shee Resolues to Runne the
Wm Hughes
Hazard of her Kingdome in his Cause.
ALB.
They haue started, Gentlemen,
Another King of Lombardy: a Pageant is
sett vp in Naples in Affront to vs
by the vsurping Queen.
AND.
How Sir, another King?
ALB.
yes, yes; my Brother Carolo that was Drown'd,
has wash'd off his Mortallity, and is now aliue againe.
CAST.
Your Brother Sir, Prince Carolo liuing?
theise Eyes beheld his Death; I wayted then
vpon his Highnesse, and twas my vnhappynesse.
to bring the sad newes first to Court
AND.
I had a double share in that misfortune,
I lost a father—then his Governour—
CAST.
who in Zeale to Rescue his Hignhesse from the waues
(such was the Cruelty of their Embrace) became
himselfe their prey, and his Companion.
T. Gradwell
ALB.
If the Impostor be not
surrender'd to our power imediatly—
AND.
It may take off the Roughnesse of her pryde
to know her eldest Sister in our power.
CAST.
Sir you haue too much Patience.
ALB.
Castruchio thou hast been alwayes faythfull.
AND.
I hope there's no mans fayth here stands suspected.
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Not in the least Andrugio: but me thinks
the Impostor liues too long. I would haue his head
now, at this Instant, 'tis too tedious to Expect it.
Enter a Messenger
MESS.
The Princesse Ariana Attended with a Convoy from the Generall.
ALB.
I must throw off all Clouds.—A Glorious Presence!
Enter Generall and ARIANA with Attendants
Madam I did not hope I should Arrive
at so much Happynesse thus soone, to kisse
your Royall hand: y'are wellcome to your Camp;
It was the Duke Guarini's want of fayth
and too much thirst of Honour, brought this fright
vpon you.
ARI.
I vnderstand not more then my owne
Condition, that am now become your Prisoner.
ALB.
Doe not Name that word, you were not free till now;
you doe not well to weep. I am a freind,
Call'd to the Justice of your Cause and Innocence,
to Engage my lyfe and Army in your Service.
ARI.
Did you for my Cause then take vp theise Armes?
It is an Argument of a mighty loue
to Justice, and a Piety not Practiz'd
by euery Neighbour Prynce; But Sir without
my knowledge or the least Request first made
to March into the Kingdome you Call myne;
Your pardon, if it moue a Jealouzy
that something more then all my wrongs, or Innocence,
or your owne virtue gaue you first Invitement
ALB.
I must acknowledge Madam I was not
without another motiue, that I shall
Declare after you haue Giuen your selfe Repose.
But since more fully satisfy'd in your Injuryes,
I can lay downe my owne Disquiet, Madam,
To serve your Interest, and Compell to their
obedience all the Rebells of your Crowne,
or Punish them.
ARI.
Sir, this cannot be
effected without losse of my owne blood
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Is myne, they being my Subjects though misled;
And I haue sign'd their pardon in my Heart;
after which, twere Injustice to Require
their Punishment: My Sister too, I haue
forgiuen, and Left to her Ambition
the Tytle of a Queene.
ALB.
Giue me your Grace,
It is not in your power to throw away
Your Kingdome, or your people, who without
a high Injustice must not be Deny'd
their Interest in your selfe.
ARI.
It hath been held
no sinne in greatest Kings and Queenes on Earth
ith' height of all their splendor to forsake
the world for a poore cell, to say their prayers in.
Princes were else most miserable of all
to be so Chayn'd and Fetter'd to a Crowne,
they might not Change for Heauen.
ALB.
It is confest, there is a holy Resignation,
And in the height of all our state & Greatnesse;
but this is not Madam your Condition,
for you haue been Deny'd the Rights of those
bright Gloryes you would giue away, and though
some humble thoughts might prompt you to Resigne
Your Tytle, twill not seeme to th'world an Act
Done freely, but the Cold Result of some
Distresse or sad Constraynt: which should not mixe
with Acts of our Religion.
SEM.
He presses home.
ALB.
But when you are Invested in your Throne, and Circl'd
with all your ornaments, wealth, Beauty, Power,
then to lay downe your Scepter, and those pendants
of state, will speake the Strength of your Great Virtue;
And Conquest of your selfe; this will secure
both peace at home, and Honour amongst Princes,
who by the holy shyne of your Example
may Trace your stepps to Heaven.
ARI.
Tis something Sir
that you haue sayd, and may be worth my thoughts:
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Proficient in Goodnesse that haue learn'd
to Instruct so well, and in that Confidence
I shall not murmure now at my sad fortune,
or Doubt your Care of me.
ALB.
You need not, Royal Madam,
I Retayne no thoughts, but what are fill'd
with fayre Devotion to be Receau'd your Servant.
ARI.
I must then oblige your Kindnesse to the Duke Guarini;
I cannot tell, how soone some chance of warre
may Render him your Prisoner.
ALB.
It will Become me as a prince without
your Gracious Instance Madam to meet
his person with all Honour Due to his Name
And your Allyance.
ARI.
There's something more then tye
of blood, he hath besydes his Courage show'd
Act Ready
much Affection in my Defence.
ALB.
Who would not be Ambitious to merrit
your Esteeme without an equall.
ARI.
And Giue me leaue to tell you Royall Sir,
As I shall pay all Due Acknowledgments
to your virtue (which will liue vpon your Name
'mongst other storys of your worth) so I
must owne a sorrow in his losse, whose greatest
In his owne thoughts is that your Armes haue Rauish'd
some Honour from him in my Cause; and if
he haue any wounds, this greiues him most,
which must oblige my Gratitude, and may
some what Excuse his not Complyance with you.
ALB.
I feare I haue a wound beyond the Cure
of Conquest; this speaks Madam your Soul pious
and Great, which makes me but your more Admirer:
I am so much his, it shall be onely in your power
to make the Duke my Ennemy.
AND.
The King is taken with her.
Enter ANTONIO with Letters. He Addresses to SEMPRONIO.
SEM.
My Lord Malvecchio is well I hope?
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In perfect Health, and Active for the publicke good.
SEM.
Sir if theise Letters of Malvecchios
haue any Credit, all your feares may vannish.
ALB.
Is the Impostor Dead?
SEM.
No, but secur'd,
with some Confinement on the Queene by his
Industrious Care, who hath so order'd your
Accesse to Naples, that you may Call't
a progresse, not a march.
ALB.
your Master hath Deserv'd
our Loue, and thanks for his great Service:
Andrugio, and Castruchio, you must
Prepare for Naples suddenly with this
Gentleman; Expect me in my Tent, for further order.—
The Impostor liues too long—Now Madam
Giue me leaue to wayte you to your Tent.
This Minuite you beginn your Raigne.—
not onely ouer those, whome your Just lawes
Bind to obey, you haue Enlarg'd your Empire;
Nor must they onely to your Scepter Bow
Since you haue made My Heart your subject too.
Exeunt
| The Change of Crownes | |