As the lowly shrub is to the lofty cedar,
Or a mole-hill to Olympus, if compared,
I am to you, sir. Or, suppose the prince,
(Which cannot find belief in me) forgetting
The greatness of his birth and hopes, hath

thrown
An eye of favour on me, in me punish
(That am the cause) the rashness of his youth.
Shall the queen of the inhabitants of the air,
The eagle, that hears thunder on her wings,
In her angry mood, destroy her hopeful young,
For suffering a wren to perch too near them ?
Such is our disproportion.

Coz. With what fervour
She pleads against herself!

Lyd. For me, poor maid,
I know the prince to be so far above me,
That my wishes cannot reach him. Yet I am
So much his creature, to fix him in
Your wonted grace and favour, I'll abjure
His sight for ever, and betake myself
To a religious life (where in my prayers
I may remember him) and ne'er see man more,

But my ghostly father. Will you trust me, sir?
In truth I'll keep my word; or, if this fail,
A little more of fear what may befall him,
Will stup my breath for ever!

Coz. Had you thus argued [Raises her.
As you were yourself, and brought as advocates
Your health and beauty, to make way for you,
No crime of his could put on such a shape
But I should look with the eves of mercy on it.
What would I give to see this diamond
In her perfect lustre, as she was before
The clouds of sickness dimmed it! Yet, take

comfort,
And, as you would obtain remission for
His treachery to me, cheer your drooping spirits,
And call the blood again into your cheeks,
And then plead for him; and in such a habit
As in your highest hopes you would put on,
If we were to receive you for our bride.

Lydia. I'll do my best, sir.

Coz. And that best will be
A crown of all felicity to me, [Ereunt,

ACT V.

frailty

us

a

a

SCENE I.

A goodly troop! This back-part of my prison

Allows me liberty to see and know them.
SANAZARRO above,

Contarino! Yes, 'tis he; and Lodovico :

And the duchess Fiorinda, Urbin's heir, Sun. 'Tis proved in me, the curse of human A princess I have slighted; yet I wear

Her favours. And, to teach me what I am, (Adding to our afflictions) makes us know She whom I scorned can only mediate for me. What's good; and yet our violent passions force This way she makes, yet speak to her I dare not;

And how to make a suit to her, is a task To follow what is ill. Reason assured me Of as much difficulty~--Yes, thou blessed pledge It was not safe to shave a lion's skin;

[Takes off the ring, and writes on a pane And that to trifle with a sovereign, was

of glass.) To play with lightning: Yet imperious beauty, Of her affection, aid me. This supplies Treading upon the neck of understanding, The want of pen and ink, and this of paper. Compelled me to put off my natural shape It must be so; and I in my petition Of loyal duty, to disguise myself

Concise and pithy. In the adulterate and cobweb masque Of disobedient treachery. Where is now Enter CONTARINO, leading in FIORINDA, ALMy borrowed greatness? or the promised lives Of following courtiers echoing my will?

PHONSO, Lodovico, IIIERONIMO, CALAMINTA, In a moment vanished. Power, that stands not on Fio. 'Tis a goodly pile, this. Its proper base, which is peculiar only

Hier. But bettered by the owner, To absolute princes, falls or rises with

Alph. But most rich
Their frown or favour. The great duke, my In the great states it covers.
master,

Fio. The duke's pleasure
(Who almost changed me to his other self) Commands us hither.
No sooner takes his beams of comfort from me, Con. Which was laid on us
But I, as one unknown, or unregarded,

To attend you to it.
Unpitied suffer! Who makes intercession

Lod. Signior Charomonte,
To his mercy for me now? Who does remember To see your excellence his guest, will think
The service I have done him? Not a man! Himself most happy.
And such as spake no language, but my lord, Fio. Tie my shoe. What's that?
The favourite of Tuscany's grand duke,

[The pane thrown down. (Looks backwards. A pane thrown from the window, no wind stirring? Dçride my madness, lla! what noise of horses? Cala. And at your feet tvo fallen; there's

something writ on it.

a

Con. Some courtier, belike, would have it | Once more into your favour. known

Coz. You say well, Ile wore a diamond.

