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Flo.

As is the spring to the earth. And hath he

too

Exposed this paragon to the fearful usage,
At least ungentle, of the dreadful Neptune,
To greet a man not worth her pains, much less
The adventure of her person?

She came from Libya.

Leon.

Good my lord,

Where the warlike Smalus,

That noble honor'd lord, is fear'd and loved? Flo. Most royal sir, from thence; from him, whose daughter

His tears proclaim'd his, parting with her:

thence,

160

A prosperous south-wind friendly, we have
cross'd,

To execute the charge my father gave me,
For visiting your highness: my best train
I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd;
Who for Bohemia bend, to signify

Not only my success in Libya, sir,

But my arrival, and my wife's, in safety
Here where we are.

Leon.

The blessed gods

Purge all infection from our air whilst you
Do climate here! You have a holy father, 170
A graceful gentleman; against whose person,
So sacred as it is, I have done sin:

For which the heavens, taking angry note,

171. “a graceful gentleman"; that is, full of grace and virtue.— H. N. H.

172. "sacred"; i. e. in virtue of his royalty, the epithet being currently applied to all sovereigns as such.-C. H. H.

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Have left me issueless; and your father's blest,
As he from heaven merits it, with you

Worthy his goodness. What might I have
been,

Might I a son and daughter now have look'd on,
Such goodly things as you!

Lord.

Enter a Lord.

Most noble sir,

That which I shall report will bear no credit,
Were not the proof so nigh. Please you, great

sir,

Bohemia greets you from himself by me;
Desires you to attach his son, who has-
His dignity and duty both cast off-

180

Fled from his father, from his hopes, and with
A shepherd's daughter.

Leon.
Where's Bohemia? speak.
Lord. Here in your city; I now came from him:
I speak amazedly; and it becomes
My marvel and my message. To your court
Whiles he was hastening, in the chase, it seems,
Of this fair couple, meets he on the way
The father of this seeming lady and

Flo.

190

Her brother, having both their country quitted
With this young prince.

Camillo has betray'd me;
Whose honor and whose honesty till now
Endured all weathers.

Lord.

Lay 't so to his charge:

He's with the king your father.

Leon.

Who? Camillo?

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

Lord. Camillo, sir; I spake with him; who now

Per.

Has these poor men in question. Never saw I
Wretches so quake: they kneel, they kiss the
earth;

Forswear themselves as often as they speak: 200
Bohemia stops his ears, and threatens them
With divers deaths in death.

O my poor father!
The heaven sets spies upon us, will not have
Our contract celebrated.

Leon.

You are married?

Flo. We are not, sir, nor are we like to be;

The stars, I see, will kiss the valleys first:
The odds for high and low 's alike.

Leon.

Flo.

Is this the daughter of a king?

When once she is my wife.

'My lord,

She is,

Leon. That once,' I see by your good father's speed,

Flo.

Will come on very slowly. I am sorry,

Most sorry, you have broken from his liking
Where you were tied in duty, and as sorry
Your choice is not so rich in worth as beauty,
That you might well enjoy her.

210

Dear, look up:
Though Fortune, visible an enemy,
Should chase us with my father, power no jot
Hath she to change our loves. Beseech you, sir,
Remember since you owed no more to time 219
Than I do now: with thought of such affections,
Step forth mine advocate; at your request

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