Tib. Stephano,

I know as you are noble, you are honest,
And capable of secrets of more weight
Than now I shall deliver. If that Sforza,

The present duke (though his whole life hath been

But one continued pilgrimage through dangers,
Affrights, and horrors, which his fortune, guided
By his strong judgment, still hath overcome),
Appears now shaken, it deserves no wonder:
All that his youth hath labour'd for, the harvest
Sown by his industry ready to be reap'd too,
Being now at stake; and all his hopes confirm'd,
Or lost for ever.

Steph. I know no such hazard:

His guards are strong and sure, his coffers full;
The people well affected; and so wisely
His provident care hath wrought, that though
war rages

In most parts of our western world, there is
No enemy near us.

Tib. Dangers, that we see

To threaten ruin, are with ease prevented;
But those strike deadly, that come unexpected:
The lightning is far off, yet, soon as seen,
We may behold the terrible effects

That it produceth. But I'll help your knowledge,
And make his cause of fear familiar to you.
The wars so long continued between

The emperor Charles, and Francis the French king,

Have interess'd,' in either's cause, the most
Of the Italian princes; among which, Sforza,
As one of greatest power, was sought by both;
But with assurance, having one his friend,
The other lived his enemy.

Steph. 'Tis true :

And 'twas a doubtful choice.

Tib. But he, well knowing,

And hating too, it seems, the Spanish pride, Lent his assistance to the king of France: Which hath so far incensed the emperor, That all his hopes and honours are embark'd With his great patron's fortune.

Steph. Which stands fair,

For aught I yet can hear.

1 skills-signifies, matters.

2 rouse-carouse.

3 interess'd-implicated, involved.-GIFFORD.

Tib. But should it change,

The duke's undone. They have drawn to the field

Two royal armies, full of fiery youth;
Of equal spirit to dare, and power to do:
So near intrench'd, that 'tis beyond all hope
Of human counsel they can e'er be severed,
Until it be determined by the sword
Who hath the better cause: for the success,
Concludes the victor innocent, and the vanquish'd
Most miserably guilty. How uncertain
The fortune of the war is, children know;
And, it being in suspense on whose fair tent
Wing'd Victory will make her glorious stand,
You cannot blame the duke, though he appear
Perplex'd and troubled.

Steph. But why, then,

She's constant to his bed, and well deserves
His largest favours. But when beauty is
Stamp'd on great women, great in birth and
fortune,

And blown by flatterers greater than it is,
"Tis seldom unaccompanied with pride;
Nor is she that way free: presuming on
The duke's affection, and her own desert,
She bears herself with such a majesty,
Looking with scorn on all as things beneath her,
That Sforza's mother, that would lose no part
Of what was once her own, nor his fair sister,
A lady too acquainted with her worth,
Will brook it well; and howsoe'er their hate
Is smother'd for a time, 'tis more than fear'd
It will at length break out.

Steph. He in whose power it is,
Turn all to the best!

Tib. Come, let us to the court;

We there shall see all bravery and cost,
That art can boast of.

Steph. I'll bear you company.

ACT I.-SCENE II.

Another Room in the same.

[Exeunt.

Sfor. To doubt,

Is worse than to have lost; and to despair,
Is but to antedate those miseries

That must fall on us; all my hopes depending
Upon this battle's fortune. In my soul,
Methinks, there should be that imperious power
By supernatural, not usual means,

T'inform me what I am. The cause consider'd, Why should I fear? The French are bold and strong,

Their numbers full, and in their counsels wise;
But then, the haughty Spaniard is all fire,
Hot in his executions; fortunate

In his attempts; married to victory:-
Ay, there it is that shakes me.

Fran. Excellent lady,

This day was dedicated to your honour;
One gale of your sweet breath will easily

[Aside.

Disperse these clouds; and, but yourself, there's

Fran. They wait your highness' pleasure, And when you please to have it.

Sfor. Bid them enter:

Come, make me happy once again. I am rapt'Tis not to-day, to-morrow, or the next

But all my days and years shall be employ'd
To do thee honour.

Marc. And my life to serve you.

[A horn without. Sfor. Another post! Go hang him, hang him, I say;

I will not interrupt my present pleasures, Although his message should import my head: Hang him, I say.

Marc. Nay, good sir, I am pleased

To grant a little intermission to you;

Who knows but he brings news we wish to hear, To heighten our delights?

Sfor. As wise as fair!

Sorrow and ruin.

Marc. Bless us, heaven!

Isab. My son.

Marc. What sudden change is this?

Sfor. All leave the room;

I'll bear alone the burden of my grief,

And must admit no partner. I am yet

Your prince, where's your obedience?-Stay, Marcelia;

I cannot be so greedy of a sorrow,

In which you must not share.

