'Till he arriv'd at me; with me he buckled; Awhile I held him play; at length his violence [su'd me; Beat me from my saddle, then on foot purThere triumph'd once again, then took me prisoner:

When I was gone, a fear possess'd my people. Duch. One single arm, in a just cause, Heav'n prospers.

Is not this stranger-knight as yet discover'd, That we may give his virtue a due honour?

Lord. Not yet, that we hear, madam; but to that purpose

Two days ago we publish'd proclamations.
Enter Soto with a Trumpet, and Silvio.
Soto. Oh, dainty duchess, here I bring
that knight

Before thy fragrant face, that warlike wight,
He that Sienna's duke, and all his louts,
Beat (as the proverb seemly says) to clouts;
He that unhors'd the man o' fame to boot,
And bootless taught his grace to walk afoot;
He that your writings, pack'd to every pillar,
Promis'd promotion to, and store of siller;
That very man I set before thy grace,
And once again pronounce, this man it was.
Duch. A pretty foolish squire! what must
the knight be?

Duke. Some juggler, or some mad-man.
Sil. I was not so,
[me;
When thy faint troops in flocks I beat before
When, thro' the thickest of thy warlike horse,
I shot myself e'en to thy standard, duke,
And there found thee, there singled thee,
there shew'd thee
[stood'st me,
The temper of my sword. 'Tis true, thou
And like a noble soldier bidst me welcome;
And this I'll say, more honour38 in that arm
I found and tried, than all thy army carried;
What follows, thy imprisonment can tell thee.
Duke. His fair relation carries truth and
virtue;

me.

And by those arms I see (for such were his, So old, so rusty), this may be he that forc'd [casque I rent it, Sil. D'you know this jewel? from your F'en as I clos'd, and forc'd you from your D'you now remember me? [saddle:

Duke. This is the valour, Madam; for certain, he; it must be he; That day I wore this jewel: you remember it. Duch. Yes, very well: not long before, I

sent it.

Duke. That day I lost this jewel, in fight I lost it;

I felt his strokes, and felt him take it from

me;

I wore it in my casque. Take it again, sir; You won it nobly, 'tis the prize of honour. Soto. My father and myself are made for ever! [knight first I raise you;

Duch. Kneel down, brave sir. Thus, my (Gird on a sword); next, gen'ral of my army (Give him a staff); last, one in counsel near

me.

Now, make us happy with your sight.-How! Silvio? [Discovers himself.

Have I on thee bestow'd this love, this honour? [favours? The treasons thou hast wrought set off with Unarm him resently!-Oh, thou foul traitor, Traitor to me, mine honour, and my country, Thou kindler of these wars

Sil. Mistake not, madam!

Duch. Away with him to prison, [sirrah, See him safe kept.-The law shall shortly, Find fitter titles for you than I gave you.

Soto. This is the youth that kill'd me; I'll be quit with him.

[him! What a blind rogue was I, I could ne'er know An't please your grace, I claim the benefit O' th' proclamation that proclaim'd him traiI brought him in. [tor;

Duch. Thou shalt have thy reward for't. Soto. Let him be hang'd, or drown'd then, Duch. Away with him! [you're tied to it, Sil. Madam, I crave your promise first; You've pass'd your princely word,

Duch. Prove it, and take it.

Sil. This is the day appointed, Appointed by your grace, for my appearance, To answer to the question.

Duch. I remember it.
Sil. I claim it then.

Duch. If you perform it not,
The penalty you claim too.
Sil I not repent it.

IfI absolve the words

[wishes,

Duch. Your life is free then. You've drawn a speedy course above my To my revenge: be sure you hit it right, Or I'll be sure you shall not scape the danger. Sil. My rest is up now, madam 39. Duch. Then play't cunningly.

Sil. Now, where's the hag? where now are all her promises

[ine? She would be with me, strengthen me, inform My death will now be double death, ridicu lous.

