LAMIA. I was not quite myself—(not what I am)— LYCIUS. Is this no fable? LAMIA. O most distrustful Lycius! Hear me call On Heaven, anew, for vouchers to these facts. [It thunders. There! Could'st thou question that? Sweet skies I thank ye! Now, Lycius, doubt me if you may or can; And leave me if you will. I can but turn Crushed by our equal hate. Once more, farewell. LYCIUS. Farewell, but not till death. O gentlest, dearest, Now I am sure Thus I embrace it with my whole glad heart Thy tale hath shown me such a matchless love, I always thought I wandered all uncared for on my way, Betide me good or ill-nor caused more tears With dews, rich pearly dews-shed from such spheres LAMIA. O sweet! sweet! sweet! To hear you parley thus and gaze upon you! But tell me, dearest, will you never—never LYCIUS. Thrice gracious seems thy gift! LAMIA. Oh, no! Oh, no! I should have made you wait, and beg, and kneel, I know you will despise me. LYCIUS. Never, never, So long as I have sight within these balls, LAMIA. 'Tis prettily sworn; and frankly I'll believe you! Now shall we on our way? I have a house (Till now no home) within the walls of Corinth : Will you not master it as well as me? LYCIUS. My home is in your heart; but where you dwell, LAMIA. No, I can walk, if you will charm the way APOLLONIUS is discovered discoursing with various young Gallants, namely, MERCUTIUS, CURIO, &c. Hush, sirs! APOLLONIUS. You raise a tingling blush about my ears, For shame!--for shame! You misapply good gifts the gods have granted! MERCUTIUS. The gods have made us tongues-brains, too, I hope— CURIO. Ha ha!-Why we'll have wigs upon our chins- Hugged up in pride and spleen like any mantle, And be philosophers! APOLLONIUS. You will do wisely. CURIO. Ay-I hope-why not? Though age has heaped no winter on our pates. It must be packed in ice? GALLO. Or sopped in vinegar? APOLLONIUS. We would you were more gray— MERCUTIUS. Why, would you have us gray before our time? Since wisdom has the gross. When they are past, APOLLONIUS. No!-leave that to your mummies. Sure your act You've made no man the worse-(for manner's sake; My speech exempts yourself). You've all done well; If not, your dying shall be placed to your credit. CURIO. You show us bravely-could you ever praise one? APOLLONIUS. One? and no more! why then I answer, yes- CURIO. Of whose back, sir? APOLLONIUS. Ay, there you must begin and try to match MERCUTIUS. Who is this model? An ape-an Afric ape-what he and Plato APOLLONIUS. Then you're a man already; but no model, To show you Virtue, Temperance, and Wisdom, Not in a withered graybeard like myself, In whom some virtues are mere worn-out vices, He, like the orange, bears both fruit and flower |