_Hier._ And our loves _Enter_ COZIMO. To his person.--Here he comes: present it boldly. [_They kneel_: ALPHONSO _tenders a paper_. _Coz._ What needs this form? We are not grown so proud As to disdain familiar conference With such as are to counsel and direct us. This kind of adoration show'd not well In the old Roman emperors, who, forgetting That they were flesh and blood, would be styled gods: In us to suffer it were worse. Pray you, rise. [_Reads._ Still the old suit! With too much curiousness You have too often search'd this wound, which yields Security and rest, not trouble, to me. For here you grieve that my firm resolution Continues me a widower; and that My want of issue to succeed me in My government, when I am dead, may breed Distraction in the state, and make the name And family of the Medici, now admired, Contemptible. _Hip._ And with strong reasons, sir. _Alph._ For were you old, and past hope to beget The model of yourself, we should be silent. _Hier._ But being in your height and pride of years, As you are now, great sir; and having, too, In your possession the daughter of The deceased Duke of Urbin, and his heir, Whose guardian you are made; were you but pleased To think her worthy of you, besides children, The dukedom she brings with her for a dower Will yield a large increase of strength and power To those fair territories which already Acknowledge you their absolute lord. _Coz._ You press us With solid arguments, we grant; and, though We stand not bound to yield account to any Why we do this or that, (the full consent Of our subjects being included in our will,) We, out of our free bounties, will deliver The motives that divert[64] us. You well know That, three years since, to our much grief, we lost Our duchess; such a duchess, that the world, In her whole course of life[65], yields not a lady That can with imitation deserve To be her second; in her grave we buried All thoughts of woman: let this satisfy For any second marriage. Now, whereas You name the heir of Urbin, as a princess Of great revenues, 'tis confess'd she is so: But for some causes, private to ourself, We have disposed her otherwise. Yet despair not; For you, ere long, with joy shall understand, That in our princely care we have provided One worthy to succeed us. _Enter_ SANAZARRO. _Hip._ We submit, And hold the counsels of great Cozimo Oraculous. _Coz._ My Sanazarro!--Nay, Forbear all ceremony. You look sprightly, friend, And promise in your clear aspect some novel That may delight us.