GENTLEMAN.
Good Day t'ye Gentlemen, can you inform me
Where in the Purlieus of the Forest, stands
A Sheep-cote fenc'd around with Olive Trees?

JULIO.
The Western Path along the neighbouring Bottom,
(The Rank of Osiers by the murm'ring Stream

Left on the Right) will bring you to the Place;
But at this Hour the House doth keep itself.

GENTLEMAN.
If Credit may be given to Description,
I then shou'd know you for the Owner of it;
Such Garments, and such Years; are you the Youth
Vincentio calls in Sport his dear Camilla?

JULIO.
'Tis no great Boast I think to say I am.

GENTLEMAN.
That noble Gentleman commends him to you,
And (for unluckily detain'd) intreats you
To hold him from his Word a while excus'd;
Mean Time, in Sign of his unspotted Faith,
He begs you to receive this bloody Handkerchief. [Giving a Handkerchief.

JULIO.
What must we understand by this I pray you?

GENTLEMAN.
You may remember when he parted from you
He left a Promise to return again
Within two Hours; but pacing thro' the Forest
In silent Thought, he threw his Eye aside
On a low Bank, beneath a reverend Oak,
Moss'd o'er with Age, and bald of dry Antiquity;
Where the good Duke in gentle Slumbers lay,
While round his Neck a green, and gilded Snake,
Had wreath'd itself, and swift in Threats approach'd
The Op'ning of his Mouth; But suddenly
Seeing Vincentio, it unlink'd itself,
And with indented Glides did slip away
Into a neighb'ring Bush, beneath whose Shade
A Lioness, with Udders all drawn dry,
Lay couching, and with silent Watch observ'd

When that the sleeping Prince shou'd stir; for 'tis
The royal Disposition of that Beast
To prey on nothing, that doth seem as dead.

JULIO.
Alas! my Fears! [Aside.] And did Vincentio leave him
Food to the parch'd, and hungry Lioness?

GENTLEMAN.
No, swift as Lightning on the Beast he flew,
Which quickly fell before him.

JULIO.
Gen'rous Youth! [Aside.

GENTLEMAN.
The Duke i'th' Scuffle by the Noise awoke,
And having thank'd him for the kind Deliv'rance,
Back to the Cave together they return'd:
Vincentio, feeling an unusual Pain,
Here stripp'd himself, and found that from his Arm
The Lioness had torn some Flesh away,
Which being bar'd, in great Abundance bled;
With Loss of Blood he fainted; we recover'd him,
And bandag'd up his Wound; when calling me,
He sent me hither, Stranger as I am,
To tell the Tale, and give this Handkerchief,
Stain'd with his Blood, to thee fair Youth.

JULIO.

Ah me!

HILLARIO.

Why how now! Julio, sweet Julio.

GENTLEMAN.

Many will swoon when they do look on Blood.

HILLARIO.

There is no more in it. Why Julio!

GENTLEMAN.

Look! he recovers.

JULIO.

Wou'd I were at Home!

HILLARIO.

We'll lead you hither ^note. I pray you take him by the Arm.

JULIO.

Ha! ha! ha! Was not this well conterfeited? Pray you tell Vincentio how I counterfeited.

GENTLEMAN.

This was no Counterfeit, there is too great a Testimony in your Complexion that it was a Passion in earnest.

JULIO.

Counterfeit I assure you.

HILLARIO.

Come, you grow paler, and paler; pray let us go homewards; good Sir go with us.

GENTLEMAN.
That will I, for I must bear Answer back
How you excuse my Friend.

JULIO.

I shall devise something as we go on; but be sure you commend my counterfeiting.