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LOVE'S SACRIFICE.

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OVE'S SACRIFICE was acted at the Phoenix in Drury Lane, and published in 1633, as "a tragedy received generally well." The source of the story is unknown. The passages in which D'Avolos excites the jealousy of the Duke were evidently suggested by Othello. The words in which D'Avolos bids farewell to his judges resemble, as Ward points out, those of Marinelli in Lessing's Emilia Galotti.

To my Friend, Master John Ford.
Unto this altar, rich with thy own spice,
I bring one grain to thy LOVE'S SACRIFICE;
And boast to see thy flames ascending, while
Perfumes enrich our air from thy sweet pile.
Look here, thou that hast malice to the stage,
And impudence enough for the whole age;
"Voluminously "-ignorant, be vext
To read this tragedy, and thy own be next.
JAMES SHIRLEY.

Thou cheat'st us, Ford: mak'st one seem two by art:
What is Love's Sacrifice but the Broken Heart?

RICHARD CRASHAW,1

1 This appeared in Crashaw's Delights of the Muses (1646). It is interesting to note the evident regard which the religious poet ard mystic felt for the dramatist.

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To my Truest Friend, my Worthiest Kinsman,

JOHN FORD, OF GRAY'S INN, ESQ.

HE title of this little work, my good cousin, is in sense but the argument of a dedication; which being in most writers a custom, in many a compliment, I question not but your clear knowledge of my intents will, in me, read as the earnest of affection. My ambition herein aims at a fair flight, borne up on the double wings of gratitude for a received, and acknowledgment for a continued love. It is not so frequent to number many kinsmen, and amongst them some friends, as to presume on some friends, and amongst them little friendship. But in every fulness of these particulars I do not more partake through you, my cousin, the delight than enjoy the benefit of them. This inscription to your name is only a faithful deliverance to memory of the truth of my respects to virtue, and to the equal in honour with virtue, desert. The contempt thrown on studies of this kind by such as dote on their own singularity' hath almost so outfaced invention and proscribed judgment, that it is more safe, more wise, to be suspectedly silent than modestly confident of opinion herein. Let me be bold to tell the severity of censurers how willingly I neglect their practice, so long as I digress from no becoming thankfulness. Accept, then, my cousin, this witness to posterity of my constancy to your merits; for no ties of blood, no engagements of friendship, shall more justly live a precedent than the sincerity of both in the heart of

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JOHN FORD.

1 Here is an allusion to Prynne, also referred to by Shirley in the verses prefixed to this play. Prynne had just produced his Histriomastix, or Actor's Tragedy, and was at this time before the StarChamber for a supposed insult to the Queen by his reflection on women-players. A few days before Histriomastix appeared the Queen and her ladies had acted in a pastoral at Whitehall.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

PHILIPPO CARAFFA, Duke of Pavia.

PAULO BAGLIONE, Uncle of the Duchess.
FERNANDO, Favourite of the Duke.

FERENTES, a wanton Courtier.

ROSEILLI, a young Nobleman.

PETRUCHIO,

two Counsellors of State.

NIBRASSA,

RODERICO D'AVOLOS, Secretary to the Duke.

MAURUCCIO, an old Buffoon.

GIACOPO, Servant to Mauruccio.

Abbot of Monaco.

Courtiers, Officers, Friars, Attendants, &c.

BIANCA, the Duchess.

FIORMONDA, the Duke's Sister.

COLONA, Daughter of Petruchio.
JULIA, Daughter of Nibrassa.

MORONA, a Widow.

SCENE-PAVIA.

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Enter ROSEILLI and RODERICO D'AVOLOS.

OS. Depart the court?

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R

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Great in his counsels, wise, and, I think,

Have you, in turning over old records,

Read but one name descended of the house

Of Lesui in his loyalty remiss?

D'Av. Never, my lord.

Ros. Why, then, should I now, now when glorious

peace

Triumphs in change of pleasures, be wiped off,
Like to a useless moth, from courtly ease?—
And whither must I go?

D'Av. You have the open world before you.
Ros. Why, then 'tis like I'm banished?

D'Av. Not so: my warrant is only to command you from the court; within five hours to depart after notice taken, and not to live within thirty miles of it, until it be thought meet by his excellence to call you back. Now

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