!
Now gives he ground.--Follow thy advantage up!
Allow no pause for breaths!--Hit him again!
Forbid it end in death!--Lounge home, good Stephen!
How fast he now retreats!--That spring, I'll swear,
Was answer to thy point!--Well fenced!--Well fenced!
Now Heaven forefend it end in death!--He flies!
And from his comrade, the same moment, hath
Our master jerked his sword--The day is ours!
Quick may they get a surgeon for their wounds,
And I, a cordial for my fluttered spirits:
I vow, I'm nigh to swoon!

_Wal_. [Without.] Hoa! Alice! Hoa!
Open the door! Quick, Alice! Quick!

_Alice_. Anon!
Young joints take no thought of aged ones,
But ever think them as supple as themselves.

_Wal_. Alice!

_Alice_. [Opening the door.] I'm here!--A mercy!--
Is she dead?

[Enter MASTER WALLER, bearing LYDIA, fainting.]

_Wal_. No, she but faints.--A chair!--Quick, Alice, quick!
Water to bathe her temples.

[ALICE goes out.]

Such a turn
Kind fortune never do me. Shall I kiss
To life these frozen lips?--No!--of her plight
'Twere base to take advantage.

[ALICE returns, &c.]

All is well,
The blood returns.

_Alice_. How wondrous fair she is!

_Wal_. Thou think'st her so?--No wonder then should I.
How say you?--Wondrous fair? [Aside.]

_Alice_. Yes; wondrous fair!
Harm never come to her! So sweet a thing
'Twere pity were abused!

_Wal_. You think her fair?

_Alice_. Ay, marry! Half so fair were more than match
For fairest she e'er saw mine eyes before!
And what a form! A foot and instep there!
Vouchers of symmetry! A little foot
And rising instep, from an ankle arching,
A palm, and that a little one, might span.

_Wal_. Who taught thee thus?

_Alice_. Why who, but her, taught thee?
Thy mother!--Heaven rest her!--Thy good mother!
She could read men and women by their hands
And feet!--And here's a hand!--A fairy palm!
Fingers that taper to the pinky tips,
With nails of rose, like shells of such a hue,
Berimmed with pearl, you pick up on the shore!
Save these the gloss and tint do wear without.

_Wal_. Why, how thou talk'st!

_Alice_. Did I not tell thee thus
Thy mother used to talk? Such hand and foot,
She would say, in man or woman vouched for nature
High tempered!--Still for sentiment refined;
Affection tender; apprehension quick--
Degrees beyond the generality!
There is a marriage finger! Curse the hand
Would balk it of a ring!

_Wal_. She's quite restored,
Leave us!--