University of Virginia Library

SCENE. 6.

Antonio, Pandolfo, Eugenio, Lelio, Flavia, Sulpitia.
Ant.
Eugenio , Flavia, Lelio, Sulpitia;
Marriages once confirm'd, and consummate,
Admit of no repentance. Therefore 'tis fitting
All parties with full freedome speak their pleasure,
Before it be too late.

Pan.
Good! excellent!

Ant.
Speak boldly therefore: do you willingly
Give full authority, and what I decree
Touching these businesses, you'l all performe?

Eug.
I rest at your dispose: what you determine,
With my best power I ratifie; and Sulpitia,
I dare be bold to promise, says no lesse.

Sul.
What e're my father, brother, and your selfe
Shall think convenient, pleaseth me.

Le.
In this,
As in all other service, I commit my selfe
To your commands; and so I hope, my sister.

Fla.
With all obedience: for dispose of me
As of a childe, that judgeth nothing good
But what you shall approve.

Ant.
And you Pandolfo?

Pan.
I most of all. And, for I know the mindes
Of youth are apt to promise, and as prone
To repent after; 'tis my advice they sweare
T'observe without exception, your decree.

Fla.
Content.

Sul.
Content.

Pan.
By all the powers that heare
Oaths, and raine vengeance upon broken faith,
I promise to confirme and ratifie
Your sentence.

Le.
Sir, I sweare no lesse.

Eug.
Nor I.

Fla.
The self-same oath bindes me.

Sul.
And me the same.

Pan.
Now Antonio, all our expectation
Hangs at your mouth. None of us can appeale
From you to higher Courts.

Ant.
First, for preparative
Or slight Præludium to the greater matches;
I must intreat you that my Armellina
Be match't with Trincalo. Two hundred Crowns
I give her for her portion.

Pan.
Tis done. Some reliques
Of his old Clownery, and dregs o'th' Country,
Dwell in him still: how carefull he provides
For himself first! Content. And more, I grant him
A lease for twenty pounds a yeare.

Ant.
I thank you.
Gentlemen, since I feele my selfe much broken
With age, and my late miseries, and too cold,
To entertain new heat; I freely yield
Sulpitia, whom I lov'd, to my sonne Lelio.

Pan.
How cunningly the Farmer hath provided
T'observe the semblance of Antonio's person,
And keep himselfe still free for Armellina!

Ant.
Signior Pandolfo, y'are wise, and understand
How ill hot appetites of unbridled youth
Become gray haires. How grave and honourable
Wert for your age to be enamored
With the fare shape of vertue, and the glory
Of our Fore-fathers! Then would you blush to think
How by this dotage, and unequall love,
You stain their honour, and your own. Awake,
Banish those wilde affections; and by my example
Turn t'your reposed self.

Pan.
To what purpose, pray you,
Serves this long proæme? on to th'sentence.

Ant.
Sir,
Conformity of yeers, likenesse of manners,
Are Gordian knots that binde up Matrimony.
Now betwixt seventy Winters and sixteen,
There's no proportion, nor least hope of love.
Fie that a Gentleman of your discretion,
Crownd with such reputation in your youth,
Should in your Western days, lose th'good Opinion
Of all your friends; and run to th'open danger
Of closing the weak remnant of your days
With discontentment unrecoverable.

Pan.
Wrack me no more; pray you let's heare the sentence:
Note how the Asse would fright me, and endeare
His service; intimating that his power
May over-throw my hopes: Proceed to th'sentence.

An.
These things consider'd, I bestow my daughter
Upon your sonne Eugenio; whose constant love
With his so modest carriage, hath deserv'd her.
And, that you freeze not for a bed-fellow,
I marry you with Patience.

Pan.
Treacherous Villain!
Accursed Trincalo! Ile—But this no place,
He's too well backt. But shortly when the date
Of his Antonioship's expir'd, revenge
Shall sweeten this disgrace.

Ant.
Signior Pandolfo,
When you recover yourselfe, lost desperately
In disproportion'd dotage, then you'l thank me
For this great favour: be not obstinate;
Disquiet not your selfe.

Pan.
I thank you sir.