STROZZA

H Aste nephew, what, a sluggard? Fie for shame, Shall he that was our morning Cock, turn Owl, And lock out day light from his drowsy eyes? Well said, my furious nephew: but I see You quite forget that we must rouse to day The sharp-tuskt Boar: and blaze our huntsmanship before the duke. Honourable dame. Well guessed cousin Hysteron Proteron. Towards Count Lassos house his Grace will hunt, Where he will visit his late honoured mistress. No doubt of that, if thou adst all his living. What all night ying her shoostring? So, will you leave your dreaming, and dispatch? Thy timorous spirit blinds thy judgement, wife, Those are most royal sports that most approve The huntsman's prowess, and his hardy mind. I Marry wife this counsel rightly flows Out of thy bosom, pray thee take less care, Let Ladies at their tables judge of Boars, Lords in the field: And so farewell sweet love; Fail not to meet me at Ear e Lassos house. You must needs, for once Constrain your disposition; and indeed I would acquaint you more with Lady Margaret, For special reason. I pray thee do, farewell. Here comes my friendship and. Good day my Lord; why does your grace confront So clear a morning with so cloudy looks? A wife prince, never doubt it; your deserts And youthful graces have engaged so far, The beauteous Margaret, that she is your own. Despair not: there are means enough for you, Suborn some servant of some good respect, Thats near your choice, who though she needs no wooing, May yet imagine you are to begin, Your strange young love suit, and so speak for you, Bear your kind letters, and get safe access. All which when he shall do; you need not fear His trusty secrecy, because he dares not Reveal escapes, where of himself is Author, Whom you may best attempt, she must reveal; For if she loves you, she already knows, And in and instant can resolve you that. Pursue it then; will not be hard t'effect: The Duke haz none for him, but Medice That fustian Lord, who in his buckram face, Bewrays, in my conceit, a map of baseness. 'Tis pity such should live about a Prince: I would have such a noble counterset, nailde Upon the Pillory, and after, whipped For his adultery with nobility, For that, weelle follow the blind side of him, And make it sometime subject of our mirth. None good I warrant you. Whats the huge haste with you? I hope I will. Whats this? Take her up fool, thou wouldst say. What poison blisters thy unhappy tongue Evermore braying forth unhappy news, Our hunting sport is at the best my Lord: How shall I satisfy the Duke your father, Defrauding him of his expected sport? See, see, he comes. In a cold morning it were good my Lord. But something harsh upon repletion. Haz brought them rarely in, to pageant him. Alas my lord, your wit must pardon his. I pray stand by my Lord; you're troublesome. May I not know What your speech is my Liege? hanks for this grace my Liege. Weel do our best to that end, therefore mark. Will you not speak my Lord? I pray forbear my Lord Vincentio: How this distressed Prince came thus inthralde, I must relate with words of height and wonder: His Grace this morning visiting the woods, And straying far, to find game for the Chase, At last, out of a myrtle grove he roused A vast and dreadful Boar, so stern and fire As if the Fiend fell Cruelty her self Had come to fright the woods in that strange shape. The princely Savage being thus on foot, Tearing the earth up with his thundering hoof, And with the'nragde Aetna of his breath. Firing the air, and scorching all the woods, Horror held all us Huntsmen from pursuit, Only the Duke incensed with our cold fear, Incouragde Like a second Hercules. Pray thee let me alone: And Like the English sign of great Saint Georg . Gave valorous ex mple, and Like fire, Hunted the monster close, and charged so fierce, That he enforced him (as our sense conc ed) To leap for soil into a crystal spring, Where on the sudden strangely vanishing, Nimph-like for him, out of the waves arose Your sacred figure Like Diana armed, And (as in purpose of the beasts revenge) Discharge and arrow through his Highness breast Whence yet no wound or any blood appeared With which, the angry shadow left the light: And this Enchanter with his power of spirits, Brake from a cave, scattering enchanted sounds, That struck us senseless, while in these strange bans, These cruel spirits thus inchainde his arms, And led him captive to your heavenly eyes Intent whereof on their report relies. How did you Like my speech? Nothing at all: I hope saint Georges sign was gross enough: But (to be serious) as these warnings pass, Watch you your father, I'll watch , That in your love-suit, we may shun suspect: To which end, with your next occasion, urge Your love to name the person she will choose, By whose means you may safely write or meet. I thank you for your patience, mocking Lady. And why not? For the most constant fashion of his hat? W ll sir, he is your own, I make no doubt: For to these outward figures of his mind, He hath two inward swallowing properties Ofany gudgeons; servile Avarice, And overweening thought of his own worth, Ready to snatch at every shade of glory: And therefore, till you can directly board him, Waft him aloof with hats, and other favours, Still as you meet him. This is most excellent. Oh noble Crone, Now such a huddle and kettle never was. They have descried me; what Lord Medice Courting the lusty widow? What, choleric man? and towards wedlock too? If he be not; madame he may do better. We are ready sir. See where he is; now to him, and prepare Your familiam city. A shame of both your worships. Oh Lord, I thank you sir, you grace me much. And to this noble dame, Whom I with finger name. See, see, thats Lord M dice. Not such sta e stum As you pick from your teeth. Heeres one says to that. Oh thou hast worser ne a work of memory, And raised our house up higher by a story. Nay, he speaks huddles still, lets sl h tongue. I will not fail my Lord. Wounded, and faint with anguish, let me rest. No mean then Doctor rests there to educe it? I will not see my bosom mangled so, Nor sternly be anatomizde alive, I'll rather perish with it sticking still. Must we attend at death's abhorred door, The torturing delays of slavish Nature? My life is in mine own powers to dissolve: And why not then the pains that plague my life? Rise furies, and this fury of my bane, and conquer; what men madness call (That to hath no eye to sense, but frees the foul, Exempt of hope, and fear with instant fate) Is m nliest reason; manliest reason then, Resolve and rid me of this brutish life, Hast n the cowardly protracted cure Of all diseases: King of Physicians, death, I'll dig thee from this Mine of mice j. Away with this unmedicinable balm Of worded breath; for bear friends, let me rest, I swear I will be bans unto my self. I'll break away, and leap into the Sea. Or from some Turret cast me headlong down, To shiver this frail carcase into dust. Leave me found woman. Then lead me in, Cut off the timber of this cursed Shaft, And let the forked pile canker to my heart. Come near me wife, I fare the better far For the sweet food of thy divine advice, Let no man valve at a little price. A virtuous woman's counsel, her winged spirit, Is fe heard oftentimes with heavenly words; And (Like her beauty ) ravishing, and p re. The weaker body, still the stronger soul, When good endeavours do her powers apply, Her love draws nearest men felicity, Oh what a treasure is a virtuous wife, Discreet and loving, Not one gift on earth, Makes a men life so highly bound to heau She gives him do ble forces, to endure And to enjoy; by being one with him, Feeling his Joys and Griefs with equal senc ; And Like the twins Hyp ates reports: If he fetch sighs, she draws her breath as short: If he lament, she melts her self in tears: If he be glad, she triumphs; if he st e, She moou's his way; in all things his sweet Ap : And is in alteratious passing strange. Himself worser ely varied without change: Gold is right precious; but his price infects With pride and avarice; Authority l Hats from men's heads; and bows the strongest knees Yet cannot bend in rule the weakest hea ts; Music delights but one sense; No choice meats One quickly fades, the other stir to sin B to a true wife, both sense and soul delights, And mixeth not her good with any ill; Her virtues (ruling hearts) all powers command; All Store without her, leaves a man b poor; And with her, Poverty is exceeding Store; No time is tedious with her, her true Worth Makes a true husband think, his arms enfold; (With her alone) a complete world of gold. Cynanche, thy advise hath made me well; My free submission to the hand of heaven Makes it redeem me from the rage of pain