Pala. Well, I’ll say that for thee, thou art a very dexterous executioner; thou hast done my business at one stroke:  yet I must marry another—­and yet I must love this; and if it lead me into some little inconveniencies, as jealousies, and duels, and death, and so forth—­yet, while sweet love is in the case, Fortune, do thy worst, and avaunt, mortality!

Enter RHODOPHIL, who seems speaking to one within.

Rho. Leave ’em with my lieutenant, while I fetch new orders from the king.—­How?  Palamede! [Sees PALAMEDE.

Pala. Rhodophil!

Rho. Who thought to have seen you in Sicily?

Pala. Who thought to have found the court so far from Syracuse?

Rho. The king best knows the reason of the progress.  But, answer me, I beseech you, what brought you home from travel?

Pala. The commands of an old rich father.

Rho. And the hopes of burying him?

Pala. Both together, as you see, have prevailed on my good nature.  In few words, my old man has already married me; for he has agreed with another old man, as rich and as covetous as himself; the articles are drawn, and I have given my consent, for fear of being disinherited; and yet know not what kind of woman I am to marry.

Rho. Sure your father intends you some very ugly wife, and has a mind to keep you in ignorance till you have shot the gulf.

Pala. I know not that; but obey I will, and must.

Rho. Then I cannot chuse but grieve for all the good girls and courtezans of France and Italy.  They have lost the most kind-hearted, doting, prodigal humble servant, in Europe.

Pala. All I could do, in these three years I staid behind you, was to comfort the poor creatures for the loss of you.  But what’s the reason that, in all this time, a friend could never hear from you?

Rho. Alas, dear Palamede!  I have had no joy to write, nor indeed to do any thing in the world to please me.  The greatest misfortune imaginable is fallen upon me.

Pala. Pr’ythee, what’s the matter?

Rho. In one word, I am married:  wretchedly married; and have been above these two years.  Yes, faith, the devil has had power over me, in spite of my vows and resolutions to the contrary.

Pala. I find you have sold yourself for filthy lucre; she’s old, or ill conditioned.

Rho. No; none of these:  I’m sure she’s young; and, for her humour, she laughs, sings, and dances eternally; and, which is more, we never quarrel about it, for I do the same.

Pala. You’re very unfortunate indeed:  then the case is plain, she is not handsome.

Rho. A great beauty too, as people say.

Pala. As people say? why, you should know that best yourself.