All this I could have pardon'd and forgot:
But that my daughter, with my whole estate
(So hardly purchas'd), is assign'd a dower,
To one whose father and whose family
I so detest, that I would lose my essence,
And be transformed to a basilisk
To look them dead, to me's an injury
Admits no satisfaction!

Bapt. There's none offer'd.

Alb. Nor would it be accepted, tho' upon Thy knees 'twere tender'd.

Mar. Now the storm grows high.

Bapt. But that I thought thee dead, and in thy death

The briny ocean had entomb'd thy name,
I would have sought a wife in a bordello
For my Mentivole, and gladly hugg'd
Her spurious issue as my lawful nephews,
Before his blood should e'er have mix'd with
So much I scorn it.

Alb. I'll not bandy words;
But thus dissolve the contract.

Bapt. There I meet thee;

And seize on what's mine own.

Alb. For all my service,

[thine;

[wretch,

Great sir, grant me the combat with this That I may scourge his insolence!

Bapt. I kneel for it.

Ces. And to approve myself Alberto's son, I'll be his second upon any odds, 'Gainst him that dare most of Baptista's race.

Ment. Already upon honourable terms, In me th' hast met thy better; for her sake I'll add no more.

Alb. Sir, let our swords decide it!

Mar. Oh, stay, sir; and as you would hold the title

Of a just prince, ere you grant licence to
These madmen's fury, lend your private ear
To the most distress'd of women!
Duke. Speak; 'tis granted.

He takes Mar. aside.

Clar. In the mean time, let not Clarissa be

A patient looker-on! Tho' as yet doubtful

44 Weepest thou.] Corrected by Seward.

To whom to bend her knee first, yet to all
I stoop thus low in duty, and would wash
The dust of fury, with my virgin tears,
From his bless'd feet, and make them beau-
tiful,

That would move to conditions of peace, Tho' with a snail-like pace; they all are wing'd

To bear you to destruction! Reverend sirs, Think on your ancient friendship, cemented With so much blood, but shed in noble action, Divided now in passion for a bral

The makers blush to own! Much-lov'd Cesario,

Brother, or friend, (each title may prevail) Remember with what tenderness from our

Scward.

I'll not alone give up my throat, but suffer
Your rage to reach my family.

Enter Prospero, Juliana, and Biancha,
Alb. And my name

To be no more remember'd.

Duke. What are these?

Ces. Biancha? 'tis Biancha, still Biancha! But strangely alter'd.

Bapt. If that thirteen years

Of absence could raze from my memory
The figure of my friend, I might forget thee;
But if thy image be graven on my heart,
Thou art my Prospero.

Pros. Thou my Baptista.
Duke. A sudden change!

Bapt. I dare not ask, dear friend,
If Juliana live; for that's a blessing

I am unworthy of! but yet deny pot [happy, To let me know the place she hath made By having there her sepulchre.

Pros. If your highness

Please to vouchsafe a patient ear, we shall
Make a true relation of a story
That shall call on your wonder.

Duke. Speak; we hear you.

[court, Pros. Baptista's fortune in the Genoa His banishment, with his fair wife's restraint, You are acquainted with; what since hath follow'd

I faithfully will deliver. Ere eight moons
After Baptista's absence were complete,
Fair Juliana found the pleasures that
They had enjoy'd together, were not barren,
And, blushing at the burden of her womb,
No father near to own it, it drew on
A violent sickness, which call'd down com-
passion
[health,
From the angry duke; then, careful of her
Physicians were enquir'd of, and their judg-

Pros. Pray you, interrupt me not. Now to my fortunes! The girl well dispos'd of With a faithful friend of mine, my cruel fate Made me a prisoner to the Turkish gallies, Where for twelve years these hands tugg'd at the oar;

But fortune tir'd at length with my afflictions,
Some ships of Malta met the Ottoman fleet,
Charg'd them, and boarded them, and gave
me freedom.

With my deliverers I serv'd, and got
Such reputation with the Great-Master,
That he gave me command over a tall
And lusty ship, where my first happy service
Was to redeem Alberto, rumour'd dead,
But was, like me, surpriz'd by Cortugogly.
Alb. I would I had died there!
Pros. And from him learning
Baptista liv'd, and their dissolved friendship,
I hois'd up sails for Greece, found Juliana
A votary at her beads: having made known
Both that you liv'd, and where you were, she
borrow'd

So much from her devotion, as to wish me
To bring her to you. If the object please you,
With joy receive her!

Bapt. Rage, and fury, leave me!

[Throws away his sword. I am so full of happiness, there's no room left To entertain you." Oh, my long-lost jewel, Light of mine eyes, my soul's strength!

Jul. My best lord! [fright me. Having embrac'd you thus, death cannot Bapt. Live long to do so, tho' I should fix here!

Pardon me4s, Prospero, tho' I enquire
My daughter's fortune!

Pros. That your happiness

May be at all parts perfect, here she is!
Ces. Biancha daughter to a princess?
Pros. True.

Wi' my faithful Host I left her, and with him
'Till now she hath resided, ignorant
Both of her birth and greatness.

Bapt. Oh, my blest one!

Joy upon joy o'erwhelms me!
Duke. Above wonder!

[story

Alb. I do begin to melt too; this strange Works much upon me.

