SCENE IV.[15

[_Enter at one side_] FLOSCULA _and_ TELLUS, [_at the other_] DIPSAS.

_Tellus._ Behold, Floscula, we have met with the woman by chance that we sought for by travel. I will break my mind to her without ceremony or circumstance, lest we lose that time in advice that should be spent in (5) execution.

_Flosc._ Use your discretion; I will in this case neither give counsel nor consent, for there cannot be a thing more monstrous than to force affection by sorcery, neither do I imagine (10) anything more impossible.

_Tellus._ Tush, Floscula, in obtaining of love, what impossibilities will I not try? And for the winning of Endymion, what impieties will I not practise? Dipsas, whom as many honour for (15) age as wonder at for cunning, listen in few words to my tale, and answer in one word to the purpose, for that neither my burning desire can afford long speech, nor the short time I have to stay many delays. Is it possible by herbs, (20) stones, spells, incantation, enchantment, exorcisms, fire, metals, planets, or any practice,[16] to plant affection where it is not, and to supplant it where it is?

_Dipsas._ Fair lady, you may imagine that (25) these hoary hairs are not void of experience, nor the great name that goeth of my cunning to be without cause. I can darken the sun by my skill and remove the moon out of her course; I can restore youth to the aged and make 30 hills without bottoms; there is nothing that I cannot do but that only which you would have me do: and therein I differ from the gods, that I am not able to rule hearts; for were it in my power to place affection by appointment, I (35) would make such evil appetites, such inordinate lusts, such corsed desires, as all the world should be filled both with superstitious heats and extreme love.

_Tellus._ Unhappy Tellus, whose desires are (40) so desperate that they are neither to be conceived of any creature, nor to be cured by any art!

_Dipsas._ This I can: breed slackness in love, though never root it out. What is he whom (45) you love, and what she that he honoureth?

_Tellus._ Endymion, sweet Endymion is he that hath my heart; and Cynthia, too, too fair Cynthia, the miracle of nature, of time, of fortune, is the lady that he delights in, and (50) dotes on every day, and dies for ten thousand times a day.

_Dipsas._ Would you have his love either by absence or sickness aslaked?[17] Would you that Cynthia should mistrust him, or be jealous (55) of him without colour?

_Tellus._ It is the only thing I crave, that, seeing my love to Endymion, unspotted, cannot be accepted, his truth to Cynthia, though it be unspeakable, may be suspected. 60

_Dipsas._ I will undertake it, and overtake[18] him, that all his love shall be doubted of, and therefore become desperate: but this will wear out with time that treadeth all things down but truth. 65

_Tellus._ Let us go.

_Dipsas._ I follow. _Exeunt._