slew Sempronio But that assertion Seruio must not serue To proue him guiltie in these reuerend eares 2. Sen. What proofes produceth Seruio to the state To proue Lord Lelio guiltie of the murther When as through Venice nothing was more found Then faithfull friendship plighted twixt them twain Ser That loue which was twixt them before Doth make the murther farre more monstrous But princes in a word behold the man That sawe the murder and can witnes it Examine him and let his proofes preuaile Duke Lords let not Lelios honor bleare your eies Speake sirrha Did Lelio kill Sempronio Shep And shal please your honors grace and worships I for fault of a better shepheard to Lord Seruio heere And vpon a time let me see O t was yesterday when my masters sheep I were at breakfast together I sawe Lelio and Sempronio fighting so long That Lelio thrust his sword into Sempronios belly Whereupon he died and it shall please your worshipfull worships All this wil I be forsworne to with my neighbor Menalchus good man Coridon the rest that followed the crie with Slip my dog others forsoth Duke This homely tale doth sauor of truth Ser Truth soundeth sweetly in a silly tong 1. Sen Craft often lurketh in a shepheards coate Shep Sir you do abuse our profession For Craft goodman Coridons dog Nere wore coate nor breeches I le stand to it For My Lord and father breake contention off The proofes are found then let it not be sayde Your mightines should be miscarried By contradiction of two Senators Duke My sonne my silence tels me many things By it I finde the deapth of each mans drifte And gathering things by certaine circumstance Am better able to discerne the truth Lordes take your places and resolue on this That Lelio by approued truth is found To be the murtherer of Sempronio His lands and goods be siez'd to publike vse We doome him dead Besides whateuer man Can bring his head vnto the Senate house Shall haue a thousand crownes for recompence Paid him forth of our treasurie Further least priuate friends should succor him We do enact that whatsoeuer man Shall dare conceale or hide the murtherer Shall be banisht and his goods confiscat Senators allow you this Ser Iustice this sentence great Venetian Duke 2. Sen Remit thou yet thy sterne austeritie Most mightie prince and be not so seuere Though Lelio by the lawe do merit death There is no lawe that may defraud his wife Or leaue his daughter without maintenance O grant thou this iust fauor mightie Duke That they may keepe possession of his house Although the common-wealth command his goods Duke A lawfull plea which may not be denide Thy suite is granted register it downe Now let our gard beset the citie round Search euerie house to finde out Lelio Meane while graue Senators bethinke your selues Of some strict lawe against our Sessions That may repulse these insolent debates Exeunt omnes Enter Brisheo and Franco Brish Sirrha Franco what sayde olde Seruio to my money Fran Mary sir as soon as his fore eies had ouerlookt it And his fingers trembling had ouertolde it He tooke it vp and verie furiously cast it into hell Brish Into hell knaue what meanst thou by that Fran. Marie sir into his chest I meane the verie bottomlesse pit of vsurie where I am sure God neuer came but the deuil his angels fil it vp to the brim Brish Well sirrha leaue your ieasting and goe will the master of my barke to vnlode the wares and see that at the crane you hoise them vp Fran I will sir Ex. Fran. Enter Lelio Lel Where shall I hide me from too searching eies Oh whether may I go to saue my life Brish Me thinkes I see my Lelio quite dismaid What aileth thee my sonne Lel O staie me not Brishio for thy daughters sake Be not thou the meanes to bring me to my end Brish Be not so foolish to mistrust thy friend Thy troubles taint my weale Lel Father by marriage friend in my misdeed Thus fortune hath deprest my weake estate Sempronio found in Venice for my friend Deare to my soule while he held vertue deare Incenst thy daughter and my wedded wife Who scorning to defame her ancient stocke Disburdned his lewd suit within my eares Heereon in a rage I drew him to the field There he lies slaine I flie to saue my life Now as thou art a father for my sake Pittie thy daughter and my wofull child For by the law I am condemnd to die Farewel the rest who cannot tel if you