Chapter VI: Act III: Scene I

_The sea-shore._

_Enter_ ANDRUGIO _in armour_, LUCIO _with a shepherd's gown in his
hand, and a Page_.

_And._ Is not yon gleam the shuddering morn that flakes
With silver tincture the east verge of heaven?

_Lu._ I think it is, so please your excellence.

_And._ Away! I have no excellence to please.
Prithee observe the custom of the world,
That only flatters greatness, states exalts.
And please my excellence! O Lucio,
Thou hast been ever held respected dear,
Even precious to Andrugio's inmost love.
Good, flatter not. Nay, if thou giv'st not faith 10
That I am wretched, O read that, read that.

PIERO SFORZA _to the_ Italian Princes, _fortune_.

_Lu._ [reads] _EXCELLENT, the just overthrow_ ANDRUGIO
_took in the Venetian gulf, hath so assured the Genoways
of the [in]justice of his cause, and the hatefulness of his
person, that they have banish'd him and all his family:
and, for confirmation of their peace with us, have
vowed, that if he or his son can be attached, to send
us both their heads. We therefore, by force of our
united league, forbid you to harbour him, or his blood:
but if you apprehend his person, we entreat you to send
him, or his head, to us. For we vow, by the honour
of our blood, to recompense any man that bringeth his
head, with twenty thousand double pistolets, and the
endearing of our choicest love. From_ Venice: PIERO SFORZA. 24

_And._ My thoughts are fix'd in contemplation
Why this huge earth, this monstrous animal,
That eats her children, should not have eyes and ears.
Philosophy maintains that Nature's wise,
And forms no useless or unperfect thing.
Did Nature make the earth, or the earth Nature? 30
For earthly dirt makes all things, makes the man,
Moulds me up honour; and, like a cunning Dutchman,
Paints me a puppet even with seeming breath,
And gives a sot appearance of a soul.
Go to, go to; thou liest, Philosophy.
Nature forms things unperfect, useless, vain.
Why made she not the earth with eyes and ears
That she might see desert, and hear men's plaints?
That when a soul is splitted, sunk with grief,
He might fall thus, upon the breast of earth, 40

[_He throws himself on the ground._

Exclaiming thus: O thou all-bearing earth,
Which men do gape for, till thou cramm'st their mouths,
And chokest their throats with dust; O chaune[101] thy breast,
And let me sink into thee! Look who knocks;
Andrugio calls.--But O, she's deaf and blind:
A wretch but lean relief on earth can find.

_Lu._ Sweet lord, abandon passion, and disarm.
Since by the fortune of the tumbling sea,
We are roll'd up upon the Venice marsh,
Let's clip all fortune, lest more low'ring fate-- 50

_And._ More low'ring fate! O Lucio, choke that breath.
Now I defy chance: Fortune's brow hath frown'd,
Even to the utmost wrinkle it can bend:
Her venom's spit. Alas, what country rests,
What son, what comfort that she can deprive?
Triumphs not Venice in my overthrow?
Gapes not my native country for my blood?
Lies not my son tomb'd in the swelling main?
And yet more low'ring fate! There's nothing left
Unto Andrugio, but Andrugio: 60
And that nor mischief, force, distress, nor hell can take.
Fortune my fortunes, not my mind, shall shake.

_Lu._ Spoke[102] like yourself; but give me leave, my Lord,
To wish your safety. If you are but seen,
Your arms display you; therefore put them off,
And take----.

_And._ Would'st thou have me go unarm'd among my foes?
Being besieg'd by passion, ent'ring lists,
To combat with despair and mighty grief;
My soul beleaguer'd with the crushing strength 70
Of sharp impatience? ha, Lucio, go unarm'd?
Come soul, resume the valour of thy birth;
Myself, myself will dare all opposites:[103]
I'll muster forces, an unvanquish'd power:
Cornets of horse shall press th' ungrateful earth;
This hollow wombèd mass shall inly groan,
And murmur to sustain the weight of arms:
Ghastly amazement, with upstarted hair,
Shall hurry on before, and usher us,
Whilst trumpets clamour with a sound of death. 80

_Lu._ Peace, good my Lord, your speech is all too light.
Alas, survey your fortunes, look what's left
Of all your forces, and your utmost hopes:
A weak old man, a page, and your poor self.

