THE LADY'S TRIAL.

ACT I.

SCENE I. A room in the house of AURIA.

Enter PIERO and FUTELLI from opposite sides.
Piero. Accomplish'd man of fashion!

Fut.

Gallant of gallants, Genoa's Piero !

The times' wonder!

Piero. Italy's darling, Europe's joy, and so forth! The newest news? unvamp'd ?1

Fut.

I am no footpost,

No pedlar of avisos, no monopolist

Of forg'd corantos, monger of gazettes.

Piero. Monger of courtesans, [my] fine Futelli; In certain kind a merchant of the staple For wares of use and trade; a taker-up, Rather indeed a knocker-down; the word Will carry either sense :-but, in pure earnest, How trolls the common noise?

Fut.

Auria, who lately

Wedded and bedded to the fair Spinella,

Tir'd with th' enjoyments of delights, is hasting

up.

1 The newest news? unvamp'd?] i. e. fresh, genuine, not patched

To cuff the Turkish pirates in the service

Of the Great Duke of Florence.

Futelli, sirrah, and Piero.-Blockhead!

To run from such an armful of pleasures,
For gaining what?-a bloody nose of honour :
Most sottish and abominable!

Fut.

Wicked,

Shameful, and cowardly, I will maintain.

Piero. Is all my signor's hospitality,

Huge banquetings, deep revels, costly trappings,
Shrunk to a cabin, and a single welcome

To beverage and biscuit?

Fut.

It makes for us :-he comes; let's part demurely.

Hold thy peace, man;

[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

Of triumph may advance thy country's glory,

Worthy your name and ancestors!

Aur.

My lord,

I shall not live to thrive in any action

Deserving memory, when I forget

Adurni's love and favour.

Piero.

I present ye2

My service for a farewell; let few words

2 Piero. I present ye, &c.] In the old 4to this short valediction is broken in the midst, and Fut. inserted before the latter part of it. Fut. instead of Ful. should be placed before the next speech.

Excuse all arts of compliment.

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.3

Aur.

Gentlemen,

My business, urging on a present haste,

Enforceth short reply.

Adur.

We dare not hinder

Your resolution wing'd with thoughts so constant.

All happiness!

Piero and Fut. Contents!

[Exeunt Adur. Piero, and Fut. 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 apprentic'd heart.-Thou bring'st, Spinella,
A welcome in a farewell-souls and bodies

Are sever'd for a time, a span of time,
To join again, without all separation,
In a confirmèd unity for ever:

Such will our next embraces be, for life;

And then to take the wreck of our divisions4
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,

3 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.

And then to take the wreck of our divisions] i. e. to enjoy the remnant of time which our separations have left us.

Trelcatio, our good uncle, and the comfort
Of my Spinella's sister, fair Castanna,

I do intrust this treasure.

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.—
[To Spin.] But why, my dear, hast thou lock'd up thy
speech

In so much silent sadness? O, at parting,
Belike one private whisper must be sigh'd.—
Uncle, the best of peace enrich your family!
I take my leave.

Trel. Blessings and health preserve ye! [Exit.
Aur. Nay, nay, Castanna, you may hear our coun-
sels;

A while you are design'd your sister's husband.—
Give me thy hand, Spinella: you did promise
To send me from you with more cheerful looks,
Without a grudge or tear; 'deed, love, you did.
Spi. What friend have I left in your absence?
Aur.
Many :
Thy virtues are such friends they cannot fail thee;
Faith, purity of thoughts, and such a meekness
As would force scandal to a blush.

Admit, sir,

Spi.
The patent of your life should be call'd in ;
How am I left then5 to account with griefs,
More slav'd to pity than a broken heart?
Auria, soul of my comforts! I let fall

5 left then] Gifford printed "then left." D.