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Their thoughts are upon dinner and great dishes.

If one thing hap (impossible to fail to,

I can see so far in't) you shall walk boldly, sir,

And openly in view through every room

About the house; and let the proudest meet thee,

I charge you give no way to 'em.

BELLARIUS

How thou talk'st!

LEONELLA

I can avoid the fool, and give you reason for't.

BELLARIUS

'Tis more than I should do, if I asked more on thee.

I prithee tell me how.

LEONELLA

With ease, i'faith, sir.

My lady's heart is wondrous busy, sir,

About the entertainment of a friend too,

And she and I must bear with one another

Or we shall make but a mad house betwixt us.

BELLARIUS

I'm bold to throw my cloak off at this news,

Which I ne'er durst before, and kiss thee freelier!

What is he, sirrah?

LEONELLA

Faith, an indifferent fellow

With good long legs, a near friend of my lord's.

BELLARIUS

A near friend of my lady's, you would say!

His name, I prithee?

LEONELLA

One Votarius, sir.

BELLARIUS

What sayest thou?

LEONELLA

He walks under the same title.

BELLARIUS

The only enemy that my life can show me!

LEONELLA

Your enemy? Let my spleen then alone with him.

Stay you your anger; I'll confound him for you.

BELLARIUS

As how, I prithee?

LEONELLA

I'll prevent his venery;

He shall ne'er lie with my lady.

BELLARIUS

Troth, I thank you!

Life, that's the way to save him! Art thou mad?

Whereas the other way he confounds himself

And lies more naked to revenge and mischief.

LEONELLA

Then let him lie with her, and the devil go with him!

He shall have all my furtherance.

BELLARIUS

Why, now you pray heartily, and speak to purpose.

Exeunt.

ACT II.i. Govianus' house

Enter the Lady of Govianus, with a Servant.

LADY

Who is't would speak with us?

SERVANT

My lord your father.

LADY

My father? Pray make haste; he waits too long.

Entreat him hither.

[Exit Servant.]

In despite of all

The tyrant's cruelties, we have got that friendship

E'en of the guard that he has placed about us:

My lord and I have free access together,

As much as I would ask of liberty.

They'll trust us largely now, and keep sometimes

Three hours from us, a rare courtesy

In jailor's children.

Enter Helvetius.

Some mild news, I hope,

Comes with my father. No, his looks are sad.

There is some further tyranny. Let it fall;

Our constant suff'rings shall amaze it.

[Kneels to Helvetius.]

HELVETIUS

Rise;

I will not bless thee. Thy obedience

Is after custom, as most rich men pray,

Whose saint is only fashion and vainglory.

So 'tis with thee in thy dissembled duty:

There is no religion in't, no reverent love,

Only for fashion and the praise of men.

LADY

Why should you think so, sir?

HELVETIUS

Think? You come too late

If you seek there for me. I know't and see't.

I'll sooner give my blessing to a drunkard,

Whom the ridiculous power of wine makes humble

As foolish use makes thee. Base-spirited girl,

That canst not think above disgrace and beggary

When glory is set for thee and thy seed,

Advancement for thy father, beside joy

Able to make a latter spring in me

In this my fourscore summer, and renew me

With a reversion yet of heat and youth!

But the dejection of thy mind and spirit

Makes me, thy father, guilty of a fault

That draws thy birth in question, and e'en wrongs

Thy mother in her ashes being at peace

With heav'n and man. Had not her life and virtues

Been seals unto her faith, I should think thee now

The work of some hired servant, some house-tailor,

And no one part of my endeavour in thee!

Had I neglected greatness, or not rather

Pursued almost to my eternal hazard,

Thou'dst ne'er been a lord's daughter.

LADY

Had I been

A shepherd's, I'd been happier and more peaceful.

HELVETIUS

Thy very seed will curse thee in thy age

When they shall hear the story of thy weakness:

How in thy youth thy fortunes tendered thee

A kingdom for thy servant, which thou lefts

Basely to serve thyself. What dost thou in this

But merely cozen thy posterity

Of royalty and