Agl. Betray me not,
My willing sense, too soon; yet, if that voice
Be false5
Ther. Open, fair saint, and let me in!
Agl. It is the prince. As willingly as those
That cannot sleep do light
Welcome, sir. [Opens] Welcome above.
Bless me!
What means this unsheath'd minister of death?10
If, sir, on me quick justice be to pass,
Why this? Absence, alas! or such strange looks
As you now bring with you, would kill as soon.
Ther. Softly! for I, like a hard-hunted deer,
Have only herded here; and, though the cry15
Reach not our ears, yet am I follow' d close:
O my heart! since I saw thee
Time has been strangely active, and begot
A monstrous issue of unheard-of story:
Sit; thou shalt have it all! nay, sigh not:20
Such blasts will hinder all the passage.
Dost thou remember how we parted last?
Agl. Can I forget it, sir?
Ther. That word of parting was ill-plac'd, I swear.
It may be ominous; but dost thou know25
Into whose hands I gave thee?
Agl. Yes, into Ziriff's, sir.
Ther. That Ziriff was thy brother, brave Zorannes,
Preserv'd by miracle in that sad day
Thy father fell, and since, thus in disguise
Waiting his just revenge.
Agl. You do amaze me, sir.30
Ther. And must do more, when I tell all the story.
The king, the jealous king, knew of the marriage;
And, when thou thought'st thyself by my direction,
Thou wert his prisoner.
Unless I would renounce all right, and cease35
To love thee—O strange and fond request!—immur'd
Thou must have been in some sad place, and lock'd
For ever from Thersames' sight, for ever!
And, that unable to endure, this night
1 did attempt his life.
Agl. Was it well done, sir?40
Ther. O no! extremely ill!
For to attempt and not to act was poor.
