CAROLO

YOu bring your welcome with you. Again most welcome. Yet give me leave to wish (and pray you excuse me) For I must use the freedom I was born with) The great Dukes pleasure had commanded you To my poor house upon some other service, Not this you are designed to; but his will Must be obeyde, how ere it ravish from me The happy conversation of one As deer to me as the old Roman held Their household Lars, whom they believed had power To bless and guard their Families. I have discharged, To the utmost of my power, the trust the Duke Committed to me, and with joy perceive The seed of my endeavours was not sown Upon the barren sands, but fruitful glebe, Which yields a large increase; my noble Charge, By his sharp wit, and pregnant apprehension Instructing those that teach him; making use Not in a vulgar and pedantic form Of what's read to him, but it's straight digested And truly made his own. His grave discourse, In one no more indebted unto years, Amazes such as hear him; horsemanship And skill to use his weapon are by practice Familiar to him; as for Knowledge in Music, He needs it not, it being born with him, All that He speaks being with such grace delivered That it makes perfect harmony. Sir, he is no less, And that there may be nothing wanting that May render him complete, the sweetness of His disposition so wins on all Appointed to attend him, that they are Rivals even in the coursest office, who Shall get precedency to do him service. Which they esteem a greater happiness Then if they had been fashioned, and built up To hold command over others. He is now Running at the ring, at which he's excellent. He does allot for every exercise A several hour, for Sloth the Nurse of vices And rust of Actium, is a stranger to him. But I fear I am tedious, let us pass If you please to some other subject, though I cannot Deliver him as he deserves. And how I pray you (For we that never look beyond our villa's Must be inquisitive) are State affairs Carried in Court? Does Lodovica Sanazarro hold Weight, and grace with him? It's said nobly. For Princes never more make known their wisdom Then when they cherish goodness, where they find it, They being men, and not Gods, Contarino; They can give wealth and titles, but no virtues; That is without their power. When they advance (Not out of judgement, but deceiving fancy) And undeserving man, how ere set of With all the trim of greatness, state, and power, And of a creature even grown terrible To him from whom he took his Giant form, This thing is still a Comet, no true star; And when the bounties feeding his false fire Begin to fail, will of it self go out, And what was dreadful, proves ridiculous. But in our Sanazarro it's not so. He being pure and tried gold, and any stamp Of grace to make him currant to the world The Duke is pleased to give him, will add honour To the great bestower, for he though allowed Companion to his Master, still preserves His Majesty in full lustre. Is He yet married? So I think too. But break we off. Here comes my Princely charge. Make your approaches boldly, you will find A courteous entertainment. Your Excellence Must give me liberty to observe the distance And duty that l'owe you. Pray you observe The frequent changes in his face. Now he appears Collected and resolved. I conceive you: And something I would say, but I must do it In that dumb rhetoric, which you make use of; For I do wish you all. — I know not how My toughness melts, and spite of my discretion I must turn woman. This acknowledgement Binds me your debtor ever. Here comes one In whose sad looks you easily may read What her heart suffers, in that she is forced To take her last leave of you. And me to bring you To the one half of your journey. I grow young When most I serve you. I will entertain him. As fits his worth, and quality, but no farther. Most noble Sir Excuse my age subject to ease, and Sloth, That with no greaver speed I have presented My service with your welcome. Offend my Lord? I feel my self much younger for the favour. How is it with our gracious Master? I am rich In his acknowledgement. Sits the wind there? It's a plain Village Girl Sir, but obedient, That's her best beauty Sir. You are that way My Lord free from suspicion. Her own manners (Without and imposition from me) I hope will prompt her to it. As she is She's come to make a tender of that service Which she stands bound to pay. How he falls off! This is strange; my Lord. Pray you my Lord make trial: She can speak I can assure you, and that my presence May not take from her freedom, I will leave you. For know my Lord, my confidence dares trust her Where, and with whom she pleases. If he be Taken the right way with her, I cannot fancy A better match; and for false play I know The tricks, and can discern them. Petronella! I have employment for you. As I live I know not what to think on't. Is't his pride, Or his simplicity? They are come to parlee, I must observe this nearer. Oh, they are at it. A homely breakfast does attend your Lordship. Such as the place affords. Gone so abruptly? It's very strange. Take heed Lidia! I do advice you with a Father's love, And tenderness of your honour: as I would not Have you course and harsh in giving entertainment, So by no means be credulous. For great men Till they have gained their ends are Giants in Their promises, but those obtained, weak Pigmies In their performance. And it is a maxim Allowed among them, so they may deceive They may swear any thing; for the Queen of love As they hold constantly, does never punish, But smile at Lovers perjuries. Yet be wise too, And when you are sued to in a noble way, Be neither nice, nor scrupulous. So shall you keep Your fame untainted. DAughter I have observed since the Prince left us (Whose absence I mourn with you, & the visit Count Sanazarro gave us, you have nourished Sad and retired thoughts, and parted with That freedom, and alacrity of spirit With which you used to cheer me. It is in us To keep it so without him. Want we know not, And all we can complain of (heaven be praised for) Is too much plenty, & we will make use of All lawful pleasures. How now fellows, when Shall we have this lusty dance? Calandrino, it's he. Fie, you stoop too low Sir. Take your pleasure A little of these apish tricks may pass, Too much is