Mr. Dullard fell in love
(I do n't tell where all this happened,
Or the time, for of the Dullards
Every age and time give samples)
With a very lovely lady:
At her coach-door as he chattered
One fine evening, he such nonsense
Talked, that one who heard his clatter,
Asked the lady in amazement
If this simpleton's advances
Did not make her doubt her beauty?--
But she quite gallantly answered,
Never until now have I
Felt so proud of my attractions,
For no beauty can be perfect
That all sorts of men do n't flatter.

CLAUDIUS.
What a feeble jest!

ESCARPIN.
This feeble?--

CLAUDIUS.
Yes, the very type of flatness:--
Cease buffooning, for my uncle
Here is coming.

ESCARPIN.
Of his sadness
Plainly is his face the mirror.

Enter Polemius and servants.

CLAUDIUS.
Jupiter doth know the anguish,
My good lord, with which I venture
To approach thee since this happened.

POLEMIUS.
Claudius, as thine own, I 'm sure,
Thou dost feel this great disaster.

CLAUDIUS.
I my promise gave thee that
To Chrysanthus . . .

POLEMIUS.
Cease; I ask thee
Not to proffer these excuses,
Since I do not care to have them.

CLAUDIUS.
Then it seems that all thy efforts
Have been useless to unravel
The strange mystery of his fate?

POLEMIUS.
With these questions do not rack me;
For, though I would rather not
Give the answer, still the answer
Rises with such ready aptness
To my lips from out my heart,
That I scarcely can withstand it.

CLAUDIUS.
Why conceal it then from me,
Knowing that thy blood meanders
Through my veins, and that my life
Owns thee as its lord and master?--
Oh! my lord, confide in me,
Let thy tongue speak once the language
That thine eyes so oft have spoken.

POLEMIUS.
Let the servants leave the apartment.

ESCARPIN (aside).
Ah! if beautiful Daria
Would but favour my attachment,
Though I have no house to give her,
Lots of stories I can grant her:-- [Exeunt Escarpin and servants.

CLAUDIUS.
Now, my lord, we are alone.

POLEMIUS.
Listen then; for though to baffle
Thy desire were my intention,
By my miseries overmastered,
I am forced to tell my secret;
Not so much have I been granted
License to avow my sufferings,
But I am, as 't were commanded
Thus to break my painful silence,
Doing honestly, though sadly,
Willingly the fact disclosing,
Which by force had been extracted.
Hear it, Claudius: my Chrysanthus,
My Chrysanthus is no