The tragedie of Lodouick Sforza Duke of Millan. By Robert Gomersall

The tragedie of Lodouick Sforza Duke of Millan. By Robert Gomersall

Table of contents

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Title page

TO HIS MOST WORTHIE FRIEND Mr. FRANCIS HIDE PROCTOR OF OXFORD.

The Argument.

The names of the Actors.

The Prologue.

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Actus primi

Scena prima.

Scena secunda.

Scena tertia.

Scena quarta.

Scena quinta.

Actus secundi

Scena prima.

Scena secunda.

Scena tertia.

Scena quarta.

Scena quinta.

Scena quinta.

Scena sext•.

Actus tertii

Scena prima.

Scena secunda.

Scena tertia.

Scena quarta.

Scena quinta.

Actus quarti

Scena prima.

Scena secunda.

Scena tertia.

Scena quarta.

Scena quinta.

Actus Quinti

Scena prima.

Scena secunda.

Scena tertia.

Scena quarta.

Scena vltima.

The Epilogue.

To the Ambitious.

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THE EXPLANATION of the Frontispice.

IT was when Industry did sleepe

The Wolfe was Tutor to the Sheep,

And to amaze a plainer man,

The thiefe was made the guardian.

But can a Wolfe forget to prey?

Can Night be lightned into Day?

Without respect of lawes or blood,

His charge he makes to be his food.

With that triumphant be sits downe,

Opprest, not bonour'd with a Crowne,

And on the lesser beasts does try

A most Authenticke Tyranny:

This the French Lyon heares, and when

He's thought fast sleeping in his denne,

Vengeance and He at once doe wake,

And on the Wolfe their fury slake.

Bad acts may bloome sometimes, but n'ere grow high,

Nor doe they liue so sure, as they shall dye.

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SFORZA

by Rob: Gomersall

London Printed for [...]

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THE TRAGEDIE OF LODOVICK SFORZA DVKE OF MILLAN.

By Robert Gomersall.

Imprinted at LONDON in the yeare M DC XXVIII.

TO HIS MOST WORTHIE FRIEND Mr. FRANCIS HIDE PROCTOR OF OXFORD.

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HAuing resolued what to print, I could not be long doubtfull vnto whom: it had beene an vnfriendly absurdity not to haue intitled him to my second, who might not vniustly haue challenged the patronage of my first Labour. But if vntill this time I had had no reason for such a dedication, if the same most fruitfull Colledge had not for these many years knowne vs of the same time and friendship, if in all offices of life I had not still found you most inseparably one with mee: yet this Worke at this time could not offer it selfe to any so iustly as to you. It is to your name that I owe what euer fruits of my spent time shall be preserued, it is to your name that I owe whateuer fruits of my former time, being vnhappily lost, may haue a possibilitie of recouery. And could I dedicate any of my remaining Labours with [Page] more iustice vnto any, then to him, by whose friendly care, I dare almost assure my selfe of them which are remaining? But some perhaps may say for this, that it had beene better if it had beene lost, or at least that these kind of Labours are more iudiciously supprest then published. Sermons had beene fitter for my setting forth, and to preach more proper then to write. But is not this to preach? I haue heard diuers speake an houre, who preach not, and there are many, who effectually preach, that are more sparing of their breath. If I make the ambitious see that he climbes but to a fall, the vsurper to acknowledge, that blood is but a slippery foundation of power, all men in generall to confesse that the most glorious is not the most safe place: is not this to cry downe Ambition and Vsurpation? or is it lesse to shew, then to threaten? and are not men so much moued with the euent it selfe, as with the commination of the euent? And yet in this age, wherein only Heresie or Sedition preferre a Booke, wherein Contradiction is called Learning, and Zeale wonders that she is become Faction, I can expect but a few Readers, whose small number shall be no discouragement at all to me if that your iudgement shall counterpoise them, which is the onely desired crowne of

Your true friend, R. G.

The Argument.

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LOdovicke Sforza, after hee had cunningly supplanted the Duchesse from the wardship of her sonne Galeazzo, as cunningly practizeth to beethe murtherer of him, of whom he would seeme to be the Protector. To this end he was to remoue this impediment. Isabella daughter to the Prince of Calabria, and Grand-childe vnto Ferdinand King of Naples, was wife to Galeazzo. A woman of a spirit as high as her birth, and equall to Sforza in all things but the sex: shee perceiuing the stupidity of her husband, and how that whatsoeuer she proiected for his safety, he discouered to his vncle, for his ouerthrow, makes her father secretly acquainted with all the passages, desiring him to vindicate his son in law from the vsurpation of his Protector. This could not be so priuately dispatched, but that Sforza had an incling of it, whether out of his owne reach hee guessed it: or by his Nephewes sottishnesse he vnderstood it. To preuent then his owne ruine, whilst he intends his Nephews, he ventures on those remedies which the height of feare rather rusheth on, then chuseth, [Page] which more expresse and exchange, then remoue, or auoyd a danger. He knew the French claime to Naples, to the prosecution of which he sollicites the yong King; whom either his right, or inconsideratenesse quickly armes vnto the action. But before his comming, hee by continuall messengers deludes the old King, and makes him beleeue that there was no purpose of his comming, and that the French iourney vnto Naples, as it was onely the childe of rumor, & had no being but frō fame, so in a very short space, in the age of a wonder it would vanish and expire. Thus was Ferdinand perswaded from his necessary defence, till hauing certainly vnderstood that all defence would be too late, the French being already very strong vpon his frontires, cheated, not conquer'd, hee dyes and leaues his sonne Alphonso heire of his kingdome, and his troubles. The French King being now entred in person into Italy, Galeazzo dyes of a poyson at Pauia, when Sforza has brought this worse poyson into his Country. But the French growing prodigiously victorious, and almost by the very seeing ouer comming their opposites, Sforza begins to be apprehensiue of his owne danger, and striues to rid himselfe of these incumbrances, in the which a too much prouidence had intangled him. A consideration [Page] without doubt necessary, but almost past the season, it being neer vnto an impossibility to expell him now, whom it was far from any difficulty at the first not to admit. So that this second resolution did onely proclaime the folly of the first, which either in wisdome hee should not haue ventur'd on, or, in honesty not haue altred. But howsoeuer, hee enters into a new league with the Venetians, and giues the French after their victorious returne from Naples halfe an ouerthrow at Taro. And now when hee thinks himselfe confirm'd in his Dukedome, when he as little fear'd ruine, as he deseru'd preseruation; the French King dyes suddenly, to whom Lewis, the true Duke of Orleans, and titular Duke of Millan, succeeded, with him Sforzaes late friend, the Venetians conclude a league. Thus Sforza being left alone, raiseth two armies vnder the conduct of the two Sanseuerins, men, whom hee had highly fauour'd and aduanced. But it is scarce seene, that a faithlesse Master should haue a trusty seruant, and hee that hath no respect to his owne word, shall in the extremest of his necessities, finde all others promises but words. The elder reuolts, and the yonger, without the least show of resistance, flyes, and Sforza himselfe is so closely pursued, that he can scarce get away safe into Germany. The French [Page] abusing their late victory, the Millanesi with a generall consent, recall Sforza; who, like a melting snow, ouerflowes all before him, and recouers most of his Duchy, with the same easinesse that he had lost it. The strength of his Army consisted especially of Swizzers, whom the late ouerthrow of the warlike Duke of Burgundy, and these Italian wars, had raised to the height of admiration. But to be valiant is not to haue all vertues: these were as strong in treachery, as in battle, they lead Sforza in the habite of a Swizzer into the French camp, through which in the same habit they had promised to conduct him. Thus hauing beene twice betrayd, and now a prisoner, after a ten yeers harsh confining hee dyes in France, hauing liu'd in his misery, longer then in his Duchy, and leauing instruction to succeeding Princes that height should not be their ayme, but integrity; and that they would not (that I may vse the words of our Poet) tempt their starres beyond their light.

The names of the Actors.

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GIovanni Galeazzo the yong Duke.

Lodovick Sforza His Protector, afterwards Duke.

two brothers of the house of Sanseuerin, Sforza's fauorites.

Galeazzo

Count Caiazzo

two of the Nobility.

Lucio Maluezzo

Carlo Burbia [...]o Count Belgiosa

two old Courtiers.

Iuliano

Picinino

Poysoners.

Vitellio

Malatesta

Ascanio Sforza's brother, a Cardinall.

Triulcio The French Generall.

The Captaine of the Swizzers.

Isabella Galeazzo's wife.

Iulia.

Bettrice wife to Sforza.

Embassadors, Souldiers, Seruants.

The Prologue.

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CAn horror haue an auditory? can

Man loue the spectacle of ruin'd man?

We fear'd we should haue beene alone, that hence,

The Actors should haue beene the Audience.

Are you not frighted yet? do [...] you not rise?

Can that inuite, which should dismay your eyes?

We shew neer murthers, and in that degree

Where Mariage is vnlawfull, then, the free

Progresse of crimes, by nimble Iustice met,

Aequally horrid, this we shew, but yet

Vnlesse your Courtesie, your Iudgement sway,

We suffer a worse torture, then we play.

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Actus primi

Scena prima.

Galeazzo Duke of Millane, Isabella his Wife.

[...].

WHy weeps my Deare?

[...].

Aske why I do not weep:

(Poore Isabella are thy teares deny'd thee?)

Aske why thus long such a succession

Of sorrow clogs my bosome, and does rob

So much of Woman from mee, as complaints.

Aske why I doe not raue, teare my haire, thus,

Create a griefe, which Fate would spare me, then

Cloud the sad Ayre with sighes, and at the last,

With a bold stab take from insulting Fortune

The miserable obiect of her sport:

Aske why I doe not this, not, why I weepe.

[...]l.

Or stint thy teares, or mingle them with mine

By a relation of their cause: these eyes,

Trust me, my Isabella, are not dry,

Nor has strong sorrow ere exhausted them,

To make them bankrout of a friendly teare,

Doe thou but proue it once a friendly teare

And not a fond one. Why, my Isabella,

Why dost thou hasten those that come too fast,

[Page]Sorrow, and Age? If it be true, I heard

Of Sforza, my deare Sforza, ther's no ioy

But either past, or fleeting, and poore man

Growes vp but to the experience of Griefe,

And then is truly past minority

When he is past all happinesse:

Jsab.

My Lord,

My sorrow dares not argue with your loue,

This smile expels it.

Gal.

Be it banisht farre,

Aeternally, or to the yeares of Age.

I, those vnclouded lookes become my deare,

And giue me ioy too. I must hunt to day

With my deare vncle: O he is a man

That alters all those fond relations,

Which Nature giues, who in an vncles name

Ou [...] loues a Father: I could praise him still,

But that I stay too long from him: farewell.

[...]

Jsab.

O Galeazzol O not Galeazzo!

How has Man fled thee! how thy soule has fled thee!

Onely thy lineaments bely a Man.

Thou hunt; [...] as poore Prince, thou art the Game:

Thy vncle hunts: and yet he does not neither,

But stands a glad, and idle looker on,

Whilst thou insnar [...]st thy selfe, sinfully fool'd,

Flattering thy Executioner, and so

Dost no [...] preuent thy misery, nor yet know.

Enter G [...]

Gal.

I am return'd once more; before I'me gone,

To see if thy fond griefe be not return'd;

What ioy is there in a forbidden griefe?

What comfort in the eyes sad flux? once [...]

Is it my fault giues you these teares?

Jsab▪

My [...] ▪

[Page]For which so strange a sad nesse seizes me,

That it increaseth when I striue with it,

And makes my face rebellious to my Lord,

When my heart yeelds.

[...]al.

Then once againe, adieu,

Forsake your griefe, or griefe will forsake you.

Exit.

[...]ab.

Forsake my griefe—O bid me forsake heau'n,

My reason, and mine honor: onely sighes

Doc keepe me in opinion of Beeing,

And without them I were a stupid coarse.

Shall I obey impossibilities?

Forsake the sorrow, and retaine the cause?

How can I thinke that yet the vntyr'd Sunne

Has iourny'd but a twelue-month, since I was

In Ferdinando's Court, the Paragon

Of happy Naples, when his Palace seem'd

Guarded with Princely sutors, and mine eye,

Caught with so many rarities of men,

Taught me that too much choyce did hinder choyce,

That Galeazzo then must cary me?

This Galeazzo, neither Prince, nor Man,

Fool'd out of both by Sforza, his deare vncle.

Can I thinke this, and thinke of ioy againe?

Can I thinke this, and dare to thinke againe?

Why should some toyes of after-torment fright

A resolution of easing me

From present ones? O tis the curse of man

To be vnhappy at arbitrement,

Enter Iulia.

Till heau'n please to relent▪ My Iulia,

Breath's Naples any comfort? quickly speake.

[...]al.

None, Madam, and your courteous Grandfather

In stead of Armies sends you Patience.

[...]ab.

What patience? he should haue sent me rage,

Ayded my anger, if not my reuenge:

[Page]Patience? O God! can griefe be patient?

Can Thunder whisper? or chaf'd se [...] not ro [...]re?

