Florence. A Room in the Widow’s House. | |
| |
Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA. | |
| Hel. That you may well perceive I have not wrong’d you, | |
| One of the greatest in the Christian world | 4 |
| Shall be my surety; ’fore whose throne ’tis needful, | |
| Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel. | |
| Time was I did him a desired office, | |
| Dear almost as his life; which gratitude | 8 |
| Through flinty Tartar’s bosom would peep forth, | |
| And answer, thanks. I duly am inform’d | |
| His Grace is at Marseilles; to which place | |
| We have convenient convoy. You must know, | 12 |
| I am supposed dead: the army breaking, | |
| My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding, | |
| And by the leave of my good lord the king, | |
| We’ll be before our welcome. | 16 |
| Wid. Gentle madam, | |
| You never had a servant to whose trust | |
| Your business was more welcome. | |
| Hel. Nor you, mistress, | 20 |
| Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labour | |
| To recompense your love. Doubt not but heaven | |
| Hath brought me up to be your daughter’s dower, | |
| As it hath fated her to be my motive | 24 |
| And helper to a husband. But, O strange men! | |
| That can such sweet use make of what they hate, | |
| When saucy trusting of the cozen’d thoughts | |
| Defiles the pitchy night: so lust doth play | 28 |
| With what it loathes for that which is away. | |
| But more of this hereafter. You, Diana, | |
| Under my poor instructions yet must suffer | |
| Something in my behalf. | 32 |
| Dia. Let death and honesty | |
| Go with your impositions, I am yours | |
| Upon your will to suffer. | |
| Hel. Yet, I pray you: | 36 |
| But with the word the time will bring on summer, | |
| When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns, | |
| And be as sweet as sharp. We must away; | |
| Our waggon is prepar’d, and time revives us: | 40 |
| All’s well that ends well: still the fine’s the crown; | |
| Whate’er the course, the end is the renown. [Exeunt. | |
