Tell him that I, imprison'd in my chamber,
Barr'd of all company, even of my guardian,
(Which gives me cause of much suspect) have
time

To blush at what hath past; bid him be wise,
And not believe the friendship of my lord;

I fear much more than I can speak: good father,
The place is dangerous, and spies are busy.
I must break off.—you'll do't?

Friar. Be sure I will,

And fly with speed:

-my blessing ever rest

With thee, my daughter; live, to die more blest!

[Exit.

Ann. Thanks to the heavens, who have pro

long'd my breath

To this good use! now I can welcome death.

[Withdraws from the window.

SCENE II.

Another Room in the same.

Enter SORANZO and VASQUES.

Vas. Am I to be believed now? first, marry a strumpet that cast herself away upon you but to laugh at your horns! to feast on your disgrace, riot in your vexations, cuckold you in your bridebed, waste your estate upon panders and bawds!Sor. No more, I say, no more.

Vas. A cuckold is a goodly tame beast, my lord!

Sor. I am resolv'd; urge not another word;
My thoughts are great, and all as resolute
As thunder; in mean time, I'll cause our lady
To deck herself in all her bridal robes;

Kiss her, and fold her gently in my arms.
Begone-yet hear you, are the banditti ready
To wait in ambush ?

Vas. Good sir, trouble not yourself about other business than your own resolution; remember that time lost cannot be recalled.

Sor. With all the cunning words thou canst, invite

The states of Parma to my birth-day's feast:
Haste to my brother-rival and his father,
Entreat them gently, bid them not to fail;
Be speedy, and return.

Vas. Let not your pity betray you, till my coming back; think upon incest and cuckoldry. Sor. Revenge is all the ambition I aspire, To that I'll climb or fall; my blood's on fire. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A Room in FLORIO's House.

Enter GIOVANNI.

Gio. Busy opinion is an idle fool, That, as a school-rod keeps a child in awe, Frights th' unexperienced temper of the mind: So did it me; who, ere my precious sister Was married, thought all taste of love would die

In such a contract; but I find no change
Of pleasure in this formal law of sports.
She is still one to me, and every kiss
As sweet and as delicious as the first

I reap'd, when yet the privilege of youth
Entitled her a virgin. O the glory

Of two united hearts like hers and mine!
Let poring book-men dream of other worlds;
My world, and all of happiness, is here,
And I'd not change it for the best to come:
A life of pleasure is Elysium.

Enter FRIAR.

Father, you enter on the jubilee

Of my retired delights; now I can tell you, The hell you oft have prompted, is nought else But slavish and fond superstitious fear;

And I could prove it too

Friar. Thy blindness slays thee:

Look there, 'tis writ to thee. [Gives him the letter. Gio. From whom?

Friar. Unrip the seals and see;

The blood's yet seething hot, that will anon
Be frozen harder than congealed coral.-
Why d'ye change colour, son?

Gio. 'Fore heaven, you make
Some petty devil factor 'twixt my love.
And your religion-masked sorceries.
Where had you this?

Friar. Thy conscience, youth, is sear'd,
Else thou would'st stoop to warning.

Gio. "Tis her hand,

I know't; and 'tis all written in her blood.
She writes I know not what. Death! I'll not

fear

An armed thunderbolt aim'd at my heart.
She writes, we are discover'd-pox on dreams
Of low faint-hearted cowardice!-discover'd?
The devil we are! which way is't possible?
Are we grown traitors to our own delights?
Confusion take such dotage! 'tis but forged;
This is your peevish chattering, weak old man!--
Now, sir, what news bring you?

Enter VASQUES.

Vas. My lord, according to his yearly custom, keeping this day a feast in honour of his birthday, by me invites you thither. Your worthy father, with the pope's reverend nuncio, and other magnificoes of Parma, have promised their presence; will't please you to be of the number? Gio. Yes, tell [him] I dare come.

Vas. Dare come?

Gio. So I said; and tell him more, I will come. Vas. These words are strange to me.

Gio. Say, I will come.

Vas. You will not miss?

Gio. Yet more! I'll come, sir.

swered?

Are you an

Vas. So I'll say--my service to you. [Exit. Friar. You will not go, I trust.

Gio. Not go! for what?

Friar. O, do not go; this feast, I'll gage my

life,

Is but a plot to train you to your ruin;
Be ruled, you shall not go.

Gio. Not go! stood death

Threatening his armies of confounding plagues,
With hosts of dangers hot as blazing stars,
I would be there; not go! yes, and resolve
To strike as deep in slaughter as they all;
For I will go.

Friar. Go where thou wilt ;--I see
The wildness of thy fate draws to an end,
To a bad fearful end :-I must not stay
To know thy fall; back to Bononia I

With speed will haste, and shun this coming blow.
Parma, farewell; would I had never known thee,
Or aught of thine! Well, young man, since no

prayer

Can make thee safe, I leave thee to despair. [Exit.
Gio. Despair, or tortures of a thousand hells,
All's one to me; I have set up my rest.
Now, now, work serious thoughts on baneful
plots;

Be all a man, my soul; let not the curse
Of old prescription rend from me the gall
Of courage, which enrolls a glorious death:

4 I have set up my rest.] i. e. I have made my determination; taken my fixed and final resolution.--See Jonson, vol. ii. p. 142.