The old lion avoids
the toils, where the young one leaps into the net: the care of age is
provident and foresees much: suspicion is a virtue, where a man holds
his enemy in his bosom. Thou, fond girl, measurest all by present
affection, and as thy heart loves, thy thoughts censure[2]; but if
thou knowest that in liking Rosalynde thou hatchest up a bird to peck
out thine own eyes, thou wouldst entreat as much for her absence as
now thou delightest in her presence. But why do I allege policy to
thee? Sit you down, housewife, and fall to your needle: if idleness
make you so wanton, or liberty so malapert, I can quickly tie you to a
sharper task. And you, maid, this night be packing, either into Arden
to your father, or whither best it shall content your humor, but in
the court you shall not abide."

[Footnote 1: spring.]

[Footnote 2: decide.]

This rigorous reply of Torismond nothing amazed Alinda, for still she
prosecuted her plea in the defence of Rosalynde, wishing her father,
if his censure might not be reversed, that he would appoint her
partner of her exile; which if he refused to do, either she would by
some secret means steal out and follow her, or else end her days with
some desperate kind of death. When Torismond heard his daughter so
resolute, his heart was so hardened against her, that he set down a
definite and peremptory sentence, that they should both be banished,
which presently was done, the tyrant rather choosing to hazard the
loss of his only child than anyways to put in question the state of
his kingdom; so suspicious and fearful is the conscience of an
usurper. Well, although his lords persuaded him to retain his own
daughter, yet his resolution might not be reversed, but both of them
must away from the court without either more company or delay. In he
went with great melancholy, and left these two ladies alone. Rosalynde
waxed very sad, and sate down and wept. Alinda she smiled, and sitting
by her friend began thus to comfort her:

ALINDA'S COMFORT TO PERPLEXED ROSALYNDE

"Why, how now, Rosalynde, dismayed with a frown of contrary fortune?
Have I not oft heard thee say, that high minds were discovered in
fortune's contempt, and heroical scene in the depth of extremities?
Thou wert wont to tell others that complained of distress, that the
sweetest salve for misery was patience, and the only medicine for
want that precious implaister of content. Being such a good physician
to others, wilt thou n