Liv. I come, my lord, a suitor. Oct. Honest Livio, Perfectly honest, really; no fallacies, No flaws are in thy truth: I shall promote thee To place more eminent. Troy. Livio deserves it. Oct. What suit? speak boldly. Liv. Pray discharge my office, My mastership; 'twere better live a yeoman, Oct. Such breath sounds but ill-manners; know, young man, Old as we are, our soul retains a fire Active and quick in motion, which shall equal Troy. He's my friend, sir. Oct. You are weary of our service, and may We can court no man's duty. Liv. Without passion, [leave it ; My lord, d'ye think your nephew here, your Troylo, Parts in your spirit as freely as your blood? 'Tis no rude question. Oct. Had you known his mother, You might have sworn her honest; let him justify Himself not base born: for thy sister's sake, I do conceive the like of thee; be wiser, But prate to me no more thus.-[ TO TROYLO.]— If the gallant. Resolve on my attendance, ere he leave me, Acquaint him with the present service, nephew, I meant to employ him in. Troy. Fie, Livio, wherefore Turn'd wild upon the sudden? Liv. Pretty gentleman, [Exit. How modestly you move your doubts! how tamely! Troy. Truly? Liv. Yes, an't like your nobleness, He truly does so say! Your breach of friendship With me, must borrow courage from your uncle, Whilst your sword talks an answer; there's no I will have satisfaction, though thy life [remedy, Come short of such demand. Troy. Then satisfaction, Much worthier than your sword can force, you shall have, Yet mine shall keep the peace. I can be angry, I promise, ere the minutes of the night Liv. Not? the time is short; Before our sleeping hour, you vow? SCENE II.-Another Room in the same. Enter CASTAMELA, Clarella, FLORIA, and SILVIA. Cast. You have discours'd to me a lovely story, My heart doth dance to th' music; 'twere a sin Should I in any tittle stand distrustful, Where such a people, such as you are, innocent Even by the patent of your years and language, Inform a truth. O! talk it o'er again. You are, you say, three daughters of one mother, That mother only sister to the marquis, Whose charge hath, since her death, (being left a Hath often told us, how it more concern'd him, Before he show'd us to the world, to render Our youths and our demeanours in each action Approv'd by his experience, than too early Adventure on the follies of the age, By prone temptations fatal. Sil. In good deed, la, We mean no harm. Cast. Deceit must want a shelter Under a roof that's covering to souls So white as breathe beneath it, such as these are: My happiness shares largely in this blessing, And I must thank direction of the providence Clar. Aptly have you styled it A providence, for, ever in chaste loves, Flo. You will find his tongue Cast. The guardianess, dear creatures, now and It seems, makes bold to talk. [then, Clar. She has waited on us From all our cradles; will prate sometimes oddly, However, means but sport: I am unwilling Our household should break up, but must obey His wisdom, under whose command we live; Sever our companies I'm sure we shall not: Yet, 'tis a pretty life this, and a quiet. Enter MOROSA, and SECCO, with his apron on, carrying a bason of water, scissars, comb, towels, razor, &c. Sec. Chuck, duckling, honey, mouse, monkey, all and everything, I am thine ever and only; will never offend again, as I hope to shave clean, and get honour by it: heartily I ask forgiveness; be gracious to thine own flesh and blood, and kiss me home. Mor. Look you provoke us no more; for this time you shall find mercy.-Was 't that hedgehog set thy brains a-crowing? be quits with him; but do not hurt the great male-baby. Sec. Enough; I am wise, and will be merry.Haste, beauties; the caroches will sudden receive you a night of pleasure is toward, pray for good husbands a-piece, that may trim you featly, dainty ones, and let me alone to trim them. Mor. Loving hearts, be quick as soon as ye can, time runs apace; what you must do, do nimbly, and give your minds to't. Young bloods stand fumbling! fie, away; be ready, for shame, beforehand. Husband, stand to thy tackling, husband, like a man of mettle :-go, go, go! [Exit with the Ladies. Sec. [Aloud.] Will ye come away, loiterers? shall I wait all day? am I at livery d'ye think? Enter SPADONE ready to be trimmed, and NITIDO. Spa. Here, and ready; what a mouthing thou keepest! I have but scoured my hands, and curried my head to