In me is Sea and thunder, I will be

A patterne of Reuenge not misery.

Scena secunda.

Sforza.

SForza as yet thou but beginst to act,

And yet beginst to stagger: wert thou not

A Princes sonne? why art thou not a Prince?

Protectors are but subiects, and this staffe

But shewes me vnder whose command I am.

Is this our hindrance that our mother first

Swell'd with another? what her wombe denyde

Our head shall giue, or we will loose our head,

What was her labour to a Crowne? Perhaps

A monster might haue fill'd her first, a thing

Of royall prodegy, and should this thing

Grow to be hooted to a crowne before vs?

Or if that Crownes be due to the most yeares,

Why should the Nephew be the Vncles Lord?

And Lawes of Nations conquer those of Nature?

Nature intended Sov'raignty to them

Of soueraigne vnderstanding; to the rest,

How euer aged, but subiection,

Which Isabella would detaine vs in:

And whilst she trusts to Naples, our sad brow

May sooner weare willow, then Diadems.

E [...]ter Belgiosa

Return'd so soone, my Belgiosa? thankes,

Before I heare thy message, for thy hast.

[Page] [...]el.

My Lord, our sudden comming into France,

Left fame behind vs, where ariu'd, we crau'd

A priuate audience?

[...]f.

But had you it?

Did not our enemies sharpe espies desery

The depth of our hid counsells?

[...]el.

They might first

Desery the subtill path of a swift ship,

The voyage of a bullet, or of thought,

Before your more mysterious purposes?

[...]f.

Then since we are alone, and in a place

Free from the bold intrusion of an eye,

Feigne Vs the Prince to whom we sent you forth,

And speake our Embassy vnto our selfe.

[...]el.

Great Prince, to haue the offer of a Crowne

Is rare, and your felicity: my Lord,

Millans Protector, but your seruant, knowing

The ancient right your predecessors had

In vsurpt Naples, by vs wooes your Grace

(Consider vnto what he wooes your Grace)

Not to maintaine his pow'r, but make your owne,

To take a Kingdome that e'ne sighes for you.

So shall the infamy of a lost crowne

Rot in the earth with your dead Ancestors,

And the recouery reuiue their names

To waite vpon your triumph with your foes:

For so much iustice needs no other power,

And yet such is your pow'r, that it is able

To make what euer you should fancy, iust:

But that your vertue is aboue that pow'r.

I will not call you vsurer of Fame,

By this large act, when the astonisht world

Now fifty Ages off from vs, shall reade

Not in the boastings of a painted tombe

[Page](The flatteries of great rottennesse) but your [...]

Writ in [...]s true Characters,

For making conquer'd Crownes the [...]udiments

Of your victorious infancy i [...] armes,

When France shall know no other Charlemaign [...].

Sf.

But should we faile in the attempt? what then?

Belg.

Can Heau'n faile Iustice? or those pow'rs commit

Sinnes which they punish? O my gracious Lord

Sinne not with that weake thought: but if they should

Sforza will neuer:

Sf.

He is alwaies noble,

But hee'l vndoe vs with a benefit,

To giue a kingdome is aboue requitall.

Belg.

His hopes are but the prayse of honest deeds,

If in the rereward of your spreading Fame,

That fils all mouthes, some happy tongue may glance

At him, as a poore engine of your glory,

That could impart, but no [...] possesse a Fame.

Sf.

Excellent man, if to this welcome speech

Thou giu'st as faire an answer.

Bel.

This in briefe

After some scruple, and a little pause

He whisper'd he would come.

Sf.

Exactly done.

But leaue vs now, my noble Belgiosa,

Till we may study a reward for thee.

[...]x. Belg.

The twilight hastens, when Vitellio

And Malatesta one of an high trust

E [...] Vitell. & [...].

With our fond Nephew, promised conference.

And here they are. Is it decreed braue friends▪

Shall it be swiftly done [...] nay, tis no matter,

Your colour sayes you dare not.

Vit.

It lyes then:

If that my colour shew me disobedient

[Page]To my good Lord, be I for euer pale:

But when shall Galeazzoes wish'd-for death

Shew we dare somewhat?

[...]f.

We would gladly haue

A poyson teach him linger to his death,

And a month hence we shall expect his knell.

Ex.

Now are we entred, and now to retire

Were the worse treason: like an inrag'd fire

The more we are oppos'd, the more wee'l spred

And make our foes our fewell: to be head

Wee'l cut off any member, and condemne

Vertue of folly for a Diadem,

Banish Religion, and make blood as cheape

As when two Armies turn'd into one heape

Of carcasses, lye grou ling, what care we

For the slight tainture of disloyalty?

None will commend the race till it be run,

And these are deeds not prais'd till they are done.

Scena tertia.

Iulian [...], Picinino.

[...]ul.

My Picinino, holds this sad newes true?

Pici.

My Iuliano, yes; tis in each voyce

That some perswasion flatt'ring Ferdinand,

That the French iourney was but a report,

Made him reuoke Alphonso, his braue sonne,

Who with an Army had indanger'd vs:

For the wise old man fearing, a deepe feare

Might arme an enemy, else too weake for him,

And make vs hasten the French warre, gaue o're

[Page]His warre with vs: but when he vnderstands

That all this qui [...]t does not purchase peace,

The coozen'd Prince seekes the sure peace of death,

And leaues his ruine to destroy his sonne.

Iul.

Will the French come? then prethee, Death, come too.

Why should our eyes dull'd to all other sights

By Age and sorrow, be reseru'd for sight

Of warre and sorrow? ô discourteous heau'ns!

Why haue you dally'd with vs to white hayres?

Why kept till this time, must we perish now?

O wherefore are we come so neere the graue

And are not in it yet? yet pardon me

Good heau'n, your acts are aboue question:

Yet I may shed these teares for Italy;

Slaue of that world, which once, her valour slau'd,

Restoring backe her triumph's with her spoyle,

Distracted in herselfe, and onely fit

To make a bankrout Poet heale his credit

With matter for fresh Tragedies.

Pic.

Good heau'n!

Is this to ease misfortune, or increase it?

If Passion could whine out felicity,

Or plenteous teares could drowne vnhappinesse,

I haue eyes too, and they containe their showres,

Nor would I ere be niggard of a Griefe.

But teares being onely teares, an easie de [...]

Of childish eyes, and all the rest of Griefe

Commanding smiles, more then Compassion,

I thanke my Genius I am resolute

To laugh at Fortune when she is most angry▪

Iul.

Such laughter may haue little mirth in it,

And I shall haue more comfort in a teare.

Pic.

You may, good Fountaine, y [...], droppe on, to soe,

If so much moysture will reuiue thy cheekes

[Page]Whilst Ile be yong with laughter. I am he

That feares a sorrow, more then misery.

Scena quarta.

Ʋitellio.

THis is the place, and this the time: good heau'n!

What an odd place, and what an vncouth time?

Had I beene hyr'd to murther Sforza here,

Hell could not prompt more fit occasion.

I like nor it, nor him: but here he comes.

Ent. Sforza.

Sf.

VVelcome Vitellio, thy hast is welcome:

Nay complement with him, whom thou wouldst kill,

Be free to vs as we doe know thee true.

Speak, yet I need not bid thee, for thine eye

Sparkles a ioyfull answer. It is done.

Vit.

Tis done my Lord, and now my Lord, 'tis told

(That Galeazzo is no more a man)

And with an euen scruple, for to me

The act's as easie as relation.

Sf.

Thou speak'st true manhood: 'tis thy art alone

That giues vs certaine honour: there are some

Striue for Aeternity with losse of life,

At least with hazard of the losse of it,

And thinke they are reueng'd when they are kill'd?

These are our valiant duellists, and these

Doe bleed whilst we doe conquer▪ heale their wounds,

VVhilst we receiue none: then, at last, vnfold

(Man of deepe Art, that canst preuent the Fates,

And cut a thread, which they had thought to spunne

Fourty yeares yonger) thy wise mysteries.

[Page]Thy constant, [...] failing [...],

Which cause a death, without a feare of death,

Vit.

Here are some drugs, but of these some, not one

But can command a life where ere it is,

And ruinate the strongest workemanship

That Heau'n ere brag'd to haue compos'd of Earth.

Powders of speedy Fate, but aboue all

The instruments, which make me neere to death

Of such indear'd familiarity,

This glasse has nimblest operation:

Whose liquor cast vpon the face of man

Straight du [...]ls him to an euerlasting sleepe.

Sf.

Is this the liquor of Aeternity?

Ʋitellio fall as dead▪

Then take thy [...]ethe, and goe sleepe for euer.

Mal.

I am deceiu'd, or esse this is the place

Enter Mal [...].

Which Sforza chooseth when he is alone.

Yes, this is it.

Sf.

What Malatesta come?

What Deuill brought him hither? O crosse starres▪

Be sudden, Sforza, now, or thou art lost:

He must beleeue out guilt was accident.

M [...] fa [...] vpon Ʋitellio.

Speake, my Vitellio▪ O tune thy lips

But to one syllable, but to one groane

And I am satisfi'd.

Mal.

What fight is here?

Vitellio dead, and [...]forza tur'nd a Mourner?

Sf.

Shouldst thou dye thus, how would my name be [...]oyl [...] ▪

For though I am at guiltlesse of thy death,

As Innocence, or if there be a name

That hath lesse beeing: yet the enuious world

Will quit curft Fortune of so great a crime,

And giue it me: yet speake.

Mal.

I' [...] my Lord,

To aske your [...] when [...] chanc [...]

[Page]First frighted Heau'n?

Sf.

Now, Malatesta, now▪

When could vnhappinesse ra [...]ne so, but now?

As if he meant to be before his Lord,

He had no sooner told the Prince must dye,

But he straight dy'd.

Mal.

Then courage, my good Lord.

Since it is thus, make the best vse of it:

For now you need not feare to be reueal'd,

When one mouth's stopt, and th'other is your owne:

But since your last retyrement, we haue beene

Instructed by the speed of frequent Poasts,

Of the a riuall of the King of France.

Sf.

With thankes, a while, my Malatesta, leaue vs.

[...]x.

Why should we longer thinke of other pow'rs,

And not bring offrings now to our owne braine?

Which giues vs Agents of all kinds of men,

And Kings alwell as poys'ners: this w [...]e King

Must trouble Naples, who would trouble vs,

Diuert inuasions which are yet not made,

And thus ou [...] ends are cheapely brought about,

We onely at the charge of plott: they fight,

And Galiazzo dyes, whom either King

Were they not thus intangled, would preserue:

We shall be conquerors without fighting thus,

And their poore swords shall cut a way for vs.

S [...]rg [...] Vitellio.

I'me for you France.

Vit.

And I am for you, Sforza,

Not poyson'd yet, vnlesse 'twere by thy teare [...].

The other liquor had an Antid [...]e.

Happy suspect! had I beene credulous

And thought his loue as free as it would seeme

I had not beene, distrust has ransom'd me.

But Malatesta is intr [...]pp'd, I know

[Page] Sforza for nothing did not aske the skill▪

My equall villaine p [...]shes, and I

Thus being accessary to his death

May sinne to Innocence, by poasting off

The Princes fate to him: whilst a disguise

Shall keepe aliue the fame that I am dead.

And thus halfe truth shall come to light, and I,

Be wisely cleer'd by double villany.

[...] ▪

Scena quinta.

Caiazzo, Sanseuerin, Maluezzo.

Sans.

AS I am noble, 'twas a glorious sight,

To see two Princes, in their State at once:

As if two Sunnes had harmlesly conspir'd

To beautifie, and not to fright the Heau'ns.

Why should the formall nicety of State

Debarre these often enter [...]iewes? I thinke

They would be medicine against Tyranny:

For, when a Prince sees all things vnder him,

Heads of eternall nakednesse, and men

That make their glory of their seruitude▪

He thinkes hee's vncontroulable, that none

Without a saucy imputation

Dares warne him to his duty: but suppose

An equall Maiesty should once become

His vsuall obiect, one, whose vncheck't blood

Runnes full as high as [...], then he does learne,

That ther's a Common-wealth of Princes too,

Not one sole Monarch▪

Cai.

Yet, Sanseuerin,

If you obseru'd some clouds obscur'd both Sunnes,

[Page]For, when they smil'd most freely, and exprest

Their neerest friendship by a strict embrace,

They lookt so iealously, as if they fear'd

A closer stab: and then the King tooke leaue

With that excesse of hast, that one would thinke

(After this eager preparation,)

He did intend his iourney to leaue vs,

Not to winne Naples.

Mal.

'Tis a dangerous time,

(And yet I seeme to crosse the truth I speake

When I not feare to call't a dangerous time)

Sforza is ouer-wise, and so attempts

Vpon the confidence of his owne braine

(A braine, though wise, yet I may safely say,

Within the possibilitie of error)

Things, that can onely hap by miracle

To any good.

Sans.

Why, what can happen ill?

Feare you a warre? and what's to be fear'd there?

Least that a mortall dy, least that the life

Due to a knotty gout, or grating stone,

Haue a more easie period by the sword.

