And I must thank direction of the providence Clar. Aptly have you styled it Flo. You will find his tongue But a just secretary to his heart. Cast. The guardianess, dear creatures, now and It seems, makes bold to talk. [then, Clar. She has waited on us From all our cradles; will prate sometimes oddly, However, means but sport: I am unwilling Qur household should break up, but must obey His wisdom, under whose command we live ; Sever our companies I'm sure we shall not: Yet, 'tis a pretty life this, and a quiet. Enter MOROSA, and SEcco, with his apron on, carrying a bason of water, scissars, comb, towels, razor, &c. Sec. Chuck, duckling, honey, mouse, monkey, all and everything, I am thine ever and only; will never offend again, as I hope to shave clean, and get honour by it: heartily I ask forgiveness; be gracious to thine own flesh and blood, and kiss me home. Mor. Look you provoke us no more; for this time you shall find mercy.-Was 't that hedgehog set thy brains a-crowing? be quits with him; do not hurt the great male-baby. but Sec. Enough; I am wise, and will be merry.Haste, beanties; the caroches will sudden receive you a night of pleasure is toward, pray for good husbands a-piece, that may trim you featly, dainty ones, and let me alone to trim them. Mor. Loving hearts, be quick as soon as ye can, time runs apace; what you must do, do nimbly, and give your minds to't. Young bloods stand fumbling fie, away; be ready, for shame, beforehand. Husband, stand to thy tackling, husband, like a man of mettle :-go, go, go! [Exit with the Ladies. Sec. [Aloud.] Will ye come away, loiterers? shall I wait all day? am I at livery d'ye think? Enter SPADONE ready to be trimmed, and NITIDO. Spa. Here, and ready; what a mouthing thou keepest! I have but scoured my hands, and curried my head to save time. Honest Secco! neat Secco! precious barbarian! now thou lookest like a worshipful tooth-drawer; would I might see thee on horseback, in the pomp, once. Sec. A chair, a chair! quick, quick! Nit. Here's a chair, a chair-politic, my fine boy sit thee down in triumph, and rise one of the Nine Worthies! thou'lt be a sweet youth anon, sirrah. now. Spa. (Sits down.) So; to work with a grace I cannot but highly be in love with the fashion of gentry, which is never complete till the snip snap of dexterity hath mowed off the excrements of slovenry. Sec. Very commodiously delivered, I protest. Nit. Nay, the thing under your fingers is a whelp of the wits, I can assure you. Spa. I a whelp of the wits? no, no, I cannot bark impudently and ignorantly enough. Oh, an a man of this art had now and then sovereignty over fair ladies, you would tickle their upper and their lower lips, you'd so smouch and belaver their chops! Sec. We light on some offices for ladies too, as occasion serves. Nit. Yes; frizzle or powder their hair, plane their eye-brows, set a nap on their cheeks, keep secrets, and tell news; that's all. Sec. Wink fast with both your eyes: the ingredients to the composition of this ball are most odorous camphire, pure soap of Venice, oil of sweet almonds, with the spirit of alum: they will search and smart shrewdly, if you keep not the shop windows of your head close. [SPA. shuts his eyes, while SEC. besmears the whole of his face. Spa. News! well remembered; that's part of your trade too ;-prithee do not rub so roughly— and how goes the tattle o' the town? what novelties stirring, ha? Sec. Strange, and scarce to be credited. A gelding was lately seen to leap an old mare; and an old man of one hundred and twelve stood in a white sheet for getting a wench of fifteen with child, here hard by: most admirable and por Sec. With a little Græcum album for mundification. Nit. Græcum album is a kind of white perfumed powder, which plain country people, I believe, call dog-musk. Spa. Dog-musk! pox o'the dog-musk !-what! dost mean to bleach my nose, thou giv'st such twitches to't? Set me at liberty as soon as thou canst, gentle Secco. Sec. Only pare off a little superfluous down from your chin, and all's done. Spa. Pish, no matter for that; dispatch, I entreat thee. Nit. Have patience, man; 'tis for his credit to be neat. Spa. What's that so cold at my throat, and scrubs so hard? Sec. A kind of steel instrument, ycleped a razor, a sharp tool and a keen; it has a certain virtue of cutting a throat, if a man please to give his mind to't hold up your muzzle, signor-when did you talk bawdily to my wife last? tell me for your own good, signor, I advise you. Spa. I talk bawdily to thy wife? hang bawdry! Good now, mind thy business, lest thy hand slip. Nit. Give him kind words, you were best, for a toy that I know. Sec. Confess, or I shall mar your grace in whiffing tobacco, or squirting of sweet wines down your gullet-you have been offering to play the gelding we told you of, I suppose-speak truth,move the semicircle of your countenance to my left hand file,-out with the truth; would you have had a leap? Nit. Spadone, thou art in a lamentable pickle, have a good heart, and pray if thou canst; I pity thee. Spa. I protest and vow, friend Secco, I know no leaps, I. Sec. Lecherously goatish, and an eunuch! this cut, and then Spa. Confound thee, thy leaps and thy cuts! I am no eunuch, you finical ass, I am no eunuch; but at all points as well provided as any he in Italy, and that thy wife could have told thee. This your conspiracy! to thrust my head into a brazen tub of kitchen-lee, hood-wink mine eyes in mud-soap, and then offer to cut my throat in the dark, like a coward? I may live to be revenged on both of ye. Nit. O scurvy! thou art angry; feel, man, whether thy weason be not cracked first. Sec. You must fiddle my brains into a jealousy, rub my temples with saffron, and burnish my forehead with the juice of yellows! Have I fitted you now, sir? Enter MOROSA. Spa. All's whole yet, I hope. Mor. Yes, sirrah, all is whole yet; but if ever thou dost speak treason against my sweeting and me once more, thou'lt find a roguy bargain on't. Dear, this was handled like one of spirit and discretion; Nitido has paged it trimly too; no wording, but make ready and attend at court. Sec. Now we know thou art a man, we forget what hath past, and are fellows and friends again. Nit. Wipe your face clean, and take heed of a [Exeunt MOR. SEC. and NIT. razor. Troy. Sir, I obey you. Flav. Jewels, my lord? (Eril Oct. No stranger's eye e'er view'd them, Rom. Not I, I do protest: I hope, sir, Oct. 