Santistevan came up, and throwing himself at the feet of Antonio, implored him not to mention the circumstance to his master Don Juan. He informed him that the courtezan's name was also Cornelia. Lorenzo hearing this, asked, 'Where is Cornelia ?' and he and the duke rushed up and repeated the question. The courtezan replied, Here is Cornelia; and asked whether it was so wonderful a thing that a woman should cohabit with a roguish page. Lorenzo tore off her veil, and discovered a girl of considerable beauty. The duke began to suspect the truth of the Spaniards, and hurried out of the house. Don Juan and Don Antonio resolved to search for the lady in every part of the country. "Meanwhile the duke set out on his return, and came accidentally to the village-curate, with whom Cornelia was concealed. She overheard the announcement of his arrival, but restrained herself from bursting into his apartment, and requested the priest to make him acquainted with her being in the house. By his advice the infant was decorated with all the jewels which the duke had given her, and the curate presented it to him, relating to him, that the child had been brought from Belogna, and placed in his charge by a lady of extreme beauty, accompanied by an old confidante. Cornelia now entered, and the duke recognising her, was nearly overcome by his feelings. He dispatched Fabio to Bologna, who, in three days, returned with Lorenzo and the two Spaniards. The duke addressed them, pretending that he had resolved, as Cornelia was not to be found, to fulfil another promise of marriage which he had given to a peasant-girl in the village, and, seeing the rage of Lorenzo and the two friends, he said that her extreme beauty would soon induce them to applaud his breach of faith to Cornelia. When he had left the room, Don Juan swore that the duke's life should pay for his unfaithfulness, and Lorenzo and Antonio declared themselves of the same resolution: but their anger was soon allayed when they beheld Cornelia brought in by the duke, with the old woman and the nurse. The two lovers were secretly married by the curate, but the speedy death of the duke's mother soon enabled him to declare Cornelia his duchess." PROLOGUE.* APTNESS for mirth to all! This instant night And some sit here, I doubt not, dare aver Which he pleased to frequent; and thus much we For ourselves, we do entreat that you would not If his CHANCES please not you, our fortune's ill. This Prologue, like many others prefixed to these plays, was probably spoken at a revival. It affords a strong proof of the very exten sive popularity of Fletcher's dramas soon after his death. DRAMATIS PERSONE. Duke of Ferrara. Petruccio, governor of Bologna. Don John, Don Frederic,Spanish gentlemen, and comrades. Two Gentlemen, friends to Petruccio. Peter Vecchio, a teacher of Latin and music, a reputed wizard. Peter, servants to Don John and Don Frederic. Rowland, servant to Antonio.* Surgeon. Servants. Constantia, sister to Petruccio, and mistress to the duke. Gentlewoman, servant to Constantia. Gillian, landlady to Don John and Don Frederic. Bawd. SCENE-Bologna, and the adjacent Country. *This character has not been noticed in this enumeration before. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA THE CHANCES. ACT I. SCENE I. A Room in the House of the Landlady. Enter PETER and ANTHONY. Peter. I would we were removed from this town, That we might taste some quiet: For mine own part, · Of who knows whom, or where. Serve wenching soldiers, That know no other paradise but plackets? Tell me but this; to what end came we hither? Peter. But how, Anthony? Answer me that; resolve me there, good Anthony. Anth. To serve their uses. Peter. Shew your uses, Anthony. Anth. To be employed in any thing. Not any thing, I take it; nor that thing A salt itch serve such uses! In things of moment, Of infinite report for shape and virtue, Peter. Was there ever Men known to run mad with report before? Made now-a-days of malt, that their affections Anth. Pr'ythee be thou sober, And know, that they are none of those; not guilty The graces of this woman, made them curious To find the truth, which since they find so block'd' And lock'd up from their searches, they are now settled To give the wonder over. Peter. 'Would they were settled To give me some new shoes too! for I'll be sworn 1 Blotted.] Corrected in 1679. |