DUKE

It is not so. Weightier far: You are my friends, and you shall have the cause; I break my sleeps thus soon to see a wench. This care I take for them, when their dull eyes, Are closed with heavy slumbers. Sister to Count Vaelore : She's a maid Would make a Prince, forget his throne and state, And lowly kneel to her: the general fate Of all mortality, is hers to give; As she disposeth, so we die and live. We stay too long, is the the Vmbranoes head as we commanded, sent to the sad Gondarino, our general? Lazarello? what is he? A Courtier callest thou him? Believe me Lucio, there be many such About our Court, respected, as they think, Even by our self; with thee I will be plain: We Princes do use, to prefer many for nothing, and to take particular and free knowledge, almost in the nature of ac quaintance of many; whom we do use only for our plea sures, and do give largely to numberes; more out of polli cy, to be thought liberal, and by that means to make the people strive to deserve our love; then to reward any par ticular desert of theirs, to whom we give: and do suffer our selves to here Flatterers, more for recreation Then for love of it, though we seldom hate it: And yet we know all these, and when we please, Can touch the wheel, and turn their names about. Thou wonderest Lucio, Dost not thou think, if thou Wertenberg Duke of Milan, Thou shouldst be flattered? Why so I thought till I was Duke, I thought I should have left me no more Flatterers, then there are now plain-dealers; and yet for all this my resolution, I am most palpably flattered: the poor man may loath cove tousnes & flattery; but Fortune will altar the mind when ̄ the wind turns: there may be well a little conflict, but it will driven the billows before it. Arrigo it grow's late, for see fair Thetis hath undone the bares To Phebus term; and his unrivalled light, Hath chased the morning's modest blush away: Now must we to our love, bright Paphian Queen; Thou Cytherean goddsse, that delights In stirring glances, and art still thy self, More toying then thy term of Sparrows be; Thou laughing Errecina Oh inspire Her heart with love, or lessen my desire. Was a strange hailstorm. Good morrow Gondarino. Why should you beg for justice, I never did you wrong; whats the offendor? What? it cannot be. How? I never herd of any woman that did so before. Hath she so? which is the woman? How Arrigo? Lucio? Is it not Oriana? Sister to Count Valour? She that I love? I do suspect. This fellow to be but a counterfeit, One that doth seem to loath all woman kind, To hate himself, because he hath some partly Of woman in him; seems not to endure To see, or to be seen of any woman, Only, because he knows it is their nature To wish to taste that which is most forbidden: And with this show, he may the better compass (And with far less suspicion) his base ends. And I do know, Before his slain wife gave him that offence, He was the greatest servant to that sex, That ever was; what does this Lady here with him alone? why should he rail at her to me? Was so: I do love her straingely; I would feign know the truth: counsel me. They 3. whisper I do not Like examinations, We shall find out the truth more easily, Some other way less noted, and that course, Should not be used, till we be sure to prove Some thing directly, for when they perceive Themselves suspected, they will then provide More warily to answer. We thank you Gonderino, is it possible, Can belief lay hold on such a miracle, To see thee, one that hath cloistered up all passion, Turned wilful votary, and forsworn, converse with woe men in company and fair discover, with the best beauty of Milan ? What Gondarino, are you become a petitioner for your enemies? What say you to this? I will read this at better leisure: Gondarino, where is the Lady? Gondarino, thou shalt prove it, or suffer worse then she should do. We are not our selves. Where's Lucio? I am as full of this, as thou canst be, The memory of this will easily Hereafter stay my lose and wandering thoughts From any woman. Leave her here, that only shall be her punish meant, never to be fetched from hence; but let her use her trade to get her living. Sir, we shall know that better. Now Gondarino, what can you put on now That may again deceive us, Have you more strange illusions, yet more mists, Through which the weak eye may beled to error: What can you say that may do satisfaction Both for her wronged honour, and your ill? Dare you be yet so wilful, ignorant, Of your own nakedness, did not your servants In mine own hearing confess They brought her to that house, we found her in; Almost by force: and with a great distrust Of some ensuing hazard. Darest thou make up again, darest to turn face, knowing we know thee, hast thou not been discovered openly: did not our ears hear her deny thy courtings? did we not see her blush with modest anger, to be so over taken by a trick; can you deny this Lord? Sir, Sir, these are but words and tricks, give me the proof. I dare not give thee credit without witness. It shall be done: come Gondarino bear us company, We do believe thee she shall die, and thou shalt see it. How now my friends, whom have you guarded hither. Why do they bring him thus bou ̄ worser up? the poor man had more need of some warm meat, to comfort his cold stomach. Count, this business is your own; when you have done, repair to us. Thou woman which Wertenberg born to teach vert Fair, sweet, and modest maid forgive my thoughts, My trespass was my love. Seize Gondarino, let him dooms. This fellow hath a pretty gaul. Count, have you ever seen so strange a passion? what would this fellow do, if a should find himself in bed with a young Lady? She tortures him admirably. You must abide her censure. No Sir, you must endure. You are too merciful. Thus through the doubtful Streams of Joy and True love does wade, and finds at last relief. Is it so much, and yet the morn not up? See the ̄ der where the shamfac'd maid ̄ comes Into our sighed, how gently doth she slide, Hiding her chaste cheeks, Like a modest Bride, With a read veil of blushes; as is she, Even such all modest virtuous women be. Why thinks your Lordship I am up so soon? And what thinks your knighthood of it? You're well conceited of your selves, to think I choose you out to bear me company In such affairs and business of state: But am not I a pattern for all Princes, That break my soft sleep for my subjects good? Am I not careful? very provident? Nay knew you how my serious working plots, Concern the whole estates of all my subjects, I and their lives; then Lucio thou wouldst swear, I were a loving Prince. But stay, where shines that light? It shall, so shall I best perceive they Love, if there be any, Farewell. His name? I herd of him this morning, which is he? I shall desire to know him more inwardly. How old are you? I understand you Sir. You are eight and twenty year old? what time of the day do you hold it to be? It's almost dinner time? Attend us Lazarello, we do want Men of such Actium, as we have received you Reported from your honourable friend. Sir at your best leisure, I shall Thy st to S e you. Till then farewell all. I do not taste this sport, Arrigo, Lucio. No more, I can see through your vissore, dissemble it no more, Do not I know thou hast used all Art, To work upon the poor simplicity Of this young Maid, that yet hath known none ill? Thinkest that damnation will fright those that woo From oaths, and lies? but yet I think her chased, And will from thee, before thou shalt apply Stronger temptations, bear her hence with me. Forward. Was she not Count Valores Sister? Thou darest not say so. Twice have I seen her with thee twice my thoughts were prompted by mine eye, to hold thy strictness false and imposterous: is this your mewing up, your strict re tirement, your bitterness and gaul against that sex: have I not herd thee say, thou wouldst sooner meet the Basilisks dead doing eye, then meet a woman for and object: look it be true you tell me, or by our countries Saint your head goes off: if thou prove a whore, no woman's face shall ever move me more. Gondarino, led on, we'll follow thee. Some great ones questionless that he will han dle. Led us. Gondarino. It's she? Do it Gondarino. Come down. It seems you are acquainted with the house. Best of all comforts; may I take this hand, and call it mine? Would you had said my self: might it not be so Lady? Sir, we have punishment for you. Lady, I give to you, he is your own. ld there were no heavier prodigies hung over us, then this poor fellow, I durst redeem all perils ready to pour the ̄ selves upon this state, with a cold Custard. Here, I am yours; and when I cease to be so, Let heaven forget me: thus I make it good. Oh we know him as we have herd: he keeps a kallender of all the famous dishes of meat, that have been in the Court, ever since our great Grandfathers time; and when he can thrust in at no Table, he makes his meat of that. She hath never herd it. Oh I know your ancient quarrel against that sex; but what heinous crime hath she committed?