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Of an advancement; else a bachelor
May thrive by observation, on a little.
A single life's no burden; but to draw
In yokes is chargeable, and will require
A double maintenance: why, I can live
Without a wife, and purchase.

Rom. Is't a mystery,

You've lately found out, Livio, or a cunning
Conceal'd till now, for wonder?

Liv. Pish! believe it,

Endeavours and an active brain are better
Than patrimonies left by parents.-Prove it.—
One thrives by cheating; shallow fools and un-
thrifts

Are game knaves only fly at: then a fellow
Presumes on his hair, and that his back can toil
For fodder from the city;-lies: another,

8

Reputed valiant, lives by the sword, and takes up Quarrels, or braves them, as the novice likes,

7 A single life's no burden.] For a the quarto reads, as single life's, &c. Another,

8

Reputed valiant, lives by the sword, &c.]

Thus Fletcher :

"Your high offers

Taught by the Masters of Dependencies,

That, by compounding differencies 'tween others,
Supply their own necessities, with me

Will never carry it."

66

These masters of dependencies," as they called themselves, were a set of low bullies and bravoes, who undertook to instruct such country novices, as aspired to the reputation of valour, in the fashionable mode of getting up a quarrel; and, if need were, submitted to be beaten by them. They are noticed with ridicule and contempt by most of our old dramatists.

To gild his reputation;-most improbable.

A world of desperate undertakings, possibly, Procures some hungry meals, some tavern surfeits,

Some frippery to hide nakedness; perhaps
The scambling half a ducat now and then
To roar and noise it with the tattling hostess,
For a week's lodging; these are pretty shifts,
Souls bankrupt of their royalty submit to!
Give me a man, whose practice and experience,
Conceives not barely the philosopher's stone,
But indeed has it; one whose wit's his Indies:
The poor is most ridiculous.

Rom. You are pleasant

In new discoveries of fortune; use them
With moderation, Livio.

Cast. Such wild language

Was wont to be a stranger to your custom;
However, brother, you are pleased to vent it,
I hope, for recreation.

Liv. Name and honour

What are they? a mere sound without support

ance,

A begging-Chastity, youth, beauty, handsome

ness,

Discourse, behaviour which might charm attention,
And curse the gazer's eyes into amazement,
Are nature's common bounties; so are diamonds

The scambling half a ducat, &c.] Scambling appears to be used in this place for obtaining by impudent importunity, by false pretences, &c.; in a word, much in the sense of skelder, as we have it in Jonson, Decker, and others.

Uncut, so flowers unworn, so silk-worms' webs Unwrought, gold unrefined; then all those glories Are of esteem, when used and set at price:There's no dark sense in this.

Rom. I understand not

The drift on't, nor how meant, nor yet to whom. Cast. Pray, brother, be more plain.

Liv. First, Romanello,

This for

your satisfaction: if

you waste

More hours in courtship to this maid, my sister,
Weighing her competency with your own,
You go about to build without foundation;
So that care will prove void.

Rom. A sure acquittance,
If I must be discharged.

Liv. Next, Castamela,

To thee, my own loved sister, let me say,
I have not been so bountiful in shewing

To fame the treasure which this age hath open'd,
As thy true value merits.

Cast. You are merry.

Liv. My jealousy of thy fresh blooming years, Prompted a fear of husbanding too charily Thy growth to such perfection, as no flattery Of art can perish now.

Cast. Here's talk in riddles !1

Brother, the exposition?

1 Here's talk in riddles.] Here is, indeed; and, what is worse, no Edipus at hand to solve them. It would be mere presumption to alter the text; but if the reader, in the following line,

Prompted a fear of husbanding too charily,

be pleased to suppose care and so, in the place of fear and too, he will catch, I believe, some glimpse of the poet's meaning.

Liv. I'll no longer

Chamber thy freedom; we have been already Thrifty enough in our low fortunes; henceforth Command thy liberty, with that thy pleasures. Rom. Is't come to this?

Cast. You are wondrous full of courtesy.

Liv. Ladies of birth and quality are suitors For being known t'ye; I have promised, sister, They shall partake your company.

Cast. What ladies? Where, when, how, whọ?

Liv. A day, a week, a month,

Sported amongst such beauties, is a gain

On time; they are young, wise, noble, fair, and chaste.

Cast. Chaste?

Liv. Castamela, chaste; I would not hazard My hopes, my joys of thee, on dangerous trial. Yet if, as it may chance, a neat cloath'd merriment Pass without blush, in tattling,—so the words Fall not too broad, 'tis but a pastime smiled at Amongst yourselves in counsel; but beware Of being overheard.

Cast. This is pretty!

Rom. I doubt I know not what, yet must be

silent.

[Aside.

2 Amongst yourselves in counsel.] i. e. in secret, in private: the expression is common to all our old writers.

Enter TROYLO, FLORIA, CLARELLA, SILVIA, and

NITIDO.

Liv. They come as soon as spoke of.-Sweetest fair ones,

My sister cannot but conceive this honour
Particular in your respects. Dear sir,
You grace us in your favours.

Troy. Virtuous lady.

Flo. We are your servants.
Clar. Your sure friends.
Sil. Society

May fix us in a league.

Cast. All fitly welcome.

I find not reason, gentle ladies, whereon

To cast this debt of mine; but my acknowledge

ment

Shall study to pay thankfulness.

Troy. Sweet beauty!

Your brother hath indeed been too much churl

In this concealment from us all, who love him,
Of such desired a presence.

Sil. Please to enrich us

With your wish'd amity.

Flo. Our coach attends;

We cannot be denied.

Clar. Command it, Nitido.

Nit. Ladies, I shall now for a lusty harvest! "Twill prove a cheap year, should these barns be

fill'd once.

[Aside and exit.

Cast. Brother, one word in private.

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