You are ignorant in the nature of his fault, Cala. Ha! it is directed

Which, when you understand, (as we'll instruct To the princess Fiorinda.

you) Fio. We will read it.

Your pity will appear a charity,

(It being conferred on an unthankful man,) The inscription.

To be repented. He's a traitor, madam, He, whom you pleased to favour, is cast down

To you, to us, to gratitude; and in that Past hope of rising, by the great duke's frown,

All crimes are comprehended.

Fio. If his offence * If, by your gracious means, he cannot have * A pardon. And, that got, he lives your slave.'

Aimed at me only, whatsoe'er it is,

'Tis freely pardoned.
The subscription.

Coz. This compassion in you
Of men the most distressed,

Must make the colour of his guilt more ugly. "SANAZARRO.

The honours we have hourly heaped upon him,

The titles, the rewards, to the envy of Of me the most beloved, and I will save thee, The old nobility, as the common people, Or perish with thee. Sure, thy fault must be We now forbear to touch at, and will only Of some prodigious shape, if that my prayers Insist on his gross wrongs to you. You were And humble intercession to the duke

pleased,

Forgetting both yourself and proper greatness, Enter Cozimo and CAROLO.

To favour him, nay, to court him to embrace

A happiness, which, on his knees, with joy Prevail not with him. Here he comes; delay He should have sued for. Who repined not at Shall not make less my benefit.

The grace you did him! Yet, in recompense Coz. What we purpose

Of your large bounties, the disloyal wretch Shall know no change, and therefore move me Makes you a stale; and, that he might be by not.

you We were made as properties, and what we shall Scorned and derided, gives himself up wholly Determine of them cannot be called rigour, To the service of another. If you can But noble justice. When they proved disloyal, Bear this with patience, we must say, you have They were cruel to themselves. The prince, that not pardons

The bitterness of spleen, or ireful passions, The first affront offered to majesty,

Familiar to women.

Pause upon it, Invites a second, rendering that power

And when you seriously have weighed his carSubjects should tremble at, contemptible.

riage, Ingratitude is a monster, Carolo,

Move us again, if your reason will allow it, To be strangled in the birth, not to be cherished. His treachery known. And then, if you continue Madam, you are happily met with,

An advocate for him, we, perhaps, because Fio. Sir, I am

We would deny you nothing, may awake
An humble suitor to you; and the rather Our sleeping mercy. Carolo !
Am contident of a grant, in that your grace, Car, My lord.

[They whisper. When I made choice to be at your devotion, Fio. To endure a rival, that were equal to me, Vowed to deny me nothing.

Cannot but speak my poverty of spirit; Coz. To this minute

But an inferior, more: Yet true love must not We have confirmed it. What's

your

boon? Know or degrees, or distances. Lydia may be Fio. It is, sir,

As far above me in her form, as she That you, in being gracious to your servant, Is in her birth beneath me; and what I The ne'er sufficiently praised Sanazarro, In Sanazarro liked, he loves in her. (That now under your heavy displeasure suffers) But if I free him now, the benefit Would be good unto yourselt. His services, Being done so timely, and confirming too So many, and so great, (your storm of fury My strength and power, my soul's best faculties Calmed by your better judgment) must inform

being you,

Bent wholly to preserve him, must supply me Some little slip (for sure it is no more)

With all I am detective in, and bind him
From his loyal duty, with your justice cannot My creature ever. It must needs be so,
Make foul his fair deservings. Great sir, there- Nor will I give it o'er thus.
fore,

Coz. Does our nephew
Look backward on his former worth, and, turning Bear his restraint so constantly as you
Your eye from his offence (what 'tis I know not), Deliver it to us?
And, I am confident, you will receive him

Car. In my judgment, sir,

а

He suffers more for his offence to you,

Coz. To enjoy Than in his fear of what can follow it.

