Of joys hereafter. On. Fran. Nor was it hate

That forc'd him to it, but excess of love.
"And if I ne'er return (so said great Sforza),
No living man deserving to enjoy
My best Marcelia, with the first news
That I am dead (for no man after me
Must e'er enjoy her), fail not to kill her.
But till certain proof

Assure thee I am lost (these were his words),
Observe and honour her, as if the soul
Of woman's goodness only dwelt in hers."
This trust I have abus'd, and basely wrong'd;
And if the excelling pity of your mind
Cannot forgive it, as I dare not hope it,
Rather than look on my offended lord,
I stand resolv'd to punish it.

[Draws his Sword.

Marc. Hold! 'tis forgiven, And by me freely pardon'd. In thy fair life Hereafter, study to deserve this bounty: But that my lord, my Sforza, should esteem My life fit only as a page, to wait on The various course of his uncertain fortunes; Or cherish in himself that sensual hope, In death to know me as a wife, afflicts me. I will slack the ardour that I had to see him Return in safety.

Fran. But if your entertainment Should give the least ground to his jealousy, To raise up an opinion I am false, You then destroy your mercy.

vouchsafe,

Therefore

Till I had seen thee.

Marc. Sir, I am most happy
To look upon you safe, and would express
My love and duty in a modest fashion,
Such as might suit with the behaviour'
Of one that knows herself a wife, and how
To temper her desires; nor can it wrong me
To love discreetly.

Sfor. How! why, can there be
A mean in your affections to Sforza?
My passions to you are in extremes,
And know no bounds.-Come, kiss me.
Marc. I obey you.

Sfor. By all the joys of love, she does salute me

As if I were her father! What witch,. With cursed spells, hath quench'd the amorous heat

That liv'd upon these lips? Tell me, Marcelia,
And truly tell me, is't a fault of mine
That hath begot this coldness, or neglect
Of others in my absence?

Marc. Neither, sir:

I stand indebted to your substitute,
Noble and good Francisco, for his care,
And fair observance of me.
Sfor. How!

Steph. How the duke stands!
Tib. As he were rooted there,
And had no motion.

Pes. My lord, from whence Grows this amazement?

[Apart.

[Apart

Sfor. It is more, dear my friend; For I am doubtful whether I've a being, But certain that my life's a burden to me. Take me back, good Pescara, show me to Caesar, In all his rage and fury; I disclaim His mercy: to live now, which is his gift, Is worse than death, and with all studied tor

His happiness in most accursed woman; In whom obsequiousness engenders pride,

flow

Clear

I'll labour to forget there are such creatures:
True friends, be now my mistresses.
your brows,
And, though my heart-strings

crack fort, I

will be To all a free example of delight. We will have sports of all kinds, and propound Rewards to such as can produce us new; Unsatisfied, though we surfeit in their store: And never think of curs'd Marcelia more. [Exeunt.

Grac. Sir, but allow me

there:

knowledge, That injuries from one in Are noble favours.

grace, like you,

doctor.

gone out

Fran. But to the purpose;

And then, that service done, make thine own fortunes.

My wife, thou say'st, is jealous I am too
Familiar with the dutchess.

Grac. And incens'd

For her commitment in her brother's absence;
And by her mother's anger is spurr'd on -
To make discovery of it.

Fran. I thank thy care, and will deserve this secret,

In making thee acquainted with a greater,
And of more moment. I delight in change
And sweet variety; that's my heaven on earth,
For which I love life only. I confess,

My wife pleas'd me a day; the dutches, two
(And yet I must not say I have enjoy'd her);
But now I care for neither: therefore, Grac-
cho,

So far I am from stopping Mariana
In making her complaint, that I desire thee
To urge her to it.

Grac. That may prove your ruin:
The duke already being, as 'tis reported,
Doubtful she hath play'd false.

Fran. There thou art cozen'd;
His dotage, like an ague, keeps his course,
And now 'tis strongly on him. But I lose
time;

And therefore know, whether thou wilt or no,
Thou art to be my instrument; and, in spite
Of the old saw, that says, "It is not safe
On any terms to trust a man that's wrong'd,"
I dare thee to be false.

Grac. This is a language,
My lord, I understand not.
Fran. You thought, sirrah,

To put a trick on me, for the relation

Of what I knew before; and, having won
Some weighty secret from me, in revenge
To play the traitor. Know, thou wretched
thing,
By my command thou wert whipt; and every
day

I'll have thee freshly tortur'd, if thou miss
In the least charge that I impose upon thee.
Though what I speak, for the most part, is

true;

Nay, grant thou hadst a thousand witnesses
To be depos'd they heard it, 'tis in me,
With one word, such is Sforza's confidence
Of my fidelity not to be shaken,

To make all void, and ruin my accusers.

