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99
[The Argument.1
Philotvs an olde rich man, is enamorued with the loue of
Emilia, daughter to Alberto, who being refused, imployeth a
Macrell or pandrous to allure herthereto, but all in vain :
afterward he dealeth with her father Alberto, who being blinded
with the mans wealth, vseth first faire words, & thereafter
threatnings to perswade her thereto : the mayde still refuseth.
In the meane time Flavius a young man enters in conference
with the mayde, and obtaineth her consent, who being dis¬
guised, conveyeth her selfe away priuilie with the said Flavius.
Her father and Philotus searches for her in the house. Philerno
the maydes brother laitlie arryued out of other countries,
(being verie lyke her) is mistaken by her father & Philotus,
to be Emilia, who takes the person of his sister vpon him :
and after diuerse threatnings of his father, consenteth to
marrie Philotus : and so Philotus committeth Philerno to the
custodie of his daughter Brisilla, vntill the mariage should be
accomplished. Philerno faines himselfe to Brisilla, to be
transformed in a man, and so maketh himselfe familiar with
her. Thereafter, Philerno is maried to Philotus, who fearing
to be discouered, maketh a brawling that same night with
Philotus, and abuseth him vyllie, & to colour the mater the
better, agreeth with a whore to go to bed with Philotus.
Flavius seeing the supposed Emilia to bee maried to Philotus,
imagines the right Emilia to be a deuill, and, after many
conjurations, expelleth her his house, she returneth to her
father Alberto acknowledging her misbehauiour, and lamenting
her case. Flavius being sent for perceiuing how he had mis¬
taken Emilia, reuealeth the whole trueth, and so taketh her
home agane to his wife, & Philerno Brisilla. In the end
Philotus bewaileth his follie, for pursuing so vnequall a match,
warning all men to beware, by his example.]
1 Inserted in Hart’s edition before the Names of the speakers.