University of Virginia Library

SCENE YE FIRST

Enter FLORELLI and LODOVICO, Courtiers
FLO.
I am glad the Queene hath throwne off mourning, this
is her first Day of state.

LODO.
e'en what she please.
but I wish still, that her Ascent to the Throne
had been more naturall.

FLO.
Take heed, i' th'Court
Are many Eares.

LODO.
There's an elder Sister, is that Treason?

FLO.
Shee went before to th'Nunnery.

LODO.
A Crowne should Tempt weake Fleshe, and Blood, shee's but
In her Probation yet, though shee had been
Profest, there haue been Dispensations—
but shee was not Consulted.

FLO.
Malvecchio, our great Minister of state
was Active for Artemia.

LODO.
Yes, and the Duke Guarini too.

FLO.
I expected rather,
he being a Prynce of the Blood, and a man Popular,
would at this nick of tyme, putt in a Tytle—

LODO.
And Leap't into the Throne himselfe;

FLO.
but he has taken a more easy way
to that Advancement, if wee may praesage
from the Queenes favours, by whose choyce of him
(as the present streame inclynes her) he may Rise
to a King without this Trouble of Appearing
Ambitious for it.

LODO.
oh the Court Pollitiques!
there is not so much juggling in Cards,
there must be knaues in both.

Enter OCTAVIO
FLO.
You come from the Presence, is the Queene come forth?

OCT.
Not yet, but
Addresses are Crowding from all parts;
the Embassador from Lumbardy this Day is to haue Audience:

LODO.
To Congratulate her; the Complement of Princes!

OCT.
Shee is Prepar'd for All,
spreading her Graces, like the Sunn, which cheeres,
And Quickens all things with its Beames.

LODO.
But multiplyes, I hope, her smyles, vpon
the Duke her kinsman,

FLO.
And I Judge his Grace
will make a kind Construction of 'em.
Enter the DUKE and MALVECCHIO
here comes the Riseing starre, if the young Queene
Preserve her Influence.

OCT.
And my Lord Malvecchio—
wee shall be thought to Interrupt 'em;

Exeunt
DUKE.
In your Conference with the Queene my Lord
how did you find her, when you Nam'd her Sister?

MAL.
Shee putt it Sr a Question to my Conscience
But her Ambition with some Artifice
I vs'd in your Behalfe, soone lay'd the Scruple.

DUKE.
Your Councells haue a merritorious care
of me, my Lord.

MAL.
I were vngratefull to my Being else.

DUKE.
I cannot but Acknowledge the Queene has
been Bounteous in her Graces to oblige me.

MAL.
But shee's a woeman.—
Reasons of state will Teach her Constancy,
who is too wise to offer a Neglect to you,
Belov'd at Home, and full of Forrayne Gloryes;
which with your neere Allyance to her Crowne,
might Bid you else be singly King, but that
your starres Design'd for you a smoother way
by Ryseing to her Bed, to which your owne
Attractions Giue Assurance.

DUKE.
Tyme will Resolve our Expectations—

MAL.
will Fix 'em Sir.

Enter OCTAVIO
OCT.
The Queene Desires your presence Sir.

to ye Duke
MAL.
I lyke this, shee will not misse you in her Eye,
A signe you are neere her Heart.

Enter LEONIDAS and BARSANES
DUKE.
My Lord, wee misse you much at Court,
though you haue lost a Freind of the late King,
You haue no cause to Doubt the Queene his Daughter
will haue a lesse Regard to a Person of your Honour,
I heard her often aske for you.

LEO.
I am not worth her memory, or mention.

DUKE.
This is the first Day of her publicke appearance.

LEO.
It carryes a fayre omen, the Embassador
of Lumbardy this Day Expects his Audience too.
I shall be a glad wittnesse of her Gloryes,
before I leaue the Kingdome.

DUKE.
I hope you will not
make Naples so vnhappy, that but now
Beginns to shyne.

LEO.
I but Remoue
1st whistle ready
a trouble from the Court, and from your Grace,
by my Impertinent vizitts.

DUKE.
If I haue Power,
I hope you will Commend it Sr to serve you.

LEO.
Your Highnesse does me too great an Honour,

MAL.
Put me into the Number of your servants.

Exit DUKE and MALVECCHIO
LEO.
Your Bountyes flow too much vpon a stranger;
howeuer theise for their state ends Allow
the Change, I wish the King had Liv'd;

BAR.
I doe not blame you, Sir
for had not Death surpriz'd him, you were not
Canopie Gauzd
without some hope by his kind Ayd in tyme
to haue been—

LEO.
Not too loude, those thoughts are Bury'd with him, 'twas
by his secrett Contributions wee haue liu'd;
Barsanes, 'tis now tyme to take my leaue.

BAR.
And thinke of some safe way for your Returne;
Rumour too long hath spread your Death, who knowes
But kinder starres may wayte on this Resolve;
And you are so much forward on your way
to know your subtle Ennemy, by whose Pollicyes
you were supplanted young, is taken to
another world.

LEO.
I may haue Roome in this,
vnlesse my Fate Decree me lost.

BAR.
That Providence,
which hath Remou'd your Stepmother, who to
Advance her Eaglet, thus longe made you a stranger
to your owne Country, holds out now (if I
haue any Augury) a Beame to Invite you;
besyde some present streights—

LEO.
Ile see what this Embassador pretends to,
And then Farewell to Naples, be thou still
the Conduct and Companion of my Fortune,

BAR.
you haue Deserv'd my Duty Sir.

Exeunt