Page images
PDF
EPUB

Aur. My lord,
I shall not live to thrive in

any

action Deserving memory, when I forget Adurni's love and favour. ·

Piero. I present you
My service for a farewell ;' let few words
Excuse all arts of compliment.

Fut. For my own part,
Kill or be kill'd, (for there's the short and long on't,)
Call me your shadow's hench-boy.4

Aur. Gentlemen,
My business urging on a present haste,
Enforceth short reply.

Adur. We dare not hinder
Your resolution wing’d with thoughts so constant.
All happiness!
Piero and Fut, Contents !

[Exeunt ADURNI, Piero, and FUTELLI. Aur. So leave the winter'd people of the north, The minutes of their summer, when the sun Departing leaves them in cold robes of ice, As I leave Genoa.--

Enter TRELCATIO, SPINELLA, and CASTANNA.

Now appears the object Of my apprenticed heart: 'thou bring'st, Spinella,

3 Piero. I present you, fc.] In the old quarto, this short valediction is broken in the midst, and Fut, inserted before the latter part of it. Fut. instead of Ful, should be placed before the next speech.

4 Call me your shadow's hench-boy.) A common expression in our old writers for a page; a state-attendant on court or municipal officers.

VOL. II.

[ocr errors]

a

5

[ocr errors]

A welcome in a farewell—souls and bodies

a
Are sever'd for a time, a span of time,
To join again, without all separation,
In a confirmed unity for ever:
Such will our next embraces be, for life;
And then to take the wreck of our divisions,
Will sweeten the remembrance of past dangers,
Will fasten love in perpetuity,
Will force our sleeps to steal upon our stories.
These days must come, and shall, without a

cloud
Or night of fear, or envy. To your charge,
Trelcatio, our good uncle, and the comfort
Of my Spinella's sister, fair Castanna,
I do entrust this treasure.

Trel. I dare promise,
My husbanding that trust with truth and care.

Cast. My sister shall to me stand an example,
Of pouring free devotions for your safety.
Aur. Gentle Castanna, thou’rt a branch of good-

ness Grown on the self-same stock with my Spinella. But why, my dear, hast thou lock'd up thy speech

[To Spin. In so much silent sadness ? Oh! at parting, Belike one private whisper must be sigh’d.Uncle, the best of peace enrich your family! I take my leave.

.

a

5. And then to take the wreck of our divisions.] i. e. to enjoy the remnant of time which our separations have left us.

[ocr errors]

Trel. Blessings and health preserve you! [Exit. Aur. Nay, nay, Castanna, you may hear our

counsels; A while, you are design'd your sister's husband. Give me thy hand, Spinella; you did promise, To send me from you with more cheerful looks, Without a grudge or tear; 'deed, love, you did.

. Spi. What friend have I left in your absence?

Aur. Many:
Thy virtues are such friends they cannot fail thee;
Faith, purity of thoughts, and such a meekness,
As would force scandal to a blush.

Spi. Admit, sir,
The patent of your life should be call'd in; ;
How am I then left to account with griefs,
More slav'd to pity than a broken heart?
Auria! soul of my comforts, I let fall
No eye on breach of fortune; I contemn

I
No entertainment to divided hopes,
I urge no pressures by the scorn of change;
And yet, my Auria, when I but conceive
How easy 'tis (without impossibility)
Never to see thee more, forgive me then,
If I conclude I may be miserable,
Most miserable.

Cast. And such conclusion, sister,
Argues effects of a distrust more voluntary,
Than cause by likelihood.

Aur. 'Tis truth, Castanna.

Spi. I grant it truth; yet, Auria, I'm a woman, And therefore apt to fear: to show my duty,

And not to take heart from you, I'll walk from

you, At

your command, and not as much as trouble Your thought with one poor looking back.

Aur. I thank thee, My worthy wife! Before we kiss, receive This caution from thine Auria: first-Castanna, Let us bid farewell.

[Cast. walks aside. Spi. Speak, good, speak.

Aur. The steps Young ladies tread, left to their own discretion, However wisely printed, are observed, And construed as the lookers-on presume: Point out thy ways then in such even paths, As thine own jealousies from others' tongues May not intrude a guilt, though undeserv’d. Admit of visits as of physic forced, Not to procure health, but for safe prevention Against a growing sickness; in thy use Of time and of discourse be found so thrifty, As no remembrance may impeach thy rest. Appear not in a fashion that can prompt The gazer's eye, or holla, to report Some widowed neglect of handsome value: In recreations be both wise and free; Live still at home, home to thyself, howe'er Enrich'd with noble company; remember A woman's virtue, in her lifetime, writes The epitaph all covet on their tombs : In short, I know thou never wilt forget Whose wife thou art, or how upon thy lips

a

Thy husband at his parting seal'd this kiss.-
No more.

[Kisses her. Spi. Dear heaven! go, sister, go.

[Exeunt SPINELLA and CASTANNA. Aur. Done bravely, And like the choice of glory, to know mineOne of earth's best I have forgone

[Enter AURELIO.

See, see!
Yet in another I am rich, a friend,
A perfect one, Aurelio.

Aurel. Had I been
No stranger to your bosom, sir, ere now,
You might have sorted me in

your resolves, Companion of your fortunes.

Aur. So the wrongs
I should have ventured on against thy fate
Must have denied all pardon.' Not to hold
Dispute with reputations, why, before
This present instant, I conceal’d the stealth
Of
my

adventures from thy counsels,-know, My wants do drive me hence.

Aurel. Wants! so you said, And 'twas not friendly spoken.

Aur. Hear me further.

Aurel. Auria, take heed the covert of a folly Willing to range, be not, without excuse, Discover'd in the coinage of untruths; I use no harder language. Thou art near Already on a shipwreck, in forsaking

a

« PreviousContinue »