Hath sent already for us, Amidea:

Oh that I knew what happy stars did govern
At thy nativity! It were no sin

To adore their influence.

Ami. What means my brother?
Flo. He is transported.

Ami. I shall suspect your health.

Sci. I easily could forget I am Sciarrha,
And fall in love myself.-Is she not fair,
Exceeding beautiful, and tempting, Florio?
Look on her well, methinks I could turn poet,
And make her a more excellent piece than
heaven.

Let not fond men hereafter commend what
They most admire, by fetching from the stars,
Or flowers, their glory of similitude,
But from thyself the rule to know all beauty;
And he that shall arrive at so much boldness,
To say his mistress' eyes, or voice, or breath,
Are half so bright, so clear, so sweet as thine,
Hath told the world enough of miracle.
These are the duke's own raptures, Amidea;
His own poetic flames; an argument
He loves my sister.

Ami. For what?

Sci. What do great ladies do at court, I pray? Enjoy the pleasures of the world, dance, kiss The amorous lords, and change court breath; sing; lose

Relief of other heaven; tell wanton dreams, Rehearse their sprightly bed-scenes, and boast which

Hath most idolaters; accuse all faces

That trust to the simplicity of nature,
Talk witty blasphemy,

Discourse their gaudy wardrobes, plot new pride,
Jest upon courtiers' legs, laugh at the wagging
Of their own feathers, and a thousand more
Delights, which private ladies never think of.
But above all, and wherein thou shalt make
All other beauties envy thee, the duke,
The duke himself shall call thee his, and single
From the fair troop thy person forth, to ex-
change

Embraces with, lay siege to these soft lips,
And not remove, till he hath suck'd thy heart,
Which soon dissolv'd with thy sweet breath,

shall be

Made part of his, at the same instant he Conveying a new soul into thy breast With a creating kiss.

Ami. What, for Heaven! be the duke's Sci. No, no, his mistress; command him, make us.

Ami. Give up my virgin honour to his lust? Sci. You may give it a better name; but do it. Ami. I do mistake you, brother, do I not?

Sci. No, no, my meaning is so broad, you

Sci. And what is your resolve?
Ami. To have my name

Stand in the ivory register of virgins

When I am dead. Before one factious thought
Should lurk within me to betray my fame
To such a blot, my hands shall mutiny,
And boldly with a poniard teach my heart
To weep out a repentance.

Sci. Let me kiss thee,

My excellent, chaste sister.-Florio,

Thou hast my soul; I did but try your virtues. 'Tis truth, the duke does love thee, viciously, Let him, let him! he comes to be our guest; This night he means to revel at our house,The Tarquin shall be entertain'd; he shall. Enter a Servant.

Ser. My lord, Pisano is come.

[Exit.

Sci. I had forgot his promise. Look up, sister, And shine with thine own smiles; Pisano's come, Pisano, thy contracted, honour'd friend; A gentleman so rich in hopes, we shall Be happy in's alliance.

Enter PISANO, COSMO, and FREDERICO.

Welcome all, But you above the rest, my brother shortly. Sister, and Florio, entertain your noble Friends; some few minutes I am absent. We Must not forget prepare for the duke's coming; I'll soon return.

Ami. You are not cheerful, sir;

[Exit.

Pis. Here's witness, all is cancell'd betwixt us;

Nay, an you weep-Farewell!

Ami. He's gone!

Flo. I am amazed.

Pis. Now lead me to my blessing.

[Exeunt PIS. COR. and FRED.

Flo. Shall a long suit and speeding in his love, With the world's notice, and a general fame Of contract too, just in the instant, when A marriage is expected, be broke off

With infamy to our house?

Ami. Brother, if ever

You loved poor Amidea, let not this

Ami. Guess by my eyes you may,

Something of sorrow hath befallen; no sooner You were departed, but some strange distemper Invaded him; we might discern a change

In's countenance, and though we pray'd him to Repose with us, he would straight back again; So, with Frederico,

And Signior Cosmo, he return'd.

Flo. The alteration was strange and sudden. Sci. 'Las! noble gentleman-but come, clear up Your face again, we hope it will not last: Look bright again, I say, I have given orderEnter a Gentleman.

Gent. My lord, the duke's already come.

[Exit.

Sci. Remove, Good Amidea, and reserve thy person To crown his entertainment; be not seen yet. [Exit AMIDEA. Enter DUKE, LORENZO, Alonzo, and Attendants. Duke. Sciarrha, we are come to be your guest. Sci. Your highness doth an honour to our house.

Duke. But where's thy sister? she must bid us welcome.

Sci. She is your grace's handmaid.
Duke. For this night,

Let the whole world conspire to our delight.
Lorenzo-

[Whispers him. [Aside.

