FABRICIO, a Merchant, FLAVIA's first Husband.

CASTAMELA, Sister to LIVIO.

FLAVIA, Wife to JULIO.

THE SCENE-Sienna.

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FROM

THE FANCIES, CHASTE AND NOBLE.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-A Room in the House of LIVIO.

Enter ROMANELLO and CASTAMELA.

Rom. Tell me you cannot love me.
Cast. You impórtune

Too strict a resolution: as a gentleman
Of commendable parts, and fair deserts,
In every sweet condition that becomes
A hopeful expectation, I do honour

Th' example of your youth; but, Sir, our fortunes,
Concluded on both sides in narrow bands,

Move you to construe gently my forbearance,
In argument of fit consideration.

Rom. Why, Castamela, I have shaped thy virtues,
Even from our childish years, into a dowry
Of richer estimation, than thy portion,
Doubled an hundred times, can equal: now
I clearly find, thy current of affection
Labours to fall into the gulf of riot,
Not the free ocean of a soft content.
You'd marry pomp and plenty: 'tis the idol,

I must confess, that creatures of the time

Bend their devotions to; but I have fashion'd
Thoughts much more excellent of you.
Cast. Enjoy

Your own prosperity; I am resolv'd
Never, by any charge with me, to force
A poverty upon you.

I'll not be your undoing.

Rom. Sure some-dotage

Of living stately, richly, lends a cunning
To eloquence. How is this piece of goodness
Changed to ambition! oh, you are most miserable
your desires! the female curse has caught you.
Cast. Fie! fie! how ill this suits.

In

Rom. A devil of pride

Ranges in airy thoughts to catch a star,
Whilst you grasp mole-hills.

Cast. Worse and worse, I vow.

Rom. But that some remnant of an honest sense Ebbs a full tide of blood to shame, all women

Would prostitute all honour to the luxury
Of ease and titles.

Cast. Romanello, know

You have forgot the nobleness of truth,
And fix'd on scandal now.

Rom. A dog, a parrot,

A monkey, a caroch, a garded lackey,
A waiting-woman with her lips seal'd up,
Are pretty toys to please my mistress Wanton!
Cast. This is uncivil;

I am not, sir, your charge.

Rom. My grief you are;

For all my services are lost and ruin'd.

Cast. So is my chief opinion of your worthiness,

When such distractions tempt you; you would

prove

A cruel lord, who dare, being yet a servant,
As you profess, to bait my best respects
Of duty to your welfare; 'tis a madness
I have not oft observed. Possess your freedom,
You have no right in me; let this suffice;
I wish your joys much comfort.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-An Apartment in JULIO's House.
Enter FLAVIA, supported by CAMILLO, and

ESPUCCI.

Flav. Not yet returned?

Cam. Madam!

Flav. The lord our husband,

We mean.

Unkind! four hours are almost past, (But twelve short minutes wanting by the glass) Since we broke company; was never, gentlemen, Poor princess us'd so!

Ves. With your gracious favour,

Peers, great in rank and place, ought of necessity To attend on state employments.

Cam. For such duties

Are all their toil and labour; but their pleasures Flow in the beauties they enjoy, which conquers All sense of other travail.

Flav. Trimly spoken.

When we were common, mortal, and a subject,
As other creatures of Heaven's making are,
(The more the pity) bless us! how we waited
For the huge play-day, when the pageant flutter'd
About the city ;* for we then were certain,

On the huge play-day when the pageants flutter'd

About the city.] The huge play-day (for Ford's Sienna is only another name for London) was probably the Lord Mayor's day, when the company to which he belonged exhi