; be armed, be ready
For the fight most fierce and steady
Ever fought for man's perdition;
Oh! take heed, amid the advances
Of the fair who wish to win you,
'Mid the fires that burn within you,
'Mid lascivious looks and glances,
'Mid such various foes enlisted,
That you are not conquered by them.

CHRYSANTHUS.
Women! oh! who dare defy them
By such dread allies assisted?

CARPOPHORUS.
He whom God assists.

CHRYSANTHUS.
Be swayed
By my tears, and ask him.

CARPOPHORUS.
You
Must too ask him: for he who
Aids himself, him God doth aid.

POLEMIUS.
What, sir, think you of his case?

CARPOPHORUS.
I have ordered him a bath,
Strong restoring powers it hath,
Which his illness must displace:--

POLEMIUS.
Sir, relying on you then,
I will give you ample wealth,
If you can restore his health.

CARPOPHORUS.
Still I cannot tell you when,
But I shall return and see him
Frequently; in fact 'till he
Is from all his ailment free,
From my hand I will not free him.

POLEMIUS.
For your kindness I am grateful.

CHRYSANTHUS.
He alone has power to cure me.
Since he knows what will allure me,
When all other modes are hateful. [Exit Carpophorus.

(Enter Escarpin.)

ESCARPIN.
All this garden of delight
Must be beauty's birth-place sure,
Here the fresh rose doubly pure,
Here the jasmin doubly white,
Learn to-day a newer grace,
Lovelier red, more dazzling snow.

POLEMIUS.
Why?

ESCARPIN.
Because the world doth show
Naught so fair as this sweet place.
Falsely boasts th' Elysian bower
Peerless beauty, here to-day
More, far more, these groves display:--
Not a fountain, tree, or flower . . .

POLEMIUS.
Well?

ESCARPIN.
But by a nymph more fair
Is surpassed.

POLEMIUS.
Come, Claudius, come,
He will be but dull and dumb,
Shy the proffered bliss to share,
Through the fear and the respect
Which, as son, he owes to me.

CLAUDIUS.
He who gave the advice should see
Also after the effect.
Let us all from this withdraw.

POLEMIUS.
Great results I hope to gather:

ESCARPIN (aside).
Well, you 're the first pander-father
Ever in my life I saw.

CHRYSANTHUS.
What, Escarpin, you, as well,
Going to leave me? Mum for once.

ESCARPIN.
Silence suits me for the nonce.

CHRYSANTHUS.
Why?

ESCARPIN.
A tale in point I 'll tell:
Once a snuffler, by a pirate
Moor was captured, who in some
Way affected to be dumb,
That