Volume Viii Part 86 (1/2)

'Tis so, no doubt; I read it in her brow.

Lord Lacy shall with all my heart enjoy Fair Honorea: Marian is mine; Who, though she be a shrew, yet is she honest.

So is not Honorea, for even now, Walking within my garden all alone, She came with Musgrave, stealing closely by, And follows him, that seeks to fly from her.

I spied this all unseen, and left them there.

But sure my dame hath some conceit thereof, And therefore she is thus angry, honest soul!

Well, I'll straight hence unto my Lord of Kent, And warn him watch his wife from these close meetings.

Well, Marian, thou liv'st yet free from blame.

Let ladies go; thou art the devil's dame.

[_Exit_ CASTILIANO.

_Enter the_ DEVIL, _like_ MUSGRAVE, _with_ HONOREA.

MUS. No, lady; let thy modest, virtuous life Be always joined with thy comely shape, For l.u.s.t eclipseth nature's ornament.

HON. Young heady boy, think'st thou thou shalt recall Thy long-made love, which thou so oft hast sworn, Making my maiden thoughts to doat on thee?

MUS. With patience hear me, and, if what I say Shall jump with reason,[456] then you'll pardon me.

The time hath been when my soul's liberty Vow'd servitude unto that heavenly face, Whilst both had equal liberty of choice; But since the holy bond of marriage Hath left me single, you a wedded wife, Let me not be the third unlawfully To do Earl Lacy so foul injury.

But now at last--

HON. I would that last Might be thy last, thou monster of all men!

MUS. Hear me with patience.

HON. Cease: I'll hear no more!

'Tis my affection, and not reason, speaks: Then, Musgrave, turn the hardness of thy heart, And now at least incline thy love to mine.

MUS. Nay, now I see thou wilt not be reclaim'd.

Go and bestow this hot love on the earl; Let not these loose affects thus scandalise Your fair report. Go home, and learn to live As chaste as Lucrece, madam. So I leave you.

[_She pulleth him back_.

HON. O, stay a little while, and hear my tongue Speak my heart's words, which cannot choose but tell thee, I hate the earl, only because I love thee. [_Exit_ MUSGRAVE.

Musgrave, return! hear, Honorea speaks!

Disdain hath left him wings to fly from me!

Sweet love, lend me thy wings to overtake him, For I can stay him with kind dalliance!

All this is but the blindness of my fancy.

Recall thyself: let not thy honour bleed With the foul wounds of infamy and shame.

My proper home shall call me home again, Where my dear lord bewails, as much as I, His too much love to her that loves not him.

Let none hereafter fix her maiden love Too firm on any, lest she feel with me Musgrave's revolt and his inconstancy.

[_Exit_.

_Enter_ FORREST, _with_ MARIAN.

FOR. Tut, I'll remember thee, and straight return: But here's the doctor.

MAR. Where? Forrest, farewell!