Enter GIOVANNI.

Welcome, my much-lov'd brother;

Now I perceive you honour me; you are wel

come

But where's my father?

Gio. With the other states,

Attending on the nuncio of the pope,

him hither.

To wait upon him hither.

How's my sister?

Sor. Like a good housewife, scarcely ready yet;

You were best walk to her chamber.

Gio. If you will.

Sor. I must expect my honourable friends;

Good brother, get her forth.

Gio. You are busy, sir.

[Exit.

Vas. Even as the great devil himself would have it! let him go and glut himself in his own destruction-[Flourish.]—Hark, the nuncio is at hand; good sir, be ready to receive him.

Enter CARDINAL, FLORIO, DONADO, RICHARDETTO, and Attendants.

Sor. Most reverend lord, this grace hath made me proud,

That you vouchsafe my house; I ever rest
Your humble servant for this noble favour.

Car. You are our friend, my lord; his Holi

ness

Shall understand how zealously you honour
Saint Peter's vicar in his substitute:

Our special love to you.

Q

Sor. Signiors, to you

My welcome, and my ever best of thanks
For this so memorable courtesy.

Pleaseth your grace walk near?

Car. My lord, we come

To celebrate your feast with civil mirth,
As ancient custom teacheth: we will go.

Sor. Attend his grace there. Signiors, keep

your way.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

ANNABELLA'S Bed Chamber in the same.

ANNABELLA, richly dressed, and GIOVANNI.

Gio. What, chang'd so soon! hath your new sprightly lord

Found out a trick in night-games more than we Could know, in our simplicity?-Ha! is't so? Or does the fit come on you, to prove treache

rous

To your past vows and oaths?

Ann. Why should you jest
At my calamity, without all sense

Of the approaching dangers you are in?

Gio. What danger's half so great as thy revolt? Thou art a faithless sister, else thou know'st, Malice, or any treachery beside,

Would stoop to my bent brows; why, I hold

fate

Clasp'd in my fist, and could command the course
Of time's eternal motion, hadst thou been
One thought more steady than an ebbing sea.
And what? you'll now be honest, that's resolv'd?
Ann. Brother, dear brother, know what I have
been,

And know that now there's but a dining-time
"Twixt us and our confusion; let's not waste
These precious hours in vain and useless speech.
Alas! these gay attires were not put on
But to some end; this sudden solemn feast
Was not ordain'd to riot in expense;

I that have now been chamber'd here alone,
Barr'd of my guardian, or of any else,

Am not for nothing at an instant freed
To fresh access. Be not deceiv'd, my brother,
This banquet is an harbinger of death

To you and me; resolve yourself it is,
And be prepared to welcome it.

Gio. Well, then;

The schoolmen teach that all this globe of earth Shall be consumed to ashes in a minute.

Ann. So I have read too.

Gio. But 'twere somewhat strange
To see the waters burn; could I believe
This might be true, I could believe as well
There might be hell or heaven.

Ann. That's most certain.

Gio. A dream, a dream! else in this other world

We should know one another.

Ann. So we shall.

Gio. Have you heard so?

Ann. For certain.

Gio. But do you think,

That I shall see you there? You look on me.?-
May we kiss one another, prate or laugh,
Or do as we do here?

Ann. I know not that;

But-brother, for the present, what d'ye means To free yourself from danger? some way think How to escape; I'm sure the guests are come. Gio. Look up, look here; what see you in my face?

Ann. Distraction and a troubled conscience." Gio. Death, and a swift repining wrath :-yet look;

What see you in mine eyes?

Ann. Methinks you weep.

Gio. I do indeed; these are the funeral tears Shed on your grave; these furrow'd up my cheeks When first I lov'd and knew not how to woo. Fair Annabella, should I here repeat

The story of my life, we might lose time.

7 You look on me.] i. e. You look with surprize or astonishment Such is the force of this expression.-See Jonson, vol, iv.

on me.

P. 180.

8 But-brother, for the present, what d'ye mean.] The 4to, which is imperfect in this place, reads, "But good for the present." The word adopted is certainly not the author's; but it is safe, at least; and I prefer it to inserting a monosyllable at random. 9 Distraction and a troubled conscience.] The old copy a troubled countenance; well corrected by Dodsley.

reads,

Be record all the spirits of the air,

And all things else that are, that day and night, Early and late, the tribute which my heart

Hath paid to Annabella's sacred love,

Hath been these tears, which are her mourners now!

Never till now did nature do her best,

To shew a matchless beauty to the world,
Which in an instant, ere it scarce was seen,
The jealous destinies required again.
Pray, Annabella, pray! since we must part,
Go thou, white in thy soul, to fill a throne
Of innocence and sanctity in heaven.
Pray, pray, my sister!

Ann. Then I see your drift

Ye blessed angels, guard me!
Gio. So say

Kiss me.

I;

If ever after-times should hear Of our fast-knit affections, though perhaps The laws of conscience and of civil use

May justly blame us, yet when they but know
Our loves, that love will wipe away that rigour,
Which would in other incests be abhorr'd.

Give me your hand: how sweetly life doth run
In these well-colour'd veins! how constantly
These palms do promise health! but I could chide
With nature for this cunning flattery--

Kiss me again-forgive me.

Ann. With my heart.

Gio. Farewell!

Ann. Will you be gone?