And mine to suffer with an humble patience What you'll impose upon it. Gen. Courtly too! [Lucio, madam, Lucio. Yet hath the poor and contemn'd (Made able only by his hope to serve you), Recover'd what with violence, not justice, Was taken from him; and here at your feet, With these, he could have laid the conquer'd head Of Lamoral ('tis all I say of him) For rudely touching that, which, as a relick, I ever would have worshipp'd, since 'twas vours. Gen. Valiant, and every thing a lady could Wish in her servant! Lucio. All that's good in me, That heav'nly love, the opposite to base lust (Which would have all men worthy), hath created; Which being by your beams of beauty forin'd, Cherish as your own creature! Gen. I am gone Too far now to dissemble.-Rise, or sure [yet, There's nothing that's within my nerves (and Favour'd by you, I should as much as man) But when you please, now, or on all occasions You can think of hereafter, but you may Dispose of at your pleasure. Gen. If you break That oath again, you lose me: yet, so well Between our friends are ended, I would not Lucio. I obey you. [remember Gen. But let me hear oft from you, and I am Vitelli's sister! Lucio. What's that, madam? Gen. Nay, nothing. Fare you well! who feels love's fire, Would ever ask to have means to desire34. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter Assistant, Syavedra, Anastro, Herald, and Attendants. Assist. Are they come in? Assist. Read the proclamation, That all the people here assembled may Have satisfaction, what the king's dear love, In care of the republick, hath ordain'd. Attend with silence. Read aloud. Herald [reading]. Forasmuch as our high and mighty master, Philip, the potent and most Catholick king of Spain, hath not only in his own royal person, been long and often solicited, and grieved, with the deadly and incurable hatred sprung up betwixt the two ancient and most honourably-descended houses of these his two dearly and equallybeloved subjects, don Ferdinando de Alvarez, and don Pedro de Vitelli (all which in vain his majesty hath often endeavoured to reconcile and qualify): but that also through the debates, quarrels, and outrages daily arising, falling, and flowing from these great heads, his publick civil government is seditiously and barbarously molested and wounded, and many of his chief gentry (no less tender to his royal majesty than the very branches of his own sacred blood), spoiled, lost, and submerg'd, in the impious inundation and torrent of their still-growing malice; it hath therefore pleased his sacred majesty, out of his infinite affection to preserve his commonwealth, and general peace, from further violation (as a sweet and heartily-loving father of his people), and on the earnest petitions of these arch-enemies, to order and ordain, that they be ready, each with his well-chosen and beloved friend, armed at all points like gentlemen, in the castle of St. Jago, on this present Monday morning, betwixt eight and nine of the cloc.., where (before the combatants be allowed to commence this granted duel) this to be read aloud for the publick satisfaction of his majesty's wellbeloved subjects. 'Save the king! [Drums within. Syav. Hark, how their drums speak their insatiate thirst [peace, Of blood, and stop their ears 'gainst pious Who, gently whispering, implores their friendship! Assist. Kings nor authority can master fate: Admit 'em then; and blood extinguish hate! Enter severally, Alvarez and Lucio, Vitelli and Lamoral. Syav. Stay! yet be pleas'd to think, and let not daring (Wherein men now-a-days exceed e'en beasts, And think themselves not men else) so transport you Beyond the bounds of Christianity! 34 To have means to desire.] i. e, to have the means to compass his desire. Sympson. Surely, this is wrongly interpreted:-the meaning is, All who feel the pleasure of love, would wish always to have the means of loving.' To have means to desire, cannot be construed means to compass his desire. E 2 But But most erroneously), venture your souls? To sail, and land at Heaven. Vit. I hope not, If justice be my pilot. But, my lord, I dare protest, your breath cools not a vein Vit. Ha, ha! Old man, upon thy death I'll A story with this arm, for thy old wife And lives, and wears it yet. Come, Lamoral, Lam. Lucio, Genevora Shall on this sword receive thy bleeding heart, Lucio. Thou talk'st well, Lamoral; but 'tis That I will carry to her to thy hat. Alv. Oh, boy! thy father's true son! Beat drums! And so, good-morrow to your lordship! They dart their emulous eyes, as if each scorn'd To be behind the other in a look! [sister Mother, death needs no sword here! Oh, my (Fate fain would have it so), persuade, entreat! A lady's tears are silent orators35, Or should be so at least, to move beyond You could not understand, only have heard. ture In me, that I forgot my sex, and knew not Move you from your own loss, if you should Like a pestif'rous earbuncle, I'm blind I'll tender thee this bloody reeking hand, Assist. Most barbarous! Ana. Irreligious! Gen. Oh, Lucio, [years, Be thou more merciful! thou bear'st fewer 35 A lady's tears are silent orators.] So Crashaw, Again, in Daniel's Complaint of Rosamond: Ah, beauty, syren, fair enchanting good! 'Dumb eloquence, whose power doth move the blood, Vide Steevens's Notes on Shakespeare, vol. vii. p. 335. 