SCENE I.

_The sea-shore._

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

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

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

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

PIERO SFORZA _to the_ Italian Princes, _fortune_.

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

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

[_He throws himself on the ground._

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[_A song._

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

[_Exeunt._

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[108] Omitted in ed. 1.

[109] Variations in music.

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

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