Such happiness, what would we not dispense For he is so collected and prepared

with? To welcome that you shall determine of him, Alph. Lod. Hie. We all kneel for the prince. As if his doubts and fears were equal to him. Con, Nor can it stand And sure he's not acquainted with much guilt, With your mercy, that are gracious to strangers, That more laments the telling one untruth, To be cruel to your own. Under your pardon still, (for 'twas a fault, sir,) Coz. But art thou certain Than others, that pretend to conscience, do I shall behold her at the best? Their crying secret sins.

Car. If ever Coz. No more; this gloss

She was handsome, as it fits not me to say so, Defends not the corruption of the text;

She is now much bettered. Urge it no more.

Coz. Rise; thou art but dead [Carolo and the others whisper. If this prove otherwise. Lydia, appear, Fio. I once more must make bold, sir, And feast an appetite, almost pined to death To trench upon your patience. I have

With longing expectation to behold Considered my wrongs duly: Yet that cannot Thy excellencies: Thou, as beauty's queen, Divert my intercession for a man,

Shalt censure the detractors. Let my nephew Your grace, like me, once favoured. I am still Be led in triumph under her command; A suppliant to you, that you would vouchsafe We'll have it so; and Sąnazarro tremble The bearing his defence, and that I may, To think whom he hath slandered. We'll retire With your allowance, see, and comfort him. Ourselves a little, and prepare to meet Then, having heard all that he can alledge A blessing, which, imagination tells us, In his excuse for being false to you,

We are not worthy of, and then come forth; Censure him as you please.

But with such reverence, as if I were Coz. You will o'ercome;

Myself the priest, the sacrifice, my heart, There's no contending with you. Pray you, enjoy To offer at the altar of that goodness, What you desire, and tell him, he shall have That must or kill or save me.

[Erit Cozino. A speedy trial, in which we'll forbear

Car. Are not these To sit as judge, because our purpose is

Strange gambols in the duke? To rise up his accuser.

Alph. Great princes have, Fio. All increase

Like meaner men, their weakness. Of happiness wait on Cozimo.

Lod. And may use it [Ereunt FIORINDA and CALAMINTA. Without controul or check. Alph. Was it no more!

Con. 'Tis fit they should ; Car. My honour's pawned for it.

Their privilege were less else than their subjects. Con. I'll second you.

Hie. Let them have their humours; there's no Lod. Since it is for the service and the safety crossing them.

(Ereunt. Of the hopeful prince, fall what can fall, I'll run The desperate hazard.

SCENE II.
Hie. He's no friend to virtue
That does decline it.

[They all kneel. Enter Fiorinda, SA NAZARRO, and CALAMINTA. Coz. Ha! what sue you for? Shall we be ever troubled ? Do not tempt

San. And can it be your bounties should fall That anger may consume you.

down Car. Let it, sir :

In showers on my ingratitude? Or the wrongs The loss is less, though innocent we perish, Your greatness should revenge, teach you to pity? Than that your sister's son should fall, unbeard, What retribution can I make? what service Under your fury. Shall we fear to entreat Pay to your goodness, that in some proportion, That grace for him, that are your faithful ser- May to the world express I would be thankful? vants,

Since my engagements are so great, that all Which you vouchsafe the count, like us a sub- My best endeavours to appear your creature, ject?

Can but proclaim my wants, and what I owe Coz. Did not we vow, till sickness had forsook To your magnificence. Thy daughter Lydia, and she app d,

Fio. All debts are discharged In her perfect health and beauty, to plead for In this acknowledgment; Yet

, since you please, him,

I shall impose some terms of satisfaction We were deaf to all persuasion ?

For that, which you profess yourself obliged for : Car. And that hope, sir,

They shall be gentle ones, and such as will not, Hath wrought a miracle. She is recovered, I hope, altlict

you. And, if you please to warrant her, will bring San. Make me understand, The penitent prince before you.

