Couns. The reason why my Royal Mistriss here
In her last Treaty with Sien[n]as Duke,
Promis'd her beauteous daughter there in marriage,
The Duke of Milan, rival in this fortune,
Un-nobly sought by practice to betray her;
Which found, and cross'd, the Cittadel receiv'd her
There to secure her Mothers word; the last cause
So many Gentlemen of late enamour'd
On this most beauteous Princess, and not brooking
One more than other, to deserve a favour,
Bloud has been spilt, many brave spirits lost,
And more, unless she had been kept, close from their violence,
Had like to have followed: therefore for due prevention
Of all such hazards and unnoble actions,
This last Edict was published, which thou Silvio
Like a false man, a bad man, and a Traitor
Hast rent a-peeces, and contemn'd, for which cause
Thou standest a guilty man here now.
Enter Claudio.
Clark. Speak Silvio,
What canst thou say to avoid the hand of Justice?
Sil. Nothing, but I confess, submit and lay my head to it.
Bel. Have ye no eyes my Lords, no understandings?
The Gentleman will cast himsel[f] away,
Cast himself wilfully: are you, or you guilty?
No more is he, no more taint sticks upon him:
I drew him thither; 'twas my way betrai'd him,
I got the entrance kept, I entertain'd him,
I hid the danger from him, forced him to me,
Poor gentle soul, he's in no part transgressing,
I wrote unto him.
Sil. Do not wrong that honor,
Cast not upon that pureness these aspersions,
[By Heaven it] was my love, my violence,
My life must answer it: I broke in to her,
Tempted the Law, solicited unjustly.
Bel. As there is truth in Heaven, I was the first cause:
How could this man have come to me, left naked
Without my counsel and provision?
What hour could he find out to pass the Watches,
But I must make it sure first? Reverend Judges,
Be not abus'd, nor let an innocent life lie
Upon your shaking Conscience; I did it,
My love the main wheel that set him a going:
His motion but compell'd.
Sil. Can ye believe this?
And know with what a modesty and whiteness
Her life was ever ranck'd? Can you believe this
And see me here before ye, young and wilful?
Apt to what danger Love dares thrust me on,
And where Law stops my way, apt to contemn it?
If I were bashful, old, or dull, and sleepy
In Loves allarms, a woman might awake me,
Direct, and clew me out the way to happiness:
But I, like fire, kindled with that bright beauty,
Catch hold of all occasions, and run through 'em.
Bel. I charge ye, as your honest souls will answer it.
Sil. I charge ye, as you are the friends to virtue,
That has no pattern living but this Lady.