Duke. Though I need not

FROM "THE GENTLEMAN OF VENICE." Give an account to any but to Heaven And her fair self, Foscari, thou shalt tell her, Claudiana, on receiving a proposition from her husband I love her with chaste and noble fire ; my in Cornari, which she supposes to arise from his suspicion

of her infidelity. tents are Fair as her brow : tell her, I dare proclaim it

Claudiana. Let me fall

[kneels. In my devotions, at that minute when

Beneath that which sustains me, ere I take I know a million of adoring spirits

In a belief that will destroy my peace ; Hover about the altar. I do love her.

Not in the apprehension of what Fosc. Enough-enough: my lord, be pleased to

You frame t'accuse yourself, but in fear hear

My honour is betray'd to your suspicion. What I have now to say. You have express'd

Cornari. Rise! with thy tears I kiss A brave and noble soul, but I must not

Away thy tremblings. I suspect thy honour ? Carry this message to her; therefore take My heart will want faith to believe an angel, Your own words back again. I love Cleona

That should traduce thy fair name; thou art chaste With chaste and noble fire ; my intents are

As the white down of heaven, whose feathers play Fair as her brow : I dare proclaim it, sir,

Upon the wings of a cold winter's gale, In my devotions, at that minute when

Trembling with fear to touch th' impurer earth. I know a million of adoring spirits

How are the roses frighted in thy cheeks Hover about the altar.

To paleness, weeping out transparent dew, Duke. Do you mock me ?

When a loose story is but named ? thou art Fosc. Pardon a truth, mylord : I have apparella The miracle of a chaste wife, from which fair My own sense with your language.

Original, drawn out by Heaven's own hand, Duke. Do you come

To have had one copy I had writ perfection. To affront us? you had better ha' been sleeping In your cold urn, as fame late gave you out, And mingled with the rude forgotten ashes,

FROM “THE DOUBTFUL IEIR.” Than live to move our anger.

Persons-FERDINAND in prison for asserting his right to Fosc. Spare your frowns.

the kingdom of Murcia. Rosania, his mistress, disguised This earth weighs not my spirit down ; a fear like a Page. Would dye the paleness of my father's dust

Rosania. Pray do not grieve for me. I have Into a blush. Sir, many are alive

a heart Will swear I did not tremble at a cannon,

That can for your sake suffer more ; and when When it struck thunder in mine ear, and wrapt

The tyranny of your fate calls me to die,
My head in her blue mists. It is not breath

I can as willingly resign my breath
Can fright a noble truth, nor is there magic As go to sleep.
I'the person of a king that plays the tyrant,

Ferdinand. Can I hear this
But a good sword can easily uncharm it.

Without a fresh wound, that thy love to me Duke. You threaten us.

Should be so ill rewarded ? thou hast engaged Fosc. Heaven avert so black a thought !

Thyself too much already; 'tis within Though in my honour's cause I can be flame,

Thy will yet to be safe,-reveal thyself, [ness, My blood is frost to treason : make me not

Throw off the cloud that doth eclipse that brightBelie my heart, for I do love Cleona,

And they will court thy person, and be proud And, my blood tells me, above all

With all becoming honour to receive thee ; You can affect her with : no birth or state

No fear shall rob thy cheek of her chaste blood. Can challenge a prerogative in love.

Oh, leave me to my own stars, and expect, Nay, be not partial, and you shall ascribe

Whate'er become of wretched Ferdinand, To mine love's victory, for though I admit

happy fate. You value her above your dukedom-health ;

Ros. Your counsel is unkind; That you would sacrifice your blood to avert

This language would become your charity Any mishap should threaten that dear head,

To a stranger, but my interest is more All this is but above yourself ; but I

In thee, than thus with words to be sent off. Love her above herself. And while you can

Our vows have made us one, nor can the names But give your life, and all you have, to do

Of father, country, or what can be dear Cleona service, I can give away

In nature, bribe one thought to wish myself Herself—Cleona's self, in my love to her.

In heaven without thy company: it were poor, then, I see you are at loss—I'll reconcile

To leave thee here. Then, by thy faith I charge thee; All-she is yours ; this minute ends my claim.

By this, the first and last sealof our love; (Kisses him. Live and enjoy her happily; may you be

By all our promises, when we did fatter Famous in that beauteous empire, she

Ourselves, and in our fancy took the world
Blest in so great a lord !