_And._ Andrugio lives, and a fair cause of arms,--
Why that's an army all invincible!
He who hath that, hath a battalion royal,
Armour of proof, huge troops of barbèd steeds,
Main squares of pikes, millions of harquebush.
O, a fair cause stands firm, and will abide; 90
Legions of angels fight upon her side.[104]

_Lu._ Then, noble spirit, slide, in strange disguise,
Unto some gracious Prince, and sojourn there,
Till time and fortune give revenge firm means.

_And._ No, I'll not trust the honour of a man.
Gold is grown great, and makes perfidiousness
A common waiter in most princes' courts:
He's in the check-roll;[105] I'll not trust my blood;
I know none breathing but will cog a die[106]
For twenty thousand double pistolets. 100
How goes the time?

_Lu._ I saw no sun to-day.[107]

_And._ No sun will shine, where poor Andrugio breathes.
My soul grows heavy: boy, let's have a song:
We'll sing yet, faith, even in[108] despite of fate.

[_A song._

_And._ 'Tis a good boy, and by my troth, well sung.
O, and thou felt'st my grief, I warrant thee,
Thou would'st have strook division[109] to the height,
And made the life of music breathe: hold, boy; why so.
For God's sake call me not Andrugio,
That I may soon forget what I have been. 110
For heaven's name, name not Antonio,
That I may not remember he was mine.
Well, ere yon sun set, I'll show myself,
Worthy my blood. I was a Duke; that's all.
No[110] matter whither, but from whence we fall.[111]

[_Exeunt._

[101] Open (Gr. chainô, chaunô). Cotgrave gives:--"To
_chawne_,--se fendre, gercer, crevasser, crever, se jarcer."

[102] Old eds. "Speake" (and "Speak").

[103] "'The king enacts more wonders than a man,
Daring an opposite to every danger.'
_Richard III._"--_Dilke._

[104] Cf. _Richard III._ (v. 3):--
"God and good angels fight on Richmond's side."

[105] Old eds. "Chekle-roule."

[106] "Cog a die" = load a die.

[107] Dilke compares _Richard III._ (v. 3):--
"Who saw the sun to-day?
_Rat._ Not I, my lord.
_Rich._ Then he disdains to shine."

[108] Omitted in ed. 1.

[109] Variations in music.

[110] The sentiment is from Seneca's _Thyestes_, l. 925:--
"Magis unde cadas
Quam quo refert."

[111] "The situation of Andrugio and Lucio resembles that of Lear
and Kent, in that King's distresses. Andrugio, like Lear,
manifests a kind of royal impatience, a turbulent greatness, an
affected resignation. The enemies which he enters lists to
combat, 'Despair, and mighty Grief, and sharp Impatience;' and
the Forces ('Cornets of Horse,' &c.) which he brings to vanquish
them, are in the boldest style of allegory. They are such a 'race
of mourners' as 'the infection of sorrows loud' in the intellect
might beget on 'some pregnant cloud' in the
imagination."--_Charles Lamb._

SCENE II.

_Palace of the Duke of Venice._

_Enter_ FELICHE _walking, unbraced_.

_Feli._ Castilio, Alberto, Balurdo! none up?
Forobosco! Flattery, nor thou up yet?
Then there's no courtier stirring: that's firm truth?
I cannot sleep: Feliche seldom rests
In these court lodgings. I have walk'd all night,
To see if the nocturnal court delights
Could force me envy their felicity:
And by plain troth, I will confess plain troth,
I envy nothing but the travense[112] light.
O, had it eyes, and ears, and tongues, it might 10
See sport, hear speech of most strange surquedries.[113]
O, if that candle-light were made a poet,
He would prove a rare firking satirist,
And draw the core forth of imposthum'd sin.
Well, I thank heaven yet, that my content
Can envy nothing, but poor candle-light.
As for the other glistering copper spangs,
That glisten in the tire of the court,
Praise God, I either hate, or pity them.
Well, here I'll sleep till that the scene of up 20
Is pass'd at court. O calm hush'd rich Content,
Is there a being blessedness without thee?
How soft thou down'st the couch where thou dost rest,
Nectar to life, thou sweet Ambrosian feast!

