WE would fain please ye, and as fain be pleas'd; Let not a brack'i' the stuff, or here and there 1 brack] "i. e. breach, break." WEBER. 2 take up worse commodities] See note, p. 530. - The modern editors evidently did not understand the passage: even Mason supposed that "commodities" "meat and wine" mentioned in the next line but one. meant the | And dearer pay, yet think your bargains wise; 3 wealth] Altered by Seward to "health;" and so the Editors of 1778. 4 miss] So the second folio. The first folio "mistris; " and so Seward. THE LAWS OF CANDY. The Lawes of Candy. In the folios 1647, 1679. The second folio adds, "A tragi-comedy." The Laws of Candy has been generally considered (but whether justly or not, I cannot pretend to determine) as a joint production of Beaumont and Fletcher. At what date it was originally brought upon the stage is not known. "The principal plot of this play is evidently taken from the ninth novel of the tenth decade of the Hecatommithi of Cinthio, a writer whom Fletcher seems to have been much attached to. It is there related, that the city of Pisa being besieged by the Florentines with various success, the senate, in order to stimulate the warriors to exertion, proclaimed that the captain who most distinguished himself on an appointed day, should be rewarded with a golden hauberk, and a statue erected to his inemory. It happened that the two warriors who did the most glorious deeds of arms were a father and his son, both captains, the former of knights, the latter of light-horse. The senate deliberated long, but being unable to decide who had best deserved the promised rewards, the son declared himself contented if his father would choose either the statue or the hauberk, and leave whichever he rejected to him. But the father declared that he would part with neither, boasted of his long and brilliant services, and upbraided the senators, as well as his son, with ingratitude. The senators wished to pacify him, and said, that any honour which his son obtained was equally to the credit of himself, who had produced and educated such a warrior. But the father refused to hearken to their advice, and openly calumniated his son in court. The latter then offered to forego his share of the prize; but the soldiers of his squadron insisted that he should demand it, and even revenge the insult he had received; nor could his arguments, full of filial piety, appease them. On the other hand, the soldiers of the father's squadron, boasting of their superior rank, refused to listen to any propositions, and threatened to go over to the enemy, if both the prizes were not assigned to the father. The senators then proposed to decide the matter by lot; stipulating, that if the father's name were drawn, he should have both the prizes, but if the son's, that the father should be content with the more honourable reward of the statue, and relinquish the hauberk to his son. After some resistance from the squadron of knights, the proposal was accepted; and the son's name being drawn, the hauberk was assigned to him, which he willingly gave up to his father in token of reconciliation. A fresh attack was then made on the Florentines, in which the father lost both his arms, but was fully avenged by his son upon the enemy. The rest of the novel has nothing in common with the play." WEBER (whose analysis I have slightly altered). Slouchy DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. 1 Porphicio] I have some doubts about these names. The former, in one place of the first folio, stands "Porphino Possenne and the latter, in another place," Possenme." 2 Cyprus] Fol. 1679 (in which only the list of Dram. Per, is found) "Candy." 3 Fernando] Fol. 1679 calls him "servant [i. e. lover; see note, p. 162] to Ánnophel." ACT I. SCENE I.- A Street. Enter GASPERO and MELITUS, severally. Mel. Sir, you're the very friend I wish'd to meet with; I have a large discourse invites your ear Gas. And what concerns it? Mel. The sadly-thriving progress of the loves Between my lord the prince, and that great lady Whose insolence and never-yet-match'd pride Can by no character be well express'd But in her only name, the proud Erota.2 Gas. Alas, Melitus, I should guess the best Success your prince could find from her, to be As harsh as the event doth prove! but now "Tis not a time to pity passionate griefs,3 When a whole kingdom in a manner lies Upon its death-bed bleeding. Mel. Who can tell Is wise, and therein just; for this Gonzalo, The wars were scarce begun, but he, in fear 1 insolence] So the second folio. The first folio "insolencie." the proud Erota] "Seward endeavours [no, the Editors of 1778 endeavor] to derive the name Erota from some etymology expressive of pride; but without success or necessity. There is no difficulty in the passage. Every distinguishing appellation may be considered as part of a person's name. Magnus became part of the name of Pompey, and Feliz of Sylla; and it appears that the only name the princess was called by was the proud Erota. So the Soldier says of Macbeth, For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name); ' which does not refer to Macbeth, but brave." MASON. 3 passionate griefs] "i. e. griefs proceeding from love." Ed. 1778.