cure my mind,
That we shall meet no more.

_Lys._ My honoured liege,
These are the figments of a mind which grief
Hath part disordered. Thou shalt see thy son,
Trust me for it; I swear it. One thing more
Remains. I know what 'tis to be a youth
As yet untouched by love; I know what charm
Lies in the magic of a woman's eyes
For a young virgin heart. I pray you, sir,
Swear to me by the saints, that, come what may,
For no allurement which thy new life brings thee,
The love of wife or child, wilt thou forget
Our Bosphorus, but still wilt hold her weal
Above all other objects of thy love
In good or adverse fortune.

_Asan._ Nay, my lord,
There is no need for oaths; yet will I swear it,
Here on this soldier's cross.

[_Makes a cross with the hilt of his sword._

Farewell, my father,
I mar my manhood, staying.

_King._ Farewell, son.
Let my old eyes fix on thee till thou goest
Beneath the farthest verge. Good Megacles,
And you brave gentlemen, be faithful all
To me and to your Prince.

_Lys._ My Lord Asander,
Remember!

END OF ACT I.

ACT II.

SCENE I.--_Lamachus' palace, Cherson._

GYCIA and IRENE.

_Gycia._ Sweetest Irene,
What joy it is to see thee once again
After so long an absence! We had grown
Together on one stalk so long, since first
Our girlish lives began to burst to flower,
That it was hard to part us. But methinks
That something of the rose from off thy cheek
Has faded, and its rounded outline fair
Seems grown a little thinner.

_Ire._ Gycia,
The flower, once severed from the stalk, no more
Grows as before.

_Gycia._ Thou strange girl, to put on
Such grave airs! Ah! I fear at Bosphorus
Some gay knight has bewitched thee; thou hast fallen
In love, as girls say--though what it may be
To fall in love, I know not, thank the gods,
Having much else to think of.

_Ire._ Prithee, dear,
Speak not of this.

_Gycia._ Ah! then I know 'tis true.
Confess what manner of thing love is.

_Ire._ Nay, nay, I cannot tell thee (_weeping_), Gycia;
Thou knowest not what thou askest. What is love?
Seek not to know it. 'Tis to be no more
Thy own, but all another's; 'tis to dwell
By day and night on one fix