The Dramatic Works of Ben Jonson, and Beaumont and Fletcher

Enter Perez and Estifania.

Leon. Who's this?
my
Mahound cousin? 43
Perez. Good, Sir; 'tis very good! 'Would
I'd a house, too!

(For there's no talking in the open air) [you,
My Termagant coz, I would be bold to tell
I durst be merry too; I tell you plainly,
You have a pretty seat, you have the luck on't,
A pretty lady too; I have miss'd both:
My carpenter built in a mist, I thank him!
Do me the courtesy to let me see it,
See it but once more. But I shall cry for anger!
I'll hire a chandler's shop close under you,
And, for my foolery, sell sope and whip-cord.
Nay, if you do not laugh now, and laugh hear-
You are a fool, coz.
[tily,

Leon. I must laugh a little, And now I've done. Coz, thou shalt live with me, [us. My merry coz; the world shall not divorce Thou art a valiant man, and thou shalt never Will this content thee?

[want. Perez. I'll cry, and then I'll be thankful, Indeed I will, and I'll be honest to you: I'd live a swallow here, I must confess. Wife, I forgive thee all, if thou be honest, At thy peril, believe thee excellent.44

43 My Mahound cousin.

Estif. If I prove otherwise, let me beg first. Leon. Hold, this is yours; some recompence for service:

Use it to nobler ends than he that gave it. Duke. And this is yours, your true commission, Sir.

Now you are a captain.

Leon. You're a noble prince, Sir;
And now a soldier, gentlemen.45
Omnes. We all rejoice in't.

Juan. Sir, I shall wait upon you thro' all
Alon. And I.
[fortunes.
Altea. And I must needs attend my mistress.
Leon. Will you go, sister?

Altea. Yes, indeed, good brother;

I have two ties, my own blood, and my misMarg. Is she your sister? [tress.

Leon. Yes, indeed, good wife,

And my best sister; for she prov'd so, wench, When she deceiv'd you with a loving husband. Altea. I would not deal so truly for a stranger.

Marg. Well, I could chide you;

But it must be lovingly, and like a sister.I'll bring you on your way, and feast you nobly,

(For now I have an honest heart to love you) And then deliver you to the blue Neptune.

My Termagant coz.] In an old play, called Ram Alley, or Merry Tricks, Tafata says,

I am so haunted

With a swaggering captaine, that sweares (God bless us)

'Like a very Tarmagant,' &c.

And Bishop Hall's Satires begin thus:

Nor Ladie's wanton love, nor wand'ring knight,

Legend I out in rhimes all richly dight;

Nor fright the reader with the Pagan vaunt

Of mightie Mahound, and great Termagaunt.

Hamlet says, I could have such a fellow whipt for o'er-doing Termagant, Termagant likewise occurs in King and No King. See note 31 on that play.

** At thy peril, I believe thee excellent.

Estif. If I prove otherways, let me beg first.

Hold, this is yours, some recompence for service.] The latter end of Perez's speech and Estifania's answer have some difficulties in them. I suppose the Poets meant to make Perez say, that he believ'd his wife honest at her peril, because, if he found her otherways he would severely punish her. She answers; let me first beg my bread before I prove otherways. The latter part of the speech, I think, evidently belongs to Leon, who gives Estifania part of the money which, by her assistance, he had got from Cacafogo. Seward.

45 And now a soldier, gentlemen, we all rejoice in't.] I at first corrected this line thus,

And now a soldier, gentlemen.
Omnes. We all rejoice in't.

But this, as well as the old corrupt text, makes three redundant syllables to the verse. The observation of this immediately discovered a more probable corruption, viz. that the word gentlemen, only denotes the speakers, and is not a part of Leon's speech.

Mr. Seward therefore reads,

And now a soldier.

Gentl. We all rejoice in't;

Seward.

but we think his first correction was right. Three redundant syllables often, very often, occur in the plays of our Authors and their cotemporaries, and even in Rowe,

THE

LAWS OF CANDY.

A TRAGI-COMEDY.

This Play is supposed to have been the joint production of our Poets; and is one of the few which are not totally ascribed to Fletcher by the panegyrists. Its first publication was in the folio of 1647. It has lain long dormant; and, we believe, never received

any alteration.

▲ Whose insolence, and never-yet-match'd pride,

Can by no character be well express'd,

sume

pre

But in her only name, the proud Erota.] It is difficult, by any Etymology, to reconcile this name and character to each other. From Epws can only be derived the attributes of love; and from Hpws those of greatness, on which insolence and pride are indeed not uncommon, though not constant, attendants.

Passionate griefs.] i. e. Griefs proceeding from love.

Gasp. The senate

Is wise, and therein just; for this Gonzalo,
Upon a massacre perform'd at sea

By th' admiral of Venice, on a merchant
Of Candy, when the cause was to be heard
Before the senate there, in open court
Professed, that the cruelty the admiral
Had shew'd, deserv'd not only fine, but death:
(For Candy then and Venice were at peace.)
Since when, upon a motion in the senate,
For conquest of our land, 'tis known for cer-
tain,

That only this Gonzalo dar'd to oppose it;
His reason was, because it too much savour'd
Of lawless and unjust ambition.

The wars were scarce begun, but he, in fear Of quarrels 'gainst his life, fled from his country,

And hither came, where to confirm his truth, I know, Melitus, he, out of his own store, Hath monied Cassilane, the general.

Mel. What, without other pledge than Bare promise of repayment? [Cassilane's

Gasp. No, it may be

He has some petty lordship to retire to;
But thus he hath done. Now, 'tis fit, Melitus,
The senate should be thankful, otherwise
They should annihilate one of those laws
For which this kingdom is, throughout the
Unfollow'd and admir'd.3

[world,

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Master secretary,
The senate is about to sit, and crave
Your presence.

Gasp. What, so suddenly?
Mess. These letters
Will shew the causes why.

Gasp. Heav'n, thou art great,
And worthy to be thank'd!
Mel. Your countenance, Sir,
Doth promise some good tidings.
Gasp. Oh, the best

And happiest for this land that e'er was told!
All the Venetian forces are defeated.

Mel. How, Sir?
[more, there is
Gasp. And what doth add some delight
Amongst the soldiers a contention

Who shall be the triumpher; and it stands
Doubtful between a father and his son,
Old Cassilane, and young Antinous.

Mel. Why may not both demand it?
Gasp. The law denies it;

But, where the soldiers do not all consent,
The parties in contention are referr'd
To plead before the senate; and from them
Upon an open audience to be judg'd
The chief, and then to make demands.

Mel. You ravish me with wonder and de-
light.

Gasp. Come; as we walk, I shall more fully inform you. [Exeunt. Enter Cassilane, Arcanes, Antinous, and Decius.

Cass. Admit no soldier near us, till the Have took their places.

Arc. You're obey'd, my lord.
Ant. Decius, fall off.

Dec. I shall.

Cass. Give leave, Arcanes.

[senate

[Ex. Arc. and Dec.

Young man, come nearer to me! Who am I?
Ant. It were a sin against the piety
Of filial duty, if I should forget
The debt I owe my father on my knee.
Your pleasure?

Cass. What! so low? canst thou find joints, Yet be an elephant? Antinous, arise;

chuses to read unfellow'd, which is certainly Seward.

Theobald's reading is probably genuine, unless the Poets alluded to the well-known lines of Ovid;

Video meliora, proboque,

Deteriora sequor;

yet unfollowed is a harsh expression.

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The Dramatic Works of Ben Jonson, and Beaumont and Fletcher, כרך 2