Enter FUTElli. Fut. Under favour, Signor Malfato, I am sent to crave Your leisure, for a word or two in private. Fut. This letter will inform ye. [Gives him the letter. Mal. Letter? how's this? what's here? Fut. Speak you to me, sir? Mal. Brave riddle! I'll endeavour to unfold it. Aurel. How fares the Lord Adurni? Fut. Sure in health, sir. Aurel. He is a noble gentleman, withal Who is himself an honour to his titles. Mal. D'ye laugh! But that I must consider such as spaniels To those who feed and clothe them, I would print Upon thy forehead thy foul errand :—there! [Throws him the letter. Bear back that paper to the hell from whence gave thee thy directions! tell this lord, It He ventured on a foolish policy, In aiming at the scandal of my blood; Aurel. Be wise, Malfato. Mal. Say, I know this false one. She who sent this temptation was wife To his abused servant; and divorced From poor Benatzi, senseless of the wrongs, That madam Levidolche and Adurni Might revel in their sports without controul, Secure, uncheck'd. Aurel. You range too wildly now, Are too much inconsiderate. Mal. I am A gentleman free born, I never wore (Reward for long attendance,) and then miss'd. I read no difference between this huge, This monstrous big word lord, and gentleman, More than the title sounds; for aught I learn, The latter is as noble as the first, I am sure more ancient. Aurel. Let me tell you then, You are too bitter, talk you know not what. Make all men equals, and confound all course Of order, and of nature! this is madness. Mal. 'Tis so; and I have reason to be mad, The Lord Adurni's pensioner, at least. You are as I am,* you could ill digest Begone, Futelli, do not mince one syllable Mal. What have I Deserv'd to be so used! In colder blood, Duty and love; it is a badge of virtue, Aurel. We will consider The meaning of this mystery. Mal. Not so; [Exit. Let them fear bondage who are slaves to fear, Aurelio, You are as I am, &c. This expression, which is not uncommon in our old writers, means, " 'suppose you were,”or rather," put yourself-in my place," &c.-GIFFORD. ACT II. SCENE I.-A Street. Enter FUTELLI and GUZMAN. Fut. Dexterity and sufferance, brave Don, Are engines the pure politic must work with. Guz. We understand. Fut. In subtleties of war, I talk t'ye now in your own occupation, Or downright cutting throats, is all one thing. You drill or exercise your company, you (No matter which, for terms,) before Ìnto the field; so in feats of courtship, draw First, choice is made of thoughts, behaviour, words, The set of looks, the posture of the beard, Beso las manos, cringes of the knee, The very hums and ha's, thumps, and ah me's! Fut. Then next, Your enemy in face, your mistress, mark it!— The chambermaid, a fatal engine; or Place there an ambuscado,-that's contract With some of her near friends, for half her portion; Or offer truce, and in the interim, Run upon slaughter, 'tis a noble treachery,— That's swear and lie; steal her away, and to her Cast caps, and cry victoria! the field's Thine own, my Don, she's thine. Guz. We do vouchsafe her. Fut. Hold her then fast. Guz. As fast as can the arms She has skipt your hold; my imagination's eyes your war over-worn habiliments, Which I forgot in my instructions To warn you of: therefore, my warlike Don, With a more courtly outside. Guz. 'Tis soon done. Fut. As soon as said;-in all the clothes thou hast, More than that walking wardrobe on thy back. *Our rich mockado doublet,] i. e. an inferior kind of velvet, velveret: quellio, which occurs in the following line, is a ruff. -GIFFORD. |