as we were used to do,
Nor each kiss other only with the eyes
A great way off ere hand or lip could reach;
There is no way.

[Enter MURRAY.]

O, you are welcome, sir;
You know what need I have; but I praise heaven,
Having such need, I have such help of you.
I do believe no queen God ever made
Was better holpen than I look to be.
What, if two brethren love not heartily,
Who shall be good to either one of them?

MURRAY.
Madam, I have great joy of your good will.

QUEEN.
I pray you, brother, use no courtesies:
I have some fear you will not suffer me
When I shall speak. Fear is a fool, I think,
Yet hath he wit enow to fool my wits,
Being but a woman's. Do not answer me
Till you shall know; yet if you have a word
I shall be fain to heart it; but I think
There is no word to help me; no man's word:
There be two things yet that should do me good,
A speeding arm and a great heart. My lord,
I am soft-spirited as women are,
And ye wot well I have no harder heart:
Yea, with all my will I would not slay a thing,
But all should live right sweetly if I might;
So that man's blood-spilling lies hard on me.
I have a work yet for mine honor's sake,
A thing to do, God wot I know not how,
Nor how to crave it of you: nay, by heaven,
I will not shame myself to show it you:
I have not heart.

MURRAY.
Why, if it may be done
With any honor, or with good men's excuse,
I shall well do it.

QUEEN.
I would I wist that well.
Sir, do you love me?

MURRAY.
Yea, you know I do.

QUEEN.
In faith, you should well love me, for I love
The least man in your following for your sake
With a whole sister's heart.

MURRAY.
Speak simply, madam;
I must obey you, being your bounden man.

QUEEN.
Sir, so it is you know what things have been,
Even to the endangering of mine innocent name,
And by no fault, but by men's evil will;
If Chastelard have trial openly,
I am but shamed.

MURRAY.
This were a wound indeed,
If your good name should lie upon his lip.

QUEEN.
I will the judges put him not to plead,
For my fame's sake; he shall not answer them.

MURRAY.
What, think you he will speak against your fame?

QUEEN.
I know not; men might feign belief of him
For hate of me; it may be he will speak;
In brief, I will not have him held to proof.

MURRAY.
Well, if this be, what good is to be done?

QUEEN.
Is ther