now abhor thy person love can lend thee The shape of him she loves were she averse From all mankind if she like any thing Shee may at length be brought to dote on thee But may I not be tax'd of too much sloth Neglecting active industry t' expect To be assisted by such miracles I yet have only trod the beaten path Of vowed service friends good will and Ioynture The elder Brothers formall evidence I am so farr from practising the art Of spells and philters I have quite omitted Corruption of her confidents and servants I am too cheape a lover and too tame And hither to have taught her to deny By easie asking I must let her know What I dare doe my Father is incens'd At my repulse his old suppressed hate Renewes it selfe hee 'l rather condiscend To match me with a fury then with her It will be wisdom to decline th' alliance Of him thy Father counts his enemy It would be wretchednesse to make thy love Depend upon th' affections of another He never lov'd that can for any cause Suspend his love set then before thine eyes Valiant Achilles who acquir'd more honor By constancie even to his enemies Daughter In spite of th' opposition of his friends Then ere he did by Hectors overthrowe Redeeme the time Francisco though 't be short And let this one day satisfie the losse Of weekes and monthes her father keeps a slave A cunning Affrican whose very soule For mony and hope of liberty I 'le buy Him will I strait imploy love nere refuses The basest instruments if they be usefull A drudge may finde more corners in the house Than ere the master knew and may discover A secret inlet to betray a City There will I now begin he shall advise Where I shall plant my golden batteries Actus Secundus Scena Secunda Imperiale Molosso Imp. I Am with wonder strucken not with feare At thy relation of this barbarous plot Contriv'd against my life after faith given Of firme attonement but the Leopards spots Or staines of virgin honor may as soone Be wip't away as hatred that hath seizd A cankred brest this machination Is so inhumane that to lend it credit Is a degree to inhumanity Mol. To give slow faith to such a horrid plot Becomes a heart so full of piety But in this black designe many presumptions Vnite themselves to fortifie beliefe Nor is it to be thought the wretch durst feine it Giving so short a time to be disproov'd The heavens forbid your virtuous diffidence Should lead you to the hazard I must count This blest discovery a large recompence Of former ills fortune hath throwne on me For I am bold to hope it will by you Be gratiously accepted though I finde Some late unhappy errors have infore't Your patience to inflict just punishment On him that is your slave and might expect The restles misery of the painfull oare With all the wants that ever were susteyin'd In a remorsles Galley but your goodnes In spite of fate that meant all this is pleas'd To give me shelter under your owne roofe And to the emulation of my fellowes To grant the favour of your houshold service A bondage which I truely may prefer Above the common peoples liberty These are the benifites that invite my soule To meditate your preservation Which ere I cease to doe Tyber and Poe Shall quite abandon fruitefull Italy And wash th' Arabian sands though I am rude I must abhor churlish ingratitude Imp. Fortune and thy integrity have found A weighty occasion to confirme and fixe thee With rootes of adamant in my good opinion Nor doth it happen often to a servant T' injoy the happy meanes t' account himselfe The Saviour of his master Kings are borne More frequently then such examples found But if to this unvalu'd benifit Thy pregnant industry can adde a second The mischiefe to divert upon himselfe Thou having sav'd me now shall crowne me then Mol. Great sir you owe the thanks of what 's yet don To chance alone I am ambitious Of somthing that might merit if at least The diligence and industrie of one Of my condition may deserue that title Imp. It may it may great merit is in story Ascrib'd somtimes to bondmen all our soules Are free and equall thence our merits flow Why should the person vilifie the worke And not the worke rather ennoble him It is the benefit we looke upon And not the givers meane condition Mol. I have a ripe designe that shall both give Assurance of the truth of what I brought And powre the vengeance on your enemy Nor can it ever be discovered To hurt your fame it shall amaze the actor And shall be speedy too things of long time Are ever doubtfull lost in expectation Propounded usuallie for private ends Gain'd by degrees an acceptable deede Hath double welcome when t' is don with speede Imp. Noble Molosso such thy virtues make thee Proceed with Courage in thy enterprize Which I 'le not presse to know till the event But by implicit