_Leu._ O thou art vain, thou knowst I doe not love her: What shall I doe? I would my tongue had led me To any other thing, but blasphemy, So I had mist commending of this woman, Whom I must reverence now: she is my Mother, My sin _Ismenus_ has wrought all this ill: And I beseech thee, to be warn'd by me, And doe not lye, if any man should aske thee But _How thou dost_, or _What a clock 'tis now_. Be sure thou doe not lye, make no excuse For him that is most near thee: never let The most officious falsehood scape thy tongue, For they above (that are intirely truth) Will make that seed, which thou hast sown Of lyes, yield miseries a thousand fold Upon thine head, as they have done on mine. _Enter Timantus._ _Tim._ Sir, your Highness is welcome home, the _Duke_ and _Queen_ will presently come forth to you. _Leu._ I'll wait on them. _Tima._ Worthy _Ismenus_, I pray you, have you sped in your wars? _Isme._ This Rogue mocks me. Well _Timantus_, Pray how have you sped here at [home] at shovelboord? _Tim._ Faith reasonable. How many Towns have you taken in this Summer? _Isme._ How many Stags have you been at the death of this grass? _Tima._ A number: 'Pray how is the Province settled? _Isme._ Prethee how does the dun Nag? _Tim._ I think you mock me my Lord. _Isme._ Mock thee? Yes by my troth doe I: why what wouldst thou have me doe with thee? Art good for any thing else? _Enter Leontius, Bacha, Dorialus, Agenor, Nisus, Telamon._ _Leu._ My good _Ismenus_, hold me by the wrist: And if thou see'st me fainting, wring me hard, For I shall swoon again else.-- [_Kneels._ _Leon._ Welcome my son; rise, I did send for thee Back from the province, by thy Mothers counsell, Thy good Mother here, who loves thee well: She would not let me venture all my joy Amongst my enemies: I thank thee for her, And none but thee, I took her on thy word. _Leucip._ Pinch harder. _Leon._ And she shall bid thee welcome: I have now Some near affairs, but I will drink a Health To thee anon: Come _Telamon_, [Ime] grown Lustier, I thank thee for't, since I marryed; I can stand now alone, why _Telamon_, And never stagger. [_Exit Leontius, Telamon._ _Bac._ Welcome most noble Sir, whose fame is come Hither before you: out alas you scorn me, And teach me what to doe. _Leu._ No, you are my Mother. _Bacha._ Far unworthy of that name God knows: But trust me, here before these Lords, I am no more but Nurse unto the _Duke_; Nor will I breed a faction in the State, It is too much for me that I am rais'd Unto his bed, and will remain the servant Of you that did it.