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I disaffect a monarchy, which how
Vain and ridiculous would appear in me,
Your wisdom judge; in you I live and flourish;
What, in your death, can I expect, to equal
The riches I enjoy under your warmth ?

Should I, for the aid and talk of a new govern

ment,

A commonwealth, lose all my certainties?
And you above them all, whose favours have
Fallen like the dew upon me? have I a soul
To think the guilt of such a murder easy,
Were there no other torments? or can I
Expect the people will reward your murderer
With anything but death? a parricide!
Alon. So, so, the duke's already in his circle.
[Aside.

Lor. But I am tame, as if I had no sense,
Nor other argument to vindicate
My loyalty, thus poison'd by a paper,
In my eternal fame, and by a slave?
Call to my brow some one that dare accuse me,
Let him have honour, great as mine, to forfeit,
Or, since your grace hath taken me so near
Your own height, that my scale may not expect
Such a proportion'd adversary, yet let him
Have name within his country, and allow him
A soul, 'gainst which I may engage my more
Than equal honour, then I'll praise your justice;
But let him not be one condemn'd already,

A desperate exile.-Is it possible

A treason hatch'd in Florence, 'gainst the duke,
Should have no eyes at home to penetrate
The growing danger, but at Sienna one
Must with a perspective discover all?
Ask this good counsellor, or these gentlemen,
Whose faiths are tried, whose cares are always

waking

About your person, how have I appear'd
To them, that thus I should be rendered hateful
To you and my good country? they are virtuous,
And dare not blemish a white faith, accuse
My sound heart of dishonour. Sir, you must
Pardon my bold defence; my virtue bleeds
By your much easiness, and I am compell'd
To break all modest limits, and to waken
Your memory (if it be not too late

To say you have one) with the story of
My fair deservings. Who, sir, overthrew
With his designs, your late ambitious brother,
Hippolito, who, like a meteor, threaten'd
A black and fatal omen ?

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Sci. My sister! Though he be the duke, he dares not.

Patience, patience! if there be such a virtue,
I want it, Heaven; yet keep it a little longer,
It were a sin to have it; such an injury

Deserves a wrath next to your own. - My sister!
It has thrown wild-fire in my brain, Lorenzo,
A thousand furies revel in my skull.

Has he not sins enough in's court to damn him,
But my roof must be guilty of new lusts,
And none but Amidea? these the honours
His presence brings our house!

Lor. Temper your rage.

Sci. Are all the brothels rifled? no quaint piece

Left him in Florence, that will meet his hot
And valiant luxury, that we are come to
Supply his blood out of our families?
Diseases gnaw his title off!

Lor. My lord

Sci. He is no prince of mine; he forfeited His greatness that black minute he first gave Consent to my dishonour.

1 Deserves a wrath next to your own This is not expressed with our author's usual perspicuity; it means, a vengeance next to an affront offered to Heaven.GIFFORD.

Lor. Then I'm sorry

Sci. Why should you be sorry, sir?

You say it is my sister he would strumpet,

Mine! Amidea! 'tis a wound you feel not;

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My lord, I have given proof, although he be

But it strikes through and through the poor My duke, and kinsman, I abhor his vices,

Sciarrha.

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Be such a fact the blood of any other

But Alexander could no less than expiate,

Yet this sin stretches further, and involves,

Howe'er the world, without examination,

Shoot their malicious noise, and stain my actions:
"Tis policy in princes to create

A favourite, who must bear all the guilt
Of things ill managed in the state; if any
Design be happy, 'tis the prince's own.

Heaven knows how I have counsell'd this young

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Sci. To lance it; is't not ripe ?

Let us draw cuts, whether your hand or mine
Shall do an act for Florence' liberty,

And send this tyrant to another world.

Lor. How! I draw cuts?

Sci. Coy it not thus, Lorenzo,

But answer: by your name and birth, you are
His kinsman, we all know it; that you dwell
In's bosom, great in favour as in blood,

With hers, your greater stain. Did you e'er pro- We know that too; and, let me tell you more,

mise him?

Yet, why do I make any question?

It were another crime to think Sciarrha

Could entertain a thought so far beneath

His birth. You stoop to such a horrid baseness!
Then all the virtue of mankind would sicken,

And soon take leave of earth.

Sci. You torture me.

We know you but disguise your heart, and wish
Florence would change her title.

Lor. How is this?

Sci. We know you have firm correspondence
with

The banish'd men, whose desperate fortunes wait
Your call to tumult in our streets; all this,

Not to feed your ambition with a dukedom,

Lor. What then could the duke find, to give By the remove of Alexander, but him any

Encouragement, you would be guilty of

An act so fatal unto honour? What,

When you were least yourself (as we are all

Frail compositions), did appear so wicked

In you, he should conceive a hope, and flatter

Himself with possibility to corrupt

Your soul to a deed so monstrous?

Sci. To what?

To serve your country, and create their peace
Who groan under the tyranny of a proud,

Lascivious monarch.-Is't not true, Lorenzo ?
My phrase is blunt, my lord.

Lor. My genius

And thine are friends; I see they have convers'd,
And I applaud the wisdom of my stars,

That made me for his friendship who preserves

The same religious fire. I will confess,

Lor. Though all the teeming glories of his When Alexander left his piety dukedom,

Nay, Florence' state, offer'd itself a bribe,

And tempted the betraying of your name

To infamy, yet to imagine you

Would turn officious pander to his lust!

'Tis horrid, affrights nature; I grow stiff

With the imagination.

Sci. Ha!

Lor. Yet this

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To Florence, I placed him beneath my country,
As we should all; but we have lost our souls,

Or changed our active spirits, for a dull
And lazy sufferance; let this secret be
An argument, how much I dare repose
Upon Sciarrha's honour; virtue witness,
I choose no other destiny: command
Lorenzo's fate, dissolve me with your breath;
I'll ever live, in your exchange of faith,
A patriot, or die my country's martyr.

I do want breath; my voice is ravish'd from To quicken earth; thy flame is but a prophecy

Sci. Thou hast a fire beyond Prometheus',

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Does not my face look parch'd, and my skin Our liberty, restore the ancient laws

Into a heap? my breath is hot enough

To thaw the Alps.

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Lor. Your fancy would transport you.

Sci. It is my rage; but let it cool, [Lorenzo],

Lor. From horrid rape--'las, Amidea!

Of the republic, rescue from the jaws

Sci. I am resolv'd; by all that's blest, he dies.

Return my willingness to be his pander,

My sister's readiness to meet his dalliance;
His promises have bought our shame:-he dies;
The roof he would dishonour with his lust
Shall be his tomb; bid him be confident;
Conduct him, good Lorenzo, I'll dispose
My house for this great scene of death.
Lor. Be constant.

Enter FLORIO and AMIDEA.

Ami. You make me wonder;
Pray speak, that I may understand.
Sci. Why will you

Appear so ignorant? I speak the dialect
Of Florence to you. Come, I find your cunning;
The news doth please, the rolling of your eye
Betrays you, and I see a guilty blush
Through this white veil, upon your cheek; you
would

[Exit. Have it confirm'd; you shall; the duke himself

Flo. Now, brother, what news brings the great
Lorenzo?

Sci. Let me have truce, vexation, for some
minutes.-

[Aside.

What news? preferments, honours, offices.

Sister, you must to court.

Ami. Who, I to court?

Shall swear he loves you.
Ami. Love me! why?
Sci. To court,

And ask him; be not you too peevish now,
And hinder all our fortune: I have promis'd him,
To move you for his armful, as I am
Sciarrha, and your brother; more, I have sent
Word to him by Lorenzo, that you should
Meet his high flame; in plain Italian,

Sci. Or else the court will come to you. The Love him, andduke

Hath sent already for us, Amidea:

Oh that I knew what happy stars did govern

At thy nativity! It were no sin

To adore their influence.

Ami. What means my brother?

Flo. He is transported.

Ami. I shall suspect your health.

Sci. I easily could forget I am Sciarrha,
And fall in love myself.-Is she not fair,
Exceeding beautiful, and tempting, Florio?
Look on her well, methinks I could turn poet,
And make her a more excellent piece than

heaven.

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Ami. What, for Heaven! be the duke's -?
Sci. No, no, his mistress; command him,
make us.

Ami. Give up my virgin honour to his lust?
Sci. You may give it a better name; but do it.
Ami. I do mistake you, brother, do I not?

Sci. No, no, my meaning is so broad, you

cannot.

Ami. I would I did then. Is't not possible

That this should be a dream? where did you drop

Your virtue, sir?-Florio, why move you not?
Why are you slow to tell this man, -for sure
'Tis not Sciarrha, he hath talk'd so ill,

And so much, that we may have cause to fear,
The air about's infected?

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Have you consider'd better o' the motion.
Ami. Yes.

1 Sci. You will not help?i.e., you will not then assist me in persuading Amidea to yield to the duke? I do not, however, quite see the purport of Florio's answer; and suspect an error of the press: 'Ill never kill thee,' should probably be, 'Ill rather kill thee;' to which Sciarrha's ''Tis very well,' forms an apt reply. GIFFORD Sci. And what is your resolve?

Ami. To have my name

Stand in the ivory register of virgins

When I am dead. Before one factious thought

Should lurk within me to betray my fame
To such a blot, my hands shall mutiny,

And boldly with a poniard teach my heart
To weep out a repentance.

Sci. Let me kiss thee,

My excellent, chaste sister.-Florio,

Thou hast my soul; I did but try your virtues.
'Tis truth, the duke does love thee, viciously,
Let him, let him! he comes to be our guest;
This night he means to revel at our house,-
The Tarquin shall be entertain'd; he shall.

Enter a Servant.

Ser. My lord, Pisano is come.