Lor. Sir, be confident-and perish.

Ori. My dear Cosmo. Cos. My best Oriana.

Ori. You have been too much absent, I must chide you.

Cos. You cannot, sweet; I would I knew which way

To make thee angry; yes, that I might see
How well it would become thee. I do fear
Thou art some angel, and that sin would be
An argument to me, that thou wert mortal;
I must suspect thy too much goodness else,
And leave thee for the fellowship of saints,
I am too wicked.

Ori. You will make me angry.

Cos. But you will love me still, I fear.
Ori. Do you fear it?

Is't a misfortune?

Cos. What?

Ori. My love.

Cos. Your anger;

And yet the t'other oftentimes may carry
An evil with it; we may love too well,
And that's a fault.

Ori. Not where the object's good.

Cos. Oh yes: always beware of the extremes. Ori. What mean you? I affect none but my Cosmo,

Nor him with too much flame.

Cos. If you should, lady,

'Twere nobly done.

Ori. To love another?

Cos. Why not? if our reason be

Convinced, that's no such fault, as the world goes.

Let us examine all the creatures, read

The book of nature through, and we shall find
Nothing doth still the same; the stars do wander,
And have their divers influence; the elements
Shuffle into innumerable changes:
Our constitutions vary; herbs and trees
Admit their frosts and summer; and why then
Should our desires, that are so nimble, and
More subtle than the spirits in our blood,
Be such stay'd things within us, and not share
Their natural liberty? Shall we admit a change
In smaller things, and not allow it in
What most of all concerus us?

Ori. What?

Cos. Our loves.

Ori. Have you suspicion I am changed, and thus

Would school me for it? or shall I imagine
That you are alter'd?

Cos. Yes, I am, and therefore

Proclaim thy freedom; I do love thee less,
To show I love thee more.

Ori. What riddle's this?

Cos. I will explain. Upon maturity

Of counsel, Oriana, I have found

I am not worthy of thee, therefore come

To make thee satisfaction for my sin

Of loving thee, by pointing out a way,

And person, will become thy affection better.
Ori. You have a pretty humour.
Cos. What dost think

Of brave Pisano? shall his merit plead Succession in thy chaste thoughts?

Ori. I do know him.

Cos. Thou canst not choose, and I could study

none

Worthy thy love but him.
Ori. "Tis very likely
You would resign then?

Cos. Ay, to honour thee;

His service will deserve thee at the best
And richest value.

Ori. Why, it shall be so.

Cos. Nay, but be serious, and declare me happy,

That I may say, I have made thee just amends, [And] I will thank thee.

Ori. Why, sir, I do love him.

Cos. Oh, when did Cupid aim that golden shaft?

But dost thou love him perfectly, with a
Desire, when sacred rites of marriage

Are past, to meet him in thy bed, and call him
Thy husband?

Ori. Why, sir, did you ever think

I was so taken with your worth and person,
I could not love another lord as well?

By your favour, there be many as proper men,
And as deserving; you may save your plea,
And be assured I need no lesson to
Direct my fancy. I did love Pisano
Before, but for your sake I mean to place him
A great deal nearer.-Sure he does but jest.
You did love me.

[Aside.

Ever most welcome; if I be her mother,
She must declare obedience.-Oriana-

Cos. Go cheerfully, thy mother calls to him
Whose orator I have been.-'Las, poor lady!
I half repent me, since she is so constant:
But a friend's life weighs down all other love;
Beside, I thus secure my fate; Lorenzo
Threatens my spring, he is my enemy. [Aside.
Ori. You'll not compel affection?
Pis. No, but court it;

With honour, and religion, thus invite it.

Mor. I shall forget the nature of a parent, Unless you show more softness and regard To what is urg'd. What promise could you make To Cosmo without me? or, if you had

Dep. Make fast the chamber door, stifle the key-hole and the crannies, I must discourse of secret matters; dost thou smell nothing, Rogero? Ha?

Rog. Smell? not anything, my lord, to offend my nostril.

Dep. Come hither; what do the people talk abroad of me? Answer me justly, and to the point; what do they say?

Rog. Faith, my lord, they say that you areDep. They lie, I am not; they are a lousy, impudent multitude; a many-headed, and manyhorned generation, to say that I am

Rog. A noble gentleman, a just and discreet lord, and one that deserved to have his honours without money.

Dep. Oh, is that it? I thought the rabble would have said, I had been a traitor. I am half mad, certainly, ever since I consented to Lorenzo; 'tis a very hard condition, that a man must lose his head to recompense the procuring of his honours. What if I discover him to the duke? Ten to one, if Lorenzo come but to speak, his grace will not have the grace to believe me, and then I run the hazard to be thrown out of all on t'other side. "Tis safest to be a traitor. [Aside.]-Hum, who is that you whispered to? Rog. I whisper?

