ΤΟ

The Right Honourable, and much esteemed for her high birth, but more admired for her virtue,

THE LADY KATHERINE STANHOPE,.

WIFE TO PHILIP LORD STANHOPE,

MADAM,

BARON OF SHELFORD.

IF I were not most assured that works of this nature have found both patronage and protection amongst the greatest princesses of Italy, and are at this day cherished by persons most eminent in our kingdom, I should not presume to offer these my weak and imperfect labours at the altar of your favour. Let the example of others, more knowing, and more experienced in this kindness (if my boldness offend) plead my pardon, and the rather, since there is no other means left me (my misfortunes having cast me on this course) to publish to the world (if it hold the least good opinion of me) that I am ever your ladyship's creature. Vouchsafe, therefore, with the never-failing clemency of your noble disposition, not to contemn the tender of his duty, who, while he is, will ever be

An humble Servant to your

Ladyship, and yours.

PHILIP MASSINGER.

*Princesses] So the quarto 1623. That of 1638 exhibits princes, which Coxeter, and consequently M. Mason, follows.

Charles the emperor.

Pescara, an imperialist, but a friend to Sforza.

Hernando,

Medina,
Alphonso,

}captains to the

Three Gentlemen.

An Officer.

to the emperor.

Two Doctors. Two Couriers.

Marcelia, the dutchess, wife to Sforza.
Isabella, mother to Sforza.

Mariana, wife to Francisco, and sister to Sforza.
Eugenia, sister to Francisco.

A Gentlewoman.

A Guard, Servants, Fiddlers, Attendants.

SCENE, for the first and second acts, in Milan; during part of the third, in the Imperial Camp near Pavia; the rest of the play, in Milan, and its neighbourhood.

THE

DUKE OF MILAN.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Milan. An outer Room in the Castle."

Enter GRACCHO, JULIO, and GIOVANNI,' with

Flaggons.

Grac. Take every man his flaggon: give the

oath To all you meet; I am this day the state-drunkard, I'm sure against my will; and if you find A man at ten that's sober, he's a traitor, And, in my name, arrest him.

1 Milan. An outer Room in the Castle.] The old copies have no distinction of scenery; indeed, they could have none with their miserable platform and raised gallery, but what was furnished by a board with Milan or Rhodes painted upon it. I have ventured to supply it, in conformity to the modern mode of printing Shakspeare, and to consult the ease of the general reader. I know not what pricked forward Coxeter, but he thought proper (for the first time) to be precise in this Play, and specify the place of action. I can neither compliment him upon his judgment, nor Mr. M. Mason upon his good sense in following him: the description here is, "Scene, a public Palace in Pisa," Pisa! a place which is not once mentioned, nor even hinted at, in the whole play.

2 JULIO, and GIOVANNI,] These are not found among the old dramatis personæ, nor are they of much importance. In a subsequent scene, where they make their appearance as 1st and 2nd Gentlemen, I have taken the liberty to name them again. Jovio, which stood in this scene, appears to be a misprint for Julio.

Jul. Very good, sir:

But, say he be a sexton?

Grac. If the bells

Ring out of tune,' as if the street were burning,
And he cry, "Tis rare musick; bid him sleep:
'Tis a sign he has ta'en his liquor; and if you meet
An officer preaching of sobriety,

Unless he read it in Geneva print,*

Lay him by the heels.

Jul. But think you 'tis a fault To be found sober?

Grac. It is capital treason; Or, if you mitigate it, let such

pay

Forty crowns to the poor: but give a pension
To all the magistrates you find singing catches,
Or their wives dancing; for the courtiers reeling,
And the duke himself, I dare not say distemper'd,
But kind, and in his tottering chair carousing,
They do the country service. If you meet
One that eats bread, a child of ignorance,

3 Grac. If the bells

5

Ring out of tune, &c.] i. e. backward: the usual signal of alarm, on the breaking out of fires. So in the Captain:

"Is all a wildfire, for my head rings backward."

Again in the City Match:

66

Then, sir, in time

"You may be remember'd at the quenching of
"Fired houses, when the bells ring backward, by
"Your name upon the buckets.”

4 Unless he read it in Geneva print,] Alluding to the spirituous liquor so called. M. MASON.

5

-I dare not say distemper'd,] i. e. intoxicated: so the word is frequently used by our old writers. Thus Shirley: "Clear. My lord, he's gone.

"Lod. How?

"Clear. Distemper❜d.

"Lod. Not with wine ?" The Grateful Servant.

It occurs also in Hamlet.

And bred up in the darkness of no drinking,
Against his will you may initiate him

In the true posture; though he die in the taking
His drench, it skills not: what's a private man,
For the publick honour? We've nought else to
think on.

And so, dear friends, copartners in my travails,
Drink hard; and let the health run through the city,
Until it reel again, and with me cry,
Long live the dutchess!

Enter TIBERIO and STEPHANO.

Jul. Here are two lords;-what think you? Shall we give the oath to them?

Grac. Fie! no: I know them,

You need not swear them; your lord, by his

patent,

Stands bound to take his rouše.' Long live the [Exeunt Grac. Jul. and Gio.

dutchess!

Steph. The cause of this? but yesterday the

court

Wore the sad livery of distrust and fear;
No smile, not in a buffoon to be seen,
Or common jester: the great duke himself
Had sorrow in his face; which, waited on
By his mother, sister, and his fairest dutchess,
Dispersed a silent mourning through all Milan;

6

-though he die in the taking

His drench, it skills not: &c.] It matters or signifies not. So in the Gamester:

"Neph. I desire no man's privilege: it skills not whether "I be kin to any man living."

7

-your lord, by his patent,

Stands bound to take his rouse.] This word has never been properly explained. It occurs in Hamlet, where it is said by Steevens, as well as Johnson, to mean a quantity of liquor rather too large : the latter derives it from rusch, half drunk, Germ. while he brings carouse from gar ausz,all out! Rouse and carouse,however,