tedious. This day shall be ever A holy day to me, that brings my Prince Under my humble roof. My loyalty doubted Sir. Treason? it's a word My innocence understands not. Were my breast Transparent, and my thoughts to be discerned, Not one spot shall be found to taint the candor Of my allegiance. And I must be bold To tell you Sir (for he that knows no gilded Can know no fear) it's tyranny to over charge And honest man, and such till now I have lived, And such my Lord I'll die. Fact? What fact? You that know only, what it is, instruct me, For I am ignorant. And I discharged it. Is this the treason? I? my travail Is ill requited Sir, for by my soul I was so curious that way, that I granted Access to none could tempt him, nor did ever One syllable, or obscene accent touch His care that might corrupt him. Have you ended All you can charge me with? Hear my just defence Sir, And though you are my Prince, it will not take from Your Greatness to acknowledge with a blush, In this my accusation you have been More swayed by spleen, and jealous suppositions, Then certain grounds of reason. You had a Father (Blessed be his memory) that made frequent proofs Of my loyalty, and faith, and (would I boast The dangers I have broke through in his service) I could say more. Nay, you your self, dread Sir, When ever I was put unto the test, Found me true gold, and not adulterate metal, And am I doubted now? I am calm Sir, Yet you must give me leave to grieve, I find My actions misinterpreted. Alas Sir, Was Lidia's desire to serve the Prince Called and offence? or did she practice to Seduce his youth, because with her best zeal And fervour she endeavoured to attend him? It's a hard construction: though she be my daughter I may thus far speak her. From her infancy She was ever civil, her behaviour nearer Simplicity then craft; and malice dares not Affirm in one lose gesture, or light language, She gave a sign she was in thought unchaste: I'll fetch her to you Sir, and but look on her With equal eyes, you must in justice grant That your suspicion wrongs her. I obey Sir, And wish your Grace had followed my hearse To my Sepulchre, my loyalty unsuspected, Rather then now? but I am silent Sir, And let that speak my duty. And have found her Such as I did report her. What she wanted In Courtship, was I hope supplied in civil And modest entertainment. To drink Sir? I had rather see her buried. I will pull them out Sir, If your Grace can make this good. And if you please To grant me liberty, as she is I'll fetch her, And in a moment. Here she is Sir, Suddenly sick I grant, but sure not drunk, Speak to my Lord the Duke. And my heir Sir, Nor keep I any woman in my house (Unless for sordid offices) but one, I do maintain trimmed up in her cast habits, To make her sport. And she indeed loves wine, And will take too much of it. And perhaps for mirth She was presented to you. Here's a storm soon raised. That is and oath I long since took. These are strange turns, But I must not dispute they. My Lord. In my judgement Sir He suffers more for his offence to you, Then in his fear of what can follow it. For he is so collected and prepared To welcome that, you shall determine of him, As if his doubts and fears were equal to him. And sure he's not acquainted with much gilded, That more laments the telling one untruth Under your pardon still (for 'twas a fault Sir) Then others that pretend to conscience, do Their crying secret sins. My Honor's pawned for it. And that hope Sir Hath wrought a miracle. She is recovered, And if you please to warrant her, will bring The penitent Prince before you. If ever She was handsome, as it fits not me to say so, She is now much bettered. Are not these Strange gambols in the Duke? There's some hope yet Since they have such gentle Judges. And becomes him When it's expressed to such as fell by weakness (That being a twin-born brother to affection) Better then wreathes of conquest. High. Lod. Con. Alph. We all-speake Their language mighty Sir. And swear so deeply, That if all women's beauty's were in this (As she's not to be named with the dead Duchess.) Nay, all their virtues bound up in one story (Of which mine is scarce and Epitome) If you should take her as a wife, the weight Of your perjuries would sink you. If I durst I had told you this before. There's your error. The Prince in care to have you keep your vows Made unto heaven, vouchsafed to love my daughter. Which given up To aftertimes, preserves you unforsworne, And Honour, which will live upon your Tomb When your Greatness is forgotten. Stand you prating, knaves, When such a guest is under my roof? See all The rooms perfumed. This is the man that carries The sway, and swinge of the Court; and I had rather Preserve him mine with honest offices, then. — But I'll make no comparisons. Bid my daughter Trim her self up to the height, I know this Courtier Must have a smack at her, and perhaps by his place Expects to wriggle further. If he does I shall deceive his Hope's, for I'll not taint My Honour for the Dukedom. Which way went he? It's not unlike, for most of such mushrooms are so. What news at Court? I will come to it Sir, your Grace well knew Before the Princes happy presence made My poor house rich, the chiefest blessings which I gloried in, (though now it prove a curse) Was and only daughter. Nor did you command me, As a security to your future fears, To cast her off: which had you done, how ever She was the light of my eyes, and comfort of My feeble age; so far I prized my duty Above affection, she now had been A stranger to my care. But she is fair. Is that her fault, or mine? Did ever Father Hold beauty in his issue for a blemish? Her education and her manners tempt to. If these offend, they are easily removed, You may, if you think fit, before my face, In recompense of all my watchings for you, With burning corrafives transform her to And ugly Leper; and this done to taint Her sweetness, prostitute her to a loathsome brothel. This I will rather suffer Sir, and more, Then live suspected by you. Drunk. She disdains it. Let it Sir, The lose is less, though Innocents, we perish, Then that your sisters son should fallen unheard Under your fury. Shall we fear to entreat That grace for him, that are your faithful servants, Which you vouchsafe the Count, Like us a subject?