sent off When he is troublesome to a phlegmaticke clime A dull Embassadour no that Duke Guido Is all my feare but I have contrived something May rectifie my fate Duk. How much you honour me But you might spare all other entertainements And bravery of Court they may affect My eyes with wonder and obliege my just Acknowledgement but all their glorie 's met Into one height hold no proportion To inflame my heart or more expresse my welcome Then this your free grace Madam and those hopes That blesse my imagination from your favour Theo. I am but what my brothers love and vertue Will make me but there 's nothing that can move With his consent I shannot flee to obey Mont. I had rather feede upon his heart You promis'd Sir the Duke to hunt this morning King I had forgot will you be pleas'd to try The pleasures of a Forrest Duke I le attend King Theodosia you are not for that exercise Guido whispers and sends Guido off Theo. I wish all pleasures waite upon you My heart must covet your returne Duke And mine To dwell for ever in so faire a bosome King To horse the morning wasts Mon. Some policie Must cure this feare my bold resolves are fixt I have made some attempts and courted her But shee has not understood me I must worke By countermine and scatter into aire His swelling hopes Octavio Exit Octav. My good Lord Andr. Sir I present this Gentleman to kisse Your hand hee 's the Dukes secretary a Roman Borne and has a great ambition To be knowne to you for your fathers sake With whom he did converse in Rome and honour Till death concluded their acquaintance Octav. Sir Your love and knowledge of my father will Deserve you should be welcome to his sonne Rivi. He made me his companion many yeares No brothers were more chain'd in their affections He did impart much of his bosome to me Octav. You knew why he left Naples Rivi. He did trust me with the cause my Lord and every circumstance The Kings minoritie and Montaltoes power Gainst which no innocent could plead in Naples Andr. Not to loud Sir you may be heard Rivi. Your pardon Octav. Why should truth Faint at the name of greatnesse this Colossus Montalto is but mortall sure time has Forgot to use his wings or nature is Vnwilling I should grow to write full man To take revenge upon that polititian Our Protean favourite Rivi. It is my wonder The King so strangely should continue this Affection to Montalto Octav. There 's some magicke in 't Rivi. Dare none complaine Andr. His engines are so plac'd None can approach the kings eare at which hang So many flatterers to infect it with Montaltoes praise Rivi. Pray give me sir this boldnesse Hee that doth lift an Axe to strike the roote Of any family cannot be without A thought to wound the branches you were left By computation but an Infant when Your fathers discontents and faction of This Montalto made him forsake Naples Which added to your mothers death the guard And comforts of your life were taken from you Having exprest this malice to your father A thousand wayes he might have sent you to Another world and taken off all feare Of a revenge how comes it that you live And visit Sir the Pallace with this freedome Octav. My Lord Andrugios knowledge of yon Sir Is my assurance of your faith Andr. I le give You reasons at some opportunity Not to repent your confidence Octav. You have Supplied my fathel in your care of me I live why I am this great Lords favorite Courted his creatures are my honours Companion to his pleasures Rivi. I observ'd Some gestures very loving to your Lordship Octav. The King himselfe for his sake gracing me With title of his bed-chamber Rivi. T is strange This newes will coole my resolution Andr. T is truth he doth ingage him to all favours Rivi. T is not impossible he may be honest Octa. And meane so but my soule cannot be brib'd So easily to prostrate my owne justice And leave my fathers ashes unreveng'd Which in my eare groane from beneath the Marble To keepe my thoughts awake Andr. We may suspect This is to catch applause a tricke to winne Vpon the people who did love Riviero And mourne his fate Octav. How ever I have art To keepe my breast close and accept his flatteries Can complement and with officious bend Thanke his high favours weare a face of mirth And prattle with the Ladies as if all The businesse I came into the world for Were but to talke and dance and goe a feasting Rivi. I must presume you want no counsell from My Lord who loved your father how to manage Your selfe to best advantage of your fame And honour unto both I am a servant Andr. My Lord Montalto may expect you Sir Rivi. It is not safe we be observ'd too much Octav. My Lord you have begun a favour by The acquaintance of this Gentleman I will Hope to salute him often by your meanes You shall not meete a heart more prompt to bid You welcome Sir Rivi. You too much grace your servant I shall present a trouble Octav. Come my Lord Exit Rivi. Montaltoes change hath staggard me already These favours may be hearty to Octavio And argument of penitence I le observe And sift his close heart if it prove unsound He whets revenge to make the deeper wound Exit Enter Guido Bombo Guid. I would speake with your