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Exit DONO., GLOST.

EDWIN.

I'le do my best.

CADOR.

Now, Toclio, what stirring news at court?

TOCLIO.

Oh, my Lord, the Court's all fill'd with rumor, the City with news, and

the Country with wonder, and all th bells i'th'Kingdom mst proclaim it,

we have a new Holy-day a coming.

CONSTA.

A holy-day! for whom? for thee?

TOCLIO.

Me, Madam! 'sfoot! I'de be loath that any man should make a holy-day for me yet:

In brief, 'tis thus: there's here arrived at Court,

Sent by the Earl of Chester to the King,

A man of rare esteem for holyness,

A reverent hermit, that by miracle

Not onely saved our army,

But without aid of man o'rethrew

The pagan Host, and with such wonder, sir,

As might confirm a Kingdom to his faith.

EDWIN.

This is strange news, indeed; where is he?

TOCLIO.

In conference with the King, that much respects him.

MODEST.

Trust me, I long to see him.

TOCLIO.

Faith, you will finde no great pleasure in him, for ought that I can see,

lady. They say he is half a Prophet too: would he could tell me any news

of the lost Prince; there's twenty Talents offer'd to him that finds him.

CADOR.

Such news was breeding in the morning.

TOCLIO.

And now it has birth and life, sir. If fortune bless me, I'le once more

search those words where then we lost him; I know not yet what fate may

follow me.

Exit.

CADOR.

Fortune go with you, sir. Come, fair Mistriss,

Your Sister and Lord Edwin are in gam,

And all their wits at stake to win the Set.

CONSTA.

My sister has the hand yet; we had best leave them:

She will be out anon as well as I;

He wants but cunning to put in a Dye.

Exit CADOR, CONSTAN.

EDWIN.

You are a cunning Gamester, Madam.

MODEST.

It is a desperate Game, indeed, this Marriage,

Where there's no winning without loss to either.

EDWIN.

Why, what but your perfection, noble Lady,

Can bar the worthiness of this my suit?

If so you please I count my happiness

From difficult obtaining, you shall see

My duty and observance.

MODEST.

There shall be place to neither, noble sir;

I do beseech you, let this mild Reply

Give answer to your suit: for here I vow,

If e're I change my Virgin name, by you

It gains or looses.

EDWIN.

My wishes have their crown.

MODEST.

Let them confine you then,

As to my promise you give faith and credence.

EDWIN.

In your command my willing absence speaks it. Exit.

MODEST.

Noble and vertuous: could I dream of Marriage,

I should affect thee, Edwin. Oh, my soul,

Here's something tells me that these best of creatures,

These models of the world, weak man and woman,

Should have their souls, their making, life, and being,

To some more excellent use: if what the sense

Calls pleasure were our ends, we might justly blame

Great natures wisdom, who rear'd a building

Of so much art and beauty to entertain

A guest so far incertain, so imperfect:

If onely speech distinguish us from beasts,

Who know no inequality of birth or place,

But still to fly from goodness: oh, how base

Were life at such a rate! No, no, that power

That gave to man his being, speech and wisdom,

Gave it for thankfulness. To him alone

That made me thus, may I whence truly know,

I'le pay to him, not man, the love I owe. Exit.

Scene II

The British Court.)

Flourish Cornets. Enter AURELIUS, King Of Brittain, DONOBERT, GLOUCESTER,

CADOR, EDWIN, TOCLIO, OSWOLD And Attendants.

AURELIUS.

No tiding of our brother yet? Tis strange,

So ne're the Court, and in our own Land too,

And yet no news of him: oh, this loss

Tempers the sweetness of our happy conquests

With much untimely sorrow.

DONO.

Royal sir,

His safety being unquestion'd should to time

Leave the redress of sorrow: were he dead,

Or taken by the foe, our fatal loss

Had wanted no quick Herald to disclose it.

AURELIUS.

That hope alone sustains me,

Nor will we be so ingrateful unto heaven

To question what we fear with what we enjoy

Is answer of our message yet return'd

From that religious man, the holy Hermit,

Sent by the Earl of Chester to confirm