She was wont still to be near, to feel my miseries,

4

VOL. III.

I

And

And with her art-I see her no where now! What have I undertaken? Now she fails ine; No comfort now I find; how my soul stag gers!

[me:

"Till this hour never fear nor doubt possess'd She cannot come, she will not come, sh' has fool'd me, [ruin, (Sure she's the devil) has drawn me on to And now to death bequeaths me in my dan[changes.

ger. Duke. He stands distracted, and his colour Duch. I've given him that will make his Shortly his life. [blood forsake him, Duke. His hands and contemplation Have motion still; the rest is earth already. Duch. Come, will you speak, or pray? Your time grows out, sir.

How ev'ry where he looks! He's at last cast. Enter Belvidere, who secretly gives him a paper, and exit.

Duke. His colour comes again fresh. Duch. 'Tis a flash, sir, [answer? Before the flame burns out. Can you yet Sil. Yes, madam, now I can.

Duch. I fear you'll fail in't.

Sil. And do not think my silence a presage, Or omen to my end; you shall not find it; I'm bred a soldier, not an orator. [for me, Madam, peruse this scrawl; let that speak And, as you're royal, wrong not the construction!

Duch. By Heav'n, you shall have fair play!
Sil. I shall look for't.

QUESTION.

Tell me what is that only thing,

For which all women long;

Yet having what they most desire,
To have it does them wrong?
ANSWER.

'Tis not to be chaste, nor fair, (Such gifts malice may impair) Richly trimm'd+, to walk or ride, Or to wanton-unespied; To preserve an honest name, And so to give it up to fame; These are toys. In good or ill, They desire to have their will: Yet, when they have it, they abuse it, For they know not how to use it. Duch. You've answer'd right, and gain'd your life;' I give it. [madam,

Sil. Oh, happy hag!-But my most gracious Your promisc tied a nobler favour to me. Duch. Tis true; my daughter too. Sil. I hope you'll keep it.

Duch. "Tis not in my power now: she's long since wander'd, [have not

Stol'n from the court and me; and what I I cannot give. No man can tell me of her, Nor no search find her out; and if not Silvio, Which strongly I believe

And wherefore have I life bestow'd and To what end do I walk? for men to wonder at? [honours from me, And fight, and fool? Pray you take your (My sorrows are not fit companions for 'em) And, when you please, my life.-Art thou gone, mistress? [vow I make thee,

And wander'st Heav'n knows where-This That 'till I find thee out, and see those fair eyes, [into me, Those eyes that shed their lights and life Never to know a friend, to seek a kindred; To rest where pleasure dwells, and painted glory; [wander. But thro' the world, the wide world, thus to The wretched world, alone, no comfort with

Enter Lopez and Isabella.

Lopez. Hast thou sent for him?
Isab. Yes.

Lopez. A young man, sayst thou?

[Exeunt.

Isab. Yes, very young, and very amorous.
Lopez. And handsome?

Isab. As the town affords.
Lopez. And dar'st thou

Be so far good, and mistress of thine honour,
To slight these?

Isab. For my husband's sake, to curse 'em: And, since you've made me mistress of my fortune,

Never to point at any joy, but husband.
I could have cozen'd you; but so much I
love you,

And now so much I weigh the estimation
Of an unspotted wife-

Lopez. I dare believe thee;

[spirit.

And threescore and ten damnations to my
Mistress, shall I speak a foolish word to you?
Isab. What's that, Penurio? The fellow's
drunk.

Pen. I would feign know your body.
Isab. How's that? how's that, prithee?
Pen. I would know it carnally; I would
conglutinate.

Isub. The reason, sirrah?

Pen. Lobster, sweet mistress, lobster!
Isab. Thy master hears.

Pen. Lobster, sweet master, lobster!
Isab. Thou art the most precious rogue.
Enter Claudio.

Pen. Most precious lobster!

