I am alone;
So was the godhead, ere he made the world,
And better served himself, than served by nature.
And yet I have a soul
Above this humble fate. I could command,
Love to do good, give largely to true merit,
All that a king should do: But though these are not
My province, I have scene enough within,
To exercise my virtue.
All that a heart, so fixed as mine, can move,
Is, that my niggard fortune starves my love. [_Exit._

SCENE II.

PALAMEDE _and_ DORALICE _meet: She, with a book in her hand, seems
to start at the sight of him._

_Dor._ 'Tis a strange thing that no warning will serve your turn; and
that no retirement will secure me from your impertinent addresses! Did
not I tell you, that I was to be private here at my devotions?

_Pala._ Yes; and you see I have observed my cue exactly: I am come to
relieve you from them. Come, shut up, shut up your book; the man's
come who is to supply all your necessities.

_Dor._ Then, it seems, you are so impudent to think it was an
assignation? This, I warrant, was your lewd interpretation of my
innocent meaning.

_Pala._ Venus forbid, that I should harbour so unreasonable a thought
of a fair young lady, that you should lead me hither into temptation.
I confess, I might think indeed it was a kind of honourable challenge,
to meet privately without seconds, and decide the difference betwixt
the two sexes; but heaven forgive me, if I thought amiss.

_Dor._ You thought too, I'll lay my life on't, that you might as well
make love to me, as my husband does to your mistress.

_Pala._ I was so unreasonable to think so too.

_Dor._ And then you wickedly inferred, that there was some justice in
the revenge of it; or, at least, but little injury for a man to
endeavour to enjoy that, which he accounts a blessing, and which is
not valued as it ought by the dull possessor. Confess your
wickedness,--did you not think so?

_Pala._ I confess I was thinking so, as fast as I could; but you think
so much before me, that you will let me think nothing.

_Dor._ 'Tis the very thing that I designed; I have forestalled all
your arguments, and left you without a word more, to plead for mercy.
If you have any thing farther to offer, ere sentence pass--Poor
animal, I brought you hither only for my diversion.

_Pala._ That you may have, if you'll make use of me the right way; but
I tell thee, woman, I am now past talking.

_Dor._ But it may be, I came hither to hea