HERMIONE. I am, indeed, as thou dost say, Hermione; For that I am Hermione, I am The unhappiest wight that ever hither came. PENULO. Ah, my good lord! would God, poor Penulo Might any way but mitigate this woe. And pleaseth it your honour to command My service, or the help of head or hand, Penulo, my worthy lord, would prove as just, As he whom best your honour likes to trust. Say what it is, wherein my secrecy May aid your lordship in this extremity? HERMIONE. Penulo, since thou so friendly here dost proffer me The uttermost of aid that lies in thee, I do remember that which, brought to pass, Would make me half so happy as I was. PENULO. Say it, my lord, and constantly I vow it, It shall go hard, but Penulo will do it. HERMIONE. Gramercy, gentle friend: then, thus it is:-- The lady of my life Fidelia is; Of whom I am, I know, belov'd no less Than she of me, my gracious mistress, Sever'd by Fortune and our cruel foe, My lord her brother, Prince Armenio. Now could'st thou, Penulo, thyself behave On trust to bring my lady to the cave, Where whilome (lovers) we were wont to meet, In secret sort each other for to greet. She wots it well, and every corner knows, And every uncouth[88] step that thither goes: For what is not sharpsighted lovers see? This is the sum of my desire to thee. Accomplish this, and, this in silence done, My happiness will be again begun. PENULO. My lord, I see whereunto this talk doth tend: I have this lesson at my finger-end. No more ado; betake you to your flight: We'll make a plaister for the sore ere night. [_Aside_.] But such an one as, if it be applied, Shall do more grief than ease, when it is tried. HERMIONE. Penulo, I yield my life into thy hands. PENULO. Ye do, sir, as now the matter stands. [_Aside_. HERMIONE. Hold, Penulo, and I will look for thee. PENULO. You will not look for them that come with me. [_Aside_. HERMIONE. I will be gone, and live to see my dear. [_Exit_. PENULO. Do so, sir, and perchance be never the near. This is a step that first we use to climb: We that, forsooth, take hold on every time. Men of all hours, whose credit such as spites, In heat forsooth hath call'd us parasites. But let them spite, and we will bite as fast. But, Penulo, thou spendest words in waste. A fool, Hermione, that for hurting thee On[89] slender trust will give a knave his fee. [_Exit_. _Strike up_ FORTUNE'S _triumphs with drums and trumpets_. FORTUNE. Behold what Fortune, if she list, can do, High mistress of the rolling wheel of chance, To overturn, and who can do thereto, Or graciously, when please her, to advance. Lo, lordings, this is Fortune's impery, And in her pleasure to be changing still: Herein consisteth Fortune's sovereignty; That Fortune can on earth do what she will. When men have builded on the surest grounds, Their strong devices Fortune's power confounds. _Enter_ VENUS.