VENUS. Phizanties, stand up; be of good cheer. None but thy friends are met together here-- Thy friends, though goddesses in other things-- Yet interchange an alteration brings. And now, whereas you seek in what you can To let your child to marry with this man, Know that it is the pleasure of our will, That they together be conjoined still. For 'tis not so--he is not born so base As you esteem, but of a noble race. His father is the good Bomelio, That sleepeth here oppress'd with woe, Whom Phalaris thy father, on a false report, In wrath and anger banished his court: But this is he, to whom thou wishest oft good, And this his son, born of a noble blood. Think it no scorn to thee or thine hereafter To have his son espoused to thy daughter. PHIZANTIES. Right gracious goddess, if this be true indeed, As I believe, because from you it doth proceed, Then pardon me, for had I known it so, His son had never tasted of this woe. Unwitting of his lineage till this time, Not,[134] presumed, sprung of a noble line. Put[135] hence, and please your deities, my grief, Because my son is dumb without relief. PENULO. I'faith, sirrah, thou and I may hold our peace, with their leave, For none but wise men speak here, I perceive. LENTULO. In some respects so, in some respects not; For a fool's bolt is soon enough shot. FORTUNE. Phizanties, fear no longer his distress; The gracious gods provide for his redress. The shedding of thy daughter's dearest blood Shall both to him and to this man do good; For let this fern be dipp'd in many a place, And, as he sleepeth, cast it in his face, And let his tongue be washed therewithal, And both of them relieved see you shall. PHIZANTIES. How say you, daughter, will you grant thereto? FIDELIA. Most willing, sir, if you vouchsafe to do But this request, which I most humbly pray-- Then I may be Hermione's for aye. PHIZANTIES. With all my heart: hereon I give my hand. FIDELIA. I take it, sir; and to your word I stand. And for thy sake, Hermione, my dear, See what I do, although it touch me near. Now take thy fill, and for his madness prove. [_Bares her breast_.] HERMIONE. O sweet and fearful sight, the sign of love! LENTULO. If it be any sweeter, masters, that runs from you so, I pray you give me some of your blessings, ere you go. ARMENIO. I strive to speak, and glad to find my speech. Forgive, Hermione, forgive me, I beseech. And you, good sister; pardon, my friends, too; Too rash in all I ventured to do. See what proceedeth from unstable youth! Shame to himself, and to his friends a cause of ruth. HERMIONE. Armenio, long hath my mind[136] desired To hear the proffer of this pleasant peace, Which sith the gods do grant as we require, Henceforth let rancour and contention cease, And in our breast be knit for ever sure The links of love, perpetual to endure.