James Shirley

The Young Admiral

Comedia famosa de Don Lope de Cardona

Shirley, James. <<The Young Admiral.>> Edited by Ana Albalat Mascarell for the EMOTHE collection. 2015.

Joan Oleza Simó (Investigador principal) FaltaTraductor (Traductor) Albalat Mascarell, Ana (Editor)

English · Verso · 1783 versos

https://playcode.fly.dev/plays/EMOTHE0237_TheYoungAdmiral

Tiempo histórico
Edad Media

Perhaps after 1302 when the Kingdom of Sicily was divided into Sicily, under the House of Barcelona, and the commonly known Kingdom of Naples, ruled by the Angevin dynasty.

Bibliografía

Ediciones modernas

Bibliografía crítica

Introducción

Qué mejor comienzo que presentar este trabajo anunciando que, tras varios meses de esforzado estudio, cotejo de variantes e investigación bibliotextual, (n. 1) lo que se ofrece en estas páginas corresponde a una edición crítica, con grafía y puntuación modernizadas, del texto dramático de The Young Admiral, obra del poeta inglés James Shirley (Londres, 1595 - 1666), a partir de la primera y única edición impresa de la misma, una publicación in Quarto de 1637. Sin embargo, a la hora de exponer los planteamientos iniciales de que parte la presente labor ecdótica no podemos sino preguntarnos, en primer lugar, una cuestión fundamental que pasa a menudo inadvertida para el lector no familiarizado con este ámbito. Ya lo apunta G. Thomas Tanselle, con eminente intuición metódica y sentido pragmático, en «The Varieties of Scholarly Editing»: si entendemos la práctica editorial como el arte de reproducir o alterar textos, bien deberíamos comenzar por identificar y establecer cuál nuestra motivación fundamental para afrontar dicha actividad filológica. ¿Abordamos el texto partiendo, en términos generales, de una «nonhistorical approach» (Tanselle 1995: 10) o perspectiva centrada no en el pasado, ni en las intenciones del autor, sino únicamente en la respuesta del lector como criterio referencial, tal y como propugnaban algunos movimientos críticos cercanos a las teorías funcionalistas y deconstructivas que irrumpieron con fuerza a partir de la segunda mitad del siglo XX? (n. 2) No es éste el enfoque adoptado en esta labor de edición, al menos no completamente. Coincidimos con John Jowett a la hora de afirmar que las enmiendas a las cuestiones que corresponden a la presentación meramente formal del texto o accidentals – siguiendo la terminología acuñada por W. W. Greg en su fundamental ensayo «The Rationale of Copy-Text», que abarca bajo el paraguas de dicha denominación tales aspectos cuales grafía, puntuación, abreviaturas en réplicas, división lineal de los parlamentos, etc. – pueden realizarse con mayor libertad con el objeto de amoldarse a lo que él mismo señala como «the interests of the reader» (Jowett 2007: 113). Distinto método y estrategias hemos empleado, sin embargo, en relación a aquellas lecciones significativas o substantives que, según indica su propio nombre, remiten al sentido original del texto pensado por su autor: «the significant readings of the text, those namely that affect the author's meaning or the essence of his expression» (Greg 1950: 21). Aquí encontramos la clave para entender mejor a Jowett cuando sostiene que las variantes significativas de cualquier texto garantizan cierta integridad «in terms of their origin» (ib.: 114), motivo por el cual concluye aduciendo que, frente al intrincado entramado de orientaciones teóricas, con recurrentes lagunas prácticas, que ha caracterizado el pasado siglo por lo que a la crítica bibliotextual se refiere (bajo la órbita, siempre presente, de las contribuciones de A.W. Pollard, el mismo Greg o R.B. McKerrow – todos ellos nombres fundamentales de lo que se ha dado en llamar la escuela New Bibliography – al desarrollo de dicho ámbito de estudio), (n. 3) una solución podría consistir en la productiva síntesis de las citadas corrientes de pensamiento pragmático o ahistoricista, frecuentemente enfocadas en las necesidades del lector de la obra editada, junto con la aún operativa distinción de Greg entre lecciones sustantivas y accidentales forjada en torno a la cuestión, sin duda histórica, de la intención del autor. (n. 4) La presente edición parte de estos fundamentos teóricos y metodológicos a la hora de proporcionar un texto cuyo contenido quede, por una parte, plenamente actualizado en relación a las competencias del destinatario al tiempo que, por otra, se oriente necesariamente hacia un interés histórico en reconstruir el original de acuerdo con los propósitos de su autor. Así, pues, hemos preparado un texto modernizado, según adelantábamos anteriormente, en lo que concierne a la grafía y demás aspectos accidentales antes expresados mas no, como podría esperarse, en lo referente a la gramática ni al vocabulario, ni tampoco en cuanto al tratamiento de algunas formas arcaicas, apóstrofes y contracciones que afectan a la métrica y pronunciación del verso. Del mismo modo, hemos efectuado enmiendas a lecciones significativas solamente en aquellos casos en los que se han detectado errores evidentes de carácter tipográfico, gramatical, léxico, o de acuerdo con el contexto en que podían hallarse las partes enmendadas. Ello por lo que respecta al texto de los parlamentos puesto que, remiténdonos nuevamente a Jowett, «stage directions might profitably be positioned alongside spelling and punctuation as aspects of the text that an editor might approach from an user-oriented perspective» (ib.: 114), razón por la que estos segmentos muestran un mayor grado de intervención editorial que los fragmentos dialogados. Todas estas desviaciones respecto del texto base del in Quarto de 1637 se recogen en un Apéndice Textual o aparato crítico que acompaña al texto de nuestra edición. Queremos advertir, sin embargo, que dicho aparato pretende dar cuenta no solamente de los momentos en los que el presente texto se aleja del impreso en el segundo tercio del s. XVII sino también, y muy especialmente, de aquellos casos en los que se desvía de las dos únicas ediciones modernas posteriores: citadas a continuación, de hecho, en esta introducción y cuyas enmiendas aparecen acreditadas a sus respectivos autores en todo momento. Se propone, por tanto, servir de edición variorum al incorporar una relación exhaustiva de todas las variantes y enmiendas conocidas en lo que concierne al texto que presentamos, de manera que el lector pueda reconstruir tanto el original como las ediciones modernas consultadas sustituyendo las lecciones que aquí ofrecemos. Lo novedoso del trabajo que aportamos en estas páginas radica, precisamente, en el hecho de constituir la primera y única edición con grafía modernizada de la pieza de Shirley presentada, al margen de la encomiable tarea de modernización de The Young Admiral emprendida por los editores William Gifford y Alexander Dyce en el primer tercio del siglo XIX (n. 5) pero que, en razón justamente de sus coordenadas histórico-temporales, encuentra su práctica ecdótica irresolublemente sujeta todavía a la rigidez ortográfica vigente en su época: «The more formal punctuation employed by nineteenth-century editors» (Best 2014: 4.4.3). Otra cuestión innovadora concierne, asimismo, a la fiabilidad, rigor y exhaustividad del aparato crítico ya descrito: bien distinto, en su afán de condensación de todas las variantes textuales aparecidas hasta la fecha de esta edición, en efecto, del género de anotación desarrollado por la edición old-spelling de The Young Admiral realizada por Kenneth E. Ericksen a finales de los setenta del pasado siglo. (n. 6) Por lo que a este apartado se refiere, hemos optado por considerar la propuesta, a nuestro juicio excelente, ya esbozada por el New Bibliographer McKerrow en su Prolegomena cuando, de hecho, aboga firmemente por consultar otras ediciones «in a few particularly difficult or notable passages in which it seems interesting to have a record of the readings of as many as posible of the important editions» (McKerrow 1939-69). (n. 7) Por último, el tercer punto de inflexión interesante, a nuestro entender, con respecto a trabajos editoriales y de crítica anteriores al presente texto estriba en, por así decirlo, su vertiente electrónica. Efectivamente, enmarcada en el proyecto PATRIMONIO TEATRAL CLÁSICO ESPAÑOL. TEXTOS E INSTRUMENTOS DE INVESTIGACIÓN, con el patrocinio del programa CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 del Plan Nacional I+D+i, dirigido por el Dr. Joan Oleza Simó, y cuya entidad de gestión es la Universidad de Valencia, la base de datos ‘EMOTHE’ (acrónimo de Early Modern European Theatre) desarrolla la edición hipertextual e hipermedia de obras seleccionadas de las tradiciones dramáticas española, inglesa, italiana y francesa de esta época, y las publica en la red en acceso abierto; y es, precisamente, a esta plataforma virtual adonde se incorporará el texto que aquí presentamos una vez editado digitalmente, vinculado a posibles versiones y traducciones en otras lenguas europeas, y completado tanto por documentación audiovisual de interés como por el aparato crítico y las secciones de introducción textual contenidas en estas páginas. Retomando la fundamental cuestión en torno a la orientación eminentemente histórica de que partíamos al comienzo de este apartado, no podemos concluir sin advertir previamente al destinatario de esta edición de que, amén de la rigurosa tarea de modernización, anotación y examen crítico del texto dramático que se le presenta, encontrará alineado al mismo una trascripción diplomática completa del original. Para la elaboración de esta transcripción, hemos tomado la que publica en formato electrónico la Chadwyck-Healey Verse Drama Collection (n. 8) y la hemos cotejado – letra por letra y espacio por espacio – con el facsímil disponible en la base de datos ‘EEBO’ (Early English Books Online) (n. 9) que reproduce el ejemplar de la Universidad de Michigan de la primera edición impresa de la obra, de manera que la versión literal que aquí ofrecemos contenga con absoluta fiabilidad y rigor crítico todos los errores y variantes comprendidos en el texto base del que parte este trabajo. TRANSMISIÓN DEL TEXTO: THE YOUNG ADMIRAL Registrada el 13 de abril de 1637 por los editores Andrew Crooke y William Cooke entre las obras que no habían sido previamente asignadas a otros libreros o impresores, The Young Admiral es una pieza que depara, en un primer momento, escasas satisfacciones a los críticos textuales. No existen, como en el caso de algunos clásicos shakesperianos (Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Troius and Cressida), dos o más ediciones diversas entre sí que puedan confrontarse para decidir cuál es la más fiel a las intenciones del autor, o cuál recoge modificaciones incorporadas al texto por él mismo o debido a circunstancias externas, a intervenciones de un actor, censor, o a correcciones de un copista o tipógrafo. La primera y única edición impresa de The Young Admiral se publicó, según avanzábamos antes, por vez primera en 1637, en uno de los llamados volúmenes in Quarto. (n. 10) De esta edición se han conservado varios ejemplares, hoy alojados en distintas bibliotecas. Ericksen cotejó doce de estos ejemplares y, en un apéndice final a su edición con grafía original de 1979, (n. 11) ofrece un listado con las variantes de impresión, resultantes de la corrección de pruebas de los pliegos y de no destruir los pliegos impresos no corregidos. (n. 12) Nuestro texto base es, como hemos mencionado antes, el ejemplar de la Universidad de Michigan (en realidad, su facsímil), que se corresponde con las variantes corregidas en todos sus pliegos excepto en el G (forma interna), en donde coincide con las formas no corregidas de los impresos conservados en la UCLA Clark Library, la Yale University Library y la University of Illinois Library citados por Ericksen: 4.2.31 Eboine] Ebonie 4.2.98 Captaine.] Captaine? Conviene recordar al lector que la primera variante es, lógicamente, la lección no corregida que encontramos tanto en el texto base que sirve a esta edición como en los tres ejemplares mencionados, mientras que la variante que colocamos detrás del corchete es la forma corregida que podemos hallar en los impresos de la Henry E. Huntington Library y en los que se guardan por separado en la Folger Shakespeare Library, la Newberry Library (Chicago), la University of Chicago Library, la Boston Public Library, la Harvard University Library, la Pierpont Morgan Library (Nueva York) y la University of Texas Library, todos ellos mentados por Ericksen. Por otra parte, entre las lecciones corregidas que rescatamos de la relación de notas aportada por Ericksen, destacamos las que atañen a un mínimo de tres ejemplares no corregidos: Pliego B (forma interna) 1.1. 31 was't] wa't 54 Horatio's] Horato's 60 Mannage] Manuage 61 What?] What 62 overcome] ouercome En estas notas, a diferencia de las anteriores, la variante que incluimos en primer lugar es la corregida que contienen todos los ejemplares (incluyendo nuestro texto base). La segunda es la forma incorrecta que puede verse en los textos de la University of Chicago Library, la Harvard University Library, la Pierpont Morgan Library (Nueva York) y la University of Texas Library. Pliego B (forma externa) 1.1. 89 doe] dome 102 now?] now Las formas no corregidas corresponden a los volúmenes de la University of Chicago Library, la Pierpont Morgan Library (Nueva York) y la University of Texas Library. Pliego H (forma externa) 4.2. 137 Yare] Y'are 137 prisoner Iulio] prisoner-Iulio 139 heart] haste 4.3. 15 you] omitted. 25 whole] your 100 Didino] Iulio Las lecciones incorrectas remiten a los ejemplares de la UCLA Clark Library, la Henry E. Huntington Library (uno de los dos que allí se conservan), la Folger Shakespeare Library, la Boston Public Library (exceptuando los de la la línea 137) y la Harvard University Library. A diferencia de ediciones in Quarto de obras shakespearianas o de otros dramaturgos más relevantes, esta edición de The Young Admiral no cuenta —al menos no lo hemos encontrado— con un análisis bibliográfico del o los cajistas que intervinieron en la impresión del texto. Esta edición in Quarto probablemente respondió a la voluntad de sus impresores de explotar el éxito en la escena de un espectáculo que tan solo cuatro años antes había recibido una excelente acogida por parte del público. Ello lo atestiguan las entusiastas palabras al respecto de Sir Henry Herbert, a la sazón Master of the Revels, el 19 de noviembre de 1633: «performed with applause before the King and Queen» (Adams [ed.] 1917: 53). Interesante resulta, además, el hecho de que Herbert declarase su admiración hacia el poeta desde el primer momento en que le concedió la licencia para la representación de esta pieza, el 3 de julio de ese mismo año, elogiándola como modelo a seguir para otros dramaturgos más en virtud de su convencionalismo moral que de sus peculiaridades artísticas: «The comedy called The Yonge Admirall, being free from oaths, prophaness, or obscennes (…) may serve for a patterne to other poetts (…). [They] will imitate the original for their own credit, and make such copies in this harmless way» (Adams 1917: 19). Sea como fuere, de lo que no cabe duda es del hecho que The Young Admiral se representó con notable éxito varias veces ante un público predominantemente elitista y cercano a la corte real, muchas de ellas en el teatro privado de Drury Lane (como se indica en la portada del in Quarto de 1637), durante la década que precedió al cese de toda actividad dramática en Inglaterra, tras el estallido de la guerra civil en 1642. Este dato, junto con las características del original que expondremos a continuación, contribuye a dar fuerza a la hipótesis de que el manuscrito, hoy perdido, sobre el cual se imprimió el texto de Shirley podría ser una transcripción, realizada a propósito para esta edición, a partir del libreto o copia para la escena (prompt book) de la pieza. ¿Qué es lo que conduce a considerar prevalente esta hipótesis frente a otras, al margen del hecho evidente de que la impresión se produjo tras unos años de exitosa representación y sin olvidar, tampoco, que las compañías cedían muy pocas veces su propio y original prompt book a los impresores? (n. 13) Si atendemos a la clásica distinción textual establecida por Greg entre foul papers (apuntes de la mano del propio autor) y las copias, en buen estado, que se destinaban al teatro (prompt books), nos es difícil ver, para empezar, a un autógrafo de las características del primer modelo propuesto por Greg como fuente manuscrita a partir de la cual se imprimió The Young Admiral. En efecto, ciñéndonos a la descripción provista por Gary Taylor en su «General Introduction», «texts printed from such manuscripts [foul papers] usually contain an exceptional number of obvious errors apparently caused by the misreading of difficult handwriting» (Taylor 1987: 9). Otros rasgos propios de este tipo de documento serían los falsos comienzos y pasajes duplicados, las inserciones marginales o entre líneas, las frecuentes inconsistencias en la designación de personajes y las acotaciones escénicas descriptivas, redundantes y usualmente caracterizadas por la reiterada omisión de entradas necesarias para la acción de la obra. Todos estos errores e inconsistencias que se le suponen a un impreso derivado de semejante hológrafo son ajenos, de hecho, al in Quarto de The Young Admiral. Como podemos ver en la transcripción diplomática que ofrecemos junto a nuestra edición, las acotaciones escénicas son breves, precisas y (contando escasas excepciones) no requieren para la acción de la obra más entradas de las que ya constan (mención aparte merecen los – [Aside] – y las indicaciones – [To] – para dirigirse a un personaje, que no se contemplan en las ediciones dramáticas de la época). Por otra parte, tanto la escritura como la puntuación del texto son excepcionalmente correctas: una eminente legibilidad que, sumándola a la uniformidad en la designación de personajes y a la calidad de las acotaciones, permiten alcanzar la conclusión de que nos hallamos ante un post-theatrical text a la manera expresada por Jowett (ib.: 103), (n. 14) quien así actualiza la polarizada visión de Greg en torno a la naturaleza de los manuscritos de los que parten los documentos que hoy conservamos. Llegados a este punto, no nos abstenemos de recordar al lector de estas páginas que, como es lógico, dichas categorías binarias no son sino modelos teóricos que obedecen a la necesidad pragmática de orientar al editor moderno de textos dramáticos. No existe, en efecto, ningún manuscrito conservado que se ajuste completamente al estándar de Greg por lo que a los foul papers se refiere, pese al hecho evidente de que toda copia a limpio tuvo su antecedente en el borrador. Cada texto exhibe, naturalmente, unas características únicas e individuales que lo distinguen del resto y que pueden colocarlo en una cierta posición de ambigüedad respecto del simplismo de las clasificaciones anteriores. La manifiesta complejidad del proceso de transmisión desde el manuscrito perdido hasta el documento impreso, derivado de él, con el que el estudioso debe trabajar condujo, de hecho, a Fredson Bowers a ampliar el número de categorías hasta trece. (n. 15) Por su parte, Paul Werstine halló en los prompt books que nos han llegado hasta hoy algunas de las características que Greg atribuye a los borradores autorales: este hecho, junto con la falta de pruebas materiales en lo que respecta a los foul papers, entre otras lagunas prácticas, fue decisorio para el desarrollo de las teorías revisionistas que trataron de desmontar la solidez de los postulados teóricos de los New Bibliographers sostenidos hasta la fecha. (n. 16) En el presente trabajo, sin embargo, ha prevalecido la intuición de que dichas categorizaciones pueden, pese a sus fallos e inconsistencias, contribuir a una mejor aproximación del editor a su material de estudio, y es ésta la base sobre la que hemos desarrollado nuestro método de edición y examen crítico de The Young Admiral. ESTA EDICIÓN La presente edición toma como guía de estilo para la modernización de la grafía y puntuación de The Young Admiral la que ofrece el equipo ‘ISE’ (acrónimo de Internet Shakespeare Editions), dentro de su apartado correspondiente en el sitio web de la Universidad de Victoria (Canadá), bajo la dirección de Michael Best. Originariamente pensadas para la edición de clásicos shakesperianos, estas pautas pueden servir de orientación para cualquier trabajo editorial relacionado con textos dramáticos ingleses del período. Son las adoptadas, de hecho, por las incipientes colecciones de obras no shakespearianas Digital Renaissance Editions, (n. 17) Queen's Men Editions (n. 18) y las incluidas en EMOTHE, siendo esta última, como ya hemos comentado, a la que se destinará nuestro texto una vez adaptado al soporte digital. El texto base del in Quarto consta de división en actos, mas no en escenas. Se ha incorporado la división habitual de la obra en actos y escenas practicada por las ediciones modernas consultadas (Gifford-Dyce, Ericksen), adoptando la convención inglesa que equipara los cambios de escena al momento de salida de todos los personajes presentes en el escenario. Dichos cambios, al igual que el resto de inserciones editoriales por lo que al texto de las acotaciones escénicas se refiere, aparecen señalados entre corchetes, como en 1[.1] o en [1.2] Enter Vittori, Mauritio, Captain and Soldiers[,with ensigns displayed]. A diferencia de la edición anterior con grafía modernizada de Gifford-Dyce, esta edición no incorpora topónimos en las acotaciones al comienzo de cada escena. Sin embargo, tanto las notas textuales como las de comentario recogen estas adiciones sustantivas para el lector interesado en reconstruir el contenido de las mismas: 4.1 Location Rosinda's tent in the Sicilian camp (Gifford-Dyce) 0 Enter] Q, Ericksen; The Sicilian camp. Rosinda's Tent./ Enter | Gifford-Dyce En lo posible, hemos situado las acotaciones en una línea centrada y separada del diálogo de los personajes (muchas de las entradas en el Q original se sitúan en el margen derecho de los parlamentos, rasgo común a los post-theatrical texts ya mencionados). (n. 19) Aparecen seguidas de punto en la medida en que conforman una oración con predicado completo, como en 1.2.68 [Lifts her veil.], en contraste con los apartes – [Aside] – y las indicaciones – [To Cassandra] – para dirigirse a un personaje. Como explicábamos en el apartado anterior, estos dos tipos de acotación no se contemplan en las ediciones dramáticas del momento, por lo que su presencia en este texto es decisión de la presente edición teniendo en cuenta, eso sí, algunas aportaciones anteriores de las ediciones modernas de Gifford-Dyce y Ericksen. Tanto en las acotaciones escénicas como en las réplicas se han regularizado los nombres de los personajes. Así, Julio y Mauritio son regularizaciones de Iulio y Mauricion/Mauricio, formas que encontramos en todo el Q: la primera, Iulio, aparece en casi toda la obra; las otras formas se localizan a partir de la segunda escena del primer acto (SD 1.2 Enter Vittori, Mauricion, Captaine and Souldiers; 1.2.129 Mauricio didst heare this?), y también en el tercer acto (3.2.1 I dare not come neere him, Captaine Mauricio). Por otra parte, en lo que respecta a la asignación de los nombres, se ha optado por aquellas designaciones que permiten identificar a sus portadores de la manera más fácil y descriptiva posible. De hecho, el príncipe de Nápoles aparece referido en la edición modernizada de Gifford-Dyce como Cesario, pero nosotros hemos conservado la forma Prince del Q ya que, amén de breve e inequívoca (no hay otro príncipe en la obra), pensamos que encaja más con el carácter autoritario y egocéntrico que le confiere su posición en la corte. El caso de Didimo, paje de Rosinda, es distinto. Aquí, al contrario que en el caso anterior y coincidiendo con la edición de Gifford-Dyce, hemos sustituido el Page del Q por el nombre propio puesto que Pazzorello, pareja inseparable de Didimo en los pasajes cómicos de la obra, así es como se dirige a su compañero en cada una de las ocasiones en que comparten protagonismo (2.2.71-2 Sweet Didimo,/ hold my head; 3.1.2 sweet Didimo, counsel me; 3.14 This the preferment you wish me to, Master Didimo). Creemos, pues, que es la mejor opción para designar a un personaje cuyo nombre se repite varias veces en los parlamentos. Asimismo, hemos optado por expandir las réplicas asignadas a los reyes de Nápoles y Sicilia en sus parlamentos, quienes al carecer de nombre propio requieren de complemento of Naples/of Sicily para evitar confusiones, especialmente en el momento de coincidencia de ambos personajes encima del escenario. En conjunto, el texto de The Young Admiral presenta relativamente escasos problemas al editor. Destacamos como cuestiones más conflictivas los casos de designación de personajes arriba explicitados, así como algunos casos puntuales de fallos en la asignación de réplicas tales como 1.1.106 I have business of some consequence…, erróneamente asignado a Julio cuando, en realidad, responde a una pregunta del príncipe hecha al recién llegado Fabio; 4.1.153 Home to a witches' upsitting…, referido a Flavia casi de inmediato tras la marcha de ésta – indicada en una acotación anterior – disfrazada de hechicera para engañar al inocente Pazzorello; o 3.2.37, en donde nos encontramos con una breve intervención sin réplica (A herald, sir), que optamos convenientemente por asignar a Fabio añadiendo sendas indicaciones de entrada y salida al texto base. En cuanto a la grafía, podemos resaltar el mantenimiento de formas arcaicas como 1.2.111 sware (participio pasado de swear), 4.5.9 ingrateful (por ungrateful), o 4.3.31 forciveness que, tal como se explica en las notas de comentario, deriva del adjetivo forcive listado en el OED como equivalente al actual forcible (pero que Gifford-Dyce, no obstante, enmienda a frowardness). Este y otros casos de ‘cruces’ textuales, aun siendo ciertamente poco frecuentes en la obra de Shirley, aparecen documentados en el apéndice de notas de comentario situado al final del texto, donde el lector puede encontrar información de carácter léxico, mitológico, sociocultural, teatral, etc. de interés para una mejor lectura y comprensión de la pieza que presentamos. Por lo que respecta al apéndice de notas textuales, éste no recoge la corrección de errores tipográficos básicos como en 1.1.9 *heene (beene, modernizado been), 1.1.130 *verture (vertue = virtue) o 5.1.37 *yon (= you). Tampoco de aquellos cambios de puntuación que no afectan al sentido del texto. Lo que ofrece dicho apéndice es una relación de enmiendas sustantivas al texto del diálogo y de las acotaciones, así como de enmiendas de puntuación que comportan cambios en el significado. La supresión de comas que indican pausas en el habla, así como de signos de interrogación para expresiones exclamativas (dos rasgos comunes de la escritura de la época) no se indica; sí se señalan, aparte de lo que ya hemos dicho, aquellos momentos en los que la distribución del texto en prosa o en verso de la presente edición no se corresponde con la del Q. Téngase en cuenta que, cuando se trata de fragmentos en prosa en Q y editados como prosa en esta edición, la división de líneas no ha de coincidir necesariamente. Salvo mención explícita, todas las enmiendas a la división lineal del texto están tomadas de la edición con grafía original de Ericksen. La numeración, sin embargo, obedece a criterios inherentes al medio electrónico en su distinto tratamiento de los pasajes en prosa con respecto del verso. Dado que nuestro texto aspira a formar parte de la colección EMOTHE, hemos numerado dichos fragmentos de acuerdo con las pautas ISE que asignan una línea distinta a cada parlamento en prosa (en ocasiones, párrafos enteros), en aras de su posterior adaptación al entorno digital junto con el aparato crítico que aquí se presenta.

