You with a cross, like to[289] a knight of Rhodes.
[Gives another to Lorenzo.
And, madam, you must attire yourself.
[Gives Bell'-Imperia another.
Like Phoebe, Flora, or the huntress,[290]
Which to your discretion shall seem best.
And as for me, my lords, I'll look to one,
And with the ransom that the viceroy sent,
So furnish and perform this tragedy,
As[291] all the world shall say, Hieronimo
Was liberal in gracing of it so.
Balthazar.
Hieronimo, methinks a comedy were better.
Hieronimo.
A comedy! fie! comedies are fit for common wits:
But to present a kingly troop withal,
Give me a stately-written tragedy;
Tragœdia cothurnata, fitting kings,
Containing matter, and not common things.
My lords, all this must be perform'd,
As fitting for the first night's revelling.
The Italian tragedians were so sharp of wit,
That in one hour's meditation
They would perform any thing in action.
Lorenzo.