_Enter_ CASTILIO _and his Page_ CATZO: CASTILIO _with a
casting-bottle_[114] _of sweet water in his hand, sprinkling
himself_.

_Cast._ Am not I a most sweet youth now?

_Cat._ Yes, when your throat's perfum'd; your very words
Do smell of ambergris. O stay, sir, stay;
Sprinkle some sweet water to your shoe's heels,
That your mistress may swear you have a sweet foot.

_Cast._ Good, very good, very passing[115] passing good. 30

_Feli._ Fut, what treble minikin[116] squeaks there, ha?
"good, very good, very very good!"

_Cast._ I will warble to the delicious conclave of my
mistress' ear: and strike her thoughts with the pleasing
touch of my voice.

[_A song._

_Cast._ Feliche, health, fortune, mirth, and wine.

_Feli._ To thee, my love divine.

_Cast._ I drink to thee, sweeting.

_Feli._ [_Aside._] Plague on thee for an ass!

_Cast._ Now thou hast seen the court, by the perfection
of it, dost not envy it? 41

_Feli._ I wonder it doth not envy me. Why, man,
I have been borne upon the spirit's wings,
The soul's swift Pegasus, the fantasy:
And from the height of contemplation,
Have view'd the feeble joints men totter on.
I envy none; but hate, or pity all.
For when I view, with an intentive thought,
That creature fair but proud; him rich, but sot;
Th' other witty, but unmeasured arrogant; 50
Him great, yet boundless in ambition;
Him high-born, but of base life; t' other fear'd,
Yet fearèd fears, and fears most to be loved;[117]
Him wise, but made a fool for public use;
The other learned, but self-opinionate:
When I discourse all these, and see myself
Nor fair, nor rich, nor witty, great, nor fear'd,
Yet amply suited with all full content,
Lord, how I clap my hands, and smooth my brow,
Rubbing my quiet bosom, tossing up 60
A grateful spirit to Omnipotence!

_Cast._ Hah, hah! but if thou knew'st my happiness,
Thou would'st even grate away thy soul to dust,
In envy of my sweet beatitude.
I cannot sleep for kisses; I cannot rest
For ladies' letters, that importune me
With such unusèd vehemence of love,
Straight to solicit them, that----.

_Feli._ Confusion seize me, but I think thou liest.
Why should I not be sought to then as well? 70
Fut, methinks I am as like a man.
Troth, I have a good head of hair, a cheek
Not as yet wan'd, a leg, 'faith, in the full.
I ha' not a red beard, take not tobacco much:
And 'slid, for other parts of manliness--

_Cast._ Pew waw, you ne'er accourted[118] them in pomp,
Put your good parts in presence graciously.
Ha, and you had, why, they would ha' come off,
Sprung to your arms, and sued, and prayed, and vowed,
And opened all their sweetness to your love. 80

_Feli._ There are a number of such things as thou[119]
Have often urged me to such loose belief;
But, 'slid, you all do lie, you all do lie.
I have put on good clothes, and smugg'd my face,
Strook a fair wench with a smart, speaking eye;
Courted in all sorts, blunt and passionate;
Had opportunity, put them to the ah!
And, by this light, I find them wondrous chaste,
Impregnable; perchance a kiss, or so:
But for the rest, O most inexorable! 90

_Cast._ Nay then, i'faith, prithee look here.

[_Shows him the superscription of a seeming letter._

_Feli. To her most esteemed, loved, and generous servant,
Sig. Castilio Balthazar._
Prithee from whom comes this? faith, I must see.

_From her that is devoted to thee, in most private sweets
of love, Rossaline._

Nay, God's my comfort, I must see the rest;
I must, sans ceremony; faith, I must.

[FELICHE _takes away the letter by force_.

_Cast._ O, you spoil my ruff, unset my hair; good,
away! 100

_Feli. Item, for strait canvass, thirteen pence halfpenny;
item, for an ell and a half of taffeta to cover your old
canvass doublet, fourteen shillings and threepence._--'Slight,
this is a tailor's bill.

