Will sometimes tender things unnecessary, Misconstrue not my purpose! Clar. Sir, I dare not; But still receive it as a large addition Even to my private thoughts, I cannot find To render me suspected I can fall Ces. Far be't from me, To nourish such a thought! and yet excuse me, As you would do a lapidary, whose whole To cast one cloud upon it, but still keep Ces. 'Tis well; I commend you; Clar. That from me I hope's return'd to you. Ces. I do confess it. Yet let me tell you, (but still with that love Clar. How? [picture, Ces. Whereas the custom's here to wooe by And never sce the substance. You are fair, And beauty draws temptations on, you know it: I would not live to see a willing grant Clar. I've reason! But, in cold blood, tell Had we not one father? Ces. Yes, and mother too. Ces. True. Clar. If I then borrow A little of the boldness of his temper, Why, did you think that you had Grges' ring? Or that Biancha's name had ne'er been mention'd? The Fair Maid of the grand Osteria, brother? Ces. No more! Clar. A little, brother. Your night-walks, And offer'd presents, which coy she cou temn'd; Your combats in disguises with your rivals, Which honour last will leave you.]\Amended by Seward. * Comanon order.] Corrected in 1750. Brarc Your modesty in this violent heat! The truth is, Of all the graces dames of highest birth, But leave her! and to you, my nearest care, A barren virgin life! I rather aim at A noble husband, that may make you mother Of many children; one that, when I know him Worth your embraces, I may serve and sue to: And therefore scorn not to acquaint me with That man, that happy man, you please to favour! Clar. I ever purpos'd it; for I will like With your allowance. Ces. As a pawn of this, Receive this ring; but, ere you part with it On any terms, be certain of your choice, And make it known to me! Enter Alberto, Baptista, Mariana, Menticole, and Sercants with lights. Clar. You have my hand for't. Ces. Which, were it not my sister's, I should kiss With too much heat. Clar. My father and his guests, sir! These days of rest and feasting suit not with The land's to us a step-dame: there we sought Honour and weaith thro' dangers; yet those dangers Never to be forgot. Bapt. Never, I hope. [roaring cannon Alb. We were married there: for bells, the Aloud proclaim'd it lawful, and a prize Then newly ta'en, and equally divided, Serv'd as a dowry to you, then stil'd my wife; And did enable ine to be a husband Fit to encounter so much wealth, tho' got With blood and horror. Mar. If so got, 'tis fit, sir, Now you possess it, that you should enjoy it In peace and quiet: I, your son, and daughter, That reap the harvest of your winter's labour, Tho' debtors for it, yet have often trembled, When, in way of discourse, you have related How you came by it. Ath. Trembled? How the softness And not the image of Albertus' youth, Of his should shew a fever, tho' grim death Put on a thousand dreadful shapes to fright him. The elements, the sea, and all the winds Sirrah, I must, if once you grapple with 3 And such as cry meat for cats.] The second folio reads want; but we apprehend the text to be right. In Massinger's Maid of Honour, act ii. sc. 1, Gasparo, in mentioning the most ignoble employments, says, I will cry brooms or cats' meat in Palermo, Blast our time's burden.] The correction by Seward. Tt2 R. The The desperate gunner ready to give fire, Thy hands like his cut off, hang by the teeth, Mur. I even die to hear you! Alb. A wife? As if there were a course to purchase one Of warlike Genoa! they had eyes to see That spent his youth in groves or pleasant Could work on them; nor once bewitch'd Tho' he came so perfum'd as he had robb'd And stor❜d it in one suit. I still remember, How lovely in thy honour'a wounds and scars The beauties of the city, where they stood, [liana, Borne thro' the streets! nor could chaste JuThe duke's fair niece, tho' guarded with her greatness, Resist this gallant charge, but, laying by Bapt. Pray you chuse Some other theme. Mar. Can there be one more pleasing? And 'tis in the remembrance little less, Mar. How! To gain 4 Carpet knight.] Carpet knights are frequently mentioned with great contempt by our ancient writers. The learned Sir James Burrows gives the following account of them: There was an order of knighthood of the appellation of KNIGHTS of the CARPET, though 'few, or no persons (at least among those whom I have consulted) seem to know any thing about it, or even to have heard of it. I have taken some memoranda concerning the institution, and know that Wiliar lord Burgh (of Starborough castle, in the county of Surry, father to Thomas lord Burgh, deputy of Ireland, and to sir John Burgh who took the great Caracca ship in 1592) was made a knight of the carpet, at Westminster, on the 2d of October, 1553, the day after queen Mary's coronation: and I met with a list of all who were made so at the same time, in Strype's Memorials, vol. iii. Appendix, p. 11. See Ans is's Observations on the Kighthood of the Bath, (Lond. 1725) p. 50, Upor: "the accession of queen Mary to the throne, a commission was granted to the earl of Arun<del, empowering him to make knights, but WITHOUT any additional title, within two days "after the date of that patent: which were the two days preceding her coronation. În pursuance hereof, we find the names of the knights created by him, according to the stated "form of creating knights of the Bath; and the variety of the ceremonies used, so distinctly "related, that it particularly deserves to be consulted in the appendix." 