Bel. Take heed fool, it concerns thee nearly.
If thou wilt have me young and bright,
Pleasing to thine eye and sight,
Courtly, and admir'd of all,
Take heed lest thy fame do fall,
I shall then be full of scorn,
Wanton, proud, beware the horn,
Hating what I lov'd before,
Flattery apt to fall before,
All consuming, nothing getting,
Thus thy fair name comes to setting.
But if old, and free from these
Thou shalt chuse me, I shall please:
I shall then maintain thee still,
With my virtue and my skill
Still increase and build thy name,
Chuse now Silvio here I am.
Sil. I know not what to say, which way to turn me,
Into thy Soveraign will I put my answer.
Bel. I thank ye Sir, and my Will thus rewards ye,
Take your old Love, your best, your dearest Silvio:
No more Spells now, nor further shapes to alter me,
I am thy Belvidere indeed. Dear Mother,
There is no altering this; heavens hand is with it:
And now you ought to give me, he has fairly won me.
Sil. But why that Hag?
Bel. In that shape most secure still,
I followed all your fortunes, serv'd, and counsell'd ye,
I met ye at the Farmers first, a Countrey wench,
Where fearing to be known, I took that habit,
And to make ye laughing sport at this mad marriage,
By secret aid of my friend Rhodope
We got this Maske.
Sil. And I am sure I have ye.
Bel. For ever now, for ever.
Dutch. You see it must be,
The wheel of destiny hath turn'd it round so.
Sy. It must, it is, and curs'd be he that breaks it.
Dutch. I'll put a choice to you, Sir: ye are my prisoner.