University of Virginia Library

SCENE. III.

Enter Philocles, and meets him going out.
Cel.
How! my Cousin the new Favourite!—

[aside.
Phil.
Dear Celadon! most happily arriv'd.
I hear y'have been an honour to your Country
In the Calabrian Wars, and I am glad
I have some interest in't.

Cel.
—But in you
I have a larger subject for my joyes:
To see so rare a thing as rising vertue,
And merit understood at Court.

Phil.
Perhaps it is the onely act that can
Accuse our Queen of weakness.

Enter Lysimantes attended.
Lys.
O, my Lord Philocles, well overtaken!
I came to look you

(Phil.)
had I known it sooner
My swift attendance, Sir, had spar'd your trouble.
To Cel.
—Cousin, you see Prince Lysimantes
Is pleased to favour me with his Commands:
I beg you'l be no stranger now at Court.

Cel.
So long as there be Ladies there, you need
Not doubt me.
Exit Celadon.

Phil.
Some of them will, I hope, make you a Convert.

Lys.
My Lord Philocles, I am glad we are alone;
There is a busines that concerns me nearly,
In which I beg your love.

(Phil.)
Command my service.

Lys.
I know your Interest with the Queen is great;
(I speak not this as envying your fortune,
For frankly I confess you have deserv'd it.)
Besides, my Birth, my Courage, and my Honour,
Are all above so base a Vice—

Phil.
I know, my Lord, you are first Prince o'th' Blood;
Your Countries second hope;
And that the publick Vote, when the Queen weds,
Designes you for her choice.

Lys.
I am not worthy.
Except Love makes desert;
For doubtless she's the glory of her time;
Of faultless Beauty, blooming as the Spring,
In our Sicilian Groves; matchless in Vertue,
And largely sould, where ere her bounty-gives,
As with each breath she could create new Indies.

Phil.
But jealous of her glory.

Lys.
You are a Courtier; and in other terms,
Would say she is averse from marriage
Least it might lesson her authority.
But, whensoe're she does, I know the people
Will scarcely suffer her to match
With any neighb'ring Prince, whose power might bend
Our free Sicilians to a foreign Yoke.

Phil.
I love too well my Country to desire it.

Lys.
Then to proceed, (as you well know, my Lord)
The Provinces have sent their Deputies
Humbly to move her she would choose at home:
And, for she seems averse from speaking with them,
By my appointment, have design'd these walks,
Where well she cannot shun them. Now, if you
Assist their suit, by joyning yours to it,
And by your mediation I prove happy,
I freely promise you.—

Phil.
Without a Bribe command my utmost in it:—
And yet, there is a thing, which time may give me
The confidence to name:—

(Lys.)
'Tis yours whatever.
But tell me true; does she not entertain
Some deep, and setled thoughts against my person?

Phil.
I hope not so; but she, of late, is froward;
Reserv'd, and sad, and vex'd at little things;
Which, her great soul asham'd of, straight shakes off,
And is compos'd again.

Lys.
You are still near the Queen, and all our Actions come to
Princes eyes, as they are represented by them that hold the mirour.

Phil.
Here she comes, and with her the Deputies;—
I fear all is not right,

Enter Queen; Deputies after her; Asteria, Guard, Flavia, Olinda, Sabina.
Queen turns back to the Deputies, and speaks entring.
Qu.
And I must tell you,
It is a sawcy boldness thus to press.
On my retirements.—

1. Dep.
Our business being of no less concern
Then is the peace and quiet of your Subjects—
and that delay'd—

2. Dep.
—we humbly took this time
To represent your peoples fears to you.

Qu.
My peoples fears! who made them States-men?
They much mistake their business, if they think
It is to govern:
The Rights of Subjects and of Soveraigns
Are things distinct in Nature: theirs, is to
Enjoy Propriety, not Empire.

Lys.
If they have err'd, 'twas but an over-care;
An ill-tim'd Duty.—

Qu.
Cousin, I expect
From your near Bloud, not to excuse, but check 'em.
They would impose a Ruler
Upon their Lawful Queen:
For what's an Husband else;

Lys.
Fair, Madam, be it from the thoughts
Of any who pretends to that high Honour,
To wish for more then to be reckon'd
As the most grac'd, and first of all your servants.

