1

"The Siege" seems to have been acted at the Cockpit by D'avenant's company on the eve of the Restoration, and prior to their removal to Portugal Row, but whether it had been acted before Cromwell's time does not appear. Although a fairly written play, it was never subsequently revived. Geneste observes respecting it :"There is a comic underplot. The character of Piracco is evidently borrowed from that of 'The Humorous Lieutenant. This is on the whole a good Tragi-comedy. "The Siege' and 'The Distresses' were not printed until 1673, but had probably been acted before the civil wars. They have however no Prologue nor Epilogue."

Whence the several plots of "The News from Plymouth" "The Fair Favourite "- "The Distresses "-and "The Siege," have been derived, we have in vain endeavoured to trace throughout the several collections of stories to which the dramatists of the times had usually recourse. Their plots are in themselves trifling, but most ingeniously handled so as to create a strong dramatic interest.

The Biographia Britannica says, that "All these plays were acted in the time of Oliver and Richard, first printed in 4to, and afterwards revised and inserted in the author's works." If this was really the case, it seems strange that none of the quarto editious are extant, nor is there any other record of their ever having existed.

In the absence therefore of any edition than that in folio, there is no certainty that the text of these plays has been accurately printed from the MSS. of Sir Williain D'avenant. The present play in particular bears some internal evidence of having been tampered with, more especially towards the conclusion, as some lines are very far beneath the standard of Sir William's usual composition, while occasionally there may be observed some successful specimens of bathos.

THE SIEGE.

ACT I.

Enter CASTRACAGNIO, FLORELLO, ARIOTTO,
SORANZO, LIZARO.

FLO. Your troops have skirmish'd at the Northern Gate,

And are return'd without much loss.

CAST. Mistakes are ever incident to night, And darkness. How long is't since

The sun appear'd?

FLO. Not a full hour.

CAST, Why! 'Sdeath!

We have flown hither, then; we have out-march'd

time.

'Tis strange we should reach the town so early, And find success absent.

Piracco hast thou summon'd 'em to a parley?

Enter PIRACCO.

PIR. Twice, noble general!

FLO. See! The governor appears upon the walls.

Enter GOVERNOR, COLONEL, &c.

GOVER. Hail, Castracagnio, the great Duke's general!

We wish both health and honor to Florello, too! Your lieutenant o'er this powerful army.

Enter FOSCARI.

CAST. My lord Foscari,this is Court breath, sweet And subtle. We that follow war know not how to Disguise our meanings. How come you To bestow upon us such a pleasant greeting, And yet affront our master?

Fosc. We do invite a penalty from Heaven,
An if we cannot justify our deeds.

The great Duke of Tuscany is allowed to be
A man of honor. We implore his friendship,
And shall grow proud to gain it; but 'twill deprive
Our fame of courage to become his subjects,
When, without impeachment to his title,
He may esteem us his confederates
And allies.

CAST. You are revolted from a State,
That hath power to shew their justice, till
Your repentance comes.

COL. Twice have we sent to Florence for redress

Of injuries received from those of Luca,

And could ne'er procure an audience. Old men
Contain in their remembrance, that our
Signiory of Pisa scorn'd to implore
Justice from any State in Italy.

CAST. Is this the cause of your revolt?
Fosc. My lord, the people are incens'd against
their

Oppressors, your burthens gall their shoulders,
Which they'll fling off for ever, now.

CAST. You shall know the intent of my com-
mission.

I must demand an easy entrance here,

Attended with a regiment of foot,

These to remain a garrison, till my

Master receive less cause to doubt your faiths.
You, my lord, to become my prisoner, and