"The Siege" seems to have been acted at the Cockpit by D'avenant's company on the eve of the Restoration, and prior to their removal to Portugal Row, but whether it had been acted before Cromwell's time does not appear. Although a fairly written play, it was never subsequently revived. Geneste observes respecting it:"There is a comic underplot. The character of Piracco is evidently borrowed from that of 'The Humorous Lieutenant. This is on the whole a good Tragi-comedy. "The Siege' and 'The Distresses' were not printed until 1673, but had probably been acted before the civil wars. They have however no Prologue nor Epilogue." Whence the several plots of "The News from Plymouth" "The Fair Favourite "--" The Distresses "and" The Siege," have been derived, we have in vain endeavoured to trace throughout the several collections of stories to which the dramatists of the times had usually recourse. Their plots are in themselves trifling, but most ingeniously handled so as to create a strong dramatic interest. The Biographia Britannica says, that "All these plays were acted in the time of Oliver and Richard, first printed in 4to, and afterwards revised and inserted in the author's works." If this was really the case, it seems strange that none of the quarto editions are extant, nor is there any other record of their ever having existed. In the absence therefore of any edition than that in folio, there is no certainty that the text of these plays has been accurately printed from the MSS. of Sir William D'avenant. The present play in particular bears some internal evidence of having been tampered with, more especially towards the conclusion, as some lines are very far beneath the standard of Sir William's usual composition, while occasionally there may be observed some successful specimens of bathos. THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY. CASTRACAGNIO, a General. FLORELLO, in love with Bertolina. SORANZO, his Friend and Rival. PIRACCO, a Captain. MERVOLE, his Ensign. ARIOTTO and LIZARO, } Volunteers. FOSCARI, Governor of Pisa. PERDUES. SOLDIERS. BERTOLINA, Foscari's daughter. RANOLA, her Woman. BAGOLA, a Sutler's Wife. Scene: PISA. THE SIEGE. ACT I. Enter CASTRACAGNIO, FLORELLO, ARIOTTO, FLO. Your troops have skirmish'd at the Northern Gate, And are return'd without much loss. CAST. Mistakes are ever incident to night, And darkness. How long is't since The sun appear'd? FLO. Not a full hour. CAST, Why! 'Sdeath! We have flown hither, then; we have out-march'd time. 'Tis strange we should reach the town so early, And find success absent. Piracco! hast thou summon'd 'em to a parley? Enter PIRACCO. PIR. Twice, noble general! FLO. See! The governor appears upon the walls. Enter GOVERNOR, COLONEL, &c. GOVER. Hail, Castracagnio, the great Duke's general ! We wish both health and honor to Florello, too! Your lieutenant o'er this powerful army. |