save time. Honest Secco! neat Secco! precious barbarian! now thou lookest like a worshipful tooth-drawer; would I might see thee on horseback, in the pomp, once. Sec. A chair, a chair! quick, quick! Nit. Here's a chair, a chair-politic, my fine boy; sit thee down in triumph, and rise one of the Nine Worthies! thou'lt be a sweet youth anon, sirrah. Spa. (Sits down.) So; to work with a grace now. I cannot but highly be in love with the fashion of gentry, which is never complete till the snip snap of dexterity hath mowed off the excrements of slovenry. Sec. Very commodiously delivered, I protest. Nit. Nay, the thing under your fingers is a whelp of the wits, I can assure you. Spa. I a whelp of the wits? no, no, I cannot bark impudently and ignorantly enough. Oh, an a man of this art had now and then sovereignty over fair ladies, you would tickle their upper and their lower lips, you'd so smouch and belaver their chops! Sec. We light on some offices for ladies too, as occasion serves. Nit. Yes; frizzle or powder their hair, plane their eye-brows, set a nap on their cheeks, keep secrets, and tell news; that's all. Sec. Wink fast with both your eyes: the ingredients to the composition of this ball are most odorous camphire, pure soap of Venice, oil of sweet almonds, with the spirit of alum: they will search and smart shrewdly, if you keep not the shop windows of your head close. [SPA. shuts his eyes, while SEC. besmears the whole of his face. Spa. News! well remembered; that's part of your trade too ;-prithee do not rub so roughly— and how goes the tattle o' the town? what novelties stirring, ha? Sec. Strange, and scarce to be credited. A gelding was lately seen to leap an old mare; and an old man of one hundred and twelve stood in a white sheet for getting a wench of fifteen with child, here hard by: most admirable and por tentous ! Spa. I'll never believe it; 'tis impossible. Nit. Most certain some doctor-farriers are of opinion that the mare may cast a foal, which the master of their hall concludes, in spite of all jockies and their familiars, will carry every race before him, without spur or switch. Spa. Oh rare! a man might venture ten or twenty to one safely then, and never be in danger of the cheat:-this water, methinks, is none of the sweetest; camphire and soap of Venice, say ye? Sec. With a little Græcum album for mundification. Nit. Græcum album is a kind of white perfumed powder, which plain country people, I believe, call dog-musk. Spa. Dog-musk! pox o'the dog-musk !-what! dost mean to bleach my nose, thou giv'st such twitches to't? Set me at liberty as soon as thou canst, gentle Secco. Sec. Only pare off a little superfluous down from your chin, and all's done. Spa. Pish, no matter for that; dispatch, I entreat thee. Nit. Have patience, man; 'tis for his credit to be neat. Spa. What's that so cold at my throat, and scrubs so hard? Sec. A kind of steel instrument, ycleped a razor, a sharp tool and a keen; it has a certain virtue of cutting a throat, if a man please to give his mind to't hold up your muzzle, signor-when did you talk bawdily to my wife last? tell me for your own good, signor, I advise you. Spa. I talk bawdily to thy wife? hang bawdry! Good now, mind thy business, lest thy hand slip. Nit. Give him kind words, you were best, for a toy that I know. Sec. Confess, or I shall mar your grace in whiffing tobacco, or squirting of sweet wines down your gullet-you have been offering to play the gelding we told you of, I suppose-speak truth,— move the semicircle of your countenance to my left hand file,-out with the truth; would you have had a leap? Nit. Spadone, thou art in a lamentable pickle, have a good heart, and pray if thou canst; I pity thee. Spa. I protest and vow, friend Secco, I know no leaps, I. Sec. Lecherously goatish, and an eunuch! this cut, and then Spa. Confound thee, thy leaps and thy cuts! I am no eunuch, you finical ass, I am no eunuch; but at all points as well provided as any he in Italy, and that thy wife could have told thee. This your conspiracy! to thrust my head into a brazen tub of kitchen-lee, hood-wink mine eyes in mud-soap, and then offer to cut my throat in the dark, like a coward? I may live to be revenged on both of ye. Nit. O scurvy! thou art angry; feel, man, whether thy weason be not cracked first. Sec. You must fiddle my brains into a jealousy, rub my temples with saffron, and burnish my forehead