Lady Sir Bom. You may Guid. Direct me Bom. With which of my Ladies Guid. With both or one Bom. I serve the daughter Guid. I would speake with her Bom. Shee is I know not where Guid. What Coxcombe 's this Enter Iacamo Guid. Dost heare friend I would speake with my Lady Simphorosa Iacam. This way and please your Lordship Guid. Stay preethe what fellowe 's that Iacam. A servant of my Ladies Guid. Is he mad Iaca. A little phantasticke but very harmelesse And makes my Ladies merry my young Madam Domitilla calls him her secretary for sport And wonder of his good parts Guid. What are they Iaca. He can neither write nor reade Guid. An excellent Secretary Iaca. But he has beene much given to 't To reading till much poring night and day Made him booke blinde and defying spectacles He walkes and thinkes he is wise and talkes upon His old stocke Guid. Preethe acquaint my Lady 'i th meane time I le have more dialogue with him Save you Sir Bom. Save your selfe Sir you are I tak 't a Courtier Guid. And you my Ladies Secretary Bom. I am so Guid. I heare you are an understanding Secretary Bom. T is so I am how came you by that knowledge Guid. We have your fame at Court Sir Bom. Can you reade Guid. I heare you cannot Bom. Right Guid. Nor write Bom. T is true Guid. What make you with a booke ha this is Euclid Bom. Euclid it may be so Guid. Why these are Mathematickes Bom. I
King Theo. Must you be of counsell with his passions What hath advanc'd you to this boldnesse Dom. Pardons Why does your grace put on those angry lookes I never did offend you in a thought Theo. Cunning dissembler yes and t is thy death Must satisfie yet ere I give thee punishment Tell me what impudence advanc'd thy thoughts So high in our dishonour was there none In your owne for me of blood fit for your love But you must flatter your prou hopes with one So much above thy birth though he in frailty Consent to make thee great dar'st thou accept it And with my shame aspite to be his equall Disclaime these hopes and sweare never to love him Dom. Madam Theo. Doe or with this I will secure my feares And stand the malice of all other fate Dom. Heare me Theo. Be briefe Dom. I know not by what genius prompted Madam To live or die more happily I have no Feare of your rage which is so farre from making Me sinne against my love it has inlarg'd My heart which trembles not to be loves martyr I can forgive your hand too if you promise To tell the King how willing I die for him Theo. The King thou lov'st the Duke Dom. Hee 's not concern'd In my affection I have no thought Of any Prince alive but your owne brother Such an example of loves folly have My starres decreed me yet if pride and duty May in one action meete and be good friends Both shall assist my last breath which shall offer Humbly the King and his affaires to heaven This he will pardon shall he know it done By me more sit to die then live for him Theo. Alas poore Domitilla shee is wounded As deepe as I rise and forgive my jealousie I cannot promise thee to be my sister But I will love thee like one let us call A counsell of our thoughts and mingle sorrowes Yet when we have done all and tyr'd our breath There is no cure for love but love or death Exeunt Enter King and Montalto King How will Montalto counsell me I am Wilde with the repetition Mont. The Duke Lay such a blacke aspersion on your sister T is blasphemy to honour but as soone He may pollute the Sunne beames or defile The dew of heaven ere it approach the earth Make us beleeve the rockes of ice doe flame And may indanger the north starre my wonder Will make me reason leste it throwes a poyson On your whole family a staine so deepe And so prodigious all the blood within His Dukedome wo'not purge it could he finde No excuse for his revolt to Domitilla But blasting the sweet Princesse King Domitilla Whom I must tell you I already have Prepar'd to be thy bride as an addition To the reward I owe thy services Mont. Prepard for me you are too bountifull In you I kneele both to my king and father But my aspiring will be satisfied To be your servant still in your grace I Injoy the brinde my heart affects let me Grow old with duties here and not translate My affection till my weary soule throw off The burden of my dust King No more in this One act I le build a monument of my love To thee and my revenge upon the Duke Thou instantly shalt marry Domitilla Her Beauty Blood and Fortune will deserve thee Mont. I am your creature but how this may inflame The Duke King T is meant so Mont. But your sisters fame Were worth your first care this may be done With more accesse of joy when shee is righted You have beene pleasd to heare my counsell Sir And not repented King What would'st thou advise me Mont. The Duke is young and apt to erre you cannot Preserve your hospitable Lawes to affront Him openly nor will it be thought prudence To let loose these suspitions to the descant Of peoples tongues th' aire is dangerous Let me search the Dukes bosome for the spring Of this dishonour King How Mont. Mistake me not Philoberto is his secret consellour And the receiver of his thoughts leave me To manage this great worke I have a way To