'Tis a proper quality For any gentleman; your other friends, Jul. Who, they? they know not Cam. We are ignorant In gems which are not common. Vesp. But his lordship Is pleased, it seems, to try our ignorance.- Jul. He at last has Bestow'd himself upon a glorious service. Rom. Most happy man!-I now forgive the injuries Thy former life exposed thee to. Liv. Turn capuchin! He! whilst I stand a cypher, and fill up Only an useless sum to be laid out In an unthrifty lewdness, that must buy But thankfully. Flav. He's now dead to the world, And lives to Heaven; a saint's reward reward him! My only loved lord, all your fears are henceforth Confined unto a sweet and happy penance. [Ande ¦ Re-enter TROYLO, with CASTAMELA, CLARELLA, FLORIA, SILVIA, and MOROSA. Jul. Storm not at what is past. Oct. Behold, I keep my word; these are the May crown you with a full content. jewels Deserve a treasury; I can be prodigal Amongst my friends; examine well their lustre, Does it not sparkle! wherefore dwells your silence In such amazement? Liv. Patience, keep within me, Oct. Whatever [TO ROM. Report hath talk'd of me abroad, and these, tresses Leap not yet rudely into scorn of anger! [Aside. They are, I have none other; how brought up, Flav. Beauties incomparable! Oct. Romanello, I have been only steward to your pleasures; You loved this lady once; what say you now to her? Rom. By no means, fair one; Enjoy your life of greatness. Sure the spring Is past, the BoWER OF FANCIES is quite wither'd, I dare not venture for a blank, excuse me. Their qualities may speak. Now, Romanello, Liv. Most noble lord, I am struck silent. Here's noble choice. Rom. Frenzy, how didst thou seize me? Sil. And gave you welcome. Mor. Indeed, forsooth, and so we did, an't like you. Oct. Enough, enough.-Now, to shut up the night, Some menial servants of mine own are ready [Music. Enter SPADONE, SECCO, NITIDO, and other Maskers, dressed, respectively, as the six characters mentioned above. A DANCE. Your duties are perform'd. Henceforth, Spadone, L EPILOGUE, Spoken by MOROSA, CLARELLA, CASTAMELA, and FLAVIA. Mor. A while suspected, gentlemen, I look Clar. Our harmless pleasures, free, in every sort, Cast. Distrust is base, presumption urgeth wrongs; THE LADY'S TRIAL. TO MY DESERVINGLY HONOURED, JOHN WYRLEY, ESQUIRE, AND TO THE VIRTUOUS AND RIGHT WORTHY GENTLEWOMAN, MRS. MARY WYRLEY, HIS WIFE, THIS SERVICE. THE inequality of retribution turns to a pity, when there is not ability sufficient for acknowledgment. Your equal respects may yet admit the readiness of endeavour, though the very hazard in it betray my defect. I have enjoyed freely acquaintance with the sweetness of your dispositions, and can justly account, from the nobleness of them, an evident distinction betwixt friendship and friends. The latter (according to the practice of compliment are usually met with, and often without search: the other, many have searched for, I have found. For which, though I partake a benefit of the fortune, yet to you, most equal pair, must remain the honour of that bounty. In presenting this issue of some less serious hours to your tuition, I appeal from the severity of censure to the mercy of your judgments; and shall rate it at a higher value than when it was mine own, if you only allow it the favour of adopti n Thus, as your happiness in the fruition of each other's love proceeds to a constancy; so the truth of mine shall appear less unshaken, as you shall please to continue in your good opinions JOHN FORD. LANGUAGE and matter, with a fit of mirth, A goodly approbation, which must bring In which, if so he have not hit all right, MASTER BIRD ACT I. Departing leaves them in cold robes of ice, As I leave Genoa.- Enter TRELCATIO, SPINELLA, and CASTANNA. Now appears the object Of my apprenticed heart: thou bring'st, Spinella, Such will our next embraces be, for life; Will force our sleeps to steal upon our stories. Trel. I dare promise, My husbanding that trust with truth and care. Cast. My sister shall to me stand an example, Of pouring free devotions for your safety. Aur. Gentle Castanna, thou'rt a branch of good ness Grown on the self-same stock with my Spinella.But why, my dear, hast thou lock'd up thy speech [To SPIN. In so much silent sadness? Oh! at parting, Trel. Blessings and health preserve you! [Exit. counsels : A while, you are design'd your sister's husband. Adur. We wish thee, honour'd Auria, life and Thy virtues are such friends they cannot fail thee; Faith, purity of thoughts, and such a meekness, As would force scandal to a blush. Spi. Admit, sir, The patent of your life should be call'd in ; Cast. And such conclusion, sister, Aur. 'Tis true, Castanna. Spi. I grant it truth; yet, Auria, I'm a woman, And therefore apt to fear: to show my duty, And not to take heart from you, I'll walk from you, |