Flo.Umph!  I begin to smell a rat.—­What was your business here, Celadon?

Cel.  Charity, Christian charity; you saw I was labouring for life with her.

Flo.  But how came you hither?—­Not that I care this, but only to be satisfied. [Sings.

Cel.  You are jealous, in my conscience!

Flo.  Who, I jealous!—­then I wish this sigh may be the last that ever I may draw. [Sighs.

Cel.  But why do you sigh, then?

Flo.  Nothing but a cold, I cannot fetch my breath well.  But what will you say, if I wrote the letter you had, to try your faith?

Cel.  Hey day! this is just the devil and the sinner; you lay snares for me, and then punish me for being taken:  Here’s trying a man’s faith indeed!—­What, do you think I had the faith of a stock, or of a stone?  Nay, an you go to tantalize a man—­I love upon the square, I can endure no tricks to be used to me.

[OLINDA and SABINA at the door peeping.

Olin. and Sab.  Celadon!  Celadon!

Flo.  What voices are those?

Cel.  Some comrades of mine, that call me to play.—­Pox on them, they’ll spoil all. [Aside.

Flo.  Pray, let’s see them.

Cel.  Hang them, tatterdemallions! they are not worth your sight.—­Pray, gentlemen, begone; I’ll be with you immediately.

Sab.  No; we’ll stay here for you.

Flo.  Do your gentlemen speak with treble voices?  I am resolved to see what company you keep.

Cel.  Nay, good my dear.

[He lays hold of her to pull her back, she lays hold of OLINDA, by whom SABINA holds; so that, he pulling, they all come in.

Flo.  Are these your comrades? [Sings.] ’Tis Strephon calls, what would my love? Why do you not roar out, like a great bass-viol, Come follow to the myrtle-grove.—­Pray, sir, which of these fair ladies is it, for whom you were to do the courtesy? for it were unconscionable to leave you to them both:—­What, a mans but a man, you know.

Olin.  The gentleman may find an owner.

Sab.  Though not of you.

Flo.  Pray, agree whose the lost sheep is, and take him.

Cel.  ’Slife, they’ll cry me anon, and tell my marks.

Flo.  Troth, I pity your highness there; I perceive he has left you for the little one:  Methinks he should have been afraid to break his neck, when he fell so high as from you to her.

Sab.  Well, my drolling lady, I may be even with you.

Flo.  Not this ten years, by the growth, yet.

Sab.  Can flesh and blood endure this!

Flo.  How now, my amazon in decimo sexto!

Olin.  Do you affront my sister?