List of Characters

The King of Naples
The King of Sicily
Cesario the Prince of Naples
Vittori the young Admiral
Alphonso his father
Julio nobleman of Naples
Alberto nobleman of Naples
Fabio nobleman of Naples
Horatio nobleman of Sicily
Trivulsi nobleman of Sicily
Mauritio a Neapolitan captain
Fabrichio a Sicilian captain
Didimo a page to Rosinda
Pazzorello a servant to Rosinda
Captain
Messenger
Sergeant
Soldiers
Rosinda the daughter of Sicily
Cassandra Vittori’s mistress
Flavia a lady attendant on Rosinda
King of Sicily, Horatio
King of Naples, Prince
King of Naples, King of Sicily
Vitttori, Alphonso, Cassandra
King of Naples, Alphonso

1[.1]

(Enter Prince and Alberto.)
Alberto
My lord, you're sad. 1
Prince
I am thinking, Alberto,
Of many things, have I not cause? 2
Alberto
You may
Think on 'em with less trouble. 3
Prince
But of all,
What dost imagine most afflicts me? I'll 4
Prevent thy answer: I am not troubled 5
With the present threat'nings of the enemy, 6
With all his preparations to invade us. 7
Alberto
You have more confidence in Vittori, sent 8
To meet the insulting King; he has been fortunate 9
In many wars. 10
Prince
The wars consume Vittori!
He has been too fortunate. 11
Alberto
Your wishes are
Against the common peace: if he prove not 12
A happy admiral, we are lost. 13
Prince
Be thou
And all thy name lost, and may no age 14
Find it again! How dare you interrupt us? 15
When we do want your counsel, we’ll call for you. 16
Alberto
I am gone, sir. 17
([Exit.])
(Enter Julio.)
Prince
My Julio, welcome.
What speaks Cassandra yet? 18
Julio
Nothing to encourage you – the same obstinate thing: 19
Vittori has her heart. She much condemns 20
The roughness which you mixed with your last courtship; 21
She says your father may command her life, 22
But you must be a stranger to her bosom. 23
Prince
I was too rude at my last visit. 24
Julio
Rather, sir, too tame. 25
Prince
Have I for this drawn war upon my country, 26
Neglected Sicily’s daughter, left a stain 27
Upon his court, and paid his entertainment 28
With wounding one he loved? 29
Julio
His favorite!
You had been less, sir, than yourself to have suffered 30
His insolence; nor was't an act becoming 31
His master to send hither to negotiate 32
A marriage for his daughter and, when you 33
So far engaged yourself upon a visit, 34
To permit any of his gaudy upstarts 35
Affront your person. 36
Prince
I acquit the King:
'Twas no state quarrel. High with wine, he did 37
Throw some disgrace on our Italian ladies, 38
Whilst he would magnify some beauties there. 39
This he did second with a pride and rudeness 40
My patience was not tame enough to suffer, 41
And, careless of all danger, I did punish him. 42
Julio
'Twas home and handsome. 43
Prince
I must owe to Fortune –
Julio
For your return, she did but do her duty 44
To make it swift and happy. 45
Prince
I confess
The Princess used me nobly, though my fancy 46
Was not surprised; for here I kept the image 47
Of fair Cassandra, whose divine beauty 48
Doth scorn all competition. 49
Julio
Did you love
Cassandra before you went to Sicily? 50
Prince
Yes, but with too much silence, and that love 51
Did make me apprehend more fiercely the 52
Occasion to break off all foreign treaty. 53
Horatio's fall, and my quitting the country 54
Upon't, the King interprets a disgrace 55
To his daughter and himself and, in revenge, 56
Hath added this new tempest to the sea, 57
Meant to our ruin, Julio. 58
Julio
All their fury
May soon be interrupted, if Vittori 59
Manage his business well. 60
Prince
That's all my trouble.
Julio
What? 61
Prince
Vittori: there's the devil on't, he may
Be fortunate and overcome. 62
Julio
Can there
Be ill in that? 63
Prince
Ill? Thou art shallow – I
Made him not admiral but to engage 64
His youth and spirit, apt to fly on dangers, 65
To perish in his hot pursuit of honor. 66
If he come home with victory, my father 67
And his wise state must give him thanks, the people 68
Giddily run to meet the conqueror 69
And owe their lives, and safety, to his triumph. 70
But where am I? What peace brings it to me? 71
What blessing is't to hear the general voice 72
Shoot their wild joys to heaven and I, in torment, 73
Certain to lose my hopes in fair Cassandra? 74
Julio
There may be ways at home to remove him 75
And plant you in your wishes. 76
Prince
It would be
Most happiness to hear his death. 77
Julio
That may
Ruin a kingdom. 78
Prince
Ruin twenty more,
So I enjoy her first! Nothing can be 79
Too precious to forfeit. I am mad, 80
And my desires, by opposition, grow 81
More violent. 82
Julio
I thought your masculine soul
Less capable of vexation. Shall a subject, 83
Whom with your breath you may blow out o'th'world, 84
Raise such a storm within you? 85
Prince
No, he shan't!
I've found myself again – come, I’ll be merry. 86
But I will have Cassandra spite of fate! 87
Julio
Resolve, and have her. 88
Prince
Stay, it were convenient
We did know how to do this, Julio. 89
Julio
You're in the right, sir; it were first, indeed, 90
Convenient to know how. 91
Prince
Thou knowst his father –
Julio
Signor Alphonso? 92
Prince
A bold and daring gentleman, all flame 93
When he is moved and careless of a danger 94
To vindicate his honor. 95
Julio
What of this?
Prince
He shall bear the foundation of a plot 96
To make me lord of my desires. 97
Julio
He’ll rather
Meet tortures than consent, his arm is not 98
Yet withered, and while he can lift a sword, 99
He will employ it to revenge Vittori. 100
Prince
Thou art no politician, Julio. – 101
(Enter Fabio.)
How now, what news with you? 102
Fabio
An't please your grace,
An humble creature of yours, proud of the least 103
Occasion to express how faithfully 104
My heart is fixed to serve you. 105
Prince
What’s your business?
Fabio
I have business of some consequence. 106
I had not been so bold else to disturb 107
Your princely conference, for I durst never 108
Assume that impudent garb that other courtiers 109
Are known by; my devotion has been still 110
To appear in modest services. 111
Prince
To'th'point.
Fabio
It were a point of deep neglect to keep 112
Your grace in expectation, yet delays 113
Make joys the sweeter: arrows that fly compass 114
Arrive with as much happiness to the mark 115
As those are shot point-blank! 116
Prince
This courtier loves
To hear himself talk. 117
We know your care. 118
Fabio
And cost, my lord, sometimes;
For they that hold intelligence abroad 119
To benefit their country must not make 120
Idols of their estates, and 'tis a happiness 121
To sell their fortunes for their prince's smile, 122
Which I am confident you will vouchsafe 123
When you have heard my news. 124
Prince
Would you would vouchsafe
To let us hear! 125
Fabio
Vouchsafe, my lord! Alas,
You may command my tongue, my hands, my feet, 126
My head; I should account that limb superfluous 127
That would not be cut off to do you service. 128
Prince
I do command thee silence – dost hear? Silence. 129
Fabio
It is a virtue, my good lord, I know, 130
But where the tongue has something to deliver 131
That may delight a prince’s ear, and so forth – 132
Julio
Now there’s some hope! He's come to his "and so forth". 133
Fabio
The news concerns the Admiral Vittori. 134
Prince
What of him? Is he slain? 135
Fabio
The stars forbid! He is returned, my lord, 136
Triumphant, brave and glorious – 137
Prince
Be dumb!
Another syllable, I’ll ha' thy tongue out 138
And leave no root, lest there grow out another. 139
Was all your circumstance for this? 140
Julio
My lord,
You are too open-breasted – let this fellow 141
See into your heart! Wise men disguise their counsels 142
Till things are ripe. 143
Prince
[To Fabio] Begone! Pox o'your legs
An the curse ha' not been before! Yet stay, 144
Give order that no man go forth to meet him: 145
Until our pleasure’s further known, command 146
The Governor o'th'city place a guard 147
About the gates; let no man's face appear 148
Without the walls. The King, our father, means 149
To salute him first in person. D'ye stand? 150
Fabio
"Give order that no man go forth to meet him!" – 151
I shall, my lord. 152
([Exit.])
Prince
He shall be entertained;
I feel new armies in my breast. 153
(Enter Alphonso.)
His father!
[Whispers to Julio] Thine ear, Julio. 154
Julio
I shall attend you straight. –
[To Alphonso] My honorable lord. 155
Alphonso
Your servant, Julio.
Where is the Prince? I beg your grace's pardon. 156
([Exit Julio.])
Prince
O my good lord! Your son, I hear,'s returned 157
With honor, has defeated the Sicilian 158
Bravely. 159
Alphonso
He has, an't please your highness; heaven
Has smiled upon his undertaking. It 160
Renews my youth to hear it. 161
Prince
He had good soldiers,
But all their valor still conspires to make 162
The general a garland. He must wear 163
The conquering bays, whose blood soever pays for't. 164
Alphonso
My lord! 165
Prince
Nay, nay, I envy not his victory.
Alphonso
You envy him! It was your cause he fought, 166
And for his country. 167
Prince
Right, and 'tis the cause
That often prospers: that without his valor 168
Would ha' defensed itself. 169
Alphonso
If all virtue
Were left to her own protection, my lord, 170
Unarmed with strength and policy, best states 171
Would find shrewd innovations. 172
Prince
You had best
Tell me I lie. 173
Alphonso
I dare not think so folly.
Prince
You're a traitor! – 174
([Re-]enter Julio with a guard.)
Lay hands on him!
Alphonso
He that shall dare to say Alphonso is 175
A traitor, let his veins partake no blood 176
Of yours, and he shall curse he had a tongue. 177
Prince
Disarm the rebel, and to prison with him! 178
Alphonso
Ingrateful Prince! 179
Prince
I’ll tame your ruffian spirit. –
(Exeunt [Alphonso and guard].)
So, so, I’ll now acquaint my father, Julio, 180
Who must allow my act: diseases that 181
Are desperate require a rugged handling. – 182
This is for thee, Cassandra! 183
(Exeunt.)

