SANSEVERIN

AS I am noble, 'twas a glorious sighed, To see two Princes, in their State at once: As if two Suns had harmlessly conspired To beautify, and not to fright the Heavens. Why should the formal nicety of State Debar these often enter Jews? I think They would be medicine against Tyranny: For, when a Prince sees all things under him, Heads of eternal nakedness, and men That make their glory of their servitude He thinks he's uncontrollable, that none Without a saucy imputation Dares warn him to his duty: but suppose And equal Majesty should once become His usual object, one, whose vncheck't blood Runs full as high as , then he does learn, That ther's a Commonwealth of Princes too, Not one sole Monarch Why, what can happen ill? Fear you a war? and what's to be feared there? Least that a mortal die, least that the life Endue to a knotty gout, or grating stone, Have a more easy perjod by the sword. Let them fear war, who fear to see their gold Lest that the Sun should have a sighed with them Holding so much of Earth, th'are turned to it, Who have no more life then their duity akers, Men, I may say, in the worst partly of men. And why Like these run we and idle raze Of threescore years, and then Sneak to a Death? While soldiers master their mortality And die by men, if that at all they die. Malvezzo know, when all things sifted are, Peace only pleases them that never knew war. My Lord, so cross was Fortune, that you were Made almost banqu'rout by a too much thrift: For when you had discharged those numerous troop , Whose charges lay as hard upon the State As and invasion could, then Orleans moved And stole N varra, which disastrous news So heated the remainder of your troops (As if you had added to their valour more, When you abated from their multitudes) That by a nimble victory, they made His conquest be his prison. My good Lord, Pardon the zeal of my intrusion, I bring hid danger with me: 'twas my chance As I was passing to the bedchamber, Just at the door to find this muffled man, Waiting some treacherous opportunity. Each circumstance swelled with suspicion, The place, the time, the person, all did seem To bear a danger worthy of your fear, At least your wiser disquisition. This is a saucy importunity: You have your answer. To be overcome, my Lord, is wretched chance, But not to fight at all will be thought crime, I never durst think so to survive ill luck As to become the fatal messenger? But I must say, I durst not fight, and more, I must entreat your cowardice, your foes Are strengthened with your Army (o pardon me Let me not tell you, how) and all our troops, Have no power left us but for a safe flight. The Subjects life lies in the Princes voice: Now you have cleared me I dare hasten war, And wish more enemies, then cowards fear: That you may see, by my neglect of blood, (Which I shall only love when shed for you) How slander was my most feared enemy. The French are mighty, and portentously Rise by their fallen: strong shame begets a rage, And a disdain, that you whom they expelled Should hazard their expulsion, makes them hazard, What ere being ventured, adds a fame to Man, And gives a glory to his misery. They are so far from the base fear of death, That they embraced, and Like those fiercer curs, That spend their anger on the senseless stone Not daring to attempt on him that threw, They with a senseless anger break the darts That nail them to the Earth, as if they scorned Their killer should survive them: other lets, As heat, or hunger, are their exercise: That one would think they lost all partly of man When they did mean to show the best: my Lord, I wish a swift, but love a certain conquest: I think it wisdom to protract the fight. Oh I do fear your grief, that it does glance With a most undeserved disgrace at me; As if I were akin unto the fault Of my false brother: Oh repeat that thought, It is no great thing I request you to, But trust unto the faith that you have found. Would I betray, and follow you? d'yee think, I'de be so mad to buy my banishment? No man would be unprofitably false, Nor I for any profit: speak your self If I have left you, when your Fortune did? Nay, then my love was greatest, when you least, I was your subject, when you were no Prince. You have been drunk, and quarreled—must the State Find plasters for your broken heads?—no more— Nay, if you'll take no answer, I must call Them that will driven you hence. Oh my tired ears! Henceforth I vow to stop them at your suits, And be as Deaf, as you are Impudent.