Oct. No stranger's eye e'er view'd them,
Unless your brother Romanello haply
Was woo'd unto a sight, for his approvement;

No more.

Rom. Not I, I do protest: I hope, sir,
You cannot think I am a lapidary ;
I, skill in jewels!

Oct. 'Tis a proper quality

For any gentleman; your other friends,
May be, are not so coy.

Jul. Who, they? they know not

A topaz from an opal.

In

Cam. We are ignorant

gems which are not common.
Vesp. But his lordship

Is pleased, it seems, to try our ignorance.-
For passage of the time, till they are brought,
Pray look upon a letter lately sent me.
Lord Julio, madam, Romanello, read
A novelty; 'tis written from Bononia.
Fabricio, once a merchant in this city,
Is entered into orders, and received
Amongst the Capuchins, a fellow; news
Which ought not any ways to be unpleasant :"
Certain, I can assure it.

Jul. He at last has

Bestow'd himself upon a glorious service.

6

news

Which ought not any ways to be unpleasant :] The news is satisfactory enough; but surely it is awkwardly introduced, both as respects the time, and the company.

Rom. Most happy man!-I now forgive the

injuries

Thy former life exposed thee to.

Liv. Turn capuchin!

He! whilst I stand a cypher, and fill up
Only an useless sum to be laid out

In an unthrifty lewdness, that must buy
Both name and riot; oh, my fickle destiny!

[Aside. Rom. Sister, you cannot taste this course but bravely,

But thankfully.

Flav. He's now dead to the world,

And lives to Heaven; a saint's reward reward

him!

My only loved lord, all your fears are henceforth Confined unto a sweet and happy penance. [Aside.

Re-enter TROYLO, with CASTAMELA, CLARELLA, FLORIA, SILVIA, and MOROSA.

Oct. Behold, I keep my word; these are the jewels

Deserve a treasury; I can be prodigal

Amongst my friends: examine well their lustre, Does it not sparkle! wherefore dwells your silence

In such amazement?

Liv. Patience, keep within me,

Leap not yet rudely into scorn of anger! [Aside. Flav. Beauties incomparable!

Oct. Romanello,

I have been only steward to your pleasures;

You loved this lady once; what say you now to

her?

Cast. I must not court you, sir.

Rom. By no means, fair one;

Enjoy your life of greatness. Sure the spring

Is

past, the BOWER OF FANCIES is quite wither'd, And offer'd like a lottery to be drawn;

I dare not venture for a blank, excuse me.-
Exquisite jewels!

Liv. Hark ye, Troylo.

Troy. Spare me.

Oct. You then renounce all right in Castamela? Say, Romanello.

Rom. Gladly.

Troy. Then I must not:

Thus I embrace mine own, my wife; confirm it Thus-When I fail, my dearest, to deserve thee, Comforts and life shall fail me! 7

Cast. Like vow I,

For my part.

Troy. Livio, now my brother, justly I have given satisfaction.

Thus-When I fail, &c.] The old copy places the point after it. I have not disturbed the arrangement without some hesitation; but it seems as if Troylo meant to confirm the act of taking possession of his mistress, by imprecating a curse on himself if he proved unworthy of her love.

A better brother, he a better friend
Than my dull brains could fashion.
Rom. Am I cozen'd?

Oct. You are not, Romanello: we examined On what conditions your affections fix'd,

And found them merely courtship; but my nephew Loved with a faith resolv'd, and used his policy To draw the lady into this society,

More freely to discover his sincerity;

Even without Livio's knowledge; thus succeededR And prosper'd:-he's my heir, and she deserv'd him. Jul. Storm not at what is past.

Flav. A fate as happy

May crown you with a full content.

Oct. Whatever

[To Rom.

Report hath talk'd of me abroad, and these,
Know they are all my nieces, are the daughters
To my dead only sister; this their guardianess
Since they first saw the world: indeed, my mis-
tresses

They are, I have none other; how brought up,
Their qualities may speak. Now, Romanello,
And gentlemen, for such I know ye all,

Portions they shall not want, both fit and worthy;
Nor will I look on fortune; if you like,
Court them and win them; here is free access,
In mine own court henceforth: only for thee,
Livio, I wish Clarella were allotted.

8

Liv. Most noble lord, I am struck silent.

thus succeeded, &c.] Meaning,

perhaps, thus he (Troylo) succeeded: if this be not admitted, it will be expedient to read, this succeeded, for thus.

Flav. Brother,

Here's noble choice.

Rom. Frenzy, how didst thou seize me?
Clar. We knew you, sir, in Pragniòli's pos-

ture.

Flo. Were merry at the sight.

Sil. And gave you welcome.

Mor. Indeed, forsooth, and so we did, an't like

you.

Oct. Enough, enough.-Now, to shut up the

night,

Some menial servants of mine own are ready
For to present a Merriment; they intend,
According to th' occasion of the meeting,
In several shapes, to show how love o'ersways
All men of several conditions, Soldier,

Gentry, Fool, Scholar, Merchant-man, and Clown;
A harmless recreation.-Take your places.

[Music.

Enter SPADONE, SECCO, NITIDO, and other Maskers, dressed, respectively, as the six characters mentioned above.

A DANCE.

Your duties are perform'd. Henceforth, Spadone,
Cast off thy borrowed title: nephew Troylo,
His mother gave thee suck; esteem him honestly.
Lights for the lodgings! 'tis high time for rest.—
Great men may be mistook when they mean best.
[Exeunt.

• Much cannot be said in favour of the plot of this drama, as Ford has conducted it. He has imperfectly executed his own