quote.

дис

'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

60

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

Cle.
Are.

ladies.

Is 't not late, gentlemen?

Yes, madam.

Wait you there. [Exit.

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.

20

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

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

Dion.

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 40

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

I saw him enter there,

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.

Fraumun 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.
wil is Yet, if it be your wills, forgive the sin
and I have committed; let it not fall
2014

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.

quote

50

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 im-
portant; they said, their lady was about it. I grew

hot, and cried, my business was a matter that con-
cerned life and death; they answered, so was sleep-
ing, at which their lady was. I urged again, she
had scarce time to be so since last I saw her: they
smiled again, and seemed to instruct me that sleep-
ing was nothing but lying down and winking.
Answers more direct I could not get in short, sir,
I think she is not there.
73

King. 'Tis then no time to dally.-You o' the guard,
Wait at the back door of the prince's lodging,
And see that none pass thence, upon your lives.—
[Exeunt Guards.
Knock, gentlemen; knock loud; louder yet.

[Dion, Cleremont, etc., knock at the door
of Pharamond's lodging.

What, has their pleasure taken off their hearing? I'll break your meditations.-Knock again.— Not yet? I do not think he sleeps, having this 80 Larum by him.-Once more.-Pharamond! prince! [Pharamond appears at a window. Pha. What saucy groom knocks at this dead of night? Where be our waiters? By my vexèd soul,

He meets his death that meets me, for this bold

ness.

King. Prince, prince, you wrong your thoughts; we are your friends: