The great Duke of Florence A comicall historie. As it hath beene often presented with good allowance by her Maties Servants at the Phœnix in Drurie Lane. Written by Philip Massinger.

Actus primi Scena prima.

• Carolo Charomonte.
• Contarino.

Carolo.

YOu bring your welcome with you.

Contarino.

Sir, I finde it In every circumstance.

Carolo.

Againe most welcome. Yet give me leave to wish (and pray you excuse mee) For I must use the freedome I was borne with) The great Dukes pleasure had commanded you To my poore house upon some other service, Not this you are designde to; but his will Must be obeyde, how ere it ravish from me The happy conversation of one As deere to me as the old Romans held Their houshold Lars, whom they beleev'd had power To blesse and guard their Families.

Contarino.

'Tis receiv'd so: On my part Signior; nor can the Duke But promise to himselfe as much as may Be hop'd for from a Nephew. And t'were weaknesse In any man to doubt, that Giovanni Train'd up by your experience and care In all those Arts peculiar, and proper To future Greatnesse, of necessity Must in his actions being growne a man Make good the Princely education Which Hee deriv'd from you.

Carolo.

I have discharg'd, To the utmost of my power, the trust the Duke Committed to me, and with joy perceive

The seed of my endeavours was not sowen Upon the barren sands, but fruitfull glebe, Which yeelds a large encrease; my noble Charge, By his sharp wit, and pregnant apprehension Instructing those that teach him; making use Not in a vulgar and pedantique forme Of what's read to him, but 'tis streight digested And truly made his owne. His grave discourse, In one no more indebted unto yeares, Amazes such as heare him; horsmanship And skill to use his weapon are by practise Familiar to him; as for Knowledge in Musique, He needs it not, it being borne with him, All that He speaks being with such grace deliver'd That it makes perfit harmony.

Contarino.

You describe A wonder to me.

Carolo.

Sir, he is no lesse, And that there may be nothing wanting that May render him compleat, the sweetnesse of His disposition so winnes on all Appointed to attend him, that they are Rivalls ev'n in the coursest office, who Shall get praecedencie to doe him service. Which they esteeme a greater happinesse Then if they had beene fashion'd, and built up To hold command o're others.

Contarino.

And what place Does he now blesse with his presence?

Carolo.

He is now Running at the ring, at which he's excellent. He does alott for every exercise A severall houre, for Sloath the Nurse of vices And rust of action, is a stranger to him. But I feare I am tedious, let us passe If you please to some other subject, though I cannot Deliver him as he deserves.

Contarino.

You have giv'n him

A noble character.

Carolo.

And how I pray you (For we that never looke beyond our villa's Must be inquisitive) are State affaires Carried in Court?

Contarino.

There's little alteration. Some rise, and others fall; as it stands with The pleasure of the Duke, their great disposer.

Carolo.

Does Lodovica Sanazarro hold Waight, and grace with him?

Contarino.

Every day new honours Are showr'd upon him, and without the envie Of such as are good men. Since all confesse The service done our Master in his warres 'Gainst Pisa, and Sienna, may with justice Claime what's conferr'd upon him.

Carolo.

'Tis said nobly. For Princes never more make knowne their wisdome Then when they cherish goodnesse, where they finde it, They being men, and not Gods, Contarino; They can give wealth and titles, but no vertues; That is without their power. When they advance (Not out of judgement, but deceiving fancie) An undeserving man, how ere set of With all the trim of greatnesse, state, and power, And of a creature ev'n growne terrible To him from whom he tooke his Gyant forme, This thing is still a Comet, no true starre; And when the bounties feeding his false fire Begin to faile, will of it selfe goe out, And what was dreadfull, prooves ridiculous. But in our Sanazarro 'tis not so. He being pure and tride gold, and any stamp Of grace to make him currant to the world The Duke is pleas'd to give him, will adde honor To the great bestower, for he though allow'd Companion to his Master, still preserves His Majestie in full lustre.

Contarino.

Hee indeede At no part does take from it, but becomes A partner of his cares, and eases him, With willing shoulders, of a burthen, which Hee should alone sustaine.

Carolo.

