Page images
PDF
EPUB

The Tuscan duke, thus much to you, Gonzaga,
The duke of Mantua. By me, his nephew,
He does salute you fairly, and entreats

(A word not suitable to his power and greatness)
You would consent to tender that which he,
Unwillingly, must force, if contradicted.
Ambition, in a private man a vice,
Is, in a prince, the virtue.
Gon. To the purpose;
These ambages are impertinent.
Alon. He demands

The fair Matilda, for I dare not take
From her perfections, in a noble way;
And in creating her the comfort of

His royal bed, to raise her to a height

Her flattering hopes could not aspire, where she
With wonder shall be gazed upon, and live
The envy of her sex.

Gon. Suppose this granted.

Uber. Or, if denied, what follows?

Alon. Present war,

With all extremities the conqueror can
Inflict upon the vanquish'd.

Uber. Grant me license

To answer this defiance. What intelligence
Holds your proud master with the will of heaven,
That, ere the uncertain die of war be thrown,
He dares assure himself the victory ?

Are his unjust invading arms of fire?
Or those we put on in defence of right,
Like chaff to be consumed in the encounter ?
I look on your dimensions, and find not
Mine own of lesser size; the blood that fills
My veins, as hot as yours: my sword as sharp,
My nerves of equal strength, my heart as good;
And, confident we have the better cause,

Why should we fear the trial?

Far. You presume

You are superior in numbers; we

Lay hold upon the surest anchor, virtue;
Which, when the tempest of the war roars loudest,
Must prove a strong protection.

Gon. Two main reasons

(Seconding those you have already heard)
Give us encouragement; the duty that
I owe my mother-country, and the love
Descending to my daughter. For the first,
Should I betray her liberty, I deserv'd
To have my name with infamy razed from
The catalogue of good princes; and I should
Unnaturally forget I am a father,
If, like a Tartar, or for fear or profit,
I should consign her, as a bondwoman,
To be disposed of at another's pleasure;
Her own consent or favour never sued for,
And mine by force exacted. No, Alonzo,
She is my only child, my heir; and, if
A father's eyes deceive me not, the hand
Of prodigal nature hath given so much to her
As, in the former ages, kings would rise up

In her defence, and make her cause their quarrel:

Nor can she, if that any spark remain

To kindle a desire to be possess'd

Of such a beauty, in our time, want swords

To guard it safe from violence.

Hort. I must speak,

Or I shall burst: now to be silent were A kind of blasphemy: if such purity, Such innocence, an abstract of perfection, The soul of beauty, virtue, in a word,

A temple of things sacred, should groan under
The burthen of oppression, we might
Accuse the saints, and tax the Powers above us
Of negligence or injustice.-Pardon, sir,
A stranger's boldness, and in your mercy call it
True zeal, not rudeness. In a cause like this,
The husbandman would change his ploughing-
To weapons of defence, and leave the earth [irons
Untill'd, although a general dearth should follow:
The student would forswear his book, the lawyer
Put off his thriving gown, and, without pay,
Conclude this cause is to be fought, not pleaded.
The women will turn Amazons, as their sex
In her were wrong'd; and boys write down their
In the muster-book for soldiers.

[names

Gon. Take my hand: Whate'er you are, I thank you. How are you Hort. Hortensio, a Milanese. Gon. I wish

[call'd?

[blocks in formation]

I' the head of your troops.

Uber. Tell me in gentler language,

Your passionate speech induces me to think so, Do you love the princess?

Hort. Were you mine enemy, Your foot upon my breast, sword at my throat, Even then I would profess it. The ascent To the height of honour is by arts or arms; And if such an unequall'd prize might fall On him that did deserve best in defence Of this rare princess, in the day of battle, I should lead you a way would make your greatness Sweat drops of blood to follow.

Uber. Can your excellence

Hear this without rebuke from one unknown?
Is he a rival for a prince?

Matil. My lord,

You take that liberty I never gave you.
In justice you should give encouragement
To him, or any man, that freely offers
His life to do me service, not deter him;
I give no suffrage to it. Grant he loves me,
As he professes, how are you wrong'd in it?
Would you have all men hate me but yourself?
No more of this, I pray you: if this gentleman
Fight for my freedom, in a fit proportion

To his desert and quality, I can

And will reward him; yet give you no cause Of jealousy or envy.

