Cast. The delicates he is served with, see and envy Vil. I had rather have an onion with a stomach, Than these without one. Cast. The celestial music, Such as the motion of the eternal spheres Yields Jove when he drinks nectar Vil. Here's a fine knave! Yet hath too many fellows. [Still music. Enter Court-Ladies, and pass over the Stage, Cast. Then the beauties, That with variety of choice embraces Renew his age Vil. Help him to crouch rather, And the French cringe; they are excellent surgeons that way. Cast. Oh, majesty! let others think of Heaven, While I contemplate thee. Vil. This is not atheism, But court observance. 9 Cast. Now the god appears, Usher'd with earthquakes. Vil. Base idolatry! [Flourish. Enter FERRAND, Guard, Women, and Servants. Fer. These meats are poison'd! hang the cooks! -No note more, [To the music. On forfeit of your fingers! do you envy me A minute's slumber?-What are these? 9-Court observance.] Observance was very generally used for religious attention, or obsequiousness. For instance, in The Merry Wives of Windsor" Follow'd her with doting observance.” 1 Guard. The ladies 1 Guard. For your grace's pleasure. Fer. To suck away the little blood is left me, By my continual cares! I am not apt now: Enjoy them first, taste of my diet once; And, your turn served, for fifty crowns a-piece Their husbands may redeem them. Women. Great sir, mercy! Fer. I am deaf. Why stare you? Is what we command To be disputed? Who's this? Bring you the dead To upbraid me to my face? Cast. Hold, emperor ! [Kneels. Hold, mightiest of kings! I am thy vassal, Thy foot-stool, that durst not presume to look On thy offended face. Fer. Castruccio, rise. Cast. Let not the lightning of thy eye consume me, Nor hear that musical tongue in dreadful thunder, That speaks all mercy. Vil. Here's no flattering rogue!' Cast. Ferrand, that is the father of his people, The glory of mankind Fer. No more, no word more! And while I tell my troubles to myself, Be statues without motion or voice: Though to be flatter'd is an itch to greatness, 1 Here's no flattering rogue !] That is, he is an excessive flattering rogue. This manner of speech is very usual in old plays. In Ben Jonson's Every Man in his Humour, Downright, on noti cing the ridiculous affectation of Master Matthew, exclaims "Oh, here's no foppery! 'Death, I can endure the stocks better!" It now offends me. Vil. Here's the happy man! But speak who dares. Fer. When I was innocent, I yet remember I could eat and sleep, To others, my guards cannot keep fear from me; It still pursues me; oh, my wounded conscience! The bed I would rest in is stuffed with thorns; The ground's strew'd o'er with adders, and with aspicks, Where'er I set my foot: But I am in, And what was got with cruelty, with blood- Enter RONVERE and Guard. Rono. My lord! Fer. Welcome, Ronvere! welcome, my golden plummet, With which I sound mine enemies' depths and angers! Hast thou discovered? Rono. All as you could wish, sir, The plot, and the contrivers; was made one Fer. Is Virolet in? Ronv. The head of all: He only scented me; And from his fear that I played false, is fled; The rest I have in fetters. Fer. Death and hell! Next to my mortal foe, the pirate Sesse, No means to overtake him? Ronv. There's some hope left; But with a rough hand to be seiz'd upon. Rono. If any know or where he is, Fer. 'Twas wisely ordered: Go fetch them in, and let my executioners Appear in horror with the rack. [Erit RONVERE. Vil. I take it, signor, This is no time for you to flatter, Or me to fool in. Cast. Thou art wise in this: Let's off; it is unsafe to be near Jove an When he begins to thunder. Vil. Good morality! [Exeunt VILLIO and CASTRUCCIO. Fer. I that have pierced into the hearts of men; Forced them to lay open with my looks Secrets, whose least discovery was death; Will rend, for what concerns my life, the fortress Of a weak woman's faith. Enter RONVERE, Guard and Executioners, with a rack; bringing in CAMILLIO, BRISSONET, PANDULPHO, and JULIANA fettered. Cam. Whate'er we suffer, The weight that loads a traitor's heart, sit ever Heavy on thine! Bris. As we are caught by thee, Fall thou by others! Ronv. Pish! poor fools, your curses Will never reach me. Jul. Now, by my Virolet's life, Father, this is a glorious stage of murder! Let us perform our parts; and we shall live once Are you the master of the company? 'Troth, you are tedious now. Fer. She does deride me. Jul. Thee and thy power! If one poor syllable Could win me an assurance of thy favour, I would not speak it; I desire to be The great example of thy cruelty, To whet which on, know, Ferrand, I alone Whose life I know thou aim'st at: But if tortures Fer. Are we contemn'd? Jul. Thou art, Thou and thy ministers! My life is thine; us courage, That cowards might learn from her. Fer. You are slow! [She is put on the rack. Begin the scene.-Thou miserable fool, For so I'll make thee Jul. 'Tis not in thy reach; I am happy in my sufferings, thou most wretched. Fer. So brave? I'll tame you yet.-Pluck harder,3 villains! 2 -properties.] A term much used at the play-houses for the habits and implements necessary for the representation.-Symp son. 3 Pluck hard, villains.] The measure here, as well as sense, call for the alteration, which both Mr Theobald and myself had |