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She was a kind young soul, and might in time
Be sued to by a loving man: no doubt,
Here was a jolly breakfast!

Lev. Uncles are privileged

More than our parents; some wise man in state
Hath rectified, no doubt, your knowledge, sir.
Whilst all the policy for public business
Was spent, for want of matter, I by chance
Fell into grave discourse; but, by your leave,
I from a stranger's table rather wish

To earn my bread, than from a friend's by gift,
Be daily subject to unfit reproofs.

Mart. Come, come, to the point.

Lev. All the curses

Due to a ravisher of sober truth,
Dam up their graceless mouths!
Mart. Now you turn rampant,

Just in the wenches' trim and garb; these prayers
Speak your devotions purely.

Lev. Sir, alas!

[Weeps.

What would you have me do? I have no orators,
More than my tears, to plead my innocence,
Since you forsake me, and are pleas'd to lend
An open ear against my honest fame.

Would all their spite could harry' my contents
Unto a desperate ruin! Oh dear goodness!
There is a right for wrongs.

Mart. There is; but first

Sit in commission on your own defects,

5 Could harry my contents.] i. e. worry, torment, drive by violence, &c.

Accuse yourself; be your own jury, judge,

And executioner; I make no sport
Of my vexation.

Lev. All the short remains

Of undesired life shall only speak

The extremity of penance; your opinion
Enjoins it too.

Mart. Enough; thy tears prevail
Against credulity..

Lev. My miseries,

As in a glass, present me the rent face
Of an unguided youth.

Mart. No more.

Enter TRELCATIO with an open letter.

Trelcatio!

Some business speeds you hither.

Trel. Happy news

Signior Martino, pray your ear; my nephew,
Auria, hath done brave service: and I hear-
Let's be exceeding private-is return'd
High in the duke of Florence's respects;

'Tis said, but make no words-that, he has firk'd And mumbled the rogue Turks.

Mart. Why would you have

His merits so unknown?"

Trel. I am not yet

Confirm'd at full:-withdraw, and you shall read All what this paper talks.

6 Why would you have

His merits so unknown?] The 4to. has, Why would you know, &c. A slighter alteration would be now; but the reading of the text gives, I think, the poet's meaning.

Mart. So!-Levidolche,

You know our mind, be cheerful.-Come, Trel

catio,

Causes of joy or grief do seldom happen
Without companions near; thy resolutions
Have given another birth to my contents.

[Exeunt MART. and TREL. Lev. Even so, wise uncle! much good do ye.Discover'd!

I could fly out, mix vengeance with my loveUnworthy man, Malfato!-my good lord,

My hot in blood, rare lord, grows cold too! well, Rise dotage into rage, and sleep no longer; Affection turn'd to hatred threatens mischief.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

An Apartment in ADURNI's House.

Enter PIERO, AMORETTA, FUTELLI, and
CASTANNA.

Piero. In the next gallery you may behold
Such living pictures, lady, such rich pieces,
Of kings, and queens, and princes, that you'd think
They breathe and smile upon you.

Amor. Ha they crownths,

Great crownths oth gold upon their headths?

Piero. Pure gold;

Drawn all in state.

VOL. II.

Amor. How many horthes, pray,

Are ith their chariots?

Piero. Sixteen, some twenty.

Cast. My sister! wherefore left we her alone? Where stays she, gentlemen?

Fut. Viewing the rooms;

'Tis like you'll meet her in the gallery :

This house is full of curiosities,

Most fit for ladies' sights.

Amor. Yeth, yeth, the thight Of printhethes ith a fine thight. Cast. Good, let us find her.

Piero. Sweet ladies, this way; see the doors sure.

Fut. Doubt not.

[Aside to FUT. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Another Room in the same.-A Banquet set out.

Enter ADURNI and SPINELLA.-A Song within.

Pleasures, beauty, youth attend ye,
Whilst the spring of nature lasteth;
Love and melting thoughts [befriend] ye,
Use the time, ere winter hasteth.

Active blood, and free delight,

Place and privacy invite.

Do, do! be kind as fair.

Lose not opportunity for air.

She is cruel that denies it,

Bounty best appears in granting,
Stealth of sport as soon supplies it,
Whilst the dues of love are wanting.
Here's the sweet exchange of bliss,
When each whisper proves a kiss.

In the game are felt no pains,
For in all the loser gains.

Adur. Plead not, fair creature, without sense of

pity,

So incompassionately gainst a service,

In nothing faulty more than pure
obedience :
My honours and my fortunes are led captives
In triumph, by your all-commanding beauty;
And if you ever felt the power of love,
The rigour of an uncontrolled passion,
The tyranny of thoughts, consider mine,
In some proportion, by the strength of
Thus may you yield and conquer.
Spin. Do not study,

yours;

My lord, to apparel folly in the weed
Of costly colours ; henceforth cast off far,
Far from your noblest nature, the contempt
Of goodness, and be gentler to your fame,
By purchase of a life to grace your story.
Adur. Dear, how sweetly

7

to apparel folly in the weed

Of costly colours.] This is the nearest approach which I can make to the expression in the old copy-steed. That it was the author's word, I cannot flatter myself; but it may serve in the absence of stole, or garb, or some more fortunate guess.

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