I will vent that humour then
In mine own selfe love.
Corinius met them in the gateway, coming from the banquet house. He halted full in their path to peer closely through the darkness at Prezmyra, so that she felt the heat of his breath, heavy with wine. It was too dark to know faces but he knew her by her stature and bearing.
“Cry thee mercy, madam,” he said. “Methought an instant ’twas—but no matter. Your best of rest.”
So saying he made way for her with a deep obeisance, jostling roughly against Gro with the same motion. Gro, little minded for a quarrel, gave him the wall, and followed Prezmyra into the inner court.
•••••
The Lord Corinius sat him down on the nearest of the benches, leaned his stalwart back luxuriously upon the cushions and there rested, thripping his fingers and singing to himself:
What an Ass is he
Waits a woman’s leisure
For a minute’s pleasure,