A pieces, and collected what did like
Us best, to make us a new Paradise ;

By that, the noblest ornament of thy soul,
Thy honour, I conjure thee, let me still

FERDINAND'S TRIAL.
Be undiscover'd. What will it avail

Persons, besides the Prisoner at the bar and his Page, are To leave me, whom thou lovest, and walk alone,

OLIVIA the supposed QUEEN OF MURCIA ; Officers; Sad pilgrim, to another world? We will

ERNESTO, RODRIGUEZ, LEANDRO, and LEONARIO ; NobleConverse in soul, and shoot like stars whose beams men, Ladies, Gentlemen, and Guard. Are twisted, and make bright the sullen groves Queen. Is that the prisoner at the bar ? Of lovers, as we pass.

Leon. He that pretended himself Ferdinand, Fer. These are but dreams

Your uncle's son. Of happiness : be wise, Rosania,

Queen. Proceed to his arraignment. My lord Thy love is not a friend to make thee miserable ; You know our pleasure.

[Leandro, Society in death, where we affect,

Leandro. Although the queen in her own royal But multiplies our grief. Live thou, oh live !

power, And if thou hast a tear, when I am dead,

And without violating sacred justice, where But drop it to my memory, it shall

Treason comes to invade her and her crown More precious than embalming dwell upon me, With open war, need not insist upon And keep my ashes pure ; my spirit shall

The forms and circumstance of law, but use At the same instant, in some innocent shape, Her sword in present execution, Descend upon that earth thou hast bedew'd, Yet such is the sweet temper of her blood And, kissing the bright tribute of thine eye, And calmness of her nature, though provoked Shall after wait like thy good angel on thee. Into a storm, unto the greatest offender There will be none to speak of Ferdinand

She shuts up no defence, willing to give Without disdain if thou diest too. Oh, live

A satisfaction to the world how much A little to defend me, or at least

She doth delight in mercy. Ferdinand, To say I was no traitor to thy love ;

For so thou dost pretend thyself, thou art And lay the shame on death and my false stars, Indicted of high treason to her majesty, That would not let me live to be a king.

In that thou hast usurp'd relation to Ros. O Ferdinand !

Her blood, and, under name of being her kinsman, Thou dost not love me now!

Not only hast contrived blast her honour Fer. Not love, Rosania ?

With neighbouring princes, but has gather'd arms If wooing thee to live will not assure thee, To wound the precious bosom of her country, Command me then to die, and spare the cruelty And tear the crown, which heaven and just sucOf the fair queen. Not love, Rosania ?

cession If thou wilt but delight to see me bleed,

Hath placed upon her royal head. What canst I will at such a narrow passage let

Thou answer to this treason?
Out life, it shall be many hours in ebbing ;

Fer. Boldly thus :
And my soul, bathing in the crimson stream, As I was never, with the height of all

Take pleasure to be drown'd. I have small time My expectations and the aid of friends, | To love and be alive, but I will carry

Transported one degree above myself, [frown'd, | So true a faith to woman hence as shall

So must not Ferdinand, though his stars have Make poor the world, when I am gone to tell And the great eye of Providence seem to slumber The story yonder.–We are interrupted.

While your force thus compellid and brought

me hither, Enter Keeper.

With mockery of my fate, to be arraign'd Keeper. You must prepare yourself for present For being a prince, have any thought beneath I have command t'attend you to the judges. [trial ; | The title I was born to. Yet I'll not call That gentleman, and all that did adhere

This cruelty in you, nor in the queen, To your conspiracy, are by the queen's

(If I may name her so without injustice | Most gracious mercy pardon'd.

To my own right); a kingdom is a garland Fer. In that word

Worth all contention, and where right seals not Thou hast brought me morethan life. I shall betray, The true possession nature is forgotten, And with my too much joy undo thee again.

And blood thought cheap to assure it. There is Heaven does command thee live, I must obey

something This summons. I shall see thee again, Tiberio, *

Within that excellent figure that restrains Before I die.

A passion here, that else would forth like lightning: Ros. I'll wait upon you, sir ;

'Tis not your shape, which yet hath so much sweetThe queen will not deny me that poor office.

Some pale religious hermit might suspect [ness; I know not how to leave you.

