And, by the virtue of thy name writ there,
That part of me shall never putrefy,
When I am lost in all my other dust.
Adm. You too much honour your poor servant, sir;
My heart despairs so rich a monument,

But when it dies

King. I would not hear a sound

Of any thing that trenched

upon death.

He speaks the funeral of my crown, that prophesies
So unkind a fate: we 'll live and die together.
And by that duty, which hath taught you hitherto
All loyal and just services, I charge thee,
Preserve thy heart for me, and thy reward,
Which now shall crown thy merits.

Adm. I have found

A glorious harvest in your favour, sir
And by this overflow of royal grace,

All my

;

deserts are shadows and fly from me:

I have not in the wealth of my desires
Enough to pay you now-

King. Express it in some joy then.

Adm. I will strive

To show that pious gratitude to you, but

King. But what?

Adm. My frame hath lately, sir, been taken to pieces,
And but now put together; the least force

Of mirth will shake and unjoint all my reason.
Your patience, royal sir.

King. I'll have no patience,

If thou forget the courage of a man.

Adm. My strength would flatter me.

King. Physicians,

Now I begin to fear his apprehension.

Why how is Chabot's spirit fallen?

Adm. Who would not wish to live to serve your goodness? Stand from me. You betray me with your fears.

The plummets may fall off that hang upon

My heart, they were but thoughts at first; or if
They weigh me down to death, let not my eyes
Close with another object than the king.

King. In a prince

What a swift executioner is a frown,

Especially of great and noble souls!
How is it with my Philip?

Adm. I must beg

One other boon.

King. Upon condition

My Chabot will collect his scatter'd spirits,
And be himself again, he shall divide
My kingdom with me.

Adm. I observe

A fierce and killing wrath engender'd in

you;

For my sake, as you wish me strength to serve you,
Forgive your chancellor'; let not the story
Of Philip Chabot, read hereafter, draw

A tear from any family; I beseech
Your royal mercy on his life, and free
Remission of all seizure upon his state.
I have no comfort else.

King. Endeavour

But thy own health; and pronounce general pardon
To all through France.

Adm. Sir, I must kneel to thank you;

It is not seal'd else. Your blest hand: live happy,
May all
you trust have no less faith than Chabot.

O!

Wife. His heart is broken.

Father. And kneeling, sir;

As his ambition were in death to show

The truth of his obedience.

THE MAID'S REVENGE: A TRAGEDY,
BY JAMES SHIRLEY2.

SEBASTIANO invites ANTONIO to Avero Castle.

SEBASTIANO. ANTONIO.

Seb. The noble courtesies I have received

At Lisbon, worthy friend, so much engage me,
That I must die indebted to your worth,

1 Chabot's accuser.

[Dies.

2 Shirley claims a place amongst the worthies of this period, not much for any transcendent genius in himself, as that he was the last of a great race, all of whom spoke nearly the same language, and had a set of moral feelings and notions in common. A new language and quite a new turn of tragic and comic interest came in with the Restoration.

Unless you mean to accept what I have studied,
Although but partly, to discharge the sum
Due to your honour'd love.

Ant. How now, Sebastiano, will you forfeit
The name of friend, then? I did hope our love
Had out-grown compliment.

Seb. I spake my thoughts;

My tongue and heart are relatives; I think
I have deserved no base opinion from you;
I wish not only to perpetuate

Our friendship, but to exchange that common name
Of friend for-

Ant. What? take heed, do not profane:

Wouldst thou be more than friend? it is a name Virtue can only answer to: couldst thou Unite into one all goodness whatsoe❜er Mortality can boast of, thou shalt find The circle narrow-bounded to contain This swelling treasure; every good admits Degrees, but this being so good, it cannot: For he is no friend is not superlative. Indulgent parents, brethren, kindred, tied By the natural flow of blood, alliances, And what you can imagine, is too light To weigh with name of friend: they execute At best but what a nature prompts them to; Are often less than friends, when they remain Our kinsmen still: but friend is never lost. Seb. Nay then, Antonio, you mistake; I mean not To leave off friend, which, with another title, Would not be lost. Come then, I'll tell you, sir; I would be friend and brother: thus our friendship Shall, like a diamond set in gold, not lose His sparkling, but show fairer: I have a pair Of sisters, which I would commend, but that I might seem partial, their birth and fortunes Deserving noble love; if thou be'st free From other fair engagement, I would be proud To speak them worthy: come, shalt go and see them. I would not beg them suitors; fame hath spread Through Portugal their persons, and drawn to Avero Many affectionate gallants.

