Vit. In this I dare,

And will; and not call his prerogative In question, nor presume to limit it. I know he is the master of his laws, And may forgive the forfeits made to them, But not the injury done to my honour: And since (forgetting my brave uncle's merits, And many services, under duke d'Alva) He suffers him to fall, wresting from justice The powerful sword, that would revenge his death,

I'll fill with this Astrea's empty hand, [king's. And in my just wreak make this arm the My deadly hate to Alvarez, and his house, Which as I grew in years hath still encreas'd (As if it call'd on Time to make me man), Slept while it had no object for her fury, But a weak woman, and her talk'd-of daughter; [sight 2, But now, since there are quarries worth her Both in the father and his hopeful son, I'll boldly cast her off, and gorge her full With both their hearts: to further which, your friendship, [deeds And oaths! Will your assistance let your

Lucio. Go, fetch my work. This ruff was not well starch'd,

So tell the maid; 'thas too much blue in it: And look you that the partridge and the pullen [ther Have clean meat and fresh water, or my moIs like to hear on't. [there ever

Bob. Oh, good St. Jaques, help me! Was Such an hermaphrodite heard of? Would any Wench living, that should hear and see what I do, [man lies Be wrought to believe, that the best of a Under this petticoat, and that a cod-piece Were far fitter here, than a pinn'd placket?

Lucio. You had best talk filthily, do; I have a tongue

To tell my mother, as well as ears to hear Your ribaldry.

Bob. Nay, you have ten women's tongues That way, I am sure! Why, my young master, Or mistress, madam, don, or what you will, What the devil have you to do with pullen or partridge?

Or to sit pricking on a clout all day?
You have a better needle, I know, and might
Make better work, if you had grace to use it.
Lucio. Why, how dare you speak this be-
fore me, sirrah?
[what I speak?
Bob. Nay, rather, why dare not you do
Tho' my lady, your mother, for fear of
Vitelli and his faction, hath [kept you
Brought you up like her daughter, and has
These twenty years (which is ever since
You were born) a close prisoner within doors;
Yet since you are a man, and are as well
Provided as other men are, methinks [flesh
You should have the same motions of the
As other cavaliers of us are inclin'd unto.

Lucio. Indeed, you have cause to love those wanton motions,

They having holpe you to an excellent whipping+,

3

Sympson.

to further which, your friendship,

These gentlemen point,

Sympson.

For

Bob. Why, I but

was

Taught her a Spanish trick in charity, [live And holpe the king to a subject, that may To take grave Maurice prisoners, and that [as you More good to the state than a thousand such Are ever like to do. And I will tell you (In a fatherly care of the infant, I speak it) If he live (as bless the babe, in passion I Remember him!) to your years, shall he spend his time

In pinning, painting, purling, and perfuming, As you do? No; he shall to the wars, Use his Spanish pike, tho' with the danger of the lash, [vok'd,

As his father has done; and when he is pro-
As I am now, draw his toledo desperately,
As---

Lucio. You will not kill me? Oh!
Bob. I knew this

Would silence him. How he hides his eyes!
If he were a wench now, as he seems, what an
Advantage had I, drawing two toledos
When one can do this! But-Oh me, my
lady!
[jest.
I must put up.-Young master, I did but
Oh, Custom, what hast thou made of him!

Enter Eugenia and Servant.

Eug. For bringing this, be still my friend;

no more

A servant to me.

Bob. What's the matter?
Eug. Here,

E'en here, where I am happy to receive
Assurance of my Alvarez return, [thoughts
I will kneel down; and may those holy
That now possess me wholly, make this place
A temple to me, where I may give thanks
For this unhop'd-for blessing, Heav'n's kind
Hath pour'd upon me!
[hand

Lucio. Let my duty, madam,
Presume, if you have cause of joy, to entreat
I may share in it.
[him yet.
Bob, 'Tis well, he has forgot how I frighted

Eug. Thou shalt: but first kneel with me,
Lucio,

No more Posthumia now! thou hast a father,
A father living to take off that name, [dead,
Which my too-credulous fears, that he was
Bestow'd upon
thee. Thou shalt see him,

Lucio,
And make him young again by seeing thee,
Who only hadst a being in my
womb
When he went from me, Lucio. Oh, my joys
So far transport me, that I must forget
The ornaments of matrons, modesty,
And grave behaviour! But let all forgive me,
If in th' expression of my soul's best comfort,
Tho' old, I do a while forget mine age,
And play the wanton in the entertainment
Of those delights I have so long despair'd of!
Lucio. Shall I then see my father?
Eug. This hour, Lucio;

Which reckon the beginning of thy life,
I mean that life in which thou shalt appear
To be such as I brought thee forth, a man.
This womanish disguise, in which I have
So long conceal'd thee, thou shalt now cast
off,
[from me,
And change those qualities thou didst learn
For masculine virtues; for which seek no tutor,
But let thy father's actions be thy precepts.
And for thee, Zancho, now expect reward
For thy true service
[learn

Bob. Shall I? You hear, fellow Stephano? To know me more respectively! How dost Thou think I shall become the steward's chair? ha!

