Cast. She faints. Aur. Spinella! Regent of my affections, thou hast conquer'd: Cast. Mine? Aur. Yours, to whose faith I am a guardian, not by imposition, But by you chosen. Look you, I have fitted Mal. How's that? Adur. So great a blessing Crowns all desires of life.-The motion, lady, But welcomed and forethought; would you could please To say the like! Aur. Castanna, do.-Speak, dearest, It rectifies all crooked, vain surmises; Spin. The courtship's somewhat quick, Cast. I dare not question The will of heaven. Mal. Unthought of and unlook'd for! Spin. My ever honoured lord. Aurel. This marriage frees Each circumstance of jealousy. Aur. Make no scruple, Castanna, of the choice; 'tis firm and real: Of my desires? Italians use not dalliance, But execution: herein I degenerated From custom of our nation; for the virtues Yet common form of matrimonial compliments,' Aurel. You will pardon A rash and over-busy curiosity. Spin. It was to blame; but the success remits it. Adur. Sir, what presumptions formerly have grounded for the virtues Of my Spinella rooted in my soul, Yet common form of matrimonial compliments, Short-liv'd as are their pleasures.] This passage, as it stands in the quarto, is scarcely intelligible. What Auria apparently means to urge is, that the virtues of his wife, of which he was firmly persuaded, triumphed over, or were too great for the flattering, "yet common form, &c.": a verse, therefore, if not more, has been lost at the press. It may be added here, that Ford has imitated himself, in some measure, and awkwardly removed the suspicions of Aurelio, as he had previously done those of Romanello, in the Fancies, by an unlooked for marriage. Opinion of unfitting carriage to you, Mal. You prevent the nicety; Use your own pleasure BENATZI rushes in with his sword drawn, followed by LEVIDOLCHE and MARTINO. Aurel. What's the matter? Aur. Matter? Ben. Adurni and Malfato found together! Now for a glorious vengeance. Lev. Hold, oh, hold him! Aurel. This is no place for murder; yield thy sword. Aur. Yield it, or force it; [Ben. is disarmed] set you up your shambles Of slaughter in my presence? Adur. Let him come. Mal. What can the ruffian mean? The temple or the chamber of the Duke, Lev. Yes, me you know. Heaven has a gentle mercy For penitent offenders: blessed ladies, Repute me not a cast-away, though once I fell into some lapses, which our sex I knew you at first sight, and tender constantly Submission for all errors. Mart. Nay, 'tis true, sir. Ben. I joy in the discovery, am thankful' Aur. Let wonder henceforth cease, Of good or bad, would straiten time, presented Mart. Welcome, and welcome ever. Lev. Mine eyes, sir, never shall without a blush Receive a look from yours; please to forget All passages of rashness; such attempt Was mine, and only mine. I I joy in the discovery, am thankful Unto the change.] Benatzi takes the matter with all due composure. That his precious moiety should recognize him through his rags, his formidable mustachoes, and his Pistol-like demeanour, is natural enough; the wonder is, that Benatzi should not recollect her. She wore no disguise; she retains the name by which he married her; she still lived, as before, with her foolish uncle, and she confides to him a part of her history, in which he was a sharer. The author seems to have discovered all this, when it was too late; and has just allowed us to surmise, from Auria's next speech, that the "re-married gentleman" might not be so complete a dupe as he appears. Mal. You have found a way To happiness; I honour the conversion. Mal. May style your friend your servant. Mart. Now all that's mine is theirs. Adur. But let me add An offering to the altar of this peace. (Gives her money.) Aur. How likes Spinella this? our holiday Deserves the kalendar. Spin. This gentlewoman Reform'd, must in my thoughts live fair and worthy. Indeed you shall. (Offering her money.) Cast. And mine; the novelty Requires a friendly love. Lev. You are kind and bountiful. Enter TRELCATIO, FUTELLI, AMORETTA, PIERO, driving in FULGOSO and GUZMAN. Trel. By your leaves, lords and ladies! to your jollities, I bring increase with mine too; here's a youngster Whom I call son-in-law, for so my daughter (Presenting Fut.) Will have it. Amor. Yeth, in sooth thee will. Trel. Futelli Hath wean'd her from this pair. Piero. Stand forth, stout lovers. |