Town and SCENE: The garden of Master WALTER's house. country life compared. JULIA tells of her loving guardian, Master WALTER. Enter JULIA and HELEN. Hel. I like not, Julia, this your country life; I'm weary on't. Jul. Indeed? So am not I! I know no other; would no other know.' Hel. You would no other know! Would you not know Another relative? - another friend, Another house, another any thing, learn'd Because the ones you have already please you? Jul. I seek it not. Helen, I'm constancy! An owl, a bat, that still sojourn where they Are wont to lodge, nor care to shift their quarters. That in his meshy fortress spends his life, Jul. Helen, you know the adage of the tree: I've led from infancy. Debarr'd from hope Of change, I ne'er have sigh'd for change. The town I e'er should visit it; nor was I school'd The town's the Sun, and thou hast dwelt in night E'er since thy birth, not to have seen the town! Their women there are queens, and kings their men; Their houses palaces! Jul. And what of that? Have your town-palaces a hall like this? Couches so fragrant? walls so high-adorn'd? Casements with such festoons, such prospects, Helen, As these fair vistas have? Your kings and queens! See me a May-day queen, and talk of them! Hel. Extremes are ever neighbours. 'Tis a step From one to th' other! Were thy constancy A reasonable thing, a little less a woman's constancy, I should not wonder wert thou ten years hence The maid I know thee now; but, as it is, Jul. Never! I'm wedded to a country life: Where what things are, is nought to what they show A heap for none, that has a homely one; your umpire which You bow to, whether it has brains or not; Hel. Ay; so says Master Walter. See I not Jul. He's fond of me. I've known him since I was a child. E'en then As children oft are fool'd; but more I loved More frequent Master Walter came, and more I loved to see him. I had tutors then, Men of great skill and learning; but not one That taught like Master Walter. What they'd show me, And I, dull as I was, but doubtful saw, A word from Master Walter made as clear As day-light. When my schooling-days were o'er, — That's now good three years past, three years, I vow I'm twenty, Helen!-well, as I was saying, I've seen The snow upon a level with the hedge, [Master WALTER and Sir THOMAS CLIFFORD in the distance. Hel. Who comes here? A carriage, and a gay one; - who alights? Pshaw! Only Master Walter ! What see you, Which thus repairs the arch of the fair brow, A frown was like to spoil?- A gentleman! One of our town kings! Mark, - how say you now? Mark him as he comes up the avenue: How Master Walter bows, and yields him place, Jul. I wonder who he is. Hel. Wouldst like to know? Wouldst, for a fancy, ride to town with him? I prophesy he comes to take thee thither. Jul. He ne'er takes me to town. No, Helen, no, To town who will; a country life for me! Hel. We'll see. [Exeunt. Аст І. SCENE III. An Apartment in Master WALTER'S House. CHARACTERS: JULIA and CLIFFORD. Love at first sight Sir THOMAS CLIFFORD Wooes a rural maid. Enter JULIA followed by CLIFFORD. Jul. No more! I pray you, sir, no more! Jul. You mock me, sir! On Earth as reverence. I love you! Then there is no such thing Of kings, the awe of Supreme Heaven itself, Are only shows and sounds that stand for nothing. I love you. Jul. You have known me scarce a minute. For rain; matures by parts, must take its time To stem, to leaf, to bud, to blow. It owns A richer soil, and boasts a quicker seed: E'en while you look, the peerless flower is up, Jul. You're from the town: How comes it, sir, you seek a country wife? And breasts that case the lion's fear-proof heart |