To show that pious gratitude to you, but

King. But what?

Adm. My frame hath lately, sir, been ta'en a pieces,

And but now put together; the least force

Of mirth will shake and unjoint all my reason.
Your patience, royal sir.

King. I'll have no patience,

If thou forget the courage of a man.

Adm. My strength would flatter me.
King. Physicians,

Now I begin to fear his apprehension.

Why how is Chabot's spirit fall'n?

Adm. Who would not wish to live to serve your goodness t Stand from me. You betray me with your fears.

The plummets may fall off that hang upon

My heart, they were but thoughts at first; or if
They weigh me down to death, let not my eyes
Close with another object than the king.

King. In a prince

What a swift executioner is a frown,

Especially of great and noble souls!

How is it with my Philip ?

Adm. I must beg

One other boon.

King. Upon condition

My Chabot will collect his scatter'd spirits,
And be himself again, he shall divide

My kingdom with me.

Adm. I observe

A fierce and killing wrath engender'd in you;
For my sake, as you wish me strength to serve you,
Forgive your chancellor ;* let not the story

Of Philip Chabot, read hereafter, draw
A tear from any family; I beseech
Your royal mercy on his life, and free
Remission of all seizure upon his state.

* Chabot's accuser,

I have no comfort else.

King. Endeavor

But thy own health; and pronounce general pardon
To all through France.

Adm. Sir, I must kneel to thank you;

It is not seal'd else. Your blest hand: live happy,
May all your trust have no less faith than Chabot.
Oh!

Wife. His heart is broken.

Father. And kneeling, sir;

As his ambition were in death to show

The truth of his obedience.

[Dies.

THE MAID'S REVENGE; A TRAGEDY. BY JAMES SHIRLEY Sebastiano invites Antonio to Avero Castle.

SEBASTIANO. ANTONIO.

Seb. The noble courtesies I have receiv'd

At Lisbon, worthy friend, so much engage me,
That I must die indebted to your worth,

Unless you mean to accept what I have studied,
Although but partly, to discharge the sum
Due to your honor'd love.

Ant. How now, Sebastiano, will you forfeit
The name of friend, then? I did hope our love
Had out-grown compliment.

Seb. I spake my thoughts;

My tongue and heart are relatives; I think

I have deserv'd no base opinion from you;

I wish not only to perpetuate

Our friendship, but t' exchange that common name
Of friend for---

*Shirley claims a place amongst the worthies of this period, not so much for any transcendent genius in himself, as that he was the last of a great race, all of whom spoke nearly the same language, and had a set of moral feelings and notions in common. A new language and quite a new turn of tragic and comic interest came in with the Restoration.

Ant. What? take heed, do not profane :

Wouldst thou be more than friend? it is a name

Virtue can only answer to: couldst thou
Unite into one all goodness whatsoe❜er
Mortality can boast of, thou shalt find
The circle narrow-bounded to contain
This swelling treasure; every good admits
Degrees, but this being so good, it cannot:
For he 's no friend is not superlative.
Indulgent parents, brethren, kindred, tied
By the natural flow of blood, alliances,
And what you can imagine, is too light
To weigh with name of friend: they execute
At best but what a nature prompts them to;
Are often less than friends, when they remain
Our kinsmen still: but friend is never lost.

Seb. Nay then, Antonio, you mistake; I mean not
To leave off friend, which, with another title,
Would not be lost. Come, then, I'll tell you, sir;
I would be friend and brother: thus our friendship
Shall, like a diamond set in gold, not lose
His sparkling, but show fairer: I have a pair
Of sisters, which I would commend, but that
I might seem partial, their birth and fortunes
Deserving noble love; if thou be'st free

From other fair engagement, I would be proud
To speak them worthy: come, shalt go and see them.
I would not beg them suitors; fame hath spread
Through Portugal their persons, and drawn to Avero
Many affectionate gallants.

Ant. Catalina and Berinthia.

Seb. The same.

Ant. Report speaks loud their beauties, and no less Virtue in either. Well, I see you strive

To leave no merit where you mean to honor.

I cannot otherwise escape the censure

Of one ungrateful, but by waiting on you
Home to Avero.

Seb. You shall honor me,

And glad my noble father, to whom you are
No stranger; your own worth before hath been
Sufficient preparation.

Ant. Ha!

I have not so much choice, Sebastiano :
But if one sister of Antonio's

May have a commendation to your thoughts
(I will not spend much art in praising her,
Her virtue speak itself) I shall be happy;
And be confirm'd your brother, though I miss
Acceptance at Avero.

Seb. Still you out-do me. I could never wish
My service better placed. At opportunity
I'll visit you at Elvas; i' the mean time
Let's haste to Avero, where with you I'll bring
My double welcome, and not fail to second

Any design.

Ant. You shall teach me a lesson

Against we meet at Elvas castle, sir.

Sebastiano's father welcomes Antonio to Avero Castle. VILLAREZO. CATALINA. BERINTHIA. SEBASTIANO.

Vil. Old Gaspar's house is honor'd by such guests. Now, by the tomb of my progenitors,

I envied that your fame should visit me

So oft without your person. Sebastiano

Hath been long happy in your noble friendship,

And cannot but improve himself in virtues,

That lives so near your love.-You shall dishonor me,
Unless you think yourself as welcome here

As at your Elvas castle. Villarezo

Was once as you are, sprightly; and though I say it,
Maintain❜d my father's reputation,

And honor of our house, with actions

Worthy our name and family: but now
Time hath let fall cold snow upon my hairs,
Plough'd on my brows the furrows of his anger,

ANTONIO.

Disfurnish'd me of active blood, and wrapt me
Half in my sear-cloth, yet I have a mind
That bids me honor virtue, where I see it

Bud forth and spring so hopefully.

Ant. You speak all nobleness, and encourage me To spend the greenness of my rising years

So to th' advantage, that at last I may

Be old like you.

Vil. Daughters, speak his welcome.

Antonio loves and is beloved by Berinthia, the younger sister. Catalina the elder is jealous, and plots to take off her sister by poison. Antonio rescues Berinthia from the vindictive jealousy of her sister, and carries her off to Elvas Castle; where his sister Castabella and his cousin Villandras welcome her.

ANTONIO.

BERINTHIA.

CASTABELLA. VILLANDRAS.

a domestic.

Ant. The welcom'st guest that ever Elvas had.
Sister-Villandras-you 're not sensible
What treasure you possess. I have no loves
I would not here divide.

Cast. Indeed, madam,

You are as welcome here as e'er my mother was.
Vill. And you are here as safe,

As if you had an army for your guard.
Nor think my noble cousin meaneth you
Any dishonor here.

Ant. Dishonor! 'tis a language

I never understood yet. Throw off your fears,
Berinthia, you 're in the power of him,

That dares not think the least dishonor to you.

Come, be not sad.

SFORZA,

Cast. Put on fresh blood; you are not chearful, how do you? Ber. I know not how, nor what to answer you;

Your loves I cannot be ungrateful to ;

You're my best friends I think, but yet I know not
With what consent you brought my body hither,
Ant. Can you be ignorant what plot was laid
To take your fair life from you?