A piece of gold, a name of yesterday,

Grant me that lady, and you . .. Death or life?
Guen. [apart to Aus.] Why, this is loving, Austin!
Aus.
He's so young!
Guen. Young? Old enough, I think, to half surmise
He never had obtained an entrance here,
Were all this fear and trembling needed.

Ever with best desert goes diffidence.

I may speak plainly nor be misconceived.
That I am wholly satisfied with you

On this occasion, when a falcon's eye

Were dull compared with mine to search out faults, Is somewhat. Mildred's hand is hers to give

Have you seen Lady Mildred, by the way?

Mer. I I . our two demesnes, remember, touch;

I have been used to wander carelessly
After my stricken game: the heron roused

-or else

Deep in my woods, has trailed its broken wing
Thro' thicks and glades a mile in yours,-
Some eyass ill-reclaimed has taken flight
And lured me after her from tree to tree,
I marked not whither. I have come upon

The lady's wondrous beauty unaware,
And-and then . . I have seen her.
Guen. [aside to AUS.]

Note that mode

Of faltering out that, when a lady passed,
He, having eyes, did see her! You had said-
"On such a day I scanned her, head to foot;
"Observed a red, where red should not have been,
"Outside her elbow; but was pleased enough

"Upon the whole." Let such irreverent talk
Be lessoned for the future!

Tresh.
What's to say
May be said briefly. She has never known
A mother's care; I stand for father too.
Her beauty is not strange to you, it seems-
You cannot know the good and tender heart,
Its girl's trust and its woman's constancy,
How pure yet passionate, how calm yet kind,
How grave yet joyous, how reserved yet free
As light where friends are-how imbued with lore
The world most prizes, yet the simplest, yet
The.. one might know I talked of Mildred-thus
We brothers talk!

Mer.
Tresh.

I thank you.

In a word,

Control's not for this lady; but her wish
To please me outstrips in its subtlety
My power of being pleased: herself creates
The want she means to satisfy. My heart
Prefers your suit to her as 't were its own.
Can I say more?

Mer.

No more-thanks, thanks-no more! Tresh. This matter then discussed... Mer.

-We'll waste no breath

On aught less precious. I'm beneath the roof
Which holds her: while I thought of that, my speech
To you would wander-as it must not do,
Since as you favour me I stand or fall.

I pray you suffer that I take my leave!

Tresh. With less regret 't is suffered, that again We meet, I hope, so shortly.

Mer.

We? again?

Ah yes, forgive me-when shall . . you will crown
Your goodness by forthwith apprising me
When.. if.. the lady will appoint a day

For me to wait on you-and her.

Tresh.

So soon

As I am made acquainted with her thoughts
On your proposal-howsoe'er they lean-

A messenger shall bring you the result.

Mer. You cannot bind me more to you, my lord. Farewell till we renew.. I trust, renew

A converse ne'er to disunite again.

Tresh. So may it prove!

[Servants enter. TRESHAM conducts MERTOUN to the door. Mean

time AUSTIN remarks,

Here I have an advantage of the Earl,

Well,

Confess now! I'd not think that all was safe
Because my lady's brother stood my friend!
Why, he makes sure of her-"do you say, yes-
"She'll not say, no,"-what comes it to beside?

I should have prayed the brother, "speak this speech,

"For Heaven's sake urge this on her-put in this— "Forget not, as you'd save me, t' other thing,— "Then set down what she says, and how she looks, "And if she smiles, and" (in an under-breath) "Only let her accept me, and do you

"And all the world refuse me, if you dare!"

Guen. That way you'd take, friend Austin? What

a shame

I was your cousin, tamely from the first

Your bride, and all this fervour's run to waste!
Do you know you speak sensibly to-day?

The Earl's a fool.

Aus.

Here's Thorold. Tell him so! Tresh. (returning.) Now, voices, voices! 'St! the lady's first!

How seems he?—seems he not.. come, faith give fraud The mercy-stroke whenever they engage!

Down with fraud, up with faith! How seems the Earl? A name! a blazon! if you knew their worth,

As you will never! come-the Earl?

Guen.

He's young.

Tresh. What's she? an infant save in heart and brain. Young! Mildred is fourteen, remark! And you . . Austin, how old is she?

Guen.

There's tact for you!

I meant that being young was good excuse
If one should tax him . .

Tresh.

Guen.

Well?

-With lacking wit.

Tresh. He lacked wit? Where might he lack wit,

so please you?

Guen. In standing straighter than the steward's rod And making you the tiresomest harangue,

Instead of slipping over to my side

And softly whispering in my ear, "Sweet lady,
"Your cousin there will do me detriment
"He little dreams of: he's absorbed, I see,
"In my old name and fame-be sure he'll leave
"My Mildred, when his best account of me
"Is ended, in full confidence I wear

"My grandsire's periwig down either cheek.
"I'm lost unless your gentleness vouchsafes"

Tresh... "To give a best of best accounts, yourself, "Of me and my demerits." You are right! He should have said what now I say for him. Yon golden creature, will you help us all?

Come up,

Here's Austin means to vouch for much, but you
-You are.. what Austin only knows!
All three of us: she's in the library

No doubt, for the day's wearing fast. Precede!
Guen. Austin, how we must-!

Tresh.

Must what? Must speak truth, Malignant tongue! Detect one fault in him!

Is, that she soon receive him—say, to-morrow—

Next day at furthest.

Guen.
Tresh.

Ne'er instruct me!

Come!

-He's out of your good graces, since, forsooth,
He stood not as he'd carry us by storm
With his perfections! You're for the composed
Manly assured becoming confidence!

Get her to say, "to-morrow," and I'll give you..