THE DVKE OF MILLAINE A TRAGAEDIE As it hath beene often acted by his Maiesties seruants at the blacke Friers Written by PHILIP MASSINGER Gent. LONDON Printed by E. A. for Edward Blackmore and are to be sold at his shop at the great South doore of Pauls 1623 TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND MVCH ESTEEMED FOR HER HIGH BIRTH BVT MORE ADMIred for her vertue the Lady KATHERINE STANHOPE wife to PHILIP Lord STANHOP Baron of Shelford MADAM If I were not most assured that workes of this nature hath found both patronage and protection amongst the greatest Princesses of Italie and are at this day cherished by persons most eminent in our kingdome I should not presume to offer this my weake and imperfect labours at the altar of your fauour let the example of others more knowing and more experienced in this kind if my boldnesse offend pleade my pardon and the rather since there is no other meanes left mee my misfortunes hauing cast me on this course to publish to the world if it hold the least good opinion of mee that I am euer your Ladyships creature vouchsafe therefore with the neuer sayling clemency of Your Noble disposition not to contemne the tender of his duty who while hee is will euer bee An humble seruant to your Ladyship and yours PHILIP MESSENGER THE NAMES OF THE ACTORS Ludouico Sforza a supposed Duke of Millaine Signior Francisco his especiall fauorite Tiberio two Lords of his Counsell Stephano Pescara a Marquesse and friend to Sforza Graccho a creature of Mariana sister to Sfozra Charles the Emperour Hernando Captaines to the Emperour Medina Marcelia the Dutches wife to Sforza Isabella mother to Sforza Mariana wife to Francisco and sister to Sforza Eugenia sister to Francisco 2. Posts A Beadle Waiters Mutes VPON THIS WORKE OF HIS beloued friend the AVTHOR I Am snap't already and may goe my way The Poet-Critick 's come I heare him say This YOVTH' 's mistooke The Authors WORKE' 's a PLAY He could not misse it he will strait appeare At such a baite T was laid on purpose there To take the vermine and I haue him here Sirra you wil be nibling a small bitt a sillable when yo' are i' the hungry fitt Will scrue to stay the stomacke of your witt Foole Knaue what 's worse for worse cannot depraue And were the diuell now instantly to haue thee thee Thou canst not instance such a worke to saue thee Mongst all the ballets which thou dost compose And what thou stil'st thy Poems ill as those And void of rime and reason thy worse Prose Yet like a rude Iack-sauce in Poesie With thoughts vnblest and hand vnmanerly Rauishing branches from Apollo's tree Thou mak'st a garland for thy touch vnfit And boldly deck'st thy pig-brain'd sconce with it As if it were the Supreme Head of wit The blameles Muses blush who not allow That reuerend Order to each vulgar brow Whose sinfull touch prophanes the holy Bough Hence shallow Prophet and admire the straine Of thine owne Pen or thy poore Copesmat's vaine This PIECE too cartous is for thy course braine Here witt more fortunate is ioyn'd with Art And that most sacred Frenzie beares a part Infus'd by Nature in the Poet's heart Here may the Puny-wits themselues direct Here may the Wisest find what to affect And Kings may learne their proper Dialect On then deare friend Thy Pen thy Name shall spread And should'st thou write while thou shalt not be read Thy Muse must labour when thy Hand is dead W. B. THE DVKE OF MILLAINE Act. Prim. Scae. Pri. Graccho Iouio Giouanni with Flagons Gra. TAke euery man his flagon giue the oath To al you meet I am this day the state drunkard I am sure against my will And if you finde A man at ten that 's sober hee 's a Traitor And in my name arrest him Io. Very good Sir But say hee be a Sexton Gra If the bells Ring out of tune as if the street were burning And he cry 't is rare Musicke bid him sleepe 'T is a signe he has tooke his liquour And if you meet An officer preaching of sobriety Vnlesse he read it in Geneua print Lay him by the heeles Io. But thinke you t is a fault To be found sober Gra. It is Capitall Treason Or if you Mittigate it Let such pay Fortie Crownes to the poore But giue a pention To all the magistrates you find singing catches Or their Wiues dauncing For the Courtiers reeling And the Duke himselfe I dare not say distemperd But kind and in his tottering chaire carousing They doe the countrie seruice If you meet One that eates bread a child of Ignorance And bred vp in the darkenesse of no drinking In the true posture though he die in the taking His drench it skilles not What 's a priuate man For the publike honour we haue nought else to thinke on And so deere friends