PENULO.
Sir, and you'll have us carry her, here be them come of the carriers.
LENTULO.
And you'll have us marry her, here be them come of the marriers.
PENULO.
Lord! I marvel to whose share this lady will fall:
I am sure my part in her will be least of all.
VENUS and FORTUNE show themselves, and speak to
PHIZANTIES, while HERMIONE standeth in amaze.
VENUS.
High time it is that now we did appear,
If we desire to end their misery.
FORTUNE.
Phizanties, stay, and unto us give ear.
What thou determin'st performed cannot be.
PHIZANTIES.
Dread goddess whatsoever of this place,
If I herein have disobeyed thy grace,
Of favour grant for to remit the same:
Let me not suffer undeserved blame.
VENUS.
Phizanties, stand up; be of good cheer.
None but thy friends are met together here—
Thy friends, though goddesses in other things—
Yet interchange an alteration brings.
And now, whereas you seek in what you can
To let your child to marry with this man,
Know that it is the pleasure of our will,
That they together be conjoined still.
For 'tis not so—he is not born so base
As you esteem, but of a noble race.
His father is the good Bomelio,
That sleepeth here oppress'd with woe,
Whom Phalaris thy father, on a false report,
In wrath and anger banished his court:
But this is he, to whom thou wishest oft good,
And this his son, born of a noble blood.
Think it no scorn to thee or thine hereafter
To have his son espoused to thy daughter.
PHIZANTIES.
Right gracious goddess, if this be true indeed,
As I believe, because from you it doth proceed,
Then pardon me, for had I known it so,
His son had never tasted of this woe.
Unwitting of his lineage till this time,
Not,[134] presumed, sprung of a noble line.
Put[135] hence, and please your deities, my grief,
Because my son is dumb without relief.
PENULO.
I'faith, sirrah, thou and I may hold our peace, with their leave,
For none but wise men speak here, I perceive.