Bel. If grief will give me leave, madam, I can.

Are. Alas, what kind of grief can thy years know? Hadst thou a curst master when thou went'st to school?

Thou art not capable of other grief;

Thy brows and cheeks are smooth as waters be
When no breath troubles them: believe me, boy,
Care seeks out wrinkled brows and hollow eyes,
And builds himself caves, to abide in them.

Come, sir, tell me truly, does your lord love me?

Bel. Love, madam! I know not what it is.

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Are. Canst thou know grief, and never yet knew'st love? Thou art deceived, boy. Does he speak of me

Bel.

As if he wished me well?

If it be love
To forget all respect of his own friends
With thinking of your face; if it be love
To sit cross-armed and sigh away the day,
Mingled with starts, crying your name as loud
And hastily as men i' the streets do fire;
If it be love to weep himself away

When he but hears of any lady dead

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Or killed, because it might have been your chance;
If, when he goes to rest (which will not be),

'Twixt every prayer he says, to name you once,
As others drop a bead, be to be in love,
Then, madam, I dare swear he loves you.
Are. Oh, you're a cunning boy, and taught to lie
For your lord's credit! but thou know'st a lie
That bears this sound is welcomer to me

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Than any truth that says he loves me not.
Lead the way, boy.-Do you attend me too.—
'Tis thy lord's business hastes me thus. Away!
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV

Before Pharamond's Lodging in the Court of the Palace.
Enter Dion, Cleremont, Thrasiline, Megra, and Galatea.
Dion. Come, ladies, shall we talk a round? As men
Do walk a mile, women should talk an hour
After supper: 'tis their exercise.

Gal.

Meg.

'Tis late.

'Tis all

My eyes will do to lead me to my bed.
Gal. I fear, they are so heavy, you'll scarce find
The way to your own lodging with 'em to-night.

Thra. The prince!

Enter Pharamond.

Pha. Not a-bed, ladies? you're good sitters-up:

What think you of a pleasant dream, to last
Till morning?

ΙΟ

Meg. I should choose, my lord, a pleasing wake before it.

Enter Arethusa and Bellario.

Are. 'Tis well, my lord; you're courting of these

Meg. She's jealous, as I live. [Aside.]-Look you, my

lord,

The princess has a Hylas, an Adonis.

Pha. His form is angel-like.

Meg.

Why, this is he

That must, when you are wed, sit by your pillow,
Like young Apollo, with his hand and voice
Binding your thoughts in sleep; the princess

Does provide him for you and for herself.
Pha. I find no music in these boys.

Meg.

Nor I:

They can do little, and that small they do,
They have not wit to hide.

Dion.

Thra.

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Serves he the princess?

Yes.

Dion. 'Tis a sweet boy: how brave she keeps him!

Pha. Ladies all, good rest; I mean to kill a buck
To-morrow morning ere you've done your dreams.
Meg. All happiness attend your grace!

[Exit Pharamond.
Gentlemen, good rest.—Come, shall we go to bed?
Gal. Yes.-All, good night.
Dion.

May your dreams be true to you !— [Exeunt Galatea and Megra. What shall we do, gallants? 'tis late. The King 30 Is up still see, he comes; a guard along with him.

Enter King with Arethusa, Guards, and Attendants. King. Look your intelligence be true.

Are. Upon my life, it is: and I do hope

Dion.

Your highness will not tie me to a man
That in the heat of wooing throws me off,
And takes another.

King.

What should this mean?

If it be true,

That lady had been better have embraced
Cureless diseases. Get you to your rest:
You shall be righted.

[Exeunt Arethusa and Bellario.
-Gentlemen, draw near;
Is young Pharamond

We shall employ you. Come to his lodging? Dion.

I saw him enter there.

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King. Haste, some of you, and cunningly discover
If Megra be in her lodging.

Cle.

Sir,

She parted hence but now, with other ladies. King. If she be there, we shall not need to make A vain discovery of our suspicion.

You gods, I see that who unrighteously

[Exit.

Holds wealth or state from others shall be cursed

In that which meaner men are blest withal :
Ages to come shall know no male of him
Left to inherit, and his name shall be

Blotted from earth; if he have any child,

It shall be crossly matched; the gods themselves
Shall sow wild strife betwixt her lord and her.
Yet, if it be your wills, forgive the sin

I have committed; let it not fall
Upon this understanding child of mine!

She has not broke your laws. But how can I
Look to be heard of gods that must be just,
Praying upon the ground I hold by wrong?

Re-enter Dion.

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60

[Aside.

Dion. Sir, I have asked, and her women swear she is within; but they, I think, are bawds. I told 'em, I must speak with her; they laughed, and said, their lady lay speechless. I said, my business was important; they said, their lady was about it. I grew