Let them feare warre, who feare to see their gold▪

Lest that the Sunne should haue a sight with them▪

Holding so much of Earth, th'are turn'd to it,

Who haue no more life then their duity akers,

Men, I may say, in the worst part of men.

And why like these runne we an idle race

Of threescore yeares, and then sneake to a Death?

Whilst souldiers master their mortality

And dye by men, if that at all they dye.

Malvezzo know, when all things sifted are,

Peace onely pleaseth them that ne're knew warre.

[Page]

Actus secundi

Scena prima.

Iuliano, Picinino.

Iul.

HEard you the generall whisp'ring▪

Pic.

No, what i [...]

Iul.

The Duke is ill.—

Pic.

And doe they whisper that▪

Iul.

Yes: and, they say, he has strange fits.

Pic.

How strange

Is poyson strange in Italy▪ why, know,

As Princes liue aboue the vulgar, so

Their death has a Prerogatiue: meane men

May dreame away their time to fourescore yeares,

And when their rotten ioynts drop to their dust▪

Onely some triuiall infirmity,

A Pal [...]ie, or an Aguebeares the blame:

But'tis not State for Princes to be old,

And yet they must not be suppos'd to dye

By the respectlesse treason of disease,

But by some strange vnheard▪ of accident

That Fate did neuer dreame of: but no more,

You know Vitellio, and the height of grace

Sforza has shew'd him▪ 'tis suspitious

When wisedome flatters villany: then come,

Let vs be priuate, and discourse some treason.

[Page]Enter, after solemne Musick, Sforza, Sanseuerin, Caiazzo, and Souldiers: when after some priuate whisp'ring they depart seuerall waies.

Iul.

But stay, my Picinino, who are here?

Pic.

O the grand favorite, Sanseuerin,

A most full bubble, valiant vanity:

That in high termes can sweare downe fortresses,

Blow away Armies with a pow'rfull breath,

And spoyle the enemy before he sees him:

But when he comes to action, lye as still,

As in the tale, that lumpish King of Frogs,

Which Ioue did giue them in his merriment.

Were tilting valour, I ne're knew a man

Of larger worth: could he but breake the rankes

Of enemies aswell as he does speares,

Millan ne're saw a brauer Generall.

But there's his brother too.

Iul.

I, thats the man.

Pic.

(Tis wonder we can know so much of him)

He that can sound the depth of that sly braine

Has a large plummet, trust me Iulian,

An hundred Lawyers make vp that one head,

And scarcely too: quicke Proteus to him,

To this Caiazzo was an Ideot,

A plaine flat Ideot, I tell thee man,

Meander neuer knew so many windings▪

If, as they say, an Aemulation

Is bred by likenesse, [...] doe wonder much

How Sforza is induc'd to imploy him.

Who has more Deuill in him, then himselfe.

Iul.

But why is this imployment? why these Armes?

[Page]When all but Naples are our friends, and they

Not able now to shew themselues our foes,

Ingag'd, and almost lost in the French warre.

Pic.

Trickes, Iuliano, Statists call them Arts,

Not to be fado [...]'d by a vulgar reach:

But though I want the villany to know,

Yet I haue so much spleene to laugh at them;

And take a comfort in this plainer sense:

No subtilty can coozen Prouidence.

Scena secunda.

Ascanio, Galeazzo, Isabella, Iulia.

Asc.

HOw rests the Prince?

Isab.

O my good Lord, he rests▪

But 'tis a quiet, such as the Seas haue,

When that the winds haue spent their violence,

And out of impotence bestow a calme:

'Tis more a death, then slumber, you may see

His senses rather weary, then at rest.

Asc.

Are then his [...]its so raging?

Isab.

Nothing else,

Should he but wake, youde thinke two Armies met▪

And stroue together for the loudest shout.

Disease has spred herselfe ore all his parts,

And onely spar'd his tongue, as if some starre

Not knowing otherwise to cleare it selfe

From imputation of tyranny,

For such exact plaguing of Innocence

[Page]Had left him that to curse withall, that so

To all that heard his fury, he might seeme

To be thus tortur'd for his Blasphemy.

[...]al.

Water, some water.

[...]ab.

Now the fit beginnes:

[...]al.

Some of my slaues runne, and exhaust the [...]o,

Charge him no more to vent his idle streames

Into the glutted maine, but rather poure

All his moyst mouths on me: d'yee stare, begone,

Vse not your eyes at all, vnlesse to weepe:

And that, not teares of sorrow; but of helpe,

Such as may coole me.

[...]c.

Patience, sweet Prince,

Adde not vnto the fire of your disease,

The heat of passion.

[...]l.

What red thing is this?

Ha, Isabella, tell me.

[...]

'Tis your vncle.

The noble Prince Ascanio.

[...]l.

'Tis false;

He is nor Prince, nor noble: hearke you friends,

He talkes of Passion, and of Patience,

Let him discourse of Aetna, or Vesuuius,

Or of a greater heat then I doe feele,

And I will answer him: Patience to me?

Goe bid rough seas be patient.

[...]c.

He growes worse,

And opposition does inflame him more:

Me thinkes I see his eye-lids faintly striue,

Against Deaths closing.

[...]l.

O! my ioynts are fire,

Why does not heau'n shed Cataracts, and lowr [...]

Once to my comfort? are they hot as I,

Haue they no moysture, for a Suppliant?

[Page]Then, though hot heau'n oppose, when once my br [...]

Hath left this corps, Ile haue a cold by death.

Is.

Heard you that grone my Lord—ô he is dead:

Cracke then ye tardy heart strings, quickly cracke,

And giue me leaue to ouer-take the fligh▪

Of my dead husband.

Asc.

What is past our helpe,

Let it be past our griefe: tis fortitude

To suffer chances counterbuffes as one

That by his expectation had deceiu'd

All her faint threatnings: till this [...]adder time

Your life has had one constant scene of ioy,

Which here is interrupted: you should thanke

The heau'ns because they were not tedious

In their delights: for this variety.

As hunger prayseth feasts, so it may be

Youle loue ioy better for this misery.

Scena tertia.

Sforza, Beatrice.

Sf.

HOW couetous thou art to learne mishap?

Beatrice the answer kills thee.

Bet.

Kill me then,

But not deny me.

Sf.

Dearest, I am lost,

And in my ruine, thou.

Bet.

I would be so,

Safety were ruine were it otherwise.

Yet tell me Sforza, how are you so lost?

Sf.

O what a busie torture woman is!

I must say somewhat, but the maine is silence,

Vitellioes losse, yes, that hathlost me too:

[Page]No sooner kill'd then lost, so strangely gone,

As if the dead had learnt a motion

So to conuey themselues vnto the graue.

Will you be still vnkind?

[...]

Thou shalt heare all▪

The French haue conquer'd Naples, and which drawes

Blood from our soule, without a drop of blood:

When thus we plotted it, that when both Kings

Had wearied out themselues with equall slaughter,

And here Alphonso totter'd, and there Charles;

When losse had ceiz'd the conqueror, then we

Would haue amaz'd the conqueror afresh

With new alarmes: when by the flattery

Of chance, France gets a kingdome without blood,

And by dry victory has vndone a plot

Worth many Kingdomes: I presum'd on this,

Naples had souldiers enough to last

Killing a yeare, in which space, we resolu'd

To arme all Italy against the French,

And cunningly driue out, whom we call'd in:

Which, ere we could accomplish, is disclos'd,

And conqu'ring France intends to hinder it,

By our inuasion: ô my policy!

Must I be wounded with the sword I gaue?

And find those enemies, whom onely I

Enabled to my iniury? well; heau'n,

Your kindnesse is a miracle sometime,

Beyond all reason, but your curse is wit,

Enter Ascan.

My fault is my faults punisher.

[...]c.

Long life,

And happy to our Duke.

[...]

How my Ascanio?

Recall thy selfe, good Cardinall, what Duke?

Whilst Galeazzo liues?

[Page]As [...].

Most truly Duke,

For Galeazzo's dead.

Sf.

Alas, poore child,

I could haue wish'd thee longer life, but since

Heau'ns willis otherwise, twere blasphemy

To storme at that which is the will of heau'n.

I hate that impotent rebellion.

Enter Sansen.

Sans.

My Lord, so crosse was Fortune, that you were

Made almost banqu'rout by a too much thrift:

For when you had discharg'd those numerous troope [...],

Whose charges lay as hard vpon the State

As an inuasion could, then Orleance mou'd

And stole N [...]uarra, which disastrous newes

So heated the remainder of your troopes

(As if you had added to their valour more,

When you abated from their multitudes)

That by a nimble victory, they made

His conquest be his prison.

Sf.

Noble friend

Stand thou, and our State stands: ô why doe men

Cry out on Age, on eating Age? as though

Our many griefes were from our many yeares,

And the last times were worst: we rather find

That nothing is so dangerous to Kings

As a yong Principality: for tis

With them almost as with yong plants, which yeeld

Vnto the least intreaty of the wind,

And need no stronger blast, but gaining Age

Scarce stoope to thunder: may we once arise

Vnto this happy firmenesse of estate,

This blest maturity of Prince, we stand

Fearlesse of fall, but if heauen enuy vs

And haue decreed our fuine with our rising,

Yet such weele haue it voyde of all base feares

Our foes shall grieue our ruine was not theirs.

[Page]

Scena quarta.

Caiazzo, Belgiosa, Maluezzo.

Mal.

MY Lords, since we are met so happily,

(If you esteeme me not too bo [...]d, to aske

The story of your high fam'd actions) [...]

Blesse me with the Relation.

[...]ai.

I much feare

Mine are not worthy your attention:

Yet if it please you, noble Belgiosa,

(Because my story will depend on that)

To shew the reason why the giddy French,

So strangely left their conquest: such your pow'r,

Such a full conquest haue you of your friend,

I'le shame my selfe for your content.

[...]l.

Then, thus:

From vs France hurry'd thorow Lumbardy

And fled to conquer, who had seene that hast

Would easily suppos'd it to haue beene

Rather a flight then an inuasion.

The Pope quakes at the progresse, and admits

Yong Ferd'nand into Rome, that if the French

Should dare a fight, they might find Naples there.

France slights that fainter opposition,

And speakes his scorne in thunder, Naples flyes,

And all his army hath no other vse

Then to become vnwilling harbingers

To shew their lodgings to the conqu'ring French▪

Who like fierce winds that sweepe away their lets,

Or like incroaching tydes, take [...]wiftly in

The offer'd Countries, not defended, now

Saint German yeelds, and sawcy Capua

[Page]That dar'd a competition once with Rome,

Aversa takes the president, and now

The Kng of Naples finds home foes, and such

As durst be valiant against their Prince,

And vse their fond armes in a mutiny,

Which were not safe enough for a defence.

He taking the aduantage of thou crime

Vnconquer'd by the French, to these he yeelds,

And chuseth rather to become no Prince

Then keepe the Crowne, which they would take away.

Mal.

What was the issue?

Bel.

Strangely pittifull:

He that had Nauies yesterday, has now

Scarce a barke left him, searce a plan [...]e or two,

To trust him to the mercy of the Seas,

The Seas more courteous then the multitude:

In which he makes for Ischia, and leaues

His enemy his successor.

Cai.

And he

(As I haue seene some wav'ring amorist)

Neglects his conquest for the [...]a [...]nesse,

For when twas certaine F [...]r [...]a [...]d was fled,

Whilst they might iustly yet feare his returne,

The French returne, as if they meant to try

Which would be soonest weary of the hast,

Who had the swifter pace to [...] away:

Bel.

That is [...] act of new gouernors,

Such stories are as an [...] as the world.

Till they doe try what they can doe, they thinke

They may doe all things, their first act is [...]

(As if they meant [...] to kill then [...]a [...]g [...])

It matters not vpon what ground▪ there is

Pretence enough to quit a conqu [...]o [...]

From the least shew of [...]y: but then

[Page]VVhen they haue felt the least of warres extreames

They raue, they faint, they crosse what they first did,

And are e'ne weary of a victory.

Cai.

France made this certaine truth, who in his brags

Had sworne the fall of Mahomet: but now

VVhen he might heare the groanes of Graecia

Deliuer'd by the ecchoes of their sea,

To make them more, he thinkes on a retreat,

And chuseth home before a victory▪

It was a vally, where our Taro laues

The root of Appe [...]nine, and a large plaine

Spheard with a row of swelling Earth makes warre

A spatious Amphitheater: where we

Stayd for their comming; when mature aduice

That crownes most actions, strangely iniur'd vs,

For rashnesse would haue stole a victory

VVhich tedious consultation gaue away.

Successe had smil'd on our temerity

Had we assaulted them vpon the hills

And added to the mountaines with the French.

But I am tedious: onely our vanne fought,

And twas the Frenchmens victory to resist:

Both were o'recome, both conquerors, for they

Still kept the field, and wee still kept the prey.

Bel.

O what is valour ioyn'd with Modesty!

This conquers both your Fortune and your skill.

