Glass. You would not have it said that you lodged at the Fool.*

Fruella. My Fool is a hundred thousand times better than your Looking-Glass.

Messer Piero. Speculum prudentiam significat, juxta illud nostri Catonis, Nosce teipsum. You understand, Fabrizio. Fabrizio. I understand.

Fruella. See who has most guests, you or I.

L' Agiato. See who has most men of note.
Fruella. See where they are best treated.
L' Agiato. See where there are most delicacies.
Stragualcia. Delicacies, delicacies, delicacies!
substance. Delicacies are for the Florentines.
L' Agiato. All these lodge with me.

Give me

Fruella. They did; but for the last three years they have

come to me.

L' Agiato. My man, give me the trunk, it seems to gall your shoulder.

Stragualcia. Never mind my shoulder, I want to fill my stomach.

Fruella. Here is a couple of coupons, just ready. These are for you:

Stragualcia. They will do for a first course.
L'Agiato. Look at this ham.

Messer Piero. Not bad.

Fruella. Who understands wine?

Stragualcia. I do; better than the French.

Fruella. See if this pleases you. If not, you may try ten other sorts.

Stragualcia. Fruella, you are the prince of hosts. Taste this, master. This is good. Carry in the trunk.

Messer Piero. Wait a little. What have you to say?

L' Agiato. I say, that gentlemen do not care for heavy meats, but for what is light, good, and delicate.

Stragualcia. This would be an excellent provedore for a hospital.

Messer Piero. Do not be uncivil. What will you give us? L' Agiato. You have only to command.

Fruella. Where there is plenty, a man may eat little or

* In the sense of fou, not of sot.

The Looking-Glass signifies prudence, according to the saying of our Cato: "Know yourself."

much as he pleases; but where there is little, and the appetite grows with eating, he can only finish his dinner with bread.

Stragualcia. You are wiser than the statutes. I have never seen a landlord so much to my mind.

Fruella. Go into the kitchen, brother; there you will see. Messer Piero. Omnis repletio mala, panis autem pessima.* Stragualcia (aside). Paltry pedant! One of these days I

must crack his skull.

L' Agiato. Come in, gentlemen. It is not good to stand in the cold.

Fabrizio. We are not so chilly.

Fruella. You must know, gentlemen, this hotel of the Looking-Glass used to be the best hotel in Lombardy; but since I have opened this of the Fool, it does not lodge ten persons in a year, and my sign has a greater reputation throughout the world than any other hostelry whatever. The French come here in flocks, and all the Germans, that pass this way.

L'Agiato. This is not true. The Germans go to the Pig. Fruella. The Milanese come here; the Parmesans; the Placentians.

L' Agiato. The Venetians come to me; the Genoese; the Florentines.

Messer Piero. Where do the Neapolitans lodge?

Fruella. With me.

L'Agiato. The greater part of them lodge at the Cupid. Fruella. Many with me.

Fabrizio. Where does the Duke of Malfi?

Fruella. Sometimes at my house, sometimes at his, sometimes at the Sword, sometimes at the Cupid; accordingly as he finds most room for his suite.

Messer Piero. Where do the Romans lodge, as we are from Rome ?

L' Agiato. With me.

Fruella. It is not true: He does not lodge a Roman in a year, except two or three old cardinals, who keep to him from habit. All the rest come to the Fool.

Stragualcia. I would not go from hence, without being dragged away. Master, there are so many pots and pipkins about the fire, so many soups, so many sauces, so many spits, turning with partridges and capons, such an odour of stews * All repletion is bad, but that of bread is the worst.

and ragouts, such a display of pies and tarts, that, if the whole court of Rome were coming here to keep carnival, there would be enough, and to spare.

Fabrizio. Have you been drinking?
Stragualcia. Oh! and such wine.

Messer Piero. Variorum ciborum commistio pessimam generat digestionem.*

Stragualcia. Rus asinorum, buorum castronorum pecoronibus + -the devil take all pedants. Let us go in here, master. Fabrizio. Where do the Spaniards lodge?

Fruella. I do not trouble myself about them. They go to the Hook. But what need more? No person of note arrives in Modena, but comes to lodge with me, except the Sienese, who, being all one with the Modenese, no sooner set foot in the city, but they find an hundred friends, who take them to their houses otherwise, great lords and good companions, gentle and simple, all come to the Fool.