Will not these slender haunches shew well with

A gold chain' and a night-cap after supper, When I take the accounts?

Eug. Haste, and take down those blacks
with which my chamber [mourn'd,
Hath like the widow, her said mistress,
And hang up for it the rich Persian arras,
Us'd on my wedding-night; for this to me
Shall be a second marriage! Send for music,
And will the cooks to use their best of cun-
To please the palate.
[ning

Bob. Will your ladyship have
A potatoe-pie? 'Tis a good stirring dish
For an old lady, after a long Lent.

6

how I frighted him yet.

how I frighted him.

Eug. That thou shalt.

Eug

Enter Alvarez and Clara.

Alt. Where lost we Syavedra?
Clara. He was met,

Ent'ring the city, by some gentlemen.
Kinsmen, as he said, of his own, with whom
For compliment-sake (for so I think he
term'd it)

He was compell'd to stay; tho' I much wonder
A man that knows to do, and has done well
I' th' head of his troop, when the bold foe
charg'd home,

Can learn so suddenly ť abuse his time
In apish entertainment. For my part,
(By all the glorious rewards of war),
I'd rather meet ten enemies i' th' field, [on
All sworn to fetch my head, than be brought
To change an hour's discourse with one of
Smooth city-fools, or tissue-cavaliers [these
(The only gallants, as they wisely think),
To get a jewel, or a wanton kiss
From a court-lip, tho' painted.
Alv. My love Clara,

(For Lucio is a name thou must forget,
With Lucio's bold behaviour), tho' thy breed-
ing
[cuse

I' th' camp, may plead something in the exOf thy rough manners, custom having chang'd (Tho' not thy sex) the softness of thy nature, And Fortune, then a cruel step-dame to thee, Impos'd upon thy tender sweetness burdens Of hunger, cold, wounds, want, such as would crack

The sinews of a man, not born a soldier;
Yet, now she smiles, and like a natʼral mother
Looks gently on thee, Clara, entertain
Her proffer'd bounties with a willing bosom:
Thou shalt no more have need to use thy
sword;
falter'd)

Thy beauty (which e'en Belgia hath not
Shall be a stronger guard, to keep my Clara,
Than that has been (tho' never us'd but no-
And know thus much-
[bly):

Clara. Sir, I know only that
It stands not with my daty to gain-say you

Alv. My soul (for thou giv'st new life to my spirit) [Embraces her. Myriads of joy, though short in number of Thy virtues, fall on thee! Oh, my Eugenia, Th' assurance that I do embrace thee, makes My twenty years of sorrow but a dream; And by the nectar which I take from these, I feel my age restor'd, and, like old Eson, Grow young again.

Eug. My lord, long wish'd for, welcome! 'Tis a sweet briefness! yet in that short word All pleasures which I may call mine begin, And may they long encrease, before they find A second period! Let mine eyes now surfeit On this so wish'd-for object, and my lips Yet modestly pay back the parting kiss You trusted with them, when you fled from Sevil, [she? With little Clara, my sweet daughter! Lives Yet I could chide myself, having you here, For being so covetous of all joys at once, T'enquire for her; you being, alone, to me My Clara, Lucio, my lord, myself, Nay, more than all the world!

Alv. As you to me are.

story

Eug. Sit down, and let me feed upon the [safety! Of your past dangers, now you're here in It will give relish, and fresh appetite

To my delights, if such delights can cloy me. Yet do not, Alvarez! let me first yield you Account of my life in your absence, and Make you acquainted how I have preserv'd The jewel left lock'd up within my womb, When you, in being forc'd to leave your [country,

Suffer'd a civil death.

Alv. Do, my Eugenia; 'Tis that I most desire to hear. Eug. Then know----Alv. What noise is that?

Clara. Fortune, I give thee thanks For this occasion once more to use it. [Exit. Bob. Nay, hold not me, madam! If I do any hurt, hang me. [into Luc. Oh, I am dead with fear! Let's fly Your closet, mother.

Eug. No hour of my life
Secure of danger? Heav'n be merciful,
Or now at once dispatch me!

Enter Vitelli, pursued by Alvarez and Syavedra, Clara beating off Anastro.

Clara. Follow him!

Leave me to keep these off.

Alv. Assault my friend,

So near my house?

Vit. Nor in it will spare thee,

Tho' 'twere a temple; and I'll make it one, I being the priest, and thou the sacrifice, I'll offer to my uncle.

Alv. Haste thou to him,

And say I sent thee!

Clara. 'Twas put bravely by

And that; yet he comes on, and boldly; rare
I' th' wars, where emulation and example
Join to encrease the courage, and make less
The danger! valour, and true resolution
Never appear'd so lovely-brave again!
Sure he is more than man; and if he fall,
The best of virtue, fortitude, would die with
And can I suffer it? forgive me, duty! [him:
So I love valour, as I will protect it
Against my father, and redeem it, tho'
Tis forfeited by one I hate.

