Your strangeness only may beget a change

In wild opinion.

Cam. Here's another tang

Of sense, Vespucci.

In

Ves. Listen, and observe.

Rom. Are not you, pray you-nay, we'll be contented,

presence of your ushers, once to prattle Some idle minutes-are you not enthroned The lady-regent, by whose special influence Julio, the count of Camerine, is order'd?

Flav. His wife, 'tis known I am; and in that title

Obedient to a service; else, of greatness

The quiet of my wish was ne'er ambitious.

Rom. He loves you?

Flav. As worthily as dearly.

Rom. And 'tis believed how practice quickly fashion'd

A port of humorous antickness in carriage,
Discourse, demeanour, gestures.

Cam. Put home roundly.

Ves. A ward for that blow? Flav. Safety of mine honour Instructed such deceit.

Rom. Your honour?

Flav. Witness

This brace of sprightly gallants, whose confederacy

Presumed to plot a siege.

Cam. Ves. We, madam!
Rom. On, on;

Some leisure serves us now.

Flav. Still as Lord Julio

Pursued his contract with the man-oh, pardon,
If I forget to name him!-by whose poverty
Of honest truth, I was renounced in marriage;
These two, entrusted for a secret courtship,
By tokens, letters, message, in their turns,
Proffer'd their own devotions, as they term'd them,
Almost unto an impudence; regardless

Of him, on whose supportance they relied.
Rom. Dare not for both your lives to interrupt

her.

Flav. Baited thus to vexation, I assumed A dulness of simplicity; till afterwards Lost to my city-freedom, and now enter'd Into this present state of my condition, (Concluding henceforth absolute security From their lascivious villanies) I continued My former custom of ridiculous lightness, As they did their pursuit; t' acquaint my lord,

were

To have ruin'd their best certainty of living: But that might yield suspicion in my nature; And women may be virtuous, without mischief To such as tempt them.

Rom. You are much to blame, sirs, Should all be truth is utter'd.

Flav. For that justice

I did command them hither; for a privacy
In conference 'twixt Flavia and her brother,
Needed no secretaries such as these are.
Now, Romanello, thou art every refuge
I fly for right to; if I be thy sister,

And not a bastard, answer their confession,
Or threaten vengeance, with perpetual silence.
Cam. My follies are acknowledged; you're a
lady

Who have outdone example: when I trespass
In ought but duty and respects of service,
May hopes of joys forsake me!

Is ratified. My sister, thou hast waken'd
Intranced affection from its sleep to knowledge
Of once more who thou art; no jealous frenzy
Shall hazard a distrust: reign in thy sweetness,
Thou only worthy woman; these two converts
Record our hearty union. I have shook off
My thraldom, lady, and have made discoveries
Of famous novels;3-but of those hereafter.
Thus we seal love; you shall know all, and wonder.

Enter LIVIO.

Liv. Health and his heart's desire to Romanello! My welcome I bring with me.-Noblest lady, Excuse an ignorance of your fair presence; This may be held intrusion.

Flav. Not by me, sir.

Rom. You are not frequent here, as I remember; But since you bring your welcome with you, Livio, Be bold to use it; to the point.

3 Of famous novels.] i. e. novelties. Ford uses either of the words indifferently, and as they chance to suit his metre.

Liv. This lady,

With both these gentlemen, in happy hour
May be partakers of the long-lived amity,
Our souls must link in.

Rom. So; belike the marquis

Stores some new grace, some special close employment,

For whom your kind commends, by deputation, Please think on to oblige; and Livio's charity Descends on Romanello liberally,

Above my means to thank !

Liv. Sienna sometimes

Has been inform'd how gladly there did pass
A treaty of chaste loves with Castamela,
From this good heart; it was in me an error-
Wilful and causeless, 'tis confest,—that hinder'd
Such honourable prosecution,

Even and equal; better thoughts consider,
How much I wrong'd the gentle course which led

you

To vows of true affection; us of friendship.

Rom. Sits the wind there, boy! [Aside.]—Leaving formal circumstance,

Proceed; you dally yet.

Liv. Then, without plea,

For countenancing what has been injurious
On my part, I am come to tender really
My sister a lov'd wife t' ye; freely take her,
Right honest man, and as you live together,
May your increase of years prove but one spring,

One lasting flourishing youth! she is your own; My hands shall perfect what's requir'd to cere

mony.

Flav. Brother, this day was meant a holiday,

Rom. The new-turn'd courtier

Proffers most frankly; but withal leaves out

A due consideration of the narrowness

Our short estate is bounded in!

Some politics

As they rise up, like Livio, to perfection,

In their own competencies, gather also
Grave supplement of providence and wisdom;
Yet he abates in his.-You use a triumph
In your advantages; it smells of state:
We know you are no fool.

Flav. 'Sooth, I believe him.
Cam. Else 'twere imposture.
Ves. Folly, rank and senseless.
Liv. Enjoin an oath at large.
Rom. Since you mean earnest,
Receive, in satisfaction; I am resolv'd

For single life. There was a time,-was, Livio,-
When indiscretion blinded forecast in me;

But recollection, with your rules of thriftiness,
Prevail'd against all passion.

Liv. You'd be courted;

Courtship's the child of coyness, Romanello,
And for the rules, 'tis possible to name them.
Rom. "A single life's no burthen; but to draw

In yokes is chargeable, and doth require
A double maintenance:" Livio's very words;