THE LADY'S TRIAL. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Room in the House of AURIA. Enter PIERO and FUTELLI, at opposite doors. Piero. ACCOMPLISHED man of fashion! Gallant of gallants, Genoa's Piero! Piero. Italy's darling, Europe's joy, and so forth! The newest news? unvamp'd?* Fut. I am no foot-post, No pedlar of avisos, no monopolist Of forged corantos, monger of gazettes. Piero. But, in pure earnest now, my fine Futelli, How trowls the common noise? Fut. Auria, who lately, Wedded and bedded to the fair Spinella, Tired with the enjoyments of delights, is hasting To cuff the Turkish pirates, in the service Of the great duke of Florence. Piero. Blockhead! To run from such an armful of pleasures, * The_newest_news? unvamp'd?] i.e. fresh, genuine, not patched up.-Gifford. For gaining-what?—a bloody nose of honour. Fut. Wicked, Shameful, and cowardly, I will maintain. Fut. Hold thy peace, man; It makes for us: he comes, let's part demurely. [They take different sides. Enter ADURNI and AURIA. Adur. We wish thee, honour'd Auria, life and safety; Return crown'd with a victory, whose wreath Aur. My lord, I shall not live to thrive in any action Piero. I present you My service for a farewell; let few words Fut. For my own part, Kill or be kill'd, (for there's the short and long on't,) Call me your shadow's hench-boy.* Call me your shadow's hench-boy.] A common expression in our old writers for a page; a state-attendant on court or municipal officers.-GIFFORD. Aur. Gentlemen, My business urging on a present haste, Adur. We dare not hinder Your resolution wing'd with thoughts so constant. All happiness! Piero and Fut. Contents! [Exeunt ADURNI, PIERO, and FUTELLI. Aur. So leave the winter'd people of the north, The minutes of their summer, when the sun Departing leaves them in cold robes of ice, As I leave Genoa. Enter TRELCATIO, SPINELLA, and CASTANNA. Now appears the object Of my apprenticed heart: thou bring'st, Spinella, Are sever'd for a time, a span of time, Such will our next embraces be, for life; And then to take the wreck of our divisions,* Will sweeten the remembrance of past dangers, Will fasten love in perpetuity, Will force our sleeps to steal upon our stories. These days must come, and shall, without a cloud, Or night of fear, or envy. To your charge, Trelcatio, our good uncle, and the comfort * And then to take the wreck of our divisions.] i. e. to enjoy the remnant of time which our separations have left us.— GIFFORD. Of my Spinella's sister, fair Castanna, Trel. I dare promise My husbanding that trust with truth and care. Cast. My sister shall to me stand an example, Of pouring free devotions for your safety. Aur. Gentle Castanna, thou'rt a branch of good ness Grown on the self-same stock with my Spinella.- Trel. Blessings and health preserve you! [Exit. Aur. Nay, nay, Castanna, you may hear our counsels; A while, you are design'd your sister's husband. Thy virtues are such friends they cannot fail thee; Spi. Admit, sir, The patent of your life should be call'd in; I Cast. And such conclusion, sister, Aur. 'Tis truth, Castanna. Spi. I grant it truth; yet Auria, I'm a woman, And therefore apt to fear: to show my duty, And not to take heart from you, I'll walk from you, At your command, and not so much as trouble My worthy wife! Before we kiss, receive This caution from thine Auria: first--Castanna, Let us bid farewell. [CAST. walks aside. Spi. Speak, good, speak. Aur. The steps Young ladies tread, left to their own discretion, And construed as the lookers-on presume: Not to procure health, but for safe prevention |