trust freelie declare What confidence I meane to place in thee And take from me this iust incouragement To rest assur'd thy service hath not met With an ungratefull master I shall never Forgive my late credulitie that meant T' have added to his former punishment Actus Secundus Scena Tertia Molosso Sango Francisco Mol. HE 's now made sure I must with speed find out Yong Spinola and speake with Sango too Behold 'um both together t' will succed San. See where Molosso comes sir Fran. O t' is hee How is 't Moloss thy face hath busines in 't I would thou wert at leasure Mol. My toil'd body Will not admit a cheerefull countenance But I can throw of care if you command Fra. Wouldst thou embrace redemption Mol. Aske me whether I would not wish some shade if I were broil'd Vpon the Libian Sands where Cancer raignes But Sir if I mistake not you sustaine A greater servitude yet seeke not freedome Fra. Thou wouldst perswade me to shake off Loves fetters Mol. Rather to change them into chaines of gold To wealth and ornament it may be done Without your Chimicall projection Fra. Thou shouldst not stand in need of that t' inrich thee Could this b' effected Mol. Sir I have no art Nor leisure to discourse but I have heard There is by fare an opportunity Allotted every man to make him rich And happy too provided he take hold And I am confident that 's offer'd you Fra. What to enjoy divine Angelica No treasure else can make me rich or happy Mol. When she is brought into your own possession You can but blame your selfe if she depart Fra. I shall destroy my selfe if then she scape But how prithy convey thy joyfull newes Into me by a reverend secrecie That I may be all eare while thou art whispering They whisper San. What plot should this be now I long to know Molosso doubts some accident may happen Vpon his Masters death
cheerfully from shrivel'd Tythons bed And thou so discontentedly from mine But I 'le not doubt the cause to spring from me Rather from feare of yong Prince Doria's safety Whose great affaires perhaps have made him stretch His promise to the utmost not to breake it Though he could not prevent our expectation He 'l not deceive 't but like th' approaching Sunne Will soone expell these mists and cheere our hearts Hon. I am solicitous I must confesse Of his returne whom we have long expected To whom we have design'd our onely daughter And with her both our fortunes and our loves But the true cause of all these perturbations Which you discover in my countenance Is a strange dreame heaven make it but a dreame And I perhaps should but have thought it so Had not my daughter ev'n this very night And the same houre as neere as we can guesse With the like vision been disquieted Me thought we harbour'd in our house a Wolfe Bred up so tame that all did handle him Which like a dogge would fawne on them that beat him Til on a time accompanied with another Of his owne race he rush't into the chamber Where I together with my Daughter sate There they resum'd their native crueltie The one assaulted her the other me And tearing first our Iewells from our necks They made us both at length their farall prey Ang. Oh how the terrour of that dreadfull vision Affrights my Soule I tremble when I thinke on 't Me thought the heartstrings of Prince Doria crack't At the dire newes it prov'd the overthrowe Of our whole Family we differ but in this The Savadge executioners to me Seem'd to be Beares creatures as bloody as wolves Imp. It is no wonder that your dreames concurr'd Since there is that relation in your blood I must beleeve you had the day before Communicated some sad thoughts together Which in the night your wakefull fantasies From a like temperature of braine reduc't Into like formes suggesting that for truth Which is at best but fond imagination What can be vainer then a womans dreame T' is lesse to be regarded then her teares Which are prepar'd to flow at her command Hon. Cassandra's true predictions were dispis'd Imp. And well they might had Troy bin provident Hon. Many at length deplore their unbeleife Imp. But more lament their rash credulitie Hon. Future events by dreames have bin reveal'd Imp. So did old wisards doubtfull things vnfould By flights of birds such witchcrafts now are seas'd And we from those darke errours are releas'd To talke of visions is an indiscretion Practis'd by Children and distemperd persons Go then prepare your selves for solid joyes On this day the Republick yearly paies A retribution to our Familie And as I heare the time being Carnivall Some mirth shall season our solemnitie If Doria come to day as we expect To morow nothing shall be heard of us But songs of Hymen and Thalassius Hon. Never could any wretches be more glad To be deceiv'd Ang. My heart continues sad Actus primus