The difference between that height and lowness,
Which doth distinguish our unequal fortunes,
Dissuades me from ambition; that I am
Humbler in my desires, than love's own power
Can any way raise up.

Tha. I am a princess,

And know no law of slavery; to sue,
Yet be denied!

Par. I am so much a subject

To every law of noble honesty,

That to transgress the vows of perfect friendship, I hold a sacrilege as foul, and curs'd,

As if some holy temple had been robb'd,

And I the thief.

Tha. Thou art unwise, young man, To enrage a lioness.

Par. It were unjust

To falsify a faith; and ever after,

Disrobed of that fair ornament, live naked,

A scorn to time and truth.

Tha. Remember well,

Who I am, and what thou art.

Par. That remembrance

Prompts me to worthy duty. O great lady,
If some few days have tempted your free heart
To cast away affection on a stranger;
If that affection have so oversway'd

Your judgment, that it, in a manner, hath
Declined your sovereignty of birth and spirit;
How can you turn your eyes off from that glass,
Wherein you may new trim and settle right
A memorable name?

Tha. The youth is idle.'

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

1 The youth is idle,] i. e. talks from the purpose.-GIFFORD.

From yours; 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, Partheno-
phill!-

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.

Par. My love speaks t'ye: hear, then go on. Tha. Thy love? why, 't is 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, "if your thoughts

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

Your pity and my fortune.

Tha. Pray conceal

The errors of my passions.

Par. Would I had

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 any;

My fears are strong and many.1

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 't is to trust a straggler!

Tha. Prithee, servant

Men. I dare not question you, you are my mistress,

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, dote 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 ?

Men. Dare? Were you not own sister to my friend,

1 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.-GIFFORD.

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 mask 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 me. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A Room in the Palace.

Enter PALADOR, SOPHRONOS, ARETUS, and CORAX ; Servants with torches.

Cor. Lights and attendance! I will show your highness

A trifle of mine own brain. If you can,

Imagine you were now in the university,
You'll take it well enough; a scholar's fancy,
A quab; 't is nothing else, a very quab.1

1 A quab; a very quab.] An unfledged bird, a nestling; metaphori cally, any thing in an imperfect, unfinished state.-GIFFORD.