Pan.

  I thank you good my Lord.

Gob.

  You will be ready Madam.

[Exit Gob.

Pan.

  Yes.

Spa.

I do beseech you Madam, send away
Your other women, and receive from me
A few sad words, which set against your joyes
May make ’em shine the more.

Pan.

Sirs, leave me all.

[Exeunt Women.

Spa.

I kneel a stranger here to beg a thing
Unfit for me to ask, and you to grant,
’Tis such another strange ill-laid request,
As if a begger should intreat a King
To leave his Scepter, and his Throne to him
And take his rags to wander o’re the world
Hungry and cold.

Pan.

  That were a strange request.

Spa.

  As ill is mine.

Pan.  Then do not utter it.

Spa.

  Alas ’tis of that nature, that it must
  Be utter’d, I, and granted, or I die: 
  I am asham’d to speak it; but where life
  Lies at the stake, I cannot think her woman

That will not take something unreasonably to hazard saving of it:  I shall seem a strange Petitioner, that wish all ill to them I beg of, e’re they give me ought; yet so I must:  I would you were not fair, nor wise, for in your ill consists my good:  if you were foolish, you would hear my prayer, if foul, you had not power to hinder me:  he would not love you.

Pan.

  What’s the meaning of it.

Spa.

  Nay, my request is more without the bounds
  Of reason yet:  for ’tis not in the power
  Of you to do, what I would have you grant.

Pan.

  Why then ’tis idle, pray thee speak it out.

Spa.

  Your brother brings a Prince into this land,
  Of such a noble shape, so sweet a grace,
  So full of worth withal, that every maid
  That looks upon him, gives away her self
  To him for ever; and for you to have
  He brings him:  and so mad is my demand
  That I desire you not to have this man,
  This excellent man, for whom you needs must die,
  If you should miss him.  I do now expect
  You should laugh at me.

Pan.

  Trust me I could weep rather, for I have found him
  In all thy words a strange disjoynted sorrow.

Spa.

  ’Tis by me his own desire so, that you would not love him.

Pan.

His own desire! why credit me Thalestris, I am no common wooer:  if he shall wooe me, his worth may be such, that I dare not swear I will not love him; but if he will stay to have me wooe him, I will promise thee, he may keep all his graces to himself, and fear no ravishing from me.

Spa.