Scena quinta Imperiale O Wretched state of man to whom the time By nature made for ease is found unquiet Sleepe properly cald rest who can expresse How restles it becomes through various dreames Which are so strongly formed by the fancy That though they be most false and when we wake Should wholly vanish yet even then they leave A deepe Impression in the troubled mind Nor doth this onely happen to weake women But unto men of speciall eminence Working vpon their hopes aswell as feares Who many times to their confusion Have by such drowsie errors bin seduc'd Hence did Amilcar venture to assault Strong Syracuse deluded by a dreame But though it be a folly beyond pardon To venture life or fortune in pursuit Of such a vanitie yet in all things Abundant warines can never hurt My slaue may not unfitlie be compar'd To a tame Wolfe or Beare who may perchance Resent his late sharpe castigation Him will I send to my owne Galley where He shal be chain'd from mischeife and to me Not prove unusefull when the smallest boult May eas'ly be remov'd who would omit it Let others lose themselves in laborinthes Of hidden superstition and beleeve The ayre to be replenished with spirits Who by a naturall and inherent virtue Foreseeing things to come and taking pity Vpon improvident man reveale by visions The dangers that approach to th' end he may By timely care prevent his misery I 'le not depend on such intelligence T' informe me whether Spinola hath buried Or only hid his long continued malice I 'le fetch my preservation neerer hence That shall conserve this individuall No man can suffer ill but from himselfe Fate only awes the slothfull wisdom barres The powerfull operation of the starres Chorus of two 1 THose men that mischiefe do devise Had need to borrow Argus eyes To looke about a poore slave may By chance lie hid and then betray 2 Within the house they may suspect That walles and bedds may them detect And in the feild they must provide That not a bush a spie may hide 1 And albeit they shut the doore Having well searcht the house before Yet they may be betray'd for proofe Iove in a shower did peirce the roofe 2 Though in the feild no tree nor bush Nor bird be neere nor winde doth rush Yet undiscern'd a fairy drab Their whole discourse may heare and blab 1 Then since that neither house nor field To our black crumes can safety yield Let us be virtious and not feare What all the world can see or heare 2 Our dreames are often found to bee Fruits of a wandring phantasie Yet many times they likewise are Sure pledges of Caelestiall care 1 Some men beleeve too much and some Conceive no truths by dreames can come It is a knowledge given to fewe To finde if they be false or true 2 Then as it is a rash misprision To count each idle dreame a vision So it 's an error at the least To thinke all visions are quite ceast Actus Secundus Scena prima Francisco CAn no advice of friends nor mine owne reason Hold me from strong pursuite of what I finde Can never be obtaind am I so stupid After so many scornes not to desist An arrow shot sooner may be recal'd Then her affection th' Apenine the Alpes Will eas'lier be removed then her Father Feed not thy selfe fond foole with desperate hopes But shall I arm'd with powerfull love consult With timerous discretion the weake Child Of feeble age the towring Eagle may More eas'ly be confin'd within high walls Then that wing'd boy that hover'd over Chaos Be ty'd to humane possibilities What transformations did the Antique Poets Affirme to have bin wrought on men and Gods By his sole deity which Iove himselfe His frequent sport had found what guards what spies He hath deceiv'd and fore't the fiery Bull The wakefull dragon and gaz'd Argus witnes Though shee that 's truly nam'd Angelica Should
contemplation May make m' omit the time of action Which now drawes neere my plot is so contriv'd That being pursu'd with resolution It cannot want successe our best designes Are often crost when through a fond remorse We change our counsels few have learn'd the skill To be or wholly good or wholly ill Chorus of two 1 FOnd youth to hope where no hope is And to be brought to place thy trust On him that makes deceit his blisse And counts it folly to be just Goe wash an Ethiop white and finde Faith harbour'd in a slavish minde 2 Love wanting eyes makes all men blinde That to his power submit their wils No counsell can acceptance finde But such as their owne lust fulfils To be in love and to be wise Apollo to himselfe denyes 1 When he that hath received harme Requites it with pretended love We must beleeve 't is but a charme Quick-ey'd suspition to remove Some may doe good for good few will Be brought to render good for ill 2 Is it not strange to finde a Trade Will act what our Revenge devises To