Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Book Search project.) THE Perjur'd Husband: OR, THE Adventures of VENICE. A TRAGEDY. Drawn from THE WORKS OF THE CELEBRATED Mrs. CENTLIVRE. VOLUME ONE LONDON: Printed for J. Knapton, C. Hitch and L. Hawes, J. and R. Tonson, S. Crowder and Co. W. Bathoe, T. Lownds, T. Caslon, and G. Kearsly. M.DCC.LXI. [Decoration] THE PROLOGUE. By a GENTLEMAN. Spoken by Mrs. OLDFIELD. _Such dreadful Laws of late 'gainst Wit are made,_ _It dares not in the City show its Head._ _No Place is safe; each Cuckold turns Informer,_ _If we make merry--it must be in a Corner._ _And here's To-night, what doubly makes it sweet,_ _A private Table, and a Lady's Treat:_ _At her Reflections none can be uneasy,_ _When the kind Creature does her best to please ye._ _Humbly she sues, and 'tis not for your Glory_ _T'insult a Lady--when she falls before ye._ _But since no human Wit can stand the Test,_ _With_ Gorman! _and the_ Champion of the West! _She'll fill the Lists, and then you cannot slight her,_ (_With Honour safe_) _for she's_ a fair Inviter. _Expects no Favour, but at Honour's Call,_ _Defies the boldest_ Briton _of you all;_ _Whate'er's her Fate, she's sure to gain the Field,_ _For Women always conquer, when they yield._ [Decoration] Dramatis Personæ. MEN. _Count_ Bassino, _a_ Savoyard, _married to_ } _Mr._ Mills. Placentia, _and in Love with_ Aurelia, } Armando, Bassino's _Friend_, _Mr._ Simpson. Alonzo, _a_ Venetian _Gentleman_, _betrothed } to_ Aurelia, } _Mr._ Thomas. Pizalto, _a Noble_ Venetian, _Mr._ Norris. Ludovico, _a_ Frenchman, _Mr._ Fairbank. WOMEN. Placentia, Bassino's _Wife_, _Mrs._ Kent. Aurelia, _a young_ Venetian _Lady, betrothed_ } _to_ Alonzo, _but in Love with_ } _Mrs._ Oldfield. Bassino, } Forella, _her Woman_, _Mrs._ Baker. _Lady_ Pizalta, Pizalto's _Wife_, _Mrs._ Moore. Lucy, _her Woman_, _Mrs._ Lucas. _Maskers, Dancers, Singers, and Attendants._ SCENE, VENICE, in Carnival-Time. THE PERJUR'D HUSBAND. ACT I. SCENE I. _The Curtains fly up, and discover a Mask in_ Pizalto's _House_. Pizalto, _Lady_ Pizalta, Lucy; Ludovico _talking to Lady_ Pizalta; Bassino _and_ Aurelia _talking together_; Florella _and other Maskers_. _A_ Spanish _Entry_. _While the Dance is performing_, _enter_ Armando, _and gives_ Bassino _two Letters, which he opens and reads_. _Lady_ Pizalta _and_ Lucy _advance to the Front of the Stage_.