That I have studied your departure, which,
To a person of your quality, were
Not to be expected.

FLOR. I'm rewarded!

BERT. You may live, Florello,

To purge the sin of your revolt, and be
Set glorious in opinion, who are now
Left in a dull eclipse. I would not have
Our chronicle remember Bertolina
Accessary to the death of your fair name,
When the amazed reader will in pity.
A tree so full of blossoms wither?

You are here out of the sun's true warmth.
Return and prosper !

FLOR. Cruel Bertolina!

I see thou art a rock to wreck the unskilful
Mariner upon. Hadst thou disclos'd thy
Stoney nature, when first my unhappy eyes
Admir'd thee, I had steer'd another way,
Or got some other star to sail by. But
Condemn me still, I'll call home my own thoughts,
That straggle from my reason, to join with
Your accusation. I confess I'm fall'n

Into a depth hath swallowed up my honour;
And that which makes my suffering infinite,
The love of a frail woman led me to

My ruin. Farewell!

BERT. Deliver that to the Colonel !

FLOR. If thou be constant to thy temper, get Betimes upon some battlement, and

See me made a sacrifice, and too late check
Thy pride, when my last breath shall scorn

Thy name, but expire in prophecying

Thy unkind fate.

BERT. I have been too passionate,

[Exit.

And thoughtless of a common danger. I begin to

find it.

Enter GOVERNOR.

GOVER. Bertolina, where's

Florello I was told you were in conference
I hope your wisdom will direct you to
Cherish his design, beside his noble
Thoughts to you; for this great act, he's one
Pisa is much engag'd to.

BERT. I foresee a storm.

GOVER. Florence hath treasured up Great hope in him, and Castracagnio,

The General, with less hazard, might have

Parted with half his army. I counsel, Bertolina,
That as you had power to draw him to our side,
So manage him, he may be encouraged
T'employ his love to Pisa.

BERT. Sir, from you

I learn'd to admire goodness, that
Gives the distinction to men; without
This I behold 'em but as pictures, which
Are flourish'd with a pencil, to supply
The absence of inward worth, their titles
Like landskip gracing them only afar off.

GOVER. Thou hast my genius to instruct thee; All thy thoughts are noble.

Enter COLONEL, RANOLA.

BERT. The Colonel!

COL. 'Tis done, sir.

GOVER. What?

COL. Florello

GOVER. What of him?

COL. Is discharged.

GOVER. Ha!

COL. By your command; he is dismiss'd the

town.

GOVER. By mine!

COL. This is my warrant.

BERT. Ranola, th'ast undone me! didst not tell him

I had something to impart?

COL. I did, madam, but you see the unhappiness. GOVER. Bertolina!

BERT. Sir, your pardon! 'Tis I must own the fact; yet hear me.

GOVER. Art thou turn'd conspirator?

BERT. But late you thought me worth your praise, for

Honouring virtue, which we cannot truly
But we must hate the contrary. Florello
Was sick, my lord, and my sending him hence
Was to procure his health.

GOVER. Astonishment !

Is the morn elder by an hour since

He convers'd with me? I discover'd no sickness in

him!

BERT. To me it did; I saw him

Labouring with a disease did fright my very soul. GOVER. Give it a name !

BERT. An hospital has none

So full of horror; he has an ulcer growing
Upon his fame made him appear full of

Deformity. Shall Foscari's daughter

Cherish a man that comes to court her love, Spoil'd of his honor? When he has washed the

stain,

Contracted by revolting hither, I'll

Look on him with glad eyes, and call him lover!
Till then, I shut him from my thoughts.
GOVER. As I

Will Bertolina from my sight, I could

Divorce thee from my blood, and disclaim all That pleads for nature in me. Take her away! Confine her ere she speak again, and tempt me

To forget my self.

Betray'd so rich a

Hath your nicety hope as Pisa had

In a few minutes? Hence! or I shall make

Death the punishment of your stay.

COL. My lord!

[Carry in Bertolina.

GOVER. Be glad your error hath so good a plea, You had been lost else. Tell me, Colonel,

Dost not expect Florello will return

Circled in a flame, melting our walls for
This affront done by a giddy woman?

COL. We may join fire to his; but, sir,
Your noble daughter-

GOVER. Do not beget suspicion;

Thou hast practis'd treason with her. She is
Too near me. We all suffer; and, in this,
Pisa shall see my justice.

[Exeunt.

Enter MERVOLE, SORANZO, LIZARO, ARIOTTO, in

the field.

MER. Hang physic! that prescribes the spring and fall,

For opening of a vein for the health of honour.

I' th' dog-days we may bleed, or i' th' depth
Of winter. Here's an exc'lent place!

How many ounces wilt thou spare, Soranzo?
Thou shalt bleed physically.

SOR. I thank you, sir, you are a noble surgeon!

I'll not limit your art; I've your promise

To employ it to my honour.

MER. We'll fight the French way, shall's?

LIZA. The French!

ARI. I never tried that duel.

SOR. We must abide it.

MER. Let's to't pellmell then.

LIZA POX a this pellmell! *

I was in hope they would have kill'd one
Another opportunely, and given us

Leisure to think on't. I have it! I'll let fall my

sword.

ARI. Remember, then!

MER. Soranzo tell me where I shall hit thee

now.

SOR. Let your skill direct

you.

LIZA. Now I forget thee, Ariotto !

ARI. But howsoever remember to let fall your weapon,

I am now thy enemy. Guard thy heart! Remember

The reverse.

MER. Pox o' thee! How dost thou fight here?

canst not

Hit me here? Make a punto!

SOR. You must have patience.

MER. 'Death! what a child th' art. Do you

encounter

With a pigmy? put home thy bulrush, I'll
Cleave thy teeth button, prithee fight!

Pox o' thee! How thou liest.

ARI. Heart! your rapier justled my ribs. Let fall! D'ye long to see crimson?

LIZA. Tis against my will, as I am a christian

I cannot let fall yet with honour.

ARI. I bleed!

LIZA. Are you in earnest ?

MER. How now?

SOR. Does your arm ache? Or have you the

cramp

In your fingers ?

MER. I cannot govern my weapon. Thou hast

"When we have dash'd them to the ground,

Then defie each other; and pell mell
Make work upon ourselves."-Shakespeare.