You are the blessed saint he pray'd to : no, Per. Death and I

The magic's in our nature and our blood, Shall meet and be made friends ; but when we part,

For both our veins, full of one precious purple, The world shall find thy story in my heart, Strike harmony in their motion ; I am Ferdinand, * The assumed name of the page.

And you the fair Olivia, brother's children.

Leon. What insolence is this?

Sure has some name : declare him, that he may Queen. Oh, my lord, let him

Thank you for his award, and lose his head for't. Be free to plead ; for, if it be no dream,

Queen. We always see that men, in such high His cause will want an orator. By my blood

nature He does talk bravely.

Deform’d and guilty, want no specious shapes Rodriq. These are flourishes.

To gain their practice, friendship, and compassion; Ern. Speak to the treason you are charged with, But he shall feel the punishment. D' you smile! And confess a guilt.

Fer. A woman's anger is but worth it, madam; Leon. He justifies himself.

And if I may have freedom, I must say, Fer. If it be treason to be born a prince, Not in contempt of what you seem, nor help'd To have my father's royal blood move here ;

By overcharge of passion, which but makes If it be treason in my infancy

A fruitless noise, I have a sense of what To have escaped by Divine Providence,

I am to lose, a life ; but I am so fortified When my poor life should have been sacrificed With valiant thoughts and innocence, I shall, To please a cruel uncle, whose ambition

When my last breath is giving up to lose Surprised my crown, and after made Olivia, Itself in the air, be so remote from fear, His daughter, queen ; if it be treason to

That I will cast my face into a smile, Have been a stranger thus long from my country, which shall, when I am dead, acquit all trembling, Bred up with silence of my name and birth, And be a story to the world how free And not till now mature to own myself

From paleness Ferdinand took leave of earth. Before a sunbeam ; if it be treason,

Ros. Alas! my lord, you forget me, that can After so long a banishment, to weep

Part with so much courage. A tear of joy upon my country's bosom

Fer. I forget indeed : And call her mine, my just inheritance,

I thought of death with honour, but my love Unless you stain my blood with bastardy ; Hath found a way to chide me. Oh, my boy! If it be treason still to love this earth,

I can weep now.
That knew so many of my race her kings,

Leon. A sudden change : he weeps.
Though late unkindly arm' to kill her sovereign, Queen. What boy is that?
As if the effusion of my blood were left

Fer. I prithee take thyself away.
To make her fertile ; if to love Olivia,

Queen. Your spirit does melt, it seems,

and My nearest pledge of blood, although her power you begin to think Hath chain'd her prince, and made her lord her A life is worth preserving though with infamy. Who sits with expectation to hear [prisoner, Fer. Goodness, thy aid again, and tell this great, That sentence that must make the golden wreath Proud woman, I have a spirit scorns her pity. Secure upon her brow by blasting mine :

Come hither, boy, and let me kiss thee : thus, If this be treason, I am guilty. Ferdinand,

At parting with a good and pretty servant, Your king's become a traitor, and must die I can without my honour stain'd shed tears. A black and most inglorious death.

I took thee from thy friends to make thee mineErn. You offer

Is it not truth, boy ?At some defence, but come not home. By what

Ros. Yes, my lord. Engine were you translated hence, or whither

Fer. And meant, when I was king, to make thee Convey'd? There was trust deceived

And shall I not, when I can live no longer (great;

To cherish thee, at farewell drop a tear, Were carried forth to be preserved, and much That I could weep my soul upon thee? But Care taken since in bringing of you up,

You are too slow, methinks ; I am so far And giving secret fire to this ambition.

From dread, I think your forms too tedious. Fer. There wants no testimony here of what

I expect my sentence. Concerns the story of my birth and infancy,

Queen. Let it stay awhile. If one dare speak and be an honest lord

(Aside.) What secret flame is this? Honour proLeand. How's that?

tect me. Fer. Whose love and art secured me from all

Your grace's fair excuse ; for you I shall
tyranny,
Return again.

[Erit. Though here my funeral was believed ; while I,

Fer. And I, with better guard,
Sent to an honourable friend, his kinsman, After my silence in the grave, to meet
Grew safely to the knowledge of myself

And plead this cause.
At last, till fortune of the war betray'd me

Ern. He is distracted, sure. To this captivity.

His person I could pity, but his insolence
Leand. I blush at thee,

Wants an example. What if we proceed
Young man, whose fall has made thee desperate, To sentence ?
And carest not what man's blood thou draw’st along,

Leon. I suppose the queen will clear
As hateful as thy crimes.

Your duties in 't. Ern. That confederate

Leand. But I'll acquaint her.

(Erit.

some

when you

Leon. My lord, Leandro's gone.

Stew. These, with your pardon, are no argument Ern. His censure will

To make the country life appear so hateful, Be one with ours.

At least to your particular, who enjoy'd Fer. Yet shall I publish who

A blessing in that calm, would you be pleased Thou art ? I shall not die with a calm soul

To think so, and the pleasure of a kingdom: And leave thee in this cloud.

While your own will commanded what should move

Delights, your husband's love and power join'd Enter Queen and LEANDRO.

To give your life more harmony. You lived there Ros. By no means, sir. The queen.

Secure and innocent, beloved of all ; Queen. Whose service is so forward to our state, | Praised for your hospitality, and pray'd for : That when our pleasure 's known not to proceed, You might be enviëd, but malice knew They dare be officious in his sentence? Are Not where you dwelt.— I would not prophesy, We queen, or do we move by your protection ? But leave to your own apprehension Ern. Madam, the prince

What may succeed your change. Queen. My lord, you have a queen :

Aret. You do imagine, I not suspect his wisdom, sir, but he

No doubt, you have talk'd wisely, and confuted Hath no commission here to be a judge ;

London past all defence. Your master should You were best circumscribe our regal power, Do well to send you back into the country And by yourselves condemn or pardon all, With title of superintendant bailiff. And we sign to your will. The offence which you Stew. How, madam ? Call treason strikes at us, and we release it.

Aret. Even so, sir. Let me but see one curl in any brow;

Stew. I am a gentleman, though now your servant. Attend the prisoner hither-Kiss our hand.

Aret. A country gentleman, Are you so merciless to think this man

By your affection to converse with stubble : Fit for a scaffold ?-You shall, sir, be near us ; His tenants will advance you wit, and plump it so And if in this confusion of your fortunes

With beef and bag puddingYou can find gratitude and love, despair not: Stew. You may say your pleasure, These men, that now oppose, may find your title It becomes not me dispute. Clear to the kingdom too. Be, sir, collected, Aret. Complain to the lord of the soil, your And let us love your arm.

master. [Exit, supported by FERDINAND.

Stew. Y'are a woman of an ungovern'd passion, Ros. What change is here?

And I pity you. Leand. What think you of this, lords?

Enter SIR THOMAS BORNWELL, Rodriq. I dare not think.

Born. How now, what's the matter? Leon. Affronted thus! Oh, my vex'd heart !

Angry, sweetheart? Ros. I'll follow still ; and, if this be no dream,

Aret. I am angry with myself,
We have 'scaped a brook to meet a greater stream.

To be so miserably restrain’d in things
Wherein it doth concern your love and honour
To see me satisfied.

Born. In what, Aretina,
FROM "THE LADY OF PLEASURE."

Dost thou accuse me ? have I not obey'd
ARETINA, SIR THOMAS BORNWELL's lady, and his

All thy desires against mine own opinion ?
Steward.

Quitted the country, and removed the hope Sleward. Be patient, madam, you may have your Of our return by sale of that fair lordship pleasure.

We lived in ; changed a calm and retire life Aret. 'Tis that I came to town for ; I would not For this wild town, composed of noise and charge? Endure again the country conversation

Aret. What charge more than is necessary To be the lady of six shires ! the men,

For a lady of my birth and education ? So near the primitive making, they retain

Born. I am not ignorant how much nobility A sense of nothing but the earth ; their brains Flows in your blood ; your kinsmen, great and And barren heads standing as much in want

powerful Of ploughing as their ground : to hear a fellow l'th' state, but with this lose not your memory Make himself merry and his horse with whistling of being my wife. I shall be studious, Sellinger's Round; t' observe with what solemnity Madam, to give the dignity of your birth They keep their wakes, and throw for pewter All the best ornaments which become my fortune, candlesticks ;

But would not flatter it to ruin both,
How they become the morris, with whose bells And be the fable of the town, to teach
They ring all into Whitsun ales, and swear Other men loss of wit by mine, employ'd
Through twenty scarfs and napkins, till the hobby- To serve your vast expenses.
horse

Aret. Am I then
Tire, and the maid-marian, dissolved to a jelly, Brought in the balance so, sir?
Be kept for spoon-meat.

Born. Though you weigh