Liv. I'll no longer Rom. Is't come to this? Liv. Ladies of birth and quality are suitors For being known t'ye; I have promised, sister, They shall partake your company. Cast. What ladies? Where, when, how, who? Liv. A day, a week, a month, Sported amongst such beauties, is a gain On time; they are young, wise, noble, fair, and chaste. Cast. Chaste ? Liv. Castamela, chaste; I would not hazard My hopes, my joys of thee, on dangerous trial. Yet if, as it may chance, a neat cloath'd merriment Pass without blush, in tattling,-so the words Fall not too broad, 'tis but a pastime smiled at Amongst yourselves in counsel ;- but beware Of being overheard. Cast. This is pretty! Rom. I doubt I know not what, yet must be silent. [Aside. Enter Troylo, FLORIA, CLARELLA, Silvia, and * Amongst yourselves in counsel.] i.e. in secret, in private: the expression is common to all our old writers. NITIDO. Liv. They come as soon as spoke of.—Sweetest fair ones, My sister cannot but conceive this honour Troy. Virtuous lady. Sil. Society Cast. All fitly welcome. ment Shall study to pay thankfulness. Troy. Sweet beauty! Your brother hath indeed been too much churl In this concealment from us all, who love him, Of such desired a presence. Sil. Please to enrich us With your wish'd amity. Flo. Our coach attends; We cannot be denied. Clar. Command it, Nitido. Nit. Ladies, I shall : now for a lusty harvest ! 'Twill prove a cheap year, should these barns be fill'd once. [Aside and exit. Cast. Brother, one word in private. Liv. Phew! anon Troy. Thou’rt perfect, Livio. Troy. Fair, your arm ; Cast. As you please, sir. hence [Exeunt all but Rom. Rom. Troylo-Savelli, Next heir unto the marquis! and the page too, The marquis's own page! Livio transform’d Into a sudden bravery, and alter'd In nature, or I dream! Amongst the ladies, I not remember I have seen one face : There's cunning in these changes; I am resolute, Or to pursue the trick on't, or lose labour. [Exit. 3 Into a sudden bravery.) i. e. gallantry of attire, finery of dress:--freshly suited, as the margin says. ACT II. SCENE I. An Apartment in Julio's House. Enter Flavia, supported by Camillo, and VESPUCCI. Flav. Not yet return'd? Flav. The lord our husband, Ves. With your gracious favour, Peers, great in rank and place, ought of necessity To attend on state employments. Cam. For such duties Are all their toil and labour; but their pleasures Flow in the beauties they enjoy, which conquers All sense of other travail. Flav. Trimly spoken. When we were corpmon, mortal, and a subject, As other creatures of Heaven's making are, (The more the pity) bless us! how we waited For the huge play-day, when the pageants flutter'd About the city;4 for we then were certain, + On the huge play-day when the pageants flutter'd About the city.) The huge play-day (for Ford's Sienna is only another name for London) was probably the Lord-Mayor's day, when the company to which he belonged exhibited, in honour of The madam courtiers would vouchsafe to visit us, little feast, We'll grace the city-wives, poor souls! and see How they'll behave themselves before our pre sence; You two shall wait on us. Ves. With best observance, Cam. We are creatures Flav. Believ't you are so; shall find us readier in your pleasures, obedience. Fie! methinks I have an excellent humour to be pettish; Than you bis installation, those rude but splendid pageantries and processions, which, however they may now excite a smile, were then viewed with equal wonder and delight, and not altogether, perhaps, without profit, which is more than can be said of the tattered remnants of them, that are annually dragged abroad to shame us. They were not, however, confined to one festival; but “ fluttered about the city” on every joyous occasion. There is truth as well as humour in Flavia's pleasant description of the condescension of the “ madam courtiers” on these buge play-days. The satire is not yet quite obsolete. |