_Dul._ Shall I speak like a creature of a good healthful blood, and not like one of these weak, green sickness, lean, phthisic starvelings? First, for the virtue of magnanimity, I am very valiant, for there is no heroic action so particularly noble and glorious to our sex, as not to fall to action; the greatest deed we can do is not to do (look that nobody listen). Then am I full of patience, and can bear more than a sumpter-horse; for (to speak sensibly), what burthen is there so heavy to a porter's back as virginity to a well-complexioned young lady's thoughts? (Look no body hearken.) By this hand the noblest vow is that of virginity, because the hardest. I will have the prince. 237 _Phi._ But by what means, sweet madam? _Dul._ O Philocalia, in heavy sadness and unwanton phrase, there lies all the brain-work. By what means! I could fall into a miserable blank verse presently! _Phi._ But, dear madam, your reason of loving him? _Dul._ Faith, only a woman's reason, because I was expressly forbidden to love him. At the first view I liked him; and no sooner had my father's wisdom mistrusted my liking, but I grew loth his judgment should err; I pitied he should prove a fool in his old age, and without cause mistrust me. 248 _Phi._ But, when you saw no means of manifesting your affection to him, why did not your hopes perish? _Dul._ O Philocalia! that difficulty only enflames me: when the enterprise is easy, the victory is inglorious. No, let my wise, aged, learned, intelligent father,--that can interpret eyes, understand the language of birds, interpret the grumbling of dogs and the conference of cats,--that can read even silence,--let him forbid all interviews, all speeches, all tokens, all messages, all (as he thinks) human means,--I will speak to the prince, court the prince, that he shall understand me;--nay, I will so stalk on the blind side of my all-knowing father's wit, that, do what his wisdom can, he shall be my only mediator, my only messenger, my only honourable spokesman;--he shall carry my favours, he shall amplify my affection;--nay, he shall direct the prince the means, the very way to my bed;--he, and only he, when he only can do this, and only would not do this, he only shall do this. 267 _Phi._ Only you shall then deserve such a husband. O love, how violent are thy passages! _Dul._ Pish, Philocalia! 'tis against the nature of love not to be violent. _Phi._ And against the condition of violence to be constant. _Dul._ Constancy?--constancy and patience are virtues in no living creatures but centinels and anglers. Here's our father! _Enter_ GONZAGO, HERCULES, _and_ GRANUFFO.