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Talk'd in much fury, parted; when as soon
The lady vanish'd, after her the rest.
Aur. What follow'd?

Adur. My contrition on mine error;
In execution whereof I have prov'd
So punctually severe, that I renounce
All memory, not to this one fault alone,
But to my other greater, and more irksome.
Now he, whoever owns a name, that construes
This repetition the report of fear,

Of falsehood, or imposture, let him tell me
I give myself the lie, and I will clear
The injury, and man to man; or, if
Such justice may prove doubtful, two to two,
Or three to three, or any way reprieve
The opinion of my forfeit, without blemish.
Aur. Who can you think I am? did you expect
So great a tameness as you find, Adurni,
That you cast loud defiance? say-

Adur. I have robb'd you

Of rigour, Auria, by my strict self-penance
For the presumption.

Aur. Sure, Italians hardly

Admit dispute in questions of this nature;
The trick is new.

Adur. I find my absolution,

By vows of change from all ignoble practice.

Aur. Why, look ye, friend, I told you this before; You would not be persuaded:-let me think—

[Walks apart. Aurel. You do not yet deny that you solicited

The lady to ill purpose.

Adur. I have answer'd;

But it return'd much quiet to my mind,

Perplex'd with rare commotions.

Aur. That's the way;

It smooths all rubs.

Aurel. My lord!

Aur. Foh! I am thinking-
VOL. II.-7

You may talk forward.-If it take,' 't is clear;
And then-and then,-and so-and so-

Adur. You labour

With curious engines, sure.

Aur. Fine ones! I take you
To be a man of credit; else-
Adur. Suspicion

Is needless, know me better.
Aur. Yet you must not
Part from me, sir.

Adur. For that, your pleasure.
Aur. "Come,

Fight for thy wife at home, my Auria!"-Yes,
We can fight, my Spinella, when thine honour
Relies upon a champion.—

Now?

Trel. My lord,

Re-enter TRELCATIO.

Castanna, with her sister, and Malfato
Are newly enter'd.

Aur. Be not loud; convey them

Into the gallery.—Aurelio, friend,

Adurni, lord, we three will sit in council,

And piece a hearty league, or scuffle shrewdly. [Exeunt.

1 These musings of Auria will be better understood when the second scene of the fifth act comes under the perusal of the reader. It will then be seen that Auria, as a means of freeing every circumstance of jealousy and suspicion, is projecting a marriage between Adurni and Castanna.

ACT V. SCENE I.

A Room in the House of MARTINO.

Enter MARTINO, BENATZI, and LEVIDOLCHE.

Mart. Ruffian, out of my doors! thou com'st to rob me.

An officer! what, ho!-my house is haunted
By a lewd pack of thieves, of harlots, murderers,
Rogues, vagabonds! I foster a decoy here;
And she trowls on her ragged customer

To cut my throat for pillage.

Lev. Good sir, hear me.

Ben. Hear or not hear,-let him rave his lungs out -while this woman hath abode under this roof, I will justify myself her bedfellow in despite of denial; in despite those are my words.

Mart. Monstrous! why, sirrah, do I keep

An hospital for panders? Oh, thou monster,
Thou she-confusion! are you grown so rampant,
That from a private wanton, thou proclaim'st thy-
self

A baggage for all gamesters, lords or gentlemen,
Strangers or homespun yeomen, footposts, pages,
Roarers, or hangmen ?

Lev. This is my husband.

Mart. Husband!

Ben. Husband natural, I have married her; andwhat's your verdict on the match, signor?

Mart. Husband, and married her!

Lev. Indeed, 't is truth.

Mart. A proper joining! give ye joy, great mis

tress;

Your fortunes are advanced, marry are they

What jointure is assured, pray? some three thou

sand

A-year in oaths and vermin? fair preferment!

Was ever such a tatter'd rag of man's flesh,
Patch'd up for copesmate to my niece's daughter!
Lev. Sir, for my mother's name forbear this

anger;

If I have yoked myself beneath your wishes,
Yet is my choice a lawful one: and I

Will live as truly chaste unto his bosom,
As e'er my faith hath bound me.
Mart. A sweet couple!

Ben. We are so: for mine own part, however my outside appear ungay, I have wrestled with death, signor Martino, to preserve your sleeps, and such as you are, untroubled. A soldier is in peace a mockery, a very town-bull for laughter; unthrifts, and landed babies are prey curmudgeons lay their baits for. Let the wars rattle about your ears once, and the security of a soldier is right honourable among ye then; that day may shine again. So to my business.

Mart. A soldier! thou a soldier!

A villanous poor banditti rather; one that
Can cant, pad for a cloak, and, in the dark,
Pistol a straggler for a quarter-ducat.
A soldier! yes, he looks as if he had not
The spirit of a herring, or a tumbler.'

Ben. Let age and dotage rage together! Levidolche, thou art mine; on what conditions, the world shall soon witness: yet since our hands join'd, I have not interessed my possession of thy bed; nor till I have accounted to thy injunction, do I mean: kiss me quick, and resolute, so!-adieu, signor!

1

Lev. Dear, for love's sake, stay.

greyhound.

-or a tumbler.] A species of hound, a mongrel

2 Johnson considers this word as synonymous with interest, but in some of the examples which he gives, and in many others which might be produced, it seems to convey an idea of a more intimate connexion than is usually understood by that term; somewhat, for instance, like implicate, involve, inweave, &c.-GIFFORD.

Ben. Forbear entreaties.

[Exit.

Mart. Ah, thou-but what? I know not how to

call thee:

Fain would I smother grief, but out it must;
My heart is broke: thou hast for many a day
Been at a loss, and now art lost for ever;
Lost, lost, without recovery.

Lev. With pardon,

Let me restrain your sorrows.
Mart. "T is impossible;

Despair of rising up to honest fame

Turns all the courses wild, and this last action
Will roar thy infamy.-Then you are certainly
Married, forsooth, unto this new-come?

Lev. Yes,

And herein every hope is brought to life,
Which long hath lain in deadness; I have once

more

Wedded Benatzi, my divorced husband.
Mart. Benatzi! this the man?

Lev. No odd disguise

Could guard him from discovery, 't is he,
The choice of my ambition; Heaven preserve me
Thankful for such a bounty! yet he dreams not
Of this deceit; but let me die in speaking,
If I repute not my success more happy
Than any earthly blessing. Oh! sweet uncle,
Rejoice with me; I am a faithful convert,
And will redeem the stains of a foul name,
By love and true obedience.

Mart. Force of passion

Shows me a child again. Do, Levidolche,
Perform thy resolutions; those perform❜d,
I have been only steward for your welfare,
You shall have all between ye.

Lev. Join with me, sir;

Our plot requires much speed; we must be ear

nest.

I'll tell you what conditions threaten danger,

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