The Laws of Candy Part 3

Ca.s.silanes:

My great heart Was never quail'd before.

Decius:

My Lord, be confident, Let not your Father daunt you.

Arcanes:

_Decius_, whither Must I withdraw?

Decius:

On this side.--See, the Souldiers Attend your pleasure--courage, Sir; the Senate.

Ca.s.silanes:

Way for the Senate.

[Enter _Porphycio_, _Possenne_, (three Senators) _Gonzalo_, _Gaspero_, Souldiers]

My good Lords I know not What tax of arrogance I may incurr, Should I presume, though courted by your Favours, To take a place amongst you; I had rather Give proof of my unfeign'd humility By force, though mean, yet more becoming place, Than run the hazard of a doubtful censure.

Possenne:

My Lord, your wisdom is both known and try'd; We cannot rank you in a n.o.bler Friendship Than your great service to the State deserves.

Porphycio:

Will't please you, Sir?

[Enter _Fernando_ with Souldiers.]

Gonzalo:

What's here, my Lord _Porphycio_?

It must not be.

Porphycio:

My Lord, you are too modest.

Gonzalo:

It is no season to be troublesome, Else--but I have done: your Lordships are observ'd.

Gaspero:

Is the demandant ready?

244]

Arcanes:

He is ready.

Gaspero:

Produce him then.

Arcanes:

Before this sacred presence, I, by a general consent, am made The Souldiers voice, and to your gracious Wisedoms, Present as chief in Arms, his Countries Champion, _Ca.s.silanes._

Decius:

Most reverend Lords, you hear the lesser number Of those who have been Guardians to this Country, Approve this Champion; I, in all their names, Who fought for _Candy_, here present before you The mightiest man in Arms, _Antinous_.

Speak fellow Souldiers.

Souldiers:

_Antinous, Antinous_.

Gaspero:

Stand by all, save the two Compet.i.tors.

Possenne:

My Lords, how much your Countrey owes you both, The due reward of your desertful glories Must to Posterity remain: but yet Since, by our Law, one only can make claim To the proposed honours which you both (It seems) have truly merited, take leave Freely to plead your rights; we shall attend ye.

Porphycio:

Wherein priority of voice is granted, Lord _Ca.s.silanes_ to you; for that your rare And long experience in the Course of War, As well doth challenge it as the best priviledge Of Order and Civility, for that You are your brave Opponents worthy Father.

Say, Country-men, are you content?

Souldiers:

I, I.

Ca.s.silanes:

Right grave, right gracious Fathers; how unfit It is for me, that all my life time have Been practis'd in the School of Bloud, and Slaughter To bandy words now in my lifes last farewel, Your Wisedomes will consider; were there pitcht Another, and another field, like that Which, not yet three days since, this Arm hath scatter'd, Defeated, and made nothing, then the man That had a heart to think he could but follow (For equal me he should not) through the lanes 245] Of danger and amazement, might in that That only of but following me, be happy, Reputed worthy to be made my Rival; For 'tis not, Lords, unknown to those about me, (My fellow Souldiers) first, with what a confidence I led them on to fight, went on still, and As if I could have been a second Nature, As well in heartening them by my example, As by my exhortation, I gave life To quicken courage, to inflame revenge, To heighten resolution; in a word, To out-doe action: It boots not to discover, How that young man, who was not fledg'd nor skill'd In Martial play, was even as ignorant As childish: But I list not to disparage His non-ability: The signal given Of Battel, when our enemies came on, (Directed more by fury, than by warrant Of Policy and Stratagem) I met them, I in the fore-front of the Armies met them; And as if this old weather-beaten body Had been compos'd of cannon-proof, I stood The volleys of their shot. I, I my self Was he that first dis-rankt their woods of Pikes: But when we came to handy-stroaks, as often As I lent blows, so often I gave wounds, And every wound a death. I may be bold To justifie a truth, this very sword Of mine slew more than any twain besides: And, which is not the least of all my glorie, When he, this young man, hand to hand in fight, Was by the General of the Venetians, And such as were his retinue, unhors'd, I stept between, and rescu'd him my self, Or horses hoofs had trampled him to dirt; And whilst he was re-mounting, I maintain'd The combate with the gallant General, Till having taken breath, he throng'd before me, Renew'd the fight, and with a fatal blow,'

Stole both that honour from me, and his life 246] From him, whom I before my self alone, Had more than full three quarters kill'd: a man Well worthy only by this hand to have dy'd, Not by a Boys weak push: I talk too much, But 'tis a fault of age: If to bring home Long peace, long victorie, even to your Capitol; If to secure your Kingdom, wives, and children, Your lives and liberties; if to renown Your honours through the world, to fix your names, Like Blazing stars admir'd, and fear'd by all That have but heard of _Candy_, or a _Cretan_, Be to deserve the approvement of my man-hood, Then thus much have I done: what more, examine The annals of my life; and then consider What I have been, and am. Lords I have said.

Gonzalo:

With reverence to the Senate, is it lawfull, Without your Customes breach, to say a word?