our Which yields a large increase; my noble charge, | That is without their power. When they adBy his sharp wit, and pregnant apprehension, vance, Instructing those that teach him; making use, Not out of judgment, but deceiving fancy, Not in a vulgar and pedantic form, An undeserving man, howe'er set off Of what's read to him, but 'tis straight digested, With all the trim of greatness, state, and power, And truly made his own. His grave discourse, And, of a creature, even grown terrible In vne no more indebted unto years, To him from whom he took bis giant form, Begin to fail, will of itself go out, He, being pure and tried gold, and any stamp That it makes perfect harmony. Of grace to make him current to the world, Con. You describe The duke is pleased to give him, will add honA wonder to me. Car. Sir, he is no less; To the great bestower; for he, though allowed And, that there may be nothing wanting that Companion to his master, still preserves May render him complete, the sweetness of His majesty in full lustre. His disposition so wins on all Con. He, indeed, Appointed to attend him, that they are At no part does take from it, but becomes Rivals even in the coarsest office, who A partner of his cares, and eases him, Shall get precedency to do him service; With willing shoulders, of a burthen, which Which they esteem a greater bappiness He should alone sustain. Than if they had been fashioned and built up Car. Is he yet married? To hold command o'er others. Con. No, signior; still a batchelor; howe'er, Con. And what place It is apparent, that the choicest virgin : Does he now bless with his presence ? For beauty, bravery, and wealth, in Florence, Car. Ile is now Would, with her parents' glad consent, be won Running at the ring, at which he's excellent. (Were his affection and intent but known) He does allot for every exercise To be at his devotion. A several hour; for sloth, the nurse of vices Car. So I think too. And rust of action, is a stranger to him. Enter Giovanni and CALANDRINO. But I fear I am tedious; let us pass, If you please, to some other subject, though I But break we off. Here comes my princely charge. Deliver him as he deserves. Make your approaches boldly; you will find Con. You have given bin A courteous entertainment, A noble character. Giov. Pray you, forbear Car. And how, I pray you, My hand, good signior; 'tis a ceremony (For we that never look beyond our villas Not due to me. 'Tis fit we should embrac Must be inquisitive) are state affairs With mutual arms Carried in court? Con. It is a favour, sir, Con. There's little alteration : I grieve to be denied. Some rise, and others fall; as it stands with Giov. You shall overcome : The pleasure of the duke, their great dis- But 'tis your pleasure, not my pride, that grants poser. it. Car. Does Lodovico Sanazarro hold Nay, pray you, guardian, and good sir, put on: Weight and grace with him? How ill it shews to have that reverend head Con. Every day new honours Be uncovered to a boy! Are showered upon him, and without the envy Car. Your excellence Of such as are good men; since all confess, Must give me liberty to observe the distance The service done our master, in his wars And duty that I owe you. Against Pisa and Sienna, may, with justice, Giov. Owe me duty ? Claim what's conferred upon him. I do profess (and when I do deny it Car. 'Tis said nobly : Good fortune leave me), you have been to me For princes never more make known their wis- A second father, and may justly challenge, dom For training up my youth in arts and arms, Than when they cherish goodness, where they As much respect and service, as was due find it; To him that gave me life. And did you know, They being inen, and not gods, Contarino, sir, They can give wealth and titles, but no virtues; Or will believe from me, how many sleeps cannot Good Charomonte hath broken, in his care For I do wish you all I know not how, To build me up a man, you must confess My toughness melts, and, spite of my discretion, Chiron, the tutor to the great Achilles, I must turn woman. Compared with him, deserves not to be named. Con. What a sympathy And if my gracious uncle, the great duke, There is between them! Still holds me worthy his consideration, Cal. Were I on the rack, Or finds in me aught worthy to be loved, I could not shed a tear.—But I am mad, That little rivulet Howed from this spring; And, ten to one, shall hang myself for sorrow, And so from me report himn. Before I shift my shirt. But hear you, sir, Con. Fame already I'll separate you: When you are gone, what Hath filled his highness' ears with the true story will Of what you are, and how much bettered by him. Become of me? And 'tis his purpose to reward the travail Giov. Why thou shalt to court with me. Of this grave sir, with a magnificent hand. Cal. To see you worried ? For, though his tenderness hardly could consent Con. Worried, Calandrino ? To have you one hour absent from his sight, Cal. Yes, sir. For, bring this sweet face to For full three years he did deny himself the court, The pleasure he took in you, that you, here, There will be such longing among the madams, From this great master, might arrive unto Who shall ingross it first, nay, fight and scratch The theory of those high mysteries for it, Which you by action must make plain in court. That, if they be not stopped, for entertainment 'Tis, therefore, his