enquire Brish Stay Lelio stay if for my daughters sake thou slewest thy friend I for thy vertues sake will keepe thee close within my house And ship thee priuily this present night So vnperceiu'd thou shalt escape awaie Lel Hast thou not heard the sentence of the Duke That who so succors me must loose his goods And liue a banisht life Brish Why thinkest thou threates shall make me leaue my friend When is the time for friends to shew themselues But in extremitie I blesse sweet fortune that giues me such meanes To shew how much I fauor true nobilitie Lel What God wil haue folly may not withstand Brish Go in my sonne I wil be day the night the euening the morning to thee my sonne The day to helpe thee flie from foes pursuit The euen to giue thee rest from all thy toile No daie nor night shall I retaine my rest Till Brishio know that thou art safely fled Exe omnes Enter Sempronio disguised with Phillip Semp Here leaue me father walke no further forth Leaue me supposed dead reuiu'd by thee Hide thou my name and couer from the world My fortunes and my birth and all misdeeds Here is that Venice that beheld me fond Here is that Venice that shall beholde me wise Looke how thy science hath disguisde these lookes So hath thy councell reconcilde my heart I hate all worldly pompe I scorne lewd lust This tongue from tempting in dishonest loue Shall labour to releeue the innocent Farewell thou knowest my vow Which I haue sworne to keepe irreuocable Neuer to disclose my name Vntill such time as thou releasest me Phil I wil conceale thy name thy fortune thy birth Thy friends and what thou wilt I will conceale And now redeemed from the iawes of death Loue deeds of vertue worthie Gentleman And euerie daie discouering of thy wound Thinke how thy God hath thus preserued thee Sem Phillip farewell and welcome pouertie From sinfull proud I waxe a cynike pure Die fortune flie deceit florish true repent Sinne folly breeds a good mans discontent Enter Fortunio and Marchetto with the gard For Marchetto if thou louest me grant me this That if thou enter Lelios house thy selfe I may accompanie or tend on thee Mar Your Lordship cannot will or wish the thing Wherein Marchetto will not pleasure you The gard alreadie hath beset the house And I will knocke
and call for enterance For Tell me Marchetto ere thou go What precious thing is hid in Lelios house That likes thee best Mar I long to be the Lord of all his coine For And I long and labour for his daughters loue Mar But by your patience worthie Lord I deeme my choice is best For who so gaineth wealth Hath beautie tide as captiue to his coine And worldly pleasure tendeth on his traine For But in respect of beautie it is vaine Riches are baites to teach vs nigardines But beautie to be bountie teacheth meanest men Mar Ioue first wonne Dania in a golden shower For But Dalia's ouerprest with power Wealth is the bodies slaue but beauty guids the mind And feeds the sense and animates the wit Mar But wealth by golden gifts commandeth it The fairest Ladies for a little bribe Will let Diogenes disport awhile Gold is a God in this desired age Semp The more corrupter men that vse it so For Why what art thou that listens our debate Semp. Euen he that scorns the world spurns at fates He that thinkes wealth a burden to the soule And he too fond that fondly vseth it He that thinkes beautie but a fraile delight The nurse of idlenesse a bait for fooles Vnmeet for Princes who should onely thinke To beautifie their soules Not to infect their hearts with outward shewes Mar What new bred Cynike doth disturbe vs thus Sem He that can teach thee how to chouse thy goods Ioyne both thy hands and blow them mightily Mar To what intent Sem Do what I bid thee man For I praie thee please the cynike fit his vaine Mar Fellow beholde I will effect thy will Marchetto blowes his hands Semp What profit hast thou by that breath of winde Mar Why it warmes my hands Sem But now the heate is laide Mar It is Sem Such is the golde and so it doth abide A breath of pleasure wauering but a space Maintaind by mightie care but quickly lost Now Fortunio let vs see what beautie is Seest thou not this sprig i st not fresh and greene Now looke againe a litle violence makes it deform'd Why such is beautie sir a bait wherewith the world Doth angle arts intangle towardnes Inforceth reason trauerseth aduice I praie thee let me serue thee Fortunio For To what intent Sem Because I hate thy course and will instruct thee If thou be wise to marke and proue and know an honest man For. Well I entertaine thee thou shalt tend on me But first tell me whence art thou Where wast thou borne Sem I first was borne to be gentle Nature inforst the seed of good and bad in me Till death threatned to whip me for my sinnes Mercie stept in Repent shed teares and kist me Deuotion heald me and new christned me In my owne bloud that dropped from this wound And cald me Penitent experience Eta serua vostra fettisima seruidore siniore For Speakes in parables Mar Let him attend t is time to knocke vp Lelios householde traine He knockes Gnat within Who knockes there Mar The princes gard Gna Gard we haue no need of gards go to the tailors Keepe out I saie Mar Sir if I catch you Gnat I and you can Mar What a foole is this Gnat What an asse is that Enter Annetta and Lucida An What noise is this What mean this troup of armed men about my dore Mar Madame the Senate by a late decree Hath sent vs to make search for Lelio And if we finde him not to seize his goods An All what is his my Lord you may command The scourge which God afflicteth on our heads Is for our sinnes we take our harmes in gree Go when you will search where you please And leaue the rest for this poore maid and me Exit Marchetto and the Gard. Fo Did euer eies behold so faire a face Sem Looke not Fortunio eies are arrowes keene That wounds all vnawares and are not seene Why weeps this tender maid why grieues the mother T is I should weepe and I will weepe for both Fie on Sempronio that was so vnkind Fo Fond man why doest thou torment thy selfe Sem I beate Sempronio for abusing thee Thou loose vnbridled man the cause of harmes Pardon Annetta pardon Lucida Luc What ailes this aged man he stormeth so Fo Some lunasie surpriseth me I feare Art thou Sempronio Sem. This is Annetta that Lucida thou Fortunio But I am not Sempronio but penitent experience Fo Faire Lucida as bright as is the morning starre Drie vp thy teares let not thy fathers fall Depresse thy courage but reuiue thy spirits And think thy beautie sufficient to wed thee presently Lu Fortunio now my wedding daies be past I haue that husband which contents me best Fo Words sounding death may I thy husband know Luc Why sir I late am wedded to my wo With him I liue he doth inioy my heart Fo Tush madame that mariage may bee quickly mad Beautie to dwel with wo were to to bad Here whisper Heare me a word Enter Marchetto with the gard Ma Madame I see your husband hath pruented vs Well let him flie his chests are sealed vp The house and some small helps are left for you But if in this your extreame miserie â—ou will vouchsafe to follow mine aduice I will assure you good and wealth inough An As how my Lord Mar Forget thy Lelios loue Grant me possession of thy priuate bed An Auant vnreuerend pailard touch me not Sem. Here 's first a knacke to know an honest Lady Mar T is but a tricke of youth refuse not me An Awaie dishonest man abuse not me My pouertie is happines to me So long as vertue guides and gouerne it Come Lucida beware of subtill men Fly from these Sirenes that inchant chast hearts Come let our toiling fingers get vs bread Before suspect should preiudice our names For Good madame but a word and then no more Luc Sir in a word you shalt not tempt me more I am too noble to forget my selfe Too chast to be a princes concubine Offer your lewd assaultes among your curtizans I am no stale for your vnhonest lust and so farewell Sem Do so as thou hast sayd Thou shalt be crownd with honor curteous maid For Despisde and scornd what should I but despaire Mar Vse force my Lord win what you wold haue Sem I here 's a knacke to know an arrant knaue Vertue neare taught thee that She sets a bit vpon her brideled lust She hath a water of a holy zeale To drowne the shame of vaine affection in Mar Peace foolish foole thou doest abuse our talke Sem What doo these flatterers where free men walke Hearke my Fortunio I will tell a tale An oxe in Memphes with his poaring tongue Licking in doctious weeds did so foretell His following death a wretch like to my selfe Beating Marchettos cloake doth prophesie His following shame vnles he mend his life Enter Seruio Franco and
