_Ida._ What tho?[266] The world may shame to him account, To be a king of men and worldly pelf, Yet hath no power to rule and guide himself. _Ateu._ I know you, gentle lady, and the care Both of your honour and his grace's health Makes me confusèd in this dangerous state. _Ida._ So counsel him, but soothe thou not his sin: 'Tis vain allurement that doth make him love: I shame to hear, be you asham'd to move. _Count. of A._ [_aside_]. I see my daughter grows impatient: I fear me, he pretends some bad intent. _Ateu._ Will you despise the king and scorn him so? _Ida._ In all allegiance I will serve his grace, But not in lust: O, how I blush to name it! _Ateu._ [_aside_]. An endless work is this: how should I frame it? [_They discourse privately._ _Slip._ O, mistress, may I turn a word upon you? _Count. of A._ Friend, what wilt thou? _Slip._ O, what a happy gentlewoman be you truly! the world reports this of you, mistress, that a man can no sooner come to your house but the butler comes with a black-jack and says, "Welcome, friend, here's a cup of the best for you": verily, mistress, you are said to have the best ale in all Scotland. _Count. of A._ Sirrah, go fetch him drink. [Servant _brings drink_]. How likest thou this? _Slip._ Like it, mistress! why, this is quincy quarie, pepper de watchet, single goby, of all that ever I tasted! I'll prove in this ale and toast the compass of the whole world. First, this is the earth,--it lies in the middle, a fair brown toast, a goodly country for hungry teeth to dwell upon; next, this is the sea, a fair pool for a dry tongue to fish in: now come I, and, seeing the world is naught, I divide it thus; and, because the sea cannot stand without the earth, as Aristotle saith, I put them both into their first chaos, which is my belly: and so, mistress, you may see your ale is become a miracle. _Eust._ A merry mate, madam, I promise you. _Count. of A._ Why sigh you, sirrah? _Slip._ Truly, madam, to think upon the world, which, since I denounced it, keeps such a rumbling in my stomach, that, unless your cook give it a counterbuff with some of your roasted capons or beef, I fear me I shall become a loose body, so dainty, I think, I shall neither hold fast before nor behind. _Count. of A._ Go take him in, and feast this merry swain.-- Sirrah, my cook is your physician; He hath a purge for to digest the world. [_Exeunt_ SLIPPER _and_ Servant. _Ateu._ Will you not, Ida, grant his highness this? _Ida._ As I have said, in duty I am his: For other lawless lusts that ill beseem him, I cannot like, and good I will not deem him. _Count. of A._ Ida, come in:--and, sir, if so you please, Come, take a homely widow's entertain. _Ida._ If he have no great haste, he may come nigh; If haste, though he be gone, I will not cry. [_Exeunt_ COUNTESS OF ARRAN, IDA, _and_ EUSTACE.