_Kath_. I am not (Sir) alone, nor do I starve My appetite with any wil-full fast; I have a banquet of sweet pleasing thoughts That is more precious then the costliest feast. _Pem_. But at your father's boord there sits a ghest To whom the cup of _Ganimede_ will seeme But juice of Hemlocke, and the daintiest dish As much unsavory as the Pomice stone, Unlesse your presence season his delight. _Kath_. I am sorry I want skill to serve his dyet; I have not bin instructed to such end. _Pem_. But I will teach you (Madam) if you please. _Kath_. Rather the party grieved first should shew Wherein we erre, els how can we discerne What is our fault or how we may amend? _Pem_. That office he commits unto my toung. _Kath_. Is he not able then to speake himselfe? _Pem_. Yes, Madam, I have heard when _Ferdinand_, With whom in _Padua_ I was conversant, So spake in the assembly of the learn'd, With such a grace and well composed phrase, As many thought grave _Tullies_ eloquence Flowed like a hony River from his lips. _Kath_. He wanteth then belike sufficient courage. _Pem_. Never liv'd Knight lesse prejudic'd in that Then valiant _Ferdinand_, whom I have seene Couch his stiffe[115] Launce with such dexterity As if the god of battell had himselfe Entered the Lists, and preassing to the midst Of steele-composed troops like lightning fly Till he had made a passage with his sword. _Kath_. So puissant in his fortitude with men, And daunted with a silly womans looks! How can that be? _Pem_. Yes, when you weygh the force Of your resistlesse and controwling beauty. It is your beauty, were his power and spirit Ten times more hauty-ventrous then it is, Compels it stoope in homage to your foot As trembling Lambs when they to Lions couch. _Kath_. 'Twas well he chose so good an Orator To plead the imperfections of his cause. _Pem_. I should have that opinion of my selfe If for my sake your Grace would favour him. _Kath_. Yes, for your sake we have endur'd his name, And for your sake we tolerate his suite; But, when you cease to speake, then all that prayse You have attributed to his desert Seemes borrowed from your selfe; you are the man Whose eloquence compares with _Ciceroes_, You are the man whose knightly fortitude Lives in the world unprejudic'd of any, You vanquish beauty and inthrall the mind Of female weaknesse with no lesser awe Then Indian vassayles stoop unto their Lords. The name of _Ferdinand_ you have mista'ne. Say tis your selfe, and then your whole discourse Observes the perfect method that it should. _Pem_. Should I be false and trecherous to my friend? I am intreated but to speake for him. _Kath_. But for your selfe would be more acceptable. Oh pardon me, nor let immodest stayne[116] Cleave to my brow: my love is chastely bred. Other then _Pembrooke Katharine_ never vowes Shall be authoriz'd in her mayden thoughts. _Pem_. Mistake me not, I say tis _Ferdinand_ Dyes in affection to your Deity.