Duke. Since it hath pleas'd Heav'n

To grace us with this miracle, I that am Heav'n's instrument here, determine thus: Alberto,

Seward reads,

VOL. II.

He had in the black art, was in making
A sea-coal fire; only with wearing
Strange shapes, he begot admiration
'Mongst fools and women.

For. Wilt thou peach, thou varlet?
Duke. Why does he goggle with his eyes,
and stalk so?

Clown. This is one of his magical raptures.
For. I do vilify49

Your censure! You demand, if I am guilty; Whir says my cloak, by a trick of legerdemain!

Now I'm not guilty; I am guarded with Innocence, pure silver lace, I assure you.

Clown. Thus have I read to you your vir tues, which [of. Notwithstanding I would not have you proud For. Out, thou concealment of tallow, and counterfeit mummy!

Duke. To th' gallies with them both!
Clown. The only sea-physic

For a knave, is to be basted in a galley,
With the oil of a buil's pizzle.

For. And will not you

[I hope

Make a sour face at the same sauce, sirrah? To find thee so lean in one fortnight, thou Mayst be drawn by the ears thro' the hoop of a firkin. [to the gallies! Duke. Divide them, and away with them Clown. This will take down your pride,

[juggler.

Duke. This day, That hath giv'n birth to blessings beyond hope, Admits no criminal sentence. To the temple, And there with humbleness, praise Heaven's bounties!

[when

For blessings ne'er descend from thence, but A sacrifice in thanks ascends from men.

[Exeunt omnes

Dor. He's acquainted with 'em before. Age. She's doubtless very chaste and vir

tuous.

Dor. So is Leucippus her brother. Nisus. She's twenty years old; I wonder She ask not a husband. [refus'd Dor. That were a folly in her, having All the great princes in one part of the world; She'll die a maid.

Age. She may ask but once, may she?

Nisus. A hundred times this day, if she will: And, indeed, every day is such a day; for tho' The duke has vow'd it only on this day, He keeps it every day; he can deny Her nothing.

Cornets. Enter Hidaspes, Leucippus, Leon tius, Timantus, and Telamon. Leon. Come, fair Hidaspes! thou art duchess to-day. [oath

Art thou prepar'd to ask? thou know'st ny Zz2

Will

Will force performance. And, Leucippus, if She now ask aught that shall or would have performance

After my death, when by the help of Heav'n
This land is thine, accursed be thy race,
May every one forget thou art my son,
And so their own obedience-

Leuc. Mighty sir,

I do not wish to know that fatal hour,
That is to make me king: but if I do,
I shall most heartily, (and like a son)
Perform your grants to all, chiefly to her.-
Remember that you ask what we agreed
tipon.

Leon. Are you prepar'd? then speak.
Hid. Most royal sir,

I am prepar'd, nor shall my will exceed

A virgin's bounds; what I request shall both At once bring me a full content'.

Leon. So't ever does.

Thou only comfort of my feeble age,

Make known thy good desire! for I dare swear Thou lov'st me.

Hid. This is it I beg,

And on my knees: the people of your land,
The Lycians, are, thro' all the nations
That know their name, noted to have in use
A vain and fruitless superstition;
So much more hateful, that it bears the show
Of true religion, and is nothing else
But a self-pleasing bold lasciviousness.
Leon. What is it?

Hid. Many ages before this,
When every man got to himself a trade,
And was laborious in that chosen course,
Hating an idle life far worse than death,
Some one that gave himself to wine and sloth,
Which breed lascivious thoughts, and found
himself

Contemn'd for that by every painful man2,
To take his stain away, fram'd to himself
A god, whom he pretended to obey,
In being thus dishonest; for a naine
He call'd him Cupid. This created god

What I request shall both

(Man's nature being ever credulous
Of any vice that takes part with his blood)
Had ready followers enow; and since
In every age they grew, especially
Amongst your subjects, who do yet remain
Adorers of that drowsy deity,

Which drink invented; and the winged boy
(For so they call him) has his sacrifices3,
And these loose naked statues thro' the land,
In every village; nay the palace' self
Is not free from 'em. This is my request,
That these erected obscene images
May be pluck'd down and burnt, and every
That offers to 'em any sacrifice
May lose his life.

Leon. But be advis'd,

My fairest daughter! if he be a god,
He will express it upon thee, my child;
Which Heaven avert!

[man

Leuc. There is no such power; But the opinion of him fills the land With lustful sins: every young man and maid, That feel the least desire to one another, Dare not suppress it, for they think it is Blind Cupid's motion; and he is a god!

Leon. This makes our youth unchaste : I am resolv'd.

Nephew Isments, break the statues down
Here in the palace, and comniand the city
To do the like: let proclamations

Be drawn, and hastily sent thro' the land,
To the same purpose!

Ism. Sir, I'll break down none
Myself, but I'll deliver your command:
Hand I'll have none in't, for I like it not.
Leon. Go, and command it.-Pleasure of
my life,
[sand suits;
Wouldst thou aught else? Make many thou-
They must and shall be granted.
Hid. Nothing else.

[Exit Ismenus.

Leon. But go and meditate on other suits : Some six days hence I'll give thee audience again,

And, by a new oath, bind myself to keep it.

Ask