_Maids, prepare the genial bed:_ _Then come, night, and hide that red,_ _Which from her cheeks his heart does burn;_ _Till the envious day return,_ _And the lusty bridegroom say,_ _I have chas'd her fears away,_ _And instead_ _Of virgin-head,_ _Given her a greater good:_ _Perfection and womanhood._ THYR. Thanks, good Mirtillus; this indeed was proper Unto your subject. MIR. Your thrice-happy match Being but now come to my knowledge, made me Contract myself into a straiter room Than the large subject might afford. CLE. The king! _To these_ EUARCHUS, EUBULUS. EUAR. Although I wonder, yet I do believe thee, My faithful councillor. EUB. Your majesty Has found me always real; but this truth The oracle's accomplishment will prove, That did foretell their match. EUAR. Read it, Eubulus, Once more, and then call in my son and daughter. EUB. _If e'er thy issue male thou liv'st to see,_ _The child thou think'st is thine, thine shall not be._ EUAR. Calligone is not my child; proceed. EUB. _His life shall be obscure: twice shall thy hate_ _Doom him to death, yet shall he 'scape that fate._ EUAR. 'Tis true, that twice I did command his death, First thinking him a bastard, then a shepherd, For his offence: the gods are just. Go on. EUB. _And thou shalt live to see, that not long after_ _Thy only son shall wed thy only daughter._ EUAR. This was a riddle ever till this day, Their marriage has made it plain. Eubulus, Call in Archigenes, and call thy daughter, The fair Calligone, that I may pour My blessings on them: and I long to see Those characters thou writ'st about his neck, That I may call him mine. EUB. See where they are! EUAR. Archigenes, come nearer, for thou art A stranger yet, although thou be my son. The character is plain, it is the same Eubulus writ to me: ye heavenly powers, Give me a heart that may be large enough T' express my joy for these and thanks to you. THYR. My royal father--for I am instructed To call you so--if I have done amiss In hasting to this match, I ask your pardon. SYL. And I for daring to aspire so high Without your leave. EUAR. Rise both; you have my blessing. But who are these? THYR. This is the shepherd, sir, Who took me up first, whom till now I call'd Father, and he deserv'd it for his care. EUAR. Eubulus, this is he; Montanus, is it not? EUB. He is deliver'd to me for the shepherd, Of whom your majesty may, if you please, Be well-inform'd of all those passages I left untold. EUAR. Some other time we'll hear them: Let him be well rewarded.