Should you but write a story; and professe

That purenesse from all passion which y'aue showne.

You would be credited, though twere your owne.

But what reward is't to be but beleeu'd?

You shall be euer prays'd: what you haue done

Feares neither enuy, nor obliuion:

And for this act succession shall see

Caiazzo as long-liu'd as Italy▪

[Page]

Scena quinta.

Vitellio disguised.

I Wonder Malatesta still suruiues:

Sure Sforza has forgot himselfe; my death

Does but halfe cleare him, and if th'other liue,

He cannot looke for a full innocence.

It is not mercy, certainly: ô, no,

Mercy with him is folly: but t'may bee

He feares that had he kild vs both at once

Rumor would be too busie, and all mouths

Would cry, that Chance had too much proiect in't.

This is the place of Destiny, 'tis here

Sforza does actuate his bloody arts,

Mistaking priuacy for innocence,

And thinkes hee's good, because he is not seene▪

Here must I wayte for a discouery.

Enter Sforza.

Sf.

I must once more be cruell, yet not I,

This is the murther of Necessity:

But what has he deseru'd, who has done nought

But what we charg'd, and so perform'd our thought?

Is Death due to Obedience [...]can this hand

Yeeld to his Fate, that fe [...]'d to his command?

Yet he, or I must perish: shall I see

My life, my honor, my Aeternity▪

Lye at his mercy, and be safe, so long

As he is pleas'd to temper his rude tongue?

Till he be drunke, or treacherous? Ile first

Study amongst all actions, which is worst

And ouer-act it▪ though our former deed

Was from ambition, this is yet from need:

[Page]Death is too good reward for such a slaue,

Enter Malatesta.

And sure there is no blabbing in the graue.

But here he comes: why are thy looks so grim?

Why, Malatesta, in thy [...]urrow'd face

See I the signes of Anger, or of Griefe?

Command thy face to a more smiling forme,

That I may thinke thee pleas'd when thou dost tell

What does displease thee.

[...]al.

'Twas a foolish dreame,

That stole my colour from my paler cheekes.

Last night I saw Ʋitellio.

[...].

And what?

Canst thou feare shadowes?

[...]al.

Yes if shadowes speake,

If that their threatnings be substantiall.

From such a paper as your Highnesse holds,

He forc't me breath in Death.

[...]f.

This Paper holds

A strange perfume, of such a cunning vertue,

That at a distance it scarce smels at all.

And at the nose it gives the best of sents.

Make the experiment:

[...]al.

O! I am [...]aine.

[...].

Heau'ns what a stilnesse here is? what a death

Of the whole man at once? the wandring eye

Now findes a station, and the busie pulse

Is now for euer idle: where's the tongue

That but eu'n now could say as much as this,

When that the soule could prompt it? but e'en now

Here was a thing could speake, and poison too,

That knew more wayes to kill, then euer Heau'n

Did to make man: and could his subtlety,

That could giue death, not know to keepe out death?

Fye, what a bulke it is, what a great lumpe

[Page]Of Nothing, that shall lose that nothing too?

What a dead toy is Man, when his thin breath

Flyes to its kindred Ayre? ô why at all

Did Heau'n bestow, or why at all bereaue

Man of this Vapour of Eternity?

And must we one day be a stocke like this,

Fit onely to inrich the greedy Earth,

And fill an house of Death, perhaps before

We see the issue of another Plot?

Must we lye subiect to be trampled on,

By some, perhaps not Politicians?

Where's then our Wisedome? our deepe Prouidence

Are they durt too? ô heau'ns! but if they are

Enter some N [...] groes to cary [...] way the body

Or durt▪ or nothing, Ile enioy my fame.

And rottennesse shall ceize me, not my name.

Vit.

Are those the Instrumens? well my black friends,

I eas'd you of a labour: all succeeds

According to the flatt'ry of my wish,

And my suspition turnes to prophecy.

But my so bloody, and so wary Sforza,

Your Agent's dead, but not your crime: 'twill out,

And by this carcasse: I will flye to France,

Divulge loud papers,—they are writ already,—

And here they are, these I will sweare were found

In the dead pois'ners pockets: by this meanes

Sforza's proclaim'd a murtherer, I'me freed,

And make it be his guilt, which was my deed.

Ʋitellio going forth meets with Isabella.

[Page]

Scena quinta.

Ʋitellio, Isabella, Julia.

[...]

MAdame I haue some newes of that import, That (if you please to command priuacy) Will both desire, and fright your patience.

Is.

Be briefe.

Vit.

First know I am Vitellio.

Is.

Thou art a villaine, and a pois'ner then,

Hast thou a drugge for vs?

Vit.

Yes such an one

Shall make you loue a poyson: reade, and wonder.

Is.

I doe: and more, how thou couldst purchase this Without a guilt.

Vit.

I did peruse the spoyles

Of Malatesta's carcasse, whom I found

Most strangely guilty, and as strangely dead,

Whose pockets furnisht me with these instructions.

Is.

Thus we learne Murther from thy Fellony:

But what should make me trust a confest rogue?

Vit.

My villany: my credit is my crime:

Had not I stole, you had not vnderstood.

Is.

I must beleeu't: but darst thou poison well?

Commit a crime, which thou maist glory of?

Vit.

On whom deare Lady?

Is.

Nay I care not whom.

But I can giue reward to a wise crime.

Vit.

My quicke dispatch shall make you gladly know

I vnderstand, what you desire, and hide.

Exit.

Is.

Now should he poison Sforza. O fond hope!

That mak'st vs thinke all true that we desire.

Should he betray vs now? for what? that we

[Page]Intreated him to kill, we knew not whom.

By this expression thus much I haue wonne:

I may be made, but cannot be vndone.

Scena sext [...].

Picinino.

FOrtune is merry, and the heau'n dispos'd

To play with me, I am turn'd Fauourite.

Me thinkes my haires asham'd of their white hue

Should blush to youth: O how I could looke big,

Take Gyant strides, doat on my louely selfe,

And talke as silly as any Lord.

To see the prettinesse of action,

Of State-imployment: Sforza's to be crown'd,

And I must winne the popular suffrages.

Good Heau'ns! was euer such a merry load

Impos'd on Man: some cry the times are ill,

Others could wish them better, and a third

Knowes how to make all well, but tels not how,

And, cause that he is silent, would be wise.

But in conclusion I doe finde them ready

(On supposition of no more expence,

And that their voice is su'd for, not their purse)

To giue a lusty acclamation.

[Page] Sforza, 3 Ambassadors, Caiazzo, Sanseuerin, Maluezzo, as in procession, they offer vp the French Banners at the Altar, whilst this is sung.

Song.

IO, Io, gladly sing,

Till the Heau'n with wonder ring.

He is fled, let Millan say

Once more, he is fled, the day

Cleares againe, and makes vs see

A brauer light of victory.

Io, Io, &c.

Yet he had before he fought

(By the speedy warre of thought)

Conquer'd Italy, and so

Has hasten'd his owne ouerthrow.

Io, Io, &c.

Henceforth let them learne to liue

In the peace, that home doth giue,

Nor againe so fondly raue,

To trauell for a forren graue.

Io, Io, &c.

Sf.

First we thanke Heau'n, by whose most gracious ayd

We haue the meanes, and reason to thanke you.

Now we beginne to lift vp our faint heads,

And entertaine, though scarce beleeue a peace:

Now Italy at length has lost her yoake,

Which she was wont to giue, but neuer beare,

And therefore wondred at the strangenesse more

[Page]Then at the weight of't: in this noble act

Sforza claimes nothing but the happinesse,

Which he acknowledges receiu'd from you.

1 Amb.

Sforza's deserts exceed the height of praise.

2 Amb.

He has slau'd Italy by freeing it.

3 Amb.

Millan must know him for her Romulus.

Sf.

We know our selfe so vnderneath this praise,

That could we but suspect vntruth in you,

Wee'd call all this but mockery.

Pic.

D'yee doubt?

Make you a question of the name of it?

Why call it as it is, plaine flattery.

Caiaz.

We wondred lately at the prouder French,

And gaue too high a valew to their acts:

VVhen in a serious estimation,

Their chiefest victory was of the miles,

And more a iourney then a warre: if they

Could gaine a fame by nimble trauelling,

How shall we reare a trophee to his name,

That made them goe farre faster then they came?

For my part (though I know his Modesty,

VVhich will refuse the honours he deserues)

I'de haue him forc'd vnto the gouernment,

To rule that happy land which he hath sau'd.

Omnes. A Sforza, a Sforza. Ascanio crowns him.

Sf.

Sforza will ne're gaine say the gen'rall voice,

Your loue I like beyond your gift: kind Heau'ns!

Shew by my gouernments integrity

You were the peoples prompter, and I'le shew

(If you but actuate my iust desires)

I onely am their Duke in goodnesse: since

Millan hath chose, it shall applaud her Prince.

[Page]

Actus tertii

Scena prima.

Vmbra G [...]leatii.

NO rest in death? why then I see they erre

That giue a quiet to a sepulcher.

'Tis our hard fate, nor can Man chuse but dye,

But where Griefe is, is Immortality.

This drawes our iuicelesse bones to a new day,

From Lethes bankes, where we haue learnt the way,

(An easie learning) to returne our woes,

And laugh at our misfortunes in our foes.

Wee'll draw felicity out of our fall,

And make our ghost reuenge our Funerall.

That our dimme Eyes, and with pale death benighted,

May by reuenge be clear'd, and we be righted

(If other punishment should come too [...]low)

By the exacter iustice of our foe.

When being betray'd by them he trusted most,

He shall be pris'ner in a forren coast,

When wanting sustenance, his teeth shall chaw

His armes for food, and their onee fe [...]ders gnaw.

When Hell shall haue but part of him, when he

That now triumphs shall be lesse ghost then we.

[Page]

Scena secunda.

Sforza▪ Ascanio.

Asc.

SForza, you are vndone.

Sf.

Why my Ascanio?

Fortune is fearfull of so foule a crime.

Asc.

You durst be bad, and yet improuident,

And so it is not Fortunes, but your crime.

Which shall I first beginne to blame? your fault

Or (pardon if I call it) Foolishnesse:

I faint to thinke that you are past excuse,

Both with the honest and the Politicke.

Sf.

Come neerer, my deare Cardinall, and tell

In easier termes what tis that troubles you:

Is Galeazzo's death divulg'd?

Asc.

It is:

The time, the manner, and the murtherer,

Nor am I free from th'imputation:

Sf.

You speake what you suspect, not what is true,

Does speech come from the dead? can their dry'd nerues

Borrow a tongue for accusation?

This is no other then the voice of Guilt,

The speech of our home-executioner:

And yet I feare—and yet what should I feare?

Bloud hath strange organs to discourse withall,

It is a clamorous Oratour, and then

Enter Sanseuerin, Halberdeers & Vitel.

Euen Nature will exceed her selfe to tell

A crime so thwarting Nature.

Sans.

My good Lord,

Pardon the zeale of my intrusion,

I bring hid danger with me: 'twas my chance

As I was passing to the bedchamber,

[Page]Iust at the doore to finde this muffled man,

VVaiting some trecherous opportunity.

Each circumstance swell'd with suspition,

The place, the time, the person, all did seeme

To beare a danger worthy of your feare,

At least your wiser disquisition.

Sf.

Thou art all goodnesse, and deseru'st of vs

Beyond the niggardly reward of thankes:

But what are you that thus be cloud your face,

VVho, not vnlike that ouer-bashfull fowle,

He discourse himselfe.

Delight in darknesse? Ha! Vitellio!

The wonder is resolu'd by a new wonder.

Ex. Sans.

Vit.

Sforza I liue: d'yee stare? I liue: these words

Are not the fond delusions of the Ayre,

As you officiously would gull your selfe;

But from a solid substance, had not we

Enter Sans. with two Negroes.

Bin by your diligent spy too soone surpriz'd,

Before our proiects full maturity,

Thy death more fully should haue prou'd my life.

Sf.

Foole that I was, who thought to take thy life

By that which nourisht it: there's none so mad

Would poison Serpents, Ile worke surely now,

Once more Ile try your immortality.

Strangle the Monster.

[...]it.

'Twas a doubtfull chance

Within this houre who first should owne those words.

But, Tyrant, weary thy inuention

To finde variety of punishment,

Yet all that thou canst doe, exceeds not this,

A pinne could doe as much: weake, silly Sforza,

All thou canst doe to me exceeds not that

Which I did on the person of thy Prince:

Disease would proue a better murtherer.

[...]f.

Stop that malignant throat.—O my Ascanio,

[Page]Thus must they toyle which worke an hight by bloud,

How I could wish an innocent descent

To new subiection? how I hate that wish

How scorne all thoughts that haue not danger in them▪

Get vs more Remora's, sweet Cardinall,

Or rather then to droope to Idlenesse▪

Wee'll worke to be no Prince, our selfe re-calling:

In rising, most, some wit there is in falling.

Scena tertia.

Caiazzo.

