120 LITERATURE AND DRAMA 



Marq. I asked you for your faith ; you gave it. 

 Tanc. Your true health, my lord. 

 Marq. We may be friends yet 



[Exeunt, L. 



SCENE II. Bedchamber in the palace of the Marquis of Saluce. 

 LADY FILOMENE discovered sitting. To her enter GRISELDA 

 and SERGEANT, c. 



Serg. My Lady Filomene, the Marquis sends you greeting. 

 By his orders I have brought Lady Grisyld to your chamber. 

 He bade me say that she would serve as your tirewoman against 

 the marriage, and obey you in all things. 



Filo. Obey me but in one thing, madam ; leave me. 



Gris. Am I free to go ? 



Serg. I grieve to say, madam, you are not. My instructions 

 are precise. To-night, neither you nor Lady Filomene may 

 leave this room. 



Filo. Will you take a message to the Marquis ? 



Serg. Madam, I may not. 



Filo. The world's turned miser, and grudges me one hour's 

 peace. 



Gris. Teach me how to make my presence least unwelcome, 

 lady, and so far as my power goes I will obey. 



Filo. Obey ! Ah, that's the spaniel trick in which you're 

 perfect. In my lessons I was taught how well you could obey. 

 I learnt to despise obedience, and to hate you. 



Serg. We soldiers, madam, are proud to obey, and we were 

 never prouder than when we could obey Lady Grisyld. 



Filo. Were you ordered to stay here and prate ? 



Serg. No, madam. 



Filo. Then go. (Exit SERG. c. GRISYLD arranges some dis- 

 order in the room.) I see you are a busy body. 



Gris. Madam, if you will look upon me simply as a servant 

 and I am nothing more I shall trouble you little. 



Filo. Your hypocrisy apes truth to the life or are you no 

 hypocrite, but a true slave one who will fawn on any hand 

 that holds a whip ? 



Gris. I am made your servant, madam, by the prince who 