see such formall bargaines made To kill or wound at severall prises At which those publique States connive That doe by private faction thrive 1 But though some do commit these crimes Yet let not us beleeve we may Only cry out against the times And be our selves as bad as they But let our virtuous deedes prevent Both theirs and our owne punishment Actus Tertius Scena Prima Angelica Nugella Ang. ALthough my father hath resolv'd all doubts My reason could obiect yet still I feele A chilling vapor hover in my brest Which many times breakes forth in suddaine sighes For which I can assigne no other cause Than that the world cannot affoord a Ioy Vnmixt with reall or supposed sorrow Hence is it that most Brides are found to weepe Yet know not why upon their wedding day Nug. Such follies are too common I confesse But should I have the happines to see Young Hymen in his yellow socks my guest I 'de entertaine him with no other teares Than such as from prest grapes in Autumne flowe Werewith his drowsy head and wither'd garland I would bedewe till to his twinkling eyes Each tapour should present a double light While waggish Boyes should with their wanton Songs Prepare our thoughts to our insuing pleasures Ang. Fie fie Nugolla no laciviousnes Can ere become solemnities that must Create us Matrons there is cause to feare Their chastity that unchaste songs can heare Nug. It is a shame to lend our eares to that We are alow'd to do Ang. Yes many things Are lawfull and yet shamefull to be don Or spoken publikely Nug. A woman may Be free in outward Gesture yet preserve An inward chastity and I know many Both rich and Noble Ladies so dispos'd Ang. T' is not the glittering canopie of greatnes But th' humble vaile of modesty must guard A womans fame which being once throwne off Leaves her expos'd to every bould assault Nug. But when she 's found impregnable t wi'll stop Their vaine attempts Ang. A fort cannot be thought Impregnable that offers frequent parlies Nug. Yet that as I have heard is often don To gaine advantage and delude the foe Ang. Can it beseeme a Virgin or a Wife To play with all th' allurements of desire And thinke her honour 's safe if she abstaine From the bare act the duller part of lust Nug. They do but imitate those Chariot drivers That you were wont to reade of whose praise was To come as neere as might be and not touch Love hath ordained by an antique lawe Newly reviv'd that every place and roome In Ʋenus pallace be alow'd for sport Except her cabinet that must not be Open'd nor touch't at least not willingly Ang. Thou wilt be waggish still But hark who knocks This wench that never felt the fire of love Thinks like a wanton Child it may be plaid with But she will one day finde it far more raging Than that which fierce Medaea did convey Into Creusas robe how now who is 't Nug. A stranger with a letter which he saies He must present to your owne hand Ang. Admit him If it be from my Doria I feare Some unexpected accident wherein His honour is concern'd retards his comming But I must likewise arme my selfe for wiles Such love as ours cannot want envious plots Actus Tertius Scena Secunda Doria disguised Angelica Nugella Dor. I Shall not be discover'd by my voyce Italian Virgins are at distance woed And more by fame then verball courtship won This speakes my errand leaves no circumstance To be related by the messenger See how her bloud retires to ayde her heart So lookes bright Phoebe when Thessalian charmes Strike her with feare or th' early Rose whose beauty Nipt by a later frost appeares like snow Now it returnes and settles in her cheekes As if the newes tooke no impression Such orient beames when youthfull day returnes By the bedewed Shepheard are beheld Ang. I may suppose you sir not ignorant Of what you bring and may beleeve y'have heard Some thing of yong Prince Doria and me Dor. Lady I have fame with her silver trumpet Hath blaz'd your constant loves Ang. And are you not Strangely amaz'ed to see me reade these lines Without a shower of teares Dor. If they relate Any disaster you then imitate Those ancient Worthies that had bravely learn'd To conquer passion at the first assault Nug. You think yong women very impatient To have their joyes defer'd my Ladie 's wise To beare it thus so long as he is safe Ang. Hee 's dead Nugella the great Generall Writes me that he having the sole command Of an important place forsooke the same And in his swift retrait receiv'd a shot I' th hinder part of 's head Nug. O dolefull accident Ang. Canst thou be so ingratefull to my Doria To lend it such a serious beliefe As may deserve a teare Nug. I would I durst Suspect what comes so to our woe confirm'd Ang. Were it confirm'd by the unerring seale Of this wise State it should not merit faith Nug. Alas