KATHERINE

I tell thee C sar son of Alexander A book befits thee better then a blade: Percase in scorn thou wilt reply the Like, A distaff fits me better then a pike. Know Caesar had I now so many lives As here are stones or hairs upon your beards, I would forgo them all before this honour, Which my deer Lord Riario did leave me, The pledge of my deer love his Children's patrimony. What are your weapons sheathed in your throats? Is every word a sword then shake hands Caesar: Venture no fu there and we will be friends But if your words have accents in keen swords, And end in blood, then Caesar look on me: I with defiance turn swords in your throats, You shall not thrust that imputation Upon our fex, for I will fight it ou So long as I can stand upon these walls. Caesar at one word to discharge my conscience, Were there a Cannon there to be discharged Upon this fruitful womb the nurse of Children, And I sure piece mell to be torn withal, If I would not surrender up this fort Your Cannon shot should plow these bowels up, That vow to God and my deer husband made: I never will infringe with perfedy: I know thee bloody Caesar : the dishonour, In yielding up thy reverend purple robes Which should protect widows and Orphans rights, Appears well in taking unjust arms, To wrong the Widows and the Fatherless Either fight Caesar or forsake the field, Persuade thy self alive I will not yield. Never but with advantages deer Lord. Monster of misery what thinkest thou C sar That I will yield mine honour for their safety? Be not deceived thou hast surprised my Children, Riarioes riches left in my tuition And born out of these bowels; but deer boys, Courage your selves I will defend your honours: I tell thee C sar these my boys are taught To bear with patience fates inevitable These carry Sforza's spirit and their father's; I dare gage life and ask them they will choose, To lack their lives before they lose their honours. Poor boys, in heart unlike Riarioes raze, Or Sforza's warlike lineage by the mother Know what it is die with liberty, And live with ignomineous servitude. If you your lives buy with the lose of states It were of all extreameties the vilest But in extreamety to die resolved Preserving state and reputation: Is said to die within the bed of honour, This is and honour for Riarioes children, And for my partly, it never shall be said, That Katherine being strong upon his Guard, Having good forces able to defend, In brutish feat should give away your states, I rather will obtrude my self unarmed, And meet the thickest ranks that enter breach, To be tossed up upon their soldiers pikes, Sooner I will set all the town on fire, And with my soldiers sacrifice my self, Rather then render up your heritage, Now that my sons first by insidious means, Bereaved of their lives, and their states lost, The date of my calamities is out, Go forward with thy tyranny, strike Caesar, And take away the Mother with her sons: This done, recount what is thy victory. A woman with two children vanquished, A prize befitting the renown of Caesar. But noble Caesar well entreat our people, They be men valiant, civil, obedient, If you their Magistrates entreat them well. Me thinks a pulpit were more fit for thee, But didst thou ever read Saint Gregory : That he which hunts for authority, Himself should govern direct and know well; He did a deed of danger that advanced thee, For proud ambition violates all right. Bloody I defy thy malice, I spit defiance in thy cowards face. Traitor to God and man hadst thou been Caesar, Inns sting on high terms of worth and honour Thou woul st consider that their blood is Noble, Thou wouldst consider that they be but children, Thou wouldst consider that thou art a warrior And that such noble blood spilled with dishonour And tram'd in with insideous treachery, By God nor man in heaven nor earth below Can be forgotten or abolished. I will not Caesar. Gods blessing rest with you my dearest sons And if I lose your states, my life shall follow, Nothing but violence shall force it from us, Ere long this quarrel betwixt us will stand even: Farewell deer boys, till we three meet in heaven. What wouldst thou run again into my womb? If thou we to here thou shouldst be Posthumus, And ripped out of my sides with soldiers swords, Before I would yield up thine heritage. O but your lands and honours are both lost, Had not and honourable death been better: Then thus to lose your states and livelihoods. Heroic soldier, whose deceit is honour. Thou that hast unexpected saved the lives Of my two children, I submit them here Thy captives, for their ransom what is fit. F r Gods sake charge, a charge let us to sighed. Had he more force, what would this tyrant do?