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call the greatest lord in the court by, if he be no wiser than he.

Gia. Oh my lord, what an arrant excellent pretty creature 'tis! come, honey, honey, honey,

come.

Fer. You are beholding to my lord Fernando for this gift.

Maur. True; oh, that he could but speak methodically! Canst speak, fool?

Ros. Can speak; de e e e e

Fer. 'Tis a present for an emperor. What an excellent instrument were this to purchase a suit, or a monopoly from the duke's ear!

Maur. I have it, I am wise and fortunate. Giacopo, I will leave all conceits, and instead of my picture, offer the lady marquess this mortal man of weak brain.

Gia. My lord, you have most rarely bethought you; for so shall she no oftener see the fool, but she shall remember you better than by a thousand looking-glasses.

Fer. She will most graciously entertain it.

Maur. I may tell you, Ferentes, there's not a great woman amongst forty, but knows how to make sport with a fool.-Dost know how old thou art, sirrah?

Ros. Dud-a clap cheek for nowne sake, gaffer; hee e e e e.

Fer. Alas, you must ask him no questions, but clap him on the cheek; I understand his language: your fool is the tender-hearted'st creature that is.

Enter FIORMONDA and D'AVOLOS, in close conver

sation.

Fior. No more, thou hast, in this discovery, Exceeded all my favours, D'Avolos.

Is't mistress madam duchess? brave revenge.

D'Av. But had your grace seen the infinite appetite of lust in the piercing adultery of his eye, you would

Fior. Or change him, or confound him :-prompt dissembler!

Is here the bond of his religious vow?

And that, "now when the duke is rid abroad,
My gentleman will stay behind, is sick-or so"?
D'Av. "Not altogether in health"; it was the
excuse he made.

Maur. [seeing them.] Most fit opportunity! her grace comes just i'th' nick; let me study. Fer. Lose no time, my lord.

Gia. To her, sir.

Maur. Vouchsafe to stay thy foot, most Cynthian hue,

And from a creature, ever vow'd thy servant, Accept this gift; most rare, most fine, most new, The earnest-penny of a love so fervent.

Fior. What means the jolly youth?

Maur. Nothing, sweet princess, but only to present your grace with this sweet-faced fool; please you to accept him to make you merry: I'll assure your grace he is a very wholesome fool.

Fior. A fool! you might as well have given yourself.

Whence is he?

Maur. Now, just very now, given me out of special favour, by the lord Fernando, madam. Fior. By him? well, I accept him; thank you for❜t;

And, in requital, take that tooth-picker;

'Tis yours.

Maur. A tooth-picker! I kiss your bounty: no quibble now?-And, madam,

If I grow sick, to make my spirits quicker,

I will revive them with this sweet tooth-picker. Fior. Make use on't as you list; here, D'Avolos, Take in the fool.

D'Av. Come, sweetheart, wilt along with me? Ros. U u umh,-u u umh,-wonnot, wonnot-u u umh.

Fior. Wilt go with me, chick?

Ros. Will go, te e e-go will go

Fior. Come, D'Avolos, observe to-night; 'tis

late:

Or I will win my choice, or curse my fate.

[Exeunt FIOR. Ros. and D'Av. Fer. This was wisely done now. S'foot, you

purchase a favour from a creature, my lord, the greatest king of the earth would be proud of. Maur. Giacopo !

Gia. My lord.

Maur. Come behind me, Giacopo; I am big with conceit, and must be delivered of poetry, in

the eternal commendation of this gracious toothpicker:-but, first, I hold it a most healthy policy to make a slight supper

For meat's the food that must preserve our lives,

And now's the time when mortals whet their knives-
On thresholds, shoe-soles, cart-wheels, &c. Away,
Giacopo.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The Palace.-The Duchess's Apartment. Enter COLONA with lights, BIANCA, FIORMONDA, JULIA, FERNANDO, and D'AVOLOS; COLONA places the lights on a table, and sets down a chessboard.

Bian. 'Tis yet but early night, too soon to sleep; Sister, shall's have a mate at chess?

Fior. A mate!

No, madam, you are grown too hard for me;
My lord Fernando is a fitter match.

Bian. He's a well-practis'd gamester-well, I

care not

How cunning soe'er he be.-To pass an hour I'll try your skill, my lord: reach here the chessboard.

D'Av. Are you so apt to try his skill, madam duchess? Very good!

[Aside. Fern. I shall bewray too much my ignorance In striving with your highness; 'tis a game I lose at still, by oversight.

Bian. Well, well,

I fear you not; let's to't.

[FERNANDO and the Duchess play.

Fior. You need not, madam!

D'Av. [Aside to FIOR.] Marry needs she not; how gladly will she to't! 'tis a rook to a queen she heaves a pawn to a knight's place; by'r lady, if all be truly noted, to a duke's place ;* and that's beside the play, I can tell

ye.

Fior. Madam, I must entreat excuse; I feel The temper of my body not in case

To judge the strife.

Bian. Lights for our sister, sirs!

Good rest t'ye; I'll but end my game, and follow. Fior. [Aside to D'Av.] Let 'em have time enough; and, as thou canst,

Be near to hear their courtship, D'Avolos.

D'Av. Madam, I shall observe them with all cunning secrecy.

Bian. Colona, attend our sister to her chamber. Col. I shall, madam

[Exit FIOR. followed by COL. JUL. and D'Av.

Bian. Play.

Fern. I must not lose the advantage of the

Madam, your queen is lost.

Bian. My clergy help me ;5

game;

4 To a duke's place; and that's beside the play, &c.] i. e. that's no part of the game; in other words, there is no piece of this name. The allusion is sufficiently clear.

5 My clergy help me.] i. e. my bishops-but those who understand the game do not need these modicums of information; and upon all others, they are thrown away.

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