Mart. Ah, thou-but what? I know not how to call thee:

Fain would I smother grief, [but] out it must;
My heart is broke: thou hast for many a day
Been at a loss, and now art lost for ever;
Lost, lost, without recovery.

Lev. With pardon,

Let me restrain your sorrows.

Mart. 'Tis impossible;

Despair of rising up to honest fame

Turns all the courses wild, and this last action Will roar thy infamy. Then you are certainly Married, forsooth, unto this new-come?

Lev. Yes,

And herein every hope is brought to life,
Which long hath lain in deadness; I have once

more

Wedded Benatzi, my divorced husband.

Mart. Benatzi! this the man?

Lev. No odd disguise

Could guard him from discovery; 'tis he,
The choice of my ambition; heaven preserve me
Thankful for such a bounty! yet he dreams not
Of this deceit; but let me die in speaking,
If I repute not my success more happy
Than any earthly blessing. Oh! sweet uncle,
Rejoice with me; I am a faithful convert,

& Let me restrain your sorrows.] The quarto reads retain. There is something very extraordinary in the construction of this part of the plot. But see page 353.

And will redeem the stains of a foul name,
By love and true obedience.

Mart. Force of passion

Shows me a child again. Do, Levidolche,
Perform thy resolutions; those perform'd,
I have been only steward for your welfare,
You shall have all between ye.

Lev. Join with me, sir;

Our plot requires much speed; we must be earnest. I'll tell you what conditions threaten danger, Unless

you intermediate; let us hasten,

For fear we come too late.

Mart. As thou intendest

A virtuous honesty, I am thy second
To any office, Levidolche witty,

My niece, my witty niece.

Lev. Let's slack no time, sir.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

An Apartment in TRELCATIO's House.

Enter TRELCATIO, MALFATO, SPINELLA, and CASTANNA.

Trel. Kinsman and ladies, have a little patience. All will be as you wish: I'll be your warrant,

Fear nothing; Auria is a noble fellow.

I leave ye; but, be sure, I am in hearing:
Take courage.

[Exit.

Mal. Courage! they who have no hearts,
Find none to lose; ours is as great as his,
Who defies danger most.-Sure, state and cere-
mony

Inhabit here. Like strangers, we shall wait
Formality of entertainment. Cousin,
Let us return; 'tis paltry.

Spin. Gentle sir,

Confine your passion; my attendance only
Commends a duty.

Cast. Now, for Heaven's sake, sister!—

He comes, your husband comes; take comfort, sister.

Enter AURIA and AURELIO.

Aur. Malfato!

Mal. Auria!

Aur. Cousin, would mine arms,
In their embraces, might at once deliver
Affectionately what interest your merit
Holds in my estimation! I may chide
The coyness of this intercourse betwixt us,
Which a retired privacy on your part

Hath pleas'd to show: if ought of my endeavours
Can purchase kind opinion, I shall honour

The means and practice.

Mal. 'Tis your charity.

Aurel. Worthy Malfato!

Mal. Provident Aurelio !

Aur. Castanna, virtuous maid!
Cast. Your servant, brother.

Aur. But who's that other? such a face mine eyes Have been acquainted with; the sight resembles Something which is not quite lost to remembrance. [SPINELLA kneels.

Why does the lady kneel? to whom? pray rise; I shall forget civility of manners,

Imagining you tender a false tribute,

Or him to whom you tender it, a counterfeit.

[She rises.

Mal. My lord, you use a borrow'd bravery,
Not suiting fair constructions: may your fortunes
Mount higher than can apprehension reach 'em!
Yet this waste kind of antic sovereignty
Unto a wife who equals every best

Of your deserts, achievements, or prosperity,
Bewrays a barrenness of noble nature:

Let upstarts exercise uncomely roughness,
Clear spirits to the humble will be humble.-
You know your wife, no doubt.

Aur. 'Cry ye mercy, gentleman!

Belike you come to tutor a good carriage,
Are expert in the nick on't: we shall study
Instructions quaintly--" wife," you said? agreed.
Keep fair, and stand the trial.

Spin. Those words raise

A lively soul in her, who almost yielded
To faintness and stupidity; I thank ye:

Though prove what judge you will, till I can

purge

Objections which require belief and conscience,
I have no kindred, sister, husband, friend,
Or pity for my plea.

Mal. Call ye this welcome?

We are mistook, Castanna.

Cast. Oh! my lord,

Other respects were promised.

Aur. Said ye, lady,

"No kindred, sister, husband, friend"?
Spin. Nor name;

With this addition-I disclaim all benefit
Of mercy from a charitable thought;
If one or all the subtleties of malice,
If any engineer of faithless discord,
If supposition for pretence in folly,
Can point out, without injury to goodness,
A likelihood of guilt in my behaviour,
Which may declare neglect in every duty,
Required, fit, or exacted.

Aur. High and peremptory!
The confidence is masculine.
Mal. Why not?

An honourable cause gives life to truth,
Without controul.

Spin. I can proceed; that tongue,

Whose venom, by traducing spotless honour,

Hath spread th' infection-is not more mine

enemy,

Than their's, or his weak and besotted brains are,