Flav. Brother, Here's noble choice. Rom. Frenzy, how didst thou seize me? Clar. We knew you, sir, in Pragnioli's pos ture. Flo. Were merry at the sight. Sil. And gave you welcome. Mor. Indeed, forsooth, and so we did, an't like you. Oct. Enough, enough.-Now, to shut up the night, Some menial servants of mine own are ready Gentry, Fool, Scholar, Merchant-man, and Clown; [Music. Enter SPADONE, SECCO, NITIDO, and other Maskers, dressed, respectively, as the six characters mentioned above. A DANCE. Your duties are perform'd. Henceforth, Spadone, Much cannot be said in favour of the plot of this drama, as Ford has conducted it. He has imperfectly executed his own design, for the story is capable of furnishing, in judicious hands, a series of events neither uninstructive nor unamusing; but, with his usual ill-fortune, he entangled himself at the outset with a worthless rabble of comic characters, and after debasing his plot to the utmost, is compelled by their outrages on decorum, to terminate it prematurely. The Fancies are wholly insignificant, and the "great marquess" must have imbibed strange notions of female elegance and delicacy, when he confided the education of his nieces to the vulgar and profligate set who conduct his boasted Academy. All, however, is not in this reprobate strain. The leading characters are well conceived, and judiciously sustained. Castamela, in particular, is beautifully depicted. Though indigent, and affectionately attached to her brother, she indignantly resents the compromise which she supposes him to have made with fortune at her expense; and when he appears willing to abandon his hopes, and, apprehensive of her danger, to return with her to their pristine poverty, she rejects the thought with scorn, and, secure in her high sense of female decorum, and of virtue, resolves to brave the severe trial to which his impatience of want had exposed her. Livio is only inferior to his sister; and his struggles to extricate himself with honour from the toils which appear to lie in his way, are described in that strong, free, and vivid language which marks the more serious parts of this singular play. The second or under-plot of Julio and Flavia, like most of our author's intermedes, contributes nothing to the advancement of the main-story; it is not, however, without merit. Flavia is skilfully drawn, and has many touches of sensibility, for which we are not prepared by her first appearance; and her brother Romanello, perplexed, like Livio, in the extreme, but less fortunate, is entitled, both for language and sentiment, to considerable praise. EPILOGUE. Spoken by MOROSA, CLARELLA, Castamela, and FLAVIA. Mor. A while suspected, gentlemen, I look For no new law, being quitted by the book. Clar. Our harmless pleasures, free, in every sort, Actions of scandal; may they free report! Cast. Distrust is base, presumption urgeth wrongs; But noble thoughts must prompt as noble tongues. Flav. Fancy and judgment are a play's full matter; If we have err'd in one, right you the latter. |