_1st Cit._ What, you wretched popinjay of a serving man! You dare address a Greek citizen in that way? Take that, and that! [_Beats him._

_1st Court._ Draw, gentlemen! These are ruffians!

[_They fight._

_Enter_ ASANDER.

_Asan._ Put up your swords, gentlemen. Why, fellows, what is this? Is this your hospitality to your guests?

_1st Cit._ Nay, sir; but this servant of yours has been most insolent, and has abused and insulted our State and its manners. He told us that we were not men of honour; and some of us, sir, are young, and have hot blood, and, as Greek citizens of Cherson, will not bear insults.

_Asan._ Insolent upstarts, you are not worthy of our swords! Come, my Lord Megacles, heed them not. Here is their master.

_Enter_ LAMACHUS _and_ Senators.

_Lama._ We bid you heartfelt welcome, Prince, to Cherson.

That we have seemed to fail to do you honour Comes of the spite of fortune. For your highness, Taking the land at the entrance of the port, Missed what of scanty pomp our homely manners Would fain have offered; but we pray you think 'Twas an untoward accident, no more.

Welcome to Cherson, Prince!

_Asan._ Methinks, my lord, Scarce in the meanest State is it the custom To ask the presence of a n.o.ble guest With much insistance, and when he accepts The summons, and has come, to set on him With insolent dogs like these.

_Lama._ Nay, Prince, I pray you, What is it that has been?

_Asan._ Our chamberlain Was lately, in your absence, which your highness So glibly doth excuse, set on and beaten By these dogs here.

_Lama._ Nay, sir, they are not dogs, But citizens of honour; yet indeed Wanting, I fear, in that deep courtesy Which from a stranger and a guest refuses To take provoked offence. My lord, indeed I am ashamed that citizens of Cherson Should act so mean a part. Come, Prince, I pray you Forget this matter, and be sure your coming Fills me with joy. Go, tell the Lady Gycia The Prince is safe in Cherson.

_Meg._ My Lord Asander, remember what is due to yourself and Bosphorus. Remember, when this merchant's daughter comes, you _must_ not treat her as an equal. Courtesy to a woman is all very well, but rank has greater claims still, especially when you have to deal with such people as these. Now, remember, you must make _no_ obeisance at all; and if you advance to meet her more--(_Enter_ GYCIA, IRENE, MELISSA, _and_ Ladies. IRENE, _seeing_ ASANDER, _faints, and is withdrawn_, GYCIA _supporting her. Confusion._)--than one step, you are lost for ever. These are the truly important things.

_Asan._ Good Megacles, Forewarned I am forearmed.

(_Aside_) Thou fluent trickster!

Fit head of such a State! I would to Heaven I had never come!

_Re-enter_ GYCIA.

Nay, nay, I thank the saints That I have come. Who is this peerless creature?

Is this the old man's daughter?

_Lama._ Prince Asander, This is my daughter, Gycia. Of the prince Thou hast heard many a time, my daughter.

_Gycia (confused)._ Ay!--

Indeed I----

_Lama._ Come, my girl, thou art not used To fail of words.

_Asan._ Nay, sir, I pray you press her not to speak.

And yet I fain would hear her. Artemis Showed not so fair, nor with a softer charm Came Hebe's voice.

_Gycia._ Nay, sir, I did not know A soldier could thus use a courtier's tongue.

_Asan._ If being bred in courts would give me power To put my thought in words, then would I fain Be courtier for thy sake.

_Gycia._ Ah, sir, you jest.

The ways of courts we know not, but I bid thee Good welcome to our city, and I prithee Command whatever service our poor Cherson Can give whilst thou art here. (_To_ MEGACLES) Pray you, my lord, Accompany his Highness and our household To the apartments which our serving men Have now prepared. They are but poor, I know, For one who lives the stately life of kings; But such as our poor means can reach they are.

_Meg._ My lady, I have lived long time in courts, But never, in the palaces of Rome, Have I seen beauty such as yours, or grace More worthy of a crown. (_To_ MELISSA) To you, my lady, I bow with most respectful homage. Surely The G.o.ddess Here has not left the earth While you are here, I humbly take my leave For the present of your Highness with a thousand Obeisances, and to your gracious father Humbly I bend the knee. My Lord Asander, I do attend your Highness.

_Mel._ What a man!

What n.o.ble manners! What a polished air!

How poor to such a courtier our rude Court And humble manners show!

_Asan._ Good Megacles, Get me to my chamber--quick, ere I o'erpa.s.s All reasonable limits. I am sped; I am myself no more.

_Lama._ Farewell awhile.

We will welcome you at supper.

[_Exeunt all but_ LAMACHUS _and_ GYCIA.

_Lama._ Well, my daughter, What think you of this hot-brained youth? I' faith, I like his soldier's bluntness, and he seemed To be a little startled, as I thought, By something which he saw when thou didst come.

Perchance it was the charm of one who came Among thy ladies took him.

_Gycia._ Nay, my father, I think not so indeed.

_Lama._ Ah! well, I am old, And age forgets. But this I tell thee, daughter: If in my youth I had seen a young man's gaze Grow troubled, and he should start, and his cheek pale, A young girl drawing near, I had almost thought Him suddenly in love.

_Gycia._ Oh, nay indeed!

Who should be favoured thus? There is no woman In our poor Cherson worthy that his gaze Might rest on her a moment.

_Lama._ Ah, my girl, Is it thus with thee? They say that love is blind, And thou art blind, therefore it may be, Gycia, That thou too art in love. Tell me how it is.

Couldst thou love this man, if he loved thee?

_Gycia_ (_throwing herself on her father's neck_). Father!

_Lama._ Say no more, girl. I am not so old as yet That I have quite forgotten my own youth, When I was young and loved; and if I err not, I read love's fluttering signals on thy cheek, And in his tell-tale eyes. But listen! Music!

We must prepare for supper with our guests.

SCENE III.--_A street in Cherson._

MEGACLES; _afterwards_ MELISSA.

_Megacles._ Well, it is time for the banquet. Somehow, this place improves on acquaintance, after all. Poor, of course, and rude to a degree. But truly the Lady Gycia is fair--as fair, indeed, as if she was the Emperor's daughter. She is a beautiful creature, truly. But give _me_ that delightful lady-in-waiting of hers, the Lady Melissa.

What grace! what rounded proportions! I like mature beauty. She is as like the late divine Empress as two peas, and I thought--I dare say I was wrong, but I really thought--I made an impression. Poor things!

poor things! They can't help themselves. We courtiers really ought to be very careful not to abuse our power. It is positive cruelty. The contest is too unequal. It makes one inclined sometimes to put on the manners of a clown, so as to give them a chance. Nay, nay, you might as well ask the Ethiopian to change his skin as a courtier his fine manners. By all the saints! here she comes in _propria persona_.

_Enter the_ LADY MELISSA.

_Mel._ Heavens! it is the strange n.o.bleman. I am sure I am all of a flutter.