song Was well applied in this For like the antes they eate the gaine of mens wealth But flye them lyke the fiends when they are falne These Cicero and Aristotle tearm'd a troope of seruile Base dishonest men Stay here here cometh more stand by awhile VVee shall behold the world anatomiz'd Enter the other Senator reading a letter The Florentiens of late haue fought a field Wherein Lord Lelio hath deserued well For why his countrie scornes to succour him Lord Brishio tendeth on the Millane camp And hath atchieued many a worthie deed I ioy to heare of Brishios good successe Your marchandise are solde and we haue sent Bils of Exchange to receiue the monie A merrier heart hath Treuerey for that How now you sausie youths stand backe I say What make you lingering here about my doores Zep I hope your Lordship knowes vs well Senat I would you knew your selues as well as I Go get you hēce it is for yong men to ply their books To practise musicke and delight in armes And not to loiter vp and downe the streets Orph. Dishonest Lord our father in thy wants Did vse thee better And wilt thou leaue his sonnes in miserie Senat When Brishio and I meete we le talke of that Let him come craue himselfe I le answere him Zeph Why he is banisht and may not returne Senat The better cause haue I to cast him off I will not rase my house to raise you vp Let me see you are two good tall youths And fit for souldiers goe you to Millane to VVhere your father is liue by the warres And do not vex vs in peace for you get not a pennie of mee Exit Senat. Orph. These strange repulses make me desperate Speake brother Zepherus what shall we do Sem How now yong gallants what distempers you But grieue not thus at worldly chances If sinne were dead vertue were neuer seene Are you the sonnes of Brishio gentle friends Zep VVe are the sonnes of haplesse Brishio Sem And these ranke churles whom earst your father tide By many great deserts vnto his house Haue left you thus in your extremities Giue me your hands you relikes of renowme Now haue I got an Empire to my minde A vent for my religious charitie Hold take these iewels buy you what you want But heedfully beware of gourmandize Lead you a sober decent comely life Remember truly the effects of things Before you shall affect and make your choice Heare in a word who made the planets seuen First sent downe loue and charitie from heauen But auarice was christned in hell Speake holy men haue I not counceld well Orp What man art thou that fauourst miserie Sem Euen he that thankes my God That sends mee ought whereby to succour you And call me Penitent experience Who giues thee thankes for what thy father did VVho giues thee thankes for what thy brother did And charge you both as you are noble borne To let me see your weapons presently Zep. Take them and vse them gentle minded man Sem Here are the blades well polisht faire and bryght Were it not pittie Sirs that these swordes Should rust within their sheathes of blisse While some Venetian letcher and his mate Should rauish thy sister and deflower thy neece Orp What swords are these frind reporte the truth Sem. This night Annetta and faire Lucida If gods and frindes forsake them in their wantes By lawlesse rauishers will be surprised I meane to succour them if you refuse Giue me my Iewels for I will succour none That leaues their sisters in extremitie Or. God leaue vs if we forsake our frindes Or leaue our sister in extremitie Semp. Then take more Iewels heire tall men And vnderneath this wall watch all this night If any man shall attempt to breake your sisters doore Be stout assaile him kill him for his cause is bad Zep Lead vs the way and we will follow thee For in our sisters cause we le spend our blood Sem. The gaine is yours the glory must be Gods Who made you to defend the innocenets Exit omnis Enter Forsa Duke of Myllan with Brishio and his traine Enter Medesa Duke of Florence with Lelio and his traine at the other doore For. Now Brishio since thy country Venice scorneth thee And thou an abiect wretch exild from thence Yet I haue made thee champion of my right If thou expect the cause it is for dowrie The which the Florentines denies to pay In right of marriage with faire Orrelio my wedded wife For this thou fightes now get the victory And thou hast purchast Country lyfe and friends Br. Reason no more my