copartners in my trauailes Drinke hard and let the health run through the City Vntill it reele againe and with me crie Long liue the Dutches Enter Tiberio Stephano Io. Heere are two Lords what thinke you Shall we giue the oath to them Gra. Fie no I know them You neede not sweare 'em your Lord by his pattent Stands bound to take his rouse Long line the Dutches Exit Gra. 10. Step. The cause of this But yesterday the court Wore the sad liuerie of distrust and feare No smile not in a buffon to bee seene Or common iester The great Duke himselfe Had sorrow in his face which waited on By his mother sister and his fairest Dutches Dispers'd a silent mourning through all Millaine As if some great blow had been giuen the State Or were at least expected Tib. Stephano I know as you are noble you are honest And capable of secrets of more weight Then now I shall deliuer If that Sforza The present Duke though his whole life hath beene But one continued pilgrimage through dangers Affrights and horrors which his Fortune guided By his strong Iudgement still hath ouercome Appeares now shaken it deserues no wonder All that his youth hath laboured for the haruest Sowen by his industry readie to be reap'd to Being now at the stake And all his hopes confirmd Or lost for euer Step. I know no such hazard The people well affected And so wisely His prouident care hath wrought that though warre rages In most parts of our westerne world there is No enemie neere vs Tib. Dangers that we see To threaten ruine are with ease preuented But those strike deadly that come vnexpected The lightning is farre off yet soone as seene We may behold the terrible effects That it produceth But I le helpe your knowledge And make his cause of feare familiar to you The warre so long continued betweene The Emperour Charles and Francis the French King Haue interrest'd in eithers cause the most Of the Italian Princes Among which Sforza As one of greatest power was sought by both But with assurance hauing one his frend
consent of all the Starrs Confer'd vpon mankind Marc. My worthiest Lord The onely obiect I behold with pleasure My pride my glory in a word my all Beare witnesse Heauen that I esteeme my selfe In nothing worthy of the meanest praise You can bestow vnlesse it be in this That in my heart I loue and honor you And but that it would smell of arrogance To speake my strong desire and zeale to serue you I then could say these eyes yet neuer saw The rising Sun but that my vowes and prayers Were sent to Heauen for the prosperitie And safety of my Lord Nor haue I euer Had other studie but how to appeare Worthy your fauour and that my embraces Might yeeld a fruitfull Haruest of content For all your noble trauaile in the purchase Of her that 's still your seruant By these lips Which pardon mee that I presume to kisse Sfo. O sweare for euer sweare Marce. I ne're will seeke Delight but in your pleasure and desire When you are seated with all Earthly glories And age and honours make you fit for Heauen That one Graue may receiue vs Sf. 'T is belieu'd Belieu'd my blest One Mari. How she winds her selfe Into his Soule Sf. Sit all Let others feed On those grosse Cates while Sforza banquets with Immortall Viands tane in at his Eyes I could liue euer thus Command the Eunuch To sing the Dittie that I last compos'd In prayse of my Marcelia From whence Ent. Post Post From Pauie my dread Lord Sf. Speake is all lost Post The Letter will informe you Fran. How his Hand shakes As he receiues it Mari. This is some allay To his hot passion Sf. Though it bring death I le read it May it please your Excellence to vnderstand that the verie houre I wrot this I heard a bold defiance deliuered by a Herald from the Emperor which was chearefully receiu'd by the King of France The battailes being readie to ioyne and the Vantguard committed to my charge inforces me to end abruptly Your Highnesse humble Seruant Gaspero Readie to ioyne By this then I am nothing Or my Estate secure Marc. My Lord Sf. To doubt Is worse then to haue lost And to despaire Is but to antidate those miseries That must fall on vs All my hopes depending Vpon this battailes fortune In my Soule Me thinkes there should be that Imperious power By supernaturall not vsuall meanes T' informe me what I am The cause consider'd Why should I feare The French are bold and strong Their numbers full and in their counsels wise But then the haughtie Spaniard is all Fire Hot in his executions Fortunate In his attempts Married to victorie I there it is that shakes me Franc. Excellent Lady This day was dedicated to your Honor One gale of your sweet breath will easily Disperse these Clouds And but your selfe ther 's none That dare speake to him Marc. I will run the hazard My Lord Sf. Ha Pardon me Marcelia I am troubled And stand vncertaine whether I am Master Of ought that 's worth the owning Marc. I am yours Sir And I haue heard you sweare I being safe There was no losse could moue you This day Sir Is by your guift made mine Can you reuoke A Grant made to Marcelia Your Marcelia For whose loue nay whose honour gentle Sir All deepe designes and State affaires deser'd Be as you purpos'd merrie Sf. Out of my sight And all thoughts that may strangle mirth forsake me Fall what can fall I dare the worst of Fate Though the Foundation of the Earth should shrinke The glorious Eye of Heauen loose his Splendor Supported thus I 'le stand vpon the ruins And seeke for new life here Why are you sad No other sports By Heauen he 's not my friend That weares one Furrow in his Face I was told There was a Masque Franc. They waite your Highnesse pleasure And when you please to haue it Sf. Bid 'em enter Come make me happie once againe I am rap't 'T is not to day to morrow or the next But all my dayes and yeeres shall be employed To doe thee honour Marc. And my life to serue you A Horne Franc. Another Post Goe hang him hang him I say I will not interrupt my present pleasures Although his message should import my Head Hang him I say Marc. Nay good Sir I am pleas'd To grant a little intermission to you Who knowes but he brings newes we wish to heare To heighten our delights Sf. As wise as faire From Gaspero Ent. another Post Post That was my Lord Sf. How dead Post With the deliuerie of this and prayers To guard your Excellencie from certaine dangers He ceast to be a Man Sf. All that my feares Could fashion to me or my enemies wish Is falne vpon me Silence that harsh musicke 'T is now vnseasonable A tolling Bell As a sad Harbinger to tell me that This pamper'd lumpe of Flesh must feast the Wormes 'T is fitter for me I am sick Marc. My Lord Sf. Sick to the death Marcelia Remoue These signes of mirth they were ominous and but vsherd Sorrow and ruine Marc. Blesse vs Heauen Isab. My Sonne Marc. What suddaine change is this Sf. All leaue the roome I le beare alone the burthen of my griefe And must admit no partner I am yet Your Prince wher 's your obedience Stay Marcelia I cannot be so greedie of a sorrow In which you must not share Marc. And chearefully I will sustaine my part Why looke you pale Where is that wonted constancie and courage That dar'd the worst of Fortune Where is Sforza To whom all dangers that fright common men Appear'd but Panicque terrors Why doe you eye me With such fix'd lookes Loue counsell dutie seruice May flow from me not danger Sf. O Marcelia It is for thee I feare For thee thy Sforza Shakes like a coward For my selfe vnmou'd I could haue heard my troupes were cut in peeces My Generall slaine And he on whom my hopes Of Rule of State of Life had their dependance The King of France my greatest friend made prisoner To so proud enemies Marc. Then you haue iust cause To show you are a Man Sf. All this were nothing Though I ad to it that I am assur'd For giuing ayd to this vnfortunate King The Emperour incenc'd layes his command On his victorious Army flesh'd with spoyle And bold of conquest to march vp against me And sease on my Estates Suppose that done too The Citie tane the Kennels running blood The ransick'd Temples falling on their Saints My Mother in my sight toss'd on their Pikes And Sister rauish'd And my selfe bound fast In Chaines to grace their Triumph Or what else An Enemies insolence could load me with I would be Sforza still But when I thinke That my Marcelia to whom all these Are but as Atomes to the greatest Hill Must suffer in my cause And for me suffer All Earthly torments Nay euen those the damn'd Houl for in Hell are gentle strokes compar'd To what I feele
The other liu'd his enemie Step. T is true And 't was a doubtfull choice Tib. But hee well knowing And hauing too it seemes the Spanish pride Lent his assistance to the King of France Which hath so farre incens'd the Emperor That all his hopes and honours are embark'd With his great Patrons Fortune Step. Which stands faire For ought I yet can heare Tib. But should it change The Duke 's vndon They haue drawne to the field Two royall armies full of fierie youth Of equall spirit to dare and power to doe So neere entrench'd that 't is beyond all hope Of humaine councell they can er'e be seuerd Vntill it be determin'd by the sword Who hath the better cause For the successe Concludes the victor innocent and the vanquish'd Most miserably guilty How vncertaine The Fortune of the warre