Valingford. 
Thus it is, father, we are come to crave your friendship in
a matter.

Miller. 
Gentlemen, as you are strangers to me, yet by the way of
courtesy you shall demand any reasonable thing at my hands.

Manville. 
What, is the matter so forward they came to crave his good
will?

Valingford. 
It is given us to understand that your daughter is sodenly
become both blind and deaf.

Miller.  Marie, God forbid!  I have sent for her.  In deed, she hath kept her chamber this three days.  It were no little grief to me if it should be so.

Manville. 
This is God’s judgement for her treachery.

[Enter Trotter, leading Em.]

Miller. 
Gentlemen, I fear your words are too true.  See where
Trotter comes leading of her.—­What ails my Em?  Not blind,
I hope?

Em. [Aside.] Mountney and Valingford both together!  And Manville, to whom I have faithfully vowed my love!  Now, Em, suddenly help thy self.

Mountney. 
This is no desembling, Valingford.

Valingford. 
If it be, it is cunningly contrived of all sides.

Em. [Aside to Trotter.] Trotter, lend me thy hand, and as thou lovest me, keep my counsell, and justify what so ever I say and I’ll largely requite thee.

Trotter.  Ah, thats as much as to say you would tell a monstrous, terrible, horrible, outragious lie, and I shall sooth it—­ no, berlady!

Em. 
My present extremity will me,—­if thou love me, Trotter.

Trotter. 
That same word love makes me to do any thing.

Em. 
Trotter, wheres my father?

Trotter. 
Why, what a blind dunce are you, can you not see?  He
standeth right before you.

[He thrusts Em upon her father.]

Em. 
Is this my father?—­Good father, give me leave to sit where
I may not be disturbed, sith God hath visited me both of my
sight and hearing.

Miller.  Tell me, sweet Em, how came this blindness?  Thy eyes are lovely to look on, and yet have they lost the benefit of their sight.  What a grief is this to thy poor father!

Em.  Good father, let me not stand as an open gazing stock to every one, but in a place alone, as fits a creature so miserable.

Miller. 
Trotter, lead her in, the utter overthrow of poor Goddards
joy and only solace.

[Exit the Miller, Trotter and Em.]

Manville.  Both blind and deaf!  Then is she no wife for me; and glad am I so good occasion is hapned:  Now will I away to Chester, and leave these gentlemen to their blind fortune.

[Exit Manville.]

Mountney.  Since fortune hath thus spitefully crost our hope, let us leave this quest and harken after our King, who is at this day landed at Lirpoole.