Enter HIPPOLITA, followed by Ladies in white Robes with Garlands of Willows, all masked.

MUSIC AND A DANCE.

Sor. Thanks, lovely virgins! now might we but know

To whom we have been beholding for [this] love, We shall acknowledge it.

Hip. Yes, you shall know :

What think you now?

Omnes. Hippolita !

Hip. 'Tis she;

[Unmasks.

Be not amaz'd; nor blush, young lovely bride,
I come not to defraud you of your man:

'Tis now no time to reckon up the talk
What Parma long hath rumour'd of us both;
Let rash report run on! the breath that vents it
Will, like a bubble, break itself at last.

But now to you, sweet creature;-lend your hand

lord;

Perhaps it hath been said, that I would claim
Some interest in Soranzo, now your
What I have right to do, his soul knows best:
But in my duty to your noble worth,
Sweet Annabella, and my care of you,
Here, take, Soranzo, take this hand from me,
I'll once more join, what by the holy church
Is finished and allow'd.-Have I done well?
Sor. You have too much engaged us.

Hip. One thing more.

That you may know my single charity,*

Freely I here remit all interest

I e'er could claim, and give you back your vows; And to confirm❜t,-reach me a cup of wine

[VAS. gives her a poisoned cup.

My lord Soranzo, in this draught I drink

Long rest t'ye!-(she drinks)—look to it, Vasques.

Vas. Fear nothing

[Aside.

Sor. Hippolita, I thank you; and will pledge This happy union as another life.

Wine, there!

Vas. You shall have none; neither shall you pledge her.

Hip. How!

Vas. Know now, mistress she-devil, your own mischievous treachery hath kill'd you; I must not marry you.

Hip. Villain!

Omnes. What's the matter?

Vas. Foolish woman, thou art now like a firebrand, that hath kindled others and burnt thyself:-troppo sperar, inganna,-thy vain hope hath deceived thee; thou art but dead; if thou hast any grace, pray.

Hip. Monster!

Vas. Die in charity, for shame.-This thing of

My single charity.] i. e. pure, genuine, disinterested charity.

malicè, this woman, hath privately corrupted me with promise of [marriage,] under this politic reconciliation, to poison my lord, whilst she might laugh at his confusion on his marriage-day. I promised her fair; but I knew what my reward should have been, and would willingly have spared her life, but that I was acquainted with the danger of her disposition; and now have fitted her a just payment in her own coin: there she is, she hath yet3 —— and end thy days in peace, vilę woman; as for life, there's no hope, think not on't.

Omnes. Wonderful justice!

Rich. Heaven, thou art righteous.

Hip. O'tis true,

I feel my minute coming. Had that slave
Kept promise, O my torment!-thou, this hour,
Hadst dy'd, Soranzo-heat above hell-fire !—
Yet, ere I pass away-cruel, cruel flames !—
Take here my curse amongst you; may thy bed
Of marriage be a rack unto thy heart,

Burn blood, and boil in vengeance-O my heart,
My flame's intolerable-may'st thou live
To father bastards; may her womb bring forth
Monsters-and die together in your sins,

Hated, scorn'd, and unpitied!-oh-oh- [Dies.
Flo. Was e'er so vile a creature!

3 She hath yet.] The old copy has a considerable double break here, probably from some defect in the M.S.

Rich. Here's the end

Of lust and pride.

Ann. It is a fearful sight.

Sor. Vasques, I know thee now a trusty servant,

And never will forget thee.Come, my love, We'll home, and thank the heavens for this escape. Father and friends, we must break up this mirth; It is too sad a feast.

Don. Bear hence the body.

Friar. [aside to GIO.] Here's an ominous change! Mark this, my Giovanni, and take heed!— I fear the event; that marriage seldom's good, Where the bride-banquet so begins in blood.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.*

A Room in RICHARDETTO's House.

Enter RICHARDETTO and PHILOTIS.

Rich. My wretched wife, more wretched in her shame

Than in her wrongs to me, hath paid too soon

* Scene II.] As the play is now divided, this conversation takes place on the way home from the marriage-feast, or immediately after it; and, in either case, before Richardetto could have heard a word of what he informs his niece

Debates already 'twixt his wife and him

Thicken and run to head; she, as 'tis said,
Slightens his love, and he abandons hers:
Much talk I hear.]

Enough, and more than enough of improbability would perhaps

The forfeit of her modesty and life.

And I am sure, my niece, though vengeance hover,
Keeping aloof yet from Soranzo's fall,

Yet he will fall, and sink with his own weight.
I need not now (my heart persuades me so,)
To further his confusion; there is One
Above begins to work; for, as I hear,
Debates already 'twixt his wife and him
Thicken and run to head; she, as 'tis said,
Slightens his love, and he abandons her's:
Much talk I hear. Since things go thus, my

niece,

In tender love and pity of your youth,

My counsel is, that you should free your years
From hazard of these woes, by flying hence
To fair Cremona, there to vow your soul
In holiness, a holy votaress;

Leave me to see the end of these extremes.
All human worldly courses are uneven,
No life is blessed but the way to heaven.
Phi. Uncle, shall I resolve to be a nun?
Rich. Ay, gentle niece; and in your hourly

prayers

Remember me, your poor unhappy uncle.

Hie to Cremona now, as fortune leads,

Your home your cloister, your best friends your beads;

remain, were even the arrangement recommended in a former page to take place; but the most glaring part of it would certainly be removed or weakened by the change.