[1.2]

(Enter Vittori, Mauritio, Captain and Soldiers[,with ensigns displayed].)
Vittori
Stand! 184
1 Soldier
Stand!
2 Soldier
Stand!
3 Soldier
Stand!
Vittori
The King received intelligence? 185
Mauritio
Our ships
Must needs report that loud enough. 186
Vittori
'Tis strange.
Is it not possible we have mistook 187
The shore, transported with our naval victory? 188
Speak, gentlemen! Or do we dream? 189
Mauritio
Those walls
Are certainly the same, and that the city 190
Peopled when we launched forth and full of prayers 191
For our success. 192
Captain
It may be they reserve
Their welcome till we march into the city. 193
Mauritio
They may have some conceit. 194
Vittori
A general silence
Like night dwells round about us, and no sign 195
That men inhabit; have we won at sea 196
To lose ourselves upon the land? Or in 197
Our absence hath some monster landed here 198
And made it desolate, devoured the natives, 199
And made 'em creep into the earth again? 200
Mauritio
They might salute us with one piece of ordnance. 201
Vittori
They cannot take us for their enemies. 202
Captain, inquire the cause; let none else move. 203
Yet stay, unless it be some strange mortality – 204
And yet that cannot be –, have we brought home 205
Their safety purchased through so many horrors 206
And is this all the payment for our conquest, 207
To shut the gates upon us? 208
Captain
Force them open
With the cannon, shake their walls about their ears – 209
They are asleep. 210
Vittori
For such another rashness,
Thy head shall be the bullet of that cannon 211
And shot into the town; go to! Be temperate. 212
As I grudge none the merit of their valor, 213
I must hear none so bold. 214
Captain
I ha' done, sir.
Vittori
Subjects are bound to fight for princes, they 215
Not bound to the reward of every service. 216
I look upon thee, now fighting at sea, 217
And have forgot this error; give no breath 218
To such a thought hereafter. Honor pays 219
Double where kings neglect, and he is valiant 220
Truly that dares forget to be rewarded. 221
1 Soldier
This is but cold comfort for a knapsack-man. 222
Vittori
And yet 'tis strange the King should thus neglect us, 223
This is cheap entertainment for a conqueror. 224
Is't not, Mauritio? Misery of soldiers! 225
When they have sweat blood for their country's honor, 226
They stand at others' mercy. 227
Mauritio
They have slept since,
And dreamt not of our sufferings. 228
Vittori
Is the Prince
Alive, to whom we owe our country's quarrel, 229
The difference of both kingdoms? 230
Our war and fortunes justify his act, 231
Can he be guilty of this shame? No more! 232
There's something would fain mutiny within me; 233
Strangle the snakes betime, Vittori. 234
This was a way to forfeit all our fames. 235
Fold up your ensigns, throw off all the pride 236
That may express a triumph – we'll march on 237
As we had overbought our victory. 238
Mauritio
The gates are opened now, and we discover 239
A woman by her veil, in mourning habit, 240
Coming this way. 241
Vittori
Alone? More strange and fatal:
It may be 'tis my genius come to give 242
A melancholy warning of my death, 243
As Brutus had from his. I'll stand my destiny, 244
Yet bearing the resemblance of a woman 245
It will less terrify. Who should this be? – 246
(Enter Cassandra veiled, in mourning.)
Lady, your garment speaks you a sad woman. 247
Griefs should salute no nearer, if it were 248
In poor Vittory's power to dispossess you 249
Of any sorrow. 250
Cassandra
O my dear Vittori!
My wishes aim at none beside. 251
([Lifts her veil.])
Vittori
Cassandra!
We are rewarded. [Kisses her.] Had Vittori taken 252
Into his body a thousand wounds, this kiss 253
Had made me well again, or but one drop 254
Of this rich balsam, for I know thy tears 255
Are joy to see Vittori safe; the King, 256
With all the glories of his province, cannot 257
Do half this honor to his Admiral. 258
I have a place above all happiness, 259
And meet a greater empire in thy love 260
Than fame or victory hath ever boasted. 261
My own, my best Cassandra! 262
([Embraces her.])
Cassandra
Call again
That temper, which hath made Vittori honored, 263
And if my tears – which carry something more 264
Than joy to welcome home my best-loved lord – 265
Affect you with no sadness, which I wish not, 266
Yet look upon this mourning, not put on 267
To counterfeit a grief, and that will tell you 268
There is necessity for you to know 269
Somewhat to check the current of your triumph. 270
Mauritio
What prodigies are these? 271
Vittori
I was too careless
Of this sad habit – joy to see thy face 272
Made me distinguish nothing else. Proceed 273
And punish my too prodigal embraces: 274
It is not fit I be in one thought blest 275
And thou in such a livery. 276
Cassandra
When you say
You have strength enough to entertain the knowledge 277
Of such an injury. 278
Vittori
If it only point
At me, speak it at once, I am collected, 279
Shalt see I will be conqueror at home; 280
If it concern thyself, let it not flow 281
Too fast, but rather let my ear receive it 282
By such degrees as may not kill too soon 283
But leave me some life only to revenge it. 284
Cassandra
The Prince, whose cause engaged your war abroad, 285
Hath ill rewarded you at home. 286
Vittori
He cannot!
Cassandra
Sir, in your absence I have suffered for you, 287
Hourly solicited to my dishonor. 288
Vittori
Ha!
Cassandra
For though he called it love, I might suspect it: 289
His personal visits, messengers, rich presents 290
Left me not quiet to enjoy myself. 291
I told him I had given my faith already, 292
Contracted yours; impatient of my answers, 293
He urged his greatness, sware he would enjoy me 294
Or be no prince in Naples; I am yet 295
Preserved and welcome home my dearest safety. 296
Vittori
The Prince do this! 297
Cassandra
This is but half the story:
By his command none dare salute your victory, 298
Or pour their glad hearts forth at your return. 299
To these he hath newly added the dishonor of 300
Your father, whom he hath commanded close 301
Prisoner i'th'castle upon some pretense 302
Of treason. In my eyes you may behold 303
How people shed their sorrow, as the guard 304
Led him to prison, none so bold to ask 305
The cause that made him suffer in his misery. 306
Vittori
Will the King suffer this? 307
Cassandra
Alas, his age
Hath made him tame, a too indulgent father 308
To such a son, whose will is all the law, 309
Controlling what he pleases in this fall 310
Of justice. Which way will Vittori take? 311
Vittori
Mauritio, didst hear this? We must ask 312
Forgiveness that we have been valiant, 313
Repent our duties and that victory 314
We bought so dear. We should have died at sea 315
And then, perhaps, been talked on in the crowd 316
Of honest men for giving up our lives, 317
Which for our service they may now take from us. 318
We are not yet i'th'snare, and we have power 319
To stifle their designs and prevent our 320
Dishonorable fall. 321
Mauritio
The soldiers' hearts
Are yours. 322
Vittori
No, Mauritio, let 'em be the King's:
If such as they forget their office, we 323
Must keep our thoughts unstained, I'll to the King 324
But without any train. 325
Mauritio
In this, you do not
Consult your safety. 326
Vittori
Safety is a lecture
To be read to children – I do always carry 327
My own security within, Mauritio. 328
Yet do not think I am desperate: I'll take 329
No knowledge of the Prince's action 330
But give account of my engagement, that's 331
Not much amiss. The King, I know, is gracious, 332
And the Prince too, however passion play 333
This rebel in our soul. 334
Mauritio
You shan't need, sir:
The King is coming hither. 335
Vittori
And the Prince!
Let's all look smooth; the King is come himself 336
To gratulate our success. – 337
(Enter King of Naples, Prince, Julio, Fabio [and] Alberto.)
You too much honor
The poor Vittori, who at your feet lays 338
His heart and victory, and that which gave 339
Him power to do you service. 340
King of Naples
We receive it
And here discharge your soldiers, who shall tast 341
Of our particular bounty. 342
Soldiers
Heaven preserve the King!
(Exeunt.)
Prince
[To Fabio] Sirrah, did not I give strict charge 343
That none should pass the gates? How came she hither? 344
Fabio
"No man," an't like your grace, I did remember 345
And durst not prevaricate in one syllable 346
Of my commission: she is a lady, sir. 347
Prince
You would be an officious hangman, I perceive; 348
I'll find you understanding. 349
Vittori
Let me prostrate
My duty to your highness and be honored 350
To kiss your hand. 351
Prince
Vittori, I'll not flatter,
I have no grace for him, whose father durst 352
Attempt an insolence upon my person 353
Which the son may be guilty of in his blood. 354
Vittori
My father insolent and I guilty, sir, 355
Because I share his blood? Oh, that I knew 356
In what part of my veins to find those drops, 357
That I might sacrifice 'em to your anger 358
And expiate my father's sin! 359
Prince
I came not to expostulate. 360
Vittori
Is this all my reward? 361
Prince
Your valor has
Been paid in the success, what you have done 362
Was duty, if you have not mixed our cause 363
With private and particular revenge. 364
Vittori
You speak not this to me, sir. 365
Prince
Yes, to you!
We do not fear the bugbears in your forehead. 366
You will hear more. 367
(Exeunt Prince [and] Julio.)
Vittori
Sir, you have mercy in you.
King of Naples
You have displeased our son, Vittori. 368
Vittori
I? Witness the angels – 369
King of Naples
I must tell you too
Your father has transgressed beyond example. 370
Vittori
Good heaven forgive him! Is this all, 371
All my reward? 372
King of Naples
What would you ask?
Vittori
Ask? – Why, I ask my father. 373
King of Naples
Your father?
(Exeunt King [of Naples], Alberto [and] Fabio.)
Vittori
Goodness, leave me not the wonder 374
Of all mankind. – Gentlemen – all gone! 375
Cassandra
Alas, Vittori! 376
Vittori
I, that commanded thousands
This morning, am not owner of one servant. 377
Dost thou stay with me? 378
Cassandra
My prophetic soul
Knew this before. 379
([Re-]enter King [of Naples], Alberto [and] Fabio.)
Vittori
The King returns, Cassandra.
King of Naples
We've thought upon't, Vittori, and without 380
The counsel of our son will condescend 381
To your father's liberty. He is yours upon 382
Condition: you and he, and this your mistress, 383
Go into present banishment. 384
Vittori
How! Banishment? 385
King of Naples
I run my son's distaste –
There is no time for study. He affects 386
That lady: if you stay, something may follow 387
To'th'general repentance. Troth, I pity thee. 388
Here take our signet, time and absence may 389
Correct all. 390
(Exeunt King [of Naples, Alberto and Fabio].)
Cassandra
Oh, embrace it, dear Vittori!
We shall meet safely everywhere but here. 391
Enlarge your father, and we cannot miss 392
A happier fate. 393
Vittori
Can my Cassandra think so?
That word shall make me live a little longer. 394
But these are strange turns, madam; Naples hath 395
No dwellings for us when we are quit of these, 396
We'll with our grief make tame some wilderness. 397
(Exeunt.)

2[.1]

(Enter King [of Naples], Prince, Alberto [and] Fabio.)
King of Naples
What's to be done? 398
Prince
Done! You've undone all,
Betrayed the crown you wear! I see it tremble 399
Upon your head – give such a license to 400
A rebel! Trust him abroad to gather 401
Strength to the kingdom's ruin! 402
King of Naples
What can such
A naked man attempt to make us fear? 403
Prince
He carries with him a whole army, sir, 404
The people's love, who want no giddiness 405
Had they but opportunity, and such 406
A master rebel as Vittori to 407
Make spoil of all. – Who counseled him to this? 408
Alberto
Not I, an't please your grace: I wish it heartily 409
Undone. 410
Prince
You wish it, sir? Are wishes now
The remedy for such a mischief? You, 411
When the state bleeds, will wish it well again; 412
You're fine court surgeons! – [To the King] Had you stayed his father, 413
It might have checked his treason, or Cassandra – 414
Alberto
That's his torment. 415
Prince
We had been secure.
Exasperated now with his affront, 416
As never traitor wanted impudence 417
To blanch o'er his rebellion, he may inflame 418
The neighbor princes to conspire some war 419
For his revenge. 420
Fabio
His grace says right: there may
Be a consequence of much danger, and Vittori 421
Has fame abroad. 422
King of Naples
I did it for the best,
By his absence thinking to remove his anger. 423
I could have been content to have honored him 424
For, to say truth, his services did challenge 425
More friendly payment. 426
Fabio
To say truth, he was
A noble, valiant gentleman and deserved – 427
Prince
What deserved he? 428
Fabio
A halter, an't shall please
Your highness; I did wonder at your patience 429
He was not put to death. 430
Prince
I must acknowledge
Vittori has deserved for many services 431
The love and honor of his country, fought 432
Their battles and brought conquest home, made tame 433
The seas that threatened us, secured the land; 434
And Rome allowed some consuls for less victories, 435
Triumphs and statues. 436
Fabio
Most excellent Prince!
How just he is. 437
Prince
But, when opinion
Of their own merit swells 'em into pride, 438
Which sets a price on that, which modesty 439
Should count an act of their obedience, 440
They forfeit the reward of thanks and honor 441
And betray poor and most vainglorious souls. 442
Scipio and Antony, and other Romans, 443
Deserved well of the Senate and were honored; 444
But, when they ran to faction and pursued 445
Ambitious ends to undo their country's peace, 446
They were no longer patriots but declared 447
Rome's poison, and like gangrenes on the state 448
To be cut off, lest they corrupt the body. 449
Fabio
Was ever prince so wise! 450
King of Naples
But son, son, how
Can these stains reach Vittori? He hath given 451
No argument to suspect his fall from loyalty. 452
Prince
I do not, sir, accuse him, nor did I, 453
More than became the spirit of a prince, 454
Show I was sensible of his father's impudence. 455
If you remember, when I urged what trespass 456
His father had committed he urged aloud, 457
"Was this all my reward?", as if his service 458
Were obligation to make us suffer 459
And justify their affronts. But I waste breath, 460
Since you are so well pleased; my duty, sir, 461
Shall speak me still your son, but let me take 462
Boldness to prophesy their insolence 463
Struck at my person first, but you will find 464
Their pride reach higher: I am but a branch 465
Superfluous and may be pruned away. 466
You have, you say, no argument to suspect 467
His fall from loyalty; if what's done to me 468
Be dead within you, yet remember now 469
You have disengaged, by exile, his relation 470
And tie of subject: he owes now no faith to you. 471
What that, and his disgrace and opportunity 472
Abroad may frame him to, I leave to imagine. 473
([Going.])
King of Naples
Nay, prithee, come back, thou hast awaked me; 474
I find my rashness; I did never think 475
There had been so much danger. We will study 476
Timely prevention, let 'em be called back, 477
Fly after 'em, and in our name command – 478
Prince
You sha' not need. 479
King of Naples
How "sha' not need"?
Prince
Your pardon.
In hope your wisdom would allow it after, 480
I have made that my act: Julio is gone 481
With strict commission for that purpose. 482
King of Naples
Julio?
I thank thy care. 483
Fabio
'Twas most divinely thought on, most maturely. 484
Now all your jealousies are laid. 485
Prince
[To the King] I shall
Compose myself at his return to wear 486
What countenance you will direct. 487
King of Naples
Cassandra
You've sent for too? 488
Prince
By any means, she is
So precious to Vittori. Had she sinned 489
Alone to merit banishment, he would follow her 490
Through all the world. 491
King of Naples
Women are strangely attractive;
Fame speaks her virtuous too. 492
Prince
Some virtue she has –
(Enter Julio[, with] Alphonso guarded.)
Julio has prospered. – [To Julio] Thou'st done good service. – 493
Alphonso, though your late affront to us 494
Be foul in its own nature and may encourage 495
Others by your impunity, yet we have 496
With the remembrance of your former actions 497
Lost your offense. Vittori too shall find 498
The honor he deserves. 499
Alphonso
How's this?
Prince
Where is he?
He does not scorn our mercy! – Julio, 500
Where is Cassandra? 501
Julio
Shipped with Vittori, thank Alphonso for't, 502
Whom you have pardoned; they are both at sea. 503
Prince
Whirlwinds pursue 'em! 504
King of Naples
Where's your son, Alphonso?
Alphonso
Embarked with his fair mistress. – [To the Prince] I observe, 505
My lord, which way your anger moves; in vain 506
You vex your soul for them. The sea's no part 507
Of your command, the winds are masters there, 508
Which cannot raise a storm so black and ominous 509
As their own country. 510
Prince
By what means escaped they?
Alphonso
Take it from me, and after cut my head off. 511
I charged him, as his heart wished to enjoy 512
A father's blessing as he loved the honor 513
Of his Cassandra, fearing some new plot 514
To hire a bark and quickly put to sea, 515
Whilst I made some stay to dispose affairs 516
That might befriend us in another country. 517
He did obey and had my prayers, the winds 518
Conveyed him swiftly from the shore, and had 519
Your creature, Julio, not made such haste, 520
I had dispatched and in another vessel 521
Followed his ship, but heaven determined I 522
Should be again your prisoner. Use your power, 523
But look to give account for every hair 524
Of this old head, now withered in your service. 525
Prince
To the castle with him! 526
Alphonso
Ay, there's the King. –
[To the King] Let me use one word more, royal sir, to you. 527
Prince
You'll hear him? 528
Alphonso
Fear not, Prince, my soul's not fall’n
So low to beg compassion. 529
King of Naples
Speak, Alphonso!
Alphonso
My duty still preserved, I would advise 530
Your age to quit the trouble of your kingdom 531
And ask the Prince's leave to turn a Capuchin. 532
Why should you stoop with burden o'such a state 533
And have a son so active? Turn friar, my lord, 534
And make the youngman king. 535
Prince
I must endure.
King of Naples
Away with him! 536
Fabio
I'll see him safe, my lord.
([Exit with Alphonso and guard.])
(Enter a Messenger.)
Prince
What hasty news with you? 537
Messenger
To arms, great sir, for your defense! There are 538
New dangers from the sea. 539
King of Naples
Another fleet?
Messenger
And sailing this way, we suspect they are 540
Sicilians. 541
King of Naples
Vittori gave a blow to their design. 542
Prince
D'ye but suspect it, villain? 543
Julio
It may be
Some scattered ships. 544
Prince
Has not Vittori mocked us
And played the villain with your trust? 545
King of Naples
They could not be reinforced so soon. – [To the Messenger] What number? 546
Messenger
They cover, sir, the seas. 547
Prince
Gather up forces to
Prevent the landing. 548
Messenger
'Tis imposible!
They touch our shore by this time. 549
King of Naples
Then make safe
The city. 550
Alberto
It may be another fleet, meant to relieve 551
The first and came not forth so soon. 552
King of Naples
Now we want Vittori. 553
(Exit.)
Prince
All the diseases Naples ever groaned with 554
O'ertake Vittori! But Alphonso shall 555
Pay dearly for this mischief. 556
Julio
Be not, sir,
Dejected; 'tis more easy to defend 557
At home than thrive in foreign war. These men 558
Will find as proud resistance. 559
Prince
Canst thou think
I do look pale for this? No, Julio, 560
Although the sudden news might move me somewhat, 561
I have a heart above all fear and can 562
Know no distraction but Cassandra's absence; 563
That makes me look so wild and tears my brain 564
With the imagination. 565
Julio
But the state
We are in requires you should be active, sir. 566
Prince
Ah, Julio, the armies which I fear 567
Are not abroad, they have made entrenchment here. 568
(Exeunt.)