Ant. Catalina and Berinthia.

Seb. The same.

Ant. Report speaks loud their beauties, and no less
Virtue in either. Well, I see you strive

To leave no merit where you mean to honour.
I cannot otherwise escape the censure

Of one ungrateful, but by waiting on you
Home to Avero.

Seb. You shall honour me,

And glad my noble father, to whom you are
No stranger; your own worth before hath been
Sufficient preparation.

Ant. Ha!

I have not so much choice, Sebastiano :
But if one sister of Antonio's

May have a commendation to your thoughts,
(I will not spend much art in praising her,
Her virtue speak itself) I shall be happy;
And be confirm'd your brother, though I miss
Acceptance at Avero.

Seb. Still you outdo me. I could never wish
My service better placed. At
opportunity
I'll visit you at Elvas; in the mean time
Let's haste to Avero, where with you I'll bring
My double welcome, and not fail to second
Any design.

Ant. You shall teach me a lesson

Against we meet at Elvas castle, sir.

SEBASTIANO'S father welcomes ANTONIO to Avero Castle. VILLAREZO. CATALINA. BERINTHIA.

ANTONIO.

SEBASTIANO.

Vil. Old Gaspar's house is honour'd by such guests.
Now, by the tomb of my progenitors,

I envied that your fame should visit me
So oft without your person. Sebastiano

Hath been long happy in your noble friendship,
And cannot but improve himself in virtues,

That lives so near your love.-You shall dishonour me,
Unless you think yourself as welcome here

As at your Elvas castle. Villarezo

Was once as you are, sprightly; and though I say it,
Maintain'd my father's reputation,

And honour of our house, with actions
Worthy our name and family: but now
Time hath let fall cold snow upon my hairs,
Plough'd on my brows the furrows of his anger,
Disfurnish'd me of active blood, and wrapp'd me
Half in my cerecloth, yet I have a mind
That bids me honour virtue, where I see it
Bud forth and spring so hopefully.

Ant. You speak all nobleness, and encourage me
To spend the greenness of my rising years
So to the advantage, that at last I

Be old like you.

Vil. Daughters, speak his welcome.

may

ANTONIO loves and is beloved by BERINTHIA, the younger sister. CATALINA the elder is jealous, and plots to take off her sister by poison. ANTONIO rescues BERINTHIA from the vindictive jealousy of her sister, and carries her off to Elvas Castle; where his sister CASTABELLA and his cousin VILLANDRAS welcome her.

ANTONIO.

BERINTHIA. CASTABELLA. VILLANDRAS.
SFORZA, a domestic.

Ant. The welcomest guest that ever Elvas had.
Sister-Villandras-you are not sensible
What treasure you possess. I have no loves,

I would not here divide.

Cast. Indeed, madam,

You are as welcome here as e'er my Vill. And you are here as safe,

mother was.

As if you had an army for your guard.
Nor think my noble cousin meaneth
Any dishonour here.

Ant. Dishonour! 'tis a language

you

I never understood yet. Throw off your fears,
Berinthia, you are in the power of him,

That dares not think the least dishonour to you.-
Come, be not sad.

Cast. Put on fresh blood; you are not cheerful; how do
Ber. I know not how, nor what to answer you;

Your loves I cannot be ungrateful to;

you?

You are my best friends I think, but yet I know not
With what consent you brought my body hither.

Ant. Can you be ignorant what plot was laid

To take your fair life from you?