For though I know the malice of my wound Shoots still the same distemper through my vain , Yet the Judicial patience I embrace, (In which my mind spreads her impassive powers Through all my suffering parts;) expels their frail ; And rendering up their whole life to my soul, Leaves me nought else but soul; and so Like her, Free from the passion of my king blood. Thinkest thou me mad Cynanche? for mad men, By pains vngouernd, have no sense of pain. But I, I tell you am quite contrary, Eased with well governing my submitted pain Be cheered then wife; and look not for, in me, The manners of a common wounded man. Humility hath raised me to the stars; In which (as in a sort of Crystal Globes) I fit and see things hid from humane sighed. I, even the very accidents to come Are present with my knowledge; the seventh day The arrow head will fallen out of my side. The seventh day wife, the forked head will out. Yes, the seventh day, I am assured it will: And I shall live, I know it; I thank heaven, I know it well; and isle teach my physician, To built his cares hereafter upon heaven More then on earthly medicines; for I know Many things shown me from the oped skies, That pass all arts. Now my physician Is coming to me, he makes friendly haste; And I will well requite his care of me. Passing well; and that my deer friend lord Vincentio Will presently come see me too; isle stay (My good physician) till my true friend come. Bring my Physician in, he's at the door. But I know it; See, he is come. Good Doctor, I endure no pain at all, And the seventh day, the arrows head will out. I know it; the seventh day it will not fail. No but t'is very true; he's now hard by, And will not hinder your affairs a whit. None but himself. My nephew Pogio now hath left his Grace. Good Doctor go, and bring him by his hand, (Which he will give you) to my longing eyes, Yes wife, too well, See he is come; welcome my princely friend: I have been shot my Lord; but the euenth day The arrows head will fallen out of my side, And I shall hue. No, t'is not his opinion, t'is my knowledge: For I do know it well; and I do wish Even for your only sake, my noble Lord, This were the seventh day; and I now were well, That I might be some strength to your ard state, For you have many perils to endure: Great is your danger; grea ; vour vniustill Is passing foul and mortal; would to God My wound were something we l, I might be with you, Nay do not whisper, I know what I say, Too well for you, my Lor I wonder heaven Will let such violence threat and innocent life. Nay, mine is nothing; For the seventh day This a row head will out, and I shall live, And so shall you, I think; but very hardly. It will be hardly, you will escape indeed. What says my Doctor? thinks he I say true? Yes, I shall rest I know, If that will help your judgement. You p ease me m changed, I shall sleep instantly. Now see good Doctor, was no frantic fancy, That made my tongue presage this head should fallen Out of my wounded side the seventh day; But and inspired rapture of my mind, Submitted and conioynde in patience, To my Creator, in whom I foresaw (Like to and Angel) this divine event. Oh, my deer fr ds name Presents my thoughts, with a most mortal danger, To his right inno nt life: a monst S fact Is now effected on him. I do not well those circumstances know, But am assured, the substance is too to e. Come reverend Doctor, let us harken out Where the young Prince remains, and bear with you Medicines t'allay danger: if by wounds, Bear precious Balsome, or S e S gne juice; If by fell poison, some choice A to, If by black witch , our good S ts and prayers Shall exorcise the devilish wrath of hell, Out of his princely bosom. Here's the ill tidings-bringer; what news now, with thy unhappy presen ? See Doctor, see, if my pr ge be true. And well I know if he have hurt the Prince, T'is treacherously done, or with much help. What tale is here? where is this mischief done? Where is the tyrant? let me stri e his eyes Into his brain, with horror of and object. See Pagan Nero; see how thou hast ri Thy bosom; rooted up that flower, From whence thy now spent life should spring anew, And in him killed (that would have bred thee fresh) Thy mother and thy father. What hag with child of Monster, would have nursed Such a prodigious longing? But a father Would rather eat the brawn out of his arms