Seeking me treach'rous man, yet no man neither, Of wronged love and friendship rightly makes me. grave; Who can detect I hear one's pace; 'tis surely Carracus. Enter CARRACUS. Car. Not find my friend! sure some malignant planet Rules o'er this night, and envying the content Which I in thought possess, debars me thus From what is more than happy, the lov'd presence Alb. 'Tis wronged Carracus by Albert's baseness : I have no power now to reveal myself. Car. The horses stand at the appointed place, And night's dark coverture makes firm our safety. My friend is surely fallen into a slumber On some bank hereabouts; I will call him. Friend, Albert, Albert. Alb. Whate'er you are that call, you know my name. Car. Ay, and thy heart, dear friend. [Maria appears above. Mar. My Carracus, are you so soon return'd? I see, you'll keep your promise. Car. Who would not do so, having pass'd it thee, Cannot be fram'd of aught but treachery. Fairest, descend, that by our hence departing We may make firm the bliss of our content. Mar. Is your friend Albert with you? 1 1 [Dodsley, 1874: "hies".] Mar. Hold me from falling, Carracus. Car. Come, fair Maria, the troubles of this night Can but avail your good [She descends. Alb. O friend, no more; come, you are slow in haste. Till all her deeds be finish'd. Who, looking in a book, [Aside. [Exeunt. [Act i.] Albert, after the marriage of Carracus, struck with remorse for the injury he has done to his friend, knocks at Carracus's door, but cannot summon resolution to see him, or to do more than inquire after his welfare. Alb. Conscience, thou horror unto wicked men, Of thy tormenting terror? O, but it fits not! Who but a damn'd one could have done like me ? And with what pleasing passions did he suffer 1[Dodsley, ed. Hazlitt, 1874, vol. xi.] With my true friend. But now, when joy should be, In all which time I have not once beheld him. This is his house. I'll call to know his health, but will not see him; I could not but reveal, and so pour on A Servant opens. Alb. Is the master of the house within ? [He knocks. Serv. Yes, marry, is he, sir: would you speak with him? Is he in health with his late espoused wife? Serv. Both are exceeding well, sir. Alb. I am truly glad on't: farewell, good friend. Serv. I pray you, let's crave your name, sir; I may else have anger. Alb. You may say, one Albert, riding by this way, only inquired their health. Serv. I will acquaint so much. Alb. How like a poisonous doctor have I come may And the abode of men, to entertain a life : I live, This wretched trunk of mine, upon whose barks And there this short breath of mortality I'll finish up in that repentant state, Where not the allurements of earth's vanities Can e'er o'ertake me: there's no baits for lust, No friend to ruin; I shall then be free 1 [A line and a half omitted.] [Exit serv. From practising the art of treachery. Where on each tree and springing plant I'll carve Who but a damn'd one could have done like me? [Act ii] LINGUA. A COMEDY BY ANTHONY BREWER [PUBLISHED 1607, NOT BY BREWER BUT BY JOHN TOMKINS: FLOURISHED 1610] Languages. The ancient Hebrew, clad with mysteries; The braving Spanish, and the smooth-tongued French Tragedy and Comedy. - fellows both, both twins, but so unlike As birth to death, wedding to funeral : [Act i., Sc. 1.1] That in the pumps doth frown at first acquaintance, Closing up all with a sweet catastrophe. This grave and sad, distain'd with brinish tears; That light and quick, with wrinkled laughter painted: Full of great fears, great hopes, great enterprizes ; By being death's mirror, and life's looking-glass. 1[Dodsley, ed. Hazlitt, vol. ix.] [Act iv., Sc. 2.] THE TRAGEDY OF NERO [FIRST PRINTED 1624]. Scenical Personation. "Tis better in a play Be Agamemnon, than himself indeed. And the strange blows that feigned courage gives! [Act iii., Sc. 3.1] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON [PUBLISHED 1608]. AUTHOR UNCERTAIN 2 Millisent the fair daughter of Clare was betrothed, with the consent of her parents, to Raymond, son of Mounchensey; but the elder Mounchensey being since fallen in his fortunes, Clare revokes his consent, and plots a marriage for his daughter with the rich heir of Jerningham. Peter Fabel, a good magician, who had been Tutor to young Raymond Mounchensey at College, determines by the aid of his art to assist his pupil in obtaining fair Millisent. PETER FABEL, solus. Fab. Good old Mounchensey, is thy hap so ill, That for thy bounty, and thy royal parts, 2 ton. [Ed. Walker, Temple Dramatists.] "It has been ascribed without much proof to Shakspeare, and to Michael Dray |