And he (with grief I speak it) hath, I fear,
Too much besotted my unhappy daughter,
My poor Colona; whom, for kindred's sake,
As you are noble, as you honour virtue,
Persuade to love herself: a word from you
May win her more than my intreats or frowns.
Fern. Uncle, I'll do my best; mean time, pray
tell me,

Whose mediation wrought the marriage

Betwixt the duke and duchess, who was agent? Pet. His roving eye and her enchanting face, The only dower nature had ordained.

T' advance her to her bride-bed. She was daugh

ter

Unto a gentleman of Milàn-no better

Preferr'd to serve i' th' Duke of Milan's court;
Where for her beauty she was greatly famed:
And passing late from thence to Monaco,
To visit there her uncle, Paul Baglione,

The abbot, Fortune (queen to such blind matches)
Presents her to the duke's eye, on the way,

As he pursues the deer: in short, my lord, He saw her, lov'd her, woo'd her, won her, match'd her;*

No counsel could divert him.

Fern. She is fair.

2 In short, my lord,

He saw her, lov'd her, &c.] The duke is "

a thriving wooer."

In this rapid abstract of his success, the poet seems to have had another bold and fortunate adventurer in view.

Mars videt hanc, visamque cupit, potiturque cupita.

Pet. She is; and, to speak truth, I think right

noble

In her conditions.

Fern. If, when I should choose,

Beauty and virtue were the fee proposed,

I should not pass for parentage.

Pet. The duke

Doth come.

Fern. Let's break off talk: if ever, now, Good angel of my soul, protect my truth! [Aside.

Enter the DUKE, BIANCA, FIORMONDA, NIBRASSA, FERENTES, JULIA, and D'AVOLOS.

Duke. Come, my Bianca, revel in mine arms; Whilst I, wrapt in my admiration, view Lilies and roses growing in thy cheeks. Fernando! oh, thou half myself! no joy Could make my pleasures full without thy pre

sence:

I am a monarch of felicity,

Proud in a pair of jewels, rich and beautiful;
A perfect friend, a wife above compare.

Fern. Sir, if a man so low in rank may hope,

By loyal duty and devoted zeal,

To hold a correspondency in friendship
With one so mighty as the Duke of Pavy,
My uttermost ambition is to climb

To those deserts may give the stile of servant.

Duke. Of partner in my dukedom, in my heart, As freely as the privilege of blood

Hath made them mine ;-Philippo and Fernando

Shall be without distinction. Look, Bianca,
On this good man; in all respects to him
Be as to me: only the name of husband,
And reverent observance of our bed,
Shall differ us in persons, else in soul
We are all one.

Bian. I shall, in best of love,

Regard the bosom-partner of my lord.
Fior. Ferentes.

Fer. Madam?

[Aside to FER.

Fior. You are one loves courtship;

He hath some change of words, 'twere no lost la

bour

To stuff your table-books;' the man speaks wisely! Fer. I am glad your highness is so pleasant. Duke. Sister!

Fior. My lord and brother.

Duke. You are too silent,

Quicken your sad remembrance:* though the loss
Of your dead husband be of more account
Than slight neglect, yet 'tis a sin against
The state of princes, to exceed a mean
In mourning for the dead.

Fior. Should form, my lord,

Prevail above affection? no, it cannot.
You have yourself here a right noble duchess,

3 To stuff your table-books.] i. e. to set down in your memorandum, or pocket book. She speaks ironically, and affects to characterize Fernando as a ready talker, a mere man of words. It is in this sense that Ferentes understands her.

+ Quicken your sad remembrance.] i. e. Enliven your melancholy recollections by the admission of pleasanter thoughts

C C

Virtuous at least, and should your grace now pay, Which heaven forbid! the debt you owe to nature, I dare presume, she'd not so soon forget

A prince that thus advanced her.-Madam, could

you?

D'Av. Bitter and shrewd.

[Aside.

Bian. Sister, I should too much bewray my weakness,

To give a resolution' on a passion

I never felt nor fear'd.

Nib. A modest answer.

Fern. If credit may be given to a face, My lord, I'll undertake on her behalf; Her words are trusty heralds to her mind. Fior. (aside to D'Av.) Exceeding good; the man will" undertake!"

Observe it, D'Avolos.

D'Av. Lady, I do;

'Tis a smooth praise.

Duke. Friend, in thy judgment I approve thy
love,

And love thee better for thy judging mine.
Though my gray-headed senate, in the laws
Of strict opinion and severe dispute,
Would tie the limits of our free affects,"

I should bewray my weakness,

To give a resolution (to speak decisively) on a passion

I never felt nor fear'd.] i. e. ingratitude. It is well answered: -" but she'll keep her word!"

6 Would tie the limits of our free affects.] i. e. affections. So, in the Case is Alter'd,

"Rachel, I hope I shall not need to urge

The sacred purity of our affects."

And see Jonson, vol. ii. p. 281.

(Like superstitious Jews, to match with none But in a tribe of princes like ourselves,)

Gross nurtur'd slaves, who force their wretched souls

To crouch to profit; nay, for trash and wealth,
Dote on some crooked or misshapen form;
Hugging wise nature's lame deformity,
Begetting creatures ugly as themselves :--
But why should princes do so, that command
The storehouse of the earth's hid minerals ?-
No, my Bianca, thou art to me as dear

As if thy portion had been Europe's riches;
Since in thine eyes lies more than these are worth.
Set on; they shall be strangers to my heart,
That envy thee thy fortunes.-Come, Fernando,
My but divided self; what we have done
We are only debtor to heaven for.-On!

Fior. (aside to D'Av.) Now take thy time, or never, D'Avolos;

Prevail, and I will raise thee high in grace.
D'Av. Madam, I will omit no art.

[Exeunt all but D'Av. who recals FERN. My honour'd lord Fernando!

Fern. To me, sir?

D'Av. Let me beseech your lordship to excuse me in the nobleness of your wisdom, if I exceed good manners: I am one, my lord, who, in the admiration of your perfect virtues, do so truly honour and reverence your deserts, that there is not a creature bears life, shall more faithfully study to do you service in all offices of duty, and vows of due respect.