Enter Hermione, Moor, Phillida, Cleon: they find Ergasto kneeling.
Phor. Who's that?
Erg. The Moor you heard of.
Phor. I have a strange capricio of love entered me: I must court that shade.
Her. How now, my lord! Courting another mistress! I see I must lock up my winds, or you will seek the nearest harbour.
Erg. Excluded by your rigour, madam, I was entreating your fair cousin to present my vows.
Her. Was it no more?
Erg. No more! you cannot doubt it, madam. Turn in your eyes upon your beauties and perfections, and they will tell you how impossible it is to lose the empire they have gained upon our hearts and wills. Fortune and want of merit may make me lose the hope of your fair graces, but never so much traitor as to pay homage to any other beauty, or change the resolution I have fixed to be your servant only.
Her. I thank you, sir; my sex will be my pardon if I return not equal thanks. We think, if any manumit, before we license them to part, they do usurp a power is ours by nature. The posture I found you in was more than ordinary courtship gives.
Erg. You might condemn it, had not you been the cause on't. I ne'er think of your name but with a reverence great as I pay the gods; and they allow us bending to their images when we transfer our vows. The fair Irene is worthy all have not the hope of you; but whilst you give me leave to cherish that ambition, I must not own so great an injury as to admit the proffered love of those who are so distant from your merit.