I prithee speak.
Spin.

The courtship's somewhat quick,

The match it seems agreed on :—do not, sister,

Make no scruple,

Each circumstance of jealousy.

Aur.

Castanna, of the choice; 'tis firm and real:

Why else have I so long with tameness nourish'd
Report of wrongs, but that I fix'd on issue
Of my desires? Italians use not dalliance,
But execution: herein I degenerated

From custom of our nation; for the virtues12
Of my Spinella rooted in my soul,

Yet common form of matrimonial compliments,
Short-liv'd as are their pleasures.-Yet in sooth,
My dearest, I might blame your causeless absence,
To whom my love and nature were no strangers:
But being in your kinsman's house, I honour
His hospitable friendship, and must thank it.
Now lasting truce on all hands.

12

Aurel.

You will pardon

for the virtues

Of my Spinella rooted in my soul,

Yet common form of matrimonial compliments,

Short-liv'd as are their pleasures.] This passage, as it stands in the 4to, is scarcely intelligible. What Auria apparently means to urge is, that the virtues of his wife, of which he was firmly persuaded, triumphed over, or were too great for the flattering "yet common form, &c. a verse, therefore, if not more, has been lost at the press. It may be added here, that Ford has imitated himself in some measure, and awkwardly removed the suspicions of Aurelio, as he had previously done those of Romanello in The Fancies, by an unlooked-for marriage.

A rash and over-busy curiosity.

Spin. It was to blame; but the success remits it.
Adur. Sir, what presumptions formerly have

grounded

Opinion of unfitting carriage to you,

On my part I shall faithfully acquit

At easy summons.

Mal.

You prevent the nicety;

Use your own pleasure—

BENATZI rushes in with his sword drawn, followed by

LEVIDOLCHE and MARTINO.

Aurel.

Aur.

What's the matter?

Matter?

Ben. Adurni and Malfato found together! Now for a glorious vengeance.

Lev.

Hold, O, hold him!

Aurel. This is no place for murder; yield thy

sword.

Aur. Yield it, or force it. [Ben. is disarmed.] Set you up your shambles

Of slaughter in my presence?

Adur.

Let him come.

I am prevented;

Mal. What can the ruffian mean?
Ben.

The temple or the chamber of the Duke
Had else not prov'd a sanctuary.-Lord,
Thou hast dishonourably wrong'd my wife.
Adur. Thy wife! I know not her nor thee.
Aur.

Fear nothing.
Lev. Yes, me you know. Heaven has a gentle

mercy

For penitent offenders: blessèd ladies,
Repute me not a castaway, though once
I fell into some lapses, which our sex

Are oft entangl❜d by ; yet what I have been
Concerns me now no more, who am resolv'd
On a new life. This gentleman, Benatzi,
Disguised as you see, I have re-married.—

I knew you at first sight, and tender constantly
Submission for all errors.

Mart.

Nay, 'tis true, sir.

Ben. I joy in the discovery, am thankful Unto the change.13

Aur.

Let wonder henceforth cease;

For I am partner with Benatzi's counsels,
And in them was director: I have seen
The man do service in the wars late past
Worthy an ample mention; but of that
At large hereafter; repetitions now

Of good or bad would straiten time, presented
For other use.

Mart.

Welcome, and welcome ever!

Lev. Mine eyes, sir, never shall without a blush

Receive a look from yours: please to forget

All passages of rashness; such attempt

Was mine, and only mine.

13 I joy in the discovery, am thankful

Unto the change.] Benatzi takes the matter with all due composure. That his precious moiety should recognise him through his rags, his formidable mustachios, and his Pistol-like demeanour, is natural enough; the wonder is, that Benatzi should not recollect her. She wore no disguise, she retains the name by which he married her, she still lived as before with her foolish uncle, and she confides to him a part of her history, in which he was a sharer. The author seems to have discovered all this when it was too late, and has just allowed us to surmise, from Auria's next speech, that the "re-married gentleman" might not be so complete a dupe as he appears.

Adur.

An offering to the altar of this peace.

But let me add

[Gives her money.

Aur. How likes Spinella this? our holiday

Deserves the kalendar.

Spin.

This gentlewoman

Reform'd must in my thoughts live fair and worthy:—

Enter TRELCATIO, FUTELLI, AMORETTA, PIERO, driving

in FULGOSO and GUZMAN.

Trel. By your leaves, lords and ladies! to your

jollities

I bring increase with mine too; here's a youngster Whom I c[a]ll son-in-law, for so my daughter

Will have it.

Amor. Yeth, in sooth, thee will.

Trel.

[Presenting Fut.

Futelli

Stand forth, stout lovers.

He's not the richest

Hath wean'd her from this pair.14

Piero.

Trel. Top and top-gallant pair—and for his pains

She will have him or none.

I' th' parish; but a wit: I say, Amen,

Because I cannot help it.

Amor.

Tith no matter.

Aur. We'll remedy the penury of fortune; They shall with us to Corsica. Our cousin Must not despair of means, since 'tis believ'd Futelli can deserve a place of trust.

Fut. You are in all unfellow'd.

14 pair.] The 4to has "paine." D.

Amor.

Piero. Think on Piero, sir.

Withely thpoken.

Piero, yes;

I'll follow

Aur.

But what of these two pretty ones?

Ful.
The ladies, play at cards, make sport, and whistle;
My purse shall bear me out: a lazy life

Is scurvy and debauch'd; fight you abroad;
And we'll be gaming,15 whiles you fight, at home;
Run high, run low, here is a brain can do't-
But for my martial brother Don, prithee16 make him
A-what-d'ye call't—a setting dog,—a sentinel;
I'll mend his weekly pay.

Command doth limit us short time for revels;

We must be thrifty in them. None, I trust,

Repines at these delights, they're free and harmless : After distress at sea, the dangers o'er,

Safety and welcomes better taste ashore.

15 gaming,] The 4to has "game." D.
16 prithee] Gifford printed "pray ye." D.

[Exeunt.

This drama, like Perkin Warbeck, has been somewhat too lightly regarded. The plot, indeed, is simple, and the poet has not availed himself of the interest of which even that simplicity was susceptible; but the characters are well discriminated and strongly marked. The high-spirited, pure-minded Spinella; the uxorious, sensitive, and noble Auria; and the rash, repentant, and dignified Adurni, do credit to the author's powers of conception : nor is the next trio, the faithful sister, the silent devoted lover, and the suspicious, gloomy, and selfish friend, to be passed without praise. The more serious scenes are beautifully written; and the situation, if not the language of some of VOL. III.

H