I marvel what virgin the people will present. It is happy you are 838none, for then it would have fallen to your lot, because you are so fair.

If you had been a maiden too, I need not to have feared, because you are fairer.

I pray thee, sweet boy, flatter not me. Speak truth of thyself, for in mine eye of all the world thou art fairest.

These be fair words, but far from thy true thoughts. I know mine 842own face in a true glass, and desire not to see it in a flattering mouth.

Oh, would I did flatter thee, and that fortune would not flatter me! 844I love thee as a brother, but love not me so.

No I will not, but love thee better, because I cannot love as a brother.

Seeing we are both boys, and both lovers, that our affection may have 847some show and seem as it were love, let me call thee mistress.

I accept that name, for divers before have called me mistress.

For what cause?

Nay, there lie the mysteries.

Will not you be at the sacrifice?

No.

Why?

Because I dreamt that if I were there I should be turned to 855a virgin, and then being so fair (as thou say'st I am) I should be offered, as 856thou knowest one must. But will not you be there?

Not unless I were sure that a boy might be sacrificed, and not a maiden.

Why, then you are in danger.

But I would escape it by deceit. But seeing we are resolved to be both absent, let us wander into these groves till the hour be past.

I am agreed, for then my fear will be past.

Why, what dost thou fear?

Nothing but that you love me not.

I will. -- Poor Phillida, what shouldst thou think of thyself, that lovest 864one that, I fear me, is as thyself is? And may it not be that her father 865practiced the same deceit with her that my father hath with me, and, knowing her to be 866fair, feared she should be unfortunate? If it be so, Phillida, how desperate is thy case! If 867it be not, how doubtful! For if she be a maiden, there is no hope of my 868love; if a boy, a hazard. I will after him or her, and lead a melancholy life, that look for a miserable death.