Then glut the mad worm of his wild desires With his deer issues entrails. What is a father? urn his entrails gulfs To swallow children, wh n they have begotten them? And whats a Prince? Had all been virtuous men, There never had been Prince upon the earth, And so no subject; all men had been Princes: A virtuous and is subject to oh Prince, But to his soul and honour; which are laws, That carry Fire and Sword within themselves Never corrupted never out of rule; What is there in a Prince? That his least lu to Are valued at the lives of other men, When common faults in him should prodigies be, And his gross dotage r there then soothed. Go to, too much of this; but ask this Lord, If he did Like it. Lord Stinkard Man, his name is him Lord Stin kard did you Like the match? say. Noblesse my Lord? set by your princely favour, That gave the lustre to his painted state, Who ever viewed him but with deep contempt, As reading vileness in his very looks? And if he prove not son of some base drudge, Trimmed up by Fortune, being disposed to jest And dally with your state, then that good Angel, That by divine relation spoke in me, Foretelling these foul dangers to your son And without notice brought this reverend man To rescue him from death: now fails my tongue, And I'll confess, I do him open wrong. My Liege, with all desert, even now you said His life was duly forfeit, for the death Which in these b rbarous wounds he sought your son; Vouchsafe me then his life, in my friends right, For many ways I know he merits death; Which, (if you grant) will instantly appear, And that I feel with some rare miracle. Villain thou liest, thou guilty art of death A hundred ways, which now I'll execute. Oh my deer Liege, but that my spirit prophetike Hath inward feeling of such sins in him , As ask the forfeit of his life and soul, I would, before I took his life, give leave To his confession, and his penitence: Oh, he would tell you most notorious wonder , Of his most impious state; but life and soul Must suffer for it in him, and my hand Forbidden is from heaven to let him live, Till by confession he may have forg uenesse. Die therefore monster. He must not Princely friend, it is heavens justice To plague his life and soul, and here's heavens justice. I know it, and I must not let thee live To ask forgiveness. A little then I am content my Liege: Is thy name Medice? Mendice? see, At first a Mighty scandal done to Honour. Of what country art thou? Where Wertenberg thou christened? How camest thou then To bear that port thou didst, entering this Court? Didst thou not cause me to be shot in hunting? Now let him live my Lord, his bloods least drop Would stain your Court, more then the Sea could cleanse: His soul's too foul to expiate with death. But your w edom was in a pretty to g l st night; was it not I pray? I will not hear thee, woman, be content. I doubt it no ; fools are best g des to ill, And mischiefs ready way l S open still. Led sir I pray. Rage is the vent of torment, let me rise. Yes, will be oh, You come with purpose to take present leave, But you shall stay a while; my Lord Vincen oh Would see you feign and now is coming hither: Sweet wife, thou restest my good Angel still, Suggesting by all means, these ghostly counsels. Thou weariest not thy husbands patient ears, With motions for new fashions in attire, For change of Jewels, pastimes, and nice cates, Nor studiest eminence, and the higher place Amongst thy consorts, Like all other Dams: But knowing more worthy objects appertain To every woman that desires enjoy A blessed life in marriage: thou contemnest Those common pleasures, and pursuest the rare, Using thy husband in those virtuous gifts: For which, thou first didst choose him, and thereby Cloyest not with him, but lovest him endlessly. In reverence of thy motion then, and zeal To that most sovereign power, that was my cure. I make a vow to go on soot to Room, And offer humbly in S. Peters Temple, This fatal Arrow head: which work, let none judge A snperstitious Rite, but a right use, Proper to this peculiar instrument, Which visibly resignde to memory, Through every eye that sees, will stir that soul To Gratitude and Progress, in the use Of my tried patience which in my powers ending, Would shut example out of future lives. No act is superstitious, that applies All power to God, devoting hearts, through eyes.