Phi.

Madam, your messenger
Made me believe you wished to speak with me.
Are. 'Tis true, Philaster; but the words are such
I have to say, and do so ill beseem

Phi.

40

The mouth of woman, that I wish them said,
And yet am loath to speak them. Have you known
That I have aught detracted from your worth?

Have I in person wronged you? or have set

My baser instruments to throw disgrace

Upon your virtues?

Never, madam, you.

Are. Why, then, should you, in such a public place,
Injure a princess, and a scandal lay

Upon my fortunes, famed to be so great,

Calling a great part of my dowry in question? Phi. Madam, this truth which I shall speak will be 50 Foolish but, for your fair and virtuous self,

Are.

Phi.

I could afford myself to have no right

To any thing you wished.

Philaster, know,

Madam, both ?

I must enjoy these kingdoms.

Are. Both, or I die by heaven, I die, Philaster,
If I not calmly may enjoy them both.

Phi. I would do much to save that noble life :,
Yet would be loath to have posterity
Find in our stories, that Philaster gave
His right unto a sceptre and a crown
To save a lady's longing.

Are.

Nay, then, hear:
I must and will have them, and more——

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What more?

Phi.
Are. Or lose that little life the gods prepared
To trouble this poor piece of earth withal.

Phi. Madam, what more?

Phi. I can endure it.

Turn, then, away thy face.

Turn away my face!

I never yet saw enemy that looked

So dreadfully, but that I thought myself
As great a basilisk as he; or spake

So horribly, but that I thought my tongue

Bore thunder underneath, as much as his;

Nor beast that I could turn from: shall I then

Begin to fear sweet sounds? a lady's voice,

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Whom I do love? Say, you would have my

life;

Why, I will give it you; for 'tis to me

A thing so loathed, and unto you that ask

Of so poor use, that I shall make no price:
If you entreat, I will unmovedly hear.
Are. Yet, for my sake, a little bend thy looks.
Phi. I do.

Are.

Then know, I must have them and thee.

Phi. And me?

Are.

Phi.

Thy love; without which, all the land
Discovered yet will serve me for no use
But to be buried in.

Is't possible?

Are. With it, it were too little to bestow

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On thee. Now, though thy breath do strike me dead

(Which, know, it may), I have unript my breast.
Phi. Madam, you are too full of noble thoughts,
To lay a train for this contemnèd life,

Which you may have for asking: to suspect
Were base, where I deserve no ill. Love you! 90
By all my hopes, I do, above my life!

But how this passion should proceed from you
So violently, would amaze a man

That would be jealous.

Are. Another soul into my body shot

Could not have filled me with more strength and spirit

Than this thy breath. But spend not hasty time

In seeking how I came thus: 'tis the gods,

The gods, that make me so; and, sure, our love

Will be the nobler and the better blest,
In that the secret justice of the gods

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Is mingled with it. Let us leave, and kiss ;
Lest some unwelcome guest should fall betwixt us,
And we should part without it.

Phi.

I should abide here long.

'Twill be ill

Are.

Phi.

'Tis true; and worse

You should come often. How shall we devise
To hold intelligence, that our true loves,
On any new occasion, may agree
What path is best to tread?

I have a boy,
Sent by the gods, I hope, to this intent
Not yet seen in the court.

Hunting the buck,

I found him sitting by a fountain's side,
Of which he borrowed some to quench his thirst,
And paid the nymph again as much in tears.
A garland lay him by, made by himself
Of many several flowers bred in the vale,
Stuck in that mystic order that the rareness
Delighted me: but ever when he turned
His tender eyes upon 'em, he would weep,
As if he meant to make 'em grow again.
Seeing such pretty helpless innocence
Dwell in his face, I asked him all his story:
He told me that his parents gentle died,
Leaving him to the mercy of the fields

Bellaria?

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7

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Which gave him roots; and of the crystal springs,
Which did not stop their courses; and the sun,
Which still, he thanked him, yielded him his light.
Then took he up his garland, and did show
What every flower, as country-people hold,
Did signify, and how all, ordered thus,
Expressed his grief; and, to my thoughts, did read
The prettiest lecture of his country-art

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That could be wished: so that methought I could
Have studied it. I gladly entertained

Him, who was glad to follow; and have got |
The trustiest, loving'st, and the gentlest boy :
That ever master kept. Him will I send
To wait on you, and bear our hidden love.

Re-enter Lady.

Are. 'Tis well; no more.

Lady. Madam, the prince is come to do his service.
Are. What will you do, Philaster, with yourself?

141

Phi. Why, that which all the gods have appointed out

When thunder speaks, which is the voice of Jove,
Though I do reverence, yet I hide me not;
And shall a stranger-prince have leave to brag