HELENE.

Prithee, peace!

[CORCILIUS and CLARISSA go aside together.

And from the forest, say, what tidings bring you?

HEINRICH.

Alas! dear lady, like a star thou comest,

The faint sole hope of foundering mariners,

When the sea raves and heaven is blotched with

Back to these men, and bid them toil for naught; They have done well, the towers of your new Troy Are rising fair▬▬

HELENE.

And, like Laomedon,

The Duke defrauds his builders, you would say.

HEINRICH.

Except his guardian angel should dissuade him.

Is that the worst?

HELENE.

HEINRICH.

Nay; for, if speak I must,

There is a worse fear yet, as evils known

Are easier coped with than some treacherous ill, Tricked with the attributes and hues of health, That saps unseen the fortress of our life,

And takes the heart from action.

HELENE.

Oh, these men !

How oft 'twixt failure and success there lies

Naught but a finger-breadth of human faith!

HEINRICH.

What would you have me do?

HELENE.

Believe, and act.

HEINRICH.

In whom should I believe?

HELENE.

Believe in Arnfeld,

And your own heart; believe that gold can melt,
Our senses cheat us, ear and eye play false;
Believe some tricksy demon plagues us so,
Yea, and what most is unbelievable,
Rather than disbelieve the faith of friends.

HEINRICH.

I would believe the devil, if you bade me.

HELENE.

Blind faith the father of the infidel!

I say not trust the demonstrably false,

But let your eyes, that spell the smaller type,

Woman, now con the larger text of man.

'Tis well, methinks, you were not born to rule;

For rulers should be readers of mankind,

And you are none. To have known the man three

months,

And doubt him! Pshaw! 'twere saner to believe
That I myself had done the deed in sleep,

Than Arnfeld waking.

HEINRICH.

Lady, say no more.

Should he be self-arraigned, I'ld swear he lies,

And cancel disbelief with disbelief.

CORCILIUS (returning with CLARISSA).

You are a thief, and have purloined my heart.

CLARISSA.

A hollow bauble, which, being thrust upon me,
Too paltry seemed to pelt you back withal.

CORCILIUS.

And I believe you robbed the treasury.

CLARISSA.

I'll not deny 'twere better worth the pains.

HEINRICH.

I fear, Corcilius, you have found your match.

CORCILIUS.

(Aside) I hope I have. (Aloud) A match I dare not.

strike;

If one but speak to her, she sputters sparks.

HELENE.

Your tongues are like two battledoors; but now Or drop, or catch, this shuttlecock of wit. Corcilius, I have work for you to do.

CORCILIUS.

Work for your Highness is but holiday,
That rids me of her rating for the nonce.

HELENE.

You shall play truant, then. Now, Forester,
Take you this wallet; it is charged with gold
Of mine own hoarding, saved and husbanded
For no such swift defrayal; but all needs,
E'en charitable gifts, are luxuries

Not to be thought of, while the clamorous mouths
Of our just debts remain unsatisfied.

So take it, sir, and bid Corcilius,

That is, if you can trust him—ah! you wince!—
Speed to the forest with what sum will serve;
And be the remnant locked from overflow,
That our fair enterprise come not aground,
Till hope swell buoyant with the tide's return.