It would be as well if the queen of love had been a little more fastidious on this subject. Her facility, I fear, has done much mischief, as lovers of all ages have availed themselves of it: but she had it from her father, whose laxity of principle is well known: ------------_perjuria ridet amantûm Jupiter._ GIFFORD. ACT III. SCENE I. _Florence. An Anteroom in the Palace._ _Enter_ SANAZARRO _and Servant_. _Sanaz._ Leave the horses with my grooms; but be you careful, With your best diligence and speed, to find out The prince, and humbly, in my name, entreat I may exchange some private conference with him Before the great duke know of my arrival. _Serv._ I haste, my lord. _Sanaz._ Here I'll attend his coming: And see you keep yourself, as much as may be, Conceal'd from all men else. _Serv._ To serve your lordship, I wish I were invisible. [_Exit._ _Sanaz._ I am driven Into a desperate strait, and cannot steer A middle course; and of the two extremes Which I must make election of, I know not Which is more full of horror. Never servant Stood more engaged to a magnificent master, Than I to Cozimo: and all those honours And glories by his grace conferr'd upon me, Or by my prosperous services deserved, If now I should deceive his trust, and make A shipwreck of my loyalty, are ruin'd. And, on the other side, if I discover Lidia's divine perfections, all my hopes In her are sunk, never to be buoy'd up: For 'tis impossible, but, as soon as seen, She must with adoration be sued to. A hermit at his beads but looking on her At this object would take fire. Nor is the duke Such an Hippolytus, but that this Phædra, But seen, must force him to forsake the groves And Dian's huntmanship, proud to serve under Venus' soft ensigns. No, there is no way For me to hope fruition of my ends, But to conceal her beauties;--and how that May be effected is as hard a task As with a veil to cover the sun's beams, Or comfortable light. Three years the prince Lived in her company, and Contarino, The secretary, hath possess'd[74] the duke What a rare piece she is:--but he's my creature, And may with ease be frighted to deny What he hath said: and if my long experience, With some strong reasons I have thought upon, Cannot o'er-reach a youth, my practice yields me But little profit. _Enter_ GIOVANNI _with the Servant_. _Giov._ You are well return'd, sir. _Sanaz._ Leave us.--[_Exit Servant._] When that your grace shall know the motives That forced me to invite you to this trouble, You will excuse my manners. _Giov._ Sir, there needs not This circumstance between us. You are ever My noble friend.