_Cam._ 'Tis a house of Benedictines, called the _Torre di Specchi_, where only ladies of the best quality are professed. [LUCRETIA _and_ HIPPOLITA _appear at the grate._ _Aur._ Look you yonder, sir, are two of the pretty magpies in white and black. If you will lull yourself into a Platonic dream, you may; but consider your sport will be dull when you play without stakes. _Fred._ No matter, I'll fool away an hour of courtship; for I never was engaged in a serious love, nor I believe can be. Farewell, gentlemen; at this time I shall dispense with your attendance;--nay, without ceremony, because I would be incognito. _Cam._ Come then, Aurelian, to our own affairs. [_Exeunt_ AURELIAN _and_ CAMILLO. _The Prince and_ ASCANIO _approach._ _Fred._ [_To_ LUCRETIA.] For what crime, fair creature, were you condemned to this perpetual prison? _Luc._ For chastity and devotion, and two or three such melancholy virtues: They first brought me hither, and must now keep me company. _Fred._ I should rather have guessed it had been murder, and that you are veiled for fear of doing more mischief with those eyes; for, indeed, they are too sharp to be trusted out of the scabbard. _Luc._ Cease, I beseech you, to accuse my eyes, till they have done some execution on your heart. _Fred._ But I am out of reach, perhaps. _Luc._ Trust not to that; they may shoot at a distance, though they cannot strike you near at hand. _Fred._ But if they should kill, you are ne'er the better: There's a grate betwixt us, and you cannot fetch in the dead quarry. _Luc._ Provided we destroy the enemy, we do not value their dead bodies: But you, perhaps, are in your first error, and think we are rather captives than warriors; that we come like prisoners to the grate, to beg the charity of passengers for their love. _Fred._ [_To_ ASCANIO.] Enquire, as dextrously as you can, what is the name and quality of this charming creature. _Luc._ [_To_ HIPPOLITA.] Be sure, if the page approaches you, to get out of him his master's name. [_The Prince and_ LUCRETIA _seem to talk._ _Hip._ [_To_ ASCANIO.] By that short whisper, which I observed you took with your master, I imagine, Mr Page, you come to ask a certain question of me. _Asca._ By this thy question, and by that whisper with thy lady, (O thou nymph of devotion!) I find I am to impart a secret, and not to ask one: Therefore, either confess thou art yet a mere woman under that veil, and, by consequence, most horribly inquisitive, or thou shalt lose thy longing, and know nothing of my master. _Hip._ By my virginity, you shall tell first. _Asca._ You'll break your oath, on purpose to make the forfeit. _Hip._ Your master is called-- _Asca._ Your lady is ycleped-- _Hip._ For decency, in all matters of love, the man should offer first, you know. _Asca._ That needs not, when the damsel is so willing.