course with the distempered town;
With which all contact was walled out, until,
Matured in soundness, I could trust her to it,
And sleep amidst infection!

_Heart_. Master Walter!

_Wal_. Well?

_Heart_. Tell me, prithee, which is likelier
To plough a sea in safety?--he that's wont
To sail in it,--or he that by the chart
Is master of its soundings, bearings,--knows
Is headlands, havens, currents--where 'tis bold,
And where behoves to keep a good look-out.
The one will swim, where sinks the other one?

_Wal_. The drift of this?

_Heart_. Do you not guess it?

_Wal_. Humph!

_Heart_. If you would train a maid to live in town,
Breed her not in the country!

_Wal_. Say you so?
And stands she not the test?

_Heart_. As snow stands fire!
Your country maid has melted all away,
And plays the city lady to the height;
Her mornings gives to mercers, milliners,
Shoemakers, jewellers, and haberdashers;
Her noons, to calls; her afternoons, to dressing;
Evenings, to plays and drums; and nights, to routs,
Balls, masquerades! Sleep only ends the riot,
Which waking still begins!

_Wal_. I'm all amaze!
How bears Sir Thomas this?

_Heart_. Why, patiently;
Though one can see with pain.

_Wal_. She loves him? Ha!
That shrug is doubt! She'd ne'er consent to wed him
Unless she loved him!--never! Her young fancy
The pleasures of the town--new things--have caught,
Anon their hold will slacken; she'll become
Her former self again; to its old train
Of sober feelings will her heart return;
And then she'll give it wholly to the man
Her virgin wishes chose!

_Heart_. Here comes Sir Thomas;
And with him Master Modus.

_Wal_. Let them pass:
I would not see him till I speak with her.

[They retire into one of the Arbours.]

[Enter CLIFFORD and MODUS.]

_Clif_. A dreadful question is it, when we love,
To ask if love's returned! I did believe
Fair Julia's heart was mine--I doubt it now!
But once last night she danced with me, her hand,
To this gallant and that engaged, as soon
As asked for? Maid that loved would scarce do this?
Nor visit we together as we used,
When first she came to town. She loves me less
Than once she did--or loves me not at all.

_Mod_. I'm little skilled, Sir Thomas, in the world:
What mean you now to do?

_Clif_. Remonstrate with her;
Come to an understanding, and, at once,
If she repents her promise to be mine,
Absolve her from it--and say farewell to her.

_Mod_