Ves. "She had seen the fellow!" didst opserve? Cam. Most punctually : Could call him by his name too! why 't is possible, She has not yet forgot he was her husband. Ves. That were most strange: oh, 't is a precious trinket! Was ever puppet so slipp'd up? Cam. The tale Of Venus' cat, man, changed into a woman, Ves. He stands Just like Acteon in the painted cloth.1 Flav. Friend, we have read, and weigh'd the sum Of what your scrivener (which, in effect, Is meant your counsel learned) has drawn for ye: 'Tis a fair hand, in sooth, but the contents Somewhat unseasonable; for, let us tell ye, You have been a spender, a vain spender; wasted Or wants drive you to ask, it might be construed Fab. Great lady, Of my misfortunes I'm ashamed. Cam. So, so! This jeer twangs roundly, does it not, Vespucci? Ves. Why, here's a lady worshipful! Flav. Pray, gentlemen, [Aside to VES. Retire a while; this fellow shall resolve Some doubts that stick about me. 1 He stands Just like Acteon in the painted cloth,] i. e. in the act of gazing at Diana, in a posture of mingled awe and surprise. There is some humour in the expression.--GIFFORD. Both. As you please. [Exeunt VES. and CAM. Flav. To thee, Fabricio,-oh, the change is cruel Since I find some small leisure, I must justify Were kept by me unbroken; no assaults Of gifts, of courtship, from the great and wanton, Of rumour is reward enough, to brand My lewder actions; 't was, I thought, impossible, A beauty fresh as was your youth, could brook The last of my decays. Flav. Did I complain? My sleeps between thine arms were e'en as sound, To pander their own wives; those wives, whose innocence, Stranger to language, spoke obedience only; Flav. Call not Thy wickedness thy loss; without my knowledge Thou sold'st me, and in open court protestedst A precontract unto another, falsely, To justify a separation. Wherein Could I offend, to be believed In best sense an adulteress ? so conceived Ev'n from mine own blood, which, although I boast Not noble, yet 't was not mean; for Romanello, Mine only brother, shuns me, and abhors To own me for his sister. Fab. "T is confess'd, I am the shame of mankind. In this great lord's love, now; but could his cunning My unsought honours, and so far from triumph, Fab. You are an angel rather to be worshipp'd, Than grossly to be talk'd with. Flav. [Gives him money.] Keep those ducats, I shall provide you better:-'t were a bravery, Could you forget the place wherein you've render'd Your name for ever hateful. Fab. I will do 't, Do't, excellentest goodness, and conclude My days in silent sadness. Flav. You may prosper In Spain, in France, or elsewhere, as in Italy. You interrupted study with commérce. I'll think of your supplies; meantime, pray, storm not At my behaviour to you; I have forgot Acquaintance with mine own-keep your first dis tance. Camillo! who is near? Vespucci ! 1 [He draws back. this antic carriage.] This childish and ridiculous affectation of levity; which she assumed, partly to humour the count, but chiefly, as she afterward says, to defeat the "lascivious villanies" of her attendants, Camillo and Vespucci.-GIFFORD. Enter JULIO, CAMILLO, and VESPUCCI. Jul. What! Our lady's last familiar? Flav. Oh, I am sick, sick, sick I faint at heart-kiss me, nay, prithee, quickly, [TO JUL. Or I shall swoon. You've staid a sweet while from me. And this companion too-beshrew him! Jul. Dearest, Thou art my health, my blessing:-turn the bankrupt Cam. Hence, hence, you vermin! [Exit FAB. Now we have our own lord here; I shall never Belike, for some new charity? Flav. We must not paper. Be troubled with his needs; a wanting creature Is monstrous, is as ominous-fy upon't! Despatch the silly mushroom once for all, And send him with some pittance out o' the country, Where we may hear no more of him. Jul. Thy will Shall stand a law, my matchless pleasure; No life is sweet without thee: in my heart Reign empress, and be styled thy Julio's sovereign, My only, precious dear. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. An Apartment in JULIO's House. Enter VESPUCCI and CAMILLO. Ves. Come, thou art caught, Camillo. That were a jest indeed; I caught? Does scatter glances, wheels her round, and smiles; Each hour have run in progress; then thou kissest Cam. So, Vespucci ! This will not do, I read it on thy forehead, Ves. She loves thee; Dotes on thee; in my hearing told her lord Of courtship, and of compliment :—ah, ah! She nick'd it there!-I envy not thy fortunes; For, to say truth, thou 'rt handsome, and deserv'st her, Were she as great again as she is. Cam. I handsome? Alas, alas, a creature of Heaven's making, There's all! But, sirrah, prithee, let's be sociable; I do confess, I think the goody-madam May possibly be compass'd. Ves. A pretty toy 'tis. |