Attending on the nuncio of the pope

That now resides in Parma; by which means
He hopes to get the love of Annabella.

Enter GRIMALDI.

Grim. Save you, sir.

Rich. And you, sir.

Grim. I have heard

Of your approved skill, which through the city Is freely talk'd of, and would crave your aid. Rich. For what, sir?

Grim. Marry, sir, for this

But I would speak in private.

Rich. Leave us, cousin.

[PHI. retires.

Grim. I love fair Annabella, and would know

Whether in arts there may not be receipts
To move affection.

Rich. Sir, perhaps there may;

But these will nothing profit you.

Grim. Not me?

Rich. Unless I be mistook, you are a man Greatly in favour with the cardinal.

Grim. What of that?

Rich. In duty to his grace,

I will be bold to tell you, if you seek
To marry Florio's daughter, you must first
Remove a bar 'twixt you and her.

Grim. Who's that?

Rich. Soranzo is the man that hath her heart, And while he lives, be sure you cannot speed.

Grim. Soranzo! what, mine enemy?" is it he? Rich. Is he your enemy?

Grim. The man I hate

Worse than confusion; I will tell him straight.— Rich. Nay, then take my advice,

Even for his grace's sake the cardinal;

I'll find a time when he and she do meet,
Of which I'll give you notice; and, to be sure
He shall not scape you, I'll provide a poison
To dip your rapier's point in; if he had
As many heads as Hydra had, he dies.
Grim. But shall I trust thee, doctor?
Rich. As yourself;

Doubt not in aught.-[Exit GRIM.]-Thus shall the fates decree,

By me Soranzo falls, that ruin'd me."

SCENE IV.

Another Part of the Street.

[Exeunt.

Enter DONADO, with a Letter, BERGETTO, and POGGIO.

Don. Well, sir, I must be content to be both your secretary and your messenger myself. I cannot tell what this letter may work; but, as

6 Grim. Soranzo! what, mine enemy? It is strange that this should appear a new discovery to Grimaldi, when he had been fully apprized of it in the rencontre with Vasques in the first act. It is not often, however, that Ford thus wholly forgets himself. In the next line there is apparently some slight error: “I'll tell him straight," should probably be, "I'll to him straight."

7

that ruin'd me.] The old copy reads" that

sure as I am alive, if thou come once to talk with her, I fear thou wilt mar whatsoever I make.

Ber. You make, uncle! why am not I big enough to carry mine own letter, I pray?

Don. Ay, ay, carry a fool's head of thy own! why, thou dunce, would'st thou write a letter, and carry it thyself?

Ber. Yes, that I would, and read it to her with mine own mouth; for you must think, if she will not believe me myself when she hears me speak, she will not believe another's hand-writing. Oh, you think I am a blockhead, uncle. No, sir, Poggio knows I have indited a letter myself; so I have.

Pog. Yes truly, sir, I have it in my pocket.

Don. A sweet one, no doubt; pray let's see it. Ber. I cannot read my own hand very well, Poggio; read it, Poggio.

Don. Begin.

Pog. [reads] Most dainty and honey-sweet mistress, I could call you fair, and lie as fast as any that loves you; but my uncle being the elder man, I leave it to him, as more fit for his age, and the colour of his beard. I am wise enough to tell you I can bourd' where I see occasion; or if you like my

min'd me." What a detestable set of characters has Ford here sharked up for the exercise of his fine talents! With the exception of poor Bergetto and his uncle, most of the rest seem contending which of them shall prove worthiest of the wheel and the gibbet.

* I can bourd where I see occasion,] i. e. jest; see Jonson, vol. iv. p. 222. In the old spelling, this word is frequently confounded with board, which, as Sir Toby truly says, meant to accost. The

uncle's wit better than mine, you shall marry me; if you like mine better than his, I will marry you, in spite of your teeth. So commending my best parts to you, I rest

Yours,

upwards and downwards, or you may choose.

Ber. Ah, ha! here's stuff, uncle!

BERGETTO.

Don. Here's stuff indeed-to shame us all. Pray whose advice did you take in this learned letter? Pog. None, upon my word, but mine own. Ber. And mine, uncle, believe it, nobody's else; 'twas mine own brain, I thank a good wit for't. Don. Get you home, sir, and look you keep

within doors till I return.

Ber. How? that were a jest indeed! I scorn it, i'faith.

Don. What! you do not?

Ber. Judge me, but I do now.

Pog. Indeed, sir, 'tis very unhealthy.

Don. Well, sir, if I hear any of your apish running to motions' and fopperies, till I come back, you were as good not; look to't.

[Exit.

Ber. Poggio, shall's steal to see this horse with the head in's tail?

Pog. Ay, but you must take heed of whipping. Ber. Dost take me for a child, Poggio? Come, honest Poggio.

[Exeunt.

words in the text are borrowed from Nic. Bottom, confessedly a very facetious personage.

If I hear of your running to motions.] i. e. to puppet-shews; see Jonson, vol. ii. p. 7.

SCENE V.

FRIAR BONAVENTURA's Cell.

Enter FRIAR and GIOVANNI.

Friar. Peace! thou hast told a tale, whose every word

Threatens eternal slaughter to the soul;
I'm sorry I have heard it: would mine ears

Had been one minute deaf, before the hour

That thou cam'st to me! O young man, cast

away,

By the religious number of mine order,'
I day and night have wak'd my aged eyes
Above my strength, to weep on thy behalf:
But Heaven is angry, and be thou resolv'd,
Thou art a man remark'd to taste a mischief.*
Look for't; though it come late, it will come sure.
Gio. Father, in this you are uncharitable;
What I have done, I'll prove both fit and good.
It is a principle which you have taught,
When I was yet your scholar, that the frame
And composition of the mind doth follow
The frame and composition of [the] body:
So, where the body's furniture is beauty,
The mind's must needs be virtue; which allow'd,

By the religious number of mine order.] A misprint, probably, for founder; but I have changed nothing.

2 Thou art a man remark'd to taste a mischief.] i. e. marked out to experience some fearful evil: in this sense the word mischief is sometimes used by our old writers.