TROILO

Troylo-Savelli. Speaks to the friend he loves, to his own Livio, Look prithee through the great Dukes Court in Florence, Number his favorites, and then examine By what steps some chief Officers in state Have reached the heigh they stand in. He merited well to wear a robe of Chamlet, Who trained his Brother's daughter (scarce a girl) Into the Arms of Mont-Angentorato, While the young Lord of Telaxton her husband. Was packeted to France, to study courtship, Underforsooth a colour of employment, Employment, yea of honour, Here in Sienna. Bold Julio de Varana Lord of Camerine. Held it no blemish to his blood and greatness, From a plain Merchant with a thousand Ducats To buy his wife, nay justify the purchase, Procured it by a dispensation From Room, allowed and warranted: it thought By his Physicians, that she was a creature, Agreed best with the cure of the disease, His present new infirmity then laboured in. Yet these are things in prospect of the world, Advanced employed, and eminent. Shrewd business. Thou child in thrist, thou fool of honesty, I'st a disparagement for gentlemen, For friends of lower rank to do the offices Of necessary kindness without see, For one another, courtesies of course, Mirths of society, when petty mushrooms, Transplanted from their dunghills spread on mountains. And pass for Cedars by their servile flatteries On great men's vices?—P ander—th'art deceived, The word includes preferment, 'tis a title Of dignity, I could add somewhat more else, Be then pliable. And honourable liberality, Timely disposed without delay or question, Commands a gratitude, is not this better Then waiting three or four months at livery, With cup and knee unto this chair of state, And to their painted Arras for a needs From Goodman Usher, or the formal Secretary Especially the Juggler with the purse, That pays some shares, in all a younger brother Sometime and elder, not well trimmed i'th headpiece, May spend what his friends left in expectation, Of being turned out of service for attendance Or marry a waiting woman, and be damned for't To open laughter, (and what's worth) old beggary, What thinks my Livio of this rise at first? Is't not miraculous. 'Twas, and nothing Could void it, but the peevish resolution Of your dissent from goodness, as you call it, A Thin, a threadbare honesty, a virtue Without a living to't. Be yet more confident, the flaverie Of such and abject office, shall not tempt The freedom of my spirit, stand ingenious To thine own fate, and we will practice wisely Without the charge of scandal. Virtuous Lady. Sweet beauty, Your Brother hath indeed been too much churl In this concealment from us all, who love him, Of such desired a presence. Thou art perfect Livio. Fair, your arm. I am your Usher Lady. Sea sick a shore still? thou couldst rarely escape A Calenture in a long voyage, Livio, Who in a short one, and at home art subject To such faint stomach qualms, no cordials comfort The business of thy thoughts, for ought I see: What ails thee (man) be merry, hang up Jealousy's. And yet your reason cannot answer the objections of your fears, which argue danger. But you could not. I can assure ye, for't were then scarce possible, A door might opent'ee, hardly a loophole, Briefly partake a secret, but be sure To lodge it in the inmost of thy bosom, Where memory may not find it for discovery; By our firm truth of friendship, I require thee. Our great Uncle Marquess, Disabled from his Cradle, by and impotence In nature first, that impotence, since seconded And rendered more infirm, by a fatal breach Received in fight against the Turkish Galleys Is made uncapable of any faculty, Of active manhood, more then what affections Proper unto his Sex, must else distinguish: So that no helps of art can warrant life, Should he transcend the bounds his weakness limits. It's strange, Such natural defects at no time checks A full and free sufficiency of spirit; Which flows, both in so clear and fixed a strength, That to confirm belief (it seems) where nature Is in the body lame, she is supplied In fine proportion of the mind, a word Concludes all; to a man his enemy, He is a dangerous threatening: but to women, How ever pleasurable, no way cunning To show abilities of friendship, other Then what his outward senses can delight in, Or charge and bounty court with. As I love honour, and and honest name, I falter not (my Livio ) in one sillable, Hardly that too; To look upon fresh beauty's, to discourse In and unblushing merriment of words, To hear them play or sing, and see them dance, To pass the time in pretty amorous questions, Read a chased verse, of love, or prattle riddles, Is the height of his temptations. His choices are not of the courtly train; Nor Cities practice; but the countries innocence, Such as are gentle-borne, not meanly; such, To whom both gaudiness and apelike fashions Are monstrous; such as cleanliness and decency, Prompt to a virtuous envy, such as study A knowledge of no danger, but themselves. Yet is this Bachelor miracle not free From the epidemical headache. Huge jealous fits, admitting none to enter But me, his page, and Barber, with and Eunuch, And and old guardianess, it is a favour Not common, that the licence of your visits, To your own sister, now and then is wink't at. Not in policy. Being his heir, I may take truce a little, With mine own Fortune's. At certain seasons, as the humour takes him, A set of music are permitted peaceably, To cheer their solitariness, provided Tu'are strangers, not acquainted near the city, But never the same twice, pardon him that; Nor must their stay exceed and hour, or two At farthest; as at this wise wedding, wherefore His Barber is the master to instruct The lasses both in Song and Dance, by him Trained up in either quality. Farther to prevent Suspicion, a'has married his young Barber To the old Matron, and withal is pleased, Report should mutter him a mighty man For game, to take off all suspicion Of insufficiency, and