Great princess, what they are, and my obedience

a

My eyes

Shall, with all cheerful willingness, subscribe Some blessed opportunity to move
To what you shall command.

The duke, with his consent, to make you mine. Fio. I will bind you to

But now, such is my star-crossed destiny, Make good your promise. First, I then enjoin When he beholds you as you are, he cannot you

Deny himself the happiness to enjoy you. To love a lady, that a noble way

And I as well in reason may entreat him
Truly affects you; and that you would take To give away his crown, as to part from
To your protection and care, the dukedom A jewel of more value, such you are :
Of Urbin, which no more is mine, but yours ; Yet, howsoever, when you are his dutchess,
And that, when you have full possession of And I am turned unto forgotten dust,
My person, as my fortunes, you would use me, Pray you, love my memory. I should say more,
Not as a princess, but instruct me in

But I am cut off.
The duties of an hunible wife; for such,
The privilege of my birth no more remembered,

Enter Cozimo, Carolo, CONTARINO, and

others. I will be to you. This consented to, All injuries forgotten, on your lips

San. The duke! that countenance, once, I thus sign your quietus.

When it was cloathed in smiles, shewed like an San. I am wretched

angel's; In haring but one life be employed

But, now 'tis folded up in clouds of fury,
As you please to dispose it: And, believe it, 'Tis terrible to look on.
If it be not already forfeited

[The DUKE admiring Lydia. To the fury of my prince, as ’tis your gift,

Lyd. Sir. With all the faculties of my soul I'll study,

Coz. A while In what I may, to serve you.

Silence

your

musical tongue, and let me feast Fio. I am happy

with the most ravishing object that

They ever gazed on. There's no miniature
Enter GIOVANNI and LYDIA.

In her fair face, but is a copious theme
In this assurance. What

Which would (discoursed at large of) make a Sweet lady's this?

volume. San. 'Tis Lydia, madam, she

What clear arched brows! What sparkling eyes! Fio. I understand you.

The lilies Nay, blush not; by my life, she is a rare one! Contending with the roses in her cheeks, And, if I were your judge, I would not blame Who shall most set them off! What ruby lips ! you,

Or unto what can I compare her neck, To like and love her.-But, sir, you are mine But to a rock of crystal ! Every limb now;

Proportioned to love's wish, and in their neatAnd I presume so on your constancy, That I dare not be jealous.

Add lustre to the richness of her habit, Sun. All thoughts of her

Not borrow from it. Are in your goodness buried.

Lyd. You are pleased to shew, sir,
Lyd. Pray you, sir,

The fluency of your language, in advancing
Be comforted; your innocence should not know A subject much uuworthy,
What 'tis to fear, and if you but look on

Coz. How unworthy?
The guards, that you have in yourself, you can- By all the vows which lovers offer at
not.

The Cyprian goddess' altars, eloquence The duke's your uncle, sir ; and though a little Itself, presuming as you are to speak you, Inccnsed at you, when he sees your sorrow,

Would be struck dumb. And what have

you

deHe must be reconciled. What rugged Tartar,

served, then, Or cannibal, though bathed in human gore, (Wretches, you kneel too late) that have endeaBut, looking on your sweetness, would forget

voured His cruel nature, and let fall his weapon, To spout the poison of your black detraction Though then aimed at your throat ?

On this immaculate whiteness! Was it malice Gioo. O Lydia,

To her perfections? Or—
Of maids the honour, and your sex's glory! Fio. Your highness promised
It is not fear to die, but to lose you,

A gracious hearing to the count.
That brings this fever on me.

I will now

Lyd. And prince too; Discover to you that, which, till this minute, Do not make void such a grant. I durst not trust the air with. Ere you knew Coz. We will not; What power the magic of your beauty had, Yet, since their accusation must be urged, I was enchanted by it, liked, and loved it, And strongly, ere their weak defence have hearMy fondness still encreasing with my years ;

ing,

(Seats the ladies. And, flattered by false hopes, I did attend We seat you here, as judges, to determine

ness

a

a

a

Of your gross wrongs and ours. And now, re- Than rhetorick, to make good his accusation, membering

And now expect your sentence. Whose deputies we are, be neither swayed,

[The ladies descend from the state. Or with particular spleen or foolish pity;

Lydia. In your birth, sir, For neither can become you.

