A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xiv Part 6

GOV. Speak, Antonio, your counsel.

ANT. Nothing.

GOV. How?

ANT. So; And could my wish obtain a sudden grant From yon tribunal, I would crave my senses Might be all steeped in Lethe, to forget What Machiavel has spoken.

MACH. Ha! it takes unto my wish.

[_Aside._

Why, Antonio?

ANT. Because you speak Not like a man, that were possess'd with a Mere soldier's heart, much less a soul guarded With subtle sinews. O madness! can there be In nature such a prodigy, so senseless, So much to be wondered at, As can applaud or lend a willing ear To that my blushes do betray? I've been Tardy to hear your childish policy.

GOV. Antonio, you're too bold; this usurp'd liberty To abuse a man of so much merit is not Seemly in you: nay, I'll term it sauciness.

ANT. Nay, then, my lord, I claim the privilege Of a councillor, and will object.

This my prophetic fear whisper'd my heart: When from a watchtow'r I beheld the French Erect their spears which, like a mighty grove, Denied my eyes any other object: The tops show'd by a stolen reflection from The sun like diamonds, or as the glorious Gilder of the day should deign a lower visit.

Then my warm blood, that used to play like Summer, felt a change; grey-bearded winter Froze my very soul, till I became, Like the Pyrenian hills, wrapp'd in a robe of ice: My arctic[18] fears froze me into a statue.

ALER. Cowardly Antonio!

FUL. I have lost my faith, And can behold him now without a wonder.

GOV. Antonio, y' are too long, and rack our patience; Your counsel?

ANT. I fear'd--but what? not our proud enemies: No, did they burthen all our Spanish world, And I, poor I, only surviv'd to threat defiance In the mounseers'[19] teeth, and stand defendant For my country's cause, naked, unarm'd, I'd through their bragging host, and pay my life A sacrifice to death for my loved country's safety.

ALER. Fulgentio, thou hast not lost Thy faith?

[_Aside._]

FUL. No, I'm reform'd; he's valiant.

[_Aside._]

GOV. Antonio, your counsel?

MACH. Ay, your counsel?

ANT. Our foes increase to an unreckon'd number; We less than nothing, since we have no hope To arrive a number, that may cope with Half their army.

'Tis my counsel we strike a league: 'Tis wisdom to sue peace, where powerful fate Threatens a ruin: lest [we] repent too late.

FUL. 'Tis G.o.d-like counsel.

[_Aside._

ALER. And becomes the tongue of young Antonio.

[_Aside._

GOV. Antonio, let me tell you, you have lost Your valiant heart; I can with safety now Term you a coward.

ANT. Ha!

GOV. Nay, more, Since by your oratory you strive To rob your country of a glorious conquest, That may to after-times beget a fear, Even with the thought should awe the trembling World, you are a traitor.

ANT. Ha! my lord! coward and traitor! 'tis a d.a.m.ned lie, And in the heart of him dares say't again I'll write his error.

MACH. 'Tis as I would have't.

[_Aside._

FUL. n.o.ble Antonio!

[_Aside._

ALER. Brave-spirited lord!

[_Aside._

FUL. The mirror of a soldier!

[_Aside._

GOV. O, are you mov'd, sir? has the deserved name Of traitor p.r.i.c.k'd you?

ANT. Deserv'd?

GOV. Yes.

MACH. Yes.

ANT. Machiavel, thou liest; hadst thou a heart Of harden'd steel, my powerful arm Should pierce it.

[_They fight all in a confused manner_: ANTONIO _kills the_ GOVERNOR, MACHIAVEL _falls_.

ALER. The governor Slain by Antonio's hand?

FUL. No, by the hand of justice; fly, fly, my lord!

ALER. Send for a chirurgeon to dress Count Machiavel: He must be now our governor; the king Signed it in the dead governor's commission.

[_Exeunt._

ANT. Now I repent too late my rash contempt: The horror of a murtherer will still Follow my guilty thoughts, fly where I will.