m sure you look for.
SOPHOS.
Nay, she it is that I expect so long.
FORTUNATUS.
Then sit we down, until we hear more news,
This but a prologue to our play ensues.
[_They sit down_.
_Enter_ CHURMS _and_ LELIA.
But see where Churms and Lelia comes along:
He walks as stately as the great baboon.
Zounds, he looks as though his mother were a midwife.
SOPHOS.
Now, gentle Jove, great monarch of the world,
Grant good success unto my wand'ring hopes.
CHURMS.
Now Phoebus' silver eye is drench'd in western deep,
And Luna 'gins to show her splendent rays,
And all the harmless quiristers of woods
Do take repose, save only Philomel;
Whose heavy tunes do evermore record
With mournful lays the losses of her love.
Thus far, fair love, we pass in secret sort
Beyond the compass of thy father's bounds,
Whilst he on down-soft bed securely sleeps,
And not so much as dreams of our depart
The dangers pass'd, now think on nought but love;
I'll be thy dear, be thou my heart's delight.
SOPHOS.
Nay, first I'll send thy soul to coal-black night. [_Aside_.]
CHURMS.
Thou promis'dst love, now seal it with a kiss.
FORTUNATUS.
Nay, soft, sir; your mark is at the fairest.
Forswear her love, and seal it with a kiss
Upon the burnish'd splendour of this blade,
Or it shall rip the entrails of thy peasant heart.
SOPHOS.
Nay, let me do it, that's my part.
CHURMS.
You wrong me much, to rob me of my love.
SOPHOS.
Avaunt, base braggard! Lelia's mine.
CHURMS.
She lately promis'd love to me.
FORTUNATUS.
Peace, night-raven, peace! I'll end this controversy.
Come, Lelia, stand between them both,
As equal judge to end this strife:
Say which of these shall have thee to his wife.
I can devise no better way than this.
Now choose thy love, and greet him with a kiss.
LELIA.
My choice is made, and here it is.
[_She kisses Sophos_.
SOPHOS.
See here the mirror of true constancy,
Whose steadfast love deserves a prince's worth.
LELIA.
Master Churms, are you not well?
I must confess I would have chosen you,
But that I ne'er beheld your legs till now;
Trust me, I never look'd so low before.
CHURMS.
I know, you use to look aloft.
LELIA.
Yet not so high as your crown.
CHURMS.
What, if you had?
LELIA.
Faith, I should ha' spied but a calf's head.
CHURMS.
Zounds, cosen'd of the wench, and scoff'd at too!
'Tis intolerable; and shall I lose her thus?
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