Lord For vertue plucketh occasiō ere he draweth his sword Look on great Princes and see an old man fight Euen as the candel falling downe aside Then burneth brightest when it gins to fayle In age so I will shewe greate valor And will not now submit Fo. I take thy word God mantaine now the right Me. Now Lelio I haue laid the burden of my warre on thee Thou art the champion of my weale or woe Deceiue not my firme hope but in a manly fight Attempt the winning of this happie day Le. By those moyst teares which with a mournful hart I often shed vpon Sempronios herst And by the loue I beare Annetta faire Naught but my death shall make me lose thy right More then my life I cannot hazard mighty Florentine Mede I like thy courage gentleman charge the combatants Here sound Trompets Le. Whom doe my eyes behold art thou not Brishio my father Who forsaking weale and friends Madest thy choyse of baleful banishment Rather then liue and seeme banisht Bri. Art not thou Lelio whom my zealous prayers Haue alwaies wisht and wild thy greatest good Cease trumpets cease we two must neuer fight Le. What meaneth thy champion Medesa to faynt Me. What meanes thy champion Forsa that he faints Brish To combate with my sonne were worse then death Lelio To combate with my father were my death Forsa Father and sonnes both champions in our wars Mede Brother and brother causer of the same Forsa What fauor merit they who loue so well Med. What infamy deserue we that contend See Forsa these champions are so kinde they cannot fight Shall wee contend for tytles wretchedly While meaner men contend in perfectt loue Lelio A pardon Medesa all the world beside Had not this man this father of my wife Incountred me I would haue died and perisht in thy cause Bri. A pardon Forsa had not this vertuous husband of my child Incountred me I would haue died and perisht in thy cause For. Rise combatants you teach vs what to do Come Medesa Ioyne you hands And let these two which loue so well Be Iudges of our warres and let it end Me. Brother content Now champions end debate What you conclude shall make a peace with vs Bris See see my sonne our loue hath well nigh made their peace Princes are you agreed to
determine warre by vs Fo rs I Brishio now we are agreed Bri. Then tell me mightie Duke but dally not Louest thou Orelio as a husband should For. I loue and honour her in word and soule Bri. Then nothing is to deare for her my leech For. I le hazard life and all to doe her good Bri. Performe hir Ioynter then and keepe thy worde For. Then let the Florentine pay me her dowrie Le. Feare not my Lord the Florentines are men that honor right Speake great Italian Duke shall it be bruted in the eares of men That Forsa graunts all dewtie vnto thee And thou denie her right of marriage Me. T is pitty that gold should part two noble minds Here Forsa take my hand this night one tent Shall lodge vs both here a legare shal my mony lie Vntill my treasurer hath brought thy dew For. Then march in peace here endeth all our hate Thus poore mens loue doth great mens harmes debate Exit omnis Enter Zepheron and Orphinio with the Souldiers Zep. This is the place now fellowes stand close a while If any shall attempt to scale these walles Assault him and kill him if you can For death is too good an end for him that fauours dishonestie Or. I heare them comming brother now stand close Enter Fortunio and Marchetto and Sempronio Fo. Now sleepes the Sunne in Thetis lickored lap And watery eyes are pleased with pleasant rest Now playes the siluer Moone vpon the Sea And all the traine of twinckling starres adorne The hollow compasse of our heauens spheare This is the place where I must purchase life or end my dayes Marchetto boldly knocke to see if by permission We may enter in lest rumor will bewraye vs this darksome night Here Marchetto knockes Gnat. within How nowe what scabis at the doore at this time of the night Mo. Sirra tel thy mistresse Fortunio is at hand to speake with her Gna. within Soft sir keepe out I say least I make garters of your guttes foote balles of your faces ho let forth the dogges there Fo. Sirra dispatch and call your Mystresse foorth Or with my Sword I le send thy soule to hell Gnat. Way way you may carry the message thether your selfe for poore mens soules were made for heauen and the rich for hell Enter