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Ruined themselves? Human invention
Could not instruct me to dispose her where
She could be more defenced from all men's eyes;
An anchorite lives not prisoned in a wall
With more security. 'Tis not possible.
Why am I troubled thus? My fear abuses me;
In such a cause I would check an oracle.
And shall his dexterous forgery unsettle
My confidence? I wo'not shew a guilt
Of so much weakness in me. Fulvio-
And gentlemen-we'll speak to you anon.

Rol. I ha' spoke too much already, it seems; sure he has sent for her; I dare repose my life on her, to whose trust I gave my heart; she is a thousand witnesses in herself.

Fulo. It will be mirth, sir.

Rol. I like not this consulting---they break off pleasantly---now, in the name of Mercury, what crotchet?

Duke. I see it is in vain

To interrupt our fate; what is decreed
Above, becomes not mortals to dispute.

Sit there,--nay, be not modest, you were born to't, And therefore take your place: nay, nay, be covered;

Imagine that a crown, and those your subjects,
As, when I die, you know 'twill come to that,
In right of my sole daughter-So: does he not
Look like a prince indeed? appears he not
A pretty lump of majesty ?

Dond. He's studying some speech, I'll lay my
life-

Duke. Against his coronation, to thank all
His loving subjects, that as low as carth
Thus offer him their duties.

[Draw their Swords: EUGENIA enters,
and PERENOTTO.

Eug. Hold, I beseech you;
Let not my duty suffer misconstruction,

If, while my knee doth beg your blessing, here
I throw my arms, and circle next to heaven

What must be dearest to me,

Duke. Ha?

Eug. My joy of life!

Duke. Destroy me not.

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Rol. The cage was my conveyance.

Peren. That was presented lately with the birds, you gave command.

Duke. Be dumb, I dare not hear you.
Dond. This was a Bird in a Cage, indeed.
Duke. Search for the traitor Bonamico pre-
sently,

He has betrayed me; they shall suffer both,
Before the noise be spread to our dishonour.
Eug. Yet will you hear me?

Duke. I hear too much; thou hast forgot thy
birth,

Thy fortunes, and thy father. Were my cares,
So wondered at abroad, censured at home,
Worthy of nothing but contempt from thee,
From whom they were begotten? thou hast ploughed
Upon my face; Canst thou undo a wrinkle,
Or change but the complexion of one hair?
Yet thou hast grayed a thousand, taken from me,
Not added to my comforts, more than what,
Like an indulgent parent, I have flattered
Myself into.

Enter BONAMICO.

Grut. Here is the other traitor, sir.
Duke. Away with 'em to death.
Eug. Let me go too.

Duke. It needs not; thou art dead already, girl,
And in thy shame I and the dukedom suffer:
Thou may'st remember, (false to thy own vow,)
Philenzo, whom I banished for thy sake:
The title of my subject, and thy love

Eug. Alas! I would preserve all, am so far To him, pulled our displeasure on him; since

from killing,

That I would die myself, rather than see

One drop of blood forced from his crimson fountain,

Or but one tear rackt from your eye. Oh hear me,
And after let your anger strike two dead,
So you would let us dwell both in one grave;
And did you know how near we were in life,
You would not think it fitting that in death
Our ashes were divided. You have heard,
When the poor turtle's ravished from her mate,
The orphan'd dove doth groan away her life
In widowed solitude; let me call him husband,
And tell yourself the rest.

Duke. Kill not thy father with one word, Eugenia: Thy husband!

We studying to add more height to thee,
Thou hast made thyself less, and, for aught we

know,

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Though none durst tell us so now we have ar gument

Of justice, and our every breath is law,

To speak thee dead at once; we shaʼnot need To study a divorce, thy second exile

Shall be eternal-death.

Rol. You do me honour.

Do move preposterous in my brain: what cure?
I lose myself. Run with a haste thou wouldst
Preserve my life, and stay the execution:
I will not have a drop of blood fall from
Philenzo for my dukedom! fly, I say,
Thou shouldst be there already.

Enter DONDOLO.

How now, has Philenzo still a head on?
Dond. Yes, my lord.

Duke. Follow him, and with that nimbleness thou wouldst

Duke. Be it your punishment, as you preferred Leap from thy chamber when the roof's a-fire,

him

By art to her, now, by another art,

For ever to divide them; be's executioner,
And after make him higher by the head,
To cure's ambition: see't advanced.