Isab. D'you see who's here? Go sleep, you drunken rascal!

Pen. Remember you refuse me, arm'd in lobster!

[Exit.

Isab. Oh, my lost Rugio! welcome, welcome, welcome!

A thousand welcomes here I'll seal.

Clau. Pray you stay, lady: [fit now, D' you love me ever at this rate? or is the By reason of some wrong done by your More fervent on you? [husband, Isab. Can I chuse but love thee? [ine, Thou art my martyr; thou hast suffer'd for My sweet, sweet Rugio!

Clan. Do you do this seriously?

'Tis true, I would be entertain'd thus.
Isab. These are nothing,

No kisses, no embraces, no endearments,
To those-

Clau. Do what you will.

Isab. Those that shall follow,

[you?

Those I will crown our love withal. Why sigh
Why look you sad, my dear one?
Clau. Nay, faith, nothing;

[to me,

But methinks so sweet a beauty as yours shews
And such an innocence as you may make it,
Should hold a longer siege.

Isab. Ha! you speak truth, sir.
Clau. I would not have it so.
Isab. And now methinks,

Now I consider truly what becomes me,
I have been cozen'd, fearfully abus'd,
My reason blinded-

Clau. Nay, I did but jest with you.
Isab. I'll take you at your word, and thank
you for't, sir;

And now, I see no sweetness in that person, Nothing to stir me to abuse a husband,

To ruin my fair fame

[dote on ;

Clau. Good Isabella! Isab. No handsome man, no any thing to No face, no tongue to catch me; poor at all And I an ass! [points, Clau. Why do you wrong me, lady? If I were thus, and had no youth upon me; My service of so mean a way to win you; (Which you yourself are conscious must [reach you)

deserve you,

If y' had thrice the beauty you possess, must If in my tongue your fame lay wreck'd, and ruin'd

With every cup I drink; if in opinion I were a lost, defam'd man-But'tis common, Where we love most, where most we stake our fortunes, [you well!

There least and basest we're rewarded! Fare Know now, I hate you too as much, contemn

Clau. He shall die; I have cast the way. Isab. Oh, foul man,

Malicious, bloody man!

Enter Lopez.

Lopez. When shall he die, sir?

By whom, and how?

Clau. Hast thou betray'd me, woman? Isab. Base man, thou wouldst have ruin'd me, my name too,

[mory!

And, like a toad, poison'd my virtuous mcFurther than all this, dost thou see this friend here, [thee,

This only friend? (Shame take thy lust and And shake thy soul!) his life, the life I love thus,

My life in him, iny only life, thou aim'st at! Clau. Am I catch'd thus?

Lopez. The law shall catch you better. Isab. You make a trade of betraying women's honours,

And think it noble in you to be lustful!
Report of me hereafter-

Clau. Fool'd thus finely?

[justice;

SCENE III,

Enter Duchess, Sienna, Lords, and Silvio. Duch. Joy to you, Silvio, and your young fair bride! [wooe, sir! You've stol'n a day upon's; you cannot Sil. The joys of hell hang over me: oh, mischief!

To what a fortune has the devil driv'n me! Am I reserv'd for this?

Duke. Beshrew me, sir,

[fellow;

But you have gotten you a right fair bed Let you alone to chuse !

Sil. I beseech your grace

'Tis misery enough t'have met the devil, Not men's reproaches too.

Duke. How old is she?

Duch. A very girl; her eye delivers it.
Duke. Her teeth are scarce coine yet.
Lord. What goodly children

Will they two have now! She's rarely made to breed on;

What a sweet-timber'd body!

Duch. Knotty i'th' back;
But will hold out the stronger.

[nose! What a

Duke. Ay, marry, such a nose, so rarely mounted!

[on.

Upon my conscience, 'twas the part he doted Duch. And that fine little eye to't, like an elephant's!

