Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine.
Enter Second Brother [Jaques de Boys].
Jaq. de B. Let me have audience for a word or two:
I am the second son of old Sir Rowland,
That bring these tidings to this fair assembly. 160
Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day
Men of great worth resorted to this forest,
Address'd a mighty power, which were on foot
In his own conduct, purposely to take 164
His brother here and put him to the sword:
And to the skirts of this wild wood he came,
Where, meeting with an old religious man,
After some question with him, was converted 168
Both from his enterprise and from the world;
His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother,
And all their lands restor'd to them again
That were with him exil'd. This to be true, 172
I do engage my life.
Duke S.Welcome, young man;
Thou offer'st fairly to thy brothers' wedding:
To one, his lands withheld; and to the other
A land itself at large, a potent dukedom. 176
First, in this forest, let us do those ends
That here were well begun and well begot;
And after, every of this happy number
That have endur'd shrewd days and nights with us, 180
Shall share the good of our returned fortune,
According to the measure of their states.
Meantime, forget this new-fall'n dignity,
157 combine: bind
163 Address'd: prepared
power: army
164 conduct: guidance
168 question: talk
173 engage: pledge
174 offer'st fairly: makest generous offerings
177 do . . . ends: complete those purposes
180 shrewd: grievous
182 states: i.e., positions in the world
183 new-fall'n: recently acquired
