LACY.  See, Dunstan, how their youth doth blind our age! 
Thou dost deceive thyself and bringest me
To see my proper shame and infamy.

    Enter HONOREA.

But here she comes:  my hope, my fear, my love.

DUN.  Here comes the unstain’d honour of thy bed. 
Thy ears shall hear her virtuous, chaste replies,
And make thy heart confess thou dost her wrong.

HON.  Now modest love hath banish’d wanton thoughts,
And alter’d me from that I was before,
To that chaste life I ought to entertain. 
My heart is tied to that strict form of life,
That I joy only to be Lacy’s wife.

LACY.  God fill thy mind with these chaste, virtuous thoughts!

MUS.  O, now I see her, I am half asham’d
Of so long absence, of neglect of speech. 
My dearest lady, patroness of beauty,
Let thy poor servant make his true excuse!

HON.  Musgrave, I easily take your excuse,
Accusing my fond self for what is pass’d.

MUS.  Long time we wanted opportunity;
But now the forelock of well-wishing time
Hath bless’d us both, that here without suspect
We may renew the tenor of our loves.

LACY.  O Dunstan, how she smiles to hear him speak!

HON.  No, child of fortune and inconstancy,
Thou shalt not train me, or induce my love
To loose desires or dishonoured thoughts. 
’Tis God’s own work that struck a deep remorse
Into my tainted heart for my pass’d folly.

MUS.  O, thou confound’st me!  Speak as thou wert won’t,
Like Love herself, my lovely Honorea.

HON.  Why, how now, Musgrave! what esteem’st thou me,
That thou provokest me, that first denied me? 
I will not yield you reasons why I may not,
More than your own.  You told me why you would not.

MUS.  By heavens, by thee, my saint, my happiness! 
No torture shall control my heart in this,
To teach my tongue deny to call thee love.

HON.  Well, in regard that in my maiden-days
I lov’d thee well, now let me counsel thee. 
Reclaim these idle humours; know thyself;
Remember me, and think upon my lord;
And let these thoughts bring forth those chaste effects,
Which may declare thy change unto the world: 
And this assure thee—­whilst I breathe this air,
Earl Lacy’s honour I will ne’er impair.
                                         [Exit HONOREA.

DUN.  Now your eyes see that which your heart believ’d not.

LACY.  ’Tis a miracle beyond the reach
Of my capacity!  I could weep for joy,
Would but my tears express how much I love her! 
Men may surmise amiss in jealousy,
Of those that live in untouch’d honesty.

MUS.  Is she departed? and do I conceive
This height of grief, and do no violence
Unto myself?  Said she I denied her? 
Far be it from my heart to think that thought. 
All ye that, as I do, have felt this smart,
Ye know how burthensome ’tis at my heart. 
Hereafter never will I prosecute
This former motion, my unlawful suit;
But, since she is Earl Lacy’s virtuous wife,
I’ll live a private, pensive, single life.
                                 [Exit MUSGRAVE.