ZIMIAMVIA

 

Principal Persons LESSINGHAM BARGANAX FIORINDA ANTIOPE

 

I *A Spring Night in Mornagay

 

a commission of peril  the three kingdoms masterless    policy of the vicar   the promise heard in zimiamvia.

 

*By all accounts, 'twas to give him line only,' said Amaury; 'and if King Mezentius had lived, would have been war between them this summer. Then he should have been boiled in his own syrup; and 'tis like danger now, though smaller, to cope the son. You do forget your judgement, I think, in this single thing, save which I could swear you are perfect in all things.'

Lessingham made no answer. He was gazing with a strange intentness into the wine which brimmed the crystal goblet in his right hand. He held it up for the bunch of candles that stood in the middle of the table to shine through, turning the endless stream of bubbles into bubbles of golden fire. Amaury, half facing him on his right, watched him. Lessingham set down the goblet and looked round at him with the look of a man awaked from sleep.

'Now I've angered you,' said Amaury. 'And yet, I said but true.'

As a wren twinkles in and out in a hedge-row, the demurest soft shadow of laughter came and went in Lessingham's swift grey eyes. 'What, were you reading me good counsel? Forgive me, dear Amaury: I lost the thread on't You were talking of my cousin, and the great King, and might-a-beens; but I was fallen a-dreaming and marked you not'