Act III

SCENE I.—Antechamber to Evadne’s Bedroom in the Palace.

Enter CLEON, STRATA, and DIPHILUS.

Cle. Your sister is not up yet.

Diph. Oh, brides must take their morning’s rest; the night is troublesome.

Stra. But not tedious.

Diph. What odds, he has not my sister’s maidenhead tonight?

Stra. No; it’s odds, against any bridegroom living, he ne’er gets it while he lives.

Diph. You’re merry with my sister; you’ll please to allow me the same freedom with your mother.

Stra. She’s at your service.

Diph. Then she’s merry enough of herself; she needs no tickling. Knock at the door.

Stra. We shall interrupt them.

Diph. No matter; they have the year before them.—Good-morrow, sister! Spare yourself to-day; the night will come again.

Enter AMINTOR.

Amin. Who’s there? my brother! I’m no readier yet.
Your sister is but now up.

Diph. You look as you had lost your eyes to-night:
I think you have not slept.

Amin. I’faith I have not.

Diph. You have done better, then.

Amin. We ventured for a boy: When he is twelve,
He shall command against the foes of Rhodes.
Shall we be merry?

Stra. You cannot; you want sleep.

Amin. ’Tis true.—But she,

[Aside.

Diph. What’s that?

Amin. Your sister frets
This morning; and does turn her eyes upon me,
As people on their headsman. She does chafe,
And kiss, and chafe again, and clap my cheeks;
She’s in another world.

Diph. Then I had lost: I was about to lay
You had not got her maidenhead to-night.

Amin. Ha! he does not mock me? [Aside.]—You had lost, indeed;
I do not use to bungle.

Cleo. You do deserve her.