request (and that, from him, They'll kiss his lips off. Nay, if you'll scape so, Your excellence must grant a strict command), And not be tempted to a farther danger, That instantly (it being not five hours riding) These succubæ are so sharp set, that you must You should take horse, and visit him. These his Give out you are an eunuch. letters Con. Have a better Will yield you further reasons. Opinion of court-ladies, and take care Cal. To the court? Of your own stake. Farewell the flower, then, of the country's gar- Čal. For my stake, 'tis past caring ; land! I would not have a bird of unclean feathers This is our sun, and, when he's set, we must not Handsel bis lime-twig--and so much for biin: Expect or spring or summer; but resolve There's something else that troubles me. For a perpetual winter. Con. What's that? Car. Pray you observe Cal. Why, how to behave myself in court, and [Giovannt reading the letter. tightly. The frequent changes in his face. I have been told the very place transforms men, Con. As if And that not one of a thousand, that, before, His much unwillingness to leave your house Lived honestly in the country, on plain sallads, Contended with his duty. But bring him thither, mark me that, and feed Car. Now he appears him Collected and resolved But a month or two with custards and court Giov. It is the duke ! cake-bread, The duke, upon whose favour all my hopes And he turns knave immediately. I would be And fortunes do depend. Nor must I check honest; At his conimands, for any private motives But I must follow the fashion, or die a beggar. That do invite my stay here, though they are Giov. And, if I ever reach my hopes, believe Almost not to be mastered. My obedience, it In my departing suddenly, shall confirm We will share fortunes. I ain his highness's creature. Yet, I hope Car. This acknowledgment A little stay, to take a solemo farewell Enter Lydia. For all those ravishing pleasures I have tasted In this my sweet retirement from my guardian, Binds me your debtor ever. Here comes one, And his incomparable daughter, cannot meet In whose sad looks you may easily read An ill construction ? What her heart suffers, in that she is forced Con. I will answer that; To her last leave of you. Use your own will. Con. As I live, Giov. I would speak to you, sir, A beauty without parallel. In such a phrase as might express the thanks Lyd. Must you go, then, My heart would gladly pay; but So suddenly? Car. I conceive you : Giov. There's no evasion, Lydia, And something I would say; but I must do it To gain the least delay, though I would by its In that dumb rhetoric which you make use of; At any rate. Greatness, with private men VOL. II. M a a With you, Esteemed a blessing, is to me a curse; Will be benighted. And we, whom, for our high births, they con- Giov. This kiss, bathed in tears, clude May learn you what I should say, Lyd. Give me leave Car. And me to bring you 1 With expectation to command a court, To the one half of your journey. Car. I grow young, Con. Sir, the duke shall thank you. (E.reunt. SCENE II. Alphonso, HIPPOLITO, HIERONIMO, with a Giov. O Lydia ! petition. Con. So passionate? Alph. His highness cannot take it ill. i Giov. For, had I been your equal, Hip. However, Hier. And our loves Enter Cozino, the Duke. The abstract of society : We might walk To his person. Here he comes : Present it In solitary groves, or in choice gardens; boldly. From the variety of curious flowers Coz. What needs this form? We are not Contemplate Nature's workmanship and won- grown so proud ders; As to disdain familiar conference That they were flesh and blood, would be styled Withi what melodious harmony a quire gods : Of angels siny, above, their maker's praises. In us to suffer it, were worse. Pray you, rise. And then, with chaste discourse, as we returned, Still the old suit? With too much curiousness Imp feathers to the broken wings of time; [Reads. And all this I must part from! You have too often searched this wound, which Con. You forget yields The baste imposed upon us. Security and rest, not trouble to me. For here you grieve, that my firm resolution My government, when I am dead, may breed Embracing you, but with a lawful flame, Distraction in the state, and make the name I might have been your husband ! And family of the Medicis, now admired, Lyd. Sir, I was, Contemptible. And ever am, your servant; but it was, Hip. And, with strong reasons, sir. And 'tis, far from me, in a thought, to cherish Alph. For, were you old, and past hope to beSuch saucy hopes. If I had been the heir get Of all the globes and sceptres mankind bows to, The model of yourself, we should be silent. At my best you had deserved me; as I am, Hier. But, being in your height and pride of Howe'er unworthy, in my virgin zeal years, I wish you, as a partner of your bed, As you are now, great sir, and having too A princess equal to you ; such a one In your possession the daughter of That may inake it the study of her life, The deceased duke of Urbin, and his heir, With all the obedience of a wife, to please you. Whose guardian you are made, were you but May you have happy issue, and I live pleased To be their hun blest handmaid. To think her worthy of you, besides children, Giop. I am dunib, The dukedom she brings with her for a dower, And can make no reply. Will yield a large increase of strength and power