[2.2]

(A shout within[, then] enter the King of Sicily, Horatio, Trivulsi [and] Fabrichio.)
Horatio
Though Naples do not bid you welcome, sir, 569
Ashore, the joys and duties of your subjects 570
Cannot be silent. 571
King of Sicily
We do thank you all.
The seas were kind, and the winds kissed our sails. 572
All things conspired to our revenge. 573
Trivulsi
Your justice
Our very enemies acknowledge it 574
And, conscious of their injury, are afraid 575
To look upon us. 576
King of Sicily
Marshall of the field,
Give present order for entrenchments, 577
We'll quarter here; you shall make good that part 578
With your horse troops and plant cannons on that hill 579
To play upon the town. Naples shall find 580
We did not venture all upon one stake; 581
That petty loss at sea which made them triumph 582
And, perhaps, careless of more opposition 583
Shall dearly be accounted for, beside 584
Dishonoring our daughter and our court 585
By such a rude departure. 586
Horatio
As they had
Scorned your alliance. 587
King of Sicily
Thy particular
Suff'rings, Horatio, and wounds are put 588
Into the scale. 589
Horatio
They are not worthy, sir.
Had his sword reached my heart, my death had been 590
No sin compared to that affront he threw 591
Upon yourself and daughter. I was bound 592
To engage that blood was given me to serve you, 593
And I do love those drops that, in a cause 594
So just, made haste to show their duty to you 595
Better than those that dwell within my heart. 596
King of Sicily
We are confident of thy loyalty. 597
(Enter Rosinda and Flavia.)
Trivulsi
The Princess.
King of Sicily
Alas, Rosinda! Thou were not bred to these 598
Tumults and noise of war. Has not the sea 599
Impaired thy health? I was too rash to allow 600
Thy travail and expose thy tenderness 601
To this rude voyage. 602
Rosinda
It appears to me
A pleasant change of air. I have heard men talk 603
Of many horrors that attend the seas, 604
Of tempests and of dangers; I have seen 605
Nothing to fright me. If the waves put on 606
No other shape, I could exchange methinks 607
My dwelling on the land. 608
Horatio
We owe this happiness
To you, fair Princess, for whose safer passage 609
The breath of heaven did gently swell our sails. 610
The waves were proud to bear so rich a lading 611
And danced to th'music of the winds. 612
Rosinda
You show
Your complement, my lord. Call you this Naples? 613
King of Sicily
The kingdom of our enemy, which shall 614
Groan for the inhabitants. Are all our forces 615
Landed? 616
Trivulsi
Safe to your wishes and expect
What they shall be commanded. 617
King of Sicily
We must first
Secure the ground we have: being defensed 618
With works, we may prevent their sallies and 619
Assault to our best advantage. – Still preserve 620
Thy courage, my Rosinda; 'tis for thee 621
We have adventured hither. 622
Rosinda
And you have
Been kind to the petition of your daughter, 623
Who can in duty wait upon your fortune. 624
At home, I should have withered in your absence; 625
I shall grow valiant here. 626
King of Sicily
My dearest child,
Whose very eyes do kindle flames of courage 627
In every soldier, be still safe and promise 628
Thyself a brave revenge. 629
([Exeunt all but Rosinda and Flavia.])
Flavia
What will become of us, madam? 630
Rosinda
We must take our fortunes; I am sorry 631
For thee. 632
Flavia
You have some reason for yourself.
If any danger follow, I know where 633
To place the cause, but I dare suffer with 634
Your grace. 635
(Enter Pazzorello and Didimo.)
Pazzorello, madam, and the page.
Rosinda
He's come in good time to relieve our thoughts. 636
Pazzorello
Madam.
Didimo
Come, pluck up a good heart!
Pazzorello
'Tis coming out as fast as it can. Sweet Didimo, hold my head.
Didimo
Come, 'tis but a little seasickness.
Pazzorello
"Seasickness," quotha? – A vengeance of all drunken voyages, I can do nothing but –
Rosinda
How now, Pazzorello?
Pazzorello
O madam, never did man cast up so much and had so little skill in arithmetic! Nothing grieves me, but that I have not drunk for't. I have a perpetual motion in my belly, the four winds are together by the ears in my small guts; would I had never known the sea! Little did I think – Oh –
Flavia
Thou art a freshwater soldier.
Pazzorello
Freshwater? I know not. I'll be judged by the whole ship if I was not in a sweet pickle.
Rosinda
The worst is past, this is but physic.
Pazzorello
If I had thought the sea would have given me so many vomits, I would have seen it burned ere I would ha' ventured so far! I ha' purged both ways; an the enemy had met us before we landed, I should have scoured some on 'em.
Didimo
How do you now?
Pazzorello
The fit is not so violent altogether, o'shipboard I ran a tilt; howsoever, I beseech your grace that I may go home again.
Rosinda
There is no way by land.
Didimo
And a little more jogging at sea –
Pazzorello
The very word "sea" boils in my stomach and will make my mouth run over presently – Ho! It comes, it comes!
(Exit.)
Didimo
Madam, I have a great desire to attend him. I have cast a plot to make your highness merry.
Rosinda
You'll play the wag with him; we'll trust you to pursue it.
Didimo
I humbly thank your grace.
(Exit.)
Rosinda
Flavia, does not the day look black o'th'sudden? 637
Flavia
It has not the same complexion. I hear 638
A noise too. 639
([Storm, with thunder and lightning.])
Rosinda
From the sea, it grows loud.
Flavia
'Tis well we are ashore. O me! I tremble 640
To think what would be come on's an we had 641
Not been afore this tempest; I thank providence. 642
I was upon the sea once in a storm, 643
But they use to clap the women under hatches; 644
I never prayed so in my life. 645
([Re-]enter King [of Sicily,] Horatio, Trivulsi [and] Fabrichio.)
The King!
King of Sicily
I know not what to think: no sooner landed 646
But such a storm pursue us! Does not this 647
Affright Rosinda into paleness? – Dost 648
Not feel an ague? 649
Rosinda
I have rather cause,
Sir, to rejoice: it overtook us not 650
Upon the sea, the fury of it there 651
Might have been fatal. 652
Horatio
Be not troubled, sir,
My soul doth from this omen prophesy 653
The victory you wish upon this kingdom, 654
Nor is it superstition to believe 655
That heaven doth point us out the scourge to Naples 656
By seconding our coming with a tempest. 657
The waves were proud to entertain our navy, 658
The fish in amorous courtship danced about 659
Our ship, and no rude gale from any coast 660
Was sent to hang upon our linen wings 661
To interrupt our wishes. Not a star 662
Muffled his brightness in a sullen cloud 663
Till we arrived, and then observe how heaven 664
Threatens the fall of this proud enemy 665
By this prodigious tempest, which but gives 666
Them warning of a greater. 667
King of Sicily
We are confident
Thou hast happily expounded. What lightning 668
Darts from those angry exhalations! 669
Horatio
It speaks the flame of our revenge. 670
King of Sicily
What thunder!
Horatio
The loudness of our cannon; let their fears 671
Apply it and run mad with apprehension. 672
Trivulsi
Our ships must needs fall foul on one another, 673
Riding i'th'haven. 674
Horatio
Let 'em crack their ribs,
We have the more necessity to tug for't. 675
King of Sicily
Yet would thou wert at home! 676
Rosinda
Fear not for me, sir,
Your absence would present my imagination 677
With more affliction. I suffer less 678
In knowledge and shall rise by brave examples, 679
Valiant above my sex; these horrors fright 680
Not me. 681
King of Sicily
This fire will quicken the whole army –
([Enter] soldiers, pursued by Vittori [with his sword drawn, bearing] Cassandra half dead under his arm.)
What mutiny is here? 682
Vittori
Base villains, to take part
With all the malice of the world against me! 683
King of Sicily
What are you? 684
Vittori
I am a gentleman, and dare
Rather than suffer a rude hand divorce 685
This burden from my arms: defy you all. 686
Alas, she will be gone! O my Cassandra! 687
Thy soul sha'not forsake thee thus, I'll take it 688
In with a kiss. 689
Trivulsi
Some whom the wreck has cast
Upon the shore. 690
Rosinda
Pity the gentlewoman.
Vittori
Come not too near: the man that first attempts 691
This lady had better rip his mother's womb. 692
King of Sicily
Whence are you? 693
Vittori
You are strangers I perceive;
Then I presume to tell you I have more justice 694
To tread upon this earth than you or any 695
The proudest. It once gave us birth, and fate, 696
Ungentle fate, hath sent us back to die here, 697
But I will not outlive my dear Cassandra. 698
King of Sicily
Do you delight in wounds? Resign that lady. 699
Vittori
Not while my hand can manage this; the blood 700
You take will make us walk on even pace 701
To death, and when my soul can stay no longer, 702
I'll leave a curse to blast you. But if you 703
Bear hearts of flesh about you and will promise 704
A pity to this poor departing spirit, 705
I will not use a sword but give my life 706
To be commanded from me at your pleasure: 707
Your care will come too late. 708
King of Sicily
I promise by
The word and honor of a King she shall 709
Be carefully attended. 710
Vittori
Though that name
Breed wonder in me, it secures all thoughts 711
That may concern her safety. 712
([Resigns Cassandra to the attendants.])
King of Sicily
See, Rosinda,
With as much diligence to this lady's health 713
As you'd preserve your own. 714
Horatio
An excellent creature!
King of Sicily
My faith is past. 715
Now if you please, you may acquaint us with 716
Your name and quality. 717
Vittori
Something on the sudden
Weighs my heart lower: I ha' not power to thank him. 718
King of Sicily
Already you have expressed yourself this countryman. 719
Be more particular. 720
Vittori
My name's Vittori.
King of Sicily, Horatio
The Admiral of Naples? 721
Vittori
It was a title
I had too late and lost it for my service. 722
I cannot conjure up the dead to witness; 723
There be some living that remember me. 724
It was my chance to have the best at sea 725
Against the bold Sicilian. 726
King of Sicily
A chance say'st?
Vittori
Few victories can boast more: all is but 727
The die of war, which valor must obey. 728
My lot was to bring peace and triumph home, 729
And my reward was banishment; the sea 730
Held me a sinful burden to the waves, 731
Or else the blood I shed to mix with 'em 732
In anger and revenge conspired to throw 733
Our bark, with the distressed lading back 734
Upon this flinty bosom of our country. 735
You have at full my misery; be just 736
To that poor lady, whatsoe'er I suffer. 737
King of Sicily
Your fame was with us earlier. – Entertain him. 738
([Soldiers] disarm Vittori.)
You are welcome, man; there's cause we should 739
Be kind to you. 740
Vittori
Will a King stain his honor?
King of Sicily
Know, miserable man, thy destinies 741
Have made thee his, that will exact severe 742
Most happy storm! 743
Thy master too shall find a punishment 744
How fortunate we are! 745
Vittori
I ask no mercy for myself: be kind 746
To that poor lady, as you're a prince, and I 747
Will kiss my fate. 748
King of Sicily
We violate no promise made to her, 749
Blest heavens! 750
You shall pay dear for all. 751
Vittori
O my Cassandra,
When at the expense of all my blood I have bought 752
Thy precious life from these hard-hearted men! 753
Shed one tear on me, and I am paid again. 754
(Exeunt.)

3[.1]

([Enter Didimo and Pazzorello.])
Didimo
You should have thought of this afore.
Pazzorello
I did think and do think on't again, but there was a necessity of going with the Princess or losing my place at court when she came back; prithee, sweet Didimo, counsel me, I shall ne'er endure this bouncing of guns. Happy are they that can destroy gunpowder without offense in their musterings! Soldiers may talk, but there's neither wit nor honesty in making so many cripples; yet I would give one of my legs to have the t'other secured, I care not which. Cowards are commonly creatures of understanding. Would I had purged away my soul at sea! There had been peace among the haddocks.
Didimo
Come, I have a trick to save thee harmless: thou shalt entreat to be gentleman of a company.
Pazzorello
Shall I? What's that?
Didimo
A singular privilege I can tell you; oh, the right hand file! Do not you know't?
Pazzorello
A right-handed file?
Didimo
There's no honor like it: I'll not give a rush to be an officer. Your gentleman of a company marches in the van.
Pazzorello
Van? What's that?
Didimo
The bullets first salute him, he goes up to the mouth of a cannon, he lies perdu –
Pazzorello
Perdu?
Didimo
More glory than to command an army; to lie two hours upon his belly in the field and dig a hole for his chin when the bullets whisper in both his ears, "whiz!" To be trod upon by horses and scorn to reveal himself – sometimes to be snatched up by a party of firelocks or, if he fight, to be cut into honorable collops or have his limbs strewed about the field which, found by a subtler's wife, are sod for the knapsack-men and go current for camp mutton. My father was a captain, and I have heard him tell brave stories of these gentlemen of companies.
Pazzorello
And thou wouldst ha' me one of these gentlemen?
Didimo
By any means.
Pazzorello
Have the bullets first salute me, lie perdu , as you call it, and be cut into honorable collops, or have my haunches sod by a subtler's wife and pass for camp mutton! This the preferment you wish me to, Master Didimo.
Didimo
You shall be in no danger; I have but told you what fortunes other men have met withal. You shall be secure and march in the van.
Pazzorello
And come up to the mouth of a cannon?
Didimo
'Tis my meaning.
Pazzorello
Which if I do, I'll give the cannon leave to eat me.
Didimo
Dost thou think I would advise thee any thing for thy hurt?
Pazzorello
Hurt! No, no, these are but flea-bitings to have my limbs strewed about the field, or so.
Didimo
Come, I love thee and will give thee proof. Thou hast got money in thy service; put thy body in equipage and beg of the Princess to be one of these brave fellows. I will put thee into a way to get everlasting fame, and not a hair of thy head shall be the worse for't; thou shalt come off.
Pazzorello
My head shall come off!
Didimo
Thy whole body triumphant, my Rosicleer, and live to make nations stand a tiptoe to hear thy brave adventures! Thy head shall be enchanted, and have a proof beyond the musty morion: didst never hear of men that have been slick- and shot-free, with bodies no bullets could pierce?
Pazzorello
That's by witchcraft.
Didimo
Thou'st hit the nail, boy! I will procure this feat done for thee; fear nothing, but be very secret. Thy head shall be an anvil and break all the swords that light upon't, and, for the shot, thy breath shall damp a cannon; it shall fall off like one of thy buttons.
Pazzorello
If this could be compassed, I should love witches the better while I live.
Didimo
Here's my hand. Something shall be done, but put on a brave outside of resolution for the credit on't, that the world may believe 'tis thy valor puts thee upon desperate actions from which a charm shall bring thee off, or the devil shall nay to somebody. Enter Rosinda, Cassandra [and] Flavia. Here's the Princess. Look high, and let me hear how you'll deserve the benefit.
Cassandra
Madam, I know not in what language to 755
Express those humble thanks my soul is full of. 756
It shall be justice, you command this life 757
You have preserved. 758
Rosinda
We should have forfeited
Humanity not to have relieved you 759
In such distress. 760
(Enter Horatio.)
Horatio
Shall I not trespass, madam,
Beyond your mercy by this bold intrusion? 761
Rosinda
My lord, you're welcome. 762
Horatio
Your grace honors me, but to you, lady, 763
I am directed. 764
Cassandra
To me, noble sir?
([They walk apart.])
Pazzorello
We shall be rusty here, for want of use. 765
Oh, for an action of battery! I long 766
To fight pell-mell with somebody. 767
Rosinda
Pazzorello?
Didimo
He's grown most strangely valiant. 768
Flavia
How he looks!
Pazzorello
Madam, I have an humble suit to your highness.
Rosinda
To me? You're like to prosper in't.
Pazzorello
I beseech you I may not be a common soldier: I would cross the seas for something. Let me be gentleman of a company, and let the bullets fly as fast as they can.
Rosinda
I must confess you ask a place of honor but of danger.
Pazzorello
Danger's an ass! Oh, that I were to fight with the General now for two crowns!
Flavia
A mighty wager!
Didimo
He means both the kingdoms.
Pazzorello
I would desire no more than my finger against his musket. If we make no assault presently against the walls, I shall go near to mutiny and kill two or three of our own captains.
Rosinda
This he that was seasick!
Pazzorello
Oh, there is no honor like to marching in the van! I'll not give a rush for a man that won't lie perdu half a year together and come up to the teeth of a cannon.
Didimo
To the cannon’s mouth; I speak by a figure.
Pazzorello
Now you talk of the mouth, I will eat every day this leaguer four-and-twenty cannon bullets buttered and, as many Spanish pikes for asparagus, their steel points will fortify my stomach. I will kill my hundred men an hour for a twelvemonth together.
Flavia
You'll not have men enough to conquer.
Didimo
When the men are all dead i'th'town, he'll lie with all the women and get as many more, rather than want enemies.
Pazzorello
Oh, how I could demolish man, woman and child now!
Rosinda
I see your spirit and must cherish it; I'll speak to my lord. You may have your desire, but be not seen in't for your honor.
Pazzorello
He's here, indeed. [seeing Horatio] – Didimo, when shall I be bewitched? An the devil do not put me in good security –
Didimo
Trust me for that; let's leave 'em about it.
([Exeunt Didimo and Pazzorello.])
Horatio
Can you be cruel, lady, to that man 769
That offers you his heart? 770
Cassandra
Alas, my lord!
You ask mine in exchange, and I have made it 771
A gift already to Vittori: while 772
He lives, he must possess it. As you're noble, 773
Prosecute this no further. 774
Horatio
I have done;
Vittori then must die. 775
(Enter King of Sicily, Trivulsi [and] Fabrichio.)
King of Sicily
Horatio,
Command your prisoner be brought to us presently. 776
Horatio
I shall, sir. 777
(Exit.)
Cassandra
As you are a king, I beg your mercy
To poor Vittori. 778
Rosinda
I petition too
For her desires. 779
King of Sicily
Unless he will be cruel to himself,
His fate smiles on him. – [To Cassandra] Does he love you, lady? 780
Cassandra
Great sir, we are one soul; life cannot be 781
So precious as our loves. 782
King of Sicily
You shall preserve him. – Rosinda.
Rosinda
I obey. 783
King of Sicily
Leave us. –
(Exit [Rosinda].)
Thy health
Is but a prologue to his blessing; that 784
Paper [Gives Cassandra a paper.] speaks our intention, you shall 785
Present it. If he be wise, his judgment 786
Will meet our purpose; what we lost at sea, 787
We enable him to satisfy by a second 788
Proof of his courage, and propound not only 789
Life and his liberty but so great an honor 790
As next our title – there is left no glory 791
To equal it. 792
Cassandra
You're all bounty.
King of Sicily
There are some
Conditions: if you find him cool, you may 793
Apply what argument you find to warm 794
His resolutions. 795
([Re-]enter Horatio [with] Vittori.)
Here he is, I leave you.
Vittori
I wait, sir, your command. 796
King of Sicily
She will instruct you. – Horatio.
(Exeunt King of Sicily and Horatio[, and then Trivulsi and Fabrichio].)
Vittori
Enjoys my best Cassandra perfect health? 797
The King is just, and I have not enough 798
With this poor life to satisfy – 799
Cassandra
Vittori,
We now begin our happiness! The King 800
Has been so gracious – 801
Vittori
All that's good reward him!
To see thee safe and smile, I write my ambition. 802
Cassandra
When you peruse that paper, you will find 803
How much we owe to providence. It was 804
The King's command I should deliver it; 805
The words were of such comfort that came with it, 806
I must be confident you'll thank him for it. 807
Vittori
What should this be? 808
((Reads.))
"Noble Vittori, we know you are a soldier and present you not with naked pity of your fortune. What some prince would take away we have purpose to cherish, your life; enjoy yourself, and with it the command of all our forces. Naples' ingratitude, if you have put no false shape upon your injuries, may be argument enough to your revenge and justice. Be our soldier, fight against your country so with one valor you punish them, and make us satisfaction; we will have pledge for this trust in Cassandra, whose head shall be the price of your disobedience."
Sure I have lost my understanding, ha? 809
Does it not bid me to fight against my country? 810
I prithee read, Cassandra, and repent; 811
Thou hast thought him merciful. 812
Cassandra
[Reads.] "We have pledge for this trust in Cassandra,whose head shall be the price of your disobedience."
The language is too clear. 813
Vittori
It carries more
Darkness than ever the night was guilty of, 814
And I look black already to have read it. 815
Does he call treason justice? Such a treason 816
As heathens blush at, nature and religion 817
Tremble to hear: to fight against my country! 818
'Tis a less sin to kill my father there 819
Or stab my own heart; these are private mischiefs 820
And may in time be wept for, but the least 821
Wound I can fasten on my country makes 822
A nation bleed and myself too, blasts all 823
The memory of former actions, 824
And kills the name we live by. O Cassandra! 825
Thou didst not well to praise the King for this. 826
Cassandra
His words did sound more comfort. 827
Vittori
Prithee tell me,
How canst thou hope I should preserve my faith 828
Unstained to thee and break to all the world? 829
Cassandra
Naples has been injurious, and we made 830
No solemn vow to love what hath betrayed us. 831
Vittori
Take heed, and do not grieve the saints to hear thee. 832
If Naples have forgot Vittori's service, 833
I must not make a desperate shipwreck of 834
My piety. What greater vow? It was 835
Articled in the creation of my soul 836
I should obey and serve my country with it 837
Above myself; death is a brave excuse for't. 838
No, he shall see I am a soldier 839
And dare be just; say he should torture me, 840
Shall wickedness be strong in punishment 841
And we not be as valiant in our suffering? 842
Cassandra
Can then Vittori be content to leave his 843
Cassandra to the misery of life 844
Alone? For in the number of mankind 845
I ne'er shall find another in whose love 846
I can place any comfort. 847
Vittori
Do not say so!
Princes will court thee then, and at thy feet 848
Humble their crowns and purchase smiles with provinces. 849
When I am dead, the world shall doat on thee 850
And pay thy beauty tribute; I am thy 851
Affliction and, when thou art discharged 852
From loving me, thy eyes shall be at peace; 853
A sun more glorious shall draw up thy tears 854
Which, gracing heaven in some new form, shall make 855
The constellations blush and envy 'em. 856
Or if thy love of me be so great that when I am sacrificed 857
Thou wilt think of me, let this comfort thee: 858
I die my country's martyr and ascend 859
Rich in my scarlet robe of blood, my name 860
Shall stain no chronicle, and my tomb be blest 861
With such a garland time shall never wither. 862
Thou, with a troop of wives as chaste as thee, 863
Shall visit my cold sepulcher and glory 864
To say "this doth enclose Vittori's dust, 865
That died true to his honor and his country." 866
Methinks I am taking of my leave already 867
And, kissing the wet sorrows from thy cheek, 868
Bid thee rejoice, Vittori is a conqueror 869
And death his way to triumph. 870
Cassandra
This is all
A new disguise for grief to make it show well. 871
Vittori
To make it show, indeed! I have talked idly 872
And miserably forgot myself. I am checked, 873
This tells me another tale: if I refuse 874
To obey the King's directions, he is not 875
So kind to take the forfeit of my life, 876
But he will make the price of my neglect 877
Cassandra's innocent blood. If I obey not 878
To do an act injurious to virtue, 879
Thy soul must be divorced. 880
Cassandra
Sir, I have read it,
And were not worthy of Vittori's love 881
To value this poor life above his honor. 882
Keep your high thoughts, preserve all peace within you; 883
You shall not buy my breath with your own shame. 884
I'll die with that devotion I ha' prayed for you, 885
Which, trust me, was most heartily, and I'll shed 886
No tears for my own funeral; if any 887
Unruly drop break forth when we are parting, 888
'Tis more to leave Vittori than the world. 889
Yet if thou wilt give me leave, I'll confess to thee, 890
Before my head fall from this other piece 891
I would deceive the hangman; for ere thou 892
Go from me, with a sigh into thy bosom, 893
I would convey my spirit and leave him 894
But a pale ghost to mock his execution. 895
Vittori
I cannot hold, this conflict is more fierce 896
Than many thousand battles. Canst thou die? 897
Cassandra
If you will have it so. You have taught me 898
To be in love with noble thoughts; I shall 899
Have some weep o'er my hearse, and when I'm gone, 900
Sealed by my blood a martyr for thy love, 901
The world shall praise me for it, and the virgins 902
And wives, if I obtain no other monument, 903
Build me a tomb within their hearts and pay 904
Their yearly songs and garlands to my memory 905
That died to save Vittori's life and honor. 906
Vittori
How should Cassandra die to save Vittori? 907
Cassandra
Allow it 908
So you be happy, and although my wishes 909
Are rather for the punishment of Naples, 910
More cruel than our enemies, yet if you 911
Think it dishonor to oppose that country, 912
I have a heart most willing to preserve 913
By any death your fame. Lose not a scruple 914
Of yourself for me; I carry thy love with me 915
And prophesy my story shall throw more 916
Disgrace on Naples than all thy revolt 917
Can bring upon thy name. 918
Vittori
I am in a tempest
And know not how to steer; destruction dwells 919
On both sides. 920
Cassandra
Come, resolve.
Vittori
I must – To let
Forgive me then, 921
Great Genius of my country, that to save 922
Her life I bring my honor to the grave. 923
(Exeunt.)

[3.2]

(Enter Fabio and Mauritio at several doors.)
Fabio
I know not what to say to these garboils. There's a hot Naples toward, and the Prince is so humorous o'th'other side I dare not come near him. – Captain Mauritio!
Mauritio
Signor Fabio, you dishonor your body by straining so much complement.
Fabio
Your humble servant, Captain.
Mauritio
A court instrument, and so deep a base you forget yourself! Have the wars made this alteration? Keep your garb and be staunch, signor: a captain is a thing too coarse for your acquaintance, you won't know soldiers in peace.
Fabio
Alas, sir! The necessity of my affairs at court and place so devours my attendance that I cannot give that respect which is due to a gentleman of your quality. No neglect, I beseech you, sir.
Mauritio
I am glad 'tis come about, what do you think now of a musket bullet next your heart? 'Tis very provocative. Come, be not sad, thou mayst live a day or two longer.
Fabio
I hope, Captain, the state of the city is not so desperate.
Mauritio
We expect a battle every hour, and the walls to fly about our ears; if they should be patient, we ha' not provision to endure a siege. What will become of your pumps, signor, your wrought shirts and rich nightcaps? I say nothing of your wardrobe, jewels and other trinkets.
Fabio
I stand not upon them; my life is more precious to me than all these.
Mauritio
What pity it is, so profound a gentleman should die by gunpowder! What would you give to be saved now?
Fabio
How d'ye mean, Captain?
Mauritio
For your soul let it shift, I think thou hast little care on't thyself; there be many would give all their estate to outlive these combustions.
Fabio
I would I were sure on't, condition I lost half my land.
Mauritio
A match! My life against half your land to secure you and make an indifferent bargain presently.
Fabio
Your life? How are you sure to live?
Mauritio
If I die, you have half your land by't; if you live, 'tis worthy dividing transitory fortunes, I shall ha' the worst match on't.
Fabio
But how will you assure me, Captain?
Mauritio
Thou art not senseless! Why, your venture is but land against my life, which is more precious, I hope, than thousand acres; is not this to be considered? Clap hands, and we will have articles drawn for mutual assurances. I do not this to every man, but I hope to have good on thee hereafter. Enter King of Naples, Prince, Julio [and] Alberto. The King!
Fabio
And Prince.
Mauritio
Let's withdraw then, and conclude 'tis a safe bargain for you, sir: if you fail, what would all your estate do you good? And then I forfeit my life; if you scape, I have but half your land.
Fabio
I understand and thank you, noble Captain.
(Exeunt.)
King of Naples
Alphonso must be sent for out of prison, 924
He's an experienced soldier. 925
Prince
To betray us?
King of Naples
Now we are punished for Vittori's banishment. 926
Prince
Your fear will make us cowards. 927
Julio
Shall we make
A sally forth? 928
King of Naples
Alberto.
Prince
We'll expect more
Advantage first, they have finished their redoubt. 929
Is our river guarded with a sconce? 930
Julio
On that part
No enemy can endanger us. 931
King of Naples
What if you
Tested Alphonso? He has been ever faithful, 932
And we too rash. 933
Prince
Keep prudent watches, Julio,
Something i'th'evening may be attempted. 934
Death is the worst, and better fall with honor 935
Than owe our life to fears. I would Cassandra 936
Were in their camp. O Julio! 937
Julio
'Twere better
She were at home in your possession. 938
([Enter Fabio.])
Fabio
A herald, sir. 939
Prince
Admit him.
([Exit Fabio.])
King of Naples
Alberto, Julio.
(Exeunt [Alberto and Julio].)
([Re-]enter [Fabio], with Vittori [disguised as] a herald.)
Prince
What's the complement now? 940
Vittori
Thus Naples is saluted from my master: 941
Provoked by injuries above the patience 942
Of kings to suffer, without thirst of blood 943
Or pride of conquest, he is come in arms 944
To ask a satisfaction. If you would 945
Not know the fury of a war, which acts, 946
Such horrid ruins 'gainst men and nature, that 947
Repentance cannot easily absolve 948
The guilt in them that caused it, meet conditions 949
And deserve timely my great master's friendship 950
With mercy on yourselves. 951
Prince
Mercy!
King of Naples
Be temperate.
Vittori
Remember , wounds are made more easily 952
Than cured, and now arrived within your country, 953
Revenge may spread a wild destruction. 954
Let mothers still enjoy their sleep and dwell 955
Within their husbands' bosom; let their children 956
Live to requite the parents' groan and prosper; 957
Let old men pay their debt only to nature, 958
And virgins dedicate their yet chaste womb 959
To Hymen's holy use, or at their choirs 960
With freedom of their souls sing holy prayers 961
For the sweet peace you lend 'em to serve heaven. 962
Prince
This fellow's sent to mock us; in my heart 963
I repent all the tie of arms and nations 964
That gives such saucy freedom to a herald. 965
Vittori
I claim my privilege and dare say more. 966
Prince
What more? 967
Vittori
Vittori is our general.
King of Naples, Prince
Vittori? Dares that traitor – 968
Vittori
When kings leave
Their justice and throw shame upon deservers, 969
Patience so wounded turns a Fury. 970
Prince
How!
Dares Sicily trust him? 971
Vittori
Yes, he has good pledge;
Too great a pawn. 972
Prince
This, this vexation
I did expect, but we must not be frighted. 973
Tell your insulting master he shall find 974
Men that both dare and can resist this fury. 975
Conditions we despise, nor let him magnify 976
His purchase in that rebel; every soldier 977
With us hath equal courage to Vittori, 978
But a soul far more honest. 979
Vittori
Honest?
Prince
So, sir;
This war shall justify upon his heart. 980
Vittori
I dare not stay to hear more, least my passions 981
Betray me; what a fire this language has 982
Shot through my blood! The poor old king says nothing, 983
But fills a place like a state cipher. 984
Prince
Herald,
Return this to that giant of your war, 985
Vittori; in his absence, we shall find 986
A punishment for his treason. And, to cool 987
His hot veins, say the first attempt he makes 988
Against us shall as valiantly be answered 989
With his father's head. 990
Vittori
Ha!
Prince
By thy master's soul
It shall! And this is all our answer. See 991
Him safe without the walls. 992
(Exeunt [all but Vittori].)
Vittori
Thunder has struck me!
I feel new stings about my heart: my father? 993
Was ever man so miserably thrown 994
Upon despair? If I refuse their war, 995
I lose my wife Cassandra; if I fight, 996
My father bleeds. Some divine arm sustain 997
My feeble soul, instruct it how I should 998
Distinguish sorrow and which blessing rather 999
I should now part with: a dear wife or father! 1000
([Exit.])