_Cast._ In sooth, it is the outside of her letter, on
which I took the copy of a tailor's bill.

_Dil._ But 'tis not cross'd, I am sure of that. Lord have
mercy on him, his credit hath given up the last gasp.
Faith, I'll leave him; for he looks as melancholy as a
wench the first night she---- [_Exit._ 110

_Feli._ Honest musk-cod, 'twill not be so stitched together;
take that [_striking him_], and that, and belie no
lady's love: swear no more by Jesu, this madam, that
lady; hence, go, forswear the presence, travel three years
to bury this bastinado: avoid, puff-paste, avoid!

_Cast._ And tell not my lady-mother. Well, as I am a
true gentleman, if she had not willed me on her blessing
not to spoil my face, if I could not find in my heart to
fight, would I might ne'er eat a potato-pie more. [_Exit._

_Enter_ BALURDO, _backward_; DILDO _following him with a
looking-glass in one hand, and a candle in the other hand_:
FLAVIA _following him backward, with a looking-glass in one hand,
and a candle in the other_; ROSSALINE _following her_; BALURDO
_and_ ROSSALINE _stand setting of faces; and so the Scene begins_.

_Feli._ More fool, more rare fools! O, for time and
place, long enough, and large enough, to act these fools!
Here might be made a rare scene of folly, if the plat[120]
could bear it. 123

_Bal._ By the sugar-candy sky, hold up the glass higher,
that I may see to swear in fashion. O, one loof[121]
more would ha' made them shine; God's neaks,[122] they
would have shone like my mistress' brow. Even so the
Duke frowns, for all this curson'd[123] world: O, that
gern[124] kills, it kills. By my golden--what's the richest
thing about me? 130

_Dil._ Your teeth.

_Bal._ By my golden teeth, hold up, that I may put in:
hold up, I say, that I may see to put on my gloves.

_Dil._ O, delicious, sweet-cheek'd master, if you discharge
but one glance from the level of that set face, O,
you will strike a wench; you'll make any wench love
you.

_Bal._ By Jesu, I think I am as elegant a courtier as----.
How likest thou my suit?

_Cat._ All, beyond all, no peregal:[125] you are wondered
at--[_Aside._] for an ass. 141

_Bal._ Well, Dildo, no Christen creature shall know
hereafter, what I will do for thee heretofore.

_Ros._ Here wants a little white, Flavia.

_Dil._ Ay, but, master, you have one little fault; you
sleep open-mouth'd.

_Bal._ Pew, thou jest'st. In good sadness, I'll have a
looking-glass nail'd to the testern of the bed, that I may
see when I sleep whether 'tis so or not; take heed you
lie not: go to, take heed you lie not. 150

_Fla._ By my troth, you look as like the princess, now--Ay--but
her lip is--lip is--a little----redder, a very
little redder.

_Ros._[126] But by the help of art or nature, ere I change my
periwig, mine shall be as red.

_Fla._[127] O ay, that face, that eye, that smile, that writhing
of your body, that wanton dandling of your fan, becomes
prethely, so sweethly, 'tis even the goodest lady that
breathes, the most amiable----. Faith, the fringe of your
satin petticoat is ript. Good faith, madam, they say you
are the most bounteous lady to your women that ever----O
most delicious beauty! Good madam, let me kith it.

_Feli._ Rare sport, rare sport! A female fool, and a
female flatterer. 164

_Ros._ Body o' me, the Duke! away[128] the glass!

_Enter_ PIERO.

_Pier._ Take up your paper, Rossaline.

_Ros._ Not mine, my Lord.

_Pier._ Not yours, my Lady? I'll see what 'tis.

_Bal._ And how does my sweet mistress? O Lady
dear, even as 'tis an old say, "'tis an old horse can neither
wighy,[129] nor wag his tail:" even so do I hold my set face
still: even so, 'tis a bad courtier that can neither discourse,
nor blow his nose. 173

_Pier._--[_reads._] _Meet me at Abraham's, the Jew's, where
I bought my Amazon's disguise. A ship lies in the port,
ready bound for England; make haste, come private._
ANTONIO.