[Exit.

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Weeping? Where is Pisano, and his friends?
Flo. They're gone, sir.
Sci. Ha!

Ami. Guess by my eyes you may,
Something of sorrow hath befallen; no sooner
You were departed, but some strange distemper
Invaded him; we might discern a change

Sci. I had forgot his promise. Look up, sister, In's countenance, and though we pray'd him to

And shine with thine own smiles; Pisano's come,
Pisano, thy contracted, honour'd friend;
A gentleman so rich in hopes, we shall
Be happy in's alliance.

Enter PISANO, COSMO, and FREDERICO.

Repose with us, he would straight back again;
So, with Frederico,

And Signior Cosmo, he return'd.

Flo. The alteration was strange and sudden.
Sci. 'Las! noble gentleman-but come, clear up

Your face again, we hope it will not last:
Welcome all, Look bright again, I say, I have given order-

But you above the rest, my brother shortly.
Sister, and Florio, entertain your noble
Friends; some few minutes I am absent. We

Must not forget prepare for the duke's coming;
I'll soon return.

Ami. You are not cheerful, sir;

[Exit.

How is't, my lord? you were not wont to look

So sad when you came hither.

Pis. I am not well, Amidea.

Ami. Oh my heart!

Pis. Be you

Comforted, lady; let all griefs repair

To this, their proper centre.

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Pis. Here's witness, all is cancell'd betwixt us;

Nay, an you weep-Farewell!

Ami. He's gone!

Flo. I am amazed.

Pis. Now lead me to my blessing.

[Exeunt PIS. COR. and FRED.

Flo. Shall a long suit and speeding in his love,

With the world's notice, and a general fame
Of contract too, just in the instant, when

A marriage is expected, be broke off

With infamy to our house?

Ami. Brother, if ever

You loved poor Amidea, let not this

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The Garden of MOROSA's House.

Enter MOROSA, ORIANA, and Servant.

Mor. You should not rashly give away your
heart,

Nor must you, without me, dispose yourself.-
Pray give access to none-yet, if Pisano
Inquire, direct him to the garden.

Cosmo

[Exit Servant.

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Cos. Lose no time,

Take the other walk.

[Exeunt PISANO and MOROSA.

Ori. My dear Cosmo.

Cos. My best Oriana.

Ori. You have been too much absent, I must chide you.

Cos. You cannot, sweet; I would I knew which way

To make thee angry; yes, that I might see
How well it would become thee. I do fear
Thou art some angel, and that sin would be
An argument to me, that thou wert mortal;
I must suspect thy too much goodness else,
And leave thee for the fellowship of saints,
I am too wicked.

Ori. You will make me angry.

Cos. But you will love me still, I fear.
Ori. Do you fear it?

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goes.

Let us examine all the creatures, read

The book of nature through, and we shall find Nothing doth still the same; the stars do wander, And have their divers influence; the elements Shuffle into innumerable changes:

Our constitutions vary; herbs and trees Admit their frosts and summer; and why then Should our desires, that are so nimble, and More subtle than the spirits in our blood,

Be such stay'd things within us, and not share Their natural liberty? Shall we admit a change In smaller things, and not allow it in

What most of all concerns us?

Ori. What?

Cos. Our loves.

Ori. Have you suspicion I am changed, and thus

Would school me for it? or shall I imagine
That you are alter'd?

Cos. Yes, I am, and therefore
Proclaim thy freedom; I do love thee less,
To show I love thee more.

Ori. What riddle's this?

Cos. I will explain. Upon maturity

Of counsel, Oriana, I have found

I am not worthy of thee, therefore come
To make thee satisfaction for my sin
Of loving thee, by pointing out a way,

And person, will become thy affection better.

Ori. You have a pretty humour.
Cos. What dost think

Of brave Pisano? shall his merit plead

Succession in thy chaste thoughts?

Ori. I do know him.

Cos. Thou canst not choose, and I could study

none

Worthy thy love but him.

Ori. 'Tis very likely

You would resign then?

Cos. Ay, to honour thee;

His service will deserve thee at the best
And richest value.

Ori. Why, it shall be so.

Cos. Nay, but be serious, and declare me happy,

That I may say, I have made thee just amends, [And] I will thank thee.

Ori. Why, sir, I do love him.

Cos. Oh, when did Cupid aim that golden shaft?

But dost thou love him perfectly, with a
Desire, when sacred rites of marriage
Are past, to meet him in thy bed, and call him
Thy husband?

Ori. Why, sir, did you ever think

I was so taken with your worth and person,
I could not love another lord as well?

By your favour, there be many as proper men,
And as deserving; you may save your plea,
And be assured I need no lesson to

Direct my fancy. I did love Pisano
Before, but for your sake I mean to place him
A great deal nearer. -Sure he does but jest.

You did love me.

Cos. Now, by my heart, I love thee. This act shall crown our story, Oriana,

[Aside.

Thou dost not know how much thou honourest

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