Con. Your excellence To these fair territories, which already not ; Acknowledge you their absolute lord. The service I should pay. Coz. Thou art too modest; Enter GIOVANNI and CONTARINO. For her love I will be a father to thee, And humblest subject. A hopeful prince ! Carry him to his lodgings, We have disposed her otherwise. Yet despair And, for his farther honour, Sanazarro, With the rest, do you attend hiin. your highness. One worthy to succeed us. Sun. As the rising sun, Hip. We submit, We do receive you. And hold the counsels of great Cozimo Giov. May this never set, Oraculous. But shine upon you ever. [Exeunt GiovanNI, SANAZARRO, HieroEnter LODOVICO and SANAZARRO. NIMO, ALPHONSO, LODOVICO. Coz. Contarino! From Carolo de Charamonte? Con. Free Con. He obeyed your summons But that he durst not cross your will, he would Coz. Still my nightingale, Have sojourned longer there, he ever finding That with sweet accents dost assure me, that Variety of sweetest entertainment, My spring of happiness comes fast upon me. But there was something else; nor can I blame Embrace me boldly. I pronounce that wretch His youth, though with some trouble he took An enemy to brave and thriving action, leave That dares believe, but in a thought, we are Of such a sweet companion. Too prodigal in our favours to this man, Caz. Who was it? Whose merits, though with him we should divide Con. The daughter, sir, of Signior Carolo, Our dukedom, still continue us his debtor, Fair Lydia, a virgin at all parts, Hip. 'Tis far from me. But in her birth and fortunes, equal to him. Alph. We all applaud it. The rarest beauties Italy can boast of Coz. Nay, blush not, Sanazarro; we are proud Are but mere shadows to her, she the substance Of what we build up in thee; nor can our Of all perfection. And, what increases Election be disparaged, since we have not The wonder, sir, her body's matchless form Received into our bosom and our grace Is bettered by the pureness of her soul; A glorious lazy drone, grown fat with feeding Such sweet discourse, such ravishing behaviour, On other's toil, but an industrious bee, Such charming language, such enchanting mang That crops the sweet fowers of our enemies, ners, And every happy evening returns With a simplicity that shames all courtship, Loaden with wax and honey to our hive. Flow hourly from her, that I do believe San. My best endeavours never can discharge Had Circe, or Calypso, her sweet graces, a Wandering Ulysses never had remembered But I look up to her as on a princess I dare not be ambitious of; and hope Her prodigal graces shall not render me Con. Your excellence would be so, had you Offending to your highness. seen her. Coz. Not a scruple. Coz. Take up, Take up! But did your obser- He whom I favour, as I do my friend, vation May take all lawful graces that become him. Note any passage of affection But touching this hereafter; I have now Between her and my nephew ? (And though, perhaps, it may appear a trifle) Con. How it should Serious employment for thee. Be otherwise between them, is beyond San. I stand ready My best imagination. Cupid's arrows For any act you please. Were useless there; for, of necessity, Coz. I know it, friend. Their years and dispositions do accord so, Have you ne'er heard of Lydia, the daughter They must wound one another. Of Carolo Charomonte ? Coz. Hom! Thou art San. Him I know, sir, My secretary, Contarino, and more skilled For a noble gentleman, and my worthy friend; In politic designs of state, than in But never heard of her. Thy judgment of a beauty; give me leave Coz. She is delivered, In this to doubt it. Here. Go to my cabinet ; And feelingly, to us by Contarino, You shall find there letters newly received, For a master-piece in nature. I would have you Touching the state of Urbin. "Pray you, with Ride suddenly thither, to behold this wonder: But not as sent by us, that's our first caution. Peruse them; leave the search of this to us. The second is, and carefully observe it, Con. I do obey in all things. That, though you are a bachelor, and endowed [Exit ContariNO. with Coz. Lydia! a diamond so long concealed, All those perfections that may take a virgin, And never worn in court? Of such sweet fea-On forfeit of our favour, do not tempt her. ture? It may be her fair graces do concern us. And he on whom I fix my dukedom's hopes, Pretend what business you think fit, to gain Made captive to it? Hum ! 'Tis somewhat Access into her father's house, and there strange! Make full discovery of her, and return me Our cyes are every where, and we will make A true relation. I have some ends in it, A strict inquiry. Sanazarro ! With which we will acquaint you. San. This is, sir, An easy task. Coz. Yet, one that must exact Coz. Is my nephew at his rest? Your secrecy and diligence. Let not San. I saw him in bed, sir. Your stay be long. Coz. 'Tis well; and does the princess Fiorinda San. It shall not, sir. (Nay, do not blush, she is rich Urbin's heir) Coz. Farewell, Continue constant in her favours to you? And be, as you would keep our favour, careful. San. Dread sir, she may dispense them as she Exeunt, pleases; care ACT II. SCENE I. Enter FIORINDA and CALAMINTA. Cal. 'Tis of itself it, Incomparable. Fio. Thou flatterest me. Cal. I cannot : Fio, Were we less perfect, Yet, being, as we are, an absolute princess, ceived Cal. With much reverence ; Fio. No matter; |