You were marked out the judge of life and death, Car. There's some hope yet,

And we, that are your subjects, to attend Since they have such gentle judges.

With trembling fear your doom., Coz. Rise, and stand forth, then,

Fio. We do resign And hear with horror to your guilty souls This chair, as only proper to yourself. What we will prove against you. Could this Giov. And, since in justice we are lost, we fly princess

Unto your saving mercy. (All kneeling. (Thou enemy to thyself !) stoop her high flight San. Which sets off Of towering greatness, to invite thy lowness A prince much more than rigour. To look upon it, and with nimble wings

Car. And becomes him, Of gratitude, couldst thou forbear to meet it? When 'tis expressed to such as fell by weakness, Were her favours boundless in a noble way, That being a twin-born brother to affection, And warranted by our allowance, yet,

Better than wreaths of conquest. In thy acceptation, there appeared no sign

Hier. Lod. Con. Alph. We all speak Of a modest thankfulness?

Their language, mighty sir. Fio. Pray you, forbear

Coz. You know our temper, To press that farther; 'tis a fault we have And, therefore, with more boldness venture on Already heard, and pardoned.

it : Coz. We will then

And, would not our consent to your demands Paşs over it, and briefly touch at that,

Deprive us of a happiness, hereafter Which does concern ourself; in which, both be- Ever to be despaired of, we, perhaps, ing

Might hearken nearer to you, and could wish, Equal offenders, what we shall speak, points With some qualification or excuse, Indifferently at either. How we raised thee, You might make less the mountains of your Forgetful Sanazarro, of our grace,

crimes, To a full possession of power and honours, And so invite our clemency to feast with you. It being too well known, we'll not remember. But you, that know with what impatience And what thou wert (rash youth) in expectation, Of grief, we parted from the fair Clarinda, (And from which, headlong, thou hast thrown Our dutchess, (let her memory still be sacred !) thyself)

And with what imprecations on ourself Not Florence, but all Tuscany, can witness We vowed, not hoping e'er to see her equal, With admiration. To assure thy hopes,

Ne'er to make trial of a second choice, We did keep constant to a widowed bed, If nature framed not one that did excel her, And did deuy ourself those lawful pleasures, (As this maid's beauty prompts us that she does) Our absolute power and height of blood allowed And yet, with oaths then mixed with tears, upon

Her monument we swore our eye should never Made both the keys that opened our heart's se- Again be tempted; 'tis true, and those vows crets,

Are registered above; something here tells me. And what you spake, believed as oracles. Carolo, thou heardst us swear. But you, in recompense of this, to him

Car. And swear so deeply, That gave you all, to whom you owed your be- That if all women's beauties were in this ing,

(As she's not to be named with the dead dutchWith treacherous lies endeavoured to conceal

ess), This jewel from our knowledge, wbich ourself Nay, all their virtues bound up in one story, Could only lay just claim to.

(of which mine is scarce an epitome) Giov. 'Tis most true.

If you should take her as a wife, the weight San. We both confess a guilty cause. Of your perjuries would sink you. If I durst, Coz. Look on her;

I had told you this before. Is this a beauty fit to be embraced

Coz. 'Tis strong truth, Carolo : By any subject's arms? Can any tire

And yet, what was necessity in us Become that forehead, but a diadem?

Cannot free them from treason. Or, should we grant your being false to us

Car. There's your error. Could be excused, your treachery to her, The prince, in care to have you keep your vow In seeking to deprive her of that greatness, Made unto heaven, vouchsafed to love my daugha(Her matchless form considered), she was born to, Must ne'er find pardon! We have spoken, la- Lydia. He told me so, indeed, sir. dies,

us: