Cornets: the song to the cornets, which playing, the mask enters; Malevole, Pietro, Ferneze, and Celso, in white robes, with dukes’ crowns upon laurel-wreaths, pistolets and short swords under their robes.
Men. Celso, Celso, court[568] Maria for our love.—
Lady, be gracious, yet grace.
Maria. With me, sir?
[Malevole takes Maria to dance.
Mal. Yes, more lovèd than my breath;
With you I’ll dance.
Maria. Why, then, you dance with death.
But, come, sir, I was ne’er more apt for[569] mirth.
Death gives eternity a glorious breath:
O, to die honour’d, who would fear to die?
Mal. They die in fear who live in villainy.
Men. Yes, believe him, lady, and be rul’d by him.
Pietro. Madam, with me.
[Pietro takes Aurelia to dance.