with the juice of yellows! Have I fitted you now, sir? Enter MOROSA. Spa. All's whole yet, I hope. Mor. Yes, sirrah, all is whole yet; but if ever thou dost speak treason against my sweeting and me once more, thou'lt find a roguy bargain on't. Dear, this was handled like one of spirit and discretion; Nitido has paged it trimly too; no wording, but make ready and attend at court. Sec. Now we know thou art a man, we forget what hath past, and are fellows and friends again. Nit. Wipe your face clean, and take heed of a [Excunt MOR. SEC. and NIT. Spa. The fear put me into a sweat; I cannot help it. I am glad I have my throat mine own, and must laugh for company, or be laughed at. razor. Troy. Sir, I obey you. Flav. Jewels, my lord? [Erit Oct. No stranger's eye e'er view'd them, Rom. Not I, I do protest: I hope, sir, Oct. 'Tis a proper quality For any gentleman; your other friends, Jul. Who, they? they know not A topaz from an opal. Cam. We are ignorant In gems which are not common. Vesp. But his lordship SILVIA, and MOROSA. Jul. Storm not at what is past. [TO ROM. Re-enter TROYLO, with CASTAMELA, CLARELLA, FLORIA, Oct. Behold, I keep my word; these are the May crown you with a full content. jewels * Deserve a treasury; I can be prodigal Amongst my friends; examine well their lustre, Does it not sparkle! wherefore dwells your silence In such amazement? Liv. Patience, keep within me, Oct. Whatever Report hath talk'd of me abroad, and these, tresses Leap not yet rudely into scorn of anger! [Aside. They are, I have none other; how brought up, Flav. Beauties incomparable! Oct. Romanello, I have been only steward to your pleasures; You loved this lady once; what say you now to her? Enjoy your life of greatness. Sure the spring Is past, the BoWER OF FANCIES is quite wither'd, I dare not venture for a blank, excuse me. Exquisite jewels! Liv. Hark ye, Troylo. Troy. Spare me. Oct. You then renounce all right in Castamela? Say, Romanello. Rom. Gladly. Troy. Then I must not : Thus I embrace mine own, my wife; confirm it Cast. Like vow I, For my part. Troy. Livio, now my brother, justly I have given satisfaction. Cast. Oh, excuse Our secrecy; I have been Liv. Much more worthy, A better brother, he a better friend Oct. You are not, Romanello: we examined More freely to discover his sincerity; Their qualities may speak. Now, Romanello, In mine own court henceforth: only for thee, Liv. Most noble lord, I am struck silent. Here's noble choice. Rom. Frenzy, how didst thou seize me? Sil. And gave you welcome. Mor. Indeed, forsooth, and so we did, an't like you. Oct. Enough, enough.-Now, to shut up the night, Some menial servants of mine own are ready [Music. Enter SPADONE, SECCO, NITIDO, and other Maskers, dressed, respectively, as the six characters mentioned above. A DANCE. Your duties are perform'd. Henceforth, Spadone, L EPILOGUE, Spoken by MOROSA, CLARELLA, CASTAMELA, and FLAVIA. Mor. A while suspected, gentlemen, I look Cast. Distrust is base, presumption urgeth wrongs; THE LADY'S TRIAL. TO MY DESERVINGLY HONOURED, JOHN WYRLEY, ESQUIRE, AND TO THE VIRTUOUS AND RIGHT WORTHY GENTLEWOMAN, MRS. MARY WYRLEY, HIS WIFE, THIS SERVICE. THE inequality of retribution turns to a pity, when there is not ability sufficient for acknowledgment. Your equal respects may yet admit the readiness of endeavour, though the very hazard in it betray my defect. I have enjoyed freely acquaintance with the sweetness of your dispositions, and can justly account, from the nobleness of them, an evident distinction betwixt friendship and friends. The latter (according to the practice of compliment) are usually met with, and often without search: the other, many have searched for, I have found. For which, though I partake a benefit of the fortune, yet to you, most equal pair, must remain the honour of that bounty. In presenting this issue of some less serious hours to your tuition, I appeal from the severity of censure to the mercy of your judgments; and shall rate it at a higher value than when it was mine own, if you only allow it the favour of adoption. Thus, as your happiness in the fruition of each other's love proceeds to a constancy; so the truth of mine shall appear less unshaken, as you shall please to continue in your good opinions JOHN FORD. LANGUAGE and matter, with a fit of mirth, A goodly approbation, which must bring In which, if so he have not hit all right, MASTER BIRD. |