To such, and some there are, no question, here,
Who, happy in their memories, do bear
This subject, long since acted, and can say,
Truly, we have seen something like this play.
Our author, with becoming modesty,
(For in this kind he ne'er was bold,) by me,
In his defence thus answers, By command,
He undertook this task, nor could it stand
With his low fortune to refuse to do
What, by his patron, he was call'd unto:

For whose delight and yours, we hope, with care
He hath review'd it; and with him we dare
Maintain to any man, that did allow
'Twas good before, it is much better'd now:
Nor is it, sure, against the proclamation,
To raise new piles upon an old foundation.
So much to them deliver'd; to the rest,
To whom each scene is fresh, he doth protest,
Should his Muse fail now a fair flight to make,
He cannot fancy what will please or take.

Enter ALMIRA, and two Waiting Women dressing her.

Alm. Do the rest here, my cabinet is too hot; This room is cooler. Brother!

Pedro. Morrow, sister!
Do I not come unseasonably?

Alm. Why, good brother?

Pedro. Because you are not yet fully made up, Nor fit for visitation. There are ladies, And great ones, that will hardly grant access, On any terms, to their own fathers, as They are themselves, nor willingly be seen Before they have ask'd counsel of their doctor How the ceruse will appear, newly laid on, When they ask blessing.

Alm. Such, indeed, there are That would be still young, in despite of time; That in the wrinkled winter of their age Would force a seeming April of fresh beauty, As if it were within the power of art To frame a second nature: but for me, And for your mistress I dare say as much, The faces, and the teeth you see, we slept with. Pedro. Which is not frequent, sister, with some ladies.

Alm. You spy no sign of any night-mask here, (Tie on my carcanet,) nor does your nostril Take in the scent of strong perfumes, to stifle The sourness of our breaths as we are fasting: You're in a lady's chamber, gentle brother, And not in your apothecary's shop.

We use the women, you perceive, that serve us, Like servants, not like such as do create us :Faith, search our pockets, and, if you find there Comfits of ambergris to help our kisses, Conclude us faulty.

Pedro. You are pleasant, sister,

And I am glad to find you so disposed;
You will the better hear me.

Alm. What you please, sir.

Pedro. I am entreated by the prince of Tarent,

Don John Antonio

Alm. Would you would choose

Some other subject.

Pedro. Pray you, give me leave,

For his desires are fit for you to hear,
As for me to prefer. This prince of Tarent
(Let it not wrong him that I call him friend)
Finding your choice of don Cardenes liked of
By both your fathers, and his hopes cut off,
Resolves to leave Palermo.

Alm. He does well;

That I hear gladly.

Pedro. How this prince came hither, How bravely furnish'd, how attended on,

How he hath born himself here, with what charge He hath continued; his magnificence

In costly banquets, curious masques, rare presents, And of all sorts, you cannot but remember.

Alm. Give me my gloves.

Pedro. Now, for reward of all

His cost, his travel, and his duteous service, He does entreat that you will please he may Take his leave of you, and receive the favour Of kissing of your hands.

Alm. You are his friend,

And shall discharge the part of one to tell him
That he may spare the trouble; I desire not
To see or hear more of him.
Pedro. Yet grant this,

Which a mere stranger, in the way of courtship, Might challenge from you.

Alm. And obtain it sooner.

Pedro. One reason for this would do well.
Alm. My will

Shall now stand for a thousand.

Shall I lose

The privilege of my sex, which is my will,
To yield a reason like a man? or you,
Deny your sister that which all true women
Claim as their first prerogative, which nature
Gave to them for a law, and should I break it,
I were no more a woman?

Pedro. Sure, a good one

You cannot be, if you put off that virtue
Which best adorns a good one, courtesy
And affable behaviour. Do not flatter
Yourself with the opinion that your birth,
Your beauty, or whatever false ground else
You raise your pride upon, will stand against
The censure of just men.

Alm. Why, let it fall then;

I still shall be unmoved.

Leon. And, pray you, be you so. [Aside to PEDRO. Alm. What jewel's that?

1 Wom. That which the prince of Tarent Alm. Left here, and you received without my knowledge!

I have use of't now.

Does the page wait without, My lord Cardenes sent to enquire my health? 1 Wom. Yes, madam.

Alm. Give it him, and, with it, pray him
To return my service to his lord, and mine.

