DE PAZZI

I sent you a Letter Madam. How did you taste it? I have twenty as good as that lying by me, have I not They shall be all at your service. Epithets I beseech you Madam to impute That to the fretfullnesse of my brain, If any thing have slipped my pen whereby I may incur Your Ladyships indignation I'll recant It publicly. Hiperbolize, whats that? I would not that word Yet in my Alphabet, I hope Madam you Hold a better opinion of me then to imagine I would hiperbolize with your Ladyship; That were immodest. By my faith Madam but it is, de think I know not what hiperbolizing is, That were simplicity, if any thing Within my Letter may be drawn within Construction of hiperbolizing, condemn Not me for't, by service Madam, I Had no intention to stretch so far To your dishonour, it shall teach me wit To write my Letters hereafter. 'Tis your favour, Yet when I commit a peccadillo Against your brightness, I deserve to be Extinguished your presence for't, I did love You Madam, as I remember when I was and Infant, Nay for that Madam I'll show my self deserving, were you worthy It the less act of mine to love you, That were a poor thing, I do not stand on worth. Madam I would not have you think so ignobly of me, That I affect you for your worth, Idem rather Upon my honour have you in your smock, Than all the Ladies in the world stark naked. You shall pardon me for that. My love is pure and Like the Sun transparent. Troth not I Lady, I cannot Compliment, I do but Refulgent your beauty, whose mellifluous voice Peirces the ear—faith Madam credit me I never could compliment in my life: Most fair, Whom young Apollo courted for her hair. There are poetical furies in the City, But I converse not with em. Were ever cheeks of roses, locks of amber Ordained to be imprisoned in a chamber, Laura I do but piddle, a pretender, I know not how to Compliment. Alas not I, I cannot make verses neither; Thy dainty seal of Virgin wax, That nothing but impression lacks. I'll tell you Madam a strange thing, you see These trifles; before I was in love, I could Not would made and Acrosticke in a day, Sometime two. I think I can, and Anagrams for a needs. O now I cannot sleep for the multitude, Of Verses that are capering in my skull. You may. But I've a gift to help it, I allow My self set times to vent em, they would blow Me up else. Why thus ith' morning When I have said my prayers in Verse, which fallen From me, and I never think on em, next my heart I scribble out and ode, after my breakfast I fallen upon a Satire, when I've railed My self into a fresh stomach, I dine, Which done, because it is not good to study Upon repletion or full stomach, you Understand me; for a matter of two hours I dream as it comports with our Italian To sleep, then I say, I dream familiarly And Heroic Poem. Madam while you live, Your dreaming Poets are the best, and have Distilled raptures, spirits that converse with em, And teach em what to write; this I set down Before I eat again, after I walk Upon the strength of Supper into the park, And ruminate and Elegy at return, I do discourse of Epigrams, and and Epitaph Upon some one or other of my kindred. I would made a rare one on my Uncle, and He would die shortly to deserve it. Nay Madam, 'tis not every day I study So hard, on some I whet my muse Sweet Laura, world confounding beauty. It with grief then, I had no cause to name you else my Lord. Giotto. You are a Scholar. I'll tell you a j st a Gentleman ith Court Writing a Letter to his Mistress could not Contain himself from hyperbolizing with her. True upon my honour, what a gull it To make himself ridiculous, I laughed at him, Then he asked me what that word meant, Giotto What do you think on't? Yes I knowt, but what says your Dictionary. It is some baudy word, he is so modest, Wherein did I hyperbolize with her Ladyship: My Lord Volterre. I am transported to see your Lordship well. Whats this? And Giotto were not here now, I would ask him What were hyperbolizing by your Lordship's favour. I were no Lord else, I was a French men Scholar, For twenty crowns a month, you may guess by that My abilities. May we not rise, I would known good dancers rise at Court, what say you to A cosse caper. Do not hyperbolize with her my Lord. Were you never a Courtier before. Signiour Comachio my Uncle, lends you. I see then thou wot be a Courtier. It is your highness pleasure I should presume so, And I am confident I may. This is the trick of all Courtiers, They would engross Princes e'n to Themselves, I must not speak to her. Or with a Welsh — What should a man do withs tongue, and you Won't let him talk. Signiour Uncle, Does the Duchess Affect me honourably, and for marriage otherwise? I see she is wise, 'Tis granted, my second son is thine, but are you sure I am ordained to be the man you talk of; Must I be craned up to that altitude. No more, I have a strong faith, 'tis so, for