he was not to be thought immortall Ang. But was he not to be acknowledg'd valiant That attribute his foes did not deny him Had these contrived lines contain'd but this Brave Doria's slaine a torrent hence had gusht That like Alpheus had through earth and sea Wander'd unmixt till in the gulfe of death It should have lost it selfe in seeking him But when I finde impossibilities Basely obtruded my true love disdaines To lend beliefe to any circumstance Mars could as soone be frighted from his spheare As he from any charge he undertooke 'T is a malitious scandall and although My nature ev'n abhors to use a stranger With any incivility yet I 'm forc't To taxe the bearer with this vilde imposture Dor. By great Saint George the Patron of this State Doria himselfe is not more innocent Ang. That name is sacred let me then
IMPERIALE A TRAGEDIE Ovid. 2. Trist ad Caes August Omne genus scripti gravitate Tragoedia vincit LONDON ¶ Printed by Thomas Harper M.DC.XXXIX The Argument IMperiale and Spinola Noblemen of Genua having bin ancient enemies and lately reconciled by the mediation of Iustiniano a friend to both Spinola endeavoured to marry his Sonne Francisco to Angelica daughter of Imperiale but finding his Sonne rejected and Doria entertained by that conceived affront accompanied with other jealousies suspects the old enmitie not fully eradicated from the brest of Imperiale and moved with indignation hireth a Brave to kill him in a crowd at a Festivall this being accidentally discovered by Sango the slave of Spinola he reveales it to Molosso the slave of Imperiale as acceptable newes to him who had waited an opportunity to be revenged on his Patron for severe and unusuall punishmeÌ„t inflicted upon him Molosso to ingratiate himselfe with his Lord thereby to worke a greater mischief not only reveales the plot to him but diverts the same upon Spinola's owne Son at which unexpected encounter Spinola through rage fall's into a strange kinde of Phrensy but at length being an ey-witnes of the miserie which through the cruelty of the slaves befell Imperiale his wife Honoria Angelica and Doria he recovers his sences and turnes his fury into compassion Plutarchus de gloria Atheniensium {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} c. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Tragedy flourished and was in high esteeme the hearing and sight whereof did wonderfully delight the men of those times For if the accounts be made of the charge the Athenians were at in adorning their dramatick Poems it will appeare that the Bacchae Phaenissae Oedipi Antigona the cruelties of Medaea and Electra consumed more treasure than their wars undertaken against Barbarians for liberty and Empire Idem de vita x. Orat. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Licurgus ordained that statues of brasse should be erected to the memory of the Poets Aesculus Sophocles and Euripides and that their Tragedies should be carefully preserved and often publikely read by the Notary of the City when Stage-players were not admitted to act them Delrius in praefatione ad Senecae Tragedias Non Marcum Varronem non duos Iulios Caesares non Augustum Octavium non Scaurum non Thraseam quibus nihil 〈◊〉 vidit orbis Romanus huic Scriptioni subsecivas horas 〈◊〉 Dramatis Personae SAngo 2 slaves Molosso Imperiale a Senator of Genua Spinola a Noble man of Genua and a souldier Iustiniano a Noble man of Genua and a scholler Verdugo a Braâ—â— Doria a Prince 〈◊〉 Genua Francisco Spinola his sonne Iudge Doctor Witnesses 2. Evagrio kinsmen of Spinola Fidele Officers Friends 2. Honoria Imperiale his wife Angelica her daughter Nugella the waiting woman Cooke Cater Porter Chorus Actus Primus Scena Prima Sango Molosso Sang. T Is true Molosso fortune hath prepar'd A full revenge for thee without thy hazar'd And ere the rising Sun shall yet decline Imperiale thy proud Lord shall fall As low as hell one unexpected blow Shall recompence those many he gave thee When imitating forraigne cruelty He bound thee fast and made thy feet an Anvill Molos. Sango if thou contemplating our friendship Begotten first by consanguinity And since confirm'd by our joynt sufferings here Hast undertaken some bold stratagem Against my Patron to revenge my wrongs Thy great affection may but ruine me Delay not then to make me understand Thy full intent beleeve it will be vaine Our sword once drawn to think to sheath again Sang. Then know the plot is more securely laid Than my weake meanes although my will be strong Could ever reach without my certain death And by strange chance I did discover it Without the Actors knowledge thou hast heard Of the old deadly fewd between our Lords Which wound although it were in shew heal'd up Is broken out afresh 't was not well