Page 2004 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Whiles a wedlock hymn we sing,
Feed yourselves with questioning, [135]
That reason wonder may diminish
How thus we met, and these things finish.

Song.

Wedding is great Juno’s crown,
O blessed bond of board and bed.
’Tis Hymen peoples every town; [140]
High wedlock then be honoured.

Honour, high honour and renown
To Hymen, god of every town.

DUKE SENIOR
O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me,
Even daughter welcome, in no less degree. [145]

PHEBE
(to Silvius)

I will not eat my word; now thou art mine,
Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine.

Enter Jaques de Boys.

JAQUES DE BOYS
Let me have audience for a word or two.
I am the second son of old Sir Rowland

That bring these tidings to this fair assembly. [150]
Duke Frederick hearing how that every day
Men of great worth resorted to this forest,
Address’d a mighty power, which were on foot

In his own conduct, purposely to take
His brother here, and put him to the sword. [155]
And to the skirts of this wild wood he came,
Where, meeting with an old religious man,

After some question with him, was converted
Both from his enterprise and from the world,