Lurc. And I too, And bless the time I had so wise a sister! Alathe. I stole the contract, I must confess, and kept it to myself; Hearth. Contracted? this destroys Maria. Dare you give this hand fit. To this young gentleman ? my heart goes with Alg. Maria alive? how my heart's exalted! Tis my duty: [all joys Take her, Frank Heartlove, take her; and With her; besides some land t' advance her jointure! [blessings crown ye! Lady. What I have is your own; and And fresh air to consider, gentlemen My hopes are too high. Maria. Be more temperate, Or I'll be Welsh again! Alathe. Lady, your love! I ha' kept my [hate you, A time, when my much suffering made me And to that end I did my best to cross you; And hearing you were dead, I stole your coffin, That you might never more usurp my office. Many more knacks I did, which at the weddings Shall be told of as harmless tales 42. [Shout within. Enter Wildbrain Wildb. Hollow your throats apieces! I'm at home; If you can roar me out again- Lurc. A continent of fleas : room for the pageant! Make room afore there! Your kinsman, madam. Lady. My kinsman? let me wonder! I'll wonder too, to see this company Your admiration; I was never dead yet43. your company: If ye be not, I'll fool up, and provoke ye; I will do any thing to get your love again: I'll forswear midnight, taverns, and tempta tions; [maids Give good example to your grooms; the Wildb. Madam, have mercy! I gladly take (we will Enquire the reason of this habit afterwards), Now you are soundly sham'd; well, we restore you. Where's Toby? where's the coachman ? Nurse. He's a-bed, madam, Toby shall wait upon you with his coach, And make your Flanders mares dance back again wi' ye, I warrant you, madam.-You are mortified; Wildb. Make, make room afore there! Heartl. On joyfully!-The cure of all our grief, Is owing to this pretty Little Thief. [Exeunt omnes. 42 Lady, your love, &c.] This speech has been hitherto given to Lurcher; tho' the circumstances recited in it prove that it belongs to Alathe. The fourth line of it, however, requires some amendment: we should either read, And hearing you were dead, or, And fering you wern't dead. We prefer the former. 43 'Tis not worth Your admiration; I was never dead yet.] These words (though so obviously belonging to Maria) have hitherto stood as part of Wildbrain's speech. THE THE ISLAND PRINCESS. A TRAGI-COMEDY. The Commendatory Verses by Gardiner attribute this Play wholly to Fletcher. Its first pub lication was in the folio of 1647. In the year 1687, Tate made some alterations in this piece, with which it was printed; and Peter Motteux, about ten years afterwards, brought it forward as an Opera, under the title of 'The Island Princess, or the Generous 'Portuguese.' 1 Governor of Terna, &c.] Ternata (or Ternate, as Milton calls it), 'Tidore, and Bakan or Bacham, are three of the Molucco islands. Sympson, As As we Portugals, or th' Spaniards, do in riding, In managing a great horse, (which is princely) The French in courtship, or the dancing English In carrying a fair presence. Pedro. He was strangely taken; But where no faith is, there's no trust; h' has paid for't. His sister yet, the fair and great Quisara, ness, Because his ruin stiles her absolute, And his imprisonment adds to her profit. Feeling all this, which makes all men admire her, [her, The warm beams of this fortune that fall on Yet she has made divers and noble treaties, And propositions for her brother's freedom, If wealth or honour Pin. Peace, peace! you are fool'd, sir: Things of these natures have strange outsides, Pedro, And cunning shadows, set 'em far from us; Draw 'em but near, they're gross, and they abuse us : [ture, They that observe her close shall find her naWhich, I doubt mainly, will not prove so excellent. She is a princess, and she must be fair, And she must know it too, and the use of it, And people must believe it, they are damn'd else: [her. Why, all the neighbour princes are mad for Chris. Is she not fair then? Pin. But her hopes are fairer. And there's a haughty master, the king of Bakam, That lofty sir, that speaks farmore and louder, In his own commendations, than a cannon; He is strucken dumb with her. Pedro. Beshrew me, she is a sweet one. Pin. And there's that hopeful man of Sy ana, That sprightly fellow, he that's wise and temHe is a lover too. [perate, Chris. 'Would I were worth her looking! For, by my life, I hold her a complete one: The very sun, I think, affects her sweetness, And dares not, as he does to all else, dye it Into his tawny livery. Pin. She dares not see him, But keeps herself at distance from his kisses, And her complexion in a case3: let him but like it [a lion. A week 4, or two, or three, she would look like But the main sport on't is, or rather wonder, The governor of Ternata, her mortal enemy, He that has catch'd her brother-king, is struck too, And is arriv'd under safe conduct also, And hostages of worth deliver❜d for him; And he brought a letter from his prisoner 5, (Whether compell'd, or willingly deliver'd) From the poor king; or what else dare be in'tChris. So it be honourable, any thing, 'tis all one; For I dare think she'll do the best. Pin. 