THE LADY'S TRIAL. ACT I. SCENE I. A Room in the House of AURIA. Enter PIERO and FUTELLI, at opposite doors. Piero. ACCOMPLISHED man of fashion! Fut. The times' wonder! Gallant of gallants, Genoa's Piero! Piero. Italy's darling, Europe's joy, and so forth! The newest news? unvamp'd?1 Fut. I am no footpost, No pedler of avisos, no monopolist Of forged corantos, monger of gazettes. Piero. But, in pure earnest now, my fine Futelli, How trowls the common noise? Fut. Auria, who lately Wedded and bedded to the fair Spinella, Tired with the enjoyments of delights, is hasting Of the great duke of Florence. Piero. Blockhead! To run from such an armful of pleasures, Fut. Wicked, Shameful, and cowardly, I will maintain. 1 The newest news? unvamp'd?] i. e. fresh, genuine, not patched up. -GIFFORD. VOL. II.-2 Piero. Is all my signor's hospitality, Huge banquetings, deep revels, costly trappings, Fut. Hold thy peace, man; It makes for us:-he comes, let's part demurely. [They take different sides. Enter ADURNI and AURIA. Adur. We wish thee, honour'd Auria, life and safety; Return crown'd with a victory, whose wreath Aur. My lord, I shall not live to thrive in any action Piero. I present you My service for a farewell; let few words Fut. For my own part, Kill or be kill'd (for there's the short and long on 't), Call me your shadow's hench-boy.1 Aur. Gentlemen, My business, urging on a present haste, Enforceth short reply. Adur. We dare not hinder Your resolution wing'd with thoughts so constant. All happiness! Piero and Fut. Contents! [Exeunt ADURNI, PIERO, and FUTELLI. Aur. So leave the winter'd people of the north, The minutes of their summer, when the sun Departing leaves them in cold robes of ice, As I leave Genoa. 1 Call me your shadow's hench-boy.] A common expression in our old writers for a page; a state attendant on court or municipal officers. -GIFFORD. Enter TRELCATIO, SPINELLA, and Castanna. Now appears the object Of my apprenticed heart: thou bring'st, Spinella, Such will our next embraces be, for life; Will force our sleeps to steal upon our stories. Trel. I dare promise My husbanding that trust with truth and care. Aur. Gentle Castanna, thou 'rt a branch of goodness Grown on the self-same stock with my Spinella.But why, my dear, hast thou lock'd up thy speech [To Spin. In so much silent sadness? Oh! at parting, Belike one private whisper must be sigh'd.Uncle, the best of peace enrich your family! I take my leave. Trel. Blessings and health preserve you! [Exit. Aur. Nay, nay, Castanna, you may hear our counsels; A while you are design'd your sister's husband. 1 And then to take the wreck of our divisions,] i. e. to enjoy the rem nant of time which our separations have left us.-GIFFORD. Spi. What friend have I left in your absence? Thy virtues are such friends they cannot fail thee; Faith, purity of thoughts, and such a meekness Spi. Admit, sir, The patent of your life should be call'd in: I urge no pressures by the scorn of change; Cast. And such conclusion, sister, Argues effects of a distrust more voluntary, Aur. "Tis truth, Castanna. Spi. I grant it truth; yet, Auría, I'm a woman, And therefore apt to fear: to show my duty, And not to take heart from you, I'll walk from you At your command, and not so much as trouble Your thought with one poor looking back. My worthy wife! Before we kiss, receive This caution from thine Auria: first-Castanna, Let us bid farewell. Spi. Speak, good, speak. Aur. The steps [CAST. walks aside. Young ladies tread, left to their own discretion, And construed as the lookers-on presume: As thine own jealousies from others' tongues Not to procure health, but for safe prevention Some1 widowed neglect of handsome value : Spi. Dear heaven! go, sister, go. [Exeunt SPINELLA and CASTAnna. Aur. Done bravely, And like the choice of glory, to know mine One of earth's best I have forgone Enter AURELIO. See, see! Yet in another I am rich, a friend, A perfect one, Aurelio. Aurel. Had I been No stranger to your bosom, sir, ere now, Aur. So the wrongs I should have ventured on against thy fate 1 In plainer language-"Do not appear abroad so particularly dressed as to invite attention, and prompt the gazer's eye, or voice (clamorous voice, if the reader pleases) to report (to prattle of) a handsome woman apparently neglected by her husband."-GIFFORD. |