Is Hee yet married?

Contarino.

No Signior, still a Batchelor, how e're It is apparent, that the choycest Virgin For beauty, bravery, and wealth in Florence, Would with her Parents glad consent, be woon (Were his affection, and intent but knowne) To be at his devotion.

Carolo.

So I think too.

Enter Giovanni & Calandrino.

But break we off. Here comes my Princely charge. Make your approaches boldly, you will finde A courteous entertainment.

Giovanni.

Pray you forbeare My hand, good Signior. 'Tis a ceremony Not due to me. 'Tis fit we should embrace With mutuall armes.

Contarino.

It is a favour Sir I grieve to be denide.

Giovanni.

You shall o're-come. But tis your pleasure, not my pride that grants it. Nay pray you Guardian, and good Sir, put on: How ill it shewes to have that reverend head Be uncover'd to a Boy?

Carolo.

Your Excellence Must give me liberty to observe the distance And duty that l'owe you.

Giovanni.

Owe me duty? I doe professe, and when I'doe denie it Good fortune leave me; You have beene to me A second Father, and may justly challenge (For trayning up my youth in Arts, and Armes) As much respect, and service, as was due To him that gave me life. And did you know Sir Or will beleeve from me, how many sleepes

Good Charomonte hath broken in his care To build me up a man, you must confesse Chiron the Tutor to the great Achilles Compar'd with him, deserves not to be nam'd. And if my gracious Uncle the great Duke Still holds me worthy his consideration, Or findes in me ought worthy to be lov'd, That little rivolet flow'd from this spring, And so from me report him.

Contarino.

Fame already Hath fill'd his Highnesse eares with the true story Of what you are, and how much better'd by him. And 'tis his purpose to reward the travaile Of this grave Sir with a magnificent hand. For though his tendernesse hardly could consent To have you one houre absent from his sight, For full three yeares he did denie himselfe The pleasure Hee tooke in you, that you, here From this great Master might arrive unto The Theory of those high mysteries Which you by action must make plaine in Court. 'Tis therefore his request (and that from him Your Excellence must grant a strict command) That instantly (it being not five houres riding) You should take horse, and visit him. These his letters Will yeeld you farther reasons.

Calandrino.

To the Court! Farewell the flower then of the Countries garland. This is our Sunne, and when Hee's set, we must not Expect or Spring, or Summer, but resolve For a perpetuall Winter.

Carolo.

Pray you observe

Giovanni reading the Letter.

The frequent changes in his face.

Contarino.

As if His much unwillingnesse to leave your house, Contended with his duty.

Carolo.

Now he appeares Collected and resolv'd.

Giovanni.

It is the Duke! The Duke upon whose favour, all my hopes And fortunes doe depend. Nor must I check At his commands for any private motives That doe invite my stay here, though they are Almost not to be master'd. My obedience In my departing suddenly shall confirme I am his Highnesse creature. Yet I hope A little stay to take a solemne farewell For all those ravishing pleasures I have tasted In this my sweet retirement, from my Guardian, And his incomparable daughter, cannot meete An ill construction.

Contarino.

I will answer that, Use your owne will.

Giovanni.

I would speake to your Sir In such a phrase as might expresse the thanks My heart would gladly pay. But. —

Carolo.

I conceive you: And something I would say, but I must doe it In that dumb rhetorique, which you make use of; For I doe wish you all. — I know not how My toughnesse melts, and spite of my discretion I must turne woman.

Contarino.

What a sympathic There is betweene em.

Calandrino.

Were I on the Rack I could not shed a teare. But I am mad, And ten to one shall hang my selfe for sorrow Before I shift my shirt. But heare you Sir, I'll separate you. When you are gone, what will Become of me?

Giovan.

Why thou shalt to Court with me.

Calandrino.

To see you worried?

Contarino.

Worried Calandrino?

Caland.

Yes Sir. For bring this sweet face to the Court There will be such a longing 'mong the Madames, Who shall ingrosse it first, nay fight and scratch for't,

That if they be not stop'd, for entertainment They'll kisse his lips off. Nay, if you'll soape so And not be tempted to a farther danger, These Succube are so sharp set, that you must Give out you are an Eunuch.

