Are.

Unto a foreign nation, that he made
Philaster hide himself?

He cannot know it.

Phi. Though it should sleep for ever to the world, 150
It is a simple sin to hide myself,
Which will for ever on my conscience lie.
Are. Then, good Philaster, give him scope
In what he says; for he is apt to speak
What you are loath to hear: for my sake, do.
Phi. I will.

Re-enter Lady with Pharamond.

and way

Pha. My princely mistress, as true lovers ought,
I come to kiss these fair hands, and to show,

In outward ceremonies, the dear love
Writ in my heart.

Phi. If I shall have an answer no directlier,

I am gone.

[Exit Lady.

160

Pha.
Are. To his claim unto the kingdom.

To what would he have answer?

Pha. Sirrah, I forbare you before the King—

Phi. Good sir, do so still: I would not talk with you.
Pha. But now the time is fitter: do but offer

To make mention of right to any kingdom,
Though it be scarce habitable-

Phi. Good sir, let me go.

Pha.

And by the gods—

Phi. Peace, Pharamond! if thou———

Are.

Pha.

Leave us, Philaster. 170

You are gone! by Heaven I'll fetch you back.

Phi. I have done.

[Going.

Phi. You shall not need.

[Returning.

Pha.
Phi.

What now?

Know, Pharamond,

Pha.

I loathe to brawl with such a blast as thou,
Who art nought but a valiant voice; but if
Thou shalt provoke me further, men shall say,
'Thou wert,' and not lament it.

Do you slight
My greatness so, and in the chamber of
The princess?

Phi. It is a place to which I must confess

I owe a reverence; but were't the church,
Ay, at the altar, there's no place so safe,
Where thou dar'st injure me, but I dare kill thee:
And for your greatness, know, sir, I can grasp
You and your greatness thus, thus into nothing.
Give not a word, not a word back! Farewell.

Pha. 'Tis an odd fellow, madam; we must stop

180

[Exit.

His mouth with some office when we are married. Are. You were best make him your controller. Pha. I think he would discharge it well. But, madam, I hope our hearts are knit; and yet so slow

190

The ceremonies of state are, that 'twill be long
Before our hands be so. If then you please,
Being agreed in heart, let us not wait
For dreaming form, but take a little stolen
Delights, and so prevent our joys to come.

Are. If you dare speak such thoughts, I must withdraw

in honour.

[Exit.

Pha. The constitution of my body will never hold out till the wedding; I must seek elsewhere.

[Exit.

ACT THE SECOND

SCENE I

An Apartment in the Palace.

Enter Philaster and Bellario.

Phi. And thou shalt find her honourable, boy;
Full of regard unto thy tender youth,
For thine own modesty; and, for my sake,
Apter to give than thou wilt be to ask,

Bel.

Ay, or deserve.

Sir, you did take me up

When I was nothing; and only yet am something
By being yours. You trusted me unknown;
And that which you were apt to conster
A simple innocence in me, perhaps

Might have been craft, the cunning of a boy
Hardened in lies and theft: yet ventured you
To part my miseries and me; for which,

I never can expect to serve a lady

That bears more honour in her breast than you.

10

Phi. But, boy, it will prefer thee. Thou art young,

And bear'st a childish overflowing love

To them that clap thy cheeks and speak thee fair yet;

But when thy judgment comes to rule those

passions,

Thou wilt remember best those careful friends

That placed thee in the noblest way of life.
She is a princess I prefer thee to.

Bel. In that small time that I have seen the world,
I never knew a man hasty to part with
A servant he thought trusty: I remember,
My father would prefer the boys he kept
To greater men than he, but did it not
Till they were grown too saucy for himself.
Phi. Why, gentle boy, I find no fault at all
In thy behaviour.

Bel.

Sir, if I have made
A fault in ignorance, instruct my youth:
I shall be willing, if not apt, to learn ;
Age and experience will adorn
my mind
With larger knowledge; and if I have done
A wilful fault, think me not past all hope
For once. What master holds so strict a hand
Over his boy, that he will part with him
Without one warning? Let me be corrected,
To break my stubbornness, if it be so,
Rather than turn me off; and I shall mend.

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