Rol. Ere I go, dread sir,

I have an humble suit; it is not life
I'll ask, for that I give up willingly,
And call it mercy in you, to immortalize
The affection I shall owe Eugenia:
Your other banishment is only death,
You new-create me now; it was my aim,
And my attempt you thought so bold, I made
To serve this end, that, since I could not live,
I might die for her; pray reprieve my breath
But till I take my leave; one minute does it;
It shall be a very short and silent farewell.
Enter Ambassador.

Duke. Tis granted.
Fulo. My lord ambassador!

Duke. Not the least whisper of Philenzo, as you value our regard.—O, my good lord, welcome! Ambas. Letters to your grace.

Duke. They are grateful as my comfort:-Perenotto, let them withdraw; her vein will be discovered:-Fulvio, follow and part them; give order for his execution; off with his head instantly -I can read no more for joy: Perenotto, use your best oratory on my daughter to forget that traitor, aud prepare to marry Florence; 'tis concluded to be solemnized by proxy. Dond. I'll see the execution. [Exit. Duke. Now to the rest: [Reads. "Your last letters were acceptable; and our son before had intention to finish the marriage in his person; but lately receiving intelligence, that one Philenzo, of noble birth, now in exile, though without your consent, had long since interest in your daughter's affection, we thought meet rather to advise for his repeal, than proceed to our dishonour. Where the hearts meet, there only marriages are sacred; and princes should be exemplary in all justice. Although we disclaim in this design, on our parts, we will continue all other princely correspondence."

I am justly punished, and have run myself
Into a labyrinth, from whence no art

Can bring me off with safety.-My lord, you may
Please to retire yourself: a thousand wheels

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Proclaim aloud our pardon to Philenzo,

And bring him back to us.

Dond. 'Tis too late, sir; Philenzo's dead already:

He saved the executioner that trouble.
The voice is, he is poisoned.

Enter FULVIO.

Duke. Poisoned! how?

Where is Philenzo?

This fool reports him poisoned! what circumstance?

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Fulo. He had no sooner parted from Eugenia,
But suddenly he fainted; at which fall
Of his own spirit he seemed grieved with shame,
To shew so little courage near his death,
Which he called martyrdom; and presently,
Whether supplied by other, or prepared
By himself, we know not, he had a vial
Of water sovereign, as was pretended,
To enliven his dull heart; he drank it up,
And soon shewed chearful in his eyes: we led
Him smiling forward; but before we could
Approach the place of death, he sunk again,
But irrecoverably; for in vain we applied
Our help: by which we did conclude he had
Drank poison.

Duke. All this talk is such, and through
My ear I take it in with as much danger;
I feel it active in my brain already.
Call our physicians, I will hang them all,
Unless they can recover him; it shall be
Death to save any man hereafter, if
They suffer him to perish.

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But thou wo't not believe me: had he lived,
He had been thine; that minute took him hence,
Wherein I first resolved to ha' given thee to him.
Eug. Oh! do not mock me, sir, to add to my
Affliction; you ne'er would give me to him!
Duke. May heaven forgive me never then; but
what

Avails too late compunction? Noble gentleman!
Thou shalt have princely funeral, and carry
On thy cold marble the inscription of
Our son in death, and my Eugenia's husband.
Fulv. Madam, this sorrow for his loss is real.
We met the Florentine ambassador,
Who told me the expectation of that prince
Was now dissolved, and messengers were sent
To stay the execution.

Duke. Who now

Shall marry my Eugenia? I have undone The hope of our posterity.

Eug. Not so, sir;

If yet you'll give me leave to make my choice, I'll not despair to find a husband.

Duke. Where?

Eug. Here, royal sir; Philenzo is not dead, But made, by virtue of a drink, to seem so; Thus to prevent his suffering, that I night, Or other friend by my confederacy, By begging of his body fit for burial, Preserve him from your anger.

Duke. Do'st not mock me? •Eug. Let me beg your pardon: Confident of your change to mercy, I have Confessed what terror could not force me to.

Enter MORELLO, BONAMICO, and Ladies.

Grut. This is pretty, Dondolo.
Duke. Blessings fall doubly on thee!
Eug. He expects

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And call me father.

Rol. I am not yet awake.

Eug. Thou art, Philenzo, and all this is truth; My father is converted.

Rol. 'Tis a miracle!

