Par. Days, months, and years are past, since
Menaphon

Hath loved and serv'd you truly; Menaphon,
A man of no large distance in his blood
From your's; in qualities desertful, graced
With youth, experience, every happy gift
That can by nature, or by education
Improve a gentleman: for him, great lady,
Let me prevail, that you will yet at last
Unlock the bounty, which your love and care
Have wisely treasur'd up, to enrich his life.

Tha. Thou hast a moving eloquence, Parthenophill!—

Parthenophill, in vain we strive to cross
The destiny that guides us: my great heart
Is stoop'd so much beneath that wonted pride,
That first disguis'd it, that I now prefer

A miserable life with thee, before

All other earthly comforts.

Par. Menaphon,

By me, repeats the self-same words to you:
You are too cruel, if you can distrust

His truth, or my report.

Tha. Go where thou wilt,

I'll be an exile with thee; I will learn

To bear all change of fortunes.

Par. For my friend,

I plead with grounds of reason.
Tha. For thy love,

Hard-hearted youth, I here renounce all thoughts
Of other hopes, of other entertainments,-

Par. Stay, as you honour virtue.
Tha. When the proffers
Of other greatness,-
Par. Lady!

Tha. When entreats

Of friends,

Par. I'll ease your grief.
Tha. Respect of kindred,—
Par. Pray, give me hearing.
Tha. Loss of fame,-

Par. I crave

But some few minutes.

Tha. Shall infringe my vows,

Let Heaven,

Par. My love speaks t'ye: hear, then go on. Tha. Thy love? why, 'tis a charm to stop a vow In its most violent course.

Par. Cupid has broke

His arrows here; and, like a child unarm'd,
Comes to make sport between us with no weapon,
But feathers stolen from his mother's doves.
Tha. This is mere trifling.

Par. Lady, take a secret.

I am as you are ;—in a lower rank,

Else of the self-same sex, a maid, a virgin.

And now, to use your own words,

thoughts

"if your

Censure me not with mercy, you may soon

Conceive, I have laid by that modesty,

Which should preserve a virtuous name unstain'd."

Tha. Are you not mankind then?

Par. When you shall read

The story of my sorrows, with the change
Of my misfortunes, in a letter printed
From my unforged relation, I believe

You will not think the shedding of one tear,
A prodigality that misbecomes

Much more of honour (as for life, I value't not)
To venture on your secrecy!

Tha. It will be

A hard task for my reason, to relinquish
The affection, which was once devoted thine;
I shall awhile repute thee still the youth

I loved so dearly.

Par. You shall find me ever,

Your ready faithful servant.

Tha. O, the powers

Who do direct our hearts, laugh at our follies!

We must not part yet.

Par. Let not my unworthiness

Alter your good opinion.

Tha. I shall henceforth

Be jealous of thy company with
My fears are strong and many."

any;

This scene, at once dignified and pathetic, is happily conceived, delicately conducted, and beautifully written. It places Ford's powers of language and command of feeling in a very eminent rank.

Re-enter KAla.

Kala. Did your ladyship

Call me?

Tha. For what?

Kala. Your servant Menaphon

Desires admittance.

Enter MENAPHON.

Men. With your leave, great mistress, I come,-So private! is this well, Parthenophill? Par. Sir, noble sir!

Men. You are unkind and treacherous;

This 'tis to trust a straggler!

Tha. Prithee, servant—

Men. I dare not question you, you are my

tress,

My prince's nearest kinswoman; but he—
Tha. Come, you are angry.

Men. Henceforth, I will bury
Unmanly passion in perpetual silence:

I'll court mine own distraction, doat on folly.
Creep to the mirth and madness of the age,
Rather than be so slav'd again to woman,
Which, in her best of constancy, is steadiest
In change and scorn.

Tha. How dare you talk to me thus ?

mis

Men. Dare? Were you not own sister to my

friend,

Sister to my Amethus, I would hurl you

As far off from mine eyes, as from my heart;

For I would never more look on you.

Take

Your jewel t'ye!—and, youth, keep under wing, Or-boy!-boy!

Tha. If commands be of no force,

Let me entreat thee, Menaphon.
Men. "Tis naught.

Fie, fie, Parthenophill! have I deserv'd

To be thus used?

Par. I do protest—

Men. You shall not;

Henceforth I will be free, and hate my bondage.

Enter AMETHUS.

Amet. Away, away to court! The prince is pleas'd

To see a Masque to-night; we must attend him: 'Tis near upon the time.-How thrives your suit? Men. The judge, your sister, will decide it shortly.

Tha. Parthenophill, I will not trust you from [Exeunt.

me.

SCENE III.

A Room in the Palace.

Enter PALADOR, SOPHRONOS, ARETUS, nad CORAX; Servants with Torches.

Cor. Lights and attendance! I will shew your highness

A trifle of mine own brain. If you can,

Imagine you were now in the university,