4[.1]

(Enter Rosinda [and] Cassandra.)
Rosinda
But did the Prince affect thee so, Cassandra? 1001
Cassandra
I have told you, madam, every circumstance; 1002
I should but flatter my own misery 1003
To speak it less. Misfortune had not made me 1004
Your prisoner now if he had been more temperate. 1005
Rosinda
But did thy heart allow him no affection? 1006
Thou wert much unkind. 1007
Cassandra
He had my duty, madam,
Which still I owe him as my prince, but I 1008
Had but one faith, and that was given Vittori. 1009
I fear I have displeased you. 1010
Rosinda
No, thou hast not.
Dost think he loves thee still? 1011
Cassandra
I know not, madam,
But I hope not. 1012
Rosinda
Would I could hope so too!
Thou hast deserved my confidence, and although 1013
Thou canst not help me, I must tell thee all. 1014
I love that Prince, loved when I first saw him, 1015
And when he courted me, I thought 'twas necessary 1016
To show I had a soft heart, but he flattered 1017
And took too soon occasion of his absence. 1018
The wounds he left upon Horatio 1019
Were not so deep as mine, which howsoe'er 1020
I have disguised yet from my father's eye, 1021
Can find no cure without his surgery 1022
That left them in my bosom; to this end 1023
I urged my father to this war and begged 1024
With many prayers to witness his revenge. 1025
Cassandra
That was a desperate remedy. How if 1026
Your father be o'ercome and you made prisoners? 1027
Rosinda
We shall find death or ransom: the first would 1028
Conclude my sufferings; th'other not much harm us, 1029
Perhaps advance my ends. But if the victory 1030
Should crown our army, I should interpose 1031
To make conditions for the Prince; fate must 1032
Decide one of these ways. 1033
Cassandra
Madam, I pity you.
Sure if the Prince knew with what constancy 1034
Your love breathes after him, he would find a passion 1035
To meet your noble flame. 1036
Rosinda
I know not whether
To pray for victory or to be conquered, 1037
For till the wars conclude I must despair 1038
To see whom my desires pursue. 1039
Cassandra
'Tis possible
That you may see him, madam. 1040
Rosinda
When?
Cassandra
This night,
And speak with him, without exposing your 1041
Person to any danger. 1042
Rosinda
Prithee do not
Mock me, sweet friend. 1043
Cassandra
You were compassionate
Of me, and 'tis but duty I should answer it 1044
With my desires to serve you. Not to hold 1045
Your thoughts in expectation, is there any 1046
Gentleman near whom you dare trust? 1047
Rosinda
With what?
Cassandra
With carriage of a paper. I shall run 1048
Some hazard, but there's nothing can weigh down 1049
That goodness you have showed me, being a stranger. 1050
I'll frame a letter, madam, in my name, 1051
And by some charm of love invite him to 1052
Your tent; if he retain part of that flame 1053
Which did so command in him, be assured 1054
The Prince will come. 1055
Rosinda
Thou wert create to make
Me blest, but with what safety can he reach 1056
Thus far and not be known? 1057
Cassandra
He to whose trust
You give this secret shall remove that fear. 1058
Rosinda
There is a captain – 1059
Cassandra
Best of all.
Rosinda
Fabrichio.
Cassandra
Send for him straight: if you allow this device, 1060
I'll presently dispatch the amorous summons. 1061
Rosinda
I'll call thee sister! 1062
Cassandra
Call me servant, madam;
In that I am honored. 1063
(Exit.)
(Enter Flavia disguised [as a hag].)
Flavia
Are you ready, madam?
Rosinda
For what?
Flavia
To laugh; I am turned enchantress, and now 'tis upon the minute, Pazzorello, by the boy's directions, comes for his magical armor.
Rosinda
I have something of more consequence to finish, but I may be at the end of your mirth.
(Exit.)
Flavia
Prosper in all your wishes.
(Enter Didimo.)
Didimo
Flavia! That's excellent, Hecate never looked so dreadfully. Where's the Princess?
Flavia
She commanded not to expect her, but she'll not be long absent. Where's the gamester?
Didimo
Almost within reach of your voice. You'll remember the circumstance, that he may be capable of the charm; he's mad to be enchanted.
Flavia
I warrant you; I have some furies to assist me too. Conduct him hither. [Exit Didimo.] If the fool after this conceiving himself bewitched should grow valiant and do wonders, who can help it? If he have but the wit to keep his own counsel, let him take his course. But he approaches.
([Re-]enter Pazzorello and Didimo.)
Didimo
That is she.
Pazzorello
That old hag?
Didimo
Good words! She has come two hundred mile to day upon a distaff: salute her, she expects it.
Pazzorello
Would you have me kiss the devil?
Didimo
Do, I say. –
This is the gentleman, my loving aunt, 1064
For whom I do beseech your powerful spells. 1065
Flavia
To make him slick and shot-free? 1066
Didimo
Right, dear aunt.
He is a precious friend of mine, and one 1067
That will be ready servant to your pleasures 1068
At midnight or what hour you please to call him. 1069
Pazzorello
Thou wouldst not ha' me lie with the old witch? What a generation of hobgoblins should we have together!
Didimo
Nor, for this benefit, shall you find him only 1070
Obedient to yourself, but very dutiful 1071
To any devil you have. 1072
Flavia
He is welcome, child.
Pazzorello
What a saltpeter breath she has!
Flavia
Where is Mephistopheles?
Pazzorello
No more devils, if you love me.
Flavia
I must have some to search him.
Pazzorello
Search me? Where? For what?
Didimo
How much was I overseen not to give you warning! Be not afraid; what have you about you?
Pazzorello
About me, where? In my breeches? What do you mean? I shall be cut for the stone.
Didimo
Have you any money about you?
Pazzorello
Yes, I have money of all complexions in my pocket.
Didimo
Away with it, as you love yourself! Not for your right hand have one piece of gold or silver about you, no charms can fasten on you then; her spells can have no power if you do not throw it away instantly – give me't, I'll keep it from her knowledge, this were a trick indeed –. Have you no goldfinches in your fob?
Pazzorello
I defy him that has anything in the likeness of coin.
Didimo
This is all money in your pocket, and come to be made shot-free!
Pazzorello
What must I do now?
Didimo
Kneel down and expect with obedience and admiration what will become on you. – [Pazzorello kneels and Didimo blindfolds him.] Great aunt, the gentleman is clear and ready. – You are sure you have no more impediment of this nature? If you dissemble and be killed afterward, thank yourself.
Flavia
Where be my spirits?
Didimo
He humbly desires you would finish him as privately as might be: he does not know the constitution of every devil, and to make too many acquainted, if he could be finished otherwise, your art may dispense.
Flavia
He must cut off his little finger, then.
Pazzorello
How! Cut off my finger?
Didimo
What did you mean? Here's a ring, a diamond.
Pazzorello
I had forgot it.
Didimo
No more, off with't if you love your hand! Here's a jest to fool away your life quickly; not for the world present it to her. – Great lady of the Laplanders, this gentleman implores your mercy to his joints, and offering this trifle, humbly prays you would honor him to wear it for his sake.
Flavia
Comes it freely off?
Pazzorello
It came off very hard, but I beseech your learned beldamship to accept it as a token of my duty.
Flavia
I do, and thus prepared, delay 1073
My charms no longer. – "Come away, 1074
You spirits that attend upon 1075
This powerful incantation. 1076
Have you brought that sacred juice 1077
Which at such a time we use? 1078
Distil it gently I command, 1079
Holding his ears with either hand." 1080
([Didimo pulls his ears and throughout the scene continues to play the part of the spirits in beating and kicking Pazzorello as Flavia directs.])
Pazzorello
Oh, my ears!
Didimo
The more pain she puts you to now, the less you'll feel hereafter, sir.
Flavia
"Now rub his temples, forehead eke, 1081
Give his nose a gentle tweak. 1082
Strike off paleness and bestow 1083
On either cheek a lusty blow, 1084
Take him by the hair and pull it; 1085
Now his head's free from sword and bullet." 1086
Pazzorello
What will they do with the rest of my body?
Flavia
"Grasp his neck till he groan twice." 1087
Pazzorello
Oh, oh!
Flavia
"Enough, now let the young man rise, 1088
Thus on his shoulders I dispense 1089
My wand to keep all bullets thence 1090
And other weapons that would harm. 1091
Pinch him now on either arm, 1092
fairy-like." 1093
Pazzorello
Oh, pox o' the devil – oh!
Flavia
"On his breast give him a thump 1094
And two kicks upon the rump. 1095
No circumstance must be forgot 1096
To make him free from stick and shot, 1097
And now my potent charms are done. 1098
This man is free from sword and gun." 1099
Didimo
Bounce! You're made forever.
Flavia
"Farewell to both, for now must I 1100
On my wingèd jennet fly. – 1101
Suckle and Hoppo, fetch long strides 1102
By your mistress as she rides. 1103
(Exit Flavia, [Pazzorello rises, and then Didimo unbinds his eyes].)
Pazzorello
Whither is she gone now?
Didimo
Home to a witches' upsitting; she's there by this time.
Pazzorello
Where?
Didimo
In Lapland; she will cross the sea in an egg-shell, and upon land hath a thousand ways to convey herself in a minute: I did but whistle and she came to me.
Pazzorello
She knows your whistle, belike! Well, art thou sure I am enchanted now?
Didimo
It concerns you to be sure on't, and I must tell you one thing: if you make the least doubt on't, you'll endanger all; charms in this kind are nothing without the imagination, believe it, and if any sword or bullet have power to hurt you, ne'er trust your granam again.
Pazzorello
Nay, nay, I do believe it and will be valiant accordingly; they pinched and kicked me devilishly for all that.
Didimo
You're the better proof for't; you cannot be pinched or kicked too much in such a cause. What! To be made slick and shot-free? Now do I foresee you'll be captain within these three days; you cannot avoid it, sir, who will not honor that man whom the bullets are afraid of? [Re-]enter Rosinda, Cassandra [and] Fabrichio. The Princess.
Fabrichio
Repent your grace thought me a gentleman 1104
If I fail in this duty. 1105
Rosinda
Not a syllable
Of me. 1106
Fabrichio
I am charmed.
Cassandra
Happy success attend you!
Fabrichio
Your highness has much honored me, and, lady, 1107
I kiss your fair hand. 1108
Pazzorello
Captain, Captain, a word!
Fabrichio
I am in haste now.
(Exit.)
Pazzorello
Sure the Captain's afraid of me: he knows by instinct what I am.
Didimo
Your grace missed excellent mirth.
Rosinda
'Tis done then? Bid him follow us.
(Exeunt [Rosinda and Cassandra].)
Didimo
The Princess desires to speak with you.
Pazzorello
Desires to speak with me! – You have not told her?
Didimo
D'ye think I would betray you?
Pazzorello
Would somebody would challenge me to fight before her! If the ladies knew I were stick-free, they would tear me in pieces for my company.
Didimo
You do not know what you may get by your body that way; I attend you.
Pazzorello
Knives, daggers, swords, pikes, guns, both great and small, 1109
Now Pazzorello doth defy you all. 1110
(Exeunt.)

[4.2.]

(Enter Alphonso [and] Alberto.)
Alphonso
You tell me wonders: my son, General 1111
Of all the enemy's forces? Can Vittori 1112
Lay such a stain upon our family? 1113
Speak it, my lord, no more: no private injury 1114
Can so corrupt his nature. Come, I know 1115
He dares not fight their cause! 1116
Alberto
I think so too;
The Prince hath cooled his resolution 1117
By this time. 1118
Alphonso
Ha? You are mystical.
Alberto
He has sent
Him word, the first attempt he makes against 1119
The town, your head must answer it. I cannot 1120
Believe howe'er particular wrongs inflame him 1121
To a revenge, but he retains that piety 1122
Which nature printed in him toward a father. 1123
Alphonso
Is obligation to a parent more 1124
Than that we owe our country? O Vittori, 1125
My life were profitably spent to save 1126
Thy honor, which is great in the world's eye! 1127
Time shall be grieved to have preserved thy name 1128
So long, and when this blot shall be observed 1129
Upon the last leaf of thy chronicle, 1130
It shall unsettle quite the reader's faith 1131
To all the former story. 1132
(Enter Julio.)
Alberto
Julio.
Julio
My lord,
It was the King's command I should deliver – 1133
Alphonso
What? 1134
Julio
What must displease you:
You must prepare for death. 1135
Alphonso
Has my son put
Rebellion into act already? That 1136
Will save my executioner a labor; 1137
He has, I read it. Look into the tombs 1138
Of all our ancestors and see their ashes 1139
Look paler than before: the marble sweats, 1140
The ebony pillars that so many years 1141
Sustained our titles shake and sink beneath 'em, 1142
The genius of our house groans at this treason. 1143
I will not live for any man to tell me 1144
I am Vittori's father. 1145
(Enter Prince.)
Alberto
Here's the Prince!
Alphonso
Forgive me, sir, my passions; I have guilt 1146
Enough without 'em to deserve your anger. 1147
He was my son, and that must needs condemn me, 1148
But I will lose him from my blood and cut 1149
His name from that fair list that numbers up 1150
Our family. But I forget myself: 1151
I have no minutes at command, my life 1152
Is at the last sand, and I cannot stay. 1153
Be just and purge Vittori's sin with his 1154
Old father's blood, I do obey your doom. 1155
Prince
What doom? You talk as you were destined 1156
To some black execution. I have 1157
Been too unkind already and must ask 1158
Your gentle pardon for't; by goodness' self 1159
I mock not. I bring life, Alphonso, to thee, 1160
And but prepared, by Julio, thy heart 1161
With sorrow to meet honor with more taste. 1162
Alphonso
Good, my lord, distract me not; let me die 1163
In my right wits. 1164
Julio
Alphonso, you may trust
The Prince: my message was but counterfeit. 1165
Prince
Thou'rt a brave man and canst not be provoked, 1166
I see, to wound thy honest fame, so just 1167
To virtue that thou dar'st prefer her cause 1168
To thy own life, and rather violate 1169
The laws of nature to thy son than leave 1170
((Exit Julio.))
The privilege of honor undefensed. 1171
Thus we embrace thee – do not kneel, Alphonso, 1172
Unless you'd bring us lower; thus, as a friend 1173
We circle thee, and next, as a soldier 1174
Able in spite of age and active still, 1175
We give these arms, this sword, the best in all 1176
My father's armory and used to conquest. 1177
Take from thy Prince and fight, fight for thy country, 1178
And purchase new wreaths to thy honored brows 1179
Before the old be withered. I do see thee 1180
Already mounted as a challenger, 1181
The proud steed taking fire and metal from 1182
The rider, all bedewed with his white foam, 1183
Flying to meet thy son, whose (once fair) plume 1184
Is stained with blood of his own countrymen. 1185
Alphonso
I reach your sense in part, my lord, but cannot 1186
Gather your words into a sum; beside, 1187
The honor is so great I dare not, with 1188
The safety of my understanding, think 1189
One so unworthy as Alphonso – 1190
Prince
What?
Dares fight against a traitor, for his country? 1191
Alphonso
'Gainst all the world I dare. 1192
Prince
Be valiant
And breathe defiance against one. 1193
Alphonso
A glory
My soul's ambitious of! 1194
Prince
Vittori is
That traitor whose offense, whom dost become 1195
More nobly to chastise than his own father? 1196
Which title, if you should forget to encourage you, 1197
Think whose defense you undertake for whom 1198
You punish, and what consequence of fame 1199
Waits on this pious action. 1200
([Re-]enter Julio.)
Julio
My lord,
A captain of the other side hath boldly offered 1201
Himself a prisoner and desires access 1202
To your highness, to whom only he must impart 1203
Something he says that will be acceptable. 1204
We have searched him and find nothing but a letter 1205
Directed to yourself. 1206
Prince
To me? Admit him. –
([Exit Julio.])
Meantime you may consider. – 1207
(Enter Fabrichio [with Julio].)
Is it with us, Captain? 1208
Fabrichio
Please you peruse this paper. 1209
([Gives him a letter.])
Prince
Ha! From Cassandra? 1210
Alphonso
O Alberto, I
Could wish Vittori dead! But 'twill not satisfy 1211
Unless we murder one another too. 1212
I must challenge him: he is my son 1213
Although he be a rebel. 1214
Prince
Julio,
Thy bosom is my own. – Captain, a word. 1215
([Walks aside with Fabrichio.])
Julio
I am astonished, ha? I like not this. – 1216
My lord. 1217
([Goes up to Prince.])
Alberto
The Prince is troubled, something like
Excess of joy transports him. 1218
Prince
Thou'rt a fool!
Julio
This may be a plot; how dare you trust yourself 1219
Upon this invitation? 1220
Prince
Not on this?
([Shows Julio the letter.])
Be coward then forever! 1221
Julio
Are you sure
This is her character? 1222
Prince
Perfectly;
Beside, she has confirmed me by this ring. 1223
Vittori gave it her, I know't, and wooed her 1224
Once to exchange. 1225
Julio
Yet think upon the danger.
Prince
I would run 1226
Through flames to meet her: use no arguments, 1227
I can be at the worst a prisoner, 1228
And shall be ransomed; keep you counsel, sir. – 1229
Captain, the word? [Fabrichio whispers to Prince.] Enough. 1230
Kiss her white hand and say 1231
I come this night. – [To Alberto] Wait on him to the gates, 1232
Let his return be safe. [Exit Alberto with Fabrichio.] – Alphonso, how 1233
Stands your resolve? Dare you be Naples' champion 1234
Against the enemy proposed? 1235
Alphonso
My son!
Will both the Kings trust to our swords their cause? 1236
Prince
I cannot promise that. 1237
Alphonso
What profit brings
My valor, then, if I o'ercome? 1238
Prince
Addition
To your own fame, to have cut off a rebel. 1239
Alphonso
So I must kill my son, or he must be 1240
A parricide. 1241
Prince
Nay, if you be so scrupulous –
I looked you'd have thanked me, and have run to't. 1242
Alphonso
Except Vittori, sir, and I dare challenge 1243
The proudest in their army. 1244
Prince
You are afraid
Of him, belike; 'tis such a kill-cow gentleman! 1245
But I court you to nothing; you may think on't, 1246
You're now no more a prisoner. – Julio! 1247
(Exeunt [Prince and Julio].)
Alphonso
I am worse.
I had some room before; now, I'm confined 1248
To such a strait my heart must of necessity 1249
Contract itself. My own thoughts stifle me. 1250
Vittori is lost already; I must go 1251
Another way to find out my own ruin. 1252
(Exit.)

