A

WIFE FOR A MONTH.

ACT I. SCENE I.

An Apartment in the Palace.

Enter FREDERICK, SORANO, VALERIO, CAMILLO, CLEANTHES, MENALLO, and Attendants.

Sor. Will your grace speak?
Fred. Let me alone, Sorano :

Although my thoughts seem sad, they are wel

come to me.

Sor. You know I am private as your secret wishes,

Ready to fling my soul upon your service,'

Ere you command me on't.

I

Fred. Bid those depart.

Sor. You must retire, my lords.

Cam. What new design

Ready to fling my soul, &c.] Sorano's readiness to assist his master's amours is equal to, and as infamous as, that of Pandarus, in Shakspeare's Troilus and Cressida.-Reed.

Is hammering in his head now?

Cle. Let's pray heartily

None of our heads meet with it: My wife's old, That's all my comfort.

Men. Mine's ugly, that I am sure on,

And I think honest too; 'twould make me start else.

Cam. Mine's troubled in the country with a fever,

And some few infirmities else. He looks again; Come, let's retire: Certain 'tis some she-business,* This new lord is employ'd.

[Exeunt CAMILLO, CLEANTHES, and MENALLO. Val. I'll not be far off,

Because I doubt the cause.

Fred. Are they all gone?

Sor. All but your faithful servant.
Fred. I would tell thee,

But 'tis a thing thou canst not like.
Sor Pray you speak it:

Is it my head? I have it ready for.

you,

Is't any action in my power? my wit?

[Retires.

sir :

I care not of what nature, nor what follows.
Fred. I am in love.

Sor. That's the least thing of a thousand,
The easiest to achieve.

Fred. But with whom, Sorano?

Certain 'tis some she-business,

This new lord's employed.] Mr Sympson, without authority, or notice, reads,

"This new lord's employ'd in,”

66

which proves he did not understand the poet. Camillo, a good man, is intended to say, Certainly 'tis some illicit amour, as this [bud] lord is employ'd."-J. N.

...There can be nothing plainer than this explanation, and yet Mason wishes to retain the variation of Sympson.

Sor. With whom you please, you must not be denied, sir.

Fred. Say, it be with one of thy kinswomen? Sor. Say, with all;

I shall more love your grace, I shall more honour

you;

And would I had enough to serve your pleasure! Fred. Why, 'tis thy sister then, the fair Evanthe; I'll be plain with thee.

Sor. I'll be as plain with you, sir;

She brought not her perfections to the world,
To lock them in a case, or hang 'em by her;
The use is all she breeds 'em for; she's yours,
Fred. Dost thou mean seriously?

Sor. I mean my sister;

sir.

And if I had a dozen more, they were all yours. Some aunts I have, they have been handsome

women;

My mother's dead indeed; and some few cousins, That are now shooting up, we shall see shortly. Fred. No; 'tis Evanthe.

Sor. I have sent my man unto her,

Upon some business to come presently 3
Hither; she shall come; your grace dare speak

unto her?

Large golden promises, and sweet language, sir, You know what they work; she's a complete

courtier :

3

presently

Hither, she shall come.] Hither, i. e. into your apartments. But Sorano could not say that he had sent for her to come thither. The comma, therefore, should be, as I have put it, after presently. -Sympson.

There is no occasion to alter the punctuation. Sorano had not sent his servant to come to the palace where he must have been when he received his order, but had sent him to his sister to bid her come hither (to the palace) upon some business.

Besides, I'll set in.

Fred. She waits upon my queen: What jealousy and anger may arise, Incensing her

Sor. You have a good sweet lady,

A woman of so even and still a temper,

She knows not anger: Say, she were a fury, I had thought you had been absolute, the great king,

The fountain of all honours, place, and pleasures, Your will and your commands unbounded also: Go, get a pair of beads and learn to pray, sir.

Enter Servant:

Serv. My lord, your servant stays.

Sor. Bid him come hither,

And bring the lady with him.

Fred. I will woo her;

[Exit Servant.

And either lose myself, or win her favour.

Sor. She is coming in.

Fred. Thy eyes shoot through the door;

They are so piercing, that the beams they dart Give new light to the room!

Enter PODRAMO and EVANTHE.

Evan. Whither dost thou go?

This is the king's side, and his private lodgings; What business have I here?

Pod. My lord sent for you.

Evan. Hislodgings are below; you are mistaken! We left them at the stair-foot.

The fountain of all honours, plays, and pleasures.] The variation in the text was proposed by Mr Sympson, and, though not absolutely necessary, it is certainly an improved reading.