Pedro. Will you so undervalue one that has
So truly loved you, to bestow the pledge
Of his affection, being a prince, upon
The servant of his rival?

Leon. You are too violent, madam. Alm. Were my father

Here to command me, (as you take upon you
Almost to play his part,) I would refuse it.
Where I love, I profess it; where I hate,
In every circumstance I dare proclaim it.
Of all that wear the shapes of men, I loath
That prince you plead for; no antipathy
Between things most averse in nature, holds
A stronger enmity than his with mine;
With which rest satisfied :-If not, your anger
May wrong yourself, not me.

Leon. My lord Cardenes!

Pedro. Go: in soft terms, if you persist thus, you Will be one

A brother's bounds

Leon. What then, my lord?

Car. Believe it.

I'll call him to accompt for't.

Leon. Tell him so.

Alm. No more.

Leon. Yes, thus much; though my modesty Be call'd in question for it, in his absence I will defend him he bath said nor done, But what don Pedro well might say or do; Mark me, don Pedro! in which understand As worthy, and as well as can be hoped for Of those that love him best-from don Cardenes. Car. This to me, cousin!

Alm. You forget yourself.

Leon. No, nor the cause in which you did so, lady, Which is so just that it needs no concealing On Pedro's part.

Alm. What mean you?

Leon. I dare speak it,

If you dare hear it, sir: he did persuade

Almira, your Almira, to vouchsafe

Some little conference with the prince of Tarent, Before he left the court; and, that the world Might take some notice, though he prosper'd not

Car. I said so; neither is it fit you should;
And may I prevail with you as a friend,
You never shall; nor, while you live, hereafter
Think of the viceroy's court, or of Palermo,
But as a grave, in which the prince of Tarent
Buried his honour.

Ant. You speak in a language
I do not understand.

Car. No! I'll be plainer.

What madman, that came hither with that pomp
Don John Antonio did, that exact courtier
Don John Antonio, with whose brave fame only
Great princesses have fall'n in love, and died;
That came with such assurance, as young Paris
Did to fetch Helen, being sent back, contemn'd,
Disgraced, and scorn'd, his large expense laugh'd
His bravery scoff'd, the lady that he courted
Left quietly in possession of another,
(Not to be named that day a courtier

[at,

Where he was mentioned,) the scarce-known

Cardenes,

And he to bear her from him!—that would ever
Be seen again (having got fairly off)
By such as will live ready witnesses
Of his repulse and scandal ?

Ant. The grief of it,

Believe me, will not kill me: all man's honour
Depends not on the most uncertain favour
Of a fair mistress.

Car. Troth, you bear it well.

You should have seen some that were sensible
Of a disgrace, that would have raged, and sought
To cure their honour with some strange revenge:
But you are better temper'd; and they wrong
The Neapolitans in their report,
That say they are fiery spirits, uncapable
Of the least injury, dangerous to be talk'd with
After a loss; where nothing can move you,
But, like a stoic, with a constancy
Words nor affronts can shake, you still go on,
And smile when men abuse you.

Ant. If they wrong

Themselves, I can; yet, I would have you know, I dare be angry.

Car. 'Tis not possible.

A taste of't would do well; and I'd make trial What may be done. Come hither, boy.-You

This jewel, as I take it?

Ant. Yes; 'tis that

I gave Almira.

Car. And in what esteem

[have seen

She held it, coming from your worthy self,

You may perceive, that freely hath bestow'd it

Upon my page.

Ant. When I presented it,

I did not indent with her, to what use

She should employ it.

Car. See the kindness of

A loving soul! who, after this neglect,

Nay, gross contempt, will look again upon her, And not be frighted from it.

Ant. No, indeed, sir;

Nor give way longer-give way, do you mark, To your loose wit, to run the wild-goose chase, Six syllables further. I will see the lady,

Beget such fancies in you. Give me a sword, [Snatches a Sword from the Servant. This my weak arm, made strong in my revenge, Shall force a way to't. [Wounds ANTONIO.

Ant. Would it were deeper, madam! The thrust which I would not put by, being yours, Of greater force, to have pierced through that heart Which still retains your figure!-weep still, lady: For every tear that flows from those grieved eyes, Some part of that which maintains life, goes from And so to die were in a gentle slumber [me; To pass to paradise: but you envy me So quiet a departure from my world, My world of miseries; therefore, take my sword, And, having kill'd me with it, cure the wounds It gave Cardenes. [Gives ALMIRA his sword.