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James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].

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SCENE I. Florence. A Room in the Duke's Palace. Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, attended; two French Lords, and others.

Duke.
So that, from point to point, now have you heard

-- 400 --

The fundamental reasons of this war;
Whose great decision hath much blood let forth,
And more thirsts after.

1 Lord.
Holy seems the quarrel
Upon your grace's part; black and fearful
On the opposer.

Duke.
Therefore we marvel much, our cousin France
Would, in so just a business, shut his bosom
Against our borrowing prayers.

2 Lord.
Good my lord,
The reasons of our state I cannot yield⁴ ^note

,
But like a common and an outward man⁵ ^note

,
That the great figure of a council frames
By self-unable motion⁶ ^note

: therefore dare not
Say what I think of it; since I have found
Myself in my uncertain grounds to fail
As often as I guess'd.

Duke.
Be it his pleasure.

2 Lord.
But I am sure, the younger of our nature⁷ ^note,
That surfeit on their ease, will, day by day,
Come here for physick.

-- 401 --

Duke.
Welcome shall they be;
And all the honours, that can fly from us,
Shall on them settle. You know your places well;
When better fall, for your avails they fell:
To-morrow to the field. [Flourish. Exeunt.
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