Hort. Heavenly lady!

Gon. No peace but on such poor and base conditions!

We will not buy it at that rate: return
This answer to your master: Though we wish'd
To hold fair quarter with him, on such terms
As honour would give way to, we are not

So thunderstruck with the loud voice of war,

As to acknowledge him our lord before

His sword hath made us vassals: we long since
Have had intelligence of the unjust gripe
He purposed to lay on us; neither are we
So unprovided as you think, my lord;
He shall not need to seek us; we will meet him,
And prove the fortune of a day, perhaps
Sooner than he expects.

Alon. And find repentance,

When 'tis too late. Farewell. (Exit with FARNEZE. Gon. No, my Matilda,

We must not part so. Beasts and birds of prey, To their last gasp, defend their brood; and Flo

rence,

Over thy father's breast shall march up to thee,
Before he force affection. The arms

That thou must put on for us and thyself,
Are prayers and pure devotion, which will
Be heard, Matilda. Manfroy, to your trust
We do give up the city, and my daughter;
On both keep a strong guard-No tears, they are
O my Octavio, my tried Octavio,
[ominous.
In all my dangers! now I want thy service,
In passion recompensed with banishment.
Error of princes, who hate virtue when
She's present with us, and in vain admire her
When she is absent! - 'tis too late to think on't.
The wish'd-for time is come, princely Uberti,
To shew your valour; friends, being to do, not
All rhetoric is fruitless, only this,

[talk,

Fate cannot rob you of deserv'd applause,
Whether you win or lose in such a cause. [Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

Asc. 'Tis a favour

To you, by me sent from her: view it better; But why coy to receive it?

Hort. I am unworthy

Of such a blessing, I have done nothing yet That may deserve it; no commander's blood Of the adverse party hath yet died my sword Drawn out in her defence. I must not take it. This were a triumph for me when I had

We know not what; I have some private reasons, But now not to be told.

Hort. Shall I take him prisoner?

Asc. By no means, sir; I will not save his life,

To rob him of his honour when you give,
Give not by halves. One short word, and I follow.

Made Florence' duke my prisoner, and compell'd Remember what your entertainment was

him

To kneel for mercy at her feet.

Asc. 'Twas sent, sir,

[Exit HORTENSIO.

My lord Alonzo, if you have received
A benefit, and would know to whom you owe it,

At old Octavio's house, one you call'd friend,
And how you did return it.
Alon. I remember

[Exit.

To think upon't: my wounded honour calls
For reparation, I must quench my fury
For this disgrace, in blood, and some shall smart

[blocks in formation]

To put you in mind whose cause it is you fight for; I did not well; but it is now no time

[blocks in formation]

Asc. What have I done? I am doubtful

To whom to wish the victory; for, still

My resolution wavering, I so love

The enemy that wrong'd me, that I cannot,

Without repentance, wish success to him

SCENE IV. - The same. A Forest.

Alarum continued. Enter UBERTI, and FARNEZE wounded.
Farn. O prince Uberti, valour cannot save us;
The body of our army's pierced and broken,
The wings are routed, and our scatter'd troops
Not to be rallied up.

Uber. 'Tis yet some comfort,
The enemy must say we were not wanting
In courage or direction; and we may
Accuse the Powers above as partial, when
A good cause, well defended too, must suffer
For want of fortune.

Farn. All is lost the duke
Too far engaged, I fear, to be brought off:
Three times I did attempt his rescue, but
With odds was beaten back; only the stranger,
I speak it to my shame, still follow'd him,
Cutting his way; but 'tis beyond my hopes,
That either should return.

Uber. That noble stranger,
Whom I, in my proud vanity of greatness,
As one unknown contemn'd, when I was thrown
Out of my saddle by the great duke's lance,
Horsed me again, in spite of all that made
Resistance; and then whisper'd in mine ear,
Fight bravely, prince Uberti, there's no way else,
To the fair Matilda's favour.

Farn. 'Twas done nobly.

Uber. In you, my bosom friend, I had call'd it But such a courtesy from a rival merits [noble: The highest attribute.

Enter HORTENSIO and GONZAGA.

Farn. Stand on your guard;

We are pursued.

Uber. Preserv'd! wonder on wonder. Farn. The duke in safety !

Gon. Pay your thanks, Farneze,

That seeks to do me right.- [ALONZO falls.] - To this brave man, if I may call him so,

Alas, he's fall'n!

As you are gentle, hold, sir! or, if I want

Power to persuade so far, I cónjure you

By her loved name I am sent from.

Hort. 'Tis a charm

Too strong to be resisted he is yours.

Yet, why you should make suit to save that life

Which you so late desired should be cut off,

For injuries received, begets my wonder.

[blocks in formation]

Asc. Alas! we foolish, spleenful boys would have The hot-pursuing enemy; these woods,

[favour, Nor the dark veil of night, cannot conceal you,

If you dwell long here. You may rise again; But I am fallen for ever.

Farn. Rather born up

To the supreme sphere of honour.

Uber. I confess

My life your gift.

Gon. My liberty.

Uber. You have snatch'd

The wreath of conquest from the victor's head,
And do alone, in scorn of Lorenzo's fortune,
Though we are slaved, by true heroic valour
Deserve a triumph.

Gon. From whence then proceeds
This poor dejection ?

Hort. In one suit I'll tell you,

Which I beseech you grant :- I loved your daughter,
But how? as beggars, in their wounded fancy,
Hope to be monarchs: I long languish'd for her,
But did receive no cordial, but what

Despair, my rough physician, prescribed me.
At length her goodness and compassion found it;
And, whereas I expected, and with reason,
The distance and disparity consider'd

Between her birth and mine, she would contemn

me,

The princess gave me comfort.

Gon. In what measure?

Hort. She did admit me for her knight and servant,

And spurr'd me to do something in this battle,
Fought for her liberty, that might not blemish
So fair a favour.

Gon. This you have perform'd

To the height of admiration.
Uber. I subscribe to't,

That am your rival.

Hort. You are charitable:

But how short of my hopes, nay, the assurance
Of those achievements which my love and youth
Already held accomplish'd, this day's fortune
Must sadly answer. What I did, she gave me
The strength to do; her piety preserved
Her father, and her gratitude for the dangers
You threw yourself into for her defence,
Protected you by me her instrument:
But when I came to strike in mine own cause,
And to do something so remarkable,
That should at my return command her thanks
And gracious entertainment, then, alas!
I fainted like a coward. I made a vow, too,
(And it is register'd,) ne'er to presume
To come into her presence, if I brought not
Her fears and dangers bound in fetters to her,
Which now's impossible. Hark! the enemy
Makes his approaches: save yourselves: this only
Deliver to her sweetness; I have done

My poor endeavours, and pray her not repent
Her goodness to me. May you live to serve her,
This loss recover'd, with a happier fate !

And make use of this sword: arms I abjure,

And conversation of men; I'll seek out

Some unfrequented cave, and die love's martyr.

Gon. Follow him.

Uber. 'Tis in vain; his nimble feet

Have born him from my sight.

Gon. I suffer for him.

[Exit hastily.

Farn. We share in it; but must not, sir, forget Your means of safety.

[blocks in formation]

A sovereign's power o'er thee, or friends with you,
Do, and dispute not; by my example change
Your habits: as I thus put off my purple,
Ambition dies; this garment of a shepherd,
Left here by chance, will serve; in lieu of it,
I leave this to the owner. Raise new forces,
And meet me at St. Leo's fort; my daughter,
As I commanded Manfroy, there will meet us.
The city cannot hold out, we must part:
Farewell, thy hand.

Farn. You still shall have my heart. [Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

Enter LORENZO, ALONZO, PISANO, MARTINO, Captains, and Soldiers.

Lor. The day is ours, though it cost dear; yet Enough to get a victory, if we lose ['tis not The true use of it. We have hitherto Held back your forward swords, and in our fear Of ambushes, deferr'd the wish'd reward Due to your bloody toil: but now give freedom, Nay, license to your fury and revenge; Now glut yourselves with prey; let not the night, Nor these thick woods, give sanctuary to The fear-struck hares, our enemies: fire these trees, And force the wretches to forsake their holes, And offer their scorch'd bodies to your swords, Or burn them as a sacrifice to your angers. Who brings Gonzaga's head, or takes him prisoner, (Which I incline to rather, that he may Be sensible of those tortures, which I vow To inflict upon him for denial of His daughter to our bed,) shall have a blank, With our hand and signet made authentical, In which he may write down himself, what wealth Or honours he desires.

