Spa. There he rubb'd your forehead; 'Twas a tough blow.

Sec. It smarts.

Mor. Pox on him! let him

Put's fingers into any gums of mine,

He shall find I have teeth about me, sound ones. Sec. You are a scurvy fellow, and I am made a cokes, an ass; and this same filthy crone's a flirt. Whoop, do me no harm, good-woman." [Exit. Spa. Now, now he's in! I must not leave him so.

Troy. Morosa, what means this?
Mor. I know not, I;

[Exit.

He pinch'd me, call'd me names, most filthy names. Will you part hence, sir? [To Roм.] I will set ye

packing.

[Exit.

Clar. You were indeed too broad, too violent.

Flo. Here's nothing meant but mirth.

Sil. The gentleman

Hath been a little pleasant.

Clar. Somewhat bitter

Against our sex.

Cast. For which I promise him,

He ne'er proves choice of mine.
Rom. Not I your choice?

7 Whoop, do me no harm, good man! is the burden of an old song; it is quoted by the clown in Winter's Tale, and is mentioned in several other places. Ritson says, that the tune of the old ballad is still preserved in a collection of "Ayres for the Lute and Basse Violl, by W. Caroline, 1610."

Troy. So she protested, signor.

Rom. Indeed!

Re-enter MOROSA.

Clar. Why, you are moved, sir.
Mor. Hence! there enters

A civiller companion for fair ladies,
Than such a sloven.

Rom. Beauties,

Troy. Time prevents us,

Love and sweet thoughts accompany this presence.

[Exeunt TROY. and Roм.

Enter OCTAVIO, SECCO, and LIVIO.

Oct. (To SECCO.) Enough! slip off, and on your

life be secret.

[Exit SEC.

A lovely day, young creatures! to you, Floria, To you, Clarella, Silvia, to all, service!

But who is this fair stranger?

Liv. Castamela,

My sister, noble lord.

Oct. Let ignorance

Of what you were plead my neglect of manners, And this soft touch excuse it. You've enrich'd This little family, most excellent virgin,

Which youth and active blood might stray in

thought for;

The companies are few, the pleasures single,
And rarely to be brook'd, perhaps, by any,
'Not perfectly acquainted with this custom :
Are they not, lovely one?

Liv. Sir, I dare answer

My sister's resolution.

Free convérse

Amongst so many of her sex, so virtuous,

She ever hath preferr'd before the surquedry
Of protestation, or the vainer giddiness

Of popular attendants.

Cast. Well play'd, brother!

Oct. The meaning of this music?
Mor. Please your lordship,

It is the ladies' hour for exercise
In song and dance.

Oct. I dare not be the author

[Music within.

Of truanting the time then, neither will I.
Mor. Walk on, dear ladies.

Oct. 'Tis a task of pleasure.

Liv. Be now my sister, stand a trial bravely. Mor. (To CAST.) Remember my instructions,

or

[Exit, followed by LIV. FLO. CLAR. and SIL.

Oct. (Detaining CAST.) With pardon,

You are not of the number, I presume, yet,

8

My sister's resolution.] i. e. her settled, her confirmed opinion. Surquedry, which occurs in the next line, is used by our old writers for excess of pride, presumption, &c.; from sur and cuider, Fr.

over-conceit.

To be enjoin'd to hours. If you please,
We for a little while may sit as judges

Of their proficience; pray, vouchsafe the favour. Cast. I am, sir, in a place to be commanded, As now the present urgeth.

Oct. No compulsion,

That were too hard a word; where you are sove

reign,

Your yea and nay

is law: I have a suit t'ye.

Cast. For what, sir?

Oct. For your love.

Cast. To whom? I am not

So weary of the authority I hold

Over mine own contents in sleeps and wakings, That I'd resign my liberty to any

Who should controul it.

Oct. Neither I intend so;

Grant me an entertainment.

Cast. Of what nature?

Oct. To acknowledge me your creature.

Cast. Oh, my lord,

You are too wise in years, too full of counsel,
For my green inexperience.

Oct. Love, dear maid,

Is but desire of beauty, and 'tis proper
For beauty to desire to be beloved.

I am not free from passion, though the current
Of a more lively heat runs slowly through me;
My heart is gentle, and believe, fresh girl,
Thou shalt not wish for any full addition,
Which may adorn thy rarities to boast 'em,

That bounty can withhold: this académy
Of silent pleasures is maintain'd, but only
To such a constant use.

Cast. You have, belike, then,

A patent for concealing virgins; otherwise,
Make plainer your intentions.

Oct. To be pleasant

In practice of some outward senses only;
No more.

Cast. No worse you dare not to imagine,
Where such an awful innocency, as mine is,
Out-faces every wickedness your dotage

Has lull'd you in. I scent your cruel mercies; Your fact'ress hath been tamp'ring for my misery, Your old temptation, your she-devil :-bear with A language which this place, and none but this,

hath

Infected my tongue with. The time will come, too,

When he, unhappy man! whom your advance

ment

Hath ruin'd by being spaniel to your fortunes,
Will curse he train'd me hither--Livio-

I must not call him brother-this one act
Hath rent him off the ancestry he sprung from.
Oct. The proffer of a noble courtesy

Is check'd, it seems.

Cast. A courtesy ?—a bondage:

You are a great man, vicious, much more vicious, Because you hold a seeming league with charity, Of pestilent nature, keeping hospitality