every angle of his heart meane time Be pleas'd to keepe your person but retired A silent discontent will fright him more And arme us with full knowledge King Wise Montalto I like thy honest counsell and obey it But lose no time Exit Mont. It never was more pretious My essence is concern'd and every minute Brings a fresh seige against Montaltoes life There 's none but Philoberto conscious To my last accusation of the Princesse Then hee must be remov'd delayes are fatall I le poyson him to night I have the way This done the Duke may follow or be brib'd With Domitillaes person to quit Naples Enter Guido Aloisio Alexio Guid. My honour'd Lord Mont. Guido Aloisio Why make I this distinction y' are but one To your Montalto have one heart and faith Your love and dilligence must now be active Guid. You have deserv'd us Alex. Lord of our fortunes Guid. Wee are your creatures Bound by all Law and conscience of the court To serve your ends Mont. T is but to waite close And contrive excuses if the Duke Desire accesse to the King Gui. This all Mont. Be carefull None of his traine nor faction be admitted In speciall Philoberto if he appeare Present my service and desire to speake with him This is no mighty Province gentlemen To waste you much yet this neglected will Destroy my tall fate in whote fall you must Stoope and be strucken dead with the large ruines Gui. Kill us not first by your suspition We looke upon you as our destiny Prosper as we are faithfull Mont. You divide me Alex. There is much trouble in his face how ere Let us be firme is not this Philoberto Enter Riviero Riv. My honor'd Lords Gui. We are proud to be your servants I am yours where is the Lord Montalto Alo. New gone from us and desires to speake with you And is gone either to your lodging or the Dukes Rivi. I have some affaires with the King and that Dispatch'd I le waite upon him Gui. We are confident You will excuse us we receiv'd command That none should interrupt him Rivi. I come from the Duke Alo. His excellent will conster it our duties Riv. This was not wone Alo. We dare not sit dispute Our masters pleasure Gui. Perhaps his confessor is with him Rivi. Perhaps there is some cunning nay preferre The businesse of the soule I may presume He has no long Catalogue to account for Gui. You have not beene of counsell with his conscience We doe not use to limit his devotions Rivi. T is picus and you three by computation Montaltoes knaves here plac'd to keepe away Discoveries in spight of all your subtilties The king shall know my minde and understand The history of your patrons and your service Let time speak your reward in your owne chronicles Alo. You not forget my Lord Montalto has Desire to speake
with him Rivi. T is all my businesse Be carefull of your watch and looke about you Some Wee sell may get in else Gui. Does he jeere us Alex. Let him his Embassy is not perform'd Enter Duke Montalto Mont, You doe amaze my understanding Sir To require I should justifie a tale Made to the blemish of so chaste a Lady Duke Did not your Lordship tell such a story To Philoberto in my lodgings Mont. I dare his malice to affront and t is not Done like your selfe to sully with one breath Two sames Duke Shall I not credit my owne eares Mont. Deare Sir collect your selfe and let not passion To Domitilla whom you may possesse Here after make you so unjust Duke Deare Machiavill This will not doe the King shall know your stratagems Mont. Goe threaten babes this would exalt my rage But I remember y' are a guest to Naples Nor would I grieve the genius of my country To place my owne revenge above her honour Duke Poore shaddow Mont. Now Drawes a dagger at the Dukes backe T will not be safe you know your change Exit Guid. We are proud to see your excellence in health Duke Where is the King Alo. A little busle Sir Alex. Not yet I thinke he is at his prayers Duke I le adde to his Letanie Guid. It wo'not neede I thinke his ghostly father can direct him With whom he is in private Duke I know not How to interpret this I want Philoberto Exit Enter Octavio Octav. Your graces Servant he lookes displeas'd Guid. My Lord Octavio Octav. Your servant Lords Guid. You meet the Duke Octav. His face shewed discontent Aloi. We summe our fortunes in Montaltoes smile By whose commands we have denyed the Duke Accesse to 'th King Octav. You have done well it much Concernes my Lord his and all our fate Depends upon 't continue still your care And circumspection and while I am within Let none be admitted Exit Guid, Let us alone A spirit may have the device to enter But if he have so much body as a Gnat I le know his errand whoe 's this oh it t is My Lady Domitillaes Secretary Enter Bombo Bom. Here are so many trickes and turnes and dores I'these Court lodgings I have lost my selfe Guid. Mr. Secretary Bom. T was you betrayd me to the King and caus'd My Ladies to be sent for with more cunning To bring me hither but all 's one he has Not seene me yet not sha'not which Is my way out of this labyrinth Alo. Why are you so unwilling the King should see you Guid. Or to live in Court me thinkes this habite Becomes you now does it not my Lord Alex. He lookes like a