offence,
You were to blame to hinder Lelia's choice;
As she in nature's graces doth excel,
So doth Minerva grace him full as well.

NURSE.
Now, by cock and pie, you never spake a truer word in your life. He's a
very kind gentleman, for, last time he was at our house, he gave me
three-pence.

WILL CRICKET.
O, nobly spoken: God send Peg to prove as wise a woman as her mother,
and then we shall be sure to have wise children. Nay, if he be so
liberal, old grandsire, you shall give him the goodwill of your
daughter.

GRIPE.
She is not mine, I have no daughter now:
That I should say--I had, thence comes my grief.
My care of Lelia pass'd a father's love;
My love of Lelia makes my loss the more;
My loss of Lelia drowns my heart in woe;
My heart's woe makes this life a living death:
Care, love, loss, heart's woe, living death,
Join all in one to stop this vital breath.
Curs'd be the time I gap'd for golden gain,
I curse the time I cross'd her in her choice;
Her choice was virtuous, but my will was base:
I sought to grace her from the Indian mines,
But she sought honour from the starry mount.
What frantic fit possess'd my foolish brain?
What furious fancy fired so my heart,
To hate fair virtue, and to scorn desert?

FORTUNATUS.
Then, father, give desert his due;
Let nature's graces and fair virtue's gifts
One sympathy and happy consort make
'Twixt Sophos' and my sister Lelia's love:
Conjoin their hands, whose hearts have long been one.
And so conclude a happy union.

GRIPE.
Now 'tis too late:
What fates decree can never be recall'd;
Her luckless love is fall'n to Churms his lot,
And he usurps fair Lelia's nuptial bed.

FORTUNATUS.
That cannot be; fear of pursuit
Must needs prolong his nuptial rights:
But if you give your full consent,
That Sophos may enjoy his long-wish'd love,
And have fair Lelia to his lovely bride,
I'll follow Churms whate'er betide;
I'll be as swift as is the light-foot roe,
And overtake him ere his journey's end,
And bring fair Lelia back unto my friend.

GRIPE.
Ay, here's my hand; I do consent,
And think her happy in her happy choice;
Yet half forejudge my hopes will be deceiv'd.
But, Fortunatus, I must needs commend
Thy constant mind thou bear'st unto thy friend:
The after-ages, wond'ring at the same,
Shall say 't's a deed deserveth lasting fame.

FORTUNATUS.
Then rest you here, till I return again;
I'll go to Sophos, ere I go along,
And bring him here to keep you company