[4.3]

([Enter] Horatio [and] Cassandra.)
Horatio
Lady, you think not what I am, how near 1253
The bosom of a king. 1254
Cassandra
You cannot be
So near as I am to Vittori, sir, 1255
And you increase my wonder that you can 1256
Nourish the least hope that I should forget 1257
My own tie by rememb'ring what relation 1258
You have to any other. If the King 1259
Did know this, he would chide you. 1260
Horatio
Come, I see
You must be courted otherwise, with action. 1261
Cassandra
How, sir? 1262
Horatio
And if you will not be so civil
To change one kindness for another, I 1263
Have skill to prompt you thus. 1264
([Kisses her.])
Cassandra
You are not noble!
Horatio
Tush, this is nothing! I have been too tame, 1265
And howsoe'er you wittily compose 1266
Your countenance; you cannot choose but laugh at me, 1267
That I have been so modest all this while. 1268
Come, I have another inside, and do know 1269
You are a woman and should know yourself 1270
And to what end we love you; what are you 1271
The worse by private favors to a gentleman 1272
That have at home been sued too with petitions, 1273
And great ones, of both sexes to accept 1274
Wives, daughters, anything, and think themselves 1275
Honored to take the first fruits? I could have 1276
The virgins of whole families entailed 1277
Upon me and be brought as duly to 1278
My bed, as they grow ripe and fit for coupling, 1279
As men whose lands are mortgaged would observe 1280
Their covenants and the day. 1281
Cassandra
I'll hear no more.
(Exit.)
Horatio
So peremptory, lady? Take your course, 1282
The time may come you will repent this forciveness. – 1283
(Enter Fabrichio.)
Whither in haste, Fabrichio? 1284
Fabrichio
My good lord,
I have brought news. Where is the Princess, sir? 1285
Horatio
Thou art almost out of breath. What news, I prithee? 1286
Fabrichio
News that will please my lord. 1287
Horatio
You ask for the Princess, will they please my lady? 1288
Fabrichio
Yes, and the t'other lady too, Cassandra. 1289
Horatio
Will it spread joy no farther? 1290
Fabrichio
Yes, it will please you,
And please the King and the whole army. 1291
Horatio
Strange!
You may impart it then. 1292
Fabrichio
My duty, sir,
Did aim it first to you; I was engaged 1293
To deliver a letter in Cassandra's name 1294
To the Prince of Naples, to invite his person 1295
Privately this night. 1296
Horatio
Whither?
Fabrichio
To the Princess' tent. 1297
Horatio
And hast thou done't?
Fabrichio
Done't, and bring back his word to visit 'em. 1298
Horatio
Art sure, the Prince? 1299
Fabrichio
As sure as I am your creature.
This will be welcome to the ladies, what use 1300
You are to make of this, becomes not my 1301
Instruction; if it be of any consequence, 1302
To make his person sure, when he arrives – 1303
Horatio
This service will be grateful, I'll acquaint 1304
The King. 1305
Fabrichio
I have directed him how he shall pass. 1306
Horatio
And make it good, away! This makes thee happy. 1307
The King shall know it instantly; they're here, 1308
I'll give you scope. 1309
(Exit.)
(Enter Rosinda, Cassandra, Flavia and Didimo.)
Rosinda
He is returned.
Cassandra
What answer?
Fabrichio
To your desires. 1310
Flavia
Where's Pazzorello now?
Didimo
He's quarreling with somebody; he is so confident and domineers – Enter Pazzorello, bloody. Ha? 'Tis he! He bleeds too.
Pazzorello
A pox o' your enchantments! I had like to have my brains beaten out. What will become of me?
Didimo
Why, this is nothing, sir.
Pazzorello
"Nothing, sir." [Mocks Didimo.] Would thou hadst it!
Didimo
Let me ask you a question, what weapon did it?
Pazzorello
I gave but the lie to an old soldier, as we were drinking together, and he presently claps me o'er the pate with the rest of his musket.
Didimo
That may be, but no sword or gun shall endanger you; as for truncheon, baton and such wooden batteries, you must fortify yourself as well as you can against 'em. Beside, sir, there is no breach of conditions in losing a little blood: you may have your head broken in twenty places, nay, you may be beaten and bruised in every part of your body, but all this while you are slick and shot free your life is your own, and then what need you care, sir?
Pazzorello
This is some satisfaction.
Didimo
Should you challenge him at rapier, you should quickly find who will have the worst on't.
Rosinda
This service shall be otherwise rewarded: 1311
I'll trust your secrecy, 1312
He will be a fit man to engage; beside, 1313
'Tis his desire. 1314
Fabrichio
You may command me.
Rosinda
Wait upon
This gentleman, Pazzorello! He 1315
Will use you nobly for my sake. 1316
Pazzorello
Must I
Be a perdu now? Madam, I humbly thank you. 1317
(Exeunt Fabrichio and Pazzorello.)
Cassandra
The night comes fast upon us. 1318
Rosinda
It cannot come
Too swiftly that brings so much happiness. 1319
But 'tis an argument of much love to thee 1320
That can at such a time invite him hither. 1321
Cassandra
I hope you feed no jealousy of me. 1322
I did all for your service, and shall then 1323
Think I am happy when he knows your love 1324
And values it. 1325
Rosinda
I have no fears of thee!
Cassandra
Have none at all. 1326
Rosinda
Flavia!
Flavia
Madam.
Rosinda
You must keep watch tonight. 1327
Flavia
My duty, madam.
Rosinda
Come, let us tell some stories to pass over 1328
The tedious hours. 1329
Cassandra
I wait your pleasure.
Flavia
Come, Didimo, we shall have your tale too. 1330
Didimo
Mine's short and sweet, still at a lady's service. 1331
(Exeunt.)

[4.4]

(Enter [a] Sergeant [and] Pazzorello.)
Sergeant
Follow me close; I hope you have made your will.
Pazzorello
My will? Why, Sergeant, I am not sick.
Sergeant
For all that you may be a dead man ere morning – [Firing heard.] Whizz!
Pazzorello
What's that?
Sergeant
These bullets will keep you waking! Here, lie down close; within two hours you shall be relieved.
Pazzorello
Dost hear, Sergeant? [Again.] Whizz! Do the enemies shoot any sugar-plums?
Sergeant
Be not too loud in your mirth; I see another give fire. Farewell, signor Perdu.
([Exit.])
Pazzorello
So, now I am a perdu ; this will be news when I come home again, the poor fellows will fall down and worship me! I always wondered why we had so many brave soldiers and quarreling spirits; if they be shot-free, I cannot blame 'em to roar so much in taverns. [Again.] Whizz! Again, I would fain have one of these bullets hit me, that I might know certainly the toughness of my new constitution and yet I shall hardly be sensible of it. Ah, my conscience! If I were crammed into a cannon and shot into the town, like a cat I should light upon my legs and run home again!
(Enter Prince.)
Prince
Love be propitious still and guide my steps! 1332
Thou hast engaged me thus far. 1333
Pazzorello
Uh, uh!
([Coughs.])
Prince
Who's that?
Pazzorello
There's somebody; now I begin for all this to be afraid. Flesh will be flesh and tremble, in spite of the devil. What were I best to do?
Prince
'Tis some perdu.
Pazzorello
Though I be stick and shot-free, I may be beaten and bruised, as I remember; more, I may be taken prisoner by the enemy and be hanged afterward, and then what, am I the better for my enchantment? What a dull rogue was I not to except the gallows in my conditions! But it may be there is but one.
Prince
Rosinda!
Pazzorello
Oh, are you there? 'Tis my lady the Princess' name!
Prince
Thy lady? Prithee show me the way to her tent.
Pazzorello
I had almost forgot such a gentleman is expected.
Prince
Here's gold, prithee make haste.
Pazzorello
Now, by your favor, you shall first go to my Captain.
Prince
His name?
Pazzorello
Fabrichio.
Prince
The same; with all my heart, here's more gold.
Pazzorello
I will make the more haste.
(Exeunt.)

[4.5]

(Enter King of Sicily, [and behind] Horatio and a guard.)
King of Sicily
Thy news does take me infinitely; if he 1334
Keep touch, we may propound what articles 1335
We please. 1336
Horatio
Fabrichio is confident he'll come.
King of Sicily
He will deserve our favor; keep at distance. 1337
Sent for in Cassandra's name? Belike 1338
He loves that lady, let him. 'Tis a strange 1339
Adventure, sure my daughter is of counsel 1340
With her; she had some bend that way, till he 1341
Became ingrateful to us. 1342
Horatio
When you have
Him in possession, you may throw off 1343
Vittori, on whose honesty I fear, 1344
Under your princely favor, you have built 1345
Too much, but heaven has sent the young Prince hither 1346
To disengage your trust: he that dares prove 1347
A rebel to his country, dares be guilty 1348
Of any other treason. 1349
King of Sicily
What shall we
Do with Cassandra? 1350
Horatio
Keep her still to wait
Upon the Princess, and expect the first 1351
Opportunity for your kingdom. Naples will 1352
Attend your leisure then, and court your mercy. 1353
(Enter Prince, Cassandra, Rosinda [and] Flavia, [followed by] Pazzorello aloof.)
King of Sicily
Be silent. 1354
Horatio
Lose no time.
Prince
For this embrace,
I dare again neglect my life – 1355
([The King and Horatio come forward, and then the guard seizes the Prince.])
villains!
Rosinda
We are betrayed – my father! 1356
Cassandra
O misfortune!
Pazzorello
What will become of me?
King of Sicily
You're welcome, Prince of Naples.
Prince
Am I betrayed? False woman!
Pazzorello
An't please your majesty, I am innocent; I brought him hither, I confess.
King of Sicily
Reward him.
Horatio
Come hither, sirrah.
Pazzorello
How's this? Are you in earnest? My lord, a word – But is this the Prince of Naples?
Horatio
The very same, sir.
Pazzorello
Take your gold again, I will have more for taking a Prince; I crave the law of arms, I will have his ransom.
King of Sicily
Away with the fool!
Pazzorello
Give me my prisoner again, then.
(Exit.)
Rosinda
Sir, hear me. 1357
King of Sicily
Another time, Rosinda. –
By thy duty – 1358
(Exit Rosinda and Flavia.)
Cassandra
Hear me, great sir.
King of Sicily
We'll hear and thank thee at more leisure too. 1359
Attend our daughter. 1360
Cassandra
O my lord, be you
But master of so much charity. 1361
Prince
Away!
Never was such a black and fatal hour 1362
As that when I first saw thy cozening face. 1363
(Enter Vittori.)
Vittori
The Prince? I dare not trust my senses, ha? 1364
How came he hither? Wonder circles me, 1365
Cassandra busy with him too! She courts him – 1366
The basilisk is not more killing than 1367
This object. 1368
Prince
Strumpet, hence!
Vittori
Ha?
Cassandra
My lord Vittori!
Vittori
What name was that the Prince bestowed upon you? 1369
Yet do not answer me – away, new tortures! 1370
(Exit Cassandra.)
Prince
Vittori! Ha, ha, ha! 1371
Vittori
Your grace is mighty merry; I could wish 1372
You had more cause. 1373
Prince
Vittori, I see trouble in thy face; 1374
Perhaps 'tis wonder upon what invitation 1375
I am a guest here. 1376
Vittori
Are you not a prisoner?
Prince
You are no stranger to the plot, it seems. 1377
Base villain, to betray thy Prince! 1378
Vittori
My lord,
You are too rash in censure – I betray you? 1379
I am so far from the conspiracy 1380
That yet I cannot reach it in my thought, 1381
Much less with guilty knowledge! I dare tell you 1382
The devil sha'not tempt me to't, nor more 1383
Wrongs than your hate can throw upon me. 1384
Prince
Juggling!
Can he that dares take arms against his country 1385
Make conscience to betray a part of it, 1386
His Prince? Degenerate rebel! 1387
Vittori
Heaven and this King
Know upon what severe necessity 1388
I am engaged to war. 1389
King of Sicily
As things fall out
Your valor may be useless. We acknowledge 1390
This happiness from Cassandra, though she meant 1391
Other success. 1392
Vittori
Cassandra?
Prince
Yes! That piece
Of frailty, rather impudence, by the witchcraft 1393
Of her letter tempted me thus far – a curse 1394
Upon her lust! 1395
([Gives Vittori Cassandra’s letter.])
Vittori
Indeed you called her strumpet,
She may deserve it by this story. 'Tis 1396
Her character! My eyes take in new horror. 1397
((Reads.))
"My lord, if it be not too late to be sensible of your princely affection to me, I implore your mercy and will deserve it by my repentance. I am by misfortune a captive to your enemy, but blest with the freedom to remember you, I have a design for my enlargement, and if I durst cherish an ambition of your presence this night, dare confidently pronounce our mutual happiness. This ring be witness of my true invitation, and doubt not her faith to your safety, who will sooner forfeit her own life than betray you to the least dishonor. This gentleman shall instruct you with more particulars; pardon, great prince, this infinite boldness of your servant, and if all the seeds of love be not destroyed, visit and preserve your otherwise miserable Cassandra."
And all this while I live and have my senses. 1398
O woman, woman! – [To the King] Sir, if you remember, 1399
'Twas your conclusion, if I refused 1400
To be your General against my country, 1401
Cassandra's head should off. Be constant, King! 1402
I won’t. 1403
King of Sicily
What?
Vittori
Not fight, nor for your kingdom;
She cannot bleed too much. – [To the Prince] As for you, sir – 1404
Prince
What of me? 1405
Vittori
You're still my Prince, thank heaven for that.
Did you else grasp an empire and your person 1406
Guarded with thunder, I would reach and kill you, 1407
By my just rage I would! Stay, I will fight. 1408
Horatio
With whom? 1409
Vittori
With you, or all the world, that dare maintain 1410
There is a woman virtuous. 1411
Horatio
Neglect him.
Prince
How he breaks out at forehead! This is some 1412
Revenge yet. 1413
King of Sicily
Come, my lord, you must with us. –
[To Vittori] Here your command determines; we shall have 1414
No further use of your great valor, sir. 1415
([Exeunt all but Vittori.])
Vittori
You may with as much ease discharge me of 1416
A life too: your breath does it, for I dare 1417
Not kill myself; in that I am a coward. 1418
O my heart's grief! Preserve my right wits, heaven: 1419
The wickedness of other women could 1420
But shame themselves – which, like wild branches being 1421
Cut off, the tree is beautiful again –, 1422
But this spreads an infection, and all 1423
The sex is wounded in Cassandra's fall. 1424
(Exit.)

[5.1]

(Enter Rosinda, Flavia [and] Didimo.)
Rosinda
Away, your mirth displeases! 1425
Flavia
Madam, I hope
I have not offended. 1426
Rosinda
Let the boy begone.
Didimo
Good madam, laugh a little: 'tis my duty 1427
To drive away your sadness. 'Tis all the 1428
Use ladies have for pages now and then 1429
To purge their melancholy. 1430
Rosinda
Do not tempt my anger.
Didimo
Then I'll go seek out Pazzorello, 1431
He's better company and will make me laugh 1432
If his fit of immortality hold. My duty, madam. 1433
(Exit.)
Rosinda
O Flavia, I am undone! 1434
Flavia
Not so, dear madam.
Rosinda
Though I be innocent, I want the courage 1435
To tell the Prince Cesario, I love. 1436
Were I allowed access, he must imagine 1437
Me guilty of his dishonor, nor can I 1438
Be happy while he thinks himself so miserable. 1439
Art thou so wise to counsel me? – 1440
(Enter Vittori.)
Vittori!
Vittori
Madam, I have an humble suit to you. 1441
Rosinda
To me, Vittori? For Cassandra's sake 1442
I must deny you nothing. 1443
Vittori
For her sake
I beg it. 1444
Rosinda
Pray be plain.
Vittori
That you would speak
To th' King. 1445
Rosinda
For what?
Vittori
To cut my head off.
Rosinda
How?
Vittori
With sword or axe, or by what other engine 1446
He please; I know you'll easily obtain it. 1447
'Tis for Cassandra's sake I would be fain 1448
Dispatched; she'll thank you too, and then the Prince 1449
And she may revel. 1450
Rosinda
I do find his jealousy.
Alas! Poor gentleman! 1451
You do not mean so desperately. 1452
Vittori
As you
Love virtue do this favor – if you make 1453
Scruple, there is a King a little further 1454
Will take my life away at the first word, 1455
For I am resolved to die. 1456
Rosinda
Shall I obtain
A small request from you? 1457
Vittori
These are delays.
Rosinda
If you be weary of your life, you'll meet it, 1458
For there is danger in't. 1459
Vittori
And thank you too,
I'll do't by your fair self – now, now, you bless me! 1460
Without exception I'll obey you, madam. 1461
Rosinda
'Tis this. 1462
((Whispers [to him.]))
Vittori
Do you not mock me?
Rosinda
No suspicion.
Vittori
Instantly? 1463
Rosinda
This minute we'll begin it, and I'll promise 1464
Something beside, that you will thank me for – 1465
But things are not yet ripe. Will you do me 1466
This honor? 1467
Vittori
Come, I wait you, but 'tis strange.
Why you should thus engage yourself? 1468
Rosinda
When you know,
You will allow my reasons. 1469
Vitttori
I attend you.
Now farewell, false Cassandra! 1470
(Exeunt.)