[Exeunt TIBERIO, STEPHANO, FRANCISCO, ISABELLA, MARIANA, and Attendants. Marc. And cheerfully

will sustain my part. Why look you pale? Where is that wonted constancy and courage That dared the worst of fortune? where is Sforza, To whom all dangers that fright common men, Appear'd but panic terrors? why do you eye me With such fix'd looks? Love, counsel, duty, ser

vice,

May flow from me, not danger.

Sfor. Oh Marcelia!

It is for thee I fear; for thee, thy Sforza
Shakes like a coward: for myself, unmoved,
I could have heard my troops were cut in pieces,
My general slain, and he, on whom my hopes
Of rule, of state, of life, had their dependence,
The king of France, my greatest friend, made
prisoner

To so proud enemies.

Marc. Then you have just cause To show you are a man.

Sfor. All this were nothing, Though I add to it, that I am assured, For giving aid to this unfortunate king, The emperor, incens'd, lays his command

On his victorious army, flesh'd with spoil,
And bold of conquest, to march up against me,
And seize on my estates; suppose that done too,
The city ta'en, the kennels running blood,
The ransack'd temples falling on their saints;
My mother, in my sight, toss'd on their pikes,
And sister ravish'd, and myself bound fast
In chains, to grace their triumph, or what else
An enemy's insolence could load me with,
I would be Sforza still. But, when I think
That my Marcelia, to whom all these
Are but as atoms to the greatest hill,
Must suffer in my cause, and for me suffer!
All earthly torments, nay, even those the damn'd
Howl for in hell, are gentle strokes, compared
To what I feel, Marcelia.

Marc. Good sir, have patience:

I can as well partake your adverse fortune,
As I thus long have had an ample share
In your prosperity. 'Tis not in the power
Of fate to alter me; for while I am,
In spite of it, I'm yours.

Sfor. But should that will

To be so...

. forced, Marcelia: and I live

To see those eyes I prize above my own,
Dart favours, though compell'd, upon another;
Or those sweet lips yielding immortal nectar,
Be gently touch'd by any but myself;

Think, think, Marcelia, what a cursed thing
I were, beyond expression!

Marc. Do not feed

Look'd not upon your state, but on your virtues,
When he made suit to be writ in the list
Of those you favoured.-But my haste forbids
All compliment: thus, then, sir, to the purpose:
The cause that, unattended, brought me hither
Was not to tell you of your loss, or danger;
For fame hath many wings to bring ill tidings,
And I presume you've heard it; but to give you
Such friendly counsel, as, perhaps, may make
Your sad disaster less.

Sfor. You are all goodness;
And I give up myself to be disposed of,
As in your wisdom you think fit.

Pesc. Thus, then, sir:

To hope you can hold out against the emperor,
Were flattery in yourself, to your undoing:
Therefore, the safest course that you can take,
Is to give up yourself to his discretion,
Before you be compell'd; for, rest assured,
A voluntary yielding may find grace,
And will admit defence, at least, excuse:
But, should you linger doubtful, till his powers
Have seized your person and estates perforce,
You must expect extremes.

Sfor. I understand you;

And I will put your counsel into act,
And speedily. I only will take order
For some domestical affairs, that do

Concern me nearly, and with the next sun

Ride with you: in the meantime, my best friend, Pray take your rest.

Pesc. Indeed, I have travell'd hard;

And will embrace your counsel.

Sfor. With all care,

[Exit.

Attend my noble friend. Stay you, Francisco. You see how things stand with me?

Fran. To my grief:

And if the loss of my poor life could be

A sacrifice to restore them as they were,
I willingly would lay it down.
Sfor. I think so;

For I have ever found you true and thankful,
Which makes me love the building I have raised
In your advancement: and repent no grace
I have conferr'd upon you. And, believe me,
Though now I should repeat my favours to you,
The titles I have given you, and the means
Suitable to your honours; that I thought you
Worthy my sister and my family,

And in my dukedom made you next myself;
It is not to upbraid you; but to tell you

I find you are worthy of them, in your love
And service to me.

Fran. Sir, I am your creature;

And any shape that you would have me wear,
I gladly will put on.

Sfor. Thus, then, Francisco:

I now am to deliver to your trust

A weighty secret, of so strange a nature,

And 'twill, I know, appear so monstrous to you,
That you will tremble in the execution,

As much as I am tortured to command it:
For 'tis a deed so horrid, that, but to hear it,
Would strike into a ruffian flesh'd in murders,
Or an obdurate hangman, soft compassion;
And yet, Francisco, of all men the dearest,
And from me most deserving, such my state
And strange condition is, that thou alone
Must know the fatal service, and perform it.
Fran. These preparations, sir, to work a
stranger,

Or to one unacquainted with your bounties,
Might appear useful; but to me they are
Needless impertinences: for I dare do
Whate'er you dare command.

Sfor. But you must swear it;

And put into the oath all joys or torments