NAN.  Forsooth, I cannot tell.

CAS.  Can you not tell? come on, I’ll make you tell me.

NAN.  O master!  I will tell you.

CAS.  Then say on.

NAN.  Nothing, in truth, forsooth, but that she means
To have a gentleman come drink with her.

CAS.  What gentleman?

NAN.  Forsooth, ’tis Master Forrest, as I think.

CAS.  Forrest? nay then I know how the game goeth: 
Whoever loseth, I am sure to win
By their great kindness, though’t be but the horns.

Enter FORREST at one door, MARIAN at another.

But here comes he and she.  Come hither, maid: 
Upon thy life, give not a word, a look,
That she may know aught of my being here. 
Stand still, and do whate’er she bids thee do. 
Go, get thee gone; but if thou dost betray me,
I’ll cut thy throat:  look to it, for I will do it. 
I’ll stand here close to see the end of this,
And see what rakes she keeps, when I’m abroad.
                  [CASTILIANO conceals himself.]

MAR.  ’Tis kindly done, Miles, to return so soon,
And so I take it.  Nan, is our banquet ready? 
Welcome, my love!  I see you’ll keep your word.

NAN.  ’Twere better for you both he had not kept it. [Aside.]

FOR.  Yea, Mariana, else I were unworthy. 
I did but bring my lady to the door,
And there I left her full of melancholy,
And discontented.

MAR.  Why, ’twas kindly done. 
Come, come sit down, and let us laugh awhile: 
Maid, fill some wine.

NAN.  Alas! my breech makes buttons,
And so would theirs, knew they as much as I.
He may change the sweetmeats, and put
Purging comfits in the dishes.

MAR.  Here’s to my lady and my cousin Musgrave.

FOR.  I pray, remember gentle master doctor
And good Earl Lacy too, among the rest.

CAS.  O sir, we find you kind—­we thank you for it: 
The time may come when we may cry you quit. [Aside.]

NAN.  Master, shall I steal you a cup of wine? [Aside

CAS.  Away, you baggage! hold your peace, you wretch! [Aside.]

FOR.  But I had rather walk into your orchard,
And see your gallery so much commended;
To view the workmanship he brought from Spain. 
Wherein’s describ’d the banquet of the gods.

MAR.  Ay, there’s one piece exceeding lively done;[458]
Where Mars and Venus lie within a net,
Enclos’d by Vulcan, and he looking on.

CAS.  Better and better yet:  ’twill mend anon.

MAR.  Another of Diana with her nymphs,
Bathing their naked bodies in the streams;
Where fond Acteon, for his eyes’ offence,
Is turn’d into a hart’s shape, horns and all: 
And this the doctor hangs right o’er his bed.

FOR.  Those horns may fall and light upon his head.

CAS.  And if they do, worse luck.  What remedy? [Aside.]