Did on his beauty: How fhall I approach him?
Could I appear but like a Sibyl's fon,
Or with a face rugged as father Nilus
Is pictur'd on the hangings, there were hope
He might look on me. How to win his love
I know not. If I wift he were not precise,
I'd lay to purchase fome ftale interludes,
And give him them: books that have not attain'd
To the Platonic year, but wait their course,
And happy hour, to be reviv'd again :

Then would I induce him to believe they were
Some of Terence's hundred and fifty comedies
That were loft in the Adriatic sea,
When he return'd from banishment.
Gullery as this might be inforced upon him.
I'll first talk with his man, and then confider.

Some fuch

Enter Lorenzo, Gafparo, Mocinigo, and Angelia.

Lorenzo.

How hap't you did return again fo foon, fir ?

Gafparo.

I'll tell you, fir: As I follow'd my fon
From the Rialto, near unto the bridge,
We were encount'red by a 6 fort of gallants,
Sons of Clariffimos, and Procurators
That knew him in his travels: whereupon
He did infinuate with his eyes, unto me,
I fhould depart and leave them.

[Exit.

What grave and youthful gentleman's that with you?

Do you not know him?

No.

6 A fort.] Á company. See note 4, to Gammer Gurton's Needlé, vol. 2.

P. 7.

VOL. X.

Gafparo:

Gafparo.

Ay, and there hangs a jeft:

For, going to a courtezan this morning,
In his own proper colour, his grey beard,
He had th' ill luck, to be refus'd; on which,
He went and dy'd it, and came back again,
And was again, with the fame fcorn, rejected;
Telling him, that she had newly deny'd his father.
Lorenza.

That he intends to marry. What think you, fir,
Of his refolution?

By'r lady, it fhews.

Lorenzo.

Great haughtiness of courage; a man of his years
That dares to venture on a wife.

Mocinige.

A man of my years! I feel

My limbs as able as the best of them;
And in all places elfe, except my hair,

As green as a bay-tree: and for the whiteness
Upon my head, although it now lie hid,

What does it fignify, but like a tree that bloffoms
Before the fruit come forth? And, I hope, a tree
That bloffoms, is neither dry nor wither'd.

Lorenzo.

But pray, what piece of beauty's that you mean To make the object of your love?

You 'pofe me; for I have a curious eye,

And am as choice in that point to be pleased,

As the most youthful. Here, one's beauty takes me ;
And there, her parentage and good behaviour:

9

Another's

Another's wealth or wit: but I'd have one
Where all these graces meet, as in a center.
Gafparo.

You are too ambitious. You'll hardly find
Woman or beast that trots found of all four:
There will be fome defect.

Yet this I refolve on 7,

Mocinigo.

To have a maid tender of age and fair.
Old fish and young flesh, that's still my diet.
Lorenzo.

What think you of a widow ?

By no means:

Mocinigo.

They are too politic a generation;
Prov'd fo by fimilies. Many voyages
Make an experienc'd feaman; many offices
A crafty knave: fo, many marriages,

A fubtle cunning widow. No, I'll have one
That I may mould, like wax, unto my humour.

7 Moc. Yet this, &c.] This is taken from Chaucer.
But one thing warn I you, my frendis dere,
I woll none old wife have in no manere.
She shall not paffin fixtene yere certeine,
Old fish, and yong flesh woll I bave full faine.

Merchant's Tale, L. 930.

Which Mr. Pope hath modernized in the following manner :
One caution yet is needful to be told,

To guide your choice; This wife muft not be old:
There goes a faying, and 'twas fhrewdly faid,

Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed.

January and May, L. 99.

For fondry fcholis maketh fotill clarkis,
Woman of many fcholis half a clark is:
But certainly a yong thing may men gye,
Right as men may warm wax with hondis phe.

Merchant's Tale, L. 943.

No crafty widows fhall approach my bed;

Those are too wife for batchelors to wed.
As fubtle clerks by many schools are made,
Twice-marry'd dames are miftreffes o' th' trade:
But young and tender virgins, rul'd with ease,
We form like wax, and mould them as we pleafe.
January and May, L, 106.
C &

Lorenze

Lorenzo: J

This doating afs is worth, at least, a million;
And though he cannot propagate his stock,

Will be fure to multiply. I'll offer him my daughter.
By computation of age, he cannot

Live past ten years; by that time she'll get strength
To break this rotten hedge of matrimony
And after have a fair green field to walk in,
And wanton where the please. Signior, a word
And by this guefs my love: I have a daughter,
Of beauty fresh, of her demeanour gentle,
And of a fober wifdom: you know my estate.
If you can fancy her, feek no further.

Mocinigo.

Thank you, fignior; pray of what

Is your daughter ?

But fixteen, at the most.

age

Lorenzo.

Gafparo.

You wish'd for a young one, did you not?

Well, mark what I fay: When I come to her,

She'll ne'er be able to endure me.

I'll truft her.

Lorenzo.

Gafparo.

I think your choice, fir, cannot be amended, She is fo virtuous and fo amiable.

Mocinigo.

Is fhe fo fair and amiable? I'll have her.

She may grow up to what the wants; and then
I fhall enjoy fuch pleasure and delight,
Such infinite content in her embraces,

I may contend with Love for happiness !
Yet one thing troubles me.

So well on earth, I ne'er fhall think of any other joys.

Gafparo.

power

I wish all joy to you; but 'tis in th'
Of fate to work a miracle upon you.
You may obtain the grace, with other men,

Το

repent your bargain before you have well feal'd it,
Lorenzo.

Or the may prove his purgatory, and fend him
To heaven the fooner.

I am refolv'd. Bring me, that I may see her;
Young handfome ladies are like prizes at a horse-race,

where

Every well-breath'd gentleman may put in for his share.

Enter Duke and Leonardo,

Leonardo.

But are you refolv'd of this course, fir?

Duke.

[Exeunt.

Yes, we'll be once mad in our days, and do an exploit for posterity to talk of.

I am at your Grace's

Will you join with me?
Leonardo.

difpofing.

Duke.

No grace, nor no refpect, I befeech you, more than ordinary friendship allows of; 'tis the only bar to hinder our designs.

Leonardo.

Then, fir, what fashion you are pleas'd to appoint me, I will be glad to put on.

C 3

Duke.