University of Virginia Library

Scena, 4.

Erminia, Cyrena in Womans Attire.
Er.
So now y'appear like your self the bright
Cyrena unclouded in all your glories, so
appears the sun so glorious and so bright
after a long Eclipse.

Cyr.
Nay now you flatter me.

Er.
I wod to heaven men wod believe so, 'twod
acquit our sex of envy, and I shud easily
be acquit of flattery, for none can doubt
but they must be rather envious who praise you not,
then flatterers who do.

Cy.
Nay if you hold on,
you'l give me a beauty I had not, and make me blush.

Er.
I ought rather to blush,
you have so little help, but 'twas your desire
for greater secrecy, and secrets lose
their vertue, just like precious perfumes
when once disclos'd, & more th'are hid the more
they conserve their pretiousness.
Pray let me help you, this curle's a little too long.

Cy.
Pardon me Madam.

Er.
Beseech you 'tis but my duty,
you are not us'd to these petty things,
and 'tis so long since you saw your self drest,
you and your mirrour
well may be to seek.

Speaks all this in dressing her.
Cy.
How much am oblig'd
unto you dear Erminia?

Er.
Dearest Madam,
think I was onely born to serve you; where
was the Prince's judgement (I wonder) where
were his eyes? having seen this beauty once,
he cod ever look on any other?

Cy.
He might be well excus'd,
having seen yours once, to have quite forgotten mine.

Er.
Mine! alas
'tis never to be seen on the same day with yours,
nor ever so much as to be mentioned with it;
nor do I say this out of complement now,
but meerly out of consciousness of mine own defects.
Stay a little more, and I have done.

Cy.
Sweet Erminia,
you make me even bankrupt with your curtesies.

Er.
Sweetest Madam, I shall think
you tax me with want of it,
if you speak any more of it.