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Gio. Where is she?

Vas. In her chamber; please you visit her; she is alone. [Gio. gives him money.] Your liberality hath doubly made me your servant, and ever shall, [Exit Gio.

ever

Re-enter SORANZO.

Sir, I am made a man; I have plied my cue with cunning and success; I beseech you let us be private.

Sor. My lady's brother's come; now he'll know all.

Vas. Let him know it; I have made some of them fast enough. How have you dealt with my lady?

Sor. Gently, as thou hast counsell'd; O my soul

Runs circular in sorrow for revenge;

But, Vasques, thou shalt know

Vas. Nay, I will know no more, for now comes your turn to know; I would not talk so openly with you let my young master take time enough, and go at pleasure; he is sold to death, and the devil shall not ransom him.-Sir, I beseech you, your privacy.

Sor. No conquest can gain glory of my fear.

[Exeunt.

ACT V. SCENE I.

The Street before SORANZO's House.
ANNABELLA appears at a Window, above.

Ann. Pleasures, farewell, and all ye thriftless

minutes

Wherein false joys have spun a weary life!
To these my fortunes now I take my leave.
Thou, precious Time, that swiftly rid'st in post
Over the world, to finish up the race

Of my last fate, here stay thy restless course,
And bear to ages that are yet unborn
A wretched, woeful woman's tragedy!
My conscience now stands up against my lust,
With depositions character'd in guilt,

Enter FRIAR, below.

And tells me I am lost: now I confess;
Beauty that clothes the outside of the face,
Is cursed if it be not cloth'd with grace.
Here like a turtle, (mew'd up in a cage,)
Unmated, I converse with air and walls,
And descant on my vile unhappiness.
O Giovanni, that hast had the spoil

Of thine own virtues, and my modest fame;
Would thou hadst been less subject to those stars
That luckless reign'd at my nativity!

O would the scourge, due to my black offence, Might pass from thee, that I alone might feel The torment of an uncontrouled flame!

Friar. What's this I hear?

Ann. That man, that blessed friar,

Who join'd in ceremonial knot my hand
To him whose wife I now am, told me oft,
I trod the path to death, and shew'd me how.
But they who sleep in lethargies of lust,

Hug their confusion, making Heaven unjust;
And so did I.

Friar. Here's music to the soul!

Ann. Forgive me, my good Genius, and this

once

Be helpful to my ends; let some good man
Pass this way, to whose trust I may commit
This paper, double lined with tears and blood;
Which being granted, here I sadly vow
Repentance, and a leaving of that life
I long have died in.

Friar. Lady, Heaven hath heard you,
And hath by providence ordain'd, that I
Should be his minister for your behoof.
Ann. Ha, what are you?

Friar. Your brother's friend, the Friar; Glad in my soul that I have liv'd to hear This free confession 'twixt your peace and you: What would you, or to whom? fear not to speak. Ann. Is Heaven so bountiful?-then I have

found

More favour than I hoped; here, holy man

[Throws down a letter.

Commend me to my brother, give him that,
That letter; bid him read it, and repent.

Tell him that I, imprison'd in my chamber,
Barr'd of all company, even of my guardian,
(Which gives me cause of much suspect) have
time

To blush at what hath past; bid him be wise,
And not believe the friendship of my lord;
I fear much more than I can speak: good father,
The place is dangerous, and spies are busy.
I must break off.-you'll do't?

Friar. Be sure I will,

And fly with speed:

-my blessing ever rest

With thee, my daughter; live, to die more blest!

[Exit.

Ann. Thanks to the heavens, who have pro

long'd my breath

To this good use! now I can welcome death.

[Withdraws from the window.

SCENE II.

Another Room in the same.

Enter SORANZO and VASQUES.

Vas. Am I to be believed now? first, marry a strumpet that cast herself away upon you but to laugh at your horns! to feast on your disgrace, riot in your vexations, cuckold you in your bridebed, waste your estate upon panders and bawds!— Sor. No more, I say, no more.

Vas. A cuckold is a goodly tame beast, my lord!

Sor. I am resolv'd; urge not another word;
My thoughts are great, and all as resolute
As thunder; in mean time, I'll cause our lady
To deck herself in all her bridal robes;

Kiss her, and fold her gently in my arms.
Begone-yet hear you, are the banditti ready
To wait in ambush ?

Vas. Good sir, trouble not yourself about other business than your own resolution; remember that time lost cannot be recalled.

Sor. With all the cunning words thou canst, invite

The states of Parma to my birth-day's feast:
Haste to my brother-rival and his father,
Entreat them gently, bid them not to fail;
Be speedy, and return.

Vas. Let not your pity betray you, till my coming back; think upon incest and cuckoldry. Sor. Revenge is all the ambition I aspire, To that I'll climb or fall; my blood's on fire. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A Room in FLORIO's House.

Enter GIOVANNI.

Gio. Busy opinion is an idle fool, That, as a school-rod keeps a child in awe, Frights th' unexperienced temper of the mind: So did it me; who, ere my precious sister Was married, thought all taste of love would die

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