Lev. But, withal, sure of hand and spirit? Ben. Yes, yes, yes. Lev. I use not many words, the time prevents 'em: A man of quality has robb'd mine honour. Ben. Name him. Lev. Adurni. Ben. He shall bleed. Lev. Malfato Contemn'd my proffered love. Ben. Yoke them in death.- Lev. Propose it, and enjoy it. Ben. Nothing else: deny me, And I'll betray your counsels to your ruin; Else do the feat courageously.-Consider. Lev. I do despatch the task I have enjoined, Then claim my promise. Ben. No such matter, pretty one, We'll marry first,-or-farewell. Lev. Stay examine [Going. From my confession what a plague thou draw'st Into thy bosom: though I blush to say it, Know, I have, without sense of shame or honour, Forsook a lawful marriage-bed, to dally Between Adurni's arms. Ben. This lord's? Lev. The same. More; not content with him, I courted Ben. Malfato? Lev. Right: Am henceforth resolutely bent to print My follies on their hearts; then change my life I do believe 't is possible you may mend: All this breaks off no bargain. Lev. Accept my hand; with this a faith as constant Lev. Meet here to-morrow night; Lev. Levidolche. Be confident, I bring a worthy portion.- 1 -then change my life For some rare penance.] It might almost be conjectured from this passage, that the author really had some Italian story before him. It is the genuine mode of repentance in that country. "Let me only commit a few more crimes, despatch a few more enemies, and I will then do some rare penance, and amend my life for good and all." It may seem somewhat extraordinary that Benatzi should not recognise his wife. She, it appears, had discovered him through all his disguises, his military rags and accoutrements, his false beard, &c., whereas he continues ignorant of her, though she meets him without any apparent effort at concealment, affects no change of language, or even of name, and resides with her uncle, with whom Benatzi must have been sufficiently familiar But there is the old plea-aliter non fit, Avite, liber! Otherwise, no plot.-GIFFORD. But was Benatzi really so ignorant as Mr. Gifford supposes him? Had not the author designed, for we can hardly say contrived, a double plot, by which the divorced pair should each have separate designs upon the other? What Levidolche's intentions were, are sufficiently apparent from her own language; and Benatzi's may without any great difficulty be inferred. The disguise which he assumes (for a soldier, with the distinguished part imputed to him by a victorious commander, [Act v. scene 2], should not necessarily be in rags), and the situation in which he is first found, at the door of Levidolche's uncle's house, evidently imply a design of becoming a spy upon the actions of his divorced wife, and of shaping his future course as circumstances might direct. A very few words put into the mouth of Benatzi, instead of the obscure intimation of Auria (p. 85), would with ease have made all this sufficiently clear: and these few words, we are almost persuaded, were to be found in the original draught of the drama; we say original draught, because so many obscurities pervade the printed copies, that we can scarcely believe them to have received the author's own personal correction and revision. See further the note at p. 85. [Exit. Ben. Not I, by all that 's noble ! A kiss-farewell, dear fate! Lev. Love is sharp-sighted, And can pierce through the cunning of disguises. False pleasures, I cashier ye; fair truth, welcome! [Exit. ACT IV. SCENE I. A Room in the House of MALFATO. Enter MALFATO and SPINELLA. Mal. Here you are safe, sad cousin; if you please, May over-say the circumstance of what You late discours'd: mine ears are gladly open, With solitary thoughts, that pensive language Spin. But my husband's honours, By how much more in him they sparkle clearly, The wreck and ruin of my injured name. Mal. Why, cousin, should the earth cleave to the roots, The seas and heavens be mingled in disorder, Might wait the uproar; 't is the guilty trembles Speak freely, gentle cousin, was Adurni Spin. In excess Of entertainment, else not. Mal. Not the boldness Of an uncivil courtship? Spin. What that meant, I never understood. I have at once And best of men; so excellent a man Mal. Yet put case, sweet cousin, That I could name a creature, whose affection Spin. Fortune's minions Are flatter'd, not the miserable. To a strange tale, which thus the author sigh'd. Her father's sister's son, some time before Of what his vain supposal styled his own; Of conscience, by the nearness of their bloods- Had any friend's advice resolv'd the doubt. Still on he loved, and loved, and wish'd, and wish'd; Eftsoon began to speak, yet soon broke off, And still the fondling durst not,-'cause he durst not. Spin. "T was wonderful. Mal. Exceeding wonderful. Beyond all wonder; yet 't is known for truth, His reason then,-now,-then-could not reduce VOL. II.-6 Spin. An understanding dull'd by the infelicity Of constant sorrow, is not apprehensive In pregnant novelty; my ears receive The words you utter, cousin, but my thoughts Mal. Can you Embrace, so like a darling, your own woes, To stand up in defence of injur'd virtue; Spin. Dear cousin, As you're a gentleman Mal. I'll bless that hand, Whose honourable pity seals the passport By noble love made jealous of her fame. Henceforth shall never syllable proceed Enter CASTANNA. Cast. Your summons warn'd me hither; I am come. Sister! my sister, 't was an unkind part, Not to take me along wi' you. Mal. Chide her for it; Castanna, this house is as freely yours As ever was your father's. Cast. We conceive so, Though your late strangeness hath bred marvel in us. |