Mont.  When parents’ loves are ordered by a son, Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run.

Odm.  In all I urge, I keep my duty still, Not rule your reason, but instruct your will.

Mont.  Small use of reason in that prince is shown, Who follows others, and neglects his own.

[ALMERIA to ORBELLAN and ALIBECH, who are this while whispering to her.

Alm.  No, he shall ever love, and always be The subject of my scorn and cruelty.

Orb.  To prove the lasting torment of his life, You must not be his mistress, but his wife.  Few know what care an husband’s peace destroys, His real griefs, and his dissembled joys.

Alm.  What mark of pleasing vengeance could be shown, If I, to break his quiet, lose my own?

Orb.  A brother’s life upon your love relics,
Since I do homage to Cydaria’s eyes: 
How can her father to my hopes be kind,
If in your heart he no example find?

Alm.  To save your life I’ll suffer any thing,
Yet I’ll not flatter this tempestuous king;
But work his stubborn soul a nobler way,
And, if he love, I’ll force him to obey. 
I take this garland, not as given by you, [To MONT. 
But as my merit and my beauty’s due. 
As for the crown, that you, my slave, possess,
To share it with you would but make me less.

Enter GUYOMAR hastily.

Odm.  My brother Guyomar! methinks I spy Haste in his steps, and wonder in his eye.

Mont.  I sent thee to the frontiers; quickly tell The cause of thy return; are all things well?

Guy.  I went, in order, sir, to your command,
To view the utmost limits of the land: 
To that sea-shore where no more world is found,
But foaming billows breaking on the ground;
Where, for a while, my eyes no object met,
But distant skies, that in the ocean set;
And low-hung clouds, that dipt themselves in rain,
To shake their fleeces on the earth again. 
At last, as far as I could cast my eyes
Upon the sea, somewhat, methought, did rise,
Like blueish mists, which, still appearing more,
Took dreadful shapes, and moved towards the shore.

Mont.  What forms did these new wonders represent?

Guy.  More strange than what your wonder can invent. 
The object, I could first distinctly view,
Was tall straight trees, which on the waters flew;
Wings on their sides, instead of leaves, did grow,
Which gathered all the breath the winds could blow: 
And at their roots grew floating palaces,
Whose outblowed bellies cut the yielding seas.

Mont.  What divine monsters, O ye gods, were these, That float in air, and fly upon the seas!  Came they alive, or dead, upon the shore?

Guy.  Alas, they lived too sure; I heard them roar. 
All turned their sides, and to each other spoke;
I saw their words break out in fire and smoke. 
Sure ’tis their voice, that thunders from on high,
Or these the younger brothers of the sky. 
Deaf with the noise, I took my hasty flight;
No mortal courage can support the fright.