SCENE II.-Another Apartment in the Castle. Enter MARCELIA, TIBERIO, STEPHANO, and Gentlewoman.

Marc. Command me from his sight, and with such scorn

As he would rate his slave!
Tib. 'Twas in his fury.

Steph. And he repents it, madam.
Marc. Was I born

To observe his humours? or, because he dotes,
Must I run mad?

Tib. He hath paid the forfeit

Of his offence, I'm sure, with such a sorrow,
As if it had been greater, would deserve
A full remission.

Marc. Why, perhaps, he hath it;
And I stand more afflicted for his absence,
Than he can be for mine: so, pray you, tell

him.

Enter FRANCISCO.

Steph. Here he comes.
Is this her privacy!
This may go to the duke.

[Exeunt Tib. and Steph.

Marc. Your face is full
Of fears and doubts: the reason!
Fran. O, best madam,

They are not counterfeit. The duke, the duke,
I more than fear, hath found that I am guilty.
Marc. By my unspotted honour, not from me;
Nor have I with him chang'd one syllable,
Since his return, but what you heard.
Fran. Yet malice

Is eagle-ey'd, and would see that which is not;
And jealousy's too apt to build upon
Unsure foundations.

tainted?

fool

To hope, by being acquainted with my courses, To curb and awe me; or that I should live Thy slave, as thou didst saucily divine: For prying in my counsels, still live mine. [Exit. Grac. I am caught on both sides. This 'tis for a puisne

Your noble, yet chaste favours, shewn unto

me;

Or her imprisonment, for her contempt
To you, by my command, my frantic wife
Hath put it in his head.

Marc. Have I then liv'd

So long, now to be doubted? Are my favours The themes of her discourse? or what I do,

That never trod in a suspected path,
Subject to base construction? Be undaunted;
For now, as of a creature that is mine,
I rise up your protectress: all the grace
I hitherto have done you, was bestow'd
With a shut hand; it shall be now more free,
Open, and liberal. But let it not,
Though counterfeited to the life, teach you
To nourish saucy hopes.

Fran. May I be accurs'd,

When I prove such a monster!
Marc. I will stand then

Between you and all danger. He shall know,
Suspicion overturns what confidence builds;
And he that dares but doubt when there's no
ground,

Is neither to himself nor others sound. [Exit. Fran. So, let it work! Her goodness, that denied

My service, branded with the name of lust,
Shall now destroy itself; and she shall find,
When he's a suitor, that brings cunning arm'd
With power to be his advocates, the denial
Is a disease as killing as the plague,
And chastity a clue that leads to death.
Hold but thy nature, duke, and be but rash
And violent enough, and then at leisure
Repent; I care not.

And let my plots produce this long'd-for birth,
In my revenge I have my heaven on earth.

[Exit.

Pes. You promis'd to be merry.

Julio. There are pleasures,

And of all kinds, to entertain the time.

Gio. Your excellence vouchsafing to make choice

Of that which best affects you.

Sfor. Hold your prating.

Learn manners too; you are rude.

Pes. I must borrow

The privilege of a friend, and will; or else
I am, like these, a servant; or, what's worse,
A parasite to the sorrow Sforza worships
In spite of reason.

Sfor. Pray you, use your freedom;
And so far, if you please, allow me mine,
To hear you only; not to be compell'd
To take your moral potions. I am a man,
And, though philosophy, your mistress, rage
for't,

Now I have cause to grieve, I must be sad; And I dare show it.

Pes. Would it were bestow'd

Upon a worthier subject!

Sfor. Take heed, friend.

You rub a sore, whose pain will make

mad;

And I shall then forget myself and you. Lance it no further.

Pes. Have you stood the shock

Deject your valour? Shall, I say, these virtues,
So many and so various trials of
Your constant mind, be buried in the frown
(To please you, I will say so) of a fair woman?
-Yet I have seen her equals.

Sfor. Good Pescara,

This language in another were profane;
In you it is unmannerly. Her equal!
I tell you as a friend, and tell you plainly
(To all men else my sword should make reply),
Her goodness does disdain comparison,
And, but herself, admits no parallel.

Pes. Well, sir, I'll not cross you,
Nor labour to diminish your esteem,
Hereafter, of her.

Enter TIBERIO and STEPHANO. Sfor. O! you are well return'd; Say, am I blest? hath she vouchsaf'd to hear you?

Is there hope left that she may be appeas'd? Tib. She, sir, yet is froward,

And desires respite, and some privacy. Steph. She was harsh at first; but, ere we parted, seem'd not

Implacable.

Sfor. There's comfort yet: I'll ply her Each hour with new ambassadors of more honours,

Titles, and eminence: my second self,
Francisco, shall solicit her.

Steph. That a wise man,

And what is more, a prince that may command,

Should sue thus poorly, and treat with his wife, As she were a victorious enemy.

Sfor. What is that you mutter?

I'll have thy thoughts.

Steph. You shall. You are too fond,

And feed a pride that's swoln too big already, And surfeits with observance.

Sfor. O my patience!

My vassal speak thus?

Steph. Let my head answer it,

If I offend. She, that you think a saint,
I fear, may play the devil.

Pes. Well said, old fellow.
[Aside
Steph. And he that hath so long engross'd
your favours,

Though to be nam'd with rev'rence, lord

Francisco,

Who, as you purpose, shall solicit for you, I think's too near her.

[Sfor. lays his Hand on his Sword. Pes. Hold, sir! this is madness. Steph. It may be they confer of joining lordships;

I'm sure he's private with her.

Sfor. Let me go,

Of thousand enemies, and outfac'd the anger
Of a great emperor, that vow'd your ruin,
Though by a desperate, a glorious way,
That had no precedent?

Have you given proof, to this hour of your life,

Prosperity, that searches the best temper,
Could never puff you up, nor adverse fate

Tib. This is a confidence Beyond example.

Enter ISABELLA, and MARIANA.

Sfor. If you come

My peace with my Marcelia.

Isa. I had rather

Wait on you to your funeral.

Sfor. You are my mother;

Or, by her life, you were dead else.
Mari. Would you were,

To your dishonour! Here your mother was
Committed by your servant (for I scorn
To call him husband), and myself, your sister,
If that you dare remember such a name,
Mew'd up, to make the way open and free
For the adultress; I am unwilling
To say, a part of Sforza.

Sfor. She hath blasphem'd, and by our law must die.

Isa. Blasphem'd! for giving a false woman

her true name.

Sfor. O hell, what do I suffer?

Mari. Or is it treason

For me, that an a subject, to endeavour
To save the honour of the duke, and that
He should not be a wittol on record?
Sfor. Some proof, vile creature!
Or thou hast spoke thy last.
Mari. The public fame,

Their hourly private meetings; and, e'en now,
When, under a pretence of grief or anger,
You are denied the joys due to a husband,
And made a stranger to her, at all times
The door stands open to him.

Sfor. O the malice

And envy of base women! Wretches! you have rais'd

A monumental trophy to her. I'm so far
From giving credit to you, this would teach me
More to admire and serve her. You are not
worthy

To fall as sacrifices to appease her;
And therefore live till your own envy burst
you.

Isa. All is in vain; he is not to be mov'd. Mari. She has bewitch'd him.

Pes. 'Tis so past belief,

To me it shows a fable.

Fran. Draw your sword then,

And, as you wish your own peace, quickly kill me;

Consider not, but do it.

Sfor. Art thou mad?

Fran. Would from my youth a loathsome leprosy

Had run upon this face, or that my breath
Had been infectious, and so made me shunn'd
Of all societies! Curs'd be he that taught me
Discourse or manners, or lent any grace
That makes the owner pleasing in the
Of wanton woman!

Sfor. I am on the rack!
Dissolve this doubtful riddle.
Fran. That I alone,

eye

Of all mankind, that stand most bound to love you,

And study your content, should be appointed,
Not by my will, but forc'd by cruel fate,
To be your greatest enemy! Not to hold you
In this amazement longer, in a word,
Your dutchess loves me.

Sfor. Loves thee!
Fran. Is mad for me-
Pursues me hourly.
Sfor. Oh!

Fran. And from hence grew
Her late neglect of you.

Sfor. O women! women!

Fran. 1 labour'd to divert her by persuasion, Then urg'd your much love to her, and the danger; Denied her and with scorn. Sfor. 'Twas like thyself.

Fran. But when I saw her smile, then heard her say,

Your love and extreme dotage, as a cloak,
Should cover our embraces, and your power
Fright others from suspicion; and all favours
That should preserve her in her innocence,
By lust inverted to be us'd as bawds;

I could not but in duty (though I know
That the relation kills in you all hope
Of peace hereafter, and in me 'twill show

within.

Freely discover it.

Sfor. Eternal plagues

Pursue and overtake ber! But, like a village

nurse,

Stand I now cursing and considering, when The tamest fool would do. Within there!

Sero. [within] I shall, my lord.

Stephano,

Fran. Great sir,

I would impart,

I am in labour to deliver to you.

Sfor. All leave the room.

Excuse me, good Pescara,

Ere long I will wait on you.

Pes. You speak, sir,

The language I should use.

Sfor. Be within call,

Perhaps we may have use of you. Tib. We shall, sir.