Act III, Scene 1

Florence - The DUKE’s palace

[Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence attended;] [p]the two Frenchmen, with a troop of soldiers.

Duke of Florence. So that from point to point now have you heard

            The fundamental reasons of this war,

            Whose great decision hath much blood let forth

            And more thirsts after.

First Lord. Holy seems the quarrel

            Upon your grace's part; black and fearful

            On the opposer.

Duke of Florence. Therefore we marvel much our cousin France

            Would in so just a business shut his bosom

            Against our borrowing prayers.

Second Lord. Good my lord,

            The reasons of our state I cannot yield,

            But like a common and an outward man,

            That the great figure of a council frames

            By self-unable motion: therefore dare not

            Say what I think of it, since I have found

            Myself in my incertain grounds to fail

            As often as I guess'd.

Duke of Florence. Be it his pleasure.

First Lord. But I am sure the younger of our nature,

            That surfeit on their ease, will day by day

            Come here for physic.

Duke of Florence. 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]