BASILISCO. What is it, then? If love of this my person, By favour and by justice of the heavens, At last have pierc'd through thy translucent breast, And thou misdoubt'st, perhaps, that I'll prove coy; O, be assur'd, 'tis far from noble thoughts To tyrannise over a yielding foe. Therefore be blithe, sweet love, abandon fear, I will forget thy former cruelty. PERSEDA. Ah, false Erastus! full of treachery. BASILISCO. I always told you that such coward knights Were faithless swains, and worthy no respect. But tell me, sweet love, what is his offence? That I with words and stripes may chastise him, And bring him bound for thee to tread upon. PERSEDA. Now must I find the means to rid him hence. [_Soliloq._] Go thou forthwith, arm thee from top to toe, And come an hour hence unto my lodging; Then will I tell thee this offence at large, And thou in my behalf shalt work revenge. BASILISCO. Ay, thus should men of valour be employ'd; This is good argument of thy true love: I go; make reck'ning that Erastus dies, Unless (forewarn'd) the weakling coward flies. [_Exit_ BASILISCO. PERSEDA. Thou foolish coward! flies? Erastus lives, The fairest shap'd,[402] but foulest-minded man, That ere sun saw within our hemisphere: My tongue to tell my woes is all too weak, I must unclasp me, or my heart will break; But inward cares are most pent-in with grief, Unclasping, therefore, yields me no relief. Ah, that my moist and cloud-compacted brain Could spend my cares in show'rs of weeping rain! But scalding sighs, like blasts of boist'rous winds, Hinder my tears from falling on the ground, And I must die by closure of my wound. Ah, false Erastus! how had I misdone, That thou shouldst quit my love with such a scorn! _Enter_ ERASTUS. Here comes the Sinon of my heart: I'll frame myself to his dissembling art. ERASTUS. Desire persuades me on, fear pulls me back: Tush! I will to her; innocence is bold. [_Aside._ How fares Perseda, my sweet second self? PERSEDA. Well now, Erastus, my heart's only joy, Is come to join both hearts in union. ERASTUS. And till I came, whereas my love did dwell, My pleasure was but pain, my solace woe. PERSEDA. What love means, my Erastus, pray thee tell? ERASTUS.