Duke. You must believe it:

In sign how we are pleased, proclaim this day,
Through Mantua, a pardon to all offenders,
As amply as when we took our crown.

Morel. Then my petticoat is discharged.
Dond. Now, lady, you are free.

Grut. Make me happy to renew my suit.
Mor. And mine. Shall's to barlibreak? 29

I was in hell last; 'tis little less to be in a petticoat sometimes,

Rol. Madam, vouchsafe him kiss your hand; We owe him much. [Presenting BONAMICO, Duke. We'll take him to our service,

Bon. I am too much honoured.

Duke. And you into our bosom. This day shall Be consecrate to triumph; and may time, When 'tis decreed the world shall have an end, By revolution of the year, make this

The day that shall conclude all memories!

[Exeunt.

29 Barlibreak-Littleton explains Chorus" circularis," Barley-break, when they dance taking hands

round."

So, in The Virgin Martyr, A. 5. S. 1 ;

"He is at Barli-break, and the last couple are now in hell.”

The Guardian, A. 1. S. 1.:

66 Hey-day! there are a legion of young Cupids
At Barli-break."

A new Wonder, A Woman never vext, 1632, A. 1.:

66

If you find my mistris

Have a mind to this coupling at barly-breake,

Let her not be the last couple to be left in hell."

Reynard's Deliverance of 266 Christians, 1608. Sign. A. 3. :

- or rather, as lovers roming after young damosels at barli-breake."

EDITION,

The Bird in a Cage, a Comedie, as it hath beene presented at the Phoenix in Drury-lane. The author James Shirley, servant to her Majesty:-Juven. Satyra 7, Et spes et ratio Studiorum in Casare tantum. London, printed by B. Alsop and T. Fawcet, for William Cooke; and are to be sold at his shop neere Furnivals Inne Gate, in Holborne, 1633. 4to.

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THE

JEW OF MALTA.

BY

CHRISTOPHER MARLOW.

TO MY WORTHY FRIEND

MR THOMAS HAMMON,

OF GRAY'S INN, &C.

THIS Play, composed by so worthy an author as Mr Marlow, and the part of the Jew presented by so inimitable an actor as Mr Allen,* being in this latter age commended to the stage: as I ushered it unto the court, and presented it to the Cock-pit, with these prologues and epilogues here inserted, so now being newly brought to the press, I was loth it should be published without the ornament of an epistle; making choice of you unto whom to devote it; than whom (of all those gentlemen and acquaintance, within the compass of my long knowledge) there is none more able to tax ignorance, or attribute right to merit. Sir, you have been pleased to grace some of mine own works with your courteous patronage: I hope this will not be the worse accepted, because commended by me; over whom, none can claim more power or privilege than yourself. I had no better a new-year's gift to present you with; receive it therefore as a continuance of that inviolable obligement, by which he rests still engaged, who, as he ever hath, shall always remain

Tuissimus,
THO. HEYWOOD †.

THE PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT COURT.

Gracious and great, that we so boldly dare,
(Mongst other plays that now in fashion are)
Το present this, writ many years agone,
And in that age thought second unto none;
We humbly crave your pardon: we pursue
The story of a rich and famous Jew,

Who lived in Malta: you shall find him still,
In all his projects, a sound Machiavel;
And that's his character: he that hath past
So many censures, is now come at last
To have your princely ears; grace you him then,
You crown the action, and renown the pen.

* The praises bestowed on this excellent actor and worthy man, by his contemporaries, would be sufficient to send his name down to posterity with honour, independent of the noble endowment which he founded at Dulwich. He was born in London on the 1st of September, 1566, was early introduced to the stage, and appears to have been at the head of his profession, by which he acquired a considerable fortune. He retired to Dulwich several years before his death, which happened on the 25th of November, 1626. See his life in the Biographia Britannica.

+ Thomas Heywood.-See an account of him, page 1 of this volume.

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Perkins.-This was Richard Perkins, one of the performers belonging to the Cockpit theatre in Drury-Lane. His name is printed among those who acted in Hannibal and Scipio, by Nabbes; The Wedding, by Shirley; and The Fair Maid of the West, by Heywood. After the playhouses were shut up, on account of the confusion arising from the civil wars, Perkins and Sumner, who belonged to the same house, lived together at Clerkenwell, where they died and were buried. They both died some years be fore the Restoration. See The Dialogue on Plays and Players, vol, xii.

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