GONZAGO

Hear, thats my wit, when I was 18. old such a pretty joy king wit had I, but age hath made us wise (hast not my Lord?) What did he think to walk invisibly before our eyes, and he had Giges ring I would find him. Did we not shake the Prince with energy? And most pathetic piercing Oratory? Nay he shall make sweet use of it ere I have done, Lord what overweening fools these young men be, that think us old men sottes. Full years. And approved wit. Count Granuffo, as I live this Faunus is a rare under stander of men, is a not Faunus ? this Granuffo is a right wise good Lord, a man of excellent discourse, and never speaks his signs to me, & men of profound reach instruct abounda ̄ to lie, he begs suits with signs, gives thanks with signs puts off his hat lay surely, maintains his beard learnedly, keeps his lust privately, makes a nodding leg courtly, and lives happily. Well spoke, t'is enough, Done Granuffo this Fawnus is a very worthy fellow, and and excellent Courtier, and beloved of most of the princes of Christendom I can tell you, for how soever some severer dissembler, grace him not when ̄ he affronts him in the full face, yet if he comes behind, or on the one side heel leere and put back his head upon him be sure, be you two precious to each other. 'Tis enough, art a Gentleman Fawn ? 'Tis enough, you two I love heartily, for thy silence never displeaseth me, nor thy speech ever offend me: See our daughter attends us, my fair, my wise, my chased, my duty ous, and indeed, in all my daughter, (for such a pretty soul for all the world have I been) what I think we have made the Prince to feel his error, what did he think he had weak fools in hand? no he shall find, as wisely said Lucullus, Young men are fools, that go about to gull us. Is't possible? Right we know it, for if you marked he would not once take sense of any such intent from him, Oh impudence, what mercy canst thou look for? I think that eloquence is hereditary. Quick, is't not? Is't not so, say? Did he so giu`t me, I'll giu`t him, I'll regive his token with so sharp advantage Letters? where, prove you but justly loving & continued ̄ ceiu me Till justice leave the Gods, I'll never leave thee. For though the Duke seem wise, heel find this strain, Where two hearts yield consent, all thwartings vain, And darest thou then aver this wicked write, Oh world of wenching wiles, where is thy wit? Daughter upon thy obedie ̄ ce instantly take thy cham ̄ ber Go to, go to, you are a simple fool, a very simple animal What would you do? what are you wiser then your fa there, will you direct me? To what end? Go to, go to. Well, well. So, so, I say once more go in. I will not lose the glory of reproof; Is this office of Ambassadors my Lord Tyberio? Nay duty of a son, nay pity of a man. (A figure called in art Gradatio. With some learned Climax ) to court a royal Lady, For's master, father, or perchance his friend, And yet intend the purchase of his beauty, To his own use. I, feign, dissembe, Las we are now grown old, weak sighted, alas any one fools us. Peace, be not damnde, have pity on your soul, I confess sweet Prince for you to love my daughter, Young and witty, of equal mixture both of mind and body, Is neither wondrous nor unnatural, Yet to forswear and vow against ones heart, Is full of base, ignoble cowardice, Since ti's most plain, such speeches, do contemn Heaven, and fear men (that's sentious now) Unknowingly, can you blush my Lord: Unknowingly, why can you write these lines? Present this scarffe, unknowingly my Lord, To my deer daughter? um, unknowingly? Can you urge your suit, prefer your gentlest love, In your own right, to her too easy breast: That God knows takes too much compassion on ye, (And so she prayed me say) unknowingly my Lord? If you can act these things unknowingly, Know we can know your actions so unknown, For we are old? I will not say in wit, (For even joust worth must not approve it self) But take your scarf, for she vows sheele not wear it. Nay but my Lord, my Lord. You must take it, wear it, keep it, For by the honour of our house and blood; I will deal wisely, and be provident, Your father shall not say I pandarizde, Or fondly winkt at your affection, No weel be wise, this night our daughter yields Your father's answer, this night we invite Your presence therefore to a feastful waking, To morrow to Ferrara you return, With wished answer to your royal father, Mean time as you respect our best relation Of your fair bearing, ( Granuffo is't not good?) Of your fair bearing, rest more anxious, (No anxious is not a good word) rest more vigilant Over your passion, both forbear and bear, Anexou è ampexou, (thats Greek to you now.) Else your youth shall find, Our nose not stuffed, but we can take the wind, And smell you out, I say no more but thus, And smell you out, what, would not we our eyes, Our nose and ears, what, are these hairs unwise? Look too't. bereo reads the imbroder skarves. quos ego, a figure called Aposiopesis or Increpatio. Are our sports ready, is the Prince at hand? What means our daughters breathless hast? Fear not our daughter, if it rest within human reason I warrant thee, no I warrant thee, Granuffo if it rest in men capacity, speak deer daughter. The Prince, what of him deer daughter? Her very phrase displays whose child she is. Before God, she speaks very passionately. Alas daugh ter, heave ̄ gives every