Contarino.

Have a better Opinion of Court-Ladies, and take care Of your owne stake.

Calandrino.

For my stake 'tis past caring, I would not have a bird of uncleane feathers Hansell his Limetwig, and so much for him. There's something else that troubles me.

Contarino.

What's that?

Caland.

Why how to behave my self in Court, & tytely I have beene told the very place transformes men, And that not one of a thousand, that before Liv'd honestly in the Country, on plaine Sallads, But bring him thither, marke me that, and feed him But a moneth or two with Custards and Court Cakebread, And he turnes Knave immediately. I would be honest; But I must follow the fashion, or die a beggar.

Giovanni.

And if I ever reach my hopes, beleeve it We will share fortunes.

Carolo.

This acknowledgement

Enter Lidia.

Bindes me your debtor ever. Here comes one In whose sad lookes you easily may reade What her heart suffers, in that she is forc'd To take her last leave of you.

Contarino.

As I live A beauty without parallel

Lidia.

Must you goo then So suddenly?

Giovanni.

There's no evasion, Lydia, To gaine the least delay, though I would buy it At any rate. Greatnesse with private men Esteem'd a blessing, is to me a curse. And we, whom for our high births, they conclude The onely free men, are the onely slaves:

Happy the golden meane I had I beene borne In a poore sordid Cottage; not nurs'd up With expectation to command a Court: I might, like such of your condition (Sweetest) Have tooke a safe and middle course, and not As I am now against my choyse compell'd Or to lye groveling on the earth, or rais'd So high upon the pinnacles of State, That I must either keepe my height with danger, Or fall with certaine ruine.

Lidia.

Your owne goodnesse Will be your faithfull guard.

Giovanni.

O Lidia.

Contarino.

So passionate!

Giovanni.

For had I beene your equall I might have seene and lik'd with mine own eyes, And not as now with others; I might still, And without observation, or envie, As I have done, continued my delights With you, that are alone in my esteeme The abstract of Society; we might walke In solitary Groves, or in choyce Gardens; From the variety of curious flowers Contemplate natures workmanship, and wonders. And then for change, neare to the murmur of Some bubling fountaine, I might heare you sing, And from the well-tun'd accents of your tongue In my imagination conceive With what mellodious harmony a Quire Of Angells sing above, their Makers praises. And then with chast discourse, as we return'd, Impe feathers to the broken wings of Time, And all this I must part from.

Contarino.

You forget The hast impoi'd upon us.

Giovanni.

One word more And then I come. And after this, when with Continued innocence, of love, and service,

I had growne ripe for Hymenaeall joyes Embracing you, but with a lawfull flame I might have beene your husband.

Lidia.

Sir, I was And ever am your servant, but it was, And 'tis farre from me, in a thought to cherish Such sawcie hopes: If I had beene the heire Of all the Globes and Scepters mankind bowes to, At my best you had deserv'd me; as I am How e're unworthy, in my virgin zeale I wish you as a partner of your bed, A Princesse equall to you, such a one That may make it the study of her life, With all th'obedience of a wife to please you. May you have happy issue, and I live To be their humblest handmayde.

Giovanni.

I am dumb, And can make no reply.

Contarino.

Your Excellence Will be benighted.

Giovanni.

This kisse bath'd in teares May learne you what I should say.

Lidia.

Give me leave To wayt on you to your horse.

Carolo.

And me to bring you To the one halfe of your journey.

Giovanni.

Your love puts Your age to too much trouble.

Carolo.

I grow young When most I serve you.

Conta.

Sir, the Duke shal thank you.

Exeunt omnes.

Actus primi Scaena secunda.

• Alphonso,
• Hippolito,
• Hieronimo, with a Petition.

Alphonso.

HIs Highnesse cannot take it ill.

Hippolito.

However, We with our duties shall expresse our care

For the safety of his Dukedome.

Hieronimo.

And our loves

Enter Cozimo the Duke.

To his person. Here he comes. Present it boldly.

Cozimo.