_Enter_ CASTILIO _and_ FOROBOSCO.

Forobosco, Alberto, Feliche, Castilio, Balurdo! run, keep
the palace, post to the ports, go to my daughter's chamber!
whither now? scud to the Jew's! stay, run to the gates,
stop the gundolets,[130] let none pass the marsh! do all at
once! Antonio! his head, his head! Keep you the
court, the rest stand still, or run, or go, or shout, or search,
or scud, or call, or hang, or do-do-do su-su-su something!
I know not who-who-who what I do-do-do, nor who-who-who,
where I am. 185
_O trista traditrice, rea ribalda fortuna,
Negando mi vindetta mi causa fera morte._

[_Exeunt all but_ FELICHE.

_Feli._ Ha ha ha! I could break my spleen at his
impatience.

_Enter_ ANTONIO _and_ MELLIDA.

_Ant. Alma et graziosa fortuna siate favorevole,
Et fortunati siano voti del_[_la_] _mia dolce Mellida, Mellida._

_Mel._ Alas, Antonio, I have lost thy note!
A number mount my stairs; I'll straight return. [_Exit._

_Feli._ Antonio, 194
Be not affright, sweet Prince; appease thy fear,
Buckle thy spirits up, put all thy wits
In wimble[131] action, or thou art surprised.

_Ant._ I care not.

_Feli.</i. Art mad, or desperate? or----

_Ant._ Both, both, all, all: I prithee let me lie; 200
Spite of you all, I can, and I will die.

_Feli.</i You are distraught; O, this is madness' breath!

_Ant._ Each man take[s] hence life, but no man death:
He's a good fellow, and keeps open house:
A thousand thousand ways lead to his gate,
To his wide-mouthèd porch, when niggard life
Hath[132] but one little, little wicket through.
We wring ourselves into this wretched world,
To pule, and weep, exclaim, to curse and rail,
To fret, and ban the fates, to strike the earth, 210
As I do now. Antonio, curse thy birth,
And die!

_Feli.</i Nay, heaven's my comfort, now you are perverse:
You know I always loved you; prithee live.
Wilt thou strike dead thy friends, draw mourning tears?

_Ant._ Alas, Feliche, I ha' ne'er a friend;
No country, father, brother, kinsman left
To weep my fate or sigh my funeral:
I roll but up and down, and fill a seat
In the dark cave of dusky misery. 220

_Feli._ 'Fore heaven, the Duke comes! hold you, take my key,
Slink to my chamber; look you, that is it:
There shall you find a suit I wore at sea;
Take it, and slip away. Nay, 'precious!
If you'll be peevish, by this light, I'll swear
Thou rail'dst upon thy love before thou diedst,
And call'd her strumpet.

_Ant._ She'll not credit thee.

_Feli.</i Tut, that's all one: I will defame thy love,
And make thy dead trunk held in vile regard.

_Ant._ Wilt needs have it so? why then, Antonio, 230
_Vive esperanza in dispetto del fato._ [_Exit._

_Enter_ PIERO, GALEATZO, MATZAGENTE, FOROBOSCO,
BALURDO, _and_ CASTILIO, _with weapons_.

_Pier._ O, my sweet princes, was't not bravely found?
Even there I found the note, even there it lay:
I kiss the place for joy, that there it lay.
This way he went, here let us make a stand:
I'll keep this gate myself. O gallant youth!
I'll drink carouse unto your country's health
Even in Antonio's skull.

_Bal._ Lord bless us, his breath is more fearful than a
sergeant's voice when he cries, I arrest. 240

_Enter_ ANTONIO, _disguised as a sailor_.

_Ant._ Stop Antonio! keep, keep Antonio!

_Pier._ Where, where, man, where?

_Ant._ Here, here: let me pursue him down the marsh!

_Pier._ Hold, there's my signet, take a gundelet:
Bring me his head, his head, and, by mine honour,
I'll make thee the wealthiest mariner that breathes.

_Ant._ I'll sweat my blood out till I have him safe.