man his talon, indeed virtue & wisdom are not Fortune's gifts, therefore those that fortune cannot make virtuous, she commonly makes rich, for our own partly we acknowledge heavens goodness, and if it were pos sible, to be as wise again as we are, we would near im pute it to our selves: for as we be flesh and blood, alas we are fools, but as we are Princes, Scholars, and have read Cicero de Oratore, I must confess there is another matter int, what of the Prince deer daughter? What of that tree? Enter Tiberio with his train. Speak softly, he is entered. Speak low, the Prince both marks and listens. Politicly, our daughter to a hair. I let me alone for that: but when intends he this inuasi on? when will this Squirrile climb? This night? Then, verbum sat sapienti : go take your chamber, down upon your knees, thank God your father is no foolish sot but one that can foresee and see. Exit Dulcimel. my Lord we discharge your presence from our Court. What, twice admonished twice again off ̄ ding? And now grown blushless; you promised to get into Her chamber, she to get apriest, Indeed she wished me tell you she continued ̄ fist it, And there despite all father's Jealous fears, To consummate full joys: know Sir our daughter Is our Daughter, and has wit at will To gull a thousand easy things Like you: But sir depart, the parliament prepared Shall on without you, all the Court this night Shall triumph, that our daughter has escaped, Her honours blowing up; your end you see, We speak but short but full, Socratice. Exit. Sir sir this plain tree was not planted here To get into my daughters chamber: and so she prayed me tell you What though the main arms spread into her window? And easy labour climes it: Sir know She has a voice to speak, and bid you welcome, With so full breast that both your ears shall hear ant, And so she prayed me tell you: would we no brain; Youth thinks that age, Age knows that youth is vain. Exit Are the sports ready? 'Tis enough, of whose invention is this Parliament? T'is enough, this night we will exult, Oh let this night Be ever memorizd with prouder triumphs, Let it be writ in lasting Character, That this night our great wisdom did discover So close a practice, that this night I say, Our policy found out, nay dashed the drifts Of the young Prince, and put him to his shifts, Nay passed his shifts, (before Jove we could make a good Poet) Delight us, on, we dain our princely care We are well plesd to grace you, then scorn fear. Stand t'is wisdom to acknowledge ignorance, Of what we know not, we would not now prove foolish. Expound the meaning of your show. Giu`t us, weel pledge, nor shall a man that lives, In charity refuse it, I will not be so old, As not be graced to honour Cupid, giu`t us full, When we were young, we could would trold it off. Drunk down a Dutchman. My Lord Granuffo, this Fawn is and excellent fellow. I warrant you for my Lord here. Afore Jove he speaks very well. Thus silence, and graven looks with hums and hawes, Makes many worshipped, when if tried the'are daws: Thats the morality or lenuoy of it lenuoy of it, on. I marry sir, Oh might Edipus riddle me out such a fellow, of all creatures breathing I do hate those things that struggle to seem wise, and yet are indeed very fools, I remember when I was a young man in my father's days, there were four Gall lant spirits for resolution, as proper for body, as witty in dis course as any were in Europe, nay Europe had not such, I was one of them; we four did all love one lady, a modest chaste virgin she was, we all inioyde her, I well remember, and so inioyde her, that despite the strictest guard was set upon her, we had her at our pleasure, I speak it for her honour and my credit: where shall you find such witty fellows now a days: Alas how easy it is in these weaker times to cross love tricks, would would would alas, alas, I smile to think I must continued ̄ fesse with some glory to mine own wisdom, to think how I found out and crossed, and curbed, and jerked, and firkte, and in the end made desperate Tiberios hope, Alas good silly youth, that dares to cope with age, and such a beard: I speak it without glory. May one have the sighed of such a fellow for nothing; Does their breath such and egregious Ass, Is there such a foolish animal in rerum naturam? How is it possible such a simplicity can exist? let us not loose our laughing at him for gods sake, let follies sceptre light upon ̄ him, and to the ship of fools with him instantly. Me? would, me? me varlet? me fool? would, toot'h Jail with him: what varlet call me Ass, me? God a mercy Fawn, hold varlet, hold thee good Fawn railing reprobate? What I do this? would. Thus did I sir? Death, a discretio ̄ , if I should prove a fool now am not I and Ass, think you, would? I will have them both bou ̄ worser together, and sent to the Duke of Ferrara presently. By the Lord I am ashamed of my self, that's the plain troth, but I know now wherefore this Parliament was: what a slumber have I been in? There is no folly to protested wit. Daughter, for that our last speech leaves the firmest print, be thus advised; when young Tiberio negotiates his father's love, hold heedy guard over thy passion & still keep this full thought firm in thy reason, 'tis his old Father's love the young man moves, (is't not well thought my Lord, we must bear brain,) and when thou shalt behold, Tiberios life-full eyes