What needs this form? we are not grown so proud As to disdaine familiar conference With such as are to counsaile, and direct us. This kinde of adoration shew'd not well In the old Roman Emperors, who forgetting That they were flesh & blood, would be styl'd gods, In us to suffer it were worse. Pray you rise. Still the old suit, with too much curiousnesse

Reades.

You have too often search'd this wound, which yeelds Security and rest, not trouble to me. For here you grieve, that my firme resolution Continues me a Widdower; and that My want of issue to succeede me in My government, when I am dead, may breed Distraction in the State, and make the name And family of the Medices, now admir'd, Contemptible.

Hippolito.

And with strong reasons Sir.

Alphonso.

For were you old and past hope to beget The modell of your selfe; we should be silent.

Hieronimo.

But being in your height and pride of yeeres As you are now great Sir, and having too In your possession the daughter of The deceas'd Duke of Vrbin, and his heire, Whose Guardian you are made, were you but pleas'd To think her worthy of you, besides children The Dukedome she brings with her for a dower, Will yeeld a large encrease of strength and power To those faire territories, which already Acknowledge you their absolute Lord.

Cozimo.

You presse us VVith solid arguments we grant, and though VVe stand not bound to yeeld account to any VVhy we doe this or that (the full consent Of our Subjects being included in our Will)

We out of our free bounties will deliver The motives that divert us. You well know That three yeeres since to our much griefe, we lost Our Dutches, such a Dutches, that the world In her whole course of life, yeelds not a Lady That can with imitation deserve To be her second: in her grave we buried All thoughts of woman: let this satisfie For any second marriage. Now whereas You name the heire of Vrbin, as a Princesse Of great revenues, 'tis confess'd she is so; But for some causes private to our selfe, We have dispos'd her otherwise. Yet despaire not, For you ere long with joy shall understand, That in our Princely care we have provided One worthy to succeed us.

Enter Lodovico Sanazarro.

Hippolito.

We submit, And hold the counsailes of great Cozimo Oraculous.

Cozimo.

My Sanazaro. Nay, Forbeare all ceremony. You looke sprightly friend, And promise in your cleare aspect some novell That may delight us.

Sanazarro.

O Sir, I would not be The Harbinger of ought that might distast you. And therefore know (for 'twere a sinne to torture Your Highnesse expectation) your Vice-Admirall By my directions hath surpriz'd the Gallies Appointed to transport the Asian tribute Of the great Turke, a richer Prize was never Brought into Florence.

Cozimo.

Still my Nightingale, That with sweet accents doest assure me, that My Spring of happinesse comes fast upon me. Embrace me boldly. I pronounce that wretch An enemy to brave and thriving action, That dares beleeve, but in a thought, we are Too prodigall in our favours to this man,

Whose merits, though with him we should devide Our Dukedome, still continuous his debtor.

Hippolito.

'Tis farre from me.

Alphonso.

We all applaud it.

Cozimo.

Nay, blush not Sanazarro, we are proud Of what we build up in thee, nor can our Election be disparag'd; since we have not Receiv'd into our bosome and our grace A glorious lazie Droane, growne fat with feeding On others toyle, but an industrious Bee That crops the sweet flowers of our enemies, And every happy evening returnes Loaden with wax and hony to our Hive.

Sanazarro.

My best endevours never can discharge The service I should pay.

Enter Giovanni and Contarino.

Cozimo.

Thou art too modest, But we will study how to give, and when, Before it be demanded. Giovanni! My Nephew; let me eye thee better Boy. In thee me thinks my Sister lives againe: For her love I will be a Father to thee, For thou art my adopted Sonne.

Giovanni.

Your Servant And humblest Subject.

Cozimo.

Thy hard travaile Nephew Requires soft rest, and therefore we forbeare For the present an account, how thou hast spent Thy absent houres. See Signiors, see, our care Without a second bed provides you of A hopefull Prince. Carrie him to his Lodgings, And for his farther honour Sanazarro With the rest doe you attend him.

Giovanni.

All true pleasures Circle your Highnesse.

Sanazarro.

As the rising Sunne VVe doe receive you.

Giovan.

May this never set,

Exeunt Giovanni, Sanazarro, Hieronimo, Alphonso, Lodovico, Cozimo.