36 The honest-tongu'd rhetoriciun.] Seward proposes substituting loudest for honest. The correction is from Sympson's conjecture, who says, Our poets, who were admirers of the classics, might possibly have had Nestor in their eye, who is thus described by Homer: Experienc'd Nestor, in persuasion skill'a, ་ Words sweet as honey, from his lips distill'd.' up, These eyes begot it, this tongue bred it This breast would lodge it: do not use my gifts To mine own ruin! I have made thee rich; Be not so thankless, to undo me for't! Lucio. Mistress, you know I do not wear a vein I would not rip for you, to do you service: Go, get you home, and provide dinner for Gen. Vitelli! brother! Ev'n for your father's soul, your uncle's blood, As you do love my life; but last, and most, As you respect your own honour and fame, Throw down your sword! he is most valiant That herein yields first. Vit. Peace, you fool! Do thou begin: 'tis no disparagement; Gen. Or pay it me, [time To whom thou ow'st it. Oh, that constant Would but go back a week; then Lucio, Thou wouldst not dare to fight! Eug. Lucio, thy mother, [first. Thy mother begs it! throw thy sword down Alo. I'll throw his head down after then. Gen. Lamoral, [me. pray Wanting but ceremony), that I Gen. I likewise pray, Vitelli, Lucio's sword (Who equally's my husband as thou hers) May find thy false heart, that durst 'gage thy And durst not keep it! [faith, Assist. Are you men, or stone? Alv. Men, and we'll prove it with our swords. [have done! Eug. Your hearing for six words, and we Zancho, come forth!-We'll fight our chalNow speak your resolutions. [lenge too; Enter Bobadilla, with two Swords and d Pistol. Eug. Shoot! [friends! Alv. Vit. Lucio. Lam. Hold! hold! all Assist. Come down. Alv. These dev'lish women [they list! Can make men friends and enemies when Syav. A gallant undertaking, and a happy! Why, this is noble in you; and will be A welcomer present to our master Philip, than the return from his Indies. Enter Clara, Genevora, Eugenia, and Bobadilla. Clara. Father, your blessing! Alv. Take her: if ye bring not [worlds, Betwixt you boys that will find out new And win 'em too, I'm a false prophet. Vit. Brother, There is a sister. Long-divided streams Bob. I'm not regarded! I was the careful steward that provided men. It has two ramming bullets; but, thought I, died too, more To make us friends. Well, I will forswear Assist. Nay, you shall dine with me; Enter Alguazier, Pachieco, Metaldi, Mendoza, Lazarillo, Piorato, Malroda, and Guard. You, Alguazier, the ring-leader of these Poor fellows, are degraded from your office; You must restore all stol'n goods you receiv'd, And watch a twelvemonth without any pay: This, if you fail of (all your goods confiscate), You're to be whipt, and sent into the gallies. Alg. I like all, but restoring; that catholick doctrine ye I do dislike. Learn, all officers, ners new, Are doom'd to th' cloisters of the Mendicants, 37 Behold the power of love, to Nature lost, With this your brother botcher, there for nothing To cobble, and heel-hose for the poor friars; 'Till they allow your penance for sufficient, And your amendment; then you shall be And may set up again. [freed, Pach. Mendoza, come: Our souls have trod awry in all men's sight; We'll under-lay 'em, till they go upright. [Exeunt Pach. and Mend. Assist. Smith, in those shackles you, for your hard heart, Must lie by th' heels a year. Met. I've shod your horse, my lord. [Exit. Assist. Away! For you, my hungry, whiteloaf'd face, [sure You must to th' gallies, where you shall be To have no more bits than you shall have blows. [have rows. Laz. Well; tho' I herrings want, I shall Assist. Signor, you have prevented us, and punish'd Yourself severelier than we would have done: You have married a whore; may she prove honest! Pio. It is better, my lord, than to marry An honest woman, that may prove a whore. Vit. It is a handsome wench, an thou canst keep her tame. I'll send you what I promis'd. [foes Pio. Joy to your lordships! Alv. Here may all ladies learn, to make of The perfect'st friends; and not the perfect'st focs Of dearest friends, as some do now-a-days! Vit. Behold the pow'r of love37! Nature, Love hath here retriev'd.] Here is another difficult passage, at least to me, Behold the power of love, which (love) hath here to lost Nature retrieved to her own habit. This the reader may make sense of if he can, while I endeavour to set the place right thus: Behold the power of love, Nature tho' lost, Love hath retriev'd To her own habit, &c. Here we have a glimmering of sense and reason, and the poets are clear'd from a blunder they could hardly be guilty of, Sympson. EPILOGUE. Our author fears there are some rebel hearts, Such will be apt to say there wanted wit, 38 Lik'd. i. 6. Pleased, With spirit and life; such odd things as thesc He cares not for, nor ever means to please; For if yourselves, a mistress, or love's friends, Are lik'd with this smooth play, he hath his ends. Sympson. WOMEN A TRAGI-COMEDY. The Commendatory Verses by Gardiner and Hills ascribe this Play (which was first printed in the folio of 1647) to Fletcher alone. Part of it is founded on Boccace's Decameron, on which Chaucer has built a Tale, which Dryden has modernized: there has been no representation of it at either Theatre for many years, nor do we know of any alteration of it. When she herself was hackney, lame, and founder'd. Sil. But the sweet lady Belvidere, the bright one[dear nephew, Burt. Ay, there's a face indeed! Oh, my Could a young fellow of thy fiery mettle Freeze, and that lady in his arms? Sil. I think not. [let that pass: Bart. Thou hast a parlous judgment! But She is as truly virtuous, fair, and noble, As her great mother's good; and that's not ordinary. [ones, Sil. But why (so many princes, and so great Being suitors) should the duchess deny to match her? [bosom; Burt. She is a jewel, man, hangs in her Her only child: with her eyes she sees all things, [from her, Discourses with her tongue; and pluck her (So dotingly the old one loves her young on), You |