ASsist me, Hell, for I intend an Act,

Which should your puny fiends but thinke vpon,

Would make their blacker cheekes receiue a blush,

Would giue a rednesse which your weaker Fire

Had ne're that heating pow'r to worke in them:

An act, the Heau'ns did onely then declare

They would permit to be perform'd by man

When they created Night: for were all Day,

Could such a Crime be as well seene as done,

Their Immortality might iustly feare,

Lest all the guilt should be remou'd on them,

As Idle, or as Cruell lookers on,

Whilst Heau'n, on Earth did suffer: this blacke night

Must Isabella dye, dye, by this hand:

This Chappell is her ordinary walke,

Discouer'd to me by her Iulia,

Where when she comes to see her husbands tombe,

This hand shall make her [...]it for such a roome.

[Page]Enter Isabella and Iulia with two torches, shee places them at either end of the Tome, & Exit. Isabella drawes towards the Tombe, and speaks.

Is.

PRince of shades, (for vnto me

Still thou keep'st thy Maiesty)

If thou art not wholly lost,

And there's something in a Ghost:

Heare thy Isabella's vow:

If hereafter I allow

Of a second match, or know

Any man, but for a foe,

Sauing him that shall ingage

His reuenge vnto my rage:

(Heare iust Heau'ns) may I then be

Made another Ghost like thee,

May I dye, and neuer haue

What I visit now, a Graue.

Cai.

O doe not heare her Heau'n, and kill me straight

If I dare touch her: he that sees those eyes

And dares attempt to make those eyes not see,

Has a blinde soule: burne clearer, you kind lights▪

O doe not enuy me the sight of her:

But what's there in a sight? I must be briefe,

If not for loue, yet for ambition:

Her Mariage makes me greater then her Death,

And she has taught me the condition.

Pardon, bright Angell, and returne the sword,

Which Sforza made me sweare to sheath in you,

Into my bosome▪

Is.

No, obey your Prince,

[Page]If you haue goodnesse in you keepe your oath,

Murther is nothing vnto periury.

Cai.

By this faire hand you iniure me, and more

Then euer Sforza did: can you suppose

(Though you had heard the vowes he forc't me to)

I meant what I protested? that this hand

Which euer yet has vs'd a sword for you,

Would vse it now for your destruction.

Reuoke that thought, deare Lady, that harsh thought,

And let not so much sweeter innocence

Make it selfe guilty by suspition,

Suspition of impossibilities.

Rather command, and you shall quickly see

That he, who would haue arm'd me against you,

Shall finde in his owne entrailes the iust steele.

Is. aside.

What traps are these to catch the Innocent?

Sforza I smell your proiect, 'tis too ranke.

My Lord, no more: your speech is dangerous,

I must not heare it.

Cai.

You shall see it then:

Doe not beleeue me Madam till I'ue done,

Till I doe bring my credit in my armes,

The Traitors head, and when you see that time▪

Confesse you owe your life vnto my crime.

Scena quarta.

Picinino, Iuliano.

Iul.

VVHat will become of this declining state?

Can we beleeue that the yet patient heau'n

Will any longer suffer? and not giue

Destruction as notorious as our crimes.

Awake, sterne Iustice, and vnsheath thy sword,

[Page]The Scabberd will not heale vs, but the edge,

Nor is't enough to brandish, but to strike:

Let then thy terrour giue vs innocence,

That mildnesse may no longer iniure man.

[...]ic.

Why, thou perpetuall Murmurer, thou sea

Tost with eternall tempest, thou darke sky

With euerlasting clouds, thou—any thing,

Whom, being angry I can call no more:

Thinke better of those acts thou canst not mend.

Will Sforza be lesse bad, because thou whin'st?

Or dost thou thinke thy pittifull complaints

Can beg a goodnesse of Ascanio?

I neuer knew that mighty vse of teares,

That they could wash away anothers fault:

When thou shalt want a teare for a fit griefe,

Sanseuerin will be a Coward still:

And when thy groanes are turn'd to thy last gaspe,

Caiazzo will not be lesse trecherous.

[...]nter Sanseuerin, with diuers suitors following him, some of whose bils he teares, others laughs at, others puts vp. Sxit.

[...]l.

Now for thy thunder, Heau'n, now for a piece

Of thy most eminent Artillery.

Are you still silent? see, he teares their papers,

Papers, perhaps, wherein they worship him,

Giue him more titles, then they giue their God▪

And yet he teares them. O vast Fauourite!

Swell'd by the airy fauour of thy Prince,

Till thou hast dimm'd the light that made thee shine,

Till Sforza's lesse then his Sanseuerin.

Tell me, good Picinino, does the Sunne

Spend all his rayes vpon one Continent?

Or haue you euer seene the partiall Heau'ns

Vpon one A [...]e [...] lauish all her showres,

[Page]While the rest moulder with dry barrennesse?

Pic.

I haue not, Iuliano, but what then?

Jul.

Are you to seeke for the collection?

Why, has not Sforza made himselfe our Sunne?

Are not his fauours our refreshing showres?

Why should one sucke vp what is due to all,

Why is the Prince made a Monopoly?

Pic.

Thou mak'st me laugh at thy fond question:

What? are not Princes men▪ of the same mould,

Of the same passions with inferiours?

Doe not they feare, desire, and hate (as we)

And shall we onely hinder them from loue?

Coblers may haue their friends, and why not Kings?

Because th'are higher then the rest of men,

Shall they be therefore worse? and therefore want

The Benefits, because they haue the Rule?

O hard condition of Maiesty!

The former accusation of Kings

Has beene their cruelty, that they did hate

The people they should gouerne: O hard plight!

O strange peruersnesse! shall their loue at length,

Their friendship be imputed as their fault?

Would Heau'n our Sforza had no worse a crime.

Enter Sanseuerin againe with his traine of Suiters.

Iul.

You are a worthy Aduocate, and here

Comes your great Patron: goe and aske your [...]ee:

Sans.

This is a sawcy importunity:

You haue your answer.

1 Sutor.

O my gracious Lord,

Looke on these scarres I gain'd in the French [...]e,

Where I haue lost my Fortunes.

2 Sutor.

So haue I,

[Page]Scarce left aliue to tell my misery.

[...]ans.

You haue bin drunk, and quarrell'd—must the State

Finde plaisters for your broken heads?—no more—

Nay, if you'll take no answer, I must call

Them that will driue you hence. O my tyr'd eares!

Henceforth I vow to stoppe them at your suites,

And be as Deafe, as you are Impudent.

Exit.

Iul.

Yes, doe good Aeolu [...]—how he blowes them hence!

How cleares his passage with a lusty frowne!

And yet it may be that despised wretch

Worne out of cloathes, and flesh, whom his high scorne

Would not vouchsafe once more to looke vpon,

Durst in the field doe more, then he durst see,

Then he would there vouchsafe to looke vpon.

Pic.

As if that Valour were the onely praise,

And none were to be lou'd, but they that fight:

Where were we then? what would become of vs?

Thou thinkst it Paradox, but tis most true,

A Souldier is the greatest enemy,

Of whom the Common-wealth can be afraid:

Preferre you which you please; yet vnto them

VVhich are the sole Physitians of State,

VVho with the teeming of a pregnant braine,

Search the diseases and the remedies,

Valour is nothing but a desp'rate vice,

And there's no safety, but in cowardice.

Scena quinta.

Sforza, Ascanio, Maluezzo.

Sf.

VVE are not man, for such an empty thing

Could not haue this solidity of ioy:

[Page]Say the French King is dead, and say withall

We are immortall, and ones happy truth,

Shall expiate for the others flattery.

But speake the manner too as well, as death▪

Asc.

When now his gadding thoughts had won the world▪

And Italy was to be taken in

But onely as an easie seat, from whence

He might deriue his further victories;

Ottoman quak'd, and 'twas in chance, if now

New Rome, should be new-French, & the proud T [...]

Be brought to know what their beginnings were▪

When Fortune had aduanc'd him to that height▪

That growne forgetfull of a lowly tombe,

He rear'd huge Pyramides, and troubled Art

To match his fancy with magnificence

Fit for a conqu'ring builder, who had learnt

To ruine first, and then to build a City.

When Marbles were to be in rich with wounds▪

And cut for their aduancement▪ then, Heau'ns spo [...]t▪

He rais'd competitors to dare the Heau'ns:

Nor dreames his owne descent into low Earth.

Sf.

Ascanio, you make him liue too long,

Tell how he dy'd, without more circumstance.

Asc.

He went (such was his vse) to see the play

At Tennis▪ court, when by his trembling Queene

He sanke into halfe-death: thence he's conuey' [...]

To the next roome, where on a couch of straw,

As if a downe-bed were too soft for him,

Whom rottennesse attended, and the graue,

That harder lodging of Mortality,

A King, a conqu'ring, youthfull King expires.

Thrice from deaths slumbers he awak't to speake,

Thrice did he cry to heau'n, vnto deafe heau'n▪

[Page]And after nine houres death he dy'd.

[...]

I find

A certaine grumbling against Fortune here:

Which that I may whet to a liuely rage,

Repeat Maluezzo her last treachery

Against the French, and Neopolitan.

[...]al.

Naples now wonne, and the vnstable French

(As if they were afraid of their owne lucke)

Ridiculously leauing what th'ad wonne▪

The Deputy was Mompen [...]eer, a man

Of an high birth, but of vnequall deeds.

For when yong Ferdinand with some few boates

(Which onely feare might make a Nauy of,

And nothing but the strength of cowardize

Could possibly iudge strong) approacht the shoare,

As if the poore Prince once more had desir'd

Onely to see his ancient gouernement,

And therefore had aduentur'd to the Sea,

The Sea was in the City, for ne're was

Such a confusion in the vulgar waues:

All cry a Ferdinand, a Ferdinand,

Eu'n those who lately banisht Ferdinand:

Part ope the gates to him, and part shut vp

The French into the Cittadells, where [...]e

Besiegeth his once Conquerors.

[...]

Tis true

Not the world onely▪ but a man's a ball,

Will Fortune neuer leaue her tossing him▪

[...]al.

Whether their owne neglect forc'd them to want,

Or want to yeeld, 'tis doubted: but they yeeld:

Thus as in triuiall sports we oft haue seene

After a tedious inconstancy,

The Corke returne to him that strucke it first,

So in this fatall reuolution,

[Page]Fortune giues Naples vnto him againe▪

Whom she first iniur'd in the taking it.

Sf.

Who hearing this would not erect his soule

To a contempt▪ of Fortune! that blind wretch

Whom onely sottishnesse hath Deifi'd?

Man hath a nobler Godhead in himselfe,

His vertue and his wisdome, vnto these▪

Bend all our knees▪ let vs still honour these:

And count it comfort in our lowest state,

He that is vvi [...]e, would not be fortunate.

Actus quarti

Scena prima.

Sforza, Ascanio, Caiazzo, Sanseuerin, a Boy.

Sf.

WE leaue it to your care, Sanseuerin;

But see the night grows old, good rest my Lords▪

Why stayst thou▪ my Aurelio? good boy

Ile see no bed to night; then goe, yet stay,

If they haue not escap'd thy memory

Sing me those verses which you made of sleepe.

Song.

HOw I laugh at their fond wish

whose desire

aymes no higher

Then the bayts of Midas dish?

What is Gold but yellow durt?

which th'vnkind

heauens refin'd

[Page]When they made vs loue our hurt.

Would to heau'n that I might steepe

my faint eyes

in the wise,

In the gentle dew of sleepe?

Whose effects doe pose vs so,

that we deeme

it does seeme

Both Deaths brother and his foe.

This does alwayes with vs keepe,

and being dead

that's not fled:

Death is but a longer sleepe.

[...]f.

Pretty Philosophy! goe boy, goe sleepe,

[...]x.

Enioy the good thou sing'st—this boy can sleepe,

Sleepe quietly, and sing himselfe asleepe:

Making that gentle Rest vnto his Song.

But lle goe read: what haue we here? a Map?

Welcome thou liuely picture of the world:

Now Ile peruse my large Dominions,

What a vast compasse they doe fill in thee?

How Poe is wearied with his tedious course,

But running onely through our Continent?

Ha! where is Poe? which is our Continent?

If that my eyes deceiue me not, I see

My Empire is compriz'd within my nayle:

What a poore point I me Master of? a blot▪

Made by the swiftest tincture of the Inke?

But what did this point cost me? this small blot?

My innocence, my conscience, my soule;

I kill'd a Nephew, to obtaine this blot.

O horrid purchase! all this toyle, this guilt

For so despis'd a Nothing? let me see,

[Page]Here is no roome to sit, to walke, to stand,

In all my land I cannot place my selfe,

Nor be at all, where I would be the Duke.

But the sad tapers doe deny their light,

And stranger fire supplyes an horrid day

Of Lightning: help vs, heau'n, make vs confess,

Asc [...] vmb. Gal [...]

There is a Power in your Mercy too.

Vmb.

Is then a time, when all our time is spent

That thou of vs shouldst feare a punishment?

O happy purchas'd priuacy! to haue

The free possession of an humble graue.

Wu't poyson vs from that? why starest thou so?

