Piero. Very fine, I do protest, my lord. Fut. Your lordship's ear Shall share i' the plot. Piero. You know, my lord, Young Amoretta, old Trelcatio's daughter; Fut. And, my good lord, He that is honest must be poor, my lord; Adur. Well,-Amoretta. Pray, one at once-my knowledge is not much Piero. Speak, Futelli. Fut. Spare me. Piero has the tongue more pregnant. Piero. Nay, nay. Adur. Well, keep your mirth, my dainty honeys; agree Some two days hence, till when Piero. By any means, Partake the sport, my lord; this thing of youth— Fut. Handsome enough, good face, quick eye, well bred. Piero. Is yet possess'd so strangely Fut. With a humour Of thinking she deserves Piero. A duke, a count, At least a viscount, for her husband, that— Fut. She scorns all mention of a match be neath One of the foresaid nobles; will not ride In a caroch without eight horses. Piero. Six She may be drawn to; four Fut. Are for the poor: But for two horses in a coach Piero. She says, They're not for creatures of Heaven's making; fitter Fut. Fitter for litters to convey hounds in, Walks evermore a-foot, and knows not whether Fut. But by hearsay. Adur. Stop, gentlemen, you run a gallop both; Are out of breath sure: 't is a kind of compli ment Scarce enter'd to the times; but certainly You coin a humour; let me understand Piero. In plain troth, My lord, the she whom we describe is such, Fut. Has refused suitors Of worthy rank, substantial and free parts, Guzman, the Spaniard late cashier'd, most gravely And him have we beleaguer'd to accost A gentleman out of a sutler's hut, In the late Flemish wars; we have resolv'd him He is descended from Pantagruel, Of famous memory, by the father's side, Adur. You must abuse the maid," Beyond amends. Fut. But countenance the course, My lord, and it may chance, besides the mirth, Her father's leave is granted, and thanks promised; Adur. I betray No secrets of such use. Piero and Fut. Your lordship's humblest. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Room in MALFATO's House. Enter AURELIO and MALFATO. Aurel. A melancholy, grounded, and resolv'd, Or deep impression of strong discontents. Upon whose faith and confidence we may Our souls of secret clogs, where they may find Mal. Let all this sense be yielded to. You measure what I say the common nature Mal. Not I, sir. 1 You must abuse the maid.] If must be not an error of the press for much, it is used here in the sense of-it cannot be but you abuse the maid beyond, &c.-GIFFORD. VOL. II.-3 Aurel. Or that other private ends Sift your retirements. Mal. Neither. Enter FUTELLI. Fut. Under favour, Signor Malfato, I am sent to crave Your leisure, for a word or two in private. Fut. This letter will inform ye. [Gives him the letter. Mal. Letter? how 's this? what's here? Fut. Speak you to me, sir? Mal. Brave riddle! I'll endeavour to unfold it: Fut. Sure in health, sir. Aurel. He is a noble gentleman, withal Mal. You know from whence this comes? Mal. D'ye laugh! But that I must consider such as spaniels To those who feed and clothe them, I would print [Throws him the letter. In aiming at the scandal of my blood; Aurel. Be wise, Malfato. Mal. Say, I know this false one. From poor Benatzi, senseless of the wrongз, Aurel. You range too wildly now, Are too much inconsiderate. A gentleman free born, I never wore The rags of any great man's looks, nor fed (Reward for long attendance), and then miss'd. This monstrous big word lord, and gentleman, I am sure more ancient. Aurel. Let me tell you, then, You are too bitter, talk you know not what. Mal. 'Tis so; and I have reason to be mad, The lord Adurni's pensioner, at least. Begone, Futelli, do not mince one syllable 1 -Aurelio, 1 [Exit. You are as I am, &c.] This expression, which is not uncommon in our old writers, means, "suppose you were,”-or rather, "put yourself -in my place," &c.-GIFFORD. |