_Leon._ Methinks, I do not want That huge long train of fawning followers, That swept a furlong after me. 'Tis true I am alone; So was the godhead, ere he made the world, And better served himself, than served by nature. And yet I have a soul Above this humble fate. I could command, Love to do good, give largely to true merit, All that a king should do: But though these are not My province, I have scene enough within, To exercise my virtue. All that a heart, so fixed as mine, can move, Is, that my niggard fortune starves my love. [_Exit._ SCENE II. PALAMEDE _and_ DORALICE _meet: She, with a book in her hand, seems to start at the sight of him._ _Dor._ 'Tis a strange thing that no warning will serve your turn; and that no retirement will secure me from your impertinent addresses! Did not I tell you, that I was to be private here at my devotions? _Pala._ Yes; and you see I have observed my cue exactly: I am come to relieve you from them. Come, shut up, shut up your book; the man's come who is to supply all your necessities. _Dor._ Then, it seems, you are so impudent to think it was an assignation? This, I warrant, was your lewd interpretation of my innocent meaning. _Pala._ Venus forbid, that I should harbour so unreasonable a thought of a fair young lady, that you should lead me hither into temptation. I confess, I might think indeed it was a kind of honourable challenge, to meet privately without seconds, and decide the difference betwixt the two sexes; but heaven forgive me, if I thought amiss. _Dor._ You thought too, I'll lay my life on't, that you might as well make love to me, as my husband does to your mistress. _Pala._ I was so unreasonable to think so too. _Dor._ And then you wickedly inferred, that there was some justice in the revenge of it; or, at least, but little injury for a man to endeavour to enjoy that, which he accounts a blessing, and which is not valued as it ought by the dull possessor. Confess your wickedness,--did you not think so? _Pala._ I confess I was thinking so, as fast as I could; but you think so much before me, that you will let me think nothing. _Dor._ 'Tis the very thing that I designed; I have forestalled all your arguments, and left you without a word more, to plead for mercy. If you have any thing farther to offer, ere sentence pass--Poor animal, I brought you hither only for my diversion. _Pala._ That you may have, if you'll make use of me the right way; but I tell thee, woman, I am now past talking. _Dor._ But it may be, I came hither to hear what fine things you could say for yourself. _Pala._ You would be very angry, to my knowledge, if I should lose so much time to say many of them.--By this hand you would! _Dor._ Fye, Palamede, I am a woman of honour. _Pala._ I see you are; you have kept touch with your assignation: And before we part, you shall find that I am a man of honour. Yet I have one scruple of conscience--