Dep. Marry did you, sirrah.
Rog. Not I, good faith, my lord.

Dep. Sirrah, sirrah, sirrah, I smell a rat behind the hangings. [Takes up the hangings.] -Here's nobody. Ha? Are there no trunks to convey secret voices?

Rog. Your lordship has a pair on.

Dep. I do not like that face in the arras; on my conscience he points at me. 'Pox upon this treason, I have no stomach to't. I do see myself upon a scaffold, making a pitiful speech already. I shall have my head cut off. Seven years ago I laid my head upon a wager, remember, and lost it; let me see, it shall be so, 'tis good policy to be armed. [Aside.]—Rogero, imagine I were a traitor.

Rog. How, sir?

Dep. I but say imagine; we may put the case; and that I were apprehended for a traitor. Rog. Heaven defend!"

Dep. Heaven has something else to do, than to defend traitors. I say, imagine I were brought to the bar..

1 trunks-i.e. tubes. Rogero's reply is a pun on this word, and the name of the large breeches, or trunkhose, worn in Shirley's time.-GIFFORD.

2 defend-i.e. forbid. Depazzi uses the word in its modern sense.-GIFFORD.

Rog. Good, my lord! you brought to the bar? Dep. I will beat you, if you will not imagine, at my bidding. I say, suppose I now were at the bar, to answer for my life.

Rog. Well, sir.

Dep. Well, sir? that's as it happens; you must imagine I will answer the best I can for myself. Conceive, I pr'ythee, that these chairs were judges, most grave and venerable beards and faces, at my arraignment, and that thyself wert, in the name of the duke and state, to accuse me, what couldst thou say to me?

Rog. I accuse your good honour? For what, I beseech you?

Dep. For high treason, you blockhead. Rog. I must be acquainted with some particulars first.

Dep. Mass, thou sayest right. Why, imagine,do you hear? you must but imagine,-that some great man had a conspiracy against the duke's person, and that I, being an honest lord, and one of this great man's friends, had been drawn in, for that's the plain truth on't; 'twas against my will, but that's all one. Well, thou understand'st me; show thy wit, Rogero, scratch thy nimble pericranium, and thunder out my accusation ex tempore. Here I stand, Signior Depazzi, ready to answer the indictment.

Rog. Good, my lord, it will not become me, being your humble servant.

Dep. Humble coxcomb! is it not for my good? I say, accuse me, bring it home, jerk me soundly to the quick, Rogero; tickle me, as thou lov'st thy lord; I do defy thee, spare me not, and the devil take thee if thou be'st not malicious.

Rog. Why then have at you. [First, Signior Depazzi, thou art indicted of high treason; hold up thy hand: Guilty, or not guilty?] Dep. Very good.

Rog. Nay, very bad, sir:-[Answer, I say; guilty, or not guilty?]

Dep. [Not guilty.]

Rog. [Tis your best course to say so:]-well, imagine I rise up the duke's most learned in the laws, and his nimble-tongued orator; have at you, signior.

Dep. Come, come on, sir, here I stand.

Rog. [I will prove thou liest in thy throat, if thou deniest thy treason, and so I address myself to the most understanding seats of justice.-Most wise, most honourable, and most incorrupt judges, sleep not, I beseech you; my place hath called me to plead, in the behalf of my prince and country, against this notable, this pernicious, and impudent traitor, who hath plotted and contrived such high, heinous, and horrible treasons, as no age nor history hath ever mentioned the like. Here he stands, whose birth I will not touch, because it is altogether unknown who begot him. He was brought up among the small wares in the city, became rich by sinister and indirect practices, married a merchant's wife at adventures, and was soon after advanced to be a head officer.]

Dep. Why, you rascal!!

Rog. [Peace, sirrah, peace! Nay, your lordships shall find him very audacious. This fellow, not content to have his branches spread within the city-I speak it to his face, let him deny itwas afterward, by the corruption of his confederate, and the mere grace of his highness, raised to honour, received infinite favours from his prince of blessed memory, yet, like a wretch, a

[The language of the mock-trial is enclosed within brackets.]

villain, a viper, a rat of Nilus, he hath practised treasons against the sacred person of the duke, for which he deserveth not only to die, but also to suffer tortures, whips, racks, strapadoes, wheels, and all the fiery brazen bulls that can be invented, as I shall make it appear to this honourable and illustrious court.]

Dep. This rogue's transported.

Rog. [With all my heart; I obey your lordships:-thus then I pass from these circumstances, and proceed to the principal villanies that we have to lay to his charge. Imprimis, thou, Signior Depazzi, didst offer to a groom one hundred crowns to poison his highness' hunting-saddle.] Dep. [Did I?]

