Scena Prima

      [Enter Gaspero, and Melitus]

Melitus: 

      Sir, you’re the very friend I wish’d to meet with,
      I have a large discourse invites your ear
      To be an Auditor.

Gaspero: 

      And what concerns it?

Melitus: 

      The sadly thriving progress of the loves
      Between my Lord, the Prince, and that great Lady,
      Whose insolence, and never-yet-match’d Pride,
      Can by no Character be well exprest,
      But in her only name, the proud Erota.

Gaspero: 

      Alas, Melitus, I should guess the best
      Success your Prince could find from her, to be
      As harsh as the event doth prove:  but now
      ’Tis not a time to pity passionate griefs,
      When a whole Kingdom in a manner lyes
      Upon its Death-Bed bleeding.

Melitus: 

      Who can tell
      Whether or no these plagues at once
      Hang over this unhappy Land for her sake
      That is a Monster in it?

Gaspero: 

      Here’s the misery
      Of having a Child our Prince; else I presume
      The bold Venetians had not dar’d to attempt
      So bloody an invasion.

Melitus: 

Yet I wonder Why (Master Secretary) still the Senate So almost superstitiously adores Gonzalo, the Venetian Lord, considering The outrage of his Countrymen—­

Gaspero: 

      The Senate
      Is wise, and therein just, for this Gonzalo,
      Upon a Massacre performed at Sea
      By the Admiral of Venice, on a Merchant
      Of Candy, when the cause was to be heard
      Before the Senate there, in open Court
      Professed, that the cruelty the Admiral
      Had shewed, deserved not only fine, but death;
238] For Candy then, and Venice were at peace: 
      Since when upon a motion in the Senate,
      For Conquest of our Land, ’tis known for certain,
      That only this Gonzalo dar’d to oppose it,
      His reason was, because it too much savour’d
      Of lawless and unjust ambition. 
      The Wars were scarce begun, but he (in fear
      Of quarrels ’gainst his life) fled from his Country,
      And hither came, where (to confirm his truth)
      I know, (Melitus,) he out of his own store,
      Hath monied Cassilanes the General.

Melitus: 

      What, without other pledges than Cassilanes
      Bare promise of payment?

Gaspero: 

      No, it may be
      He has some [pe]tty Lordship to retire to;
      But thus he hath done; now ’tis fit, Melitus,
      The Senate should be thankful, otherwise
      They should annihilate one of those Laws
      For which this Kingdome is throughout the World
      Unfollowed and admired.