We doe not shunne a kinsman, but a foe:

Beleeue it Sforza, I am a neer ghost,

Nor is our kindred by thy murther lost:

Rayse thy cheer'd looke, see Galeazzo here:

Traitor, and coward, does thy faint breast feare

The shadow, which is made? or is a soule

Vncloath'd of Earth, more abled to controle

Him that vncloth'd it! Then I see to dye

Is more to right, then suffer iniury.

Know I am still thy Prince, and if that man

In such a Miracle of villaine can

At last be sound, in this thy manhood show

That thou darst heare thy doome of ouerthrow.

Sf.

Villaine be dumbe: we are too tamely mild

That deadmen dare affront vs, assume flesh,

And we will make a second ghost of thee.

Vmb.

Thy threats are Ayre, like vs: but to goe on

In curse; now that thy wisdome hopes vpon

A ioy in vnmolested royalty,

Now shalt thou haue onely a certainty

Of high vnhappinesse, and be vndone,

Losing thy rule no better then twas w [...]ne.

[Page]Fetters shall bind thy legs, not Crownes thy head,

And as a curst beast is prohibited

From common shew; so thou, of beasts the worst,

Must die imprison'd, and, what's most accurst,

Obey, to death, all comforts tane away,

Rob'd o [...] the light, and the sweet heau'n of day:

Then flatter not thy miseries, to know

Is not to hinder Fate, fall shalt thou low,

Sinke to despaire, despaire to nought, and dy,

Then lower fall, and then as low as I.

Des [...]endit vmb.

Sinke into earth, and doe not reach thy hell,

Propheticke bubble: might thy threats proue true,

For we could wish the death that thou foretell'st,

That our f [...]irce shadow might pursue thee still,

To fright thy Ghost to nothing: O weake Heau'ns!

VVas this a terror for a man? to send

A Bug-beare, fram'd out of the empty Ayre.

This does confirme, not fright vs: this might be

A terror to my picture, not to me.

Scena secunda.

Caiazzo.

[...].

IT must succeed: Fortune may shew her spite,

Her pow'r she cannot, in the houre I'me made

A Princes Lord, or murtherer: I'ue plac'd

Close at the outward doore, Sanseuerin,

That if successe doe crowne my hopes, his cares

May giue me safety, with my happinesse,

That I be not surpris'd: but if I faile

I haue in ioyn'd him on the noyse he heares,

Straight to goe call the Duke, & enter hither.

Ent▪ Is [...]b.

Madame, tis done: and now the guilty head

[Page](Which whilst it stood, made all to feare their head,

Who durst affirme it did vsurpe a crowne,)

Most humbly bends, and offers it to you.

Is.

Which I accept: but for no other end

Then to reuenge his death, base wretch, on thee:

If that head be not planted there, 't shall off:

You shall inioy your Masters death.

Cai.

How's this?

Is this a loue-tricke, Lady? I had thought

After your thankes parted twixt heau'n and me,

You would with greedinesse haue giu'n your selfe

To him that gaue you your desires:

Is.

Fond thought!

Dost thinke Ide loue a man that kils a man?

Make him my Prince, who hath dispatcht his owne

Was Treason euer Preface vnto Loue?

Hadst thou monopoliz'd perfection,

And shar'd a thousand Cupids in each eye:

I would contemne the proudest of their shafts,

And giue thee onely what is due, Disdaine.

Cai.

Youle vrge me to iust vengeance? doe you heare

Madam ingratitude, quickly professe

That this harsh language was but a wise baite

To make him faster, who was sure before,

Or I professe Ile ioyne your death with his

With thy loath'd Sforza.

Is.

I beleeue thee now,

And trust me, so beleeue, that I could thanke thee,

I loue thy cruelty, though not thy person.

Cai.

Hath death so little horror? well Ile doe

What shall inforce you to desire a death.

This ponyards point shall naile thee to the [...]t [...]

Strucke through thy armes: where doe not hope vp

A noble rauishet, my swa [...]ty slaues,

[Page]Slaues hated of their fellow Black a mores,

Shall on thy Honors ruine tyre then Lust,

And kill thee in thy loathfull suffering.

Ent. Sforza, Sanseuerin▪ Belgiosa.

What dare you struggle?

A rape, a rape.

O my good Lord you come in such a time

As I could wish for, for this houre or more

This wicked woman hath beene wooing me,

To murther your most sacred Maiesty,

And for reward hath promis'd me herselfe,

Together with the Duchy: my good Lord,

In detestation of such treachery,

I gaue her some harsh answers, with which mou'd,

She vs'd a womans craft, and cry'd a Rape.

Is this truth, Isabella; see, shee's dumbe:

Haue I then liu'd to haue you seeke my death?

A Cosin-Traitor? yet you shall not dy,

Nor know another prison then my Court,

I loue to see my Murtherer: O heau'ns!

Why, should I feare to kill her? yet tis reason:

Who is no true Prince, can ne'er punish treason.

[...].

And I shall take you at your word, deare Sforza.

Ex.

Scena tertia.

Iuliano, Picinino.

[...].

IT cannot be, good Iulian, no more:

I doe not loue these ouer-earnest dreames.

The French inuade vs? when their iolly King

With limber slaues does onely mocke a warre,

Which like so many reeds against a stone

[Page]Punish their owne attempt with their owne r [...] ▪

Breaking themselues, no [...] a [...]mors: when we [...]

The Court is lost in Ma [...]kes, reality

Is so farre fled since the last victory,

That we may thinke the Court it selfe a ma [...]ke▪

Aeternall Musicke, reuells without end

Tire the too-much delighted souldier,

Whose armes haue now forgot their ancient vse,

His spirits onely actiue in his heeles,

And canst thou thinke theyle dance to Italy?

Iul.

I'ue heard so [...]e tell that a great City once

Was built by Musicke: would we might not [...]d

Our Country to be ruin'd by a dance:

O feare the toying of an enemy.

Pic.

What cannot be beleeu'd, cannot be fear'd.

Iul.

Youle not beleeue, not you, till the French swords

Diue to the bottome of your doubting heart,

Till that th'vokinder newes is brought so nere,

You cannot haue the power to beleeue it:

Ent. Sa [...] with s [...]

Can you beleeue this is a drum that beats?

That this is the couragious Generall?

Can you beleeue, that he beleeues 'tis true?

Pic.

But who assists vs in this dreadfull time?

Iul.

As many as we haue deseru'd: not one:

Sforza has too much wisedome to haue friends.

Pic.

And we haue too much—I said nothing, did I?

I did not speake against the State▪ I hope?

Nor said that we had too much patience?

Iul.

Is Picinino then orecome at last,

Now I could change my sorrow for a smile.

Pic.

I must confesse an anger though not griefe:

O how I loue to fit me to mischance

And when that has no reason, then I'me [...]ad.

Why should our Millan blood staine the french swords

[Page]Vnto a glory? Sforza does offend,

Deny's the heau'nly pow'rs, or names them then,

When he does dare them with bold periury,

Loads his blacke soule with murther of a man

That could haue made his execution, iustice.

This Sforza does, but what is this to me?

Why shall this throat be cut for his? why thine?

Why shall our Countryes ruine fill his penance?

The heau'ns doe know no meane but either wast

Their benefits on dull ingratitude

Or throw away their thunder, so it hit

So it not faile, they care not whom it strike,

VVhether the guilty, or the innocent.

Iul.

This is a griefe of higher fault then mine,

You make a warre with them you should appease,

And vrge the heau'ns to our calamities.

First we were punisht with, and now for Sforza,

Could any iustice haue more method in't.

Pic.

Well Iulian, I me sorry for my griefe,

And so perswade thee to that holy truth.

I now could raue against my selfe, not heau'n,

But tis as fruitlesse, as to wish good lucke:

Then let the French presse vpon victory,

Let them amaze the Ayre with stranger fire,

Rais'd by our Cities flaming Funeralls.

Swell they the Poe with blood, act o're, what ere

Has beene the brag of royall murtherers,

Yet our defence is here: Fortune may faile

But our true souls shall neuer, we may lose

An aged life, but not Aeternity:

And with this strength the field must needs be ours:

Who doe not feare, doe beat the Conquerors.

[Page]

Scena quarta.

Sforza. Ascanio. A Guard.

Sf.

VVHat noyse is this that from a forraigne foe

Recalls our anger? yet our purer hands

Know not the dy of blood: we should be loath

To learne a valour on our subiects first.

1 Nunc.

The people now haue rau'd to quietnesse:

But till that Landrian [...], whom you vs'd

About the last taxation, was become

Their rages sacrifice, I durst haue sworne

The French were in the City.

2 Nun.

This sad houre

(I'me sorry that you hear this truth from me)

Your Duchesse is departed.

Sf.

VVhither villaine?

(Fren [...]

2 Nun.

To that free Crowne, where shee shall feare no

To Heau'n.

Sf.

O enuious heau'n! why doe you giue

Men such hard precepts of mortality,

And take them hence before that they can learne?

Must not she liue, because she liu'd too well?

Alas my wife!

Asc.

Alas my sister, [...]!

Sf.

VVho dar'd that groane? good Cardinall, no more,

I know not what I could deny to thee:

Take to thee all for what the French so toyle,

But kindly leaue my griefe vnto my selfe.

3 Nun.

Pardon, my Lord, ill Fortunes eloquence,

Vnlesse you h [...]re you cannot cure your harmes;

The French, now enter'd Lombardy, sat downe

Before Valenza: where the mouth of Death,

[Page]The thundring Canon being scarcely brought,

But iust presented to the yet sound wall,

Discouered there was somewhat more vnsound:

For Rattagnino, the false Gouernour

Entreats a Parly, giues away the strength,

Sweares the towne French, and [...]iues the key to them,

VVith which they open Lombardy.

[...]

My fact;

None can be guilty of this crime, but I:

That after Treason durst againe trust treason.

This very man, whose easie heart relents

At a French death, and wisely is afraid

His manners might be call'd in question,

If he should put them off to sue againe,

To aske the second time, for what he held:

Out of his zeale to vertue, and good lucke,

Did the like act for vs, and gaue a strength

Ent. Mal. wounded

VVhich all our Duchy neuer could haue forc't.

VVhat more reuolting yet?

[...]al.

O my good Lord!

I feare this is beyond Addition.

O my blood failes me, but my tongue does more,

Fearing the story that it must relate.

Your Army being parted, and this halfe

Caiazzo leading, that Sanseuerin,

My troopes did fall among the French mens scouts.

From whom we learn't their numbers, and intent,

To march with speed for Millan: this sad newes

VVe sent to Count Caiazzo, with aduice,

That he would instantly reioyne with vs,

To stop their further entrance: hee pretends

That the Venetians hemming in his campe

Haue made his danger greater: yet he moues,

Makes to the riuer, and when now our thoughts

[Page]Had left their wau'ring, and did seeme assur'd

His actions would be better then his words,

I saw, O misery that ere I saw!

That crossing o're the Po he did embrace

Those men which he in duty should haue kill'd:

(O tis this kils me, not my want of blood)

I in iust anger set vpon the Reare,

And after many vaine attempts, haue brought

My carkasse, to intreat for my reuenge.

Sf.

This is conspiracy: Caiazzo false?

Tell me that contradictions then are true,

Tell me the heau'ns no more doe trauell now

Being growne inconstant to their motion:

Or that the Earth pursie with too long ease

VVould with a walke at length refresh her selfe:

Tell me that Princes may be fortunate,

Those that like me are credulous: or if

You'd speake of things more hard to be beleeu'd,

Tell me, there are, that birth of feare, call'd Gods,

And if they be, that they doe thinke of Man:

Tell me, O prethee tell me somewhat else,

Or I shall thinke thee false, and not Caiazzo,

But I doe know thee true, know thy wounds true,

E [...] Sanseu [...]

And must conclude Caiazzo is most false.

Sans.

To be o'recome, my Lord, is wretched chance,

But not to fight at all will be thought crime,

I ne're durst thinke so to suruiue ill lucke

As to become the fatall messenger?

But I must say, I durst not fight, and more,

I must intreat your cowardize, your foes

Are strengthned with your Army (ô pardon me

Let me not tell you, how) and all our troopes,

Haue no pow'r left vs but for a safe flight.

Sf.

I did expect this: was not man at first

[Page]Plac'd on this curious Theater, to see

How he could act all parts: doe we not know

VVhat we can feare is nothing? prouidence

Long since hath spent our feare; for a wise man,

VVhen he does found his happinesse, forecasts

Mischiefes, that Fate had neuer practiz'd yet,

VVhich if they happen, if they proue too true,

They meet, not ouertake him, and so find

A scorne, because a preparation.

I knew it might be thus, though I not fear'd,

And know it may be better, though not hope:

Yet let vs ne're despaire, nor by low thoughts

Excuse Fate for her present iniury.

And when once more her fauours we shall feele,

Then say, that Fortune has no standing wheele.

Scena quinta.

[...]ter at one doore, Triulcio, Aubeny, Caiazzo: at the other some Senators of Millan, who deliuer the keyes of the City.