- Rather, the griefs of love attended with complainings (passion being often used by our old writers in the sense of sorrowful exclamation: see note, p. 177.) I know, Melitus, he out of his own store Mel. What, without other pledges than Cassilane's Bare promise of payment?5 Gas. No, it may be He has some petty lordship to retire to; Mel. What laws are those, sir? And they be worth your knowledge. Briefly thus: Whoe'er he be that can detect apparently Received benefit, the plaintiff may Require the offender's life; unless he please Mel. By which strict law the senate is in danger, Should they neglect Gonzalo ? Permits a like equality to aliens Mel. Pray, sir, the other? The elder Cretans flourish'd many years, CIUS. Cas. Admit no soldier near us, till the senate Have took their places. Arc. You are obey'd, my lord. Dec. I shall. Cas. Give leave, Arcanes. Young man, come nearer to me: who am I? Of filial duty, if I should forget [Kneels. Cas. What, so low! canst thou find joints, see Their little god of war kneel to his father, For proof that I acknowledge you the author Cas. Boldly urg'd, And proudly: I could love thee, did not anger Consult with just disdain, in open language To call thee most ungrateful. Say freely," Wilt thou resign the flatteries whereon The reeling pillars of a popular breath Have rais'd thy giant-like conceit, to add A suffrage to thy father's merit ? speak. Ant. Sir, hear me. Were there not a chronicle Well penn'd by all their tongues who can report What they have seen you do; or had you not Best in your own performance writ yourself And been your own text, I would undertake Alone, without the help of art or character,3 1 From successary] Theobald offered here two conjectures," From successors," and "From ancestry." Seward printed "Nor successary." says "the poet doubtless wrote From successry.' Coleridge (Remains, ii. 306) the old reading is quite right. But 2 Say freely Seward printed "But say freely." 3 without the help of art or character] Ältered by Seward ACT I. But only to recount your deeds in arms, Great, and well worthy to be styled great, In me to obstruct my fortunes, or descent, The interest, which the inheritance of your virtue, And mine own thrifty fate, can claim in honour. My lord, of all the mass of fame, which any That wears a sword, and hath but seen me fight, Gives me, I will not share, nor yield one jot, One tittle. Cas. Not to me? Ant. You are my father, Yet not to you. Cas. Ambitious boy, how dar'st thou Been slothful, and not follow'd you in all Cas. Antinous, look upon this badge of age, Ant. My case observes Both equity and precedents; for, sir, Cas. But he was not my father then, Antinous; Thou leav'st out that. Ant. Sir, had he been your father, Cas. So be thou curs'd to "without the help of art, to character '"'!- Here, of course, 16 character" means letters, writing. 4 It would betray a poverty of spirit In me to obstruct my fortunes, or descent, &c.] "The con struction of this passage is somewhat embarrassed: but Antinous means to say, that he should betray a poverty of spirit if he obstructed his fortunes, or a poverty of descent if he should surrender up, &c." MASON. Which not a year yet since beheld me mounted Upon a fiery steed, waving my sword, And teaching this young man to manage arms, Of chivalry, shall that same sun be witness, But by the treading on his father's greatness! - Ant. My life, but not the prize My sword hath purchas'd. Re-enter ARCANES and DECIUS. Arc. The senate, my lord, Are here at hand, and all the soldiers Cas. Now, Arcanes, The Arc. What, sir? Cas. Trifles will affront us; that Fine fighting stripling! Arc. Let him have the shame on't. Please you withdraw on this side. Cas. My great heart Was never quail'd before. Dec. [To ANTINOUS.] My lord, be confident; Let not your father daunt you. Ant. Decius, whither Must I withdraw? Dec. On this side. See, the soldiers Attend your pleasure: courage, sir! The senate. Enter PORPHICIO, POSSENNE, three other Senators, vours, To take a place amongst you: I had rather By some, though mean, yet more becoming place, Than run the hazard of a doubtful censure.3 Pos. My lord, your wisdom is both known and tried; We cannot rank you in a nobler friendship Than your great service to the state deserves. Por. Will't please you sit? Gon. What, here, my lord Porphicio ? Por. My lord, you are too modest. but I have done. Your lordships are observ'd.' Enter FERNANDO, led in captive by Soldiers. Arc. He is ready. Gas. Produce him, then. you both, The due reward of your desertful glories, You are your brave opponent's worthy father. Soldiers. Ay, ay. Cas. Right grave, right gracious fathers, how To bandy words now in my life's last farewell, Your wisdoms will consider: were there pitch'd Another and another field, like that Which, not yet three days since, this arm hath scatter'd, Defeated, and made nothing, then the man That had a heart to think he could but follow (For equal me he should not) through the lanes Of danger and amazement, might in that, That only of but following me, be happy, Reputed worthy to be made my rival; For 'tis not, lords, unknown to those about me (My fellow-soldiers), first, with what a confi In martial play, was even as ignorant (Directed more by fury than by warrant |