Enter Arethusa and a Lady.                       [1.2]       Are. Comes he not?   La. Madam? 350     Are. Will Philaster come?     La. Dear Madam, you were wont To credit me at first.     Are. But didst thou tell me so? I am forgetful, and my womans strength Is so o'recharg'd with danger like to grow About my Marriage that these under things Dare not abide in such a troubled sea: How look't he, when he told thee he would come?     La. Why, well.   Are. And not a little fearful? [end page 23, signature [D4], catchword: La. ] 360     La. Fear Madam? sure he knows not what it is.     Are. You are all of his Faction; the whole Court Is bold in praise of him, whilst I May live neglected: and do noble things, As fools in strife throw gold into the Sea, Drown'd in the doing   but I know he fears.     La. Fear? Madam (me thought) his looks hid more Of love than fear.     Are. Of love? To whom? to you? Did you deliver those plain words I sent, 370 With such a winning gesture, and quick look That you have caught him?     La. Madam, I mean to you.     Are. Of love to me? Alas! thy ignorance Lets thee not see the crosses of our births. Nature, that loves not to be questioned Why she did this, or that, but has her ends, And knows she does well, never gave the world Two things so opposite, so contrary, As he and I am   If a bowl of blood 380 Drawn from this arm of mine, would poyson thee, A draught of his would cure thee. Of love to me?     La. Madam, I think I hear him.     Are. Bring him in: You gods that would not have your dooms withstood, Whose holy wisdoms at this time it is, To make the passion of a feeble maid The way unto your justice, I obey.           [Enter Phil.     La. Here is my Lord Philaster.   Are. Oh! 'tis well: Withdraw your self.   Phi. Madam, your messenger 390 Made me believe, you wisht to speak with me.     Are. 'Tis true Philaster, but the words are such, I have to say, and do so ill beseem The mouth of woman, that I wish them said, And yet am loth to speak them. Have you known That I have ought detracted from your worth? Have I in person wrong'd you? or have set My baser instruments to throw disgrace Upon your vertues?   Phi. Never Madam you.     Are. Why then should you in such a publick place, 400 Injure a Princess and a scandal lay Upon my fortunes, fam'd to be so great: Calling a great part of my dowry in question.     Phi. Madam, this truth which I shall speak, will be Foolish   but for your fair and vertuous self, I could afford my self to have no right To any thing you wish'd.   Are.     Philaster, know I must enjoy these Kingdoms,   Phi. Madam, both?     Are. Both or I die: by Fate I die Philaster, If I not calmly may enjoy them both. 410     Phi. I would do much to save that Noble life: Yet would be loth to have posterity Find in our stories, that Philaster gave His right unto a Scepter, and a Crown, To save a Ladies longing.   Are. Nay then hear: I must, and will have them, and more.     Phi. What more?     Are. Or lose that little life the gods prepared, To trouble this poor piece of earth withall.     Phi. Madam, what more? 420     Are. Turn then away thy face.     Phi. No.   Are. Do.     Phi. I cannot endure it. turn away my face? I never yet saw enemy that lookt So dreadful, but that I thought my self 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 Ladies voice, 430 Whom I do love? Say you would have my life, Why, I will give it you, for it is of me A thing so loath'd, and unto you that ask Of so poor use, that I shall make no price [end column one, page 24] If you intreat, I will unmov'dly 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. Thy love: without which, all the Land Discovered yet, will serve me for no use, 440 But to be buried in.   Phi. Is't possible?     Are. With it, it were too little to bestow On thee: Now, though thy breath doth 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 contemned life, Which you may have for asking: to suspect Were base, where I deserve no ill: love you! By all my hopes I do, above my life: But how this passion should proceed from you 450 So violently, would amaze a man, that would be jealous.     Are. Another soul into my body shot, Could not have fill'd 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 Is mingled with it. Let us leave and kiss, Lest some unwelcome guest should fall betwixt us, 460 And we should part without it.   Phi. 'Twill be ill I should abide here long.   Are. 'Tis true, and worse You should come often: How shall we devise To hold intelligence? That our true lovers, On any new occasion may agree, what path is best to tread?     Phi. 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 side, Of which he borrow'd some to quench his thirst, And paid the Nymph again as much in tears; 470 A Garland lay him by, made by himself, Of many several flowers, bred in the bay, Stuck in that mystick order, that the rareness Delighted me: but ever when he turned His tender eyes upon 'um, he would weep, As if he meant to make 'um grow again. Seeing such pretty helpless innocence Dwell in his face, I ask'd him all his story; He told me that his Parents gentle dyed, Leaving him to the mercy of the fields, 480 Which gave him roots; and of the Crystal springs, Which did not stop their courses: and the Sun, Which still, he thank'd him, yielded him his light, Then took he up his Garland and did shew, What every flower as Country people hold, Did signifie: and how all ordered thus, Exprest his grief: and to my thoughts did read The prettiest lecture of his Country Art That could be wisht: so that, me thought, I could Have studied it. I gladly entertain'd him, 490 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.       Enter Lady.       Are. 'Tis well, no more.     La. Madam, the Prince is come to do his service.     Are. What will you do Philaster with your self?      (me.     Phi. Why, that which all the gods have appointed out for     Are. Dear, hide thy self. Bring in the Prince. 500     Phi. Hide me from Pharamond! 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 Unto a forreign Nation, that he made Philaster hide himself?     Are. He cannot know it.     Phi. Though it should sleep for ever to the world, [end page 24, signature [D4v], catchword: It] It is a simple sin to hide my self, Which will for ever on my conscience lie.     Are. Then good Philaster, give him scope and way 510 In what he saies: for he is apt to speak. What you are loth to hear: for my sake do.   Phi. I will.       Enter Pharamond.       Pha. My Princely Mistress, as true lovers ought, I come to kiss these fair hands; and to shew In outward Ceremonies, the dear love Writ in my heart.     Phi. If I shall have an answer no directlier, I am gone.   Pha. To what would he have an answer?     Are. To his claim unto the Kingdom. 520     Pha. Sirrah, I forbear 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 my sword.     Phi. Peace Pharamond: if thou----     Are. Leave us Philaster.   Phi. I have done.     Pha. You are gone, by heaven I'le fetch you back.     Phi. You shall not need.     Pha. What now? 530     Phi. Know Pharamond, I loath 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.     Pha. 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 wer't the Church, I, at the Altar, there's no place so safe, 540 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.     [Exit Phi.     Pha. 'Tis an odd fellow Madam, we must stop His mouth with some Office, when we are married.     Are. You were best make him your Controuler.     Pha. I think he would discharge it well. But Madam, I hope our hearts are knit; and yet so slow The Ceremonies of State are, that 'twill be long 550 Before our hands be so: If then you please, Being agreed in heart, let us not wait For dreaming for me, but take a little stoln Delights, and so prevent our joyes to come.     Are. If you dare speak such thoughts, I must withdraw in honour.     [Exit Are.     Pha. The constitution of my body will never hold out till the wedding; I must seek elsewhere.     [Exit Pha.   © Twilight Pictures, March 2001. This text is freely available for educational, non-profit uses only. Please report any errors or suggestions to Drew Whitehead.