_Mel._ O, servant, you can testify that I am in his good graces. Well, I cannot stay long with you, because I have promised him this afternoon to--But hark you, my dear, I'll tell you a secret. [_Whispers to_ DOR. _Rho._ The devil's in me, that I must love this woman. [_Aside._ _Pala._ The devil's in me, that I must marry this woman. [_Aside._ _Mel._ [_Raising her voice._] So the prince and I--But you must make a secret of this, my dear; for I would not for the world your husband should hear it, or my tyrant, there, that must be. _Pala._ Well, fair impertinent, your whisper is not lost, we hear you. [_Aside._ _Dor._ I understand then, that-- _Mel._ I'll tell you, my dear, the prince took me by the hand, and pressed it _a la derobbee_, because the king was near, made the _doux yeux_ to me, and, _ensuite_, said a thousand gallantries, or let me die, my dear. _Dor._ Then I am sure you-- _Mel._ You are mistaken, my dear. _Dor._ What, before I speak? _Mel._ But I know your meaning. You think, my dear, that I assumed something of _fierte_ into my countenance, to _rebute_, him; but, quite contrary, I regarded him,--I know not how to express it in our dull Sicilian language,--_d'un air enjouee_; and said nothing but _ad autre, ad autre,_ and that it was all _grimace_, and would not pass upon me. _Enter_ ARTEMIS: MELANTHA _sees her, and runs away from_ DORALICE. [_To_ ARTEMIS.] My dear, I must beg your pardon, I was just making a loose from Doralice, to pay my respects to you. Let me die, if I ever pass time so agreeably as in your company, and if I would leave it for any lady's in Sicily. _Arte._ The princess Amalthea is coming this way. _Enter_ AMALTHEA: MELANTHA _runs to her._ _Mel._ O, dear madam! I have been at your lodging in my new _galeche_, so often, to tell you of a new amour, betwixt two persons whom you would little suspect for it, that, let me die if one of my coach-horses be not dead, and another quite tired, and sunk under the fatigue. _Amal._ O, Melantha, I can tell you news; the prince is coming this way. _Mel._ The prince? O sweet prince! He and I are to--and I forgot it.-- Your pardon, sweet madam, for my abruptness.--Adieu, my dear servant,--Rhodophil.--Servant, servant, servant all. [_Exit running._ _Amal._ Rhodophil, a word with you. [_Whispers._ _Dor._ [_To PALA._] Why do you not follow your mistress, sir? _Pala._ Follow her? Why, at this rate she'll be at the Indies within this half hour. _Dor._ However, if you cannot follow her all day, you will meet her at night, I hope?