HERMIONE.
Penulo, I yield my life into thy hands.
PENULO.
Ye do, sir, as now the matter stands. [Aside.
HERMIONE.
Hold, Penulo, and I will look for thee.
PENULO.
You will not look for them that come with me. [Aside.
HERMIONE. I will be gone, and live to see my dear. [Exit.
PENULO.
Do so, sir, and perchance be never the near.
This is a step that first we use to climb:
We that, forsooth, take hold on every time.
Men of all hours, whose credit such as spites,
In heat forsooth hath call'd us parasites.
But let them spite, and we will bite as fast.
But, Penulo, thou spendest words in waste.
A fool, Hermione, that for hurting thee
On[89] slender trust will give a knave his fee.
[Exit.
Strike up FORTUNE'S triumphs with drums and trumpets.
FORTUNE.
Behold what Fortune, if she list, can do,
High mistress of the rolling wheel of chance,
To overturn, and who can do thereto,
Or graciously, when please her, to advance.
Lo, lordings, this is Fortune's impery,
And in her pleasure to be changing still:
Herein consisteth Fortune's sovereignty;
That Fortune can on earth do what she will.
When men have builded on the surest grounds,
Their strong devices Fortune's power confounds.
Enter VENUS.
VENUS.
Not all in haste; you do not so intend:
You have begun, but I must make an end.