Thy husband at his parting seal'd this kiss.

No more.

Spi. Dear heaven! go, sister, go.

[Kisses her.

[Exeunt SPINELLA and CASTANNA.

Aur. Done bravely,

And like the choice of glory, to know mine-
One of earth's best I have forgone-

[Enter AURELIO.

See, see!

Yet in another I am rich, a friend,

A perfect one, Aurelio.

Aurel. Had I been

No stranger to your bosom, sir, ere now,
You might have sorted me in your resolves,
Companion of

your

fortunes.

Aur. So the wrongs

I should have ventured on against thy fate
Must have denied all pardon. Not to hold
Dispute with reputations, why, before
This present instant, I conceal'd the stealth
Of my adventures from thy counsels,-know,
My wants do drive me hence.

Aurel. Wants! so you said,

And 'twas not friendly spoken.
Aur. Hear me further.

Aurel. Auria, take heed the covert of a folly
Willing to range, be not, without excuse,
Discover'd in the coinage of untruths;
I use no harder language. Thou art near
Already on a shipwreck, in forsaking

The holy land of friendship, [and forbearing]
To talk your wants.-Fie!

Aur. By that sacred thing

Last issued from the temple where it dwelt,
I mean our friendship, I am sunk so low

In

my estate, that, bid me live in Genoa

But six months longer, I survive the remnant
Of all my store.

Aurel. Umph!

Aur. In my country, friend,

Where I have sided my superior, friend,
Sway'd opposition, friend; friend, here to fall
Subject to scorn, or rarely-found compassion,
Were more than man that hath a soul could bear,
A soul not stoop'd to servitude.

Aurel. You show,

Nor certainty, nor weak assurance yet
Of reparation in this course, in case
Command be proffer'd.

Aur. He who cannot merit

Preferment by employments, let him bare
His throat unto the Turkish cruelty,

Or die, or live a slave without redemption!
Aurel. For that, so! but you have a wife, a young,
A fair wife; she, though she could never claim
Right in prosperity, was never tempted

6 The 4to reads

in forsaking

The holy land of friendship in forsaking, &c.] There can, I think, be no question but the last two words in the second line were inadvertently copied from the first at the press. I have given what may be supposed the sense of the original expression; the words themselves are irrecoverable.

By trial of extremes; to youth and beauty
Baits for dishonour, and a perish'd fame.

Aur. Shew me the man that lives, and to my face Dares speak, scarce think, such tyranny against Spinella's constancy, except Aurelio

He is my friend.

Aurel. There lives not then a friend
Dares love you like Aurelio; that Aurelio,
Who, late and early, often said, and truly,
Your marriage with Spinella would entangle
As much the opinion due to your discretion,
As your estate; it hath done so to both.
Aur. I find it hath.

Aurel. He who prescribes no law,
No limits of condition to the objects
Of his affection, but will merely wed

A face, because 'tis round, or limn'd by nature
In
purest red and white; or, at the best,
For that his mistress owes an excellence
Of qualities, knows when and how to speak,
Where to keep silence, with fit reasons why;
Whose virtues are her only dower, (else [none,]
In either kind,) ought of himself to master
Such fortunes as add fuel to their loves;
For otherwise-but herein I am idle,
Have fool'd to little purpose.

Aur. She's my wife.

Aurel. And being so, it is not manly done
To leave her to the trial of her wits,
Her modesty, her innocence, her vows:
This is the way that points her out an art
Of wanton life.

Aur. Sir, said ye?

Aurel. You form reasons,

Just ones, for your abandoning the storms
Which threaten your own ruin; but propose
No shelter for her honour: what my tongue
Hath utter'd, Auria, is but honest doubt,
And you are wise enough in the construction.
Aur. Necessity must arm my confidence,
Which, if I live to triumph over, friend,
And e'er come back in plenty, I pronounce
Aurelio heir of what I can bequeath;
Some fit deduction for a worthy widow,
Allow'd, with caution she be like to prove so.
Aurel. Who? I your heir! your wife being yet

so young,

In every probability so forward

To make you a father? leave such thoughts.
Aur. Believe it,

Without replies, Aurelio: keep this note,
A warrant for receiving from Martino
Two hundred ducats; as you find occasion
Dispose them in my absence to Spinella:
I would not trust her uncle, he, good man,
Is at an ebb himself; another hundred
I left with her, a fourth I carry with me.
Am I not poor, Aurelio, now? Exchange
Of more debates between us, would undo
My resolution; walk a little, prithee,

Friends we are, and will embrace; but let's not speak

Another word.

Aurel. I'll follow you to your horse. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Room in the House of ADURNI.

Enter ADURNI, and FUTELLI, with a letter which he presents to Adurni.

Adur. With her own hand?

Fut. She never used, my lord,

A second means, but kiss'd the letter first, O'erlook'd the superscription; then let fall Some amorous drops, kiss'd it again, talk'd to it Twenty times over, set it to her mouth,

Then gave it me, then snatch'd it back again, Then cry'd, "Oh, my poor heart!" and, in an instant,

66

Commend my truth and secrecy." Such medley Of passion yet I never saw in woman.

Adur. In woman? thou'rt deceiv'd; but that we both

Had mothers, I could say how women are,
In their own natures, models of mere change;
Of change of what is naught to what is worse.-
She feed you liberally?

Fut. Twenty ducats

She forced on me; vow'd, by the precious love
She bore the best of men, (I use, my lord,
Her very words,) the miracle of men,

Malfato, then she sigh'd,-this mite of gold