this strict company A'cals his bower of Fancies. Something remains, which in conclusion shortly. Shall take thee fuller—Hark, the wedding jollity! With a Bride-cake on my life, to grace the nuptials! Perhaps the Ladies will turn Songsters. A plenteous issue, A fruitful womb—Thou hast a blessing Secco. You should dispense With serious thoughts, now Lady. By any means, the day is not complete else. By no means, Lady. So, so, here's art in motion: on all parts, Ye have bestirred ye nimbly, Then we must sever. Livio away—sweet beauty's. Boy, thou art quick and trusty, Be withal close and silent, and thy pains Shall meet a liberal addition. man In the contrivements; I will speak for thee. Well 'adoes relish the disguise! Spend that, and look for more boy. Modesty in Pages Shows not a virtue, boy, when it exceeds Good manners. Where must we meet? Wait opportunity, and give me notice. I shall attend. Bear with him Ladies. Answer that, the reason Holds the same weight. Morosa, what means this? So she protested Signior. Time prevents us, Love and sweet thoughts accompany this presence. Incomparable Maid. If there be constancy In protestation of a virtuous nature; You are secure, as the effects shall witness. Little time shall quit him. Let us fallen in now: What uncivil rudeness Dares offer a disturbance to this company. Peace and delights dwell here, not brawls and outrage: Sirrah be sure you show some reasons why You so forget your duty? quickly show it, Or I shall tame your choler; what's the ground on't? It's granted. Patience Morosa, you are you say a Cuckold. This only (Ladies) is a fit of novelty, All will be reconciled, I doubt, Spadone; Here is your hand in this how ere denied. Well, well enough— Morosa, be less troubled; This little jar is argument of love, It will prove lasting; Beauty's, I attend ye. When Servants servants, slaves, once relish license Of good opinion from a noble nature, They take upon them boldness to abuse Such interest, and Lord it over their fellows, As if they were exempt from that condition. He vowed it truth Before the Ladies in my hearing. Sir, they have and shall As long as I bear life. But when time shall wonder How much it was mistaken in the issue Of honourable, and secure contrivements. Your wisdom crowned with laurels of a Justice Deserving approbation will quite foil The ignorance of popular opinion. True Sir, but Romanello's late admission Warrants that giddy confidence of rumor Without all contradiction; now it's Oracle, And so received; I am confirmed, the Lady By this time proves his scorn as well as laughter. None Sir, More then her wonted Nobleness afforded Out of a civil custom. Your care and love commands me. Livio deserves it. He is my friend, Sir. Fie Livio, wherefore Turned wild upon the sudden. Truly. Says he so, Livio. Then satisfaction Much worthier then your sword can force, you shall have, Yet mine shall keep the peace; I can be angry And brave allowed in my reply; but honour Schools me to fitter grounds, this as a gentleman I promise ere the minutes of the night Warn us to rest, such satisfaction (hear me And credit it) as more you cannot wish for, So much not think of. I do, Before we ought to sleep. Invite Count Julio His Lady, and her brother, with their company To my Lords Court at Supper. And then soon after, the performance Of my passed vow waits on ye, but be certain You bring them with y'e. Nearer my friend, you'll find no less. My tongue from serious untruths, I never wronged you, Love you too well to mean it now. If your own acknowledgement Quit me not fairly ere the hours of rest Shall shut our eyes up, say I made a forfeit Of what no length of years can once redeem. Prepare for free contents, and give em welcome. Sir, I obey you.— Spare me. Then I must not; Thus I embrace mine own, my wife; confirm it. Thus when I fail (my dearest) to deserve thee Comforts and life shall fail me. Livio, now my Brother, justly I have given satisfaction. Couldst thou consider Livio The fashion of the times, their study, practice, Nay, their ambitions, thou wouldst soon distinguish Betwixt the abject lowness of a poverty, And the applauded triumph of abundance, Though compassed by the meanest service, wherein Shall you betray your gilded to common censure, Waving the private charge of your opinion By rising up to greatness, or at least To plenty which now buys it. Castamela. Thy beauteous sister Like a precious Tissue, Not shaped into a garment fit for wearing, Wants the adornments of the Workman's cunning To set the richness of the piece at view, Though in her self all wonder. Come I'll tell thee, Away there may be (know I love thee Livio) To fix this Jewel in a Ring of gold, Yet lodge it in a Cabanet of Ivory, White pure, unspotted Ivory, put case Livio himself shall keep the key on't? Be then pliable To my first rules of your advancement—See, Octavio my good Uncle, the great Marquess Of our Siena comes as we could wish In private—Noble Sir We have been thirsty In our pursuit—Sir hers a gentleman Desertful of your knowledge, and as covetous Of entertainment from it, you shall honour Your judgement, to intrust him to your favours, His merits will commend it. Worser Oe, do, be wilful, desperate, it's manly, Built on your reputation, such a Fortune May furnish out your Tables, trim your liveries, Enrich your heirs, with purchase of a Patrimony Which shall hold out beyond the waste of riot, Stick Honours on your Heraldry, with titles As swelling and as numerous, as may likely Grow to a pretty volume, here's eternity, All this can reputation, marry can it, Indeed what not? Right, by their merits, well he merited Intendments over the Galleys at Ligorne, Made grand collector of the customs there, Who led the Prince unto his Wives chastebed, And stood himself by, in his night gown, fearing The jest might be discovered: waste not handsome? The Lady knows not yet on't. He's our own, Surely, nay most perswadedly—my thanks Sir Owes to this just engagement.