Page images
PDF
EPUB

Confirm'd and harden'd,' never durst I pitch
On any, howsoever likely, rest,

Where the presumption might be construed wrong;
The word is hateful, and the sense wants pardon.
For, as I durst not wrong the meanest, so
He who but only aim'd, by any boldness,
A wrong to me, should find I must not bear it;
The one is as unmanly as the other.-
Now, without interruption.

Adur. Stand, Aurelio,

And justify thine accusation boldly;

Spare me the needless use of my confession;
And, having told no more than what thy jealousy
Possess'd thee with, again before my face
Urge to thy friend the breach of hospitality
Adurni trespass'd in, and thou conceiv'st
Against Spinella; [when thy] proofs grow faint,
If barely not suppos'd, I'll answer guilty.
Aurel. You come not here to brave us?
Adur. No, Aurelio;

But to reply upon that brittle evidence,
To which thy cunning never shall rejoin.
I make my judge my jury; be accountant
Whether, with all the eagerness of spleen
That a suspicious rage can plead, thou hast
Enforced the likelihood of scandal.

Aurel. Doubt not

But that I have deliver'd honest truth,
As much as I believe, and justly witness.

Adur. Loose grounds to raise a bulwark of reproach on!

And thus for that.—My errand hither is not
In whining, truant-like submission,

To cry, "I have offended, pray, forgive me;

[blocks in formation]

Of softness is exchang'd for plumes of age, &c.] This is at once a correct translation, and a good comment on the well-known line, "Insperata tuæ cum veniet pluma superbiæ,"

which has sorely perplexed the critics.--GIFFORD,

I will do so no more:" but to proclaim

The power of virtue, whose commanding sovereignty

Sets bounds to rebel-bloods; and checks, restrains, Custom of folly; by example teaches

A rule to reformation; by rewards

Crowns worthy actions, and invites to honour.
Aurel. Honour and worthy actions best beseem
Their lips who practise both, and not discourse 'em.
Aur. Peace, peace, man; I am silent.

Adur. Some there are,

And they not few in number, who resolve
No beauty can be chaste, unless attempted.
Meeting ofttimes too many soon seduced, they
Conclude all may be won by gifts, by service,
Or compliments of vows: and with this file
I stood in rank; conquest secured my confidence.
Spinella-storm not, Auria-was an object
Of study for fruition; here I angled,

Not doubting the deceit could find resistance.
Aurel. After confession, follows-

Aur. Noise! observe him.

Adur. Oh, strange! by all the comforts of my hopes,

I found a woman good;-a woman good!
Yet, as I wish belief, or do desire

A memorable mention, so much majesty
Of humbleness, and scorn, appear'd at once
In fair, in chaste, in wise Spinella's eyes,
That I grew dull in utterance, and one frown
From her cool'd every flame of sensual appetite.
Aur. On, sir, and do not stop.

Adur. Without protests,

I pleaded merely love, used not a syllable,
But what a virgin might without a blush

Have listen'd to, and, not well arm'd, have pitied;
But she, neglecting, cried, "Come, Auria, come,
Fight for thy wife at home!" then in rush'd you,

sir,

Talk'd in much fury, parted; when as soon
The lady vanish'd, after her the rest.
Aur. What follow'd?

Adur. My contrition on mine error;
In execution whereof I have prov'd
So punctually severe, that I renounce
All memory, not to this one fault alone,
But to my other greater, and more irksome.
Now he, whoever owns a name, that construes
This repetition the report of fear,

Of falsehood, or imposture, let him tell me
I give myself the lie, and I will clear
The injury, and man to man;—or, if
Such justice may prove doubtful, two to two,
Or three to three, or any way reprieve
The opinion of my forfeit, without blemish.

Aur. Who can you think I am? did you expect
So great a tameness as you find, Adurni,
That you cast loud defiance? say-

Adur. I have robb'd you

Of rigour, Auria, by my strict self-penance
For the presumption..

Aur. Sure, Italians hardly

Admit dispute in questions of this nature;
The trick is new.

Adur. I find my absolution,

By vows of change from all ignoble practice.
Aur. Why, look ye, friend, I told you this before;
You would not be persuaded:-let me think-

[Walks apart. Aurel. You do not yet deny that you solicited

The lady to ill purpose.

Adur. I have answer'd;

But it return'd much quiet to my mind,

Perplex'd with rare commotions.

Aur. That's the way;

It smooths all rubs.

Aurel. My lord!

Aur. Foh! I am thinking—
VOL. II.-7

You may talk forward.-If it take,' 't is clear;
And then-and then,-and so-and so-

Adur. You labour

With curious engines, sure.

Aur. Fine ones! I take you
To be a man of credit; else-
Adur. Suspicion

Is needless, know me better.
Aur. Yet you must not

Part from me, sir.

Adur. For that, your pleasure.
Aur. "Come,

Fight for thy wife at home, my Auria!"-Yes,
We can fight, my Spinella, when thine honour
Relies upon a champion.—

Now?

Trel. My lord,

Re-enter TRELCATIO.

Castanna, with her sister, and Malfato

Are newly enter'd.

Aur. Be not loud; convey them Into the gallery.-Aurelio, friend,

Adurni, lord, we three will sit in council,

And piece a hearty league, or scuffle shrewdly. [Exeunt.

1 These musings of Auria will be better understood when the second scene of the fifth act comes under the perusal of the reader. It will then be seen that Auria, as a means of freeing every circumstance of jealousy and suspicion, is projecting a marriage between Adurni and Castanna.

ACT V. SCENE I.

A Room in the House of MARTINO.

Enter MARTINO, BENATZI, and LEVIDOLCHE. Mart. Ruffian, out of my doors! thou com'st to rob me.

An officer! what, ho!-my house is haunted
By a lewd pack of thieves, of harlots, murderers,
Rogues, vagabonds! I foster a decoy here;
And she trowls on her ragged customer

To cut my throat for pillage.

Lev. Good sir, hear me.

Ben. Hear or not hear,-let him rave his lungs out -while this woman hath abode under this roof, I will justify myself her bedfellow in despite of denial; in despite those are my words.

Mart. Monstrous! why, sirrah, do I keep

An hospital for panders? Oh, thou monster,
Thou she-confusion! are you grown so rampant,
That from a private wanton, thou proclaim'st thy-
self

A baggage for all gamesters, lords or gentlemen, }
Strangers or homespun yeomen, footposts, pages,
Roarers, or hangmen ?.

Lev. This is my husband.

Mart. Husband!

Ben. Husband natural, I have married her; andwhat's your verdict on the match, signor? Mart. Husband, and married her!

Lev. Indeed, 't is truth.

Mart. A proper joining! give ye joy, great mis

tress;

Your fortunes are advanced, marry are they

What jointure is assured, pray? some three thou

sand

A-year in oaths and vermin? fair preferment!

« PreviousContinue »