my Uncle Does practice already his observance, I Purpose to visit our loving Duchess. Should you loose Your brain signiour in my service, you Should find I would requite you. I Like that well, if you do pen that speech Commend me pray unreasonable, I shall study it. I know that, who else? Great reason, proceed. Let me alone to disgrace him. It will be a good occasion to beat off Laura, to whom I did pretend my self A Lover excellent, pray let me have all these Directions in manuscripts, I'll not see her Till they be rotten in my head. Laura, remove your self, Do not eclipse the splendour of that Sun. My Eagles eye must gaze at. Uncle know Your distance. Giotto, my hand again, be proud, now Madam I address my self to you, wonderful Princess, Not so much for your beauty as your wisdom, Your carnal wisdom. Right you answer, right it is my Queen: Your carnal wisdom Madam, you proclaim In choosing out a husband, and that man Whose memory your Subject's shall have cause To curse, is I. Perfect still, have cause to curse, You did no sooner choose him, which of all Your fair Lords, though you look a squint upon My merit, could your eye pick out more able? Heroic, complete, tempting? I am fleshed, Nothing shall put me out. Your grace says right, I do acknowledge it. Did your grace say nothing? speak it again, I know you meant to say something to the purpose. Now she has put me quite out. Look on him Madam, there he stands, you may Perhaps imagine him for his grey beard And a starched face, that he is wise a statist: I'll bring you a justice, thats but newly packed Into commission, oth' peace, shall make And ass on him. A very gull in mystery of state, A most egregious—in comparison Of one that I could name, but he may serve To fright the pages, muster the black guard, Or keep the door at masks, his face will do More then a hundred others; yet now I think on't, Your grace shall magnify your favour to me, And let me beg him. Yes I would furnish him with and Hourglass and a sith; And fell him to the Masons for the picture Of time, Madam, would he not show well? Giotto, she has put me out again, Hum, when I contemplate on your highness face I hate all others. I beseech your grace, speak your partly right, Oblivion is my Queen. I do remember. Has Madam Laura such I lip or eye? I do confess she has a nose, but I Pass over it. Her cheeks,— Uncle you are out now, her cheeks. Why your cheeks are, as they are, death, I would forgotten. This 'tis when you won't come t'rehearsall. It had needs be gift, I know none so prodigal To be at charge to buy em, yet you thought I was in love w'ye, I confess I did Once cherish and opinion you were something About a gipsy, and might serve in Lent When flesh was rare, but you must take into Your thoughts, I meant not honestly, you see For whom fate hath reserved me, be as patient As such a lose will suffer you, do not mar Your face, cause I condemn it, it may serve Some hungry signiour, or some City heir That would be dabbled in nobility, And pay for his cornuting. Madam, you see I have a body, ponderous And full of marrow, I'll not get and heir Less hopeful then my self, my first son shall be And Emperor born, may I do things to purpose When I am in once. Hercules, Hercules, what, a Pedlar. He shall be what I please, do not I know Hercules, He God but fifty in a night, but I— Madam your ear. I shall extend my favour, where I see Merit invite, perhaps commend you to Some other Lord; Uncle, you shall continue Your place; Giotto find out a monopoly, It shall besign'd. I believe 'tis to take's advice about A Masine for my wedding, he's excellent At Revels. On my good Lord.— You may without danger of your fortune Choose this minute for conference with her grace. Signiour th'as cause to clear her looks; Her thoughts Grow easy to her, she had found out the man; The man, that must: more might be said: but then More must be spoke— Worth Signiour!—None but Laura gave him Notice, Ime the man, I near spoke of it My self. My Lord, the man may with safety Boast, he is the best deserver in the Court. hum. He hath a glorious feature too. How not glorious, speak that again. That's I; for I charm the Ladies. He knows I shall be Duke, it cannot be concealed. Never I. But it seems the Duchess gives It out so: the more to honour her choice Signiour; I must do you justice the Court Speaks you most accurate, ith' Spanish garb. But why those things Signiour? Stay slave, weel be as politic as he— Which done Diego do you mean? he that played The sloven in the great Church. The English Have a Proverb on him. Be not enraged (my Lord) those grave shrugs appe ̄ are Unmannerly, and would before Ladies, Engender a suspect of vermin. I am prepared. Mounsieur be not troubled! banish your fear, For I'll toss the Antarticke pole With Like ease as Hercules could a bulrush. Make it a secret. Troth, I know not, may be it was a mistake in