But shine upon you ever.

Cozimo.

Contarino!

Contarino.

My gracious Lord.

Cozimo.

What entertainment found you From Carolo de Charamonte?

Contarino.

Free And bountifull. He's ever like himselfe Noble and hospitable.

Cozimo.

But did my Nephew Depart thence willingly?

Contarino.

He obey'd your summons As did become him. Yet it was apparent But that he durst not crosse your will, he would Have sojourn'd longer there, he ever finding Variety of sweetest entertainment; But there was something else, nor can I blame His youth, though with some trouble he took leave Of such a sweet companion.

Cozimo.

Who was it?

Contarino.

The daughter sir of Signior Carolo, Faire Lidia, a virgin at all parts, But in her birth and fortunes, equall to him. The rarest beauties Italy can make boast of, Are but meere shadowes to her, she the substance Of all perfection. And what encreases The wonder Sir, Her bodies matchlesse forme Is better'd by the purenesse of her soule. Such sweet discourse, such ravishing behaviour; Such charming language, such inchanting manners, With a simplicity that shames all Courtship, Flow hourely from her, that I doe beleeve Had Circe, or Calipso her sweet graces, Wandring Vlisses never had remembred Penelope, or Ithaca.

Cozimo.

Be not rap'd so.

Contarino.

Your Excellence would be so had you seen her

Cozimo.

Take up. Take up. But did your observation Note any passage of affection Betweene her and my Nephew?

Contarino.

How it should Be otherwise betweene 'em, is beyond My best imagination. Cupids arrowes Were uselesse there, for of necessity Their yeeres and dispositions doe accord so They must wound one another.

Cozimo.

Umh! Thou art My Secretary Contarino, and more skill'd In politique designes of State, then in Thy iudgement of a beauty; give me leave In this to doubt it. Here. Goe to my Cabinet, You shal find there Letters newly receiv'd touching the state of Vrbin. Pray you with care peruse them, leave the search Of this to us.

Contarino.

I doe obey in all things.

Exit Contarino.

Cozimo.

Lydia! A Diamond so long conceal'd, And never worne in Court! of such sweet feature? And he on whom I fixe my Dukedomes hopes, Made Captive to it! Vmh! 'tis somewhat strange, Our eyes are every where, and we will make A strict enquiry, Sanazarro!

Enter Sanazarro.

Sanazarro.

Sir!

Cozimo.

Is my Nephew at his rest?

Sanazarro.

I saw him in bed Sir.

Cozimo.

'Tis well, and does the Princes Fiorinda (Nay, doe not blush, she is rich Vrbins heire) Continue constant in her favours to you?

Sanazarro.

Dread sir, she may dispense thē as she pleases, But I looke up to her as on a Princesse I dare not be ambitious of, and hope Her prodigall graces shall not render me Offended to your Highnesse.

Cozimo.

Not a scruple. He whom I favour as I doe my friend, May take all lawfull graces that become him. But touching this hereafter; I have now (And though perhaps it may appear or trifle) Serious imployment for thee.

Sanazar.

I stand ready For any act you please.

Cozimo.

I know it friend, Have you ne're heard of Lidia the daughter Of Carolo Charamonte?

Sanazar.

Him I know sir For a noble Gentleman, and my worthy friend, But never heard of her.

Cozimo.

She is deliver'd And feelingly to us by Contarino For a master-peece in nature, I would have you Ride suddenly thither to behold this wonder: But not as sent by us, that's our first caution: The second is, and carefully observe it, That though you are a Batchelor, & endow'd with All those perfections that may take a virgin, On forfeit of our favour doe not tempt her. It may be her faire graces doe concerne us. Pretend what businesse you think fit, to gaine Accesse into her Fathers house, and there Make full discovery of her, and returne me A true relation, I have some ends in it With which we will acquaint you.

Sanazar.

This is Sir An easie taske.

Cozimo.

Yet one that must exact Your secrecie, and diligence. Let not Your stay be long.

Sanazar.

It shall not sir.

Cozimo.

Farewell, And be, as you would keepe our favour, carefull.

Finis Actus primi.