Scene changes to another apartment in the palace.

Enter Megra and Pharamond.

Meg. What then am I? a poor neglected ftale? Have I then been an idle toying fhe,

To fool away an hour or two withal,
And then thrown by for ever?
Pha. Nay, have patience!

Megra. Patience! I fhall go mad! why, I fhall be A mark for all the pages of the court

To fpend their wit upon!

Pha. It fhall not be.

She, whofe difhonour is not known abroad,
Is not at all dishonour'd.

Megra, Not difhonour'd!

Have we then been so chary of our fame,
So cautious, think you, in our course of love
No blot of calumny has fall'n upon it? Say,
What charm has veil'd fufpicion's hundred eyes,
And who fhall ftop the cruel hand of fcorn?

Pha. Ceafe your complaints, reproachful and unkind!

What could I do? Obedience to my father,
My country's good, my plighted faith, my fame,
Each circumftance of state and duty, afk'd
The tender of my hand to Arethufa.

Megra.

Megra. Talk not of Arethufa! She, I know, Would fain get rid of her moft precious bargain. She is for fofter dalliance; fhe has got

A cherub, a young Hylas, an Adonis !
Pha. What mean you?

Megra. She, good faith, has her Bellario!
A boy-about eighteen-a pretty boy!
Why, this is he that must when you are wed
Sit by your pillow, like a young Apollo,

Sing, play upon the lute, with hand and voice Binding your thoughts in fleep: She does provide

him

For you and for herself.

Pha. Injurious Megra!

Oh, add not shame to shame! to rob a lady
Of her good name thus, is an heinous fin,
Not to be pardon'd; yet, though falfe as hell,
"Twill never be redeem'd if it be fown

Amongst the people, fruitful to increase
All evil they fhall hear.

Megra. It fhall be known.

Nay, more, by heav'n 'tis true! a thousand things Speak it, beyond all contradiction, true:

Obferve how brave fhe keeps him; how he ftands For ever at her beck! There's not an hour,

Sacred howe'er to female privacy,

But

But he's admitted; and in open court

Their tell-tale eyes hold foft discourse together. Why, why is all this? Think you fhe's content To look upon him?

Pha. Make it but appear

That fhe has play'd the wanton with this ftripling,
All Spain as well Sicily shall know

Her foul dishonour. I'll difgrace her first,
Then leave her to her fhame.

Megra. You are resolv'd ?

Pha. Moft conftantly.

Megra. The reft remains with me :

I will produce fuch proofs, that the fhall know
I did not leave our country, and degrade
Our Spanish honour and nobility,

To ftand a mean attendant in her chamber,
With hood-wink'd eyes, and finger on my lips.
What I have feen, I'll speak; what known, proclaim:
Her story shall be general as the wind,

And fly as far. I will about it ftraight.

Expect news from me, Pharamond. Farewell.

Pharamond alone.

True or not true, one way I like this well,

[Exit.

For I fufpect the princess loves me not.
If Megra's charge prove malice, her own ruin

Muft

Muft follow, and I'm quit of her for ever:
But if the makes fufpicions truths, or if,
Which were as deep confusion, Arethufa
Difdain our proffer'd union, and Philaster
Stand foremost in her heart, let Megra's proofs
Wear but the femblance and the garb of truth,
They fhall afford me measure of revenge.
I will look on with an indifferent eye,
Prepar❜d for either fortune; or to wed

If the prove faithful, or repulfe her fham'd. [Exit.

Scene, the Prefence Chamber.

Enter Dion, Cleremont, Thrafiline, Megra, and

Galated..

Dion. Come, ladies, fhall we talk a round?

Gal. "Tis laté.

Megra. 'Tis all

My eyes will do to lead me to my bed.

Enter Pharamond.

Thra. The prince!

Pha. Not a-bed, ladies? You're good fitters-up. What think you of a pleasant dream, to last

'Till morning?

Enter Arethufa and Bellario.

Are. "Tis well, my lord, you're courting of ladies. Is't not late, gentlemen?

Clere.

Clere. Yes, madam.

Are. Wait you there.

[Exit Arethufa.

Megra. She's jealous, as I live. Look you, my

lord,

The princess has a boy!

Pha. His form is angel-like!

Dion. Serves he the princess?
Thra. Yes.

Dion. "Tis a fweet boy!

Pha. Ladies all, good reft: I mean to kill a buck To-morrow morning, ere you've done your dreams. [Exit Pharamond.

Megra. All happiness attend your grace! gentlemen, good rest.

Gal. All, good night.

[Exeunt Gal. and Megra.

Dion. May your dreams be true to you!

What fhall we do, gallants? 'Tis late. The king Is up ftill. See, he comes, and Arethusa

With him.

Enter King, Arethufa and guard.

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.