true Hero Bom. You are beside the story Sir I did reade once That Hero had no upper lip shee was A Lady of Leanders lake Guid. A wit there 's a new word now for the Hellespont Hee le make a subtile courtier Bom. It has undone me Alo. Vndone thee how Bom. I know not whether it be my wit or clothes Or disposition of the place or all Together but I am sure I am in love I finde it by the losing of my stomacke I am most strangely in love Guid With whom Bom. I know not Aloi. Can you not guesse Bom. I hope t is with my selfe for I did vow When my first mistresse dyed which was Guid. What Bom. A dairy maide that we had i' th Countrey To love no living woman bove an houre Shee was the very creame of all her Sex Oft have we churn'd together Guid. And drunke healths In Butter-milke Aloi. But doe you hope you are in love with your selfe Sir Bom. Marry doe I Sir is that so wonderfull at Court Guid. You are pleasant Aloi. Le ts be rid on him Guid. Come you shall now speake with the King And he shall knight thee more honours may follow Bom. You shall excuse me put your honours Vpon some body else Guid. Doe you know what t is Bom. I have not read of late Aloi. But you are much given to hearing What is honour Bom. Honour a buble is that is soone broke A Gloworme seeming fire but has no smoake Aloi. There 's fire and water Bom. And smoake for ayre A painted Sun-beame peece of gilded Chaffe And he that trusts leanes to a broken staffe Gui. You should have reconcil'd the foure elements To the conceit there was fire aire water Where 's the earth Bom. Oh he that leanes to a broken staffe shall Finde that presently Enter King reading a paper Octavio Guid. The King Bom. King bee your leave I vanish Exit Bombo King This paper containes wonder t is not possible Octa. Vpon my life Sir Philoberto can demonstate these King The Divell has not art To abuse us so this will require some counsell Enter Montalto Hee 's here Montalto leave us Exeunt Lords Mont. Sir your pleasure King Is all in thee hast met with Philoberto Mont. Not yet King No matter I have thought upon 't And doe conclude it best to let things passe Yet in a dreame choise and enquiry may Awake suspition upon innocence Mont. You cannot thinke her guilty Sir King I am not Without some feares I have collected things Since we conferr'd that stagger my good thoughts Mont. Of her you cannot Sir unthinke agen What ever would betray her to your jealousy A Virgins Monument cannot be more chaste i th Temple King Yes yes we may be all cozend And therefore let her passe among things desperate Yet were I certaine shee were spotted thus As t is but a young Leprosie upon her I could wish heartily my Sister timely Married not to the Duke that would betray us But to some one I know not who could love Vs both so well as be that rare friend And save our honours Mont. Doe you then suspect her King Oh the Dukes Character had a powerfull sence And who knowes but shee may be lost by one Not fit to make her reparation Could any Nobleman be found in Naples To binde her wound up by so great an act Of secrecy and marriage but some winde May listen and convey I know not whether What my sad breath has scatter'd in the aire Thy Master has no servant that dares take One sorrow from him Mont. You are Sir provided Of more then that can rise to in my service King Canst thou be so compassionate to lose Thy hopes of richer beauty for my sake Darst thou with all this knowledge hide her staine And marry her Mont. My duty to your Majestie Shall marry me to death let not this trouble The quiet of your heart I le take Theodosia And thinke upon her as shee had the whitenesse Of my good Angell King Th' art a miracle Teach me but which way I may reward this love Till now I had no poverty thy worth Will make me everlastingly in debt What shall I say Mont. Great Sir no more your favours Flow from a bounty which hath onely heaven Above it
King They are all trifles let me see Is nothing in thy power to make thee finde My gratitude how barren are we wealth Honour Mont. Ther 's nothing good or great you have not Freely possest me with your favours would So mighty have they falne upon me rather Expresse a storme and I had sunke beneath The welcome violence had not your love From whence they flowed inabled me to strength And manly bearing King I was inprovident To reserve nothing or it was a fault In thee to be so prodigall of merit In thy past services canst thou thinke of nothing Worth my addition Mont. Nothing Sir King I have it And thanke my better genius I have it Such a reward Montalto that I dare Be modest yet pronounce never did Prince Exceede it to his friend Mont. Sir you amaze me And shame my want of merit King In the title Let Kings peruse the benefit and study An imitation to their best loved creatures Th' are great as fortune can invent I le teach thee A way Montalto to know all thy friends And enemies Mont. That were a pretious knowledge Were it in nature with your highnesse pardon The hearts of men are not to be measured With what we reach the starres or fadome Seas Oh he that 's active in a state has more Chainde to him by the power and strength of office Then