Annetta and Lucyda Annetta What noyse is this what meaneth you thus to assault a haplesse Ladies house Ma. Annetta my faire loue my hartes sole Queene An. Auaunt dishonest man disturber of the poore I know thy drift I know Fortunio comes To heape dishonor on my haplesse house But you may be gone and get you to your rest For no man entreth these doores this night Mar. Seize I this haggard I le make her stoope Fo Heaue me the doores from of the hinges straight Zep. VVho liftes his handes to force these barred doores Shall buy his rashnes with his dearest blood Fo. VVhat hath she champions to resist vs then Orphi I such as scorne to be disgrac'd by thee Fo. Downe with the slaues fellowes beat them down Giue light Marchet Fortunio is slayne Souldiers goe rayse the watch Semp. The Prince is hurt Zepheronus and Orphinio flye a pace Fo. My sences fayles O helpe me to my bed Sem. Leane on my shoulder and let vs goe Exit Sempronio and Fortunio Enter Marchetto and Seruio Marchet These are the Traitors Seruio laie hands on them Ser. VVhoes this Orphinio and Zepheronus The sonnes of Brishio performers of this deede Ma. Goe Seruio keepe them close tell I enforme the Duke And visit young Fortunio in his bed Exit Marchetto Se. VVhat ho Phillyda my gerle come forth here Enter Phillida Phil. VVhat would my father Se. Go take these prisoners see thou keep them close Locke them in the vpper loft till I returne Orph. Vse vs like gentlemen we craue no more Ser. Vse you like knaues for you deserue no lesse go get you hence Exit omnis manet Seruio So now shall I see the end of Brishioes race Now shal Sempronioes death be well reuenged First will I goe to the Duke and there procure their death And hast againe to see their execution done Exit Enter Phtllida with the keyes Phil. Whether will loue and dewtie lead me now To whom shall I submit in these extreames If to my father then my Lord must die Louely Orphinio and young Zepheronio My cruell father now doth seeke their deathes And now in hast is gone vnto the Duke That both of them this morne may lose their heaads But I le preuent him for here I le set them free And hazard all their perill on my selfe Here open the doore and Enter the two brethren Phi. Orphinio come foorth Or. What seeks thou louely maide amongst wretched men Phil. I seeke for loue saw you not him of late Ophi He neuer keepes where wretched men abide Pdil Yes yes Orphinio down in thy eyes he keepes But now to tell you dangers that are prest And you must seeke preuention out of hand For Corrodino by Marchettoes mouth Hath taken order that to morrow morne Young Zepheronio and you shall lose your heads Zep. O cruell sentence vpon Innocents For what we did was in our sisters cause Orph. How doth Fortunio Phil. Like the dying man but greeue not Orphinio Hardest not thou what loue did promise late Wilt thou protest if I do set thee free And thou returne to Venice safe againe Vouchsafe to take me to thy wedded wife Orp. I vow before the mighty God of heauen To wed and honor none but Phillida Phil. I take thy word and soone shall set thee free Here take my fathers signet Giue it to the Porter of the gates and hee will let you passe and so farewell my sweete Orphinio I cannot stay and in thy Iorney thinke on Phillyda Exit Phillida Or. Danger then must hasten our departure Farewell sweet Phillida Queene of my heart Exit Enter Seruio solus Ser. Welcom sweet morne the meanes of my delight God and my industrie hath wrought thus much In iust reuenge of my Sempronios death First Lelio banisht next Brishio to liue in misery And last his sonnes to day must suffer death Haue I not foure for one Enter the Porter Por. Good morrow and good fortune to my Lord. Ser. How now Porter what newes Por. I bring your honors signet backe againe Which gaue me warrant for two gentlemen To passe the gate watch some two howres since Ser. My signet knaue to passe two gentlemen Alas poore slaue hast thou been ouer watcht For. Why looke on the ring my Lord Ser. Why thou wilt not make me madde I am sure Come let me see the marke is mine I feare me heer 's some villanie What Phillida come forth my heart misgiues I pray thee hold my head Enter Phillida Phil. Father did you call Ser. Thou Challet carrine drab who tooke this signet from my finger speake Ph. You aske me questions past my knowledge Ser.