Plato, for those pins and feathers which you talk of, are useful unto Ladies. Beside 'tis well known, the man ith' Moon will not permit excuse in business of this kind: 'Tis dange rous to law, and reason. So I was told by one that knows the Kings heart? he came hither to cheapen Ginger bred, for the Mongols daugh ter. Dost i'faith, know then all the Lyons in Barbary shall not contrary me in this way. It's put me into a heat, and French heats are ̄ not Very wholesome. But I've herd how nimbly You dispose your person in a French Curvet! Is't possible? This Lord must rise when I am Duke ̄ : I'll prefer none but such as can speak French and dance; Crispino, prepare my Both, I'll distil and grow amorous. Make no words Crispino, for the Duchess Would not have it published that she means to choose me. Not by word of mouth, but I know her meaning, As well as I were in her, I must be Duke man. 'Tis certain, every body knows it, but say nothing Least it break out, hast done. Why I am Duke already, But for the ceremony, my reign's begun, Depazzi the first. But that I'll not show my self unto my people, Because the Duchess did entreat me, let me See what place th'art fit for: o I have it, Thou shalt be judge. A Judge my Lord, at least, thou canst discharge it, 'Tis nothing to fit upon life and death, 'tis not Required you should speak much, thy trade has half Prepared thee, thou canst pole the commons, Ime sure, Very good be it so, be a judge. Why thou shalt be a Judge in potentiam. I would made him a Judge. Now Signiour what bring you. Th'are no tokens of love as I take it. Oh what do you mean Signiour. Hold, are you in earnest. I beseech declare your meaning Signiour. Every man should consider his end Signiour, alas! I would not the heart to say my prayers, Ah, if I must needs, I would die Another death, you would not brought me. I would choose my gallows, ah, stay 'tis very Short warning, and I am not half prepared: What is this, Ratsbane; alas thats to kill Vermin, I would be loath to be sent out of The world Like a Rat. Indeed Signiour I never loved swinging In my life, and the halter is a dogs death, I would die Like a man. Alas I have a sword of my own, and I had a mind to't But my stomach will never digest it. But that I have a weak constitution, I have always been given to looseness, And I doubt your pellet will put me into such a scouring. Alas every thing would live Signiour, but I should be Sorry to enjoy a life, that stood not with your liking signior. But if I live to be a Duke.— I am abused deer Signiour, I'll renounce it, I'll be first a dog-killer. I won't; do but trust me, And as I am honourable I'll go Into the wilderness, and live with Bears; Any whither, hide me in a Well, and there be no Water in't, I'll feed on gravel; By this hand, this seven years, none shall know But I am dead. Never, I'll endure pinching to death Ere I'll confess it. See me put into the ground your self, So you'll not smother me, and it be seven nights I'll feed on moles sweet Signiour. Noble Signiour, I'll wrigle my self into a Wormehole, or creep into a Molehill, and live Upon Emmits eggs. Treason, treason, where the Duchess, Oh Madam Never was herd of such a horrid treason. Nay I discovered and prevented it Already. My Uncle, but I think most of the Lords Had their hand in't: There was a plot of treason to would killed. Nay I would defended my self, they wood a killed. Me, that shall be Duke, because they saw You were inclined to marry me. And who should be the villain think you, but Giotto. One of my loving Subject's; yes Crispino: It's Crispino Madam, one that I would promised To make a judge, he was my Barber, and Will fit the Common wealth to a hair. It's confirmed. And let the traitors be bolted Madam I beseech you. Do not trust the Archduke, he cosend me at Blowpoint. Right, why thats the cause I lent the Emperor my Combecase. With Like ease may I—hand saw, and invite the Moon to supper. What's the signification of this word? hum. 'Tis so, 'tis baudy, that shrug tells me so, Giotto. I Giotto, but Like and honest rascal Upon my promise, to go hide my self For twelve hours, he saved my life, did y'ever Hear of such a cunning traitor, but it is Your destiny to would me, you have cause To pray heartily. We are Infants you will grant When we cannot speak, and I loved full eight months And a half ere I had power to tell you on't Ime certain. Hom! now I begin my reign ̄ : Dutch ̄ sse, We know thy mind: thou wouldst protest thy great Love unto our royal person. Contarini, Thy speech and lets to bed, weel have our Subject's Know our prompt desire to furnish them With a lusty hire. First we would know thy lips. I say it is Our will to buss thy highness. 'Tis fine i'faith— 'Tis a new trick of state, continually To shift great offices. No remedy, If I'm his favourite, Thou shalt be my Pimp, then th'art sure to rise. I forgive your highness, I.