[...]

WE here present you with our keys great Lords,

Yet doe not thinke vs cowards, who doe part

So easily with that, which if we pleas'd

VVe might, in spite of force, as easily keepe:

VVe know your right, iustice does ope these gates,

And not your swords, nor our disloyalty;

VVe leaue a Traytor that hath first left vs,

And now are glad to entertaine our Prince.

[...]iv.

Is he fled then? O our vnhappy sloath!

VVhy ranne we not as well as we did fight?

Are Cowards swifter then their Conquerors.

[Page]Aboue as in the Cittadell appeare Isobella, and Iulia.

Is.

Doe not disswade me, Iulia, 'tis true

I may escape, but whither? all is lost,

In Naples we find France, as well as here.

O who'od indure the tyranny of hope,

That could so quickly gaine a liberty?

If I but fall I'me free; ô Iulia,

The greatest distance twixt my blisse, and me,

Reacheth no farther then to the next earth.

Can I behold in a perplexed flight

(Of which I know no comfort, and no end)

This my sweet infant crying for the food,

Which I'me vncertaine where to beg for him?

No, Ile descend, and if the greedy French

Will haue our blood with our Dominions,

She comes down with some souldiers▪

Yet I shall ioy to haue a speedy end

And call a nimble enemy, a friend.

Tri.

What answer from the Cittadel? once more

Giue them a summons, if they yeeld not then

Ent [...] Isabella

Giue an assault.

Is.

You shall not need my Lords,

What you could wish you haue, most cheapely haue,

The conquest of a woman, and a child.

I'me Isabella, (let not that sad name

Be ominous to conquerors,) and this

This pretty infant, is my lucklesse child,

Borne Prince of that, which you haue made your prey.

Why doe you one consult anothers face,

As you would see, who could be cruell first?

Be not at all, or if at all, to me.

O doe not warre with infants! can these hands

Deserue your feare or anger? these weake hands

That cannot reach themselues vnto their teat?

[Page]Who haue so much of yong infirmity,

They cannot lift themselues to ask your mercy?

O let them haue, because they cannot aske.

How many dismall accidents may chance

To take him hence, before he grow to man,

And so excuse, and yet fulfill your purpose?

O let disease be cruell, and not you.

Tri.

Madame, you shall be honourably vs'd,

You, and your faire sonne: take your liberty

To chuse your owne free course: for this yong Lord,

He must to France with vs, where he shall learne

The good of royall education:

Where he shall know the happy difference

Betweene a petty, and a kingly Court.

Some waite vpon the Princesse.

Is.

O my starres!

What haue I done? ay me? I haue betrayd,

What Tyranny had left me, my sweet boy:

For whom I neuer knew a griefe; till now

I brought him forth with pleasure, when I thinke

Vpon this paine of parting: my deare child,

O too too like thy mother; if thou chance

To draw thy life vnto that hated length,

That thou arriue to the discretion

To know, what by my folly, thou hast lost,

Call it no more, ô doe not call it crime,

No mother willingly would lose a sonne:

VVhilst in some darker cell I will in tombe

Thy ruines cause, where whatsoeuer teare

Sorrow did once force, no deuotion shall:

That my new name vnto the heau'ns may reach

VVhom misery the way to blisse did teach.

Exit.

Tri.

Neuer till now had we the victory,

And now no single one, this happy houre

[Page]Has gain'd a a conquest for Posterity.

They may be idle now, now the French youth

May grow vp without wounds, and at their homes,

Steale to a priuate graue, no more being forc't

To death, though by a glory; nay this Land

May thanke vs, for our thrift of victory,

For lighting on this blest occasion,

Which makes vs need no more to conquer them:

If heau'n continue vs this kindnesse still,

Wee'll measure out our conquests by our will.

Actus Quinti

Scena prima.

Sforza, Ascanio, Sanseuerin.

Sf.

O What is man? and all that happinesse

That puffes him to security? to day

One acts a Prince, and swell'd with Maiesty

Fills a proud throne, from whence the Multitude

Thinkes he rules Fortune too, as well as them,

Whilst she in iust esteeme of her owne name,

Makes him forgot, or odious, that none

Can be so miserably fool'd, to wish

His well-apparell'd misery: thus we

That did enioy beyond a Crowne, a braine

Able to meet, or challenge the worst chance:

Yet in the space of a few dayes, a space

Of too short lasting to expell a man

(By the most subtle fetches of the Law)

Out of a false inheritance: we lost,

We were expell'd out of a Monarchy;

But does Fate make a stand at this? O no,

She is not constant, no not in her curse,

But giuing most againe, which once was mine

[Page]She giues me too the capability

Of a new curse.

[...]sc.

Of a new ioy: for shame

Giue thankes at least for your felicity:

Can you repine being cramm'd, and so deserue

A bountifull vnhappinesse? I'ue knowne

Some that haue long endur'd a tedious siege,

Or a more tedious sicknesse, who haue beene

Forst to a lasting Lent, when they haue come

Or to their health, or to their liberty,

Not dare to take the nourishment they might,

Making themselues their sicknesse, and their foe:

Is not my Sforza one of these? you grieue

Because you haue no longer cause to grieue.

[...]ans.

O I doe feare your griefe, that it does glance

With a most vndeseru'd disgrace at me;

As if I were a-kinne vnto the fault

Of my false brother: O repeat that thought,

It is no great thing I request you to,

But trust vnto the faith that you haue found.

Would I betray, and follow you? d'yee thinke,

I'de be so mad to buy my banishment?

No man would be vnprofitably false,

Nor I for any profit: speake your selfe

If I haue left you, when your Fortune did?

Nay, then my loue was greatest, when you least,

I was your subiect, when you were no Prince.

[...]f.

Sanseuerin, thy feare is too too fond,

And like the people, the Authoritie,

Who make an impious confusion

Of an high birth, and of an higher crime:

Who in a sawcy thwarting to their Prince,

Count him still worst, whom he has made the best,

As if we gaue him, with his honors, crimes,

[Page]And made him vicious, when fortunate.

No, let them spend their breath in idle talke,

Count thee or trecherous, or cowardly?

Whilst to thy Sforza thou art still the same,

Most valiant, and with thy valour, wise,

That by thy abstinence a while from warre,

Hast sau'd vs forces for a victory.

Sans.

The Subiects life lies in the Princes voice:

Now you haue cleer'd me I dare hasten warre,

And wish more enemies, then cowards feare:

That you may see, by my neglect of bloud,

(Which I shall onely loue when shed for you)

How slaunder was my most fear'd enemy.

Sf.

No more, my dearest friend: we lose all time

Which we doe saue from fight, still there does flock [...]

New forces to our Army, and the French

Are now as much amaz'd, as proud before:

We lately tooke the Swizzers into pay,

Those that dare sell their liues to any cause,

Whom Gold hath arm'd for me: if they proceed

In their first heat, we winne: but if they faile

We cannot be more wretched then we were:

The vilest chance of lucke can make vs know

But an Addition to an Ouerthrow.

Scena secunda.

The Captaine of the Swizzers, with a Souldier, as a fugiti [...] from the French.

Soul.

NOw w' are alone I dare reueal [...] my selfe,

I am not what I seeme, a Fugitiue,

But one that from Triulcio doe bring

[Page]Letters that much concerne you.

Capt.

VVhat? to me?

Letters vnto his enemy? let's see:

Ex. Soul.

Expect an answer in my Tent.—VVhat's here?

Letter.

THou Man of Action, whom th' Italians

Feele their Achilles, both to wound, and heale:

Triulcio salutes thee: what is past,

As past recall he will not mention,

But for the future this; you ayd a man,

From whom you cannot any way expect

Reward, or Honor, such his pouerty

Both in desert, and meanes? but against whom?

I will not vrge they are your Countrymen,

Partakers of the same sweet soyle with you,

Who onely differ in their better choice:

Yet so farre doe I prize your worth, to thinke,

You haue not put off Nature, nor haue chang'd

With your home ayre, your home-affections.

That you are still a Swizzer: thinke of this,

And that at other times twere shame to flye,

Now onely flight shewes Magnanimity.

Triulcio.

VVhat shall I doe? O I am lost in doubt,

Nor know, what to refuse, or what to grant.

Shall then the Swizzers to their valour adde

A tainture of disloyaltie? to whom?

VVho can accuse vs for our trechery?

One that has patroniz'd it by his act:

That hath betraid his Nephew: shall a man

Be counted trecherous, that betrayes vice?

It was a crime to aide him, can it [...]e

A crime to leaue him too? O paradox!

[Page]Resolue me Goodnesse what tis best to doe:

And that does whisper a dislike: for what,

What goodnesse can there be in ciuill warre?

When we shall kill them that were borne with vs,

When we shall make the Father dye his sword

In the sonnes bloud, and strangely giue a death

To him, to whom he kindly gaue a life,

When the mixt bloud of the same Family

Shall make a cruell incest: this we doe

If we are honest: Ile learne treason first,

And the most accurate sinne. Triulcio,

Our Country calls vs, and not thou, to be

Dishonest then is the best honesty.

Ex.

Scena tertia.

Picinino in his study, with a Deaths-head and a Watch.

Pic.

THis is the summe, I can but be like this.

After the prouder threatning of the French,

After the sure impression of Diseases

I can but be like this: then let me thinke

What losse I haue when I am made like this:

This feares no French: a peace of ordinance

Can breake, but not astonish this, no force

Can draw a teare, no not a sigh from hence:

And can it be a losse to be like this?

O Death! why art thou fear'd? why doe we thinke

Tis such a horrid terror▪ Not to Be?

Why, not to be, is, not to be a wretch,

Why, not to be, is, to be like the heau'ns,

Not to be subiect to the pow'r of Fate:

O there's no happinesse but not to be.

to the Watch.

[Page]But thou discloser of the stealth of Time,

Let me inquire how much is worne away

Of this sad houre: the halfe? O speedy time!

That mak'st vs feele, ere we can thinke of Age,

Ere we can take an order for the Graue.

Enter Iul.

Iul.

What? deepe in meditation, noble friend?

So studious of your Watch? alas good man,

Thou needst not this faint helpe to guesse at Fate,

These siluer haires are watch enough for thee.

Pic.

I onely looke how many minutes hence

M [...]an expires.

Jul.

O swift Arithmeticke,

To summe by minutes our sad Duchies age.

Pic.

This VVatch doth teach reall Philosophy,

There is no tutor to this actiue brasse:

VVhat is a Kingdome, but a larger watch?

VVound vp by Fate vnto some scores of yeares,

And then it falls: good Iuliano list,

Harke how it beats, how strongly, and how fast,

Beyond the motion of a nimble pulse:

VVho would not thinke this were a lasting noise?

And yet it ends: after some date of houres

The watch will be as silent as the head.

O tis our folly, folly, my deare friend,

Because we see th'actiuity of States,

To flatter them with false Eternity:

VVhy longer then the dweller lasts the house?

Why should the world be alwaies, and not man?

Sure kingdomes are as mortall as their Kings,

And stay but longer for their period.

Iul.

I feare our Climactericall is now:

When all professions turne to souldier,

To that eurst Art that thriues by Destiny.

The sithes are straighted into swords, and th'Earth

[Page]Being not wounded is vndone, where once

Stood buildings, which an humble Poetry

Without too bold a swelling might giue Kings:

Whole Mines vndone to beautifie one roofe,

Now onely Desolation dwels: weake griefe,

To say Corne growes, where once a City stood,

That sustenance is there where no men are,

This is a trifling, and halfe-misery:

Our Lands now onely furnish vs with Graues,

Can hide vs, but not feed vs; we would thinke

Our Cities standing, though the buildings fell,

If we had no griefe, but Fertility.

Pic.

But on what strength does Sforza still subsist

Against so powrefull foes?

Iul.

The Emperor

Has sold him some few Almaines, but his hopes

Chiefly depend vpon the valiant Swizze,

Who were the chiefe in his depression.

Pic.

Has his grosse braine not learnt the danger yet

Of bringing strangers into Italy?

He call'd the French to Naples, who haue now

Found Millan too: O what's the difference

Betwixt a mercenary and a foe?

But that we kill one for his outrages,

And hyre the other? Juliano, I

May feele misfortune, but will neuer buy.

Ex.

Scena quarta.

Sforza, Sanseuerin.

Sans.

THe French are mighty, and portentously

Rise by their fall: strong shame begets a rage,

And a disdaine, that you whom they expell'd

[Page]Should hazard their expulsion, makes them hazard,

What ere being ventur'd, addes a fame to Man,

And giues a glory to his misery.

They are so farre from the base feare of death,

That they embrac't, and like those fiercer curres,

That spend their anger on the senselesse stone

Not daring to attempt on him that threw,

They with a senselesse anger breake the darts

That naile them to the Earth, as if they scorn'd

Their killer should suruiue them: other lets,

As heat, or hunger, are their exercise:

That one would thinke they'd lost all part of man

VVhen they did meane to shew the best: my Lord,

I wish a swift, but loue a certaine conquest:

I thinke twere wisedome to protract the fight.

