Vit. Cor. O! my greatest sin lay in my blood; Now my blood pays for't. Flam. Th'art a noble sister, I love thee now; if woman do breed man, Flam. Then cast anchor. "Prosperity doth bewitch men, seeming clear; But seas do laugh, shew white, when rocks are near. We cease to grieve, cease to be Fortune's slaves, "Nor ever knew great men but by report." Tis well yet, there's some goodness in my death, My life was a black charnel: I have caught An everlasting cold. I have lost my voice Most irrecoverably; farewel, glorious villains; "This busy trade of life appears most vain, Since rest breeds rest, where all seek pain by pain." Let no harsh flattering bells resound my knell; Strike, thunder, and strike loud, to my farewel. [Dies. Enter Embassadors and GIOVANNI. E. Amb. This way! this way! break open Lod. Ha! are we betray'd? E. Amb. Keep back the prince, shoot, shoot. I fear I shall be taken. Gio. You bloody villains, Instead of an Epilogue, only this of Martial supplies me : $2 A Toledo.-Toledo is the capital city of Newcastile, and was formerly much famed for making of sword-blades. So, in Green's Quip for an Upstart Courtier, 1592: "And you cutler, you are patron of ruffians and swashbucklers, and will sell them a blade that may be thrust into a bushell; but, if a poore man that cannot skil of it, you sell him a swoord or rapyer new overglased, and sweare the blade came either from Turkie or Toledo." An English Fox.-A cant term for a sword. So, in Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, A. 2. S. 6: "What would you have, sister, of a fellow that knows nothing but a basket-hilt, and an old fox in't?” For the action of the Play, 'twas generally well, and I dare affirm, with the joint-testimony of some of their own quality (for the true imitation of life, without striving to make nature a monster) the best that ever became them: whereof as I make a general acknowledgment, so in particular I must remember the well-approved industry of my friend Master Perkins, $3 and confess the worth of his action did crown both the beginning and end. EDITIONS. (1.) "The White Divel: or, The Tragedy of Paulo Giordano Ursini, Duke of Brachiano: With the Life and Death of Vittoria Corombona, the famous Venetian Curtizan. Acted by the Queenes Majesties Servants. Written by JOHN WEBSTER. Non inferiora secutus. London. Printed by N. O. for Thomas Archer, and are to be sold at his shop in Pope's Head Pallace neere the Royall Exchange. 1612. 4to." (2.) “The White Devil: or, The Tragedy of Paulo Giordano Ursini, Duke of Brachiano: With the Life and Death of Vittoria Corombona, the famous Venetian Curtizan. As it hath bin divers times acted by the Queens Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury-Lane. Written by John Webster. Non inferiora secutus. London. Printed by J. N. for Hugh Perry, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Harrow in Brittaine-burse. 1631. 4to." 83 See Note to The Jew of Malta, Vol. I. p. 251. A Copy of Verses, by Mr Perkins, is prefixed to Heywood's Apology for Actors. ROBERT TAILOR, the Author of this Play, is entirely unknown. The Title-page of it says it was divers times publickly acted by certain London Prentices; and Sir Henry Wotton,' in a Letter to Sir Edmund Bacon, dated 1612-13, gives the following account of its first performance: "On Sunday last at night, and no longer, some sixteen Apprentices (of what sort you shall guess by the rest of the story) having secretly learnt a new play without book, intitled, The Hog hath lost his Pearl; took up the White Fryers for their Theater: and having invited thither (as it should seem) rather their mistresses than their masters; who were all to enter per buletini for a note of distinction from ordinary comedians. Towards the end of the play, the sheriffs (who by chance had heard of it) came in (as they say) and carried some six or seven of them to perform the last act at Bridewel; the rest are fled. Now it is strange to hear how sharp-witted the City is, for they will needs have Sir John Swinnerton the Lord Mayor be meant by the Pearl." PROLOGUE. For to prevent (O men more hard than flint!) But, now that trouble's past, if it deserve a hiss 'See Reliquiæ Wottoniana, 4th edition, 1685, p. 402. 2 'tis fortunate, like Pericles—i. e. the play of that name attributed to Shakspeare. Perhaps a sneer was designed. To say that a dramatic piece was fortunate, is not to say that it was deserving: and why of all the pieces supposed to be written by our great Author was this particularized? S. SCENA PRIMA. ACTUS PRIMUS. Enter LIGHTFOOT, a country gentleman, passing over the stage, and knocks at the other door. Light. Ho, who's within here? Enter ATLAS, a porter. Atlas. Ha' ye any money to pay, you knock with such authority, sir? Light. What if I have not, may not a man knock without money, sir? Atlas. Seldom; women and servants will not put it up so, sir. Light. How say you by that sir? but I pr'ythee, is not this one Atlas's house, a porter? Atlas. I am the rent-payer thereof. Atlas. Not in good time neither, sir, for I am behind with my landlord a year and three quarters at least. Light. Now if a man would give but observance to this fellow's prating, he would weary his ears sooner than a barber. Do y'hear, sir? lies there not one Haddit a gentleman, at this house? Atlas. Here lies such a gentleman, sir, whose cloaths (were they not greasy) would bespeak him