DICKON Lord Ravensbane is always the latest.

CAPTAIN BUGBY Obliged servant, sir. Aha! Such a joke as—O lord! flails! [Exit.]

DICKON [Returning to Ravensbane.] Bravo, my pumpky dear! That squelches the jealous betrothed. Now nothing remains but for you to continue to dazzle the enamoured Rachel, and so present yourself to the Justice as a pseudo-son-nephew-in-law.

RAVENSBANE I may go to Mistress Rachel?

DICKON She will come to you. She is reading now a poem from you, which I left on her dressing-table.

RAVENSBANE She is reading a poem from me?

DICKON With your pardon, my lord, I penned it for you. I am something of a poetaster. Indeed, I flatter myself that I have dictated some of the finest lines in literature.

RAVENSBANE Dickon! She will come?

DICKON She comes! [Enter Rachel, reading from a piece of paper.] Hush! Step aside; step aside first. Let her read it. [Dickon draws Ravensbane back.]

RACHEL Once more, [Reads.] “To Mistress R——, enchantress: