THE ARGUMENT INTRODUCING TO THE FOLLOWING SCENES
Sicily had been a long time tormented with civil wars, and the crown was still in dispute, till Aldebrand, getting the upper hand in a set battle, establish'd himself in the throne, and gave a period to all those troubles in shew only; for the old factions were set on foot again shortly after, and the house of the Floretties and the Cleonaxes strove now as much who should be most powerful with the king, as before who should make him. In conclusion, the favour of Aldebrand inclining to the Cleonaxes, and by degrees resting wholly upon them, the Floretties took arms, but in a set field lost all. The father and the son being both taken prisoners, the one was banish'd, the other condemned suddenly to lose his head.
Thus far the author drew the curtain; the rest of the plot is wrapt up in the following scenes.
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