Ah, for Erastus' flying.
Basilisco.
Why, lady, is not Basilisco here?
Why, lady, doth not Basilisco live?
Am not I worth both these for whom you mourn?
Then take each one half of me, and cease to weep;
Or if you gladly would enjoy me both,
I'll serve the one by day, the other by night:
And I will pay you both your sound delight.
Lucina.
Ah, how unpleasant is mirth to melancholy!
Perseda.
My heart is full; I cannot laugh at folly.
[Exeunt Ladies.
Basilisco.
See, see, Lucina hates me like a toad,
Because that, when Erastus spake my name,
Her love Ferdinando died at the same:
So dreadful is our name to cowardice.
On the other side, Perseda takes it unkindly
That, ere he went, I brought not bound unto her
Erastus, that faint-hearted runaway.
Alas! how could I? for his man no sooner
Inform'd him that I sought him up and down.
But he was gone in twinkling of an eye.
But I will after my delicious love;
For well I wot, though she dissemble thus,
And cloak affection with her modesty,
With love of me her thoughts are overgone,
More than was Phillis with her Demophon. [Exit.