[268] Old eds. “Mizaldus.”
[269] Rigid rules were enacted from time to time forbidding the consumption of flesh in Lent: see Overall’s Remembrancia. It may be seen from Middleton’s Chaste Maid that promoters (i.e., informers) were busily engaged in preventing any infringement of the regulations.
SCENE II.
Pavia.—Isabella’s house.
Enter Isabella alone, Gniaca following her.
Isa. O Heavens, that I was born to be hate’s slave,
The food of rumour that devours my fame!
I am call’d Insatiate Countess, lust’s paramour,
A glorious devil, and the noble whore!
I am sick, vex’d, and tormented. O revenge!
Gni. On whom would my Isabella be revenged?
Isa. Upon a viper, that does eat[270] mine honour;
I will not name him till I be revenged.
See, here’s the libels are divulg’d against me—
An everlasting scandal to my name— 10
And thus the villain writes in my disgrace:—
[She reads.
Who loves Isabella the Insatiate,
Needs Atlas’ back for to content her lust,
That wand’ring strumpet, and chaste wedlock’s hate,
That renders truth deceit for loyal trust;
That sacrilegious thief to Hymen’s rites,
Making her lust her god, heaven her delights!