What is this life to me? Not worth, a thought: Or, if it be esteem’d, ’tis that I lose it To win a better; even thy malice serves To me but as a ladder to mount up To such a height of happiness, where I shall Look down with scorn on thee and on the world; Where, circled with true pleasures, placed above The reach of death or time, ’twill be my glory To think at what an easy price I bought it. There’s a perpetual spring, perpetual youth; No joint-benumbing cold, or scorching heat, Famine, nor age, have any being there. Forget for shame your Tempe; bury in Oblivion your feign’d Hesperian orchards; The golden fruit, kept by the watchful dragon, Which did require a Hercules to get it, Compared with what grows in all plenty there, Deserves not to be named. The Power I serve Laughs at your happy Araby, or the Elysian shades; for He hath made His bowers Better in deed than you can fancy yours.(137) As an instance of Massinger’s courtliness I will quote a short passage from _The Great Duke of Florence_: Contarino has come from the court of the Duke to fetch his nephew Giovanni, who has been brought up by a tutor, Charomonte by name, in the country. As the prince comes in, Charomonte addresses Contarino: CHAROMONTE. Make your approaches boldly; you will find A courteous entertainment. (CONTARINO _kneels_.) GIOVANNI. Pray you, forbear My hand, good signior; ’tis a ceremony Not due to me. ’Tis fit we should embrace With mutual arms. CONTARINO. It is a favour, sir, I grieve to be denied. GIOVANNI. You shall o’ercome; But ’tis your pleasure, not my pride, that grants it. Nay, pray you, guardian and good sir, put on; How ill it shews to have that reverend head Uncover’d to a boy! CHAROMONTE. Your excellence Must give me liberty, to observe the distance And duty that I owe you.(138) Take another instance, from _The Duke of Milan_: SFORZA. Excuse me, good Pescara. Ere long I will wait on you. PESCARA. You speak, sir, The language I should use.(139) And this, from The Bashful Lover: FARNESE. Madam, I am bold To trench so far upon your privacy As to desire my friend (let not that wrong him, For he’s a worthy one) may have the honour To kiss your hand. MATILDA. His own worth challenges A greater favour. FARN. Your acknowledgment Confirms it, madam.(140)