search't For the last night at setting of the Sunne A houshold businesse cal'd me to the Garden Where in the thicket neere the Arbor lying by my selfe I quickly fell asleepe Into which Arbor in the meane time came My Patron with a Brave accompanied A Fellow expert in that Mysterie At their first entrance to the place I wak'd But durst not stir for had I death had seaz'd me There was I privie to their whole discourse Which was in briefe but this that for the summe Of fifteene hundred crownes thy Patrons life Is sold and must ere noone be snatch't away Mol. Sure thou did'st dreame thou wert not throughly awake For though our Lords were lately reconcil'd Myne keepes a carefull watch and never stirs Out of the Citie where he knowes he 's safe Sang. He 'le be deceiv'd the rarenes of the plot Did please beyond the deare and long'd for Act Heer 's the designe this being a solemne day Annuallie observed by the State In memory of a publique benefit Received by the private care of one Of thy Lords Ancestors will draw all sorts Of People to the Temple where the 〈◊〉 Cloth'd like a filly Pesant is resolv'd To watch Imperiale and keepe neere him And when the usuall Ceremonies are done In the confused Crowd his cunning hand Shall guide a poison'd dagger to his heart And in an instant letting fall his cloake Which shall be large to hide his rustick habit He with the rest will stand about the body And wring his hands at th' horror of the fact And thus the Brave shall thy part bravely act What silent not affected with a joy Should ravish thee and swell thy veines with pleasure Like to the Estrich in the act of lust Mol. Light joyes are eas'ly vented such as this Is entertained with an extasie And by degrees exprest but as the full Fruition of a thing we most delight in Is checkt with daily feare of losing it So finde I now my rising heart kept downe With doubt of such a wished happinesse Sang. Had'st thou as I beheld the Actors looks When he declar'd his resolution To my attentive Patron thou wouldst rest Assur'd of the event and sweare he needed No other weapon to distroy a man His eies would have outstar'd a Basiliske They were two Comets that are surely fatall Mol. May they portend more mischeife to this House Then those that blasted ours and our whole Country But in this strong desire of a revenge Discretion must direct our passion And therefore let it bee thy cheifest care Neither in word nor gesture to disclose Thy fortunate discoverie till the end Shall crowne the worke and banish all our feares My taske shal be to make it profitable No lesse then pleasant by his foreknown fall Wee l rayse our selves to wealth and libertie The great allurements of those bold attempts Wherein the Vassall dares affront his Lord And quite shake off the yoke of his subjection Sang. Our Magnificos think us flegmatick rascalls Created but for blowes and scorne soe far In love with servitude as scarce to wish Revenge
or fredome Mol. They shall finde at length Patience opprest will into fury turne Nature in spite of fortune gave us minds That cannot like our bodies be enthral'd But soft I doubt our earlie privacie May render vs suspected leave to me The mannage of th' affaire only let thy Vertue be now the dumbe mans secrecy Actus Primus Scena Secunda Spinola Iustiniano Spin. THe hatefull sound of Imperiale's name Would strike me deafe my deare Iustinian Were it not temper'd by thy gentle tongue That had the art to make m' embrace and trust A reconciled foe who hath rejected With scorne my hopefull sonne as if his birth Fortune and parts had not deserv'd that flirt His gilded daughter but I taxe not thee Whose friendship is a gem without a foile And hardly can be valu'd never matcht I know thy milder studies chiefly bent To weed out Rancor from the minds of men Smoothing rough nature with morality And this becomes Philosophers but I That doe professe the art of killing men Encourag'd by all States impos'd by some Must follow other precepts he is sure Of many wrongs that will but one endure Iust. Thy Character of me lov'd Spinola Thus farre I may without vaine glory owne Truely to love my friend yet hate no man And since mine own experience finds how well Thou do'st the one I would perswade the other Nor would I now convert thee to a Stoicke To make thee thinke there are no injuries Or if there be that wise men cannot feele 'm These I confesse are not compatible With thy condition on th' other side I can encourage none much lesse my friend To take a scandall when there is none given To call that injury which is in truth A liberty that every man may challenge Or if Imperial ought t' have wav'd the same Yet since the will is free thou could'st expect But Fatherly perswasion to incline Th' affections of his daughter