[...]f.

I know thou speakst what thou thinkst best: but know,

Tis wisedome to delay on equall fame:

But when a foe has wonne opinion,

Which drawes all eyes, and hearts to him, O then

A valiant desperation fits a man:

For victory is not impossible,

And honour necessary: my best friend,

Call forth our Swizzers, and if happy swords

Though few, may cut a way to glory, come:

Enter Capt with Swiz:

The purchase is aboue the paines: but here

Come they that shall fill histories: braue friends

Now is the time we shall imploy your swords,

And teach the world your valour.

[...]pt.

You may faile:

'Tis better to be wise: Sforza, I'me come

To take my leaue of you, nor shall much breath

Be spent in ceremoniall complement,

I am the French Kings souldier.

[...]

Speake low,

[Page]Let not the ayre feele such a treason, know

There is a pow'r aboue vs, and that pow'r

Thunders sometimes, I know, thou darst not stand

In contestation with the pow'r of heau'n:

Reuoke thy words.

Capt.

Ile doe no miracles:

My voice and faith are past.

Sf.

Yes they are past:

Thou art made vp all of disloyalty,

Reason hath nothing of thee: yet relate

(If thou hast any reliques left of sense,

Ile not coniure thee by strange Honesty)

Why dost thou leaue the heau'ns, and vs, and so

For nothing dost commit a double Treason?

Cap.

Ile satisfie you thus, you see I doe't:

Strike vp a march.

Sf.

Yet stay: what is the price

That makes thee trecherous, Ile turne prodigall

To buy thee to a vertue: stay: be rich,

Without a curse, without a fault.

Cap.

Tis vaine,

I'me deafe to Rh [...]toricke: yet say th'ast met

With a good periurer, my word is past,

And to be twice a traytor, is a fault

No sorrow can attone for: yet thus farre

Ile straine my selfe to please thee, tis well knowne,

Vnlesse you get vnto Ascanio,

Your hopes are at the last, but betweene you

And him, the French haue interpos'd themselues,

Nothing remaines but that you trust to me,

And in a Swizzers coat disguise your selfe,

That you may passe their Army.

Sf.

O hard strait,

Must Sforza impotently hide himselfe?

[Page]Or can a Prince be hid? I haue oft heard

Sparkes of Diuinity adorne his face,

To cleare him from the multitude: why then,

The being a Prince will make vs be no Prince,

We being betraid by our owne Maiesty.

Yet off ye enuy'd roabes, fall to the Earth,

O fall so low, that henceforth Man may scorne

The labour of descent to take you vp:

On, on, ye happy roabes, that like good clouds

Doe not obscure, but for a time defend

The threatned Sunne, that he may after shine

With higher vigour: I haue heard of some,

That weare their flesh with hairecloth for their crimes,

As thinking to be good if they were rough,

By such a wilde repentance: be it so

Enter Triulcio with the French.

These robes offended, then there is an hope

These ragges may expiate heau'n

Tri.

Braue souldiers,

How we reioice we may embrace at last,

Not with arm'd hands, without the guilt and shame

Of ciuill murther▪ but are these the troupes

That now must learne to vse their valour well?

To giue a death without a prodegy?

A conqu'ring cheerfulnesse adornes their face▪

These are not common souldiers: looke you pale,

Then I must know the mystery.

Cap.

I'me betrayd.

Tri.

Yea I know all, but yet from thy forc'd tongue

Will I extract confession; fetch a racke,

To make him howle the truth, he will not speake.

Cap.

I can dare torments for wise honesty,

But when you know as much as I can tell,

Should I conceale't, all policy would iudge,

I did deserue the worst that I endur'd:

[Page]Who told you this was Sforza?

Sf.

O my braine!

Must subtletie perish by subtlery?

And our high wisedome finde a Conqueror?

Make an end Nature, the great worke is done,

Sforza is ouer-reacht—weake, childish rage:

Is this to lessen, or make misery?

Can passion loose vs, or a courteous teare

Wash off our fetters? if it can, poure eyes,

Poure out wet comfort; if it can, refuse

The curse of slumber, but it cannot, then

Couet a slumber euerlastingly,

And be like [...], imprison'd in your lid [...].

Conuey vs quickly hence, kinde friends, you know

Sforza can neuer be a prisoner here.

Conuey vs thither where we are no Prince.

And must we wooe our Ruine? neuer man

Is a true wretch, but when he loseth all,

And wants the sad Election of his fall▪

Scena vltima.

I [...]i [...], Picinin [...]

Iul.

I'Me lost in this confusion: one reports▪

We haue lost all; another instantly

Kil [...] all the French at once: thus eu'ry street▪

Is filld with w [...]d [...]ing people; some cry▪ Arme,

Others runne crying, to perswade a slight:

All haue an earnest bus [...]esse in the stirre,

But in the helpe not any.

Pic.

These are they▪

That if a [...] happy messenger should come

[Page]With Sforza's victory, would pretend at least

To be orecome with ioy: the gorgeous wals

Should shine with painted triumphs, and the French

Should be againe vanquisht in pageant.

But if his fortune yeeld to the French force,

What obloquy's will be enough for him?

Disgrace will then be wit, and any braine

Will venture on a Libell.

[...]l.

'Tis the vse,

The popular folly to admire euents,

And those low soules thinke that the sword is iust,

Proportioning the reason by the end

Of the chiefe acts, of the best enterprize,

And so by folly runne into a crime.

[...]ic.

No matter for their wisedome, were they good:

O why are such term'd Innocents? but friend,

What is our ayme? a flight our age denyes,

And whither should we flye, but to the graue?

O I haue so much people in me too,

Enter Maluezzo.

That I could wish thy company.

Mal.

Good Heau'ns!

Am I escap'd? may I stay safely here?

My feare has left such neere impressions,

I scarce dare thinke that this is Liberty.

[...]ic.

Noble Maluezzo, is there any hope?

Mal.

As much as in despaire: we are betraid,

Sforza is made a prisoner, all's lost,

And Millan, without blowes, is once more French.

[...]ic.

Now I remember what I dream't last night,

(If it be safe to call a vision, Dreame,)

I saw our Sforza in so pale a shape,

That Enuy neuer was describ'd more wan,

Who frighted me with this relation.

[Page]

STart not astonisht mortall: let no feare

Chill thee to my pale image, but fixe here:

Let thy once Prince be thy now spectacle,

Whilst I the direst Tragedy shall tell

That euer challeng'd wonder: briefly then,

I was betraid, betraid, and by those men

By whom I conquer'd:] tis an happy end

To perish for, but neuer by a friend.

This our first death: but then—O could curst Time

Dare euer such a Minute, such a Crime?

Then was I pinion'd, then these royall hands

Were forc'd obedient to the base commands

Of an insulting conqueror, and knit

Vnto a hated vnion; [...]were fit

If euer Heau'n shed teares, then to distill

Mournings El [...]xar, though th'expence should kill

The hopes of after Ages: but Heau'n smil'd

Nor any courteous cloud▪ were wisely pil'd

Ouer the Sunnes sharpe beame [...], but they gaz'd on

With the same visage of compassion

As did my torturers, [by whom I'me brought

Vnto a place the which some shallower thought

Has faintly term'd a prison, but to tell

The truth of horror, t'was on Earth, an Hell:

Darknesse so dwell there, that I might be wonne

To wish the cruell comfort of the Sunne,

Which earst I rau'd at: twas a narrow caue,

Form'd to the modell of a lesser graue,

Or straitned Coffin, all was length, for they

Left not the height that I might kneele to pray.

Was euer such a bed? could euer yet

Cruelty boast of such a subtle wit

To bury so! some that haue entred Earth

Aliue, like me, yet by the vsuall mirth

[Page]Of iustice had their buriall with meat,

As if't should be their punishment to eate,

From which I me barr'd, I had no food, but me,

And yet a guest of famine; courtesie

At last ceiz'd heau'n, I dy'd, and so though late,

I both appeas'd and triumpht ouer Fate.

But where am I? what extasie was this?

Iul.

How quickely we learne misery? no ghost

Would haue so courteously relinquisht Hell

To teach vs happinesse: if a kind starre

Had cast a Fortune on vs beyond wish,

We might expect the story from the starre

Assoone as the deare benefit: but when griefe

That against which we would seale vp our eares,

When that is meant vs, we shall surely heare,

Though heau'n doe straine for a new Miracle,

So to amaze vs to a certainty:

Though rotten carkasses regaine a voice,

And hell is bounteous of intelligence,

To giue vs teares.

Pic.

Why, then an end to teares,

Let's scorne the sorrow, which we owe to hell:

Now learne we the prodigious effects

Of wise Ambition: for twere easie iustice

To ruine foolish vsurpation,

Heau'n needs not stickle in't: but when those men

Who are as accurate, as bad, who can

So shape their vice into a vertuous mould,

That we repine at the accusers more,

Then at the guilty: when that these men fall,

Who then will call that wise, which he sees bad?

Such wisdome made, and ruin'd him: then ye

That dazle with your Maiesty, and sit

Too neere to thunder, and not feare it, know

[Page] Sforza, and learne a wise contempt of wisedome,

Frailty attends your best, and strongest tricke,

And there's no foole vnto the Politicke.

The Epilogue.

SOmewhat beyond an end? and can there b [...]

Tediousnesse counted an Apology?

It was prolixity of speech offended,

And can that error by more speech be mended?

Your patience stints the wonder: that is it

Hath dar'd vs to be publike, and to fit

These times of tempest, with a blustring scene.

If ought doe please, if we haue hit the meane,

That neither cloyes the Auditor, nor starue [...],

Felicity hath crown'd vs, if ought swarues

From plausible inuention, know 'twas it

Which we intend, which is in stead of wit.

Teares grace a Tragedy, and we are glad

To haue the happy power to make you sad.

Continue it, and our applause is high,

Not from your Hand so much, as from your eye.

To the Ambitious.

TEll me, mortall [...], if there be

Ought beside stupidity

Hidden in you [...] the least,

If you are not all one beast

[Page]Wherefore doe you cloud your face

If you want the chiefest place?

Why doe you respect? O why?

Not how good 'tis, but how high?

Would you all be King [...]? Ô vaine,

This is but to entertaine

Such desires, that you may feare,

Lest the heau'n should lend an eare,

Lest you haue what you desir'd,

And in your owne boggs be myr'd.

Height is basenesse, if it be

Leuel'd by Aequality,

And the Earth were a plaine still.

If it were but one great hill.

Would you all be Kings? as though

Standing pooles should wish to flow.

Or a riue [...] make his plea

To exceed into a Sea:

As if of the stars not one,

But should striue to be the Sun,

Or the Larke would partner be

In the Eagles soueraignty.

Would you not be mad to see,

If a beast, a stone, a tree

To the heau'nly powers ran

Angry that they were not man?

Nay in vs consider well

To what Monsters we should swell,

If but any Part should be

Of the Mans infirmity.

What should lead, or what be led,

If the foet were made the Head?

What should speake, or what should see,

If this itch of Maiesty

[Page]Made the mouth, for being nigh,

Beg aduancement to the eye.

Would you all be Kings, poore men!

Wish, what you would wish agen,

Which within your thoughts dares bide,

And's not fearfull to be try'd.

What's a King, consider well,

But the publike Sentinell?

But a Beacon, which we find

Highly subiect to the wind?

And can any still desire

To be worse, so he be higher?

Are you weary of your sleepe,

Can you count it blisse, to creepe,

To take paines vnto that height,

Whence your fall may gaine a weight,

Would you all be Kings? you may,

Euery man hath regall sway,

And 'tis this the fault does beare,

Not that he commands, but where

Doe thy thoughts rebell? would Pride

Haue thy worst acts magnifi'd?

Does Ambition make thee flee

To forbidden Sou'raignty.

Know it is a brauer way

To forbid, then to obey:

Know it is a nobler deed,

To giue ouer, then to speed.

Were this all? would euery one

But command himselfe alone,

But command his owne desire,

From the thought of rising higher:

It would not be a griefe to see

An vniuersall Monarchy.

FINIS.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

The tragedie of Lodouick Sforza Duke of Millan. By Robert Gomersall

Gomersall, Robert, 1602-1646?

Edition statement

1628

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A01853

ID [STC]

STC 11995

ID [STC]

ESTC S103225

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99838982

ID [PROQUEST]

99838982

ID [VID]

3375

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A01853)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 3375)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1068:08)

Source

— The tragedie of Lodouick Sforza Duke of Millan. By Robert Gomersall, Gomersall, Robert, 1602-1646?, Cecil, Thomas, fl. 1630, engraver..

Extent

[18], 70, [2] p.

[By Miles Flesher for John Marriott],. Imprinted at London :: in the yeare M DC XXVIII. [1628]. (With an additional title page, engraved, signed "Tho: Cecill. sculp.": Sforza by Rob: Gomersall. London. Printed for Iohn Marriott. 1628.) (Printer's name from STC.) (The first two leaves are blank except for signature-mark on A2.) (Running title reads: The tragedy of Sforza.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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