PERSEDA. What are thy looks, but like the cockatrice, That seeks to wound poor silly passengers? ERASTUS. If words, nor tears, nor looks may win remorse, What then remains? for my perplexed heart Hath no interpreters but words, or tears, or looks. PERSEDA. And they are all as false as thou thyself. [_Exit._ ERASTUS. Hard doom of death, before my case be known; My judge unjust, and yet I cannot blame her, Since love and jealousy misled her thus, Myself in fault, and yet not worthy blame, Because that fortune made the fault, not love. The ground of her unkindness grows, because I lost the precious carcanet she gave me:[403] Lucina hath it, as her words import; But how she got it, heav'n knows, not I. Yet this is some allevement to my sorrow: That if I can but get the chain again, I boldly then shall let Perseda know That she hath wrong'd Erastus and her friend. Ah, love! and if thou be'st of heav'nly power, Inspire me with some present stratagem: It must be so; Lucina's a frank gamester, And like it is in play she'll hazard it; For if report but blazon her aright, She's a frank gamester, and inclin'd to play. Ho! Piston! _Enter_ PISTON. PISTON. Here, sir, what would you with me? ERASTUS. Desire Guelpio and Signior Julio come speak with me, And bid them bring some store of crowns with them; And, sirrah, provide me four vizards, Four gowns, a box, and a drum; For I intend to go in mummery. PISTON. I will, sir. [_Exit_ PISTON. ERASTUS. Ah, virtuous lamps of ever-turning heavens, Incline her mind to play, and mine to win! Nor do I covet but what is mine own: Then shall I let Perseda understand, How jealousy had arm'd her tongue with malice. Ah! were she not Perseda, whom my heart No more can fly, than iron can adamant, Her late unkindness would have chang'd my mind. _Enter_ GUELPIO _and_ JULIO, _with_ PISTON. GUELPIO. How now, Erastus? wherein may we pleasure thee? ERASTUS. Sirs, thus it is: we must in mummery Unto Lucina, neither for love nor hate; But, if we can, to win the chain she wears: For, though I have some interest therein, Fortune may make me master of mine own, Rather than I'll seek justice 'gainst the dame. But this assure yourselves, it must be mine, By game or change, by one device or other: The rest I'll tell you, when our sport is done. JULIO.