Rog. [Do not interrupt me, varlet; I will prove it; his hunting-saddle, and woe shall be unto thy breech therefore; and finding this serpentive treason broken in the shell,-do but lend your reverend ears to his next designs-I will cut them off presently, this irreligious, nay, atheistical traitor, did with his own hands poison the duke's prayer-book; oh, impiety! and had his highness, as in former times he accustomed, but prayed once in a month, which, by special grace, he omitted, how fatal had it been to Florence! but as by justice his excellence did then, and by his own want of devotion, prevent this assassinate's purpose, so we hope, in his own discretion, and the counsel of his state, he will take heed how he prays hereafter while he lives, to which every true subject will say, Amen.]

Dep. [May it please your honours-] Rog. [Thou impudent, brazen-faced traitor, wilt thou deny it? Moreover, an't like your good lordships, he hath for this fortnight or three weeks before his apprehension, walked up and down the court with a case of pistols charged, wherewith, as he partly confessed, he intended to send the duke to heaven with a powder!] Dep. This rogue will undo the devil at invention.-May it please this honourable-]

Rog. [These are but sprinklings of his treason.] Dep. Will you justify this? Did I any of these things, you tadpole?

Rog. Hold yourself contented, my lord; he that is brought to the bar in case of treason, must look to have more objected than he can answer, or any man is able to justify.

Dep. [I confess, an't please your good lordships-1

Rog. Mark, he will confess-]

Dep. That's the way to be sent of a headless errand:-[Indeed I confess that I never intended any treason to his highness, nor ever sought the prince's life; true it is, that I heard of a conspiracy.]

Rog. [That, that, my lords, hath overthrown him. He saith he never sought the prince's life, ergo, he sought his death. Besides, he hath heard of treason; now, he that heareth and discovereth not, is equally guilty in fact: for in offences of this nature there are no accessaries, ergo, he is a principal, and being a principal traitor, he deserveth condemnation.]

Dep. [Shall I not speak?]

Rog. [No; traitors must not be suffered to speak, for when they have leave, they have liberty, and he that is a traitor deserveth to be close prisoner.]

Dep. [All that this fellow hath uttered is false and forged, abominable lies.]

Rog. I will speak truth, and I will be heard, and no man else, in this place.]

Dep. I never dreamt of a hunting-saddle, nor never had so much as a thought of any prayerbook.]

Rog. [You sit here to do justice; I speak for the duke, and the safety of the commonwealth.] Dep. [As for pistols, 'tis well known I could never endure the report of them. I defy powder and shot as I do him that accuseth me.j

Rog. [I defy all the world that will hear a traitor speak for himself; 'tis against the law, which provides that no man shall defend treason and he that speaks for himself, being a traitor, doth defend his treason. Thou art a capital obstreperous malefactor.]

Dep. Thou art a madman.

Rog. Go to, you have played the fool too much. Dep. Thou continual motion cease; a pox upon thee, hold thy tongue.

Rog. The pox will not serve your turn.
Dep. Why then, this shall.

[Beats him. Rog. Hold, hold, good my lord, I am sensible; I have done, imagine I have done; I but obeyed your lordship, whose baton I find stronger than my imagination. My lord, you will answer this, to strike in the court thus ?

Dep. I am as weary-hark, Rogero [knocking within]-one knocks. See, see; there's to make | thee amends [gives him money]; see, good Rogero, and say nothing. [Exit ROGERO.] Pray heaven it be no pursuivant.

Re-enter ROGERO with PETRUCHIO bearing a letter.
Rog. Petruchio, my Lord Pisano's secretary.
Dep. But Lorenzo's engine,' a very knave.
Pet. My very good lord.

[Aside.

[Gives him the letter. Dep. What's here? It can be no goodness. [Reads aside.] My lord, I would not have you yo to bed to-night-he will not let me sleep now, I dreamt as much;-something will be done to give Florence liberty. In the depth of night you may cunningly disperse some rumours in the city, that the duke is dead; the people must be distracted; in the common fright be not you wanting in your person to assist their fears, and speak well of — LORENZO. Speak well of the devil.-My humble service to your lord, and say he has power to command me in all things.

Pet. My very good lord.

Dep. No matter an you were both hang'd. [Aside.]-Rogero, show him the wine cellar. Exeunt ROGERO and PETRUCHIO.]-Let me see, I must report the duke's death; I cannot abide this word death; yet he desires me but to report it. Hum, if it be false, why, so much the better; there will be the less harm in it: if it should prove true, they will believe me another time. Well, I will drink myself half drunk, and be fortified. [Exit.