all the rest Is ravishment or tyranny at best Spin. I know not how the rigid schooles define A fathers power in their beg'd principles As if the freedome of the will extended To silly wenches to restraine the power Of them that gave them first and second being No it was onely his inveterate malice That closely lurk't under a new fein'd freindship That stuck on me and mine this contumely Which ought to be resented farre above An injury by any generous spirit Iust. Let it be what thy fancy apprehends Which scarce appeares in the least circumstance Yet generous spirits at poore contumelies As seldome stoope as Eagles doe to Flyes Spin. What is there that should wound an active spirit Like base contempt Iust. The guilt of one base act Spin. Should we not then be jealous of our fame Iust. If we within finde cause of jealousie Spi. Reports may brand although they be untrue Iust. Yes those that take their honour upon trust Spi. Our honour by opinion must subsist Iust. Then every puffe of winde will scatter it How can we call that ours which must depend On the rash will and vainer voyce of others But herein thou most slightst thy selfe to doubt Thou canst be undervalued by any Much more contemn'd by him that dares not thinke Himselfe to be the worthier but that thou Suggests it for him in thy vaine suspition They that beleeve themselves despis'd confesse An inward doubt of their owne worthinesse Spi. I am not for my part ambitious Of the dull fame of stupid patience To be admir'd for wanting common sense Like Cato that could let one spit in 's face And when he should have wip'd off the disgrace With his sharpe Sword he did it with a Iest And his soft handcarcheife This was that spirit Thou lift'st above great Alexanders merit Iust. I and above the glory of Hercules Or what bold Greece hath left in histories Of her great Captaines to their endles fame They Monsters Kingdomes and their Iusts orecame Cato fought not with Beasts nor did live when T' was thought that Heaven might be borne up by men But in an age when barbarisme being fled All industry and learning flourished And in that time did bravely set upon That Monster in many shapes Ambition With all the crimes of Rome and when the State Was ready ev'n to sinke with its owne weight He it supported with his onlie hand And did as much as one man could withstand Romes instant fate till forc't to let her goe He became partner in her overthrowe And soe one ruine did them both oppresse Whom to have severd had bin wickednesse For was it fit that liberty should dye And Cato live that had bin contumely Not the purgation of a mouth that might As well have don the Sun or Moone dispight But I will leave thee to thy thoughts a while For wholsome counsell like safe Physick is Vnpleasant in the taste and must have time To worke upon the humor thou that art master Of so much worth wilt master in the end Those passions that with reason now contend Actus Primus Scena Tertia Spinola Spi. I Must needs make a strong pretence to worth That dare pretend Iustinian to thy love But when I find how much I violate The sacred Iawes of friendship that refuse T' anatomize my very Soule to thee I am compeld t a'cknowledge myne owne shame Or to suspect thy knowne fidelitie The plot wherewith I labour can admit No Councell but a necessarie faith In the bold Actor whose subsistence binds him To resolution and to secrecie All friendly trust is folly every man H 'as one to whome hee will commit as much As is to him committed our designes When once they creepe from our owne private breasts Doe in a moment through the Citie flie Who tells his secret sells his libertie But shall I suffer this black treachery To boile within my doubtfull brest mischeife Though it be safe can never be secure Or shall I ease my thoughts and giue it vent Yes prick a full swolne bladder to relax it Or bore a hole 'i th bottome of the ship To coole a Calenture dull foole thy life Is with thy fame concern'd besides the base Rejection of thy Sonne lodg'd deepely here He wrought the Senate to confer the charge Of our late ayde lent Savoy against France On rash Marinò so to blast thy merit Be confident he that durst often venter T affront thee meant to prosecute thy ruine And t' is no greater hazard to attempt Death than disgrace that makes his life contemptible On then be bold and secret Spinola So shalt thou reape the double benefit Of safety and revenge all wickednesse Is counted vertue when 't is prosperous Be not by any reconcilement led To trust thy soe th' art safe when he is dead Actus Primus Scena Quarta Imperiale Honoria Angelica Nugella attending Impe. HOw comes it deare that the clear sky thy looks Is suddenly o're-cast what misty vapour Hath rais'd those stormy clouds can bright Aurora Rise