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In best sense an adulteress ? so conceived
In all opinions, that I am shook off,

Ev'n from mine own blood, which, although I boast Not noble, yet 't was not mean; for Romanello, Mine only brother, shuns me, and abhors

To own me for his sister.

Fab. "T is confess'd,

I am the shame of mankind.
Flav. I live happy

In this great lord's love, now; but could his cunning
Have train'd me to dishonour, we had never
Been sunder'd by the temptation of his purchase.
In troth, Fabricio, I am little proud of

My unsought honours, and so far from triumph,
That I am not more fool to such as honour me,
Than to myself, who hate this antic carriage.1

Fab. You are an angel rather to be worshipp'd, Than grossly to be talk'd with.

Flav. [Gives him money.] Keep those ducats, I shall provide you better:-'t were a bravery, Could you forget the place wherein you've render'd Your name for ever hateful.

Fab. I will do 't,

Do't, excellentest goodness, and conclude
My days in silent sadness.

Flav. You may prosper

In Spain, in France, or elsewhere, as in Italy.
Besides, you are a scholar bred, however

You interrupted study with commérce.

I'll think of your supplies; meantime, pray, storm not

At my behaviour to you; I have forgot

Acquaintance with mine own-keep your first dis

tance.

Camillo! who is near? Vespucci !

[He draws back.

this antic carriage.] This childish and ridiculous affectation of levity; which she assumed, partly to humour the count, but chiefly, as she afterward says, to defeat the "lascivious villanies" of her. attendants, Camillo and Vespucci.-GIFFORD.

Enter JULIO, CAMILLO, and VESPUCCI.

Jul. What!

Our lady's last familiar?

Flav. Oh, I am sick, sick, sick

I faint at heart-kiss me, nay, prithee, quickly,

[To JUL.

Or I shall swoon.

You've staid a sweet while

from me.

And this companion too-beshrew him!

Jul. Dearest,

Thou art my health, my blessing:-turn the bankrupt Out of my doors!-sirrah, I'll have thee whipp'd,

If thou com'st here again.

Cam. Hence, hence, you vermin!

Jul. How is 't, my best of joys?

Flav. Prettily mended,

[Exit FAB.

Now we have our own lord here; I shall never

Endure to spare you long out of my sight.

See, what the thing presented. [Gives him the paper. Jul. A petition,

Belike, for some new charity?

Flav. We must not

Be troubled with his needs; a wanting creature

Is monstrous, is as ominous-fy upon 't!

Despatch the silly mushroom once for all,

And send him with some pittance out o' the country, Where we may hear no more of him.

Jul. Thy will

Shall stand a law, my matchless pleasure;

No life is sweet without thee: in my heart

Reign empress, and be styled thy Julio's sovereign, My only, precious dear.

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

An Apartment in JULIO's House.

Enter VESPUCCI and CAMILLO.

Ves. Come, thou art caught, Camillo.
Cam. Away, away,

That were a jest indeed; I caught?
Ves. The lady

Does scatter glances, wheels her round, and smiles;
Steals an occasion to ask how the minutes

Each hour have run in progress; then thou kissest
All thy four fingers, crouchest and sigh'st faintly,
"Dear beauty, if my watch keep fair decorum,
Three-quarters have near past the figure X;"
Or as the time of day goes-

Cam. So, Vespucci !

This will not do, I read it on thy forehead,
The grain of thy complexion is quite alter'd;
Once 't was a comely brown, 't is now of late
A perfect green and yellow; sure prognosticates
Of th' overflux o' the gall, and melancholy,
Symptoms of love and jealousy.

Ves. She loves thee;

Dotes on thee; in my hearing told her lord
Camillo was the Pyramus and Thisbe

Of courtship, and of compliment :-ah, ah!

She nick'd it there!-I envy not thy fortunes;

For, to say truth, thou 'rt handsome, and deserv'st

her,

Were she as great again as she is.

Cam. I handsome?

Alas, alas, a creature of Heaven's making,

There's all! But, sirrah, prithee, let's be sociable; I do confess, I think the goody-madam

May possibly be compass'd.

Ves. A pretty toy 'tis.

Cam. Let us consider

She's but a merchant's leavings.

Ves. Hatch'd i' the country,

And fledged i' the city. Thus, then;

When I am absent, use the gentlest memory
Of my endowments, my unblemish'd services
To ladies' favours; with what faith and secrecy
I live in her commands, whose special courtesies
Oblige me to particular engagements:

I'll do as much for thee.

Cam. With this addition,

Camillo, best of fairs, a man so bashful,
So simply harmless, and withal so constant,
Yet resolute in all true rights of honour;
That to deliver him in perfect character,
Were to detract from such a solid virtue
As reigns not in another soul; he is-

Ves. The thing a mistress ought to wish her servant.

Are we agreed?

Cam. Most readily. On t' other side,

Unto the lord her husband, talk as coarsely
Of one another as we can.

Ves. I like it;

So shall we sift her love, and his opinion.

Enter JULIO, FLAVIA, and FABRICIO.

Jul. Be thankful, fellow, to a noble mistress; Two hundred ducats are no trifling sum,

Nor common alms.

Flav. You must not loiter lazily.

And speak about the town,' my friend, in taverns, In gaming-houses; nor sneak after dinner

To public shows, to interludes, in riot,

To some lewd painted baggage, trick'd up gaudily, Like one of us-oh, fy upon them giblets!

1 And speak about the town, &c.] "Gaming-houses" were not much noted in Ford's days for the resort of idle praters." I suspect that the poet's word was lurh.-GIFFORD.

I have been told they ride in coaches, flaunt it
In braveries, so rich, that 't is scarce possible
To distinguish one of these vile naughty packs
From true and arrant ladies; they 'll inveigle
Your substance and your body:-think on that,-
I say, your body; look to 't.-

Is 't not sound counsel ?

Jul. "T is more; 't is heavenly.

[Turns to JUL.

Ves. What hope, Camillo, now, if this tune hold? Cam. Hope fair enough, Vespucci, now as ever; Why any woman in her husband's presence Can say no less.

Ves. "T is true, and she hath leave here.

Fab. Madam, your care and charity at once
Have so new-moulded my resolves, that henceforth
Whene'er my mention falls into report,

It shall requite this bounty; I am travelling
To a new world.

Jul. I like your undertakings.

Flav. New world! where's that I pray? good, if you light on

A parrot or a monkey that has qualities
Of a new fashion, think on me.

Fab. Yes, lady,

I-I shall think on you; and my devotions,
Tender'd where they are due in single meekness,
With purer flames will mount, with free increase
Of plenty, honours, full contents, full blessings,
Truth and affection 'twixt your lord and you.
So with my humblest, best leave, I turn from you;
Never, as now I am, to appear before you.
All joys dwell here, and lasting!

Flav. Prithee, sweetest,

[Exit.

Hark in your ear,-beshrew 't, the brim of your
Struck in mine eye-dissemble honest tears,

hat

The griefs my heart does labour in-[Aside.]-it

smarts

Unmeasurably.

Jul. A chance, a chance; 't will off,

VOL. II.-24

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