66 So that sir. Anstis planly considers them as being only a species of knights of the Bath, though without any additional title. If so, the appellation of knights of the carpet might be only popular; not their strict or proper title. This, however, was sufficient to induce Shakespeare (who wrote whilst they < were commonly spoken of by such an appeilation) to use that term, in contrast to a knighthood conferred upon a real soldier, as a reward of military valour.' . In addition to this note, and in confirmation of it, Mr. Steeveus produces the following example from The Downfal of Robert Earl of Huntingdon, 1601: 6 soldiers, come away; This carpet knight sits carping at our scars.' They are mentioned also by Taylor the Water Poet, in The Praise of Hempseed; Castles for ladies, and for carpet knights, Unmercifully spoi'd at feasting fights. 5 Captive streames.] Corrected in 1750. R. Bapt. [madam, Bapt. Yes, Since it prov'd fatal: to have been happy, Adds to calamity; and the heavy loss Of her I durst not hope for, once enjoy'd, Turns what you think a blessing to a curse, Which grief would have forgotten. Alb. I am sorry I touch'd upon it. Mar. I burn rather, sir, With a desire to hear the story of Your loves; and shall receive it as a favour, Which you may grant. Bapt. You must not be denied; Yet with all brevity I must report it. 'Tis true, fair Juliana, (Genoa's pride) Enamour'd of my actions, lik'd my person; Nor could I but with joy meet her affection, Since it was lawful; for, my first wife dead, We were closely married, and for some few months Tasted the fruits of't: but malicious fate, Envying our too-much happiness, wrought upon A faithless servant, privy to our plot, To snore it out, like drunken Dutchmen, would Sort ill with us Italians: we are made Ces. that's a game, dear friend, Ment. I'll not press you. What other sports to entertain the time with The following morning? Ces. Any that may become us. [sent you, Ment. Is the Neapolitan horse the viceroy In a fit plight to run? Ces. So my groom tells me. I can boast little of my horsemanship; rence, For an eight-mile course. Ment. I would not win of you, In respect you are inpatient of loss; Else I durst match him with my Barbary For twice the sum. Ces. You do well to excuse it, Being certain to be beaten. Ment. Tush, you know The contrary. Ces. To end the controversy, With the next rising sun. Ment. A match! But here Appears a Cynthia, that scorns to borrow A beam of light from the great eye of Heav'n, She being herself all brightness: how I envy Those amorous smiles, those kisses, but sure chaste ones, Which she vouchsafes her brother! Clar. You are wanton: Pray you think me not Biancha; leave, I pray you! My mother will not sleep before she see you; And since you know her tenderness, nay fond[safety, ness, In every circumstance that concerns your You are not equal to her. Ces. I must leave you; But will not fail to meet you. 6 Yes, since it prov'd fatal.] The particle inserted in the text improving both sense and measure, was most probably in the original. Seward reads, Seward. Since it prov'd so fatal; ? Equal.] i. e. Just. The word frequently occurs in that sensę. thereby destroying both sense and measure.' Complain consume me; And, on the contrary, should your disdain Keep me at too much distance, and I want Their comfortable heat, the frost of death Would seize on all my faculties. Ciur. Pray you pause, sir! [tire you: This vehemency of discourse must else needs These gay words take not me; 'tis simple faith, Honest integrity, and lawful flames, Ment. Such I bring with me; And therefore, lady Clar. But that you took me off Ere I came to a period, I had added A long experience must be requir'd Both of his faith and trust, with whom a virgin Trafficks for what is dearest in this life, I oft have view'd you with an eye of favour; And, with your generous parts, the many tenders Of doing me all fair offices, have won Ment. Oh, speak ever! I never heard such music. Clar. A plain tune, sir, But 'tis a hearty one. When I perceive, By evident proofs, your aims are truly noble, And that you bring the engines of fair love, Not of foul lust, to shake and undermine My maiden fortress, I may then make good What now I dare not promise. Ment. You already, In taking notice of my poor deservings, Have been magnificent, and 'twill appear Clar. So it wrong not Ment. 'Tis far from me; I only am a suitor you would grace me With some toy, but made rich in that you wore it, To warrant to the world that I usurp not, When I presume to stile myself your servant! A ribbon from your shoe. Clar. You are too humble; I'll think upon't, and something of more value Shall witness how I prize you. It grows late; I'll bring you to the door. Ment. You still more bind me. [Exeunt. Enter Duke, Albertus, Baptista, Magistrates and Attendants. Duke. You find, by this assur'd intelligence, The preparation of the Turk against us. We've met him oft and beat him; now to fear him Would argue want of courage; and I hold it Alb. May it please your highness, Worth the great speaker, tho' that the denial Call'd on your heavy anger. For myself I do profess thus much, if a blunt soldier May borrow so much from the oil'd-tongu'd courtier, (I hat echoes whatsoe'er the prince allows of) Bapt. With the honour To give the daring enemy an affront 1 Magis. Victuals and ammunition, And money too, the sinews of the war, Are stor'd up in the magazine. 2 Magis. And the gallics 8 My opinion waits on you.] The small change of you to yours, takes all obscurity from this expression. Seward. We think the old reading more suitable to the context, more in our authors' style, and at least as free from obscurity. New |