Volume Ix Part 61 (2/2)

Yet not so high as your crown.

CHURMS.

What, if you had?

LELIA.

Faith, I should ha' spied but a calf's head.

CHURMS.

Zounds, cosen'd of the wench, and scoff'd at too!

'Tis intolerable; and shall I lose her thus?

How it mads me, that I brought not my sword And buckler with me.

FORTUNATUS.

What, are you in your sword-and-buckler terms?

I'll put you out of that humour.

There, Lelia sends you that by me, And that, to recompense your love's desires; And that, as payment for your well-earn'd hire. [_Beats him_.

Go, get thee gone, and boast of Lelia's love.

CHURMS.

Where'er I go, I'll leave with her my curse, And rail on you with speeches vild.

FORTUNATUS.

A crafty knave was never so beguil'd.

Now Sophos' hopes have had their lucky haps, And he enjoys the presence of his love: My vow's perform'd, and I am full reveng'd Upon this h.e.l.l-bred race of cursed imps.

Now rests nought but my father's free consent, To knit the knot that time can ne'er untwist, And that, as this, I likewise will perform.

No sooner shall Aurora's pearled dew O'erspread the mantled earth with silver drops, And Phoebus bless the orient with a blush, To chase black night to her deformed cell, But I'll repair unto my father's house, And never cease with my enticing words, To work his will to knit this Gordian knot: Till when I'll leave you to your am'rous chat.

Dear friend, adieu; fair sister, too, farewell: Betake yourselves unto some secret place, Until you hear from me how things fall out.

[_Exit_ FORTUNATUS.

SOPHOS.

We both do wish a fortunate good-night.

LELIA.

And pray the G.o.ds to guide thy steps aright.

SOPHOS.

Now come, fair Lelia, let's betake ourselves Unto a little hermitage hereby, And there to live obscured from the world, Till fates and fortune call us thence away, To see the suns.h.i.+ne of our nuptial day.

See how the twinkling stars do hide their borrow'd s.h.i.+ne, As half-asham'd their l.u.s.tre is so stain'd By Lelia's beauteous eyes, that s.h.i.+ne more bright Than twinkling stars do in a winter's night-- In such a night did Paris win his love.

LELIA.

In such a night Aeneas prov'd unkind.

SOPHOS.

In such a night did Troilus court his dear.

LELIA.

In such a night fair Phillis was betray'd.

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