_Lid._ My knees shall first be rooted in this earth, And, Myrrha-like, I'll grow up to a tree, Dropping perpetual tears of sorrow, which Harden'd by the rough wind, and turn'd to amber, Unfortunate virgins like myself shall wear, Before I'll make petition to your greatness, But with such reverence, my hands held up thus, As I would do to heaven. You princes are As gods on earth to us, and to be sued to With such humility, as his deputies May challenge from their vassals. _Coz._ Here's that form Of language I expected; pray you, speak: What is your suit? _Lid._ That you look upon me As an humble thing, that millions of degrees Is placed beneath you: for what am I, dread sir, Or what can fall in the whole course of my life, That may be worth your care, much less your trouble? As the lowly shrub is to the lofty cedar, Or a molehill to Olympus, if compared, I am to you, sir. Or, suppose the prince, (Which cannot find belief in me,) forgetting The greatness of his birth and hopes, hath thrown An eye of favour on me, in me punish, That am the cause, the rashness of his youth. Shall the queen of the inhabitants of the air, The eagle, that bears thunder on her wings, In her angry mood destroy her hopeful young, For suffering a wren to perch too near them? Such is our disproportion. _Coz._ With what fervour She pleads against herself! _Lid._ For me, poor maid, I know the prince to be so far above me, That my wishes cannot reach him. Yet I am So much his creature, that, to fix him in Your wonted grace and favour, I'll abjure His sight for ever, and betake myself To a religious life, (where in my prayers I may remember him,) and ne'er see man more, But my ghostly father. Will you trust me, sir? In truth I'll keep my word; or, if this fail, A little more of fear what may befall him Will stop my breath for ever. _Coz._ Had you thus argued [_Raises her._ As you were yourself, and brought as advocates Your health and beauty to make way for you, No crime of his could put on such a shape But I should look with the eyes of mercy on it. What would I give to see this diamond In her perfect lustre, as she was before The clouds of sickness dimm'd it! Yet, take comfort; And, as you would obtain remission for His treachery to me, cheer your drooping spirits, And call the blood again into your cheeks, And then plead for him; and in such a habit As in your highest hopes you would put on, If we were to receive you for our bride. _Lid._ I'll do my best, sir. _Coz._ And that best will be A crown of all felicity to me. [_Exeunt._ FOOTNOTES: [82] _Take us with you, sir._] i. e. _understand our meaning fully, before you form your conclusions_: this expression is common to all our old writers. [83] _Story_,] i. e. _history_. The two words were formerly synonymous.