fession,
Which heretofore I holily have kept,
Like to a miser's gold, to look on only.
But now I'll put them to a better use,
And venture both, in hope to--

SCAENA QUARTA.

MENDACIO, LINGUA.

MEN. Have I not hied me, madam? look you here,
What shall be done with these temptations?

LIN. They say a golden Ball
Bred enmity betwixt three goddesses;
So shall this crown be author of debate
Betwixt five senses.

MEN. Where shall it be laid!

LIN. There, there, there; 'tis well; so, so, so.

MEN. A crown's a pleasing bait to look upon;
The craftiest fox will hardly 'scape this trap.

LIN. Come, let us away, and leave it to the chance.

MEN. Nay, rather let me stand close hereabouts,
And see the event.

LIN. Do so, and if they doubt,
How it came there, feign them some pretty fable,
How that some god--

MEN. Tut, tut, tut, let me alone:
I that have feign'd so many hundred gods,
Can easily forge some fable for the turn:
Whist, madam; away, away: you fright the fowl;
Tactus comes hard by, look you.

LIN. Is't he for certain?

MEN. Yes, yes, yes, 'tis he.

LIN. 'Tis he indeed.

[_Exit_ LINGUA.

SCAENA QUINTA.

TACTUS, _in a dark-coloured satin mantle over a pair
of silk bases, a garland of bays, mixed with white and
red roses, upon a black grogram, a falchion, wrought
sleeves, buskins, &c_.

MENDACIO, TACTUS.

MEN. Now, chaste Diana, grant my nets to hold.

TAC. The blushing[179] childhood of the cheerful morn
Is almost grown a youth, and overclimbs[180]
Yonder gilt eastern hills; about which time
Gustus most earnestly importun'd me
To meet him hereabouts, what cause I know not.

MEN. You shall do shortly, to your cost, I hope. [_Aside_.]

TAC. Sure by the sun it should be nine o'clock.

MEN. What, a star-gazer! will you ne'er look down? [Aside.]

TAC. Clear is the sun and blue the firmament;
Methinks the heavens do smile-- [TACTUS _sneezeth_.

MEN. At thy mishap!
To look so high, and stumble in a trap.
[_Aside_. TACTUS _stumbleth at the robe and crown_.

TAC. High thoughts have slipp'ry feet, I had well-nigh fallen.

MEN. Well doth he fall that riseth with a fall. [_Aside_.]

TAC. What's this?

MEN. O, are you taken? 'tis in vain to strive. [_Aside_.]

TAC. How now?

MEN. You'll be so entangled straight-- [_Aside_.]

TAC. A crown!

MEN. That it will be hard-- [_Aside_.]

TAC. And a robe.