SCENE VI.--_A Cave_.

_Enter_ HIPPOLITO _and_ FERDINAND.

_Ferd._ Your pity, noble youth, doth much oblige me. Indeed, 'twas sad to lose a father so.

_Hip._ Ay, and an only father too; for sure You said, you had but one.

_Ferd._ But one father! He's wondrous simple. [_Aside._

_Hip._ Are such misfortunes frequent in your world, Where many men live?

_Ferd._ Such are we born to.-- But, gentle youth, as you have questioned me, So give me leave to ask you, what you are?

_Hip._ Do not you know?

_Ferd._ How should I?

_Hip._ I well hoped I was a man, but, by your ignorance Of what I am, I fear it is not so.-- Well, Prospero! this is now the second time You have deceived me.

_Ferd._ Sir, there is no doubt You are a man: But I would know, of whence?

_Hip._ Why, of this world; I never was in yours.

_Ferd._ Have you a father?

_Hip._ I was told I had one, And that he was a man; yet I have been So much deceived, I dare not tell't you for A truth: But I have still been kept a prisoner, For fear of women.

_Ferd._ They, indeed, are dangerous; For, since I came, I have beheld one here, Whose beauty pierced my heart.

_Hip._ How did she pierce? You seem not hurt.

_Ferd._ Alas! the wound was made by her bright eyes, And festers by her absence. But, to speak plainer to you, sir, I love her.

_Hip._ Now, I suspect that love's the very thing, That I feel too!--Pray tell me truly, sir, Are you not grown unquiet since you saw her?

_Ferd._ I take no rest.

_Hip._ Just, just, my disease.-- Do you not wish, you do not know for what?

_Ferd._ O, no! I know too well for what I wish.

_Hip._ There, I confess, I differ from you, sir: But you desire she may be always with you?

_Ferd._ I can have no felicity without her.

_Hip._ Just my condition.--Alas, gentle sir! I'll pity you, and you shall pity me.

_Ferd._ I love so much, that, if I have her not, I find I cannot live.

_Hip._ How! do you love her, And would you have her too? That must not be: For none but I must have her.

_Ferd._ But perhaps we do not love the same: All beauties are not pleasing alike to all.

_Hip._ Why, are there more fair women, sir, Besides that one I love?

_Ferd._ That's a strange question. There are many more, Besides that beauty which you love.

_Hip._ I will have all Of that kind, if there be a hundred of them.

_Ferd._ But, noble youth, you know not what you say.

_Hip._ Sir, they are things I love, I cannot be Without them!--O, how I rejoice!--More women!

_Ferd._ Sir, if you love, you must be tied to one.

_Hip._ Tied! How tied to her?

_Ferd._ To love none but her.

_Hip._ But, sir, I find it is against my nature. I must love where I like; and, I believe, I may like all,-- All that are fair. Come, bring me to this woman, For I must have her.

_Ferd._ His simplicity Is such, that I can scarce be angry with him.-- [_Aside._ Perhaps, sweet youth, when you behold her, you Will find you do not love her.

_Hip._ I find already I love, because she is another woman.

_Ferd._ You cannot love two women both at once.

_Hip._ Sure 'tis my duty to love all who do Resemble her, whom I've already seen. I'll have as many as I can, that are So good, and angel-like, as she I love; And will have yours.

_Ferd._ Pretty youth, you cannot.

_Hip._ I can do any thing for that I love.

_Ferd._ I may, perhaps, by force, restrain you from it.

_Hip._ Why, do so, if you can. But either promise me To love no woman, or you must try your force.

_Ferd._ I cannot help it, I must love.

_Hip._ Well, you may love; For Prospero taught me friendship too. You shall Love me, and other men, if you can find them; But all the angel women shall be mine.

_Ferd._ I must break off this conference, or he Will urge me else beyond what I can bear.-- [_Aside._ Sweet youth, some other time we will speak Farther concerning both our loves; at present I am indisposed with weariness and grief, And would, if you're so pleased, retire a while.

_Hip._ Some other time be it; but, sir, remember, That I both seek and much entreat your friendship; For, next to women, I find I can love you.

_Ferd._ I thank you, sir, I will consider of it. [_Exit_ FERD.

_Hip._ This stranger does insult, and comes into My world, to take those heavenly beauties from me, Which, I believe, I am inspired to love.-- And yet he said, he did desire but one: He would be poor in love, but I'll be rich.-- I now perceive that Prospero was cunning; For when he frightened me from womankind, Those precious things he for himself designed. [_Exit._

[Footnote F: This personage, who has bequeathed his name to a well-known tune, is believed to have been Simon Wadloe, or Wadlow, master of the Devil Tavern, when frequented by Ben Jonson.]