PHIL. Come! And such an angel call, I should forget All offices of nature, all that men Wish in their second thoughts, ere such a duty. Commend my service to her, and to you My thanks for this kind message. [_Exit_ PSECTAS. I never breath'd till now, never till now Did my life relish sweetness. Break not, heart! Crack not, ye feeble ministers of nature: With inundation of such swelling joy, Too great to bear without expression. The lady writes that she has known me long By sight, and lov'd me; and she seems to thank Her stars she loves and is belov'd again. She speaks my very thoughts! How strange it is And happy, when affections thus can meet! She further writes, at such an hour to-day Her father's absence, and all household spies Fitly remov'd, shall give access to me Unmark'd to visit her; where she alone Will entertain discourse, and welcome me. I hope 'tis truly meant; why should I fear? But wisdom bids me fear: fie, fie! 'tis base To wrong a creature of that excellence' With such suspicion; I should injure her. I will as soon suspect an angel false; Treason ne'er lodg'd within so fair a breast. No, if her hand betray me, I will run On any danger: 'tis alike to me To die or find her false; for on her truth Hangs my chief being. Well, I'll lose no time, No, not a minute: dearest love, I come! To meet my sweetest wishes I will fly, Heaven and my truth shield me from treachery. [_Exit._ FOOTNOTES: [421] The original edition reads _sick_, which Mr Reed changed to _fickle_.--_Collier._ [422] [Portrait, likeness.] [423] [Bristling; Lat. _horridus_.] [424] [Old copy, _That I was_.] [425] [Old copy, were _not_.] [426] [Old copy, _Psectas_.] [427] Or _Sompner_, now called an _apparitor_. He is an officer, whose proper business and employment are to attend the spiritual court, to receive such commands as the judge shall please to issue forth; to convene and cite the defendants into court; to admonish or cite the parties in the production of witnesses, and the like; and to make due return of the process by him executed. ACT III. _Enter_ POLYMETES, ROSCIO, EUGENIO, _and_ PSECTAS. POL. I cannot credit it, nor think that she, Of all the noble youth of Sicily, Should make so strange a choice; that none but he, None but the son of my vow'd enemy, Must be her mate: it strikes me to amaze. Minion, take heed, do not belie your mistress. PSEC. Mercy forsake me if I do, my lord: You charg'd me to confess the truth to you, Which I have fully done; and presently I'll bring you where (conceal'd) you shall both see Their privacy, and hear their conference.