'Tis certain He has admittance, and solicits hourly. Now if we have the trick Pedro. What trick? Pin. The true one, [fowling, To take her too: if he be but skill'd in batAnd lime his bush right Chris. I'll be hang'd when that hits; For 'tis not a compell'd or forc'd affection That must take her: I guess her stout and virtuous. [tain, But where's your uncle, sir, our valiant capThe brave Ruy Dias, all this while? Pin. Ay, marry, I know not that; but sure he stands in fa 2 The French in courtship, or the dancing English.] If the English were as fond of dancing in the time of the Poets, as they are now, the common lection is right; otherwise I should chuse to read so, The French in courtship, dancing, or the English, &c. 3 And her complexion.] First folio and Sympson read, And wears her complexion, &c. Sympson. 4 Let him but like it, &c.] The editors of 1750 propose varying to, let him but lick it; or, let him but kiss it; or, let him but look on't: So, (says Sympson) in Solomon's Song: Look not upon me because I am black, because the Sun hath look'd upon me, 5 And he brought, &c.] I read and point the latter part of this speech thus: And he hath brought a letter from his prisoner, From the poor king: and what else be in't The addition of a monosyllable in the first line, and the change of the points, is required by the sense and the measure: The or in the third got there from the line above, and excluded the proper monosyllable. Seward. H'has H' has stolen at all hours from us, and how readily [well H' has feign'd a business to bid the fort fareFor five or six days, or a month together! Sure there is something Pin. Yes, yes, there's a thing in't, [after it, A thing would make the best on's all dance A dainty thing! Lord, how this uncle of mine Has read to me, and rated me for wenching, And told me in what desperate case 'twould leave me, And how 'twould stew my bones Pedro. You car'd not for it. [easily, Pin. I' faith, not much; I ventur'd on still And took my chance; danger's a soldier's honour. [Dias, But that this man, this herb of grace, Ruy This father of our faculties, should slip thus! (For sure he is a-ferreting) that he [rit, That would drink nothing, to depress the spiBut milk and water, eat nothing but thin air, To make his blood obedient; that his youth, In spite of all his temperance, should tickle, And have a love-mange on himChris. 'Tis in him, sir, [rank too. But honourable courtship, and becomes his Pin. In me it were abominable lechery, or would be; [their level, For when our thoughts are on't, and miss We must hit something. Pedro. Well, he's a noble gentleman; And, if he be a suitor, may he speed in't! Pin. Let him alone; our family ne'er fail'd yet. [niero. Chris. Our mad lieutenant still, merry PiThus would he do, if the surgeon were searching of him. [shot him. Pedro. Especially if a warm wench had Pin. But hark, Christophero; come hither, Pedro ; [sia, When saw you our brave countryman, ArmuHe that's arriv'd here lately, and his gallants? A goodly fellow, and a brave companion Methink he is, and no doubt truly valiant; For he that dares come hither dares fight any where. [tleman Chris. I saw him not of late. A sober genI'm sure he is; and no doubt bravely sprung, And promises much nobleness. Pin. I love hin, [him. And by my troth would fain be inward with Pray let's go seek him. Pedro. We'll attend you, sir. Pin. By that time, we shall hear the burst of business. [Exeunt. Enter Ruy Dias, Quisara, Quisana, and Pa And the fair liberty you still allow me, From the poor malice of opinion, And no ways bound to render up my actions, Because no power above me can examine me; Yet, my dear brother being still a prisoner, And many wandring eyes upon my ways, Being left alone a sea-mark, it behoves me To use a little caution, and be circumspect. Quisan. You're wise and noble, lady. Quisar. Often, aunt, It I resort hither, and privately to see you, [stru'd; Quisan. You speak most fairly; A poor and simple banquet I've provided, sence your pre[you instantly. Quisar. I thank you, aunt! I shall be with A few words with this gentleman! Quisan. I'll leave you; [you. And when you please retire, I'll wait upon [Exeunt Quisan, and Pan. Quisar. Why, how now, captain? what, afraid to speak to me? A man of arms, and daunted with a lady? Commanders have the power to parle with princes. [showr'd on me, Ruy. Madam, the favours you have still (Which are so bigh above my means of merit, So infinite, that nought can value 'em But their own goodness; no eyes look up to 'em But those that are of equal light and lustre)' Strike me thus mute! You are my royal mistress, And all my services, that aim at honour, you, Of such a royal piece?! a king I would be, A mighty king that might command affection 8, And bring a youth upon me might bewitch you, And you a sweet-soul'd Christian. command affection, Quisar, And bring a youth upon me might bewitch you.] To wish to bring a youth upon him, is an VOL. III. expression, |