Alon. The great duke's will

Shall be obey'd.

Pisan. Put it in execution.
Mart. Begirt the wood, and fire it.
Sold. Follow, follow!

SCENE VI. - The same. the same.

[Exeunt.

Another part of

Enter FARNEZE disguised as a Florentine Soldier.

Farn. Uberti, prince Uberti! O my friend, Dearer than life! I have lost thee. Cruel fortune, Unsatisfied with our sufferings! we no sooner Were parted from the duke, and e'en then ready To take a mutual farewell, when a troop Of the enemy's horse fell on us; we were forced To take the woods again, but in our flight, Their hot pursuit divided us: we had been happy If we had died together. To survive him, To me is worse than death; and therefore should

not

Embrace the means of my escape, though offer'd
When nature gave us life she gave a burthen,
But at our pleasure not to be cast off,
Though weary of it; and my reason prompts me,

[blocks in formation]

Uber. What shall I do? if I call loud, the foe That hath begirt the wood, will hear the sound. Shall I return by the same path? I cannot, The darkness of the night conceals it from me; Something I must resolve.

Farn. Let friendship rouse

Thy sleeping soul, Farneze: wilt thou suffer
Thy friend, a prince, nay, one that may set free
Thy captived country, perish, when 'tis in
Thy power, with this disguise, to save his life ?
Thou hast lived too long, therefore resolve to die;
Thou hast seen thy country ruin'd, and thy master
Compell'd to shameful flight; the fields and woods
Strew'd o'er with carcases of thy fellow-soldiers :
The miseries thou art fallen in, and before
Thy eyes the horror of this place, and thousand
Calamities to come; and after all these,
Can any hope remain? shake off delays :
Dost thou doubt yet? To save a citizen,
The conquering Roman in a general
Esteem'd the highest honour: can it be then
Inglorious to preserve a prince, thy friend?-
Uberti, prince Uberti! [Aloud.] use this means
Of thy escape ;-

[Pulls off his Florentine uniform, and casts it before
UBERTI.
Conceal'd in this, thou mayst

Pass through the enemy's guards: the time denies
Longer discourse; thou hast a noble end,
Live, therefore, mindful of thy dying friend.

[Exit.

Uber. Farneze, stay thy hasty steps! Farneze! Thy friend Uberti calls thee: 'tis in vain; He's gone to death an innocent, and makes life, The benefit he confers on me, my guilt. Thou art too covetous of another's safety, Too prodigal and careless of thine own. 'Tis a deceit in friendship to enjoin me To put this garment on, and live, that he May have alone the honour to die nobly. O cruel piety, in our equal danger To rob thyself of that thou giv'st thy friend! It must not be; I will restore his gift,

[blocks in formation]

Enter LORENZO, MARTINO, Captains, and Attendants.

Lor. Ha! where learn'd you this discipline? my commanders

Opposed 'gainst one another! what blind fury
Brings forth this brawl? Alonzo and Pisano
At bloody difference! hold, or I tilt
At both as enemies. Now speak; how grew
This strange division ?

Pisan. Against all right,

By force Alonzo strives to reap the harvest
Sown by my labour.

Alon. Sir, this is my prisoner,
The purchase of my sword, which proud Pisano,
That hath no interest in him, would take from me.
Pisan. Did not the presence of the duke forbid

I would say

Alon. What?

Pisan. 'Tis false.

Lor. Before my face!

[me,

Keep them asunder. And was this the cause
Of such a mortal quarrel, this the base
To raise your fury on? the ties of blood,
Of fellowship in arms, respect, obedience
To me, your prince and general, no more
Prevailing on you? this a price for which
You would betray our victory, or wound
Your reputation with mutinies,
Forgetful of yourselves, allegiance, honour?-
This is a course to throw us headlong down
From that proud height of empire, upon which
We were securely seated. Shall division
O'erturn what concord built! if you desire
To bathe your swords in blood, the enemy
Still flies before you would you have spoil? the
country

Lies open to you. O unheard-of madness!

« PreviousContinue »