Psec. I must return your answer to my lady;
I'll tell her you will come.
Phil. Come!
And such an angel call, I should forget
All offices of nature, all that men
Wish in their second thoughts, ere such a duty.
Commend my service to her, and to you
My thanks for this kind message.
[Exit Psectas.
I never breath'd till now, never till now
Did my life relish sweetness. Break not, heart!
Crack not, ye feeble ministers of nature:
With inundation of such swelling joy,
Too great to bear without expression.
The lady writes that she has known me long
By sight, and lov'd me; and she seems to thank
Her stars she loves and is belov'd again.
She speaks my very thoughts! How strange it is
And happy, when affections thus can meet!
She further writes, at such an hour to-day
Her father's absence, and all household spies
Fitly remov'd, shall give access to me
Unmark'd to visit her; where she alone
Will entertain discourse, and welcome me.
I hope 'tis truly meant; why should I fear?
But wisdom bids me fear: fie, fie! 'tis base
To wrong a creature of that excellence'
With such suspicion; I should injure her.
I will as soon suspect an angel false;
Treason ne'er lodg'd within so fair a breast.
No, if her hand betray me, I will run
On any danger: 'tis alike to me
To die or find her false; for on her truth
Hangs my chief being. Well, I'll lose no time,
No, not a minute: dearest love, I come!
To meet my sweetest wishes I will fly,
Heaven and my truth shield me from treachery.
[Exit.
ACT III.
Enter Polymetes, Roscio, Eugenio, and Psectas.
Pol. I cannot credit it, nor think that she,
Of all the noble youth of Sicily,
Should make so strange a choice; that none but he,
None but the son of my vow'd enemy,
Must be her mate: it strikes me to amaze.
Minion, take heed, do not belie your mistress.
Psec. Mercy forsake me if I do, my lord:
You charg'd me to confess the truth to you,
Which I have fully done; and presently
I'll bring you where (conceal'd) you shall both see
Their privacy, and hear their conference.
Pol. Well, I believe thee, wench, and will reward
Thy trust[428] in this: go, get thee in again,
And bring me word when Philocles is come,
Exit Psectas.
Sir, you'll be secret to our purpose?