_Nym._ And what dost thou think of the duke's overture of marriage? _Herod._ What do you think? _Herc._ May I speak boldly as at Aleppo? _Nym._ Speak till thy lungs ache, talk out thy teeth; here are none of those cankers, these mischiefs of society, intelligencers, or informers, that will cast rumour into the teeth of some Lælius Balbus,[147] a man cruelly eloquent and bloodily learned. No; what sayest thou, Faunus? 261 _Herc._ With an undoubted breast thus:--I may speak boldly? _Herod._ By this night,[148] I'll speak broadly first, and thou wilt, man. Our Duke of Urbin is a man very happily mad, for he thinks himself right perfectly wise, and most demonstratively learned--nay, more---- _Herc._ No more--I'll on. Methinks the young lord our Prince of Ferrara so bounteously adorned with all of grace, feature, and best shaped proportion, fair use of speech, full opportunity, and that which makes the sympathy of all, equality of heat, of years, of blood; methinks these loadstones should attract the metal of the young princess rather to the son than to the noisome, cold, and most weak side of his half-rotten father. 276 _Herod._ Tha'rt ours--tha'rt ours. Now dare we speak as boldly as if Adam had not fallen, and made us all slaves. Hark ye, the duke is an arrant doting ass--an ass--and in the knowledge of my very sense, will turn a foolish animal; for his son will prove like one of Baal's priests, have all the flesh presented to the idol his father, but he in the night will feed on't--will devour it.[149] He will, yeoman of the bottles, he will. 285 _Herc._ Now, gentlemen, I am sure the lust of speech hath equally drenched us all; know I am no servant to this Prince Tiberio. _Herod._ Not? _Herc._ Not, but one to him out of some private urging most vowed--one that pursues him but for opportunity of safe[150] satisfaction. Now, if ye can prefer my service to him, I shall rest yours wholly. 293 _Herod._ Just in the devil's mouth! thou shalt have place! Fawn, thou shalt! Behold this generous Nymphadoro, a gallant of clean boot, straight back, and beard[151] of a most hopeful expectation. He is a servant of fair Dulcimel's, her very creature, born to the princess' sole adoration; a man so spent in time to her, that pity (if no more of grace) must follow[152] him when we have gained the room. Second his suit, Faunus;[153] I'll be your intelligencer. 302 _Herc._ Our very heart, and, if need be, work[154] to most desperate ends. _Herod._ Well urged. _Herc._ Words fit acquaintance, but full actions friends. _Nym._ Thou shalt not want, Faunus. _Herc._ You promise well.