_Mel._ The new prince, sayest thou? Adieu, dear servant; I have not made my court to him these two long hours. O, it is the sweetest prince! so _obligeant_, _charmant_, _ravissant_, that--Well, I'll make haste to kiss his hands, and then make half a score visits more, and be with you again in a twinkling. [_Exit running, with_ PHIL. _Pala._ [_solus._] Now heaven, of thy mercy, bless me from this tongue! it may keep the field against a whole army of lawyers, and that in their own language, French gibberish. It is true, in the day-time, it is tolerable, when a man has field room to run from it; but to be shut up in a bed with her, like two cocks in a pit, humanity cannot support it. I must kiss all night in my own defence, and hold her down, like a boy at cuffs, and give her the rising blow every time she begins to speak. _Enter_ RHODOPHIL. But here comes Rhodophil. It is pretty odd that my mistress should so much resemble his: The same newsmonger, the same passionate lover of a court, the same--But, Basta, since I must marry her. I'll say nothing, because he shall not laugh at my misfortune. _Rho._ Well, Palamede, how go the affairs of love? You have seen your mistress? _Pala._ I have so. _Rho._ And how, and how? has the old Cupid, your father, chosen well for you? is he a good woodman? _Pala._ She's much handsomer than I could have imagined: In short, I love her, and will marry her. _Rho._ Then you are quite off from your other mistress? _Pala._ You are mistaken; I intend to love them both, as a reasonable man ought to do: For, since all women have their faults and imperfections, it is fit that one of them should help out the other. _Rho._ This were a blessed doctrine, indeed, if our wives would hear it; but they are their own enemies: If they would suffer us but now and then to make excursions, the benefit of our variety would be theirs; instead of one continued, lazy, tired love, they would, in their turns, have twenty vigorous, fresh, and active lovers. _Pala._ And I would ask any of them, whether a poor narrow brook, half dry the best part of the year, and running ever one way, be to be compared to a lusty stream, that has ebbs and flows? _Rho._ Ay, or is half so profitable for navigation? _Enter_ DORALICE, _walking by, and reading._ _Pala._ Ods my life, Rhodophil, will you keep my counsel? _Rho._ Yes: Where's the secret? _Pala._ There it is: [_Shewing_ DOR.] I may tell you, as my friend, _sub sigillo_, &c. this is that very lady, with whom I am in love. _Rho._ By all that's virtuous, my wife! [_Aside._ _Pala._ You look strangely: How do you like her? Is she not very handsome? _Rho._ Sure he abuses me. [_Aside._]--Why the devil do you ask my judgment? _Pala._ You are so dogged now, you think no man's mistress handsome but your own. Come, you shall hear her talk too; she has wit, I assure you. _Rho._ This is too much, Palamede. [_Going back._