so. Light. Then I pray, sir, when your leisure shall permit, that you would vouchsafe to help me to the speech of him. Atlas. We must first crave your oath, sir, that you come not with intent to molest, perturb, or endanger him; for he is a gentleman whom it hath pleased fortune to make her tennis-ball of, and therefore subject to be struck by every fool into hazard. Light. In that I commend thy care of him, for which friendship here's a slight reward: tell him a countryman of his, one Lightfoot, is here, and he will not any way despair of his safety. Atlas. With all respect, sir; pray command my house. [Exit ATLAS. Light. So, now I shall have a sight of my cousin gallant: he that hath consumed eight hundred pounds a year in as few years as he hath ears on his head: he that was wont never to be found without three or four pair of red breeches running before his horse, or coach: he that at a meal hath had more several kinds, than I think the ark contain'd: he that was 3 admir'd by niters, for his robes of gallantry, and was indeed all that an elder brother might be, prodigal; yet he, whose unthriftiness kept many a house, is now glad to keep house in a house that keeps him, the poor tenant of a porter. And see his appearance! I'll seem strange to him. Enter HADDIT in poor array. Had. Cousin Lightfoot, how do'st? welcome to the city. Light. Who calls me cousin? Where's my cousin Haddit? he's surely putting on some rich apparel, for me to see him in. I ha' been think ing all the way I came up, how much his company will credit me. Had. My name is Haddit, sir, and your kinsman, if parents may be trusted; and therefore you may please to know me better, when you see me next. Light. I pr'ythee, fellow, stay; is it possible thou should'st be he? why he was the generous spark of men's adiniration. Had. I am that spark, sir, tho' now rak'd up Yet when it pleaseth fortune's chops to blow Light. O, by your versifying I know you now, sir; how do'st? I knew thee not at first, thou'rt very much alter'd. Had. Faith, and so I am, exceeding much since you saw me last; about 800l. a year; but let it pass, for passage carried away the most part of it, a plague of fortune. Light. Thou'st more need to pray to fortune than curse her, she may be kind to thee when thou art penitent, but that I fear will be never. Had. O no, if she be a woman, she'll ever love those that hate her. But, cousin, thou art thy father's first-born; help me but to some means, and I'll redeem my mortgag'd lands with a wench to boot. Light. As how, I pray thee? Had. Marry thus; Hog the usurer hath one only daughter. Light. Is his name Hog? it fits him exceeding well for as a hog in his life-time is always devouring, and never commodious in aught till his death; even so is he, whose goods at that time may be put to many good uses. Had. And so I hope they shall before his death. This daughter of his did, and I think doth, love me; but I then thinking myself worthy of an empress, gave but slight respect unto her favour, for that her parentage seem'd not to equal my high thoughts, puff'd up Light. With tobacco surely. Had. No, but with as bad a weed, vain-glory. Light. And you could now be content to put your lofty spirits into the lowest pit of her favour. Why what means will serve, man? 'Sfoot, if all I have will repair thy fortunes, it shall fly at thy command. Had. Thanks, good cuz, the means shall not be great, only that I may first be clad in a generous outside, for that is the chief attraction that draws female affection. Good parts, without habiliments of gallantry, are no more set by in these times, than a good leg in a woollen stocking. No, 'tis a glistering presence and audacity brings women into fool's felicity. Light. You've a good confidence, cuz, but what do ye think your brave outside shall effect? Had. That being had, we'll to the usurer, where you shall offer some slight piece of land to mortgage, and, if you do it to bring ourselves into cash, it shall be ne'er the farther from you, for here's a project will not be frustrate of this purpose. Light. That shall be shortly try'd. I'll instantly go seek for a habit for thee, and that of the richest too; that which shall not be subject to the scoff of any gallant, tho' to the accomplishing thereof all my means go. Alas! what's a man unless he wear good cloaths? [Exit LIGHTFOOT. Had. Good speed attend my suit! Here's a never-seen nephew, kind in distress; this gives me more cause of admiration than the loss of thirty-five settings together at Passage. Ay, when 'tis perform'd-but words and deeds are now more different than puritans and players. Enter ATLAS. Atlas. Here's the Player would speak with you. 3 ——admir'd by niters, for his robes of gallantry.—If this be not a corrupted, it must be an affected, word, coined from the Latin word niteo, to shine, or be splendid. He was admir'd by those who shone most in the article of dress. S. So, in Marston's Satires, printed with Pygmalion, 1598: "O dapper, rare, compleat, sweet nittie youth! Jesu Maria! How his clothes appeare Crost and recrost with lace, &c." 4 For passage carried away, &c.-"Passage is a game at dice to be play'd at but by two, and it is performed with three dice. The caster throws continually till he hath thrown dubblets under ten, and then he is out and loseth; or dubblets above ten, and then he passeth and wins.—Compleat Gu.zester, 1660, p. 119. VOL. III. G |
