DARIA. Mighty monarch of these deserts, King of beasts, so plainly known By thy crown of golden tresses O'er thy tawny forehead thrown, In the name of Him who sent thee To defend that faith I hold, I command thee to release him, Free this man and let him go. ESCARPIN. What a most obsequious monster! With his mane he sweeps the floor, And before her humbly falling, Kisses her fair feet. DARIA. What more Need we ask, that Thou didst send him, O great God so late adored, Than to see his pride thus humbled When he heard thy name implored? But upon his feet uprising, The great roaring Campeador[15] Of the mountains makes a signal I should follow: yes, I go, Fearless now since Thou hast freed me From this infamous abode. What will not that lover do Who for love his life foregoes!-- (Goes out preceded by the lion. ESCARPIN. With a lion for her bully Ready to fight all her foes, Who will dare to interrupt her? None, if they are wise I trow. With her hand upon his mane, Quite familiarly they go Through the centre of the city. Crowds give way as they approach, And as he who looketh on Knoweth of the game much more Than the players, I perceive They the open country seek On the further side of Rome. Like a husband and a wife, In the pleasant sunshine's glow, Taking the sweet air they seem. Well the whole affair doth show So much curious contradiction, That, my thought, a brief discourse You and I must have together. Is the God whose name is known To Daria, the same God Whom Carpophorus adored? Why, from this what inference follows? Only this, if it be so, That Daria He defends, But the poor Carpophorus, no. And as I am much more likely His sad fate to undergo, Than to be like her protected, I to change my faith am loth. So part pagan and part christian I 'll remain--a bit of both. (Exit. SCENE III.--The Wood. (Enter NISIDA and CYNTHIA, flying.) CYNTHIA. Fly, fly, Nisida. NISIDA. Fly, fly, Cynthia, Since a terror and a woe Threatens us by far more fearful Than when late a horror froze All our words, and o'er our reason Strange lethargic dulness flowed. CYNTHIA. Thou art right, for then 't was only Our intelligence that owned The effect of an enchantment, A mere pause of thought alone. Here our very life doth leave us, Seeing with what awful force Stalks along this mighty lion Trampling all that stops his course. NISIDA. Whither shall we fly for shelter? CYNTHIA. O Diana, we implore Help from thee! But stranger still!-- Him who doth appal us so, The wild monarch of the mountain See! a woman calm and slow Follows. NISIDA. O astounding sight! CYNTHIA. 'T is Daria. NISIDA. I was told She had been consigned to prison: Yes, 't is she: on, on they go Through the forest. CYNTHIA. Till the mountain Hides them, and we see no more. (Enter Escarpin.) ESCARPIN. All Rome is full of wonder and dismay.[16] NISIDA. What has occurred?