MIR. I'll go with you: 'Tis strange the king should send for you: pray heaven Thyrsis have done no mischief there: he's handsome, Of a good grace and moving eloquence: Perhaps some lady may have taken him Up for herself, and he, I'll lay a wager, Will be so squeamish that, if Sylvia Come in his mind, he ne'er will do her reason, And then her plot will be how to betray him-- Would I were in his place! MON. I would thou wert, So he were safe. MIR. I would comply, ne'er fear it; They live a heavenly life of love in court To that which we do here; a mistress there Will satisfy the longings of her lover, And never trouble Hymen for the matter: Then, if they like not, they may look elsewhere. MON. Thou wilt be punish'd one day for thy mischief. MIR. The mischief's in my tongue, I ne'er do any. MON. No, I have heard that Stella was with child By thee, and thou must father it. MIR. Who--I? Take me at that once--fathering of children, And make me common father of them all! A child's a pretty thing, and I should joy To see one of mine own. I'll tell thee truth, Montanus. By this hand, I never lay With any woman in my life. MON. How then? You have courted all; who is it that Mirtillus Has not profess'd to love? MIR. I do confess it, And that is all I could do; for before I could get earnest of any one's love, To whom I made address, even she would say: You have another mistress, go to her, I will not be her stale: and so by this means, Nor this nor that would do me any reason. MON. You had ill luck, it seems; 'twas not your fault. MIR. No, for if they would believe me, I did swear I had no other. Pray, Montanus, tell me---- For you have known the several ways of wooing, Which is the best and safest? MON. O Mirtillus, Grey hairs have put the wilder thoughts of love Out of my head; cold blood and frozen limbs Fright all those heats away, in place of which Discretion and sobriety should come. MIR. But, I have heard, old men do sometimes love. MON. They doat, Mirtillus--give it the right name; In old men's bloods Cupid does quench his flames. But as we go, I'll tell thee: not to love At all is best; but if you needs must love, Love one, and seek no further. Thou wilt find Enough of her, if once she prove unkind. SCENA III. DAPHNIS, ALCON. _To_ DAPHNIS, DORINDA. There is no way t' avoid the shame of this. Each shepherd's boy, that sings unto his flock, Will make me the scorn'd subject of his song. ALC. Had you been sudden, as I counsell'd you, You had not fail'd: but you young men do never Go through with anything.