Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

fortune hath convey'd to my understanding; and but. that frailty hath examples for his falling, I fhould, wonder at Angelo. How will you do to content this Subftitute, and to fave your brother?

Ifab. I am now going to refolve him. I had rathermy brother die by the law, than my fon fhould be unlawfully born. But, oh, how much is the good Duke, deceiv'd in Angelo? if ever he return, and I can fpeak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or difcover his Go

vernment.

Duke. That fhall not be much amifs; yet as the matter now ftands, he will avoid your accufation.He made tryal of you only.-Therefore faften your ear on my advisings. To the love I have in doing good, a remedy prefents itself. I do make myself believe, that you may most uprightly do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit; redeem your brother from the angry law; do no ftain to your own gracious perfon; and much please the abfent Duke, if, peradventure, hẹ fhall ever return to have hearing of this bufine s.

Ifab. Let me hear you speak further. I have fpirit to any thing, that appears not foul in the truth of my Spirit.

Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful: have you not heard fpeak of Mariana, the fifter of Frederick, the great foldier who mifcarried at fea?

Ifab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name.

Duke. Her fhould this Angelo have marry'd; was affianc'd to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed; between which time of the contract, and limit of the folemnity, her brother Frederick was wreckt at fea, having in that perifh'd veffel the dowry of his fifter. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor gentlewoman; there fhe loft a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever moft kind and natural; with him her portion, the finew of her fortune, her marriage

Y 2

marriage-dowry; with both, her combinate husband, this well feeming Angelo.

Ifab. Can this be fo? did Angelo fo leave her?

Duke. Left her in tears, and dry'd not one of them with his comfort; fwallow'd his vows whole, pretending, in her, discoveries of difhonour; in few, bestow'd her on her own lamentation, which fhe yet wears for his fake; and he, a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not.

Ifab. What a merit were it in death to take this poor maid from the world! what corruption in this life, that it will let this man live! but how out of this can the avail?

Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal; and the cure of it not only faves your brother, but keeps you from dishonour in doing it.

Ifab. Shew me how, good father.

8

Duke. This fore-nam'd maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection; his unjust unkindness, (that in all reafon fhould have quench'd her love,) hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo, anfwer his requiring with a plaufible obedience; agree with his demands to the point; only refer yourself to this advantage: first, that your ftay with him may not be long; that the time may have all shadow and filence in it; and the place anfwer to convenience. This being granted, in course now follows all. We fhall advise this wronged maid to ftead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itfelf hereafter, it may compel him to her recompence; and here by this is your brother faved, your Honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the cor

Only refer yourself to this adantage.] This is icarcely to be reconciled with any established

mode of fpeech. We may read, Only referve yourself to, or only referve to yourself this advantage.

rupt

rupt Deputy scaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it?

Ifab. The image of it gives me content already, and, I truft, it will grow to a moft profperous perfection.

Duke. It lies much in your holding up. Hafte you fpeedily to Angelo; if for this night he intreat you to his bed, give him promife of fatisfaction. I will prefently to St. Luke's; there at the moated Grange refides this dejected Mariana; at that place call upon me, and dispatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly. Ijab. I thank you for this comfort. Fare you well, good father. [Exeunt feverally.

[blocks in formation]

Re-enter Duke as a Friar, Elbow, Clown, and Officers.

Eb.

[ocr errors]

there be remedy for but then

you will needs by and fell men and women ke beafts, we fhall have all the world drink brown and white baftard. '

Duke. Oh, heav'ns! what stuff is here?

Clown. 'Twas never merry world fince of two ufuries the merrieft was put down, and the worfer allow'd

9-the corrupt Deputy fealed.] To fcale the Deputy may be, to reach him notwithstanding the clevation of his place; or it may be, to ftrip him and difcover his naked refs, though armed and concealed by the investments of authority.

- baftard.] A kind of iweet wine then much in vogue. From the Italian, Baftardo. WAR B.

2-fince of two ufuries, &c.] Here a fatite on ufury turns abruptly to a fatire on the perfon of the uferer, without any kind of preparation. We may be affured then, that a line or two, at least, have been loft. The fubject of which we may easily difcover, a comparison between the two ufurers; as, before, beY 3

tween

low'd by order of law, a furr'd gown to keep him warm, and furr'd with ox and lamb-fkins too, to fignifie, that craft, being richer than innocency, ftands for the facing.

Elb. Come your way, Sir.-Blefs you, good father Friar.

Duke. And you, good brother father; what offence hath this man made you, Sir?

Elb. Marry, Sir, he hath offended the law; and, Sir, we take him to be a Thief too, Sir; for we have found upon him, Sir, a ftrange pick-lock, which we have fent to the Deputy.

Duke. Fie, Sirrah, a bawd, a wicked bawd!
The evil that thou caufeft to be done,

That is thy means to live. Doit thou but think,
What 'tis to cram a maw, or cloath a back,
From fuch a filthy vice? fay to thyself,
From their abominable and beaftly touches
I drink, I eat, array myself, and live. 3
Canft thou believe thy living is a life,

So inkingly depending! go mend, mend.

Clown. Indeed, it doth ftink in fome fort, Sir; but

[blocks in formation]

I drink, I eat away myfelf, and live.] This is one very excellent Inftance of the Sagacity of our Editors, and it were to be wished heartily, they would have obliged us with their phyfical Solution, how a Man can eat away himfelf and live. Mr. Bishop gave me that most certain Emendation, which I have fubftituted in the Room of the former foolifh Reading; by the help whereof, we have this easy fenie; that the Clown fed himself, and put cloaths on his Back, by exercifing the vile trade of a Bawd.

THEOBALD.

Duke,

Duke. Nay, if the devil hath giv'n thee proofs for fin,

Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer; Correction and inftruction must both work,

Ere this rude beaft will profit.

Elb. He must before the Deputy, Sir; he has given him warning; the Deputy cannot abide a whore-mafter; if he be a whore-monger, and comes before him, he were as good to go a mile on his errand.

Duke. That we were all, as fome would seem to be, Free from all faults, as faults from feeming free! **

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »