140 The Early English Drama: [FEB. 



And so he goes on, in a strain terribly true to the nature of one in 

 whom an involuntary injury is rankling, and who would fain make that 

 an excuse for a sin that he has already a mind to. 



It may be well to observe here, that a principal characteristic of this 

 play now begins to develop itself; namely, the absolute unity of pur- 

 pose by which it is contrived that all the actions which take place shall 

 spring more or less directly from the same feeling of revenge for some 

 real or supposed injury : all, however, being kept in subservience to that 

 of the Revenger par excellence. Our extracts have also already included 

 one or two examples of another characteristic of this singular work, of 

 which we shall have occasion to speak again hereafter : we mean the 

 occurrence of single lines, which, for the weight of metal contained in 

 them, cannot be matched out of Shakspeare. 



We now approach the main action of the drama, which is to be 

 brought about by the connexion of the disguised Vindici with the duke's 

 son, Lusurioso. To say that the following short apostrophe reminds us 

 of that (in Lady Macbeth), from which it was in all probability bor- 

 rowed, yet without suffering in any great degree by the association, is 

 to give it praise that but few passages of a similar kind would justify: 



Enter VINDICI and HIPPOLITO. VINDICI in disguise, to attend LUSURIOSO. 



Vin. What, brother am I far enough from myself? 



Hip. As if another man had been sent whole 

 Into the world, and none wist how he came. 



Vin. It will confirm me bold ; the child o' the court ; 

 Let blushes dwell i' the country. 



Impudence ! 



Thou goddess of the palace mistress of mistresses- 

 To whom the costly perfumed people pray, 

 Strike thou my forehead into dauntless marble 

 Mine eyes to steady sapphires ! Turn my visage ; 

 And, if I needs must glow, let me blush inward; 

 That this immodest season may not spy 

 That scholar in my cheeks, fool Bashmlness. 



Lusorioso now enters, and discloses his views which, it eppears, 

 point at no other than Castiza, sister to Vindici. This, while it fires 

 anew his desire for revenge on the " nest of dukes" collectively, delays 

 his main design against the reigning one ; and he determines on trying 

 to the uttermost the virtue of his beloved sister, whom he finds all that 

 his heart and his honour could hope for. Not so, however, their mother, 

 Gratiana. She is for a moment tempted, by the dazzling offers and 

 persuasive tongue of the disguised Vindici, to turn aside from her better 

 nature, and consent to assist in urging her daughter's dishonour. But 

 the latter triumphantly resists them both, and at length indignantly 

 leaves them. Of the fine scene in which this conference takes place, we 

 can only give the following passage, which we conceive to be in its way 

 unsurpassed. The lines marked in italics display a vigour and vividness 

 of imagination which is truly wonderful ; and the triumphant exclama- 

 tion of Vindici is beautiful in the highest degree : 



Castiza. False ! I defy ye both ! 

 I have endured you with an ear of fire ; 

 Your tongues have struck hot irons on my face. 

 Mother come from that wisonous woman there. 