is children know And it being in suspence on whose faire Tent Wing'd victory wil make her glorious stand You cannot blame the Duke though he appeare Perplex'd and troubled Step. But why then In such a time when euery knee should bend For the successe and safetie of his person Are these lowd triumphs In my weake opinion They are vnseasonable Tib. I iudge so too But onely in the cause to be excus'd It is the Dutchesse Birth-day once a yeere Solemniz'd with all pompe and ceremony In which the Duke is not his owne but hers Nay euery day indeed he is her creature For neuer man so doted But to tell The tenth part of his fondnesse to a stranger Would argue me of fiction Step. She 's indeed A Lady of most exquisite forme Tib. She knowes it And how to prize it Step. I ne're heard her tainted In any point of honour Tib. On my life Shee 's constant to his bed and well deserues His largest Fauours But when beauty is Stampt on great women great in birth and fortune And blowne by flatterers greater then it is 'T is seldome vnaccompanied with pride Nor is shee that-way free Presuming on The Dukes affection and her owne Desert Shee beares her selfe with such a Maiestie Looking with scorne on all as things beneath her That Sforzas mother that would loose no part Of what was once her owne Nor his faire Sister A Lady too acquainted with her worth Will brooke it well And howsoer'e their hate Is smother'd for a time T is more then feard It will at length breake out Step. Hee in whose power 't is Turne all to the best Tib. Come let vs to the Court We there shall see all brauery and cost That art can boast of Exeunt Step. I le beare you company Enter Francisco Isabella Mariana Ma. I will not goe I scorne to be a spot In her proud traine Isa. Shall I that am his mother Be so indulgent as to waite on her That owes me duty Fra. T is done to the Duke And not to her And my sweet wife remember And Madam if you please receiue my councell As Sforza is your sonne you may command him And as a sister you may challenge from him A brothers loue and Fauour But this graunted Consider hee 's the Prince and you his Subiects And not to question or contend with her Whom hee is pleasd to honour Priuate men Preferre their wiues and shall hee being a Prince And blest with one that is the Paradice Of sweetnesse and of beauty to whose charge The stocke of womens goodnesse is giuen vp Not vse her like her selfe Isa. You are euer forward To sing her praises Ma. Others are as faire I am sure as noble Fra. I detract from none In giuing her wha't 's due Were she defor'md Yet being the Dutches I stand bound to serue her But as she is to admire her Neuer wife Met with a purer heate her husbands feruer A happie paire one in the other blest She confident in her selfe hee 's wholy hers And cannot seeke for change and he secure That t is not in the power of man to tempt her And therefore to contest with her that is The stronger and the better part of him Is more then folly You know him of a nature Not to be play'd with and should you forget To obey him as your Prince hee 'le not remember The dutie that he owes you Isa. T is but trueth Come cleere our browes and let vs to the banquet But not to serue his Idoll Ma. I shall doe What may become the sister of a Prince But will not stoope beneath it Fra. Yet be wise Sore not too high to fall but stoope to rise Exeunt Enter three Gentlemen setting forth a banquet 1. Ge. Quicke quicke for loues sake let the court put Her choicest outside Cost and brauerie on Be onely thought of 2. Gent. All that may be had To please the eye the eare taste touch or smell Are carefully prouided 3. Gen. Ther 's a Masque Haue you heard what 's the inuention 1. Gent. No matter It is intended for the Dutches honour And if it giue her glorious attributes As the most faire most vertuous and the rest 'T will please the Duke They come 3. Gent. All is in order Enter Tiberio Stephano Francisco Sforza Marcellia Isabella Mariana attendants Sfo. You are the Mistris of the feast sit heere O my soules comfort And when Sforza bowes Thus low to doe you honour let none thinke The meanest seruice they can pay my loue But as a faire addition to those tytles They stand possest of Let me glory in My happinesse and mightie Kings looke pale With enuie while I triumph in mine owne O mother looke on her sister admire her And since this present age yeelds not a woman Worthy to be her second borrow of Times past and let imagination helpe Of those canoniz'd Ladies Sparta boasts of And in her greatnesse Rome was proud to owe To fashion and yet still you must confesse The Phoenix of perfection ner'e was seene But in