_Remil._ Fair queens, yet handmaids unto Rasni's love, Tell me, is not my state as glorious As Juno's pomp, when tir'd with heaven's despoil, Clad in her vestments spotted all with stars, She cross'd the silver path unto her Jove? Is not Remilia far more beauteous, Rich'd with the pride of nature's excellence, Than Venus in the brightest of her shine? My hairs, surpass they not Apollo's locks? Are not my tresses curlèd with such art As love delights to hide him in their fair? Doth not mine eye shine like the morning lamp That tells Aurora when her love will come? Have I not stol'n the beauty of the heavens, And plac'd it on the feature of my face? Can any goddess make compare with me, Or match her with the fair Remilia? _Alvi._ The beauties that proud Paris saw from Troy, Mustering in Ida for the golden ball, Were not so gorgeous as Remilia. _Remil._ I have trick'd my trammels up with richest balm, And made my perfumes of the purest myrrh: The precious drugs that Ægypt's wealth affords, The costly paintings fetch'd from curious Tyre, Have mended in my face what nature miss'd. Am I not the earth's wonder in my looks? _Alvi._ The wonder of the earth, and pride of heaven. _Remil._ Look, Alvida, a hair stands not amiss; For women's locks are trammels of conceit, Which do entangle Love for all his wiles. _Alvi._ Madam, unless you coy it trick and trim, And play the civil[72] wanton ere you yield, Smiting disdain of pleasures with your tongue, Patting your princely Rasni on the cheek When he presumes to kiss without consent, You mar the market: beauty naught avails: You must be proud; for pleasures hardly got Are sweet if once attain'd. _Remil._ Fair Alvida, Thy counsel makes Remilia passing wise. Suppose that thou wert Rasni's mightiness, And I Remilia, prince of excellence. _Alvi._ I would be master then of love and thee. _Remil._ "Of love and me! Proud and disdainful king, Dar'st thou presume to touch a deity, Before she grace thee with a yielding smile?"[73] _Alvi._ "Tut, my Remilia, be not thou so coy; Say nay, and take it."[74] _Remil._ "Careless and unkind! Talks Rasni to Remilia in such sort As if I did enjoy a human form? Look on thy love, behold mine eyes divine, And dar'st thou twit me with a woman's fault? Ah Rasni, thou art rash to judge of me. I tell thee, Flora oft hath woo'd my lips, To lend a rose to beautify her spring; The sea-nymphs fetch their lilies from my cheeks: Then thou unkind!"--and hereon would I weep.