[5.2]

(Enter Julio and Mauritio.)
Mauritio
The Prince not to be found? 1471
Julio
I did suspect
That letter might betray him. 1472
(Enter Alberto.)
Now, Alberto,
How is the King? 1473
Alberto
Imagine how a father
Can apprehend the absence of a son 1474
He loved so dearly! But he's justly punished 1475
For his indulgence, though we dare not say so. 1476
Mauritio
'Tis very strange. 1477
Julio
He was merry the last night.
Alberto
What letter was't, Julio, the Captain brought? 1478
I could distinguish it did strangely move him. 1479
Julio
Letter? 1480
Alberto
Can you forget it?
Julio
Pox upon the witch
That sent it! Now shall I be examined and, 1481
If he return not, lose my head. 1482
Was a discovery of some plot the enemy 1483
Purposed that very night. 1484
Mauritio
Perhaps this mischief;
Why was it not prevented? 1485
Julio
I shall make fine work,
I know not how to shadow it; would he had 1486
Lain with my sister rather than engaged 1487
Himself so far for venison! 1488
Alberto
Peace.
(Enter King [of Naples] and Alphonso.)
The King.
Mauritio
And old Alphonso! I am glad to see 1489
His change of fortune. 1490
Alberto
The King ever loved him. 1491
Alphonso
Sir, have comfort,
Your sorrow will discourage all. 1492
King of Naples
Dost think
He is not taken by the enemy, 1493
And put to death? 1494
Alphonso
They dare not, 'tis against
The rules of war. 1495
King of Naples
What dare not men that hate us?
And yet conceal the murder. 1496
(Enter Fabio.)
Fabio
Where's the King?
King of Naples
Here. What portends thy haste and busy countenance? 1497
Fabio
O great sir! 1498
King of Naples
Has thy intelligence brought us knowledge of 1499
Our son? 1500
Fabio
The news I bring, my gracious lord,
Concerns the Prince, and how my heart flows over 1501
That I am pointed out by heaven the first 1502
And happy messenger! 1503
King of Naples
Proceed, and we'll reward thee.
Fabio
All my ambition aims but at your favor; 1504
My soul was never mercenary: 'tis 1505
My duty to wear out my life in services 1506
For you and the whole state, whereof although 1507
I am no able member, yet – 1508
Alphonso
He's mad.
Fabio
It is with joy then, my good lord Alphonso. 1509
And by the way I must congratulate 1510
Your present favor with the King: I knew 1511
The noble faculties of your soul at last 1512
Would find their merit. 1513
King of Naples
Villain! What dost rack
My expectation? Speak, what of my son? 1514
Answer me without circumstance, where is 1515
The Prince? Be brief, or – 1516
Fabio
I know not, my good lord.
King of Naples
Traitor! Didst not prepare me to expect 1517
News of my son, pronouncing thyself happy 1518
In being the messenger? Is he in health? 1519
Answer to that. 1520
Fabio
I know not, my good lord.
King of Naples
Cut off his head! I shall become the scorn 1521
Of my own subjects. 1522
Fabio
Mercy, royal sir,
And I'll discharge my knowledge. 1523
King of Naples
Tell me then,
And I'll have patience for the rest, but be not 1524
Tedious – is my son alive or dead? 1525
Fabio
Alas, I know not, my good lord. 1526
King of Naples
Confusion!
Fabio
But, with your royal license, I am able 1527
To produce those can satisfy you in every 1528
Particular. 1529
King of Naples
Where? Whom? And quickly save thy life.
Fabio
They wait, sir. 1530
([Exit.])
Mauritio
This fellow was not made for court dispatch:
An elephant will sooner be delivered 1531
Than his head when 'tis stuffed with any business. 1532
([Re-]enter Fabio, [with] Vittori disguised [and] Rosinda.)
King of Naples
A lady! 1533
Alphonso
And a fair one; what's the mystery?
Julio
She's not of Naples, sure. 1534
Alberto
Fabio, what is she?
Rosinda
Sir, you may justly wonder that a woman, 1535
A stranger, and an enemy, although 1536
My sex present you with no fears, should thus 1537
Adventure to your presence. Had I doubted 1538
Myself first, since suspicion of another's 1539
Defect doth rise from our own want of goodness, 1540
I had not used this boldness – but safe here 1541
And armed with innocence, I gave up my freedom 1542
And dare not feed one jealousy my honor 1543
Can suffer with a king. 1544
King of Naples
An excellent presence!
Alphonso
Her bearing is above the common spirit. 1545
King of Naples
Fair lady, make me more acquainted with 1546
Your purpose: nothing can proceed from you 1547
That will not charm us to attention. 1548
Rosinda
Your son, great sir – 1549
King of Naples
Where? Speak, you do not look
As you delighted to report a tragedy. 1550
Lives my Cesario? 1551
Rosinda
He does live, my lord.
King of Naples
Support me, good Alphonso! I shall faint 1552
Under my joy. 1553
Rosinda
But lives a prisoner
To his enemy, the King of Sicily, 1554
Who wished no greater triumph than to boast 1555
His person captive; how he means to deal with him 1556
May admit some fear. Kings that prescribe to others 1557
In peace have great prerogatives, but in war 1558
Allow no laws above what anger dictates 1559
To their revenge, which blood doth often satisfy. 1560
Alphonso
He dares not be so cruel! 1561
Rosinda
I conclude not,
But yet 'tis worth some fear when he, that was 1562
The root of all this war, stands at their mercy 1563
That could not wish his safety and their own 1564
Together. – I have told you, sir, the worst. 1565
King of Naples
Alas, thou hast undone me! 1566
([Faints.])
Alphonso
Sir! My lord!
Lady, you were to blame – my lord! 1567
Rosinda
Your son
Shall live, and bless your age to see him live 1568
If you will be so kind to allow yourself 1569
But eyes to witness it. 1570
King of Naples
Flatter not my soul,
That is already weary of her burden 1571
And would begone to rest. 1572
Rosinda
Gather your spirits.
King of Naples
What hopes? 1573
Rosinda
Assurance, sir, if you but please
To entertain it. I came hither on 1574
No empty motive but to offer you 1575
A pledge for young Cesario. 1576
King of Naples
Where? What pledge?
Rosinda
A pledge of as full value to the owner 1577
As your son's life to you. 1578
Alphonso
Such security
Were welcome. 1579
King of Naples
Make me blest.
Rosinda
Receive me then
Your prisoner and you make your balance even. 1580
Lose not your thought in wonder – when you know 1581
The price of what I have presented you, 1582
Your reason sha'not think him undervalued. 1583
I am Rosinda, daughter to that King 1584
Whose soldiers threaten Naples, equally 1585
As precious to my father and a kingdom, 1586
And to your power thus I expose myself. 1587
If young Cesario meet unkind conditions, 1588
I'th'same proportion let Rosinda suffer: 1589
Erect a scaffold quickly o'er the walls 1590
And fright their jealous eyes when they behold 1591
Who is prepared for death to equal their 1592
Revenge upon Cesario, whom they'll threaten 1593
To make you stoop. But lose no part of honor, 1594
As you are a king; their trembling hangman 1595
Shall think himself mocked and let fall his sword, 1596
Or both our heads take their farewell together. 1597
King of Naples
Alphonso, is't a woman? 1598
Alphonso
And a brave one!
Mauritio
I admire her nobleness. 1599
Rosinda
You are slow to ask
The cause that hath engaged me to all this, 1600
And yet you cannot choose but read it plainly 1601
In my guilty blushes: I do love the Prince. 1602
Perhaps 'tis more than he imagines, and, 1603
Since I first saw him in my father's court, 1604
Without dishonor, I dare justify 1605
My heart was his, and to this love you owe 1606
The sorrow of his absence; for Cassandra, 1607
That noble lady to whose breast I gave 1608
My secret'st thought, for my sake – by a letter 1609
In her own name, by tie of former love 1610
To her – engaged his meeting at my tent; 1611
Whither no sooner privately arrived 1612
But by a villain that deceive our trust 1613
My father was brought in, and he made prisoner! 1614
You have the story, and my resolution 1615
To be companion of his fate. 1616
Vittori
Again
Those words, dear lady, that concerned Cassandra. 1617
([Throws off his disguise.])
King of Naples, Alphonso
Vittori! 1618
Vittori
All your pardon; I must hear this first.
Rosinda
Cassandra is innocent, and but framed that letter 1619
To bring us two acquainted; the earth has not 1620
A purer chastity. 1621
Vittori
You have kept your word, and heaven reward your soul for't! – 1622
My duty, sir, to you and to my father. 1623
Rosinda
He hath deserved his welcome for my sake. 1624
King of Naples
We thus confirm it. 1625
Alphonso
My poor son Vittori!
King of Naples
But tears of joy salute thee, best of ladies! – 1626
Alphonso, she is fair, well shaped; my son 1627
Gave her deformed. With what eyes could he look 1628
Upon this beauty and not love it? 1629
Vittori
This beauty is her least perfection: 1630
It speaks her woman, but her soul an angel. 1631
But I forget Cassandra all this while. 1632
King of Naples
Welcome again, fair Princess, my Cesario 1633
Is here supplied. – Alphonso! 1634
Fabio
This may bring the peace about. 1635
Mauritio
May it so! What think you of half your land? 1636
Do not your acres melt apace? 1637
King of Naples
Away. –
Never did lady such an act of nobleness, 1638
And what we cannot reach in honoring thee 1639
Ages to come shall pay thy memory. 1640
(Exeunt.)

[5.3]

(Enter King of Sicily and Cassandra.)
King of Sicily
May I believe Rosinda loves the Prince, 1641
And yet so cunningly disguise it from me? 1642
Cassandra
It was my plot I must confess, but her 1643
Affection bid me to't; I did expect 1644
Another consequence. 1645
King of Sicily
I'll to my daughter.
Cassandra
The Prince now in your power, I hope, great sir, 1646
You'll look more gently on Vittori. 1647
King of Sicily
We
Shall think on him. The Prince, excuse my absence. 1648
([Exit.])
(Enter Prince.)
Prince
Can those deceiving eyes look still upon me? 1649
Is not thy soul ashamed? Have I for thee 1650
Neglected my own fortune and my father, 1651
All the delights that wait upon a kingdom, 1652
For thy sake drawn this war upon my country 1653
And done such things I did forget I was 1654
A prince i'th'acting, and is all my love 1655
Rewarded thus? No devil to betray me, 1656
But she to whom I durst have given my soul! 1657
Degenerate woman! 1658
Cassandra
Sir, throw off your passion,
And, when you have heard me speak but a few minutes, 1659
You'll change opinion and, if you do not 1660
Accuse yourself, you will at least acquit 1661
Me from the guilt of your dishonor. 1662
Prince
Did not
The magic of your letter bring me hither? 1663
Cassandra
I must not, sir, deny I used what motive 1664
I could to gain your presence, but no magic. 1665
Prince
'Twas worse, and shows more black for thy intention. 1666
Hast thou a conscience and canst deny 1667
Thou didst not mean this treachery? 1668
Cassandra
May heaven
Then shoot his anger at me! I sent for you, 1669
But, as I have a life, not to betray you. 1670
Prince
What could induce thee then? 1671
Cassandra
Love, love, my lord.
Prince
Ha? Pardon my rashness and my error. 1672
Do I hear thee pronounce 'twas love sent for me? 1673
What streams of joy run through me! I am free, 1674
Have suff'red nothing, nothing worthy of 1675
So rich a satisfaction; I forget 1676
Naples with as much ease as I can kiss thee. 1677
Have you no more vexation? O my stars! 1678
Your influence is too merciful. 1679
Cassandra
Mistake not,
'Twas love I must confess, but not that love 1680
Your wild imagination prompts you to, 1681
And yet it was my love to wish you happy. 1682
Prince
You are in paradoxes, lady: 'twas love, 1683
And it was not. 1684
Cassandra
Love, which another lady
In birth, and all that's good, above Cassandra 1685
Had toward your person, did command my service 1686
In that rude letter. My ambition 1687
Reached at no greater honor than to bring 1688
Her passions to your knowledge; think, my lord, 1689
Upon Rosinda. 1690
Prince
Ha?
Cassandra
And prison all
Your wanton thoughts: Rosinda was by heaven 1691
Designed for you, as I was for Vittori. 1692
([Re-]enter King of Sicily.)
King of Sicily
'Tis treason to be ignorant; search everywhere, 1693
I'll hang ye all, unless you find my daughter. – 1694
Prince, where's Rosinda? I will have her, or 1695
Your head shall off. 1696
Prince
My head?
King of Sicily
I cannot take
Too great revenge; no punishment can fall 1697
Severe enough upon his head was guilty 1698
Of all these tumults. 1699
Cassandra
Is the Princess lost?
King of Sicily
Not without some conspiracy, you're all 1700
Traitors; if I recover not my child, 1701
I will sacrifice the lives of my whole army. 1702
Prince
How ill this violence sits upon a king! – Alphonso! 1703
(Enter Alphonso, Horatio, Trivulsi, Fabrichio, Pazzorello [and] Didimo.)
King of Sicily
What are you, sir? 1704
Horatio
One from the King of Naples.
King of Sicily
I'll hear nothing unless Rosinda be concerned i'th'message. 1705
Alphonso
She is. 1706
King of Sicily
Ha? Where?
Alphonso
Safe in the city, sir.
King of Sicily
A prisoner. 1707
Alphonso
Guarded with love and honor, which
She hopes is not here wanting to Cesario. 1708
King of Sicily
How came she thither? 1709
Alphonso
With Vittori, sir.
Cassandra
Ha? Vittori? 1710
King of Sicily
That double renegade! Where is Cassandra? 1711
Off with her head, and his! 1712
([Pointing to the Prince.])
Alphonso
My humblest duty. –
Take counsel to your action – Rosinda 1713
Is in the same condition, my lord; 1714
Vouchsafe me hearing. 1715
([Walks aside with the Prince.])
Horatio
Sir, if I were worthy
To advise you, let your passions cool; you but 1716
Provoke their fury to your daughter by 1717
Threat'ning the Prince. 1718
Trivulsi
You're now on even terms,
What if you met and parlied? 1719
Prince
Every praise
Thou giv'st her makes me see my own deformity! 1720
[To Cassandra] Madam, you first awaked me. 1721
Fabrichio
Please you, sir,
The King would have some further conference. 1722
Cassandra
Direct their counsels, heaven! 1723
Prince
Thy pardon, dear Cassandra. 1724
When I have leave, I'll ask Vittori's too, 1725
And all the world's. 1726
King of Sicily
For further pledge on both sides,
Horatio we'll exchange, to invite Naples 1727
To give us meeting. 1728
Alphonso
'Tis desired already.
King of Sicily
We follow. – Come, my lord, old men have passions. 1729
Prince
They were not men else. 1730
Alphonso
My son's life, Cassandra.
(Exeunt [all but Pazzorello and Didimo.])
Pazzorello
But this is strange news, Didimo: is my lady and mistress a prisoner? I took the Prince.
Didimo
'Twas valiantly done.
Pazzorello
Why may not I with my armor of magic bustle among the enemies and get honor now?
Didimo
It were your only time; get but a brave horse –
Pazzorello
That would carry double, and I might bring home the Princess behind me to the camp. Say no more; stay, thou art sure I am sufficiently enchanted.
Didimo
No infidelity; as sure as you had no money in your pockets.
Pazzorello
Well remembered! If it be so sure, my little Didimo, you shall now give me account of all that gold and silver.
Didimo
Such another word, and my aunt shall take off her curse again.
Pazzorello
There's it, this urchin has me o'th'hip! Beside, in my conscience, my granam has given thee a spell too, so that we might fight our hearts out afore we kill one another.
Didimo
You may be sure of that.
Pazzorello
Prithee let me try, for my own satisfaction, whether my sword will run thee through or no.
Didimo
It has been attempted a hundred times; you may as soon prick me with the pommel, but, if thou hast any doubt thy own body is not steel- proof, my rapier shall demonstrate.
Pazzorello
Woo't? Now, thou'rt honest.
Didimo
'Tis to no purpose.
Pazzorello
For my satisfaction, if thou lov'st me.
Didimo
Come on your ways.
((Draws.))
Pazzorello
Stay, 'tis pointed – I have a great mind, but if – but if – I should – I am enchanted, do't! Stay, I won't see't. [Shuts his eyes.] Now –
Didimo
Never fear.
(He sheaths [his sword] and thrusts him behind, and [then] draws it again presently.)
Pazzorello
Oh, 1731
He has run me through body and soul! 1732
Hum! I see no point, nor blood, nor pain, ha? 1733
'Tis so. God-a-mercy, Didimo! I am right, I see't. 1734
I will dispatch these wars presently. 1735
Didimo
Your charm will last no longer. 1736
Pazzorello
Tell not me, I will then go seek adventures. 1737
We'll wander to relieve distressed damsels 1738
Through woods with monsters and with giants haunted, 1739
And kill the devil like a knight enchanted. 1740
(Exeunt.)

[5.4]

(Loud music.)
(Enter[, at one door,] King of Sicily, Prince, Alphonso, Trivulsi, Fabrichio [and] Cassandra;[at the other,] King of Naples, Rosinda, Horatio, Vittori, Julio [and] Alberto.)
(Alphonso goes to the King of Naples, and Horatio returns to the King of Sicily; they whisper.)
King of Sicily
Let's hear our daughter speak. 1741
Rosinda
First, with an humbleness
Thus low, I beg your pardon and beseech 1742
You would interpret no defect of duty 1743
That I forsook my tent and your protection. 1744
There is another, stronger tie than nature's – 1745
Love, whose impulsion you have felt, or I 1746
Had never been your daughter, moved my flight, 1747
Love of that excellent Prince whom, in your power, 1748
I had no way to gain but by this loss. 1749
And if you had been cruel to Cesario, 1750
I should have gloried under these to suffer. 1751
Prince
No more, there's virtue in that excellent Princess 1752
To stock two kingdoms. – Pardon, fair Rosinda, 1753
Thou hast made me fit to know thee. Taught by thy 1754
Obedience, I return a son to Naples 1755
Thus, but desire no life without possession 1756
Of that religious treasure. – As you're kings – 1757
Both Kings
A chain of hands and hearts! 1758
Vitttori
O my Cassandra!
King of Naples
Joy in all bosoms! 1759
King of Sicily
Thus our kingdoms knit.
Prince
Horatio, we are friends too. 1760
Horatio
Own me your servant, sir. I beg your pardon. 1761
Prince
I cannot ask forgiveness oft enough 1762
For injuries to thee, noble Vittori, 1763
Alphonso and Cassandra. 1764
Vitttori, Alphonso, Cassandra
All your creatures.
(Enter Mauritio [and] Fabio.)
Mauritio
Justice, my lord! 1765
([Presents a paper.])
Fabio
Mercy, my lord!
King of Naples
What's this?
Mauritio
A deed of half his land if he survived 1766
These wars, which are now happily determined. 1767
My life was his security, which will 1768
Be merrier with the moiety of his acres. 1769
King of Naples
How if he had died? 1770
Mauritio
His land had gone to the next heir, that's all; 1771
His ghost would hardly call upon my forfeit. 1772
If I had died, his land had been discharged, 1773
But we, both living, must part stakes. He has 1774
Enough for two on's. 1775
Fabio
Cheated by a soldade!
Prince
He must confirm his act. 1776
Fabio
But in such cases, sir, where men's estates – 1777
Prince
Are too much, sir, and, like their talk, impertinent – 1778
Go to! You're well. 1779
Fabio
But half well, an't like your grace.
Mauritio
'Tis very well. 1780
King of Naples
Our city spreads to entertain such guests. 1781
Prince
Never was music of so many parts 1782
As, friends to Naples now, we all join hearts. 1783
(Exeunt.)
FINIS.