_Enter_ ANDRUGIO _in armour_, LUCIO _with a shepherd's gown in his hand, and a Page_. _And._ Is not yon gleam the shuddering morn that flakes With silver tincture the east verge of heaven? _Lu._ I think it is, so please your excellence. _And._ Away! I have no excellence to please. Prithee observe the custom of the world, That only flatters greatness, states exalts. And please my excellence! O Lucio, Thou hast been ever held respected dear, Even precious to Andrugio's inmost love. Good, flatter not. Nay, if thou giv'st not faith 10 That I am wretched, O read that, read that. PIERO SFORZA _to the_ Italian Princes, _fortune_. _Lu._ [reads] _EXCELLENT, the just overthrow_ ANDRUGIO _took in the Venetian gulf, hath so assured the Genoways of the [in]justice of his cause, and the hatefulness of his person, that they have banish'd him and all his family: and, for confirmation of their peace with us, have vowed, that if he or his son can be attached, to send us both their heads. We therefore, by force of our united league, forbid you to harbour him, or his blood: but if you apprehend his person, we entreat you to send him, or his head, to us. For we vow, by the honour of our blood, to recompense any man that bringeth his head, with twenty thousand double pistolets, and the endearing of our choicest love. From_ Venice: PIERO SFORZA. 24 _And._ My thoughts are fix'd in contemplation Why this huge earth, this monstrous animal, That eats her children, should not have eyes and ears. Philosophy maintains that Nature's wise, And forms no useless or unperfect thing. Did Nature make the earth, or the earth Nature? 30 For earthly dirt makes all things, makes the man, Moulds me up honour; and, like a cunning Dutchman, Paints me a puppet even with seeming breath, And gives a sot appearance of a soul. Go to, go to; thou liest, Philosophy. Nature forms things unperfect, useless, vain. Why made she not the earth with eyes and ears That she might see desert, and hear men's plaints? That when a soul is splitted, sunk with grief, He might fall thus, upon the breast of earth, 40 [_He throws himself on the ground._ Exclaiming thus: O thou all-bearing earth, Which men do gape for, till thou cramm'st their mouths, And chokest their throats with dust; O chaune[101] thy breast, And let me sink into thee! Look who knocks; Andrugio calls.--But O, she's deaf and blind: A wretch but lean relief on earth can find. _Lu._ Sweet lord, abandon passion, and disarm. Since by the fortune of the tumbling sea, We are roll'd up upon the Venice marsh, Let's clip all fortune, lest more low'ring fate-- 50