Qu.
These are th'insinuating promises
Of those who aim at pow'r: but tell me Cousin;
(For you are unconcern'd and may be Judge)
Should that aspiring man compass his ends,
What pawn of his obedience could he give me,
When Kingly pow'r were once invested in him?

Lys.
What greater pledge then Love? when those fair eyes
Cast their commanding beams, he that cou'd be
A Rebel to your birth, must pay them homage.

Qu.
All eyes are fair
That sparkle with the Jewels of a Crown:
Put now I see my Government is odious;
My people find I am not fit to Reign,
Else they would never—

Lys.
So far from that, we all acknowledge you
The bounty of the Gods to Sicilie:
More than they are you cannot make our Joyes;
Make them but lasting in a Successor.

Phil.
Your people seek not to impose a Prince;
But humbly offer one to your free chioce:
And such an one he is, (may I have leave
To speak some little of his great deserts.)

Qu.
I'le hear no more—
To the Dep.
For you, attend to morrow at the Council,
There you shall have my firm resolves; mean time
My Cousin I am sure will welcome you.

Lys.

Still more and more mysterious: but I have gain'd one of her
women that shall unriddle it:—Come Gentlemen.—

All Dep.
Heav'n preserve your Majesty.

Exeunt Lysimantes and Deputies.
Qu.
Philocles you may stay:

Phil.
I humbly wait your Majesties commands.

Qu.
Yet, now I better think on't, you may go.

Phil.
Madam!

Qu.
I have no commands.—or, what's all one
You no obedience.

Phil.
How, no obedience, Madam?
I plead no other merit; 'tis the Charter
By which I hold your favour, and my fortunes.

Qu.
My favours are cheap blessings, like Rain and Sun-shine,
For which we scarcely thank the Gods, because
we daily have them.

Phil.
Madam, your Breath which rais'd me from the dust
May lay me there again
But fate nor time can ever make me loose
The sense of your indulgent bounties to me

Qu.
You are above them now; grown popular:
Ah Philocles, could I expect from you
That usage I have found! no tongue but yours
To move me to a marriage?—
[weeps
The factious Deputies might have some end in't,
And my ambitious Cousin gain a Crown;
But what advantage could there come to you?
What could you hope from Lysimantes Reign
That you can want in mine?

Phil.
You your self clear me, Madam, had I sought
More pow'r, this Marriage sure was not the way.
But, when your safety was in question.
When all your people were unsatisfied,
Desir'd a King, nay more, design'd the Man,
It was my duty then.—

Qu.
Let me be judge of my own safety;
I am a woman,
But danger from my Subjects cannot fright me.

Phil.
But Lysimantes, Madam, is a person—

Qu.
I cannot love,—
Shall I, I who am born a Sovereign Queen,
Be barr'd of that which God and Nature gives
The meanest Slave, a freedom in my love?
—Leave me, good Philocles, to my own thoughts;
When next I need your counsel I'le send for you—

Phil.
I'm most unhappy in your high displeasure;
But, since I must not speak, Madam, be pleas'd
To peruse this, and therein, read my care:

He plucks out a paper, and presents it to her. But drops, unknown to him a picture;
Queen.
reads.—
Exit Philocles.
A Catalogue of such persons—
Spies the box.
What's this he has let fall? Asteria?

Ast.
Your Majesty—

Qu.
Take that up, it fell from Philocles.

She takes it up, looks on it, and smiles.
Qu.
How now, what makes you merry?

Ast.
A small discovery I have made, Madam;

Qu.
Of what?

Ast.
Since first your Majesty grac'd Philocles,
I have not heard him nam'd for any Mistriss
But now this picture has convinc'd me.—

Qu.
Ha! Let me see it
(Snatches it from her.)
Candiope, Prince Lysimantes sister!

Ast.
Your favour, Madam, may encourage him—
And yet he loves in a high place for him:
A Princess of the Blood, and what is more,
Beyond comparison the fairest Lady
Our Isle can boast.—

Qu.
How! she the fairest
Beyond comparison? 'tis false, you flatter her;
She is not fair.—

Ast.
I humbly beg forgiveness on my knees,
If I offended you: But next yours, Madam,
Which all must yield to—

Qu.
I pretend to none.

Ast.
She passes for a beauty.

Qu.
I, She may pass.—But why do I speak of