Against a party liable to law !
For had that lord offended with that creature,
Her presence would have doubled every strength
Of man in him, and justified the forfeit
Of noble shame; else 't was enough in both
With a smile only to correct your rudeness.
Aurel. ”T is well you make such use of neighbours'

courtesy : Some kind of beasts are tame, and hug their in

juries: Such way leads to fame too!

Aur. Not uncivilly, Though violently, friend.

Aurel. Wherefore, then, think you, Can she absent herself, if she be blameless ? You grant, of course, your triumphs are pro

claim'd; And I in person told her your return: Where lies she hid the while ?

Aur. That rests for answer In you; now I come to you: we have exchanged Bosoms, Aurelio, from our years of childhood; Let me acknowledge with what pride I own A man so faithful, honest, fast, my friend; He who, if I speak fully, never fail'd, By teaching trust to me, to learn of mine: I wish'd myself thine equal; if I aim'd Awrong, 't was in an envy of thy goodness; So dearly (witness with me my integrity) I laid thee up to heart, that, from my love, My wife was but distinguish'd in her sex: Give back that holy signature of friendship, Cancell'd, defaced, pluck'd off, or I shall urge Accounts, scored on the tally of my vengeance, Without all former compliments.

Aurel. D' you imagine

i Not uncivilly,

Though violently, friend,) i. e. do not use rude language, however warm you inay be. --GIFFORD.

I fawn upon your fortunes, or intrude
Upon the hope of bettering my estate,
That you cashier me at a minute's warning ?
No, Auria, I dare vie with your respects;
Put both into the balance, and the poise
Shall make a settled stand: perhaps the proffer,
So frankly vow'd at your departure first,
Of settling me a partner in your purchase,
Leads you into opinion of some ends
Of mercenary falsehood; yet such wrong
Least suits a noble soul.

Aur. By all my sorrows,
The mention is too coarse.

Aurel. Since then the occasion
Presents our discontinuance, use your liberty;
For my part, I am resolute to die
The same my life profess'd me.

Aur. Pish! your faith
Was never in suspicion; but consider,
Neither the lord, nor lady, nor yet that
Which shuffled them together, opportunity,
Have fasten'd stain on my unquestion'd name;
My friend's rash indiscretion was the bellows
Which blew the coal (now kindled to a flame)
Will light his slander to all wandering eyes.
Some men in giddy zeal o'erdo that office
They catch at, of whose number is Aurelio:
For I am certain, certain, it had been
Impossible, had you stood wisely silent,
But my Spinella, trembling on her knee,
Would have accused her breach of truth, and begg'd
A speedy execution on her trespass :
Then with a justice, lawful as the magistrate's,
Might I have drawn my sword against Adurni,
Which now is sheath'd and rusted in the scabbard,
Good thanks to your cheap providence !-Once
I make demand-my wife !-you,-sir-

[Draws his sword.

more

Aurel. Roår louder, The noise affrights not me; threaten your enemies, And prove a valiant tongue-man;-now must fol

low, By way of method, the exact condition of

rage which runs to mutiny in friendship. Auria, come on, this weapon looks not pale [Draws. At sight of that.—Again hear, and believe it, What I have done, was well done and well meant; Twenty times over, were it new to do, I'd do 't and do 't, and boast the pains religious ; Yet since you shake me off, I slightly value Other severity.

Aur. Honour and duty
Stand my compurgators: never did passion
Purpose ungentle usage of my sword
Against Aurelio; let me rather want
My hands, nay, friend, a heart, than ever suffer
Such dotage enter here. If I must lose
Spinella, let me not proceed to misery,
By losing my Aurelio: we, through madness,
Frame strange conceits in our discoursing brains,
And prate of things as we pretend they were.
Join help to mine, good man, and let us, listen
After this straying soul, and, till we find her,
Bear our discomfort quietly.

Aurel. So, doubtless,
She may be soon discovered.

Aur. That's spoke cheerfully.
Why there's a friend now !--Auria and Aurelio
At odds! oh! it cannot be, must not, and shall
not.

Enter CASTANNA. But look, Castanna's here!-welcome, fair figure of a choice jewel, lock'd up in a cabinet, More precious than the public view should sully. Cast. Sir, how you are inform’d, or on what

terms

Of prejudice against my course or custom,
Opinion sways your confidence, I know not.
Much anger, if my fears persuade not falsely,
Sits on this gentleman's stern brow; yet, sir,
If an unhappy maid's word may find credit,
As I wish harm to nobody on earth,
So would all good folks may wish none to me!

Aur. None does, sweet sister.

Cast. If they do, dear Heaven
Forgive them, is my prayer; but, perhaps,
You might conceive (and yet methinks you should

not)
How I am faulty in my sister's absence :
Indeed 't is nothing so, nor was I knowing
Of any private speech my lord intended,
Save civil entertainment: pray, what hurt
Can fall out in discourse, if it be modest ?
Sure noblemen will show that they are such
With those of their own rank ;—and that was all
My sister can be charged with.

Aur. Is 't not, friend,
An excellent maid ?

Aurel. Deserves the best of fortunes;
I ever spoke her virtuous.

Cast. With your leave,
You used most cruel language to my sister,
Enough to fright her wits; not very kind
To me myself: she sigh'd when you were gone,
Desired no creature else should follow her;
And, in good truth, I was so full of weeping,
I mark'd not well which way she went.

Aur. Staid she not
Within the house then ?

Cast. 'Las, not she !-Aurelio Was passing rough.

Aur. Strange! nowhere to be found ?

Cast. Not yet ; but on my life, ere many hours, I shall hear from her.

Aur. Shalt thou ? worthy maid,

Thou hast brought to my sick heart a cordial.

Friend,
Good news !--Most sweet Castanna!
Aurel. May it prove so.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A Street.

Enter BENATZI.
Ben. The paper in the purse for my directions
appointed this the place, the time now; here dance
I attendance-she is come already.

Enter LEVIDOLCHE.
Lev. Parado! so I overheard you named.

Ben. A mushroom, sprung up in a minute by the sunshine of your benevolent grace. Liberality and hospitable compassion, most magnificent beauty, have long since lain bedrid in the ashes of the old world, till now your illustrious charity hath raked up the dead embers, by giving life to a worm inevitably devoted yours, as you shall please to new-shape me.

Lev. Å grateful man, it seems. Where gratitude Has harbour, other furniture, becoming Accomplished qualities, must needs inhabit. [.Aside. What country claims your birth ?

Ben. None; I was born at sea, as my mother was in passage from Cape Ludugory to Cape Cagliari, towards Afric, in Sardinia; was bred up in Aquilastro, and at years put myself in service under the Spanish viceroy, till I was taken prisoner by the Turks. I have tasted in my days handsome store of good and bad, and am thankful for both.

| As my mother was in passage from Cape Ludugory to Cape Cagliari.) Benatzi is sufficiently correct in his geography. In our old maps of Sardinia, the northern division of the island is called Logudori, and the southern Cagliari.-GIFFORD.