Lord Marquis Lübeck, welcome home.

3.2193[To William] Welcome, brave knight, unto the Denmark king.

3.3194For Williamʼs sake, the noble Norman duke,

3.4195So famous for his fortunes and success

3.5196That graceth him with name of ‘Conquerorʼ,

3.6197Right double welcome must thou be to us.

And to my lord the king shall I recount

3.8199Your graceʼs courteous entertainment

3.9200That for his sake vouchsafe to honour me,

3.10201A simple knight attendant on his grace.

But say, Sir Knight, what may I call your name?

Robert Windsor, and like your majesty.

I tell thee, Robert, I so admire the man

3.14205As that I count it heinous guilt in him

3.15206That honours not Duke William with his heart.

3.16207Blanche, bid this stranger welcome, good my girl.

Sir,

3.18Should I neglect your highnessʼ charge herein

3.19209It might be thought of base discourtesy.

3.20210Welcome, Sir Knight, to Denmark heartily.

Thanks, gentle lady. [Aside to Lübeck] Lord Marquis, what is she?

That same is Blanche, daughter to the king,

3.23213The substance of the shadow that you saw.

[Aside] May this be she for whom I crossed the seas?

3.25215I am ashamed to think I was so fond

3.26216In whom thereʼs nothing that contends my mind:

3.27217Ill head, worse featured, uncomely, nothing courtly,

3.28218Swart and ill-favoured, a collierʼs sanguine skin.

3.29219I never saw a harder-favoured slut.

3.30220Love her? For what? I can no whit abide her.

Mariana, I have this day received letters

3.32222From Swethia that lets me understand

3.33223Your ransom is collecting there with speed,

3.34224And shortly shall be hither sent to us.

225Not that I find occasion of mislike

3.36226My entertainment in your graceʼs court,

3.37227But that I long to see my native home.

And reason have you, madam, for the same.

3.39229Lord Marquis, I commit unto your charge

3.40230The entertainment of Sir Robert here.

3.41231Let him remain with you within the court,

3.42232To spend the time in solace and disport.

I thank your highness, whose bounden I remain.

Unhappy Blanche, what strange effects are these

3.45237That works within my thoughts confusedly,

3.46238That still methinks affection draws me on

3.47239To take, to like, nay more, to love this knight?

240[Aside] A modest countenance, no heavy, sullen look.

3.49241Not very fair, but richly decked with favour.

3.50242A sweet face, an exceeding dainty hand.

3.51243A body, were it framed of wax

3.52244By all the cunning artists of the world,

3.53245It could not better be proportionèd.

How now, Sir Robert? In a study, man?

3.55247Here is no time for contemplation.

My lord, there is a certain odd conceit

3.57249Which on the sudden greatly troubles me.

250How like you Blanche? I partly do perceive

3.59251The little boy hath played the wag with you.

The more I look, the more I love to look.

3.61253Who says that Mariana is not fair?

3.62254Iʼll gauge my gauntlet ʼgainst the envious man

3.63255That dares avow there liveth her compare.

Sir Robert, you mistake your counterfeit.

3.65257[Indicating Blanche] This is the lady which you came to see.

Yea, my lord, she is counterfeit indeed,

3.67[Indicating Mariana] 259For there is the substance that best contents me.

260That is my love. Sir Robert, you do wrong me.

The better for you, sir, she is your love.

3.70262As for the wrong, I see not how it grows.

In seeking that which is anotherʼs right.

As who should say your love were privileged,

3.73265That none might look upon her but yourself?

These jars become not our familiarity,

3.75267Nor will I stand on terms to move your patience.

Why, my lord, am not I of flesh and blood

3.77As well as you?

3.78269Then give me leave to love as well as you.

270To love, Sir Robert? But whom? Not she I love?

3.80271Nor stands it with the honour of my state

3.81272To brook corrivals with me in my love.

So, sir, we are thorough for that lady.

3.83274Ladies, farewell. Lord Marquis, will you go?

3.84275[Aside] I will find a time to speak with her, I trow.

With all my heart. Come ladies, will you walk?