A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15

Name: A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15
Author: Dodsley, Robert

Dodsley, Robert

English drama

+Don Z.+ Prythee, leave fooling, and let's carefully
    Gain the back way into my house unseen,
    That none may know of my return, till Blanca
    Find me at her feet. And be you industrious
    T' observe Don Julio's going forth this evening:
    Doubtless he'll keep his usual hours abroad
    At Violante's, since not married yet.

    +Chi.+ I shall observe your orders punctually.            [_Exeunt._

         _Enter +Don Julio+, and knocks as at +Blanca's+ door._

    +Don J.+ What, sister, at your siesta[9] already? if so,
    You must have patience to be wak'd out of it,
    For I have news to tell you.

                           _Enter +Blanca+._

    +Blan.+ No, brother, I was much more pleasingly
    Employ'd--in serving you; that is, making
    My court to Violante by receiving
    To wait upon me, in Lucilla's place,
    A gentlewoman of her recommending.

    +Don J.+ Where is she? let me see her.

    +Blan.+                                'Twere not safe:
    She is too handsome. You think now I jest?
    But, without raillery, she is so lovely,
    That, were not Violante very assur'd
    Of her own beauty and the strong ideas
    That still upholds within you, one might question
    Her wit to have set her in her gallant's way.
    But what's the news you mean?

    +Don J.+ That our dear friend and kinsman, Don Fernando,
    Is come to town, and going for Italy:
    The secret of it doth so much import him,
    It forc'd him to forbear alighting here,
    And lodging with us, as he us'd to do;
    But yet he says, nothing shall hinder him
    From waiting on you in the dusk of th' evening:
    I hope you'll find wherewith to regale[10] him.

    +Blan.+ As well as you have drain'd my cabinets
    Of late in presents to your mistress, some
    Perfumes will yet be found, such as at Rome
    Itself shall not disgrace Valencia.

    +Don J.+ I know your humour, and that the best present
    Can be given you is to give you the occasion
    Of presenting; but I am come in now
    Only to advertise you, and must be gone;
    Yet not, I hope, without a sight of one
    So recommended and commended so.

    +Blan.+ I should have thought you strangely chang'd in humour,
    Should you have gone away so uncuriously.
    Francisca, ho!                                        [_She knocks._

                          _Enter +Francisca+._

    +Fran.+ What please you, madam?

    +Fran.+ Prythee, tell Silvia I would speak with her.
                                                   [_Exit +Francisca+._
    Well, clear your eyes, and say I have no skill,
    If she appears not t' ye exceeding handsome.

             _Enter +Francisca+ with +Elvira+. +Don Julio+
                             salutes her._

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 15

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