Detraction is the sworn friend to ignorance: for mine own part, I have ever truly cherished my good opinion of other men's worthy labours; especially of that full and heightened style of Master Chapman; the laboured and understanding works of Master Jonson; the no less worthy composures of the both worthily excellent Master Beaumont and Master Fletcher; and lastly (without wrong last to be named), the right happy and copious industry of Master Shakespeare, Master Dekker, and Master Heywood; wishing what I write may be read by their light; protesting that, in the strength of mine own judgment, I know them so worthy, that though I rest silent in my own work, yet to most of theirs I dare (without flattery) fix that of Martial, Non norunt hæc monumenta mori.[11] _DRAMATIS PERSONÆ._ MONTICELSO, a Cardinal, afterwards Pope. Francisco de Medicis, Duke of Florence. BRACHIANO, otherwise Paulo Giordano Ursini, Duke of Brachiano, Husband of ISABELLA. GIOVANNI, his Son. COUNT LODOVICO. CAMILLO, Husband of VITTORIA. FLAMINEO, Brother of VITTORIA, Secretary to BRACHIANO. MARCELLO, Brother of VITTORIA, Attendant on FRANCISCO DE MEDICIS. HORTENSIO. ANTONELLI. GASPARO. FARNESE. CARLO. PEDRO. Doctor. Conjurer. Lawyer. JAQUES. JULIO. CHRISTOPHERO. Ambassadors, Physicians, Officers, Attendants, &c. ISABELLA, Sister of FRANCISCO DE MEDICIS, Wife of BRACHIANO. VITTORIA COROMBONA, married first to CAMILLO, afterwards to BRACHIANO. CORNELIA, Mother of VITTORIA. ZANCHE, a Moor, Waiting-woman to VITTORIA. Matron of the House of Convertites. SCENE--ROME and PADUA. _THE WHITE DEVIL; OR, VITTORIA COROMBONA._ ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I.--_A Street in Rome._ _Enter_ Count LODOVICO, ANTONELLI, _and_ GASPARO. _Lod._ Banished! _Ant._ It grieved me much to hear the sentence. _Lod._ Ha, ha! O Democritus, thy gods That govern the whole world! courtly reward And punishment. Fortune's a right whore: If she give aught, she deals it in small parcels, That she may take away all at one swoop. This 'tis to have great enemies:--God quit[12] them! Your wolf no longer seems to be a wolf Than when she's hungry. _Gasp._ You term those enemies Are men of princely rank. _Lod._ O, I pray for them: The violent thunder is adored by those Are pashed[13] in pieces by it. _Ant._ Come, my lord, You are justly doomed: look but a little back Into your former life; you have in three years Ruined the noblest earldom. _Gasp._ Your followers Have swallowed you like mummia[14] and, being sick With such unnatural and horrid physic, Vomit you up i' the kennel. _Ant._ All the damnable degrees Of drinkings have you staggered through: one citizen Is lord of two fair manors called you master Only for caviare.