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Steal thee to hell. So subtle are thy evils;

In life they'll seem good angels, in death devils.
Appius. Observe you not this scandal?
Icilius. Sir, tis none.

I'll shew thy letters full of violent lust

Sent to this Lady.

Appius. My Lords, these are but dilatory shifts. Sirrah, I know you to the

And I'll observe you.

very heart,

Icilius. Do, but do it with justice.

Clear thyself first, O Appius, ere thou judge

Our imperfections rashly, for we wot

The office of a justice is perverted quite
When one thief hangs another.

1. Senator. You are too bold.

Appius. Lictors, take charge of him.
Icilius. 'Tis very good.

Will no man view these papers *, what not one?
Jove, thou hast found a rival upon earth,
His nod strikes all men dumb.

My duty to you.

The ass that carried Isis on his back,

Thought that the superstitious people kneel'd
To give his dulness humble reverence.

If thou thinkst so, proud judge, I let thee see
I bend low to thy gown but not to thee.

Virginius. There's one in hold already. Noble
youth;

Fetters grace one, being worn for speaking truth.
I'll lie with thee, I swear, though in a dungeon.
The injuries you do us we shall pardon;
But it is just, the wrongs which we forgive
The gods are charg'd therewith to see revenged.

* The Forgery.

Appius. Your madness wrongs you: by my soul, I

love you.

Virginius. Thy soul!

O thy opinion, old Pythagoras:

Whither, O whither should thy black soul fly,

Into what ravenous bird, or beast most vile?
Only into a weeping crocodile.

Love me!

Thou lov'st me, Appius, as the earth loves rain,
Only to swallow it.

Appius. Know you the place you stand in?
Virginius. I'll speak freely.

Good men, too much trusting their innocence,
Do not betake them to that just defence
Which gods and nature gave them; but even wink
In the black tempest, and so fondly sink.

Appius. Let us proceed to sentence.

Virginius. Ere you speak,

One parting farewell let me borrow of you
To take of my Virginia.

Appius. Pray, take your course.

Virginius. Farewell, my sweet Virginia: never, never Shall I taste fruit of the most blessed hope I had in thee. Let me forget the thought Of thy most pretty infancy; when first, Returning from the wars, I took delight To rock thee in my target; when my girl Would kiss her father in his burganet Of glittering steel hung 'bout his armed neck, And, viewing the bright metal, smile to see Another fair Virginia smile on thee;

When I first taught thee how to go, to speak ;

And (when my wounds have smarted) I have sung,
With an unskilful yet a willing voice,

To bring my girl asleep. O my Virginia;

When we begun to be, begun our woes;
Increasing still, as dying life still grows.
Thus I surrender her into the court
Of all the gods.

[Kills her.

And see, proud Appius, see;
Although not justly, I have made her free.
And if thy lust with this act be not fed,
Bury her in thy bowels now she's dead.

THE TRAGEDY OF THE DUCHESS OF MALFY.
BY JOHN WEBSTER.

The Duchess of Malfy marries Antonio, her Steward.
DUCHESS. CARIOLA, her Maid.

Duchess. Is Antonio come?

Cariola. He attends you.

Duch. Good dear soul,

Leave me but place thyself behind the arras,
Where thou mayst overhear us: wish me good speed,
For I am going into a wilderness,

Where I shall find nor path nor friendly clue

To be my guide.

[ Cariola withdraws.

ANTONIO enters.

I sent for you, sit down.

Take pen and ink and write. Are you ready?

Ant. Yes.

Duch. What did I say?

Ant. That I should write somewhat.

Duch. Oh, I remember.

After these triumphs and this large expence

It's fit, like thrifty husbands, we enquire
What's laid up for to-morrow.

Ant. So please your beauteous excellence.

Duch. Beauteous indeed! I thank you; I look young your sake. You have tane my cares upon you.

For

Ant. I'll fetch your grace the particulars of your revenue and expence.

Duch. Oh, you're an upright treasurer: but you mistook,

For when I said I meant to make enquiry
What's laid up for to-morrow, I did mean
What's laid up yonder for me.

Ant. Where?

Duch. In heaven.

I'm making my will (as 'tis fit Princes should,)
In perfect memory; and I pray, sir, tell me,
Were not one better make it smiling, thus,
Than in deep groans and terrible ghastly looks,
As if the gifts we parted with procur'd

That violent distraction?

Ant. Oh, much better.

Duch. If I had a husband now, this care were quit. But I intend to make you overseer;

What good deed shall we first remember, say?

Ant. Begin with that first good deed, began in the

world

After man's creation, the sacrament of marriage.

I'd have you first provide for a good husband;

Give him all.

Duch. All!

Ant. Yes, your excellent self.

Duch. In a winding sheet?

Ant. In a couple.

Duch. St. Winifred, that were a strange will.

Ant. 'Twere stranger if there were no will in you To marry again.

Duch. What do you think of marriage?

Ant. I take it, as those that deny purgatory; It locally contains or heaven or hell,

There's no third place in 't.

Duch. How do you affect it?

Ant. My banishment, feeding my melancholy, Would often reason thus.

Duch. Pray, let us hear it.

Ant. Say a man never marry, nor have children,
What takes that from him? only the bare name
Of being a father, or the weak delight
To see the little wanton ride a cock-horse
Upon a painted stick, or hear him chatter
Like a taught starling.

Duch. Fie, fie, what's all this?

One of your eyes is blood-shot; use my Ring to 't.
They say 'tis very sovran, 'twas my wedding ring,
And I did vow never to part with it

But to my second husband.

Ant. You have parted with it now.
Duch. Yes, to help your eye-sight.
Ant. You have made me stark blind.

Duch. How?

Ant. There is a saucy and ambitious devil,

Is dancing in this circle.

Duch. Remove him.

Ant. How?

Duch. There needs small conjuration, when your finger

May do it; thus: is it fit?

Ant. What said you?

(She puts the Ring on his finger.)

(He kneels.)

Duch. Sir L

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