MECH. Well, we forget ourselves, my lord; What, is the music ready? I pray you, Command the guard to take their halberts in their hands; The ushers should have seen this room perfumed. In faith, they are too negligent: here comes the queen. _Enter the_ QUEEN, MARIANA, _and waiting-women_: PHILOCLES, _and other lords: the_ KING _disguised_ _like one of the guard at the one end of the stage,_ _and the duke so likewise disguised at the other_ _end of the stage_. QUEEN. Loud music there, and let the god of harmony Ravish our senses with delightful airs, Tun'd to the music of the higher sphere; And with that mortal sign most rarely show The joys in Jove's high court, to feast the gods, Making that place abound in happiness. Come, noble Philocles, I seize you first-- Mariana, there are choice of other lords-- In gracing you, it is the king I grace. MAR. Come, honest lord, 'tis you must stand to me, The queen in mine doth challenge interest, And I must fly for shelter to my friends. MECH. And I'll be glad to be your coverture. MAR. O no, my lord, not till the weather change. MECH. Well, when you please--meantime you do me grace. QUEEN. Nay, my lord, there's a lady worth the handling: Sound music then; fill earth with heaven's pleasure. CYP. My queen is out of time, though she keep measure. [_Here they dance the first strain._ EPIRE. Be lucky, villany: hit now the mark[208] That mine ambition aims at; methinks I see That lean Italian devil, jealousy, Dance in his eyes. Possess him, spirit of rage: Muffle his understanding with black thoughts, Let passion govern reason, falsehood truth, Oblivion hide his age, hate kill his youth. CYP. Thou dancest on my heart, lascivious queen, Even as upon these rushes, which thou treadest:[209] See how her motions wind about his eyes, And doth present to him her passions: Now doth her moistening palm glow in his hand, And courts him unto dalliance. She dies: 'tis just. She's slave to murder that is slave to lust. EPIRE. Thou curse of greatness, waking-ey'd suspicion, Now help thy poor friends, murder and ambition. [_The first strain ends._ QUEEN. This strain contain'd a pretty change. Proceed unto the next. [_They dance the second._ CYP. Sin follows sin, and change on change doth wait; Thy change doth change my love to cruel hate. [_In this strain_ MARIANA _came to_ PHILOCLES. PHIL. Madam, methinks this chance is better than the first. MAR. Ay, if the music would not alter it. QUEEN. Methinks 'tis worse; come, we will have Another strain. [_They dance again._