[236] A Stoic sentiment. Seneca writes:—“Est aliquid quo sapiens antecedat deum: ille beneficio naturæ non timet, suo sapiens.” (Ep. Mor., Lib. vi, Ep. 1.) But see particularly the quotation from Seneca on [p. 133].
ACT II.
SCENE I.
A dumb show.
The cornets sound a senet.
Enter two mourners with torches, two with streamers; Castilio and Forobosco, with torches; a Herald bearing Andrugio’s helm and sword; the coffin; Maria supported by Lucio and Alberto; Antonio, by himself; Piero and Strotzo, talking; Galeatzo and Matzagente, Balurdo and Pandulfo: the coffin set down; helm, sword, and streamers hung up, placed by the Herald, whilst Antonio and Maria wet their handkerchers with their tears, kiss them, and lay them on the hearse, kneeling: all go out but Piero. Cornets cease, and he speaks.
Pier. Rot there, thou cerecloth that enfolds the flesh
Of my loath’d foe; moulder to crumbling dust;
Oblivion choke the passage of thy fame!
Trophies of honour’d birth drop quickly down:
Let nought of him, but what was vicious, live.
Though thou art dead, think not my hate is dead:
I have but newly twone my arm in the curl’d locks
Of snaky vengeance. Pale, beetle-brow’d hate
But newly bustles up. Sweet wrong, I clap thy thoughts!
O let me hug thy[237] bosom, rub thy[237] breast, 10
In hope of what may hap. Andrugio rots,
Antonio lives: umh: how long? ha, ha! how long?
Antonio pack’d hence, I’ll his mother wed,
Then clear my daughter of supposèd lust,
Wed her to Florence heir. O excellent!
Venice, Genoa, Florence at my beck,
At Piero’s nod.—Balurdo, O ho![238]—
O ’twill be rare, all unsuspected done.
I have been nursed in blood, and still have suck’d
The steam of reeking gore.—Balurdo, ho! 20
Enter Balurdo with a beard, half off, half on.
Bal. When my beard is on, most noble prince, when my beard is on.