The Laws of Candy | Page 5

Son-like pietie, and beauties Of an unconquer'd minde.
Antinous:
My Prisoner, Lords, To your more sacred wisedoms I surrender: Fit you his ransom; half whereof I give For largess to the Souldiers: the other half To the erection of this monument.
Cassilanes:
Ambitious villain. 249]
Gonzalo:
Thou art all un-imitable. My Lords, to work a certain peace for Candy With Venice, use Fernando like a Prince; His ransom I'le disburse what e're it be: Yet you may stay him with you, till conditions Of amitie shall be concluded on: Are ye content?
Porphycio:
We are, and ever rest Both friends and debters to your nobleness.
Gonzalo:
Souldiers attend me in the Market-place, Fie thither send your largess.
Souldiers:
Antinous, Antinous.
[Exeunt.
Cassilanes:
I have a sute too, Lords.
Porphycio Possenne:
Propose it, 'tis yours, if fit and just.
Cassilanes:
Let not my services, My being forty years a drudge, a pack-horse To you, and to the State, be branded now With Ignominy ne're to be forgotten: Rear me no Monument, unless you mean To have me fam'd a Coward, and be stamp'd so.
Possenne:
We understand you not.
Cassilanes:
Proud boy, thou dost, And Tyrant-like insult'st upon my shame.
Antinous:
Sir, Heaven can tell, and my integrity, What I did, was but only to inforce The Senates gratitude. I now acknowledge it.
Cassilanes:
Observe it Fathers, how this haughty boy Grows cunning in his envy of mine honours: He knows no mention can of me be made, But that it ever likewise must be told, How I by him was master'd; and for surety That all succeeding times may so report it, He would have my dishonour, and his Triumphs Ingrav'd in Brass: hence, hence proceeds the falshood Of his insinuating piety. Thou art no child of mine: thee and thy bloud, Here in the Capitol, before the Senate, I utterly renounce: So thrift and fate Confirm me; henceforth never see my face, Be, as thou art, a villain to thy Father. 250] Lords I must crave your leaves: come, come Arcanes.
[Ex.
Gonzalo:
Here's a strange high-born spirit.
Possenne:
'Tis but heat Of suddain present rage; I dare assure Antinous of his favour.
Antinous:
I not doubt it, He is both a good man, and a good Father. I shall attend your Lordships.
Possenne:
Do Antinous.
Gonzalo:
Yes: feast thy Triumphs With applause and pleasures.
Porphycio Possenne:
Lead on.
[Exeunt. Flor. Cornets.
Antinous:
I utterly renounce--'Twas so? Was't not, my Decius?
Decius:
Pish, you know, my Lord, Old men are cholerick.
Antinous:
And lastly parted With, never henceforth see my face: O me, How have I lost a Father? Such a Father! Such a one Decius! I am miserable, Beyond expression.
Decius:
Fie, how unbecoming This shews upon your day of fame!
Antinous:
O mischief! I must no more come near him; that I know, And am assur'd on't.
Decius:
Say you do not?
Antinous:
True: Put case I do not: what is Candy then To lost Antinous? Malta, I resolve To end my dayes in thee.
Decius:
How's that?
Antinous:
I'le trie All humble means of being reconcil'd, Which if deny'd, then I may justly say, This day has prov'd my worst: Decius, my worst.
[Exeunt.

251] Actus Secundus

Scena Prima
[Enter Gonzalo, and Gaspero]
Gaspero:
Now to what you have heard; as no man can Better than I, give you her Character; For I have been both nurs'd, and train'd up to Her petulant humours, and been glad to bear them, Her Brother, my late Master, did no less: Strong apprehensions of her beauty hath Made her believe that she is more than woman: And as there did not want those flatterers 'Bout the worlds Conquerour, to make him think, And did perswade him that he was a god; So there be those base flies, that will not stick To buzze into her ears she is an Angel, And that the food she feeds on is Ambrosia.
Gonzalo:
She should not touch it then, 'tis Poets fare.
Gaspero:
I may take leave to say, she may as well Determine of her self to be a goddess, With lesser flatterie than he a god: For she does conquer more, although not farther. Every one looks on her, dyes in despair, And would be glad to do it actually, To have the next age tell how worthily, And what good cause he had to perish so: Here beauty is superlative, she knows it, And knowing it, thinks no man can deserve, But ought to perish, and to dye for her: Many great Princes for her love have languish'd, And given themselves a willing sacrifice, Proud to have ended so: And now there is A Prince so madded in his own passions, That he forgets the Royaltie he was born to, And deems it happiness to be her slave.
Gonzalo:
You talk as if you meant to winde me in, And make me of the number.
Gaspero:
Sir, mistake me not, the service that I owe ye Shall plead for me: I tell you what she is, What she expects, and what she will effect, 252] Unless you be the miracle of men, That come with a purpose to behold, And goe away