my faire Marcelia Fra. She 's indeede The wonder of all times Tib. Your excellence Though I confesse you giue her but her owne Enforces her modestie to the defence Of a sweet blush Sfo. It neede not my Marcelia When most I striue to praise thee I appeare A poore detracter For thou art indeed So absolute in bodie and in minde That but to speake the least part to the height Would aske an Angels tongue and yet then end In silent admiration Isab. You still court her As if she were a Mistris not your wife Sfo. A Mistris mother she is more to me And euery day deserues more to be â—â—â—de too Such as are cloyd with those they haue embrac'd May thinke their wooing done No night to mee But is a brydall one where Himen lights His torches fresh and new And those delights Which are not to be cloth'd in ayrie sounds enioyd beget desires as full of heat And Iouiall feruor as when first I tasted Her virgin fruit Blest night and be it numbred Amongst those happy ones in which a blessing Was by the full
Marcelia Marc. Good Sir haue patience I can as well partake your aduerse fortune As I thus long haue had an ample share In your prosperitie T is not in the power Of Fate to alter me For while I am In spight of 't I am yours Sf. But should that will To be so forc'd Marcelia And I liue To see those Eyes I prize aboue mine owne Dart fauours though compel'd vpon another Or those sweet Lips yeelding Immortall Nectar Be gently touch'd by any but my selfe Thinke thinke Marcelia what a cursed thing I were beyond expression Marc. Doe not feed Those iealous thoughts The only blessing that Heauen hath bestow'd on vs more then on beasts Is that 't is in our pleasure when to dye Besides were I now in anothers power There are so many wayes to let out life I would not liue for one short minute his I was borne only yours and I will dye so Sf Angels reward the goodnesse of this Woman All I can pay is nothing Why vncall'd for Ent. Francis Franc. It is of waight Sir that makes me thus presse Vpon your priuacies Your constant friend The Marquisse of Pescara tyr'd with hast Ha h businesse that concernes your life and fortunes And with speed to impart Ex. Franc. Sf. Waite on him hether And deerest to thy Closet Let thy prayers Assist my connsels Marc. To spare imprecations Against my selfe without you I am nothing Ex. Marc. Sf. The Marquisse of Pescara A great Souldier And though he seru'd vpon the aduerse partie Euer my constant friend Enter Francisco Pescara Franc. Yonder he walkes Full of sad thoughts Pesc. Blame him not good Francisco He hath much cause to grieue Would I might end so And not ad this to feare Sf. My deere Pescara A miracle in these times a friend and happie Cleaues to a falling fortune Pesc. If it were As well in my weake power in act to raise it As 't is to beare a part of sorrow with you You then should haue iust cause to say Pescara Look'd not vpon your State but on your Vertues When he made suit to be writ in the List Of those you fauord But my hast forbids All complement Thus then Sir to the purpose The cause that vnattended brought me hether Was not to tell you of your losse or danger For Fame hath many Wings to bring ill tidings And I presume you haue heard it But to giue you such Such friendly counsell as perhaps may make Your sad disaster lesse Sf You are all goodnesse And I giue vp my selse to be dispos'd of As in your wisedome you thinke fit Pesc. Thus then Sir To hope you can hold out against the Emperor Were flatterie in your selfe to your vndooing Therefore the safest course that you can take Is to giue vp your selfe to his discretion Before you be compeld For rest assur'd A voluntarie yeelding may find grace And will admit defence at least excuse But should you linger doubtfull till his Powers Haue seas'd your Person and Estates perforce You must expect extreames Sf. I vnderstand you And I will put your counsell into act And speedilie I only will take order For some Domesticall affaires that doe Concerne me neerely and with the next Sun Ride with you In the meane time my best friend Pray take your rest Pesc. Indeed I haue trauaild hard And will embrace your counsell Ex. Pescara Sf. With all care Attend my Noble friend Stay you Francisco You see how things stand with me Franc. To my griese And if the losse of my poore life could be A Sacrifise to restore them as they were I willingly would lay it downe Sf. I thinke so For I haue euer found you true and thankful Which makes me loue the building I haue rays'd In your aduancement And repent no grace I haue conferd vpon you And beleeue me Though now I should repeate my fauours to you The Titles I haue giuen you and