Vit. Come on!

All is not lost yet: you shall buy me dearer Before you have me; keep off.

Clara. Fear me not!

[sword

Thy worth has took me prisoner, and my
For this time knows thee only for a friend,
And to all else I turn the point of it.
Syav. Defend your father's enemy?
Alo. Art thou mad?
[lour, which
Clara. Are ve men rather? Shall that va-
Begot you lawful honour in the wars, [tard
Prove now the parent of an infamous bas-
So foul, yet so long-liv'd, as murder will

Be to your shames? Have each of you, alone,
With your own dangers only, purchas'd glory
From multitudes of enemies, not allowing
Those nearest to you to have part in it,
And do you now join, and lend mutual help
Against a single opposite? Hath the mercy
Of the great king, but newly wash'd away
The blood, that with the forfeit of life
your
Cleav'd to your name and family, like an
In this again to set a deeper dye upon [ulcer,
Your infamy? You'll say he is your foe,
And by his rashness call'd on his own ruin;
Remember yet, he was first wrong'd, and
honour
[place

Spurr'd him to what he did; and next the
Where now he is, your house, which by the
Of hospitable duty should protect him;[laws

Have you been twenty years a stranger to't,

Eug. I'll return

The joy I have in her, with one as great
To you, my Alvarez: you, in a man,
Have giv'n to me a daughter; in a woman,
I give to you a son: this was the pledge
You left here with me, whom I have brought
up

Diff'rent from what he was, as you did Clara,
And with the like success; as she appears
Alter'd by custom, more than woman, he,
Transform'd by his soft life, is less than man.
Alv. Fortune in this gives ample satisfaction
For all our sorrows past.

Lucio. My dearest sister!
Clara, Kind brother!

Alv, Now our mutual care must be
Employ'd to help wrong'd Nature, to recover
Her right in either of them, lost by custom:
To you I give my Clara, and receive
My Lucio to my charge; and we'll contend,
With loving industry, who soonest can
Turn this man woman, or this woman man,
[Exeunt

ACT

A gentleman of my rank to walk the streets In querpo.

Laz. Nay, you are a very rank gentleman, Senor. I am very hungry; they tell me In Sevil here, I look like an eel, [smith With a inan's head; and your neighbour the Here hard by, would have borrow'd me the other day [angle-rod.

To have fish'd with me, because h' had lost his Pach. Oh, happy thou, Lazarillo, being the cause [lean

Of other men's wits, as in thine own! Live And witty still: oppress not thy stomach Too much: gross feeders, great sleepers; great sleepers, fat bodies;

Fat bodies, lean brains! No, Lazarillo; I will make thee immortal, change thy humanity

Into deity, for I will teach thee

To live upon nothing.

Laz. Faith, signor,

I am immortal then already, or very
Near it, for I do live upon little or nothing.
Belike that is the reason the poets are said
To be immortal; for some of them live
Upon their wits, which is indeed as good
As little or nothing. But, good master, let me
Be mortal still, and let us go to supper.

Puch. Be abstinent; shew not the corruption of

Thy generation: he that feeds shall die,
Therefore, he that feeds not shall live.
Laz. Ay, but how long

Shall be live? There's the question.
Pach. As long as he

Can without feeding. Didst thou read of the
Miraculous maid in Flanders-

No part of the fable is historical.

But for all this, sir, my rebellious stomach
Will not let me be immortal: I will be
As immortal as mortal hunger will suffer.
Put me to a certain stint, sir! allow me
But a red herring a day!

Pach. O, de Dios!

One pease was a soldier's provant a whole day At the destruction of Jerusalem.

Enter Metaldi and Mendoza.

Laz. Ay, an it were any where but at
The destruction of a place, I'll be hang'd.
Met. Signor Pachieco Alasto,
My most ingenious cobler of Sevil,
The bones norios to your signory!

Pach. Signor Metaldi de Forgio!

My most famous smith, and man of metal, I
Return your courtesy ten-fold, and do
Humble my bonnet beneath the shoe-solc
Of your congie. The like to you,
Signor Mendoza Pediculo de Vermini,
My most exquisite hose-heeler!

Laz. Here's a greeting

Betwixt a cobler, a smith, and a botcher! They all belong to the foot, which makes them stand

So much upon their gentry.

Mend. Signor Lazarillo!

Laz. Ah, signor, sì! Nay, we are all signors Here in Spain, from-the jakes-farmer to the grandee,

Or adelantado. This botcher looks [now,
As if he were dough-buk'd; a little butter
And I could eat him like an oaten cake!
His father's diet was new cheese and onions
When he got him: what a scallion-fac'd ras-
cal 'tis?
[stand
Met. But why, signor Pachicco, do you
So much on the priority, and antiquity
Of your quality (as you call it) in comparison
Of ours?

Mend. Ay; your reason for that.

Pach. Why, thou iron-pated smith, and thou Woollen-witted hose-heeler, hear what I Will speak indifferently, and according To antient writers, of our three professions; And let the upright Lazarillo be Both judge and moderator!