_Pier._ Spoke[133] heartily, i'faith, good mariner.
O, we will mount in triumph; soon at night,
I'll set his head up. Let's think where. 250

_Bal._ Upon his shoulders, that's the fittest place for it.
If it be not as fit as if it were made for them, say,--
Balurdo, thou art a sot, an ass.

_Enter_ MELLIDA _in Pages attire, dancing_.

_Pier._ Sprightly, i'faith. In troth he's somewhat like
My daughter Mellida: but, alas! poor soul,
Her honour's[134] heels, God knows, are[n't] half so light.

_Mel._ [_Aside._] Escaped I am, spite of my father's spite. [_Exit._

_Pier._ Ho, this will warm my bosom ere I sleep.

_Enter_ FLAVIA _running_.

_Fla._ O my Lord, your daughter----

_Pier._ Ay, ay, my daughter's safe enough, I warrant thee.-- 260
This vengeance on the boy will lengthen out
My days unmeasuredly.
It shall be chronicled in time to come,
Piero Sforza slew Andrugio's son.

_Fla._ Ay, but, my Lord, your daughter----

_Pier._ Ay, ay, my good wench, she is safe enough.

_Fla._ O, then, my Lord, you know she's run away.

_Pier._ Run away, away! how run away?

_Fla._ She's vanish'd in an instant, none knows whither.

_Pier._ Pursue, pursue, fly, run, post, scud away! 270

_Feli._ [_Sings._] "_And was not good king Salomon_," &c.

_Pier._ Fly, call, run, row, ride, cry, shout, hurry, haste!
Haste, hurry, shout, cry, ride, row, run, call, fly,
Backward and forward, every way about!

_Mal[e]detta fortuna che[135] dura sorte!
Che farò, che dirò, pur fugir tanto mal!_

_Cast._ 'Twas you that struck me even now: was it not?

_Feli._ It was I that struck you even now.

_Cast._ You bastinadoed me, I take it.

_Feli._ I bastinadoed you, and you took it. 280

_Cast._ 'Faith, sir, I have the richest tobacco in the court
for you; I would be glad to make you satisfaction, if I
have wronged you. I would not the sun should set upon
your anger; give me your hand.

_Feli._ Content, faith; so thou'lt breed no more such lies.
I hate not man, but man's lewd qualities.

[_Exeunt._

[112] So the old eds., but I suspect that the true reading is
"traverse light," _i.e._, light cast slant-wise.

[113] Wanton excesses.

[114] See note 2, p. 13.

[115] "Passing passing good."--So ed. 1602.--Ed. 1633, "passing
good."

[116] Fiddle-string.--Here applied to Castilio's squeaky voice.

[117] Old eds. "most loved."

[118] So ed. 1602.--Ed. 1633 "courted."--Dilke gives "accosted";
but Spenser has the word _accourt_ in Book II. of the
_Faerie Queene_.

[119] Old eds. "then."

[120] Plot of the play.

[121] There is no meaning in the word "loof:" perhaps we should
read "one _touch_ more." Balurdo seems to be beautifying
some part of his person; but his movements are not quite clear.

[122] "God's neaks"--a meaningless oath constantly used by
Marston.

[123] A corruption of _christened_.

[124] Snarl, grin.--The word is still used in the north country.

[125] Equal.

[126] The words "But by the help ... as red," are given to Flavia
in the old eds.

[127] Ed. 1633 gives this speech to Balurdo.

[128] _I.e._, put the glass out of sight.

[129] Neigh.--Cf. Fletcher's _Women Pleased_, iv. 1:--
"This beast of Babylon I will never back again;
His pace is sure prophane, and his lewd _wi-hies_
The Songs of Hymyn and Gymyn in the wilderness."

So Ben Jonson in _Every Man out of his Humour_, ii. 1:--"So
the legerity for that, and the _whig-hie_ and the daggers in
the nose."

[130] "Gundolet"--old form of gondola.

[131] Nimble.--The word is used by Spenser.

[132] Should we not rather read "Hath but one little wicket
_thorough which_"?

[133] Old eds. "Speake."

[134] Ed. 1. "honour."

[135] Old eds. "_chy condura sorta_."