My lord Ambassador, we are right sorrie
Our urgent causes have deferd you thus
In the dispatch of that we most desire. 
But for your answer:  know I am deterr’d
By many late prodigious ostents
From present consumation of the nuptials
Vowd twixt your beauteous Dutchesse and our selfe. 
O what colde feare mens jealous stomacks feele
In that they most desire! suspecting still
’Tis eyther too too sweete to take effect
Or (in th’effect) must meete with some harshe chaunce
To intervent the joye of the successe. 
The same wisht day (my Lord) you heere arriv’d
I bad Lord Hardenbergh commaund two horse
Should privately be brought for me and him,
To meete you on the waye for honours sake
And to expresse my joye of your repaire: 
When (loe!) the horse I us’d to ride upon
(That would be gently backt at other times)
Now, offring but to mount him, stood aloft,
Flinging and bound.  You know, Lord Hardenbergh.

Hard.  Yes, my good Lord.

Alph.  And was so strangely out of wonted rule That I could hardlie back him.

Hard.  True, my liege; I stood amaz’d at it.

Hard.  Well, yet I did, And riding (not a furlong) downe he fell.

Hard.  That never heeretofore would trip with him.

Alph.  Yet would I forward needs, but Hardenbergh. 
More timorous then wise, as I supposed,
(For love so hardned me feare was my slave)
Did ominate such likelie ill to me
If I went forward, that with much enforcement
Of what might chance he drave me to retreat. 
Didst thou not Hardenbergh.

Hard.  I did, my Lord.

Alph.  I warrant thou wilt say
Thou never yet saw’st any man so loathe
To be perswaded ill of so ill signes.

Hard.  Never in all my life.

Alph.  Thou wonderst at it?

Hard.  I did indeed, my liege, not without cause.

Alph.  O blame not, Hardenbergh, for thou dost know How sharpe my heart was set to entertaine The Lord of this Ambassage lovingly.

Hard.  True, my good Lord.

Alph.  But (coming back) how gently the Jade went,—­ Did he not, Hardenbergh?

Hard.  As any horse on earth could do, my Lord.

Alph.  Well, sir, this drew me into deepe conceit,
And to recomfort me I did commaund
Lord Hardenbergh should ope a Cabanet
Of my choise Jewels and to bring me thence
A ring, a riche and Violet Hiacinthe,
Whose sacred vertue is to cheere the heart
And to excite our heavie spirits to mirthe;
Which[56], putting on my finger, swift did breake. 
Now this, indeed, did much discomfort me,
And heavie to the death I went to bed;
Where in a slumber I did strongly thinke
I should be married to the beautious Dutchesse,