L'Agiato. I say that great doctors, learned brothers, academicians, virtuosi, all come to the Looking Glass.

Fruella. And I say, that no one, who takes up his quarters at the Looking-Glass, has been there many days before he walks out and comes to me.

Fabrizio. Messer Piero, what shall we do?

Messer Piero. Etiam atque etiam cogitandum.‡

Stragualcia (aside). I can scarcely keep my hands off him. Messer Piero. I think, Fabrizio, we have not much money. Stragualcia. Master, I have just seen the host's daughter, as beautiful as an angel.

Messer Piero. Well, let us fix here. Your father, if we find him, will pay the reckoning.

Stragualcia. I will go into the kitchen, taste what is there, drink two or three cups of wine, fall asleep by a good fire, and the devil take economy.

L' Agiato. Remember, Fruella. You have played me too many tricks. One day we must try which head is the hardest. Fruella. Whenever you please. I am ready to crack your skull.

* The mixture of various foods causes the worst possible digestion. + Mock Latin.

It is to be thought of again and again.

Scene III.-The Street, with the house of VIRGINIO.

VIRGINIO and CLEMENTIA.

Virginio. These are the customs which you have taught her. This is the honour which she does me. Have I for this escaped so many misfortunes, to see my property without an heir, my house broken up, my daughter dishonoured to become the fable of the city: not to dare to lift up my head: to be pointed at by boys: to be laughed at by old men to be put into a comedy by the Intronati: to be made an example in novels: to be an eternal scandal in the mouths of the ladies of this land? For if one knows it, in three hours all the city knows it. Disgraced, unhappy, miserable father! I have lived too long. What can I think of? What can I do?

Clementia. You will do well to make as little noise as you can, and to take the quietest steps you can to bring your daughter home, before the town is aware of the matter. But I wish that Sister Novellante Ciancini had as much breath in her body as I have faith in my mind, that Lelia goes dressed as a man. Do not encourage their evil speaking. They wish her to be a nun, that they may inherit your property. Virginio. Sister Novellante has spoken truth. She has told me, moreover, that Lelia is living as a page with a gentleman of this city, and that he does not know that she is not a boy.

Clementia. I do not believe it.

Virginio. Neither do I, that he does not know that she is not a boy.

Clementia. That is not what I mean.

Virginio. It is what I mean. But what could I expect, when I entrusted her bringing up to you?

Clementia. Rather, what could you expect, when you wanted to marry her to a man old enough to be her grandfather?

Virginio. If I find her, I will drag her home by the hair. Clementia. You will take your disgrace from your bosom, to display it on your head.

Virginio. I have a description of her dress: I shall find her let that suffice.

Clementia. Take your own way. I will lose no more time in washing a coal.

Scene IV.-The Street, with the hotels and the house of GHERARDO.

FABRIZIO and FRUELLA.

Fabrizio. While my two servants are sleeping, I will walk about to see the city. When they rise, tell them to come towards the piazza.

Fruella. Assuredly, young gentleman, if I had not seen you put on these clothes, I should have taken you for the page of a gentleman in this town, who dresses like you, in white, and is so like you that he appears yourself.

Fabrizio. Perhaps I may have a brother.

Fruella. It may be so.

Fabrizio. Tell my tutor to inquire for he knows whom.
Fruella. Trust to me.

Scene V.

FABRIZIO and PASQUELLA.

Pasquella. In good faith, there he is. I was afraid of having to search the city before I should find you. My mistress says you must come to her as soon as you can, for a matter of great importance to both of you.

Fabrizio. Who is your mistress ?
Pasquella. As if you did not know.

Fabrizio. I do not know either her or you.
Pasquella. Oh, my Fabio.

Fabrizio. That is not my name. You are under some mistake.

Pasquella. Oh, no, Fabio. You know, there are few girls in this country so rich and so beautiful, and I wish you would come to conclusions with her: for, going backwards and forwards day after day, taking words and giving words

* Viola, in assuming male apparel, copies the dress of her brother:

"He named Sebastian: I my brother know

Yet living in my glass: even such and so
In favour was my brother; and he went

Still in this fashion, colour, ornament;

For him I imitate."-Twelfth Night, act iii. scene 4.