the meanes Sutable to your Honours that I thought you VVorthy my Sister and my Family And in my Dukedome made you next my selfe It is not to vpbraid you But to tell you I find you are worthy of them in your loue And seruice to me Franc. Sir I am your Creature And any shape that you would haue me weare I gladly will put on Sf. Thus then Francisco I now am to deliuer to your trust A weightie secret Of so strange a nature And 't will I know appeare so monstrous to you That you will tremble in the execution As much as I am tortur'd to command it For 't is a deed so horrid that but to heare it Would strike into a Russian flesh'd in murthers Or an obdurate Hang-man soft compassion And yet Francisco of all Men the deerest And from me most deseruing such my state And strange condition is that thou alone Must know the fatall seruice and performe it Franc. These preparations Sir to worke a stranger Or to one vnacquainted with your bounties Might appeare vsefull But to me they are Needlesse impertinances For I dare doc What e're you dare command Sf. But thou must sweare it And put into thy Oath all ioyes or torments That fright the wicked or confirme the good Not to conceale it only that is nothing But whensoe're my will shall speake strike now To fall vpon 't like Thunder Franc. Minister The Oath in any way or forme you please I stand resolu'd to take it Sf. Thou must doe then What no maleuolent Star will dare to looke on It is so wicked For which Men will curse thee For being the Instrument And the blest Angels Forsake me at my need for being the Author For 't is a deed of Night of Night Francisco In which the memorie of all good Actions We can pretend too shall be buried quick Or if we be remembred it shall be To fright posteritie by our example That haue out-gone all presidents of Villaines That were before vs And such as succeed Though taught in hels black schoole shal ne're com nere vs Art thou not shaken yet Franc. I grant you moue me But to a Man confirm'd Sf. He try your temper What thinke you of my Wife Franc. As a thing Sacred To whose faire Name and memorie I pay gladly These signes of dutie Sf. Is the not the abstract Of all that 's rare or to be wish't in Woman Franc. It were a kind of blasphemy to dispute it But to the purpose Sir Sf. Ad to her goodnesse Her tendernesse of me Her care to please me Her vnsuspected chastity nere equall'd Her Innocence her honor O I am lost In the Ocean of her vertues and her graces When I thinke of them Fran. Now I finde the end Of all your coniurations there 's some seruice To be done for this sweet Lady If she haue enemies That she would haue remou'd Sf. Alas Francisco Her greatest enemy is her greatest louer Yet in that hatred her Idolater One smile of hers would make a sauage tame One accent of that tongue
to offer My head for satisfaction Why thou foole I can looke through through thee thy intents Appeare to me as written in thy forhead In plaine and easie caracters And but that I scorne a slaues base blood shold rust that sword That from a Prince expects a scarlet dye Thou now wert dead but liue only to pray For good successe to crowne my vndertakings Ex. seruants with Grace And then at my returne perhaps I 'le free thee To make me further sport Away with him I will not heare a sillable We must trust Our selues Eugenia and though we make vse of The counsaile of our seruants that oyle spent Like snuffes that doe offend we tread them out But now to our last Scene which we 'le so carry That few shall vnderstand how 't was begun Till all with halfe an eye may see 't is don Exeunt Actus Quint. Scae. Secund. Enter Pescara Tiberio Stephano Pesc. The like was neuer read of Steph. In my iudgement To all that shall but heare it 't will appeare A most impossible fable Tib. For Francisco My wonder is the lesse because there are Too many Presidents of vnthankefull men Rays'd vp to greatnesse which haue after studied The ruine of their makers Steph. But that melancholy Though ending in distraction should worke So farre vpon a man as to compell him To court a thing that has nor sence nor being Is vnto me a miracle Pesc. 'Troth I 'le tell you And briefly as I can by what degrees He fell into this madnesse When by the care Of his Physitians he was brought to life As he had only pass'd a fearefull dreame And had not acted what I grieue to thinke on He call'd for faire Marcelia and being told That she was dead he broke forth in extreames I would not say blasphem'd cri'd that heauen For all th' offences that mankind could doe Would neuer be so cruell as to rob it Of so much sweetnesse of so much goodnesse That not alone was sacred in her selfe But did preserue all others innocent That had but conuerse with her Then it came Into his fancie that she was accus'd By his mother his sister thrice he curs'd 'em And thrice his desperat hand was on his sword To haue kill'd 'em both but he restrayn'd they Shunning his furie spite of all preuention He would haue turn'd his rage vpon himselfe When wisely his Physitians looking on The Dutches wound to stay his readie hand Cry'd out it was not mortall Tib. 