THE LADY'S TRIAL.

ACT I. SCENE I.

A Room in the House of AURIA.

Enter PIERO and FUTELLI, at opposite doors.

Piero. ACCOMPLISHED man of fashion!

Fut. The times' wonder!

Gallant of gallants, Genoa's Piero!

Piero. Italy's darling, Europe's joy, and so forth!

The newest news? unvamp'd?

Fut. I am no foot-post,

No pedlar of Avisos, no monopolist

Of forged Corantos, monger of gazettes.

Piero. Monger of courtezans, [my] fine
Futelli ;

In certain kind a merchant of the staple
For wares of use and trade; a taker-up,
Rather indeed a knocker-down; the word

2 The newest news? unvamp'd?] i.e. fresh, genuine, not patched up.

Will carry either sense :-but in pure earnest,
How trowls the common noise?

Fut. Auria, who lately,

Wedded and bedded to the fair Spinella,

Tired with the enjoyments of delights, is hasting
To cuff the Turkish pirates, in the service
Of the great duke of Florence.-

Piero. Does not carry His pretty thing along.

Fut. Leaves her to buffet Land-pirates here at home.

Piero. That's thou and I;

Futelli, sirrah, and Piero.-Blockhead!
To run from such an armful of pleasures,

For gaining what?-a bloody nose of honour. Most sottish and abominable!

Fut. Wicked,

Shameful and cowardly, I will maintain.
Piero. Is all my signor's hospitality,

Huge banquetings, deep revels, costly trappings,
Shrunk to a cabin, and a single welcome

To beverage and biscuit?

Fut. Hold thy peace, man;

It makes for us:-he comes, let's part demurely.

[They take different sides.

Enter ADURNI and AURIA.

Adur. We wish thee, honour'd Auria, life and

safety;

Return crown'd with a victory, whose wreath
Of triumph may advance thy country's glory,
Worthy your name and ancestors!

Aur. My lord,

I shall not live to thrive in any action
Deserving memory, when I forget
Adurni's love and favour.

Piero. I present you

My service for a farewell; let few words

Excuse all arts of compliment.

Fut. For my own part,

Kill or be kill'd, (for there's the short and long on't,) Call me your shadow's hench-boy.4

Aur. Gentlemen,

My business urging on a present haste,

Enforceth short reply.

Adur. We dare not hinder

Your resolution wing'd with thoughts so constant.

All happiness!

Piero and Fut. Contents!

[Exeunt ADURNI, PIERO, and FUTELLI.

Aur. So leave the winter'd people of the north, The minutes of their summer, when the sun Departing leaves them in cold robes of ice, As I leave Genoa.

Enter TRELCATIO, SPINELLA, and CASTANNA.
Now appears the object

Of my apprenticed heart: thou bring'st, Spinella,

3 Piero. I present you, &c.] In the old quarto, this short valediction is broken in the midst, and Fut. inserted before the latter part of it. Fut. instead of Ful. should be placed before the next speech.

4 Call me your

shadow's hench-boy.] A common expression in our old writers for a page; a state-attendant on court or municipal officers.

A welcome in a farewell-souls and bodies

Are sever❜d for a time, a span of time,
To join again, without all separation,
In a confirmed unity for ever:

Such will our next embraces be, for life;
And then to take the wreck of our divisions,'
Will sweeten the remembrance of past dangers,
Will fasten love in perpetuity,

Will force our sleeps to steal upon our stories. These days must come, and shall, without a cloud

Or night of fear, or envy. To your charge,
Trelcatio, our good uncle, and the comfort
Of my Spinella's sister, fair Castanna,
I do entrust this treasure.

Trel. I dare promise,

My husbanding that trust with truth and care. Cast. My sister shall to me stand an example, Of pouring free devotions for your safety.

Aur. Gentle Castanna, thou'rt a branch of good

ness

speech

Grown on the self-same stock with my Spinella.-
But why, my dear, hast thou lock'd up thy
[To Spin.
In so much silent sadness? Oh! at parting,
Belike one private whisper must be sigh'd.-
Uncle, the best of peace enrich your family!
I take my leave.

5. And then to take the wreck of our divisions.] i. e. to enjoy the remnant of time which our separations have left us.

Trel. Blessings and health preserve you! [Exit. Aur. Nay, nay, Castanna, you may hear our counsels;

A while, you are design'd your sister's husband. Give me thy hand, Spinella; you did promise, To send me from you with more cheerful looks, Without a grudge or tear; 'deed, love, you did. Spi. What friend have I left in your absence? Aur. Many:

Thy virtues are such friends they cannot fail thee; Faith, purity of thoughts, and such a meekness, As would force scandal to a blush.

Spi. Admit, sir,

The patent of your life should be call'd in;
How am I then left to account with griefs,
More slav'd to pity than a broken heart?
Auria! soul of my comforts, I let fall
No eye on breach of fortune; I contemn
No entertainment to divided hopes,
I urge no pressures by the scorn of change;
And yet, my Auria, when I but conceive
How easy 'tis (without impossibility)
Never to see thee more, forgive me then,
If I conclude I may be miserable,
Most miserable.

Cast. And such conclusion, sister,
Argues effects of a distrust more voluntary,
Than cause by likelihood.

Aur. 'Tis truth, Castanna.

Spi. I grant it truth; yet, Auria, I'm a woman, And therefore apt to fear: to show my duty,