genuine respect and t is not worth Or person but the fortunes of a Statesman That sometimes men adore King T is true and therefore I am proud in this that I can teach thee looke Into mens soules to know 'em fit for scorne or Thy embraces Mon. How may this Sir be done King Almost 'i th twinckling of an eye too Mont. Strange King I seeme to frowne upon thee Mont. How Sir King Doest apprehend me I will counterfeit That I am displeas'd with thee doe not mistake me And have it voic'd about the Court thou art Consin'd doest marke at this will all thy enemies Whose hearts thou canst not see their tongues before By thy great power silenc'd joyne in faction Complaine discover their whole stocke of malice Tickling their spleenes that thou art out of favour Whom I shall heare and smile at then all those Whose honest soules deserve thee will rise up The champions of thy same o' th other side And be so many Oratours to make Thy faith and honour shine when this done The scene is chang'd I send for thee thou commest With a most glorious traine and then I le smile Take thee agen i' th sight of all discover T was but a tricke thy friends keepe still thy bosome And thou in triumph shoot'st a scorne with mine To strike all envie dumbe I st not a rate one I cannot doe enough for thee Montalto Mont. You have found out a way I must confesse But with your pardon I shall be more able To do you service in the other ignorance Then ruine a desperate hazard in this knowledge Some hold it sinne and capitall enough To have the Princess favour which once lost Though but in suspition they may rage And like a torrent rise to o'rewhelme nature King These sha'not wound thee Mont. And how other Indges May wrest the actions of a man imployed Though ne're so faithfull to his King and state King I am confident of thy justice and decree Thy triumph in 't thy goodnesse thus conspicuous Renders thee loved and fit for Theodosia When she is brightest the Sunne never smiled More cherefull upon teeming earth Then I to finde thee perfect for I doe But seeme displeas'd come I will have it so If thou dost love me no dispute but let me Pursue my fancie meant to doe thee honour Who waites Enter Lords Now it begins Attend my Lord Montalto to his Chamber Where our will is he be confin'de untill Our pleasure further knowne Guid. How 's this Alex. Aloi Consin'd King No ceremony Sir when that 's done We ease you of the trouble too of waiting You know the way my Lords to your owne lodgings From whence on perill of our anger stirre not Vntill wee send for you Octavio Guid. Doe we not dreame Mont. Something wo'd creepe Like a dead sleepe upon me I am in A Labirinth but hence with coward feare I know the worst grim death can but translate Me hence and there 's an end of death and fate The fift Act Simphorosa Theodosia Domitilla Theo. He conforted and counsel'd Domitilla I have my part in loves affliction Sim. This I fear'd Enter Iacamo I must acquaint the King where is your fellow Bombo his mirth might now be seasonable Iaca. Hee 's gone Madam Sim. Gone whither Iaca. Backe to the country house he heard of my Lord Montaltoes disgrace and the feare of his supp'ying The place of a favorite sent him away this morning With all his moveables the countrey he saies Is wholesome where he will dye without feare or wit when His time comes he durst not stay to see the King Exit Iaca. Sim. Would we had still beene strangers to the Court Leave us my daughter is much bound to your grace Dom. It is the King you speake of pray be carefull You speake all goodnesse of him he deserves it And will when I am dead Sim. I le lose no time Exit Theo. I wish it prosper Dom. I dare not say the King dissembles with me That were a fault beyond my love but sure Something he said that made my heart beleeve He did not meane me for another and Montalto whose reward I must be thought Is now consin'd and under his displeasure Theo. He will have more care of his honour then To place thee so unworthily Montalto Has plaid the cunning traytour with our loves If I may trust thee noble Philoberto That told me the whole story of his falsehood Which I before suspected Dom. And if he should dispise me as t is justice Will heaven be angry if I love him still Or will the King call it a treason in me If hee doe I can willingly dye for 't And with may last words pray he may live happy But why am I this trouble to your grace My story is not worth one of your minuts Deare Madam pardon me and teach me how To make my time more happy spent in something That may concerne your highnesse you doe love too Enter Iacamo Iaca. Madam the Duke of Florence Theo. How the Duke Dom. Why does he visite me Madam indeed You may beleeve I love him not Theo. Admit him I preethe and conceale me Domitilla I know he comes a wooing to thy beauty I preethe let me heare the second part Exit Dom. I shall against my owne desires obey you Enter Duke Duke The ambition of my eyes can not be thought Immodest if they ever wish to dwell here They have found their light agen let no misfortune Be a second cause to bury me in darkenesse Dom. Your graces pardon if my haste to attend The King and his commands made