_Pier._ Good me no goods. Seest thou that sprightly youth? Ere thou canst term to-morrow morning old, Thou shalt call him thy husband, lord, and love. _Mel._ Ay me! 250 _Pier._ Blirt on your "ay me's!" guard her safely hence. Drag her away, I'll be your guard to-night. Young prince, mount up your spirits and prepare To solemnise your nuptial's eve with pomp. _Gal._ The time is scant: now nimble wits appear: Phoebus begins to[156] gleam, the welkin's clear. [_Exeunt all but_ BALURDO _and his_ Page. _Bal._ Now nimble wits appear! I'll myself appear, Balurdo's self, that in quick wit doth surpass, Will show the substance of a complete----. _Dil._ Ass, ass. _Bal._ I'll mount my courser, and most gallantly prick----. 260 _Dil._ Gallantly prick is too long, and stands hardly in the verse, sir. _Bal._ I'll speak pure rhyme, and will so bravely prank it, that I'll toss love like a--prank, prank it!--a rhyme for prank it? _Dil._ Blanket. _Bal._ That I'll toss love, like a dog in a blanket. Hah hah, indeed, law. I think, hah hah; I think, hah hah, I think I shall tickle the Muses. And I strike it not dead, say, Balurdo, thou art an arrant sot. 270 _Dil._ Balurdo, thou art an arrant sot. _Enter_ ANDRUGIO _and_ ANTONIO _wreathed together_, LUCIO. _And._ Now, come, united force of chap-fall'n death; Come, power of fretting anguish, leave distress. O, thus enfolded, we have breasts of proof 'Gainst all the venom'd stings of misery. _Ant._ Father, now I have an antidote 'Gainst all the poison that the world can breathe: My Mellida, my Mellida doth bless This bleak waste with her presence.--How now, boy, Why dost thou weep? alas! where's Mellida? 280 _Page._[157] Ay me, my Lord. _Ant._[158] A sudden horror doth invade my blood; My sinews tremble, and my panting heart Scuds round about my bosom, to go out, Dreading the assailant, horrid passion. O, be no tyrant, kill me with one blow; Speak quickly, briefly, boy. _Page._ Her father found, and seized her; she is gone. _And._ Son, heat thy blood, be not froze up with grief Courage, sweet boy, sink not beneath the weight 290 Of crushing mischief. O where's thy dauntless heart, Thy father's spirit! I renounce thy blood, If thou forsake thy valour. _Lu._ See how his grief speaks in his slow-paced steps. Alas! 'Tis more than he can utter, let him go: Dumb solitary path best suiteth woe. [_Exit_ ANTONIO. _And._ Give me my arms, my armour, Lucio. _Lu._ Dear lord, what means this rage? when lacking use[159] Scarce safe's your life, will you in armour rise? 300 _And._ Fortune fears valour, presseth cowardice. _Lu._ Then valour gets applause, when it hath place, And means to blaze it.