Flo. Our sister is not merry.

Clar. Sadness cannot

Become a bridal harmony.

Sil. At a wedding,

Free spirits are required.

Troy. You should dispense With serious thoughts now, lady. Mor. Well said, gentlefolks. Liv. Fie, Castamela, fie!

All. A dance, a dance!

Troy. By any means, the day is not complete

else.

Cast. Indeed, I'll be excused.

Troy. By no means, lady.

Sec. We all are suitors.

Cast. With your pardons, spare me For this time, grant me licence to look on. [Troy.] Command your pleasures, lady.-Every one hand

Your partner :-nay, Spadone must make one; These merriments are free.

Spa. With all my heart; I'm sure I am not the heaviest in the company. Strike up for the honour of the bride and bridegroom. [Music.

A DANCE.

Troy. So, so, here's art in motion! On all parts, You have bestirr'd you nimbly.

1

[Troy.] Command your pleasures, lady.] The 4to gives this as a continuation of Castamela's speech. It evidently belongs to Troylo.

Mor. I could dance now,

E'en till I dropt again; but want of practice
Denies the scope of breath, or so: yet, sirrah,
My cat-a-mountain, do not I trip quickly,
And with a grace too, sirrah?

Sec. Light as a feather.

Spa. Sure you are not without a stick of liquorice in your pocket, forsooth. You have, I believe,, stout lungs of your own, you swim about so roundly without rubs; 'tis a tickling sight to still.

young

Enter NITIDO.

be

Nit. Madam Morosa!

Mor. Child.

Nit. To you in secret.

[Takes her aside.

Spa. That car-wig scatters the troop now; I'll

go near to fit him.

Liv. My lord, upon my life-

Troy. Then we must sever.

Mor. Ladies and gentlemen, your ears.

[Whispers them.

Spa. Oh, 'twas ever a wanton monkey-he will wriggle into a starting-hole so cleanly—an it had been on my wedding-day,-I know what I know. Sec. Say'st so, Spadone?

Spa. Nothing, nothing; I prate sometimes beside the purpose-whoreson, lecherous weazle! Sec. Look, look, look, how officious the little knave is!-but

Spa. Why, there's the business; buts on one's forehead are but scurvy buts.

Mor. Spadone, discharge the fiddlers instantly. Spa. Yes, I know my postures-oh monstrous, buts! [Exit, with the Musicians.

Mor. [to Sec.] Attend within, sweeting;-your pardons, gentlemen. To your recreations, dear virgins! Page, have a care.

Nit. My duty, reverend madam.
Troy. Livio, away!-Sweet beauties-

Cast. Brother.

Liv. Suddenly

I shall return; now for a round temptation.[Aside.

[Exeunt severally, MOR. stays CAST.

Mor. One gentle word in private with your ladyship;

I shall not hold you long.

Cast. What means this huddle

Of flying several ways thus? who has frighted them?

They live not at devotion here, or pension!

Pray quit me of distrust.

Mor. May it please your goodness,

You'll find him even in every point as honourable,

As flesh and blood can vouch him.

Cast. Ha! him? whom?

What him?

Mor. He will not press beyond his bounds; He will but chat and toy, and feel your

Cast. Guard me

A powerful Genius! feel

Mor. Your hands to kiss them,

Your fair, pure, white hands; what strange business is it?

These melting twins of ivory, but softer

Than down of turtles, shall but feed the appetiteCast. A rape upon my ears!

Mor. The appetite

Of his poor ravish'd eye; should he swell higher
In his desires, and soar upon ambition

Of rising in humility, by degrees;
Perhaps he might crave leave to clap-

Cast. Fond woman,

In thy grave sinful!

Mor. Clap or pat the dimples,

Where love's tomb stands erected on your cheeks.
Else pardon those slight exercises, pretty one,
His lordship is as harmless a weak implement,
As e'er young lady trembled under.

Cast. Lordship!

Stead me, my modest anger!-'tis belike then,
Religious matron, some great man's prison,
Where virgins' honours suffer martyrdom,
And you are their tormentor; let's lay down.
Our ruin'd names to the insulter's mercy!

Let's sport and smile on scandal—(rare calamity, What hast thou toil'd me in! [Aside.])-You named his lordship,

Some gallant youth, and fiery?

Mor. No, no, 'deed, la!

A very grave, stale bachelor, my dainty one, There's the conceit; he's none of your hot rovers, Who ruffle at first dash, and so disfigure

Your dresses, and your sets of blush at once:

He's wise in years, and of a temperate warmth,

Mighty in means and power, and withal liberal;
A wanton in his wishes, but else,-farther,
He cannot-cause-he cannot-

Cast. Cannot? prithee

Be plainer; I begin to like thee strangely;
What cannot?

Mor. You urge timely, and to purpose:

He cannot do, the truth is truth,-do any thing, As one should say,-that's any thing; put caseI do but put the case, forsooth,-he find you.

Cast. My stars, I thank ye, for being ignorant, Of what this old-in-mischief can intend!- [Aside. And so we might be merry, bravely merry? Mor. You hit it-what else!-she is cunning [Aside.]-look ye,

Pray lend your hand, forsooth.

Cast. Why, prithee, take it.

Mor. You have a delicate moist palm-umph -can ye

Relish that tickle, there?

Cast. And laugh, if need were.

Mor. And laugh! why now you have it; what

hurt pray

Perceive ye? there's all, all; go to, you want tutoring,

Are an apt scholar; I'll neglect no pains

For

your instruction.

Cast. Do not:-but his lordship,

What may his lordship be?

Mor. No worse man

Than marquis of Sienna, the great master

VOL. II.

N