_G._ Pardon, your ladyship; but at the outset 350 I missed the question, and for lack of it Have followed ill. _D._ The question we discuss Is this, What is the chiefest pain of love? _G._ The chiefest what? _D._ Pain. _G._ Ah! the pain of love. _D._ ’Tis now thy turn to speak. _G._ Oh, is’t my turn? The chiefest pain of love; I am asked to say What that is? _D._ Yes. _G._ Your ladyship knows well You ask of one who has lived to study truth From nature’s only teacher;—without which I would not speak. But since you have often heard Your sainted mother tell from what sad cause 361 She made my Laura your adopted sister, Saving my orphan in the only loss That can befall a babe, its mother’s care, You know how by that loss there came to me The chiefest pain of love; which can, I think, But hap to wedded spirits, who have joyed In mutual life: wherein, may heaven forgive me If the remembrance of my joy awake Sorrow with thankfulness, the balance being 370 So far on the good side, spite of the pain: Yet if I speak of it now without more tears Than ye can see, ’tis that the founts are dried: Time hath not helped me otherwise. I pray God, who is merciful, to shield all here From like calamity. _F._ I say Amen To good Sir Gregory. _R._ And amen for me. _Enter Flora to D._ _D._ What is it, Flora? _FLORA._ My lady, the merchant’s come. _D._ What merchant? _Fl._ The Venetian with the silks Your ladyship bespoke. _D._ (_rising_). Do you hear, Laura? 380 Your stuffs at last. Our matinée, my friends, Is interrupted, an important matter Unfortunately calls me away. Come, Laura: There’ll scarce be time to get the silks made up Before your wedding. Come and choose them with me. St. Nicholas, we shall need thee too; ’tis nothing Unless thine eye is pleased. _N._ I dote on silks. I love their fine prismatic cadences. Yet these Venetian colours to my taste Are over-saturate: I’d have them cast 390 With the Doge’s ring in the sea. A good year’s soaking Would bring them down into that faded softness, Which is a banquet to the cultured eye. _D._ Ricardo, do you attend Sir Gregory, And see your lodging. Come, St. Nicholas; Come, Laura! [_Exit with Laura and St. Nicholas. Flora following._ _G._ (_to R._). I wait upon you, if it please you To visit your apartments. Tell me pray What men you bring. [_Exit with R. making signs._ _F._ (_taking out the glove with the letter_). Thank heaven, now I may read. (_Aside._) What saith my love? what hope? _T._ (_aside_). Another letter! Whence got he this? _F._ O blessed paper!