[her ears sachels

Enter a Masquerade of several shapes, and dances; after which, Enter Belvidere and disperses them. Enter two Presenters;

then the Maskers+1, among which are Bartello, Lopez, Claudio, Isabella, Rodope, Soto, Penurio, and Jaquenet.

1 Pre. Room, room for merry spirits, room! Hither on command we come; From the good old beldam sent, Cares and sorrows to prevent.

2 Pre. Look up, Silvio, smile, and sing! After winter comes a spring.

1 Pre. Fear not, faint fool, what may follow; Eyes, that now are sunk and hollow, By her art may quick return

To their flames again, and burn.

2 Pre. Art commands all youth and blood; Strength and beauty it makes good.

1 Pre. Fear not then, despair not, sing, Round about as we do spring; Cares and sorrows cast away! This is th' old wives holiday.

[Dance here, then enter Belvidere. Duch. Who's this?

Duke. The shape of Belvidere!
Bel. Now, Silvio,

How dost thou like me now?

Sil. Thus I kneel to thee. [ine well too; Bel. Stand up, and come no nearer; mark For if thou troublest me, I vanish instantly: Now chuse wisely, or chuse never, One thou must enjoy for ever! Dost thou love me thus?

Sil. Most dearly.

[nearly.

Bel. Take heed, fool! it concerns thee
If thou'lt have me young and bright,
Pleasing to thine eye and sight,
Courtly, and admir'd of all,

Take heed, lest thy fame do fall!
I shall then be full of scorn,
Wanton, proud, (beware the horn!)
Hating what I lov'd before,
Flattery apt to fall before,
All consuming, nothing getting;
Thus thy fair name comes to setting!-
But if old, and free from these,
Thou shalt chuse me, I shall please;
I shall then maintain thee still,
With my virtue and my skill,
Still encrease and build thy name;
Chuse me now, Silvio! here I am.
Sil. I know not what to say,
turn me;

which way

to

Into thy sovereign will I put my answer. Bel. I thank you, sir, and my will thus rewards you; [Silvio !

Take your old love, your best, your dearest,

No more spells now, nor further shapes to alter me;

I am thy Belvidere indeed. Dear mother, There is no altering this, Heav'n's hand is with it; [won me. And now you ought to give me; he has fairly Sil. But why that hag?

Bel. In that shape most secure still,

I follow'd all your fortunes, serv'd, and
counsell'd you.
[wench;
I met you at the farmer's first, a country-
Where fearing to be known, I took that habit,
And, to make you laughing-sport at this
mad marriage,

By secret aid of my friend Rodope,
We got this masque.

Sil. And I am sure I have you?
Bel. For ever now, for ever.
Duch. You see it must be;

The wheel of destiny hath turn'd it round so.
Duke. It must, it is; and curs'd be he that
breaks it!
[my prisoner
Duch. I'll put a choice t' you, sir: you are
Duke. I am so, and I must be so, till❜t
please you-
[ransom
Duch. Chuse one of these; either to pay a
At what rate I shall set it, (which shall be
high enough)

And so return a free-man, and a bachelor;
Or give me leave to give you a fit wife,
In honour ev'ry way your grace's equal,
And so your ransom's paid.

[me.

Duke. You say most nobly! Silvio's example's mine; pray chuse you for Duch. I thank you, sir! I've got the mast❜ry too; [freedom:

And here I give your grace a husband's Give me your hand, my husband!

Duke. You much honour me;

And I shall ever serve you for this favour. Bart. Come, Lopez, let's give our wives the breeches too!

For they will have 'em.

Lopez. Whilst they rule with virtue, I'll give 'em, skin and all.

Isab. We'll scratch it off else.

Sil. [turning to Claudio]. I'm glad you live; more glad you live to honour; And from this hour a stronger love dwell with Pray you take your man again. [us!

Clau. He knows my house, sir. [loves: Duch. 'Tis sin to keep you longer from your We'll lead the way. And you, young men,

that know not

THE