THE FANCIES, CHASTE AND NOBLE. ACT I. SCENE I. An Apartment in the Palace. Enter TROYLO-SAVELLI, and LIVIO. Troy. Do, do; be wilful, desperate; 'tis manly. Build on your reputation! such a fortune May furnish out your tables, trim your liveries, Enrich your heirs with purchase of a patrimony, Which shall hold out beyond the waste of riot; Stick honours on your heraldry, with titles As swelling, and as numerous as may likely Grow to a pretty volume-here's eternity! All this can reputation, marry, can it; Indeed, what not? Liv. Such language from a gentleman So noble in his quality as you are, Deserves, in my weak judgment, rather pity Than a contempt. Troy. Could'st thou consider, Livio, The fashion of the times, their study, practice, Nay, their ambitions, thou would'st soon distinguish Betwixt the abject lowness of a poverty, And the applauded triumphs of abundance, Though compass'd by the meanest service. Where in Shall you betray your guilt to common censure, To plenty, which now buys it? Liv. Troylo-Savelli Plays merrily on my wants. Troy. Troylo-Savelli Speaks to the friend he loves, to his own Livio. Number his favourites, and then examine Troy. Right, by their merits: well he merited some? The lady knows not yet on't. Liv. Most impossible. Troy. He merited well to wear a robe of cham let, Who train'd his brother's daughter, scarce a girl, Into the arms of Mont-Argentorato; Whilst the young lord of Telamon, her husband, Was packeted to France, to study courtship,* Under, forsooth, a colour of employment, Employment! yea, of honour. Liv. You are well read In mysteries of state. Troy. Here, in Sienna, Bold Julio de Varana, lord of Camerine, From Rome, allow'd and warranted: 'twas thought His present new infirmity then labour'd in. Yet these are things in prospect of the world, Advanced, employ'd, and eminent. Liv. At best, 'Tis but a goodly pandarism. Troy. Shrewd business! Thou child in thrift, thou fool of honesty, Is't a disparagement for gentlemen, For friends of lower rank, to do the offices Of necessary kindness, without fee, For one another, courtesies of course, To study courtship.] i. e. the language and manners of a court. Thus Massinger "What she wanted In courtship, was, I hope, supplied in civil And modest entertainment.' Great Duke of Florence. Mirths of society; when petty mushrooms, Transplanted from their dunghills, spread on mountains, And pass for cedars by their servile flatteries Troy. Castamela, Thy beauteous sister, like a precious tissue, Wants the adornments of the workman's cunning To set the richness of the piece at view, Though in herself all wonder. thee: Come, I'll tell A way there may be-(know, I love thee, Livio-) To fix this jewel in a ring of gold, Yet lodge it in a cabinet of ivory, White, pure, unspotted ivory: put case, Livio himself shall keep the key on't? Liv. Oh, sir, Create me what you please of yours; do this, You are another nature. Troy. Be then pliable To my first rules of your advancement.-[Enter Octavio, my good uncle, the great marquis Oct. My bosom's secretary, My dearest, best loved nephew. Troy. We have been thirsty' In our pursuit.-Sir, here's a gentleman Oct. Gladly welcome; Your own worth is a herald to proclaim it. Surely, nay most persuadedly. My thanks, sir, Owes to this just engagement. Oct. Slack no time [Aside to OCT. To enter on your fortunes.-Thou art careful, His name is ? Troy. Livio. Liv. Livio, my good lord. Oct. Again, you're welcome to us :-be as speedy, [Apart to TROYLO. Dear nephew, as thou'rt constant. Men of parts, Fit parts and sound, are rarely to be met with; 5 We have been thirsty In our pursuit.] i. e. sharp, eager, active. |