MARMADUKE What is your meaning?

OSWALD Two days gone I saw,
              Though at a distance and he was disguised,
              Hovering round Herbert’s door, a man whose figure
              Resembled much that cold voluptuary,
              The villain, Clifford.  He hates you, and he knows
              Where he can stab you deepest.

MARMADUKE Clifford never
              Would stoop to skulk about a Cottage door—­
              It could not be.

OSWALD And yet I now remember,
              That, when your praise was warm upon my tongue,
              And the blind Man was told how you had rescued
              A maiden from the ruffian violence
              Of this same Clifford, he became impatient
              And would not hear me.

MARMADUKE No—­it cannot be—­
              I dare not trust myself with such a thought—­
              Yet whence this strange aversion?  You are a man
              Not used to rash conjectures—­

OSWALD If you deem it
              A thing worth further notice, we must act
              With caution, sift the matter artfully.

[Exeunt MARMADUKE and OSWALD.]

SCENE—­The door of the Hostel

HERBERT, IDONEA, and Host

HERBERT (seated)
              As I am dear to you, remember, Child! 
              This last request.

IDONEA You know me, Sire; farewell!

HERBERT And are you going then?  Come, come, Idonea,
              We must not part,—­I have measured many a league
              When these old limbs had need of rest,—­and now
              I will not play the sluggard.

IDONEA Nay, sit down.
         [Turning to Host. 
              Good Host, such tendance as you would expect
              From your own Children, if yourself were sick,
              Let this old Man find at your hands; poor Leader,
         [Looking at the dog. 
              We soon shall meet again.  If thou neglect
              This charge of thine, then ill befall thee!—­Look,
              The little fool is loth to stay behind. 
              Sir Host! by all the love you bear to courtesy,
              Take care of him, and feed the truant well.

HOST Fear not, I will obey you;—­but One so young,
              And One so fair, it goes against my heart
              That you should travel unattended, Lady!—­
              I have a palfrey and a groom:  the lad
              Shall squire you, (would it not be better, Sir?)
              And for less fee than I would let him run
              For any lady I have seen this twelvemonth.