A room in the lodge
Enter the [Young] Queen and four Servants, [the first called Valesta,] she with a book in her hand.
[YOUNG] QUEEN
Oh, my fear-fighting blood! Are you all here?
VALESTA
All at your pleasure, madam.
[YOUNG] QUEEN
That’s my wish, and my opinion
Hath ever been persuaded of your truths,
And I have found you willing t’ all employments
We put into your charge.
SECOND SERVANT
In our faiths, madam.
THIRD SERVANT
For we are bound in duty to your bounty.
[YOUNG] QUEEN
Will you to what I shall prescribe swear secrecy?
FOURTH SERVANT
Try us, sweet lady, and you shall prove our faiths.
[YOUNG] QUEEN
To all things that you hear or see
I swear you all to secrecy:
I pour my life into your breasts;
There my doom or safety rests.
If you prove untrue to all,
Now I rather choose to fall
With loss of my desire than light
Into the tyrant’s wrathful spite.
But in vain I doubt your trust;
I never found your hearts but just.
On this book your vows arrive,
And as in truth in favour thrive.
[They lay their hands on the book.]
OMNES
We wish no higher, so we swear.
[YOUNG] QUEEN
Like jewels all your vows I’ll wear.
Here, take this paper; there those secrets dwell.
Go read your charge, which I should blush to tell.
[Aside] All’s sure, I nothing doubt of safety now,
To which each servant hath combin’d his vow.
Roxano, that begins it trustily,
I cannot choose but praise him; he’s so needful:
There’s nothing can be done about a lady
But he is for it. Honest Roxano!
Even from our head to feet he’s so officious.
The time draws on; I feel the minutes here:
No clock so true as love that strikes in fear.
Exeunt.