'T was well thought on Pesc. He easily beleeuing what he wish'd More then a perpetuitie of pleasure In any obiect else flatter'd by hope Forgetting his owne greatnesse he fell prostrate At the doctors feet implor'd their ayd swore Prouided they recouer'd her he would liue A priuat man they should share his dukedom They seem'd to promise faire and euerie houre Varie their iudgements as they find his fit To suffer intermission or extreames For his behauiour since Sf. As you haue pitty within Support her gently Pesc. Now be your owne witnesses I am preuented Enter Sforza lsab. Mari. the body of Marc. Doctors Seruants Sf. Carefully I beseech you The gentlest touch torments her then thinke What I shall suffer O you earthy gods You second natures that from your great master Who ioyn'd the limbes of torne Hyppolytus And drew vpon himselfe the Thunderers enuie Are taught those hidden secrets that restore To life death wounded men You haue a patient On whom to 'xpresse the excellence of art Will bind e'ne heau'n your debtor though It pleases To make your hands the organs of a worke The saints will smile to looke on good Angels Clap their Celestiall wings to giue it plaudits How pale and wan she lookes O pardon me That I presume dyde o're with bloody guilt Which makes me I confesse far far vnworthy To touch this snow-white hand How cold it is This once was Cupids fire-brand and still 'T is so to me How slow her pulses beat to Yet in this temper she is all perfection And Mistris of a heat so full of sweetnesse The blood of virgins in their pride of youth Are balles of Snow or Ice compar'd vnto her Mar. Is not this strange Isab. O crosse him not deere daughter Our conscience tells vs we haue been abus'd Wrought to accuse the innocent and with him Are guiltie of a fact Ent. a seruant Mar. 'T is now past helpe Pesc. With me What is he Ser. He has a strange aspect A Iew by birth and a Physitian By his profession as he sayes who hearing Of the Dukes phrensie on the forfeit of His life will vndertake to render him Perfect in euery part Prouided that Your Lordships fauour gaine him free accesse And your power with the Duke a safe protection Till the great worke be ended Pesc. Bring me to him As I find cause I 'le doe Exe. Pesc. Ser. Sfor. How sound she sleepes Heauen keepe her from a lethergie how long But answere me with comfort I beseech you Do's your sure iudgement tell you that these lids That couer richer iewells then themselues Like enuious night will barre these glorious sunnes From shining on me I. Doct. We haue giuen her Sir A sleepy potion that will hold her long That she may be lesse sensible of the torment The searching of her wound will put her to 2. Doct. Shee now feeles litle but if we should make her To heare her speake would fright both vs and you And therefore dare not hasten it Sf. I am patient You see I doe not rage but waite your pleasure What doe you thinke she dreames of now for sure Although her bodies organs are bound fast Her fancy cannot slumber I. Doct That Sir lookes on Your sorrow for your late rash art with pitty Oh what you suffer for it and prepares To meet with free confession of your guilt With a glad pardon Forza Shee was euer kind And her displeasure though call'd on short liu'de Vpon the least submission O you powers That can conuey our thoughts to one another Without the end of eies or eares assist me Let her behold me in a pleasing dreame Thus on my knees before her yet that duty In me is not sufficient let her see me Compell my mother from whom I looke life And this my sister Partner of my being To bow thus low vnto her let her heare vs In my acknowledgement freely confesse That we in a degree as high are guilty As she is innocent bite your tongues vile creatures And let your inward horror fright your soules For hauing belide that purenesse to come neere which All women that posterity can bring forth Must be though striuing to be good poore Riualls And for that dog Francisco that seduc'd me In wounding her to raise a temple built To Chastitie and sweetnesse let her know I 'll follow him to hell but I will find him And there liue a fourth fury to torment him Then for this