and well filled veins, come plection firm, and hairs that curls with strength of lusty moi stur, (I think we yet can speak, we would been eloquent) thou must shape thy thoughts to apprehend his father well in years, A graven wise Prince, whose beauty is his honour, And well passed life, and do not give thy thoughts Least liberty to shape a diverse scope, (My Lord Granuffo: pray you note my phrase.) So shalt thou not abuse thy younger hope. Nor afflict us, who only joy in life, To see thee his. Set on then, for the Music gives us notice the Prince is hard at hand. Pretty, pretty, joust Like my younger wit: you know it my Lord. Somewhat coldly praised. What? whisper? I, my Lord Granuffo it fit To partly their lips: men of discerning wit That have read Pliny can discourse, or so, But give me practice: well experienced age Is the true Delphos. I am no Oracle But yet I'll prophesy: well my Lord Granuffo, 'Tis fit to interrupt their privacy, Is't not my Lord? now sure thou art a man Of a most learned silence, and one whose words Have been most precious to me, right, I know thy heart, 'Tis true, thy legs discourse with right and grace, And thy tongue is constant. Fair my Lord, Forbear all all pruat closer conference, What from your father comes, comes openly, And so must speak: for you must know my age Hath seen the beings and the quidem of things, I know Dimensions and the termini Of all existens: Sir I know what shapes Appetite forms; but pollice and states Have more elected ends: your father's suit Is with all public grace received, and private love Embraced, as for our daughters bent of mind She must seem somewhat nice, 'tis virgins kind To hold long Out, if yet she chance deny, Ascribe it to her decent modesty: We have been a philosopher and spoke With much applause; but now age makes us wise, And draws our eyes to search the heart of things, And leave vain seemings, therefore you must know, I would be loath the gaudy shape of youth Should one provoke, and not allowed of heat Or hinder, or — for sir I know, and so, Therefore before us time and place affords Free speech, else not: wise heads use but few words In short breath, know the Court of Urban holds Your presence and your embassage so deer, That we want means once to oppress our heart But with our heart: plain meaning shunneth art, You are most welcome (Lord Granuff a trick, A figure, note) we use no Rhetoric. Exit Gone: Lah sir, thus men of brain can speak in clouds Which weak eyes cannot pierce; but my fair Lord In direct phrase thus, my daughter tells me plain You go about with most direct intreats To gain her love, and to abuse her father, Oh my fair Lord, will you a youth so blessed With rarest gifts of fortune, and sweet graces Offer to love a young and tender Lady, Will you I say abuse your most wise father? Who though he freeze in August, and his calves Are sunk into his toes, yet may well wed our daughter As old as he in wit: will you I say (For by my troth my Lord I must be plain) My daughter is but young, and apt to love So fit a person as your proper self, And so she prayed me tell you, will you now Entice her easy breast to abuse your trust, Her proper honour, and your father's Hope's? I speak no figures, but I charge you check Your appetite, and passion to our daughter Before it head, nor offer conference Or seek access, but by, and before us; What judge you us as weak, or as unwise? No you shall find that Venice Duke has eyes; & so think on't. Doting idiots, when we God wot, would, would, las silly souls. And if to morrow passed you rest in Urban, the privilege of and ambassador is taken from you. We would be private only Faunus stay, Exeunt. He is a wise fellow Daughter, a very wise fellow, for he is still joust of my opinion: my Lord Granuffo, you may likewise stay for, I know you'll say nothing, say on Daughter. As mortal man may be Go to go to, what I will say or so, Until I say none but my self shall know. But I will say go to, do's not my colour rise? It shall rise for I can force my blood To come and go, as men of wit and state, Must sometime feign their love, sometime their hate. That's policy now, but come with this free heat, Or this same Estro or Enthusiasm, (For these are phrases both poetical) Will we go rate the Prince, and make him see Himself in us; that is our grace and wits, Shall show his shapeless folly, vice kneels while virtue fitts. But see we are prevented daughter, in It is not fit thy self should hear what I Must speak of thy most modest wise, wise mind For Tha'rt careful, sober, in all most wise. Exit Dul: And in deed our daughter. My Lord Tiberio A horse but yet a Colt may leave his trot A man, but yet a boy may well be broke, From vain addictions, the head of Rivers stopped, The Channel dries, he that does dread a fire, Must put out sparks, and he who fears a bull, Must cut his horns off when he is a Calf, Principiis obsta ; says a learned man Who, though he was no Duke yet he was wise, And had some sense or so. I'll rate the Prince with such a heat of breath His ears shall glow, nay, I discovered him I read his eyes, as I can read and eye, Though it speak in darkest Characters I can, Can we not Fawn, can we not my Lord? Why I conceive you now, I understand you both: You both admire, yes, say is't not hit? Though we are old, or so, yet we would wit. A pretty figure, what, begins this sessio ̄ with ceremony?