cce signum;_ here it is for you.

_Hip._ O, sweet brother, let me kiss you.

_Asca._ Hands off, sweet sister, you must not be forsworn; you vowed
you would not think of a man these seven years.

_Hip._ Aye, brother, but I was not so hasty but I had wit enough to
cozen the saint to whom I vowed; for you are but a boy, brother, and
will not be a man these seven years.

_Luc._ But where did you find the key, Ascanio?

_Asca._ To confess the truth, madam, I stole it out of Hippolita's
pocket, to take the print of it in wax; for I'll suppose you'll give
my master leave to wait on you in the nunnery-garden, after your
abbess has walked the rounds.

_Luc._ Well, well, good-morrow. When you have slept, come to the grate
for a letter to your lord. Now will I have the headach, or the megrim,
or some excuse; for I'm resolved I'll not rise to prayers.

_Hip._ Pray, brother, take care of our masking-habits, that they may
be forthcoming another time.

_Asca._ Sleep, sleep, and dream of me, sister: I'll make it good, if
you dream not too unreasonably.

_Luc._ Thus dangers in our love make joys more dear;
And pleasure's sweetest when 'tis mixed with fear. [_Exeunt._

ACT IV.

SCENE I.--_A Dressing-chamber._

_The Masking-habits of_ LUCRETIA _and_ HIPPOLITA _laid in a
Chair.--Enter_ FREDERICK _and_ ASCANIO.

_Fred._ I never thought I should have loved her. Is't come to this,
after all my boastings and declarations against it? Sure I loved her
before, and did not know it, till I feared to lose her: There's the
reason. I had never desired her, if my father had not. This is just
the longing of a woman: She never finds the appetite in herself, till
she sees the meat on another's plate. I'm glad, however, you took the
impression of the key; but 'twas not well to fright them.

_Asca._ Sir, I could not help it; but here's the effect on't: the
workman sat up all night to make it. [_Gives a key._

_Fred._ This key will admit me into the seraglio of the godly. The
monastery has begun the war, in sallying out upon the world; and
therefore 'tis but just that the world should make reprisals on the
monastery.

_Asca._ Alas, sir, you and Lucretia do but skirmish; 'tis I and
Hippolita that make the war: 'Tis true, opportunity has been wanting
for a battle, but the forces have been stoutly drawn up on both sides.
As for your concernment, I come just now from the monastery; and have
orders from your P