You measure what I say, the common nature Of an officious curiosity. Mal. Not I, sir. Aurel. Or that other private ends Sift your retirements. Mal. Neither. Enter FUTELli. Fut. Under favour, Signor Malfato, I am sent to crave Your leisure, for a word or two in private. Mal. To me!-Your mind. Fut. This letter will inform ye. [Gives him the letter. Mal. Letter? how's this? what's here? Fut. Speak you to me, sir? Mal. Brave riddle! I'll endeavour to unfold it. Aurel. How fares the Lord Adurni? Fut. Sure in health, sir. Aurel. He is a noble gentleman, withal Happy in his endeavours: the general voice Who is himself an honour to his titles. Mal. You know from whence this comes? Mal. D'ye laugh! But that I must consider such as spaniels To those who feed and clothe them, I would print Thy pandarism upon thy forehead :—there! [Throws him the letter. Bear back that paper to the hell from whence It gave thee thy directions! tell this lord, He ventured on a foolish policy, In aiming at the scandal of my blood; Aurel. Be wise, Malfato. Mal. Say, I know this whore. She who sent this temptation, was wife Aurel. You range too wildly now, Mal. I am A gentleman free born, I never wore (Reward for long attendance,) and then miss'd. I am sure more ancient. Aurel. Let me tell you then, You are too bitter, talk you know not what. Make all men equals, and confound all course Of order, and of nature! this is madness. Mal. 'Tis so; and I have reason to be mad, Begone, Futelli, do not mince one syllable Mal. What have I Deserv'd to be so used! In colder blood, I do confess nobility requires Duty and love; it is a badge of virtue, By action first acquired, and next in rank Aurel. We will consider The meaning of this mystery. Mal. Not so; [Exit. Let them fear bondage who are slaves to fear, The sweetest freedom is an honest heart. [Exeunt. Aurelio, You are as I am, &c.] This expression, which is not uncommon in our old writers, means, "put yourself-in my place," &c. suppose you were," —or rather, ACT II. SCENE I. A Street. Enter FUTELLI and GUZMAN. Fut. Dexterity and sufferance, brave Don, Are engines the pure politic must work with. Guz. We understand. Fut. In subtleties of war, I talk t'ye now in your own occupation, Or downright cutting throats is all one thing. Fut. By way of parallel; You drill or exercise your company, (No matter which, for terms,) before you draw Into the field; so in the feats of courtship, The set of looks, the posture of the beard, The very hums and ha's, thumps, and ah me's! Your enemy in face,-your mistress, mark it!— Place there an ambuscado,—that's contract With some of her near friends, for half her portion; Or offer truce, and in the interim, Run upon slaughter, 'tis a noble treachery,— Guz. We do vouchsafe her. Fut. Hold her then fast. Guz. As fast as can the arms Of strong imagination hold her. Fut. No, She has skipt your hold; my imagination's eyes your war over-worn habiliments, Which I forgot in my instructions To warn you of: therefore, my warlike Don, With a more courtly outside. Guz. "Tis soon done. Fut. As soon as said;-in all the clothes thou hast, More than that walking wardrobe on thy back. [Aside. Guz. Imagine first our rich mockado2 doublet, With our cut cloth-of-gold sleeves, and our quellio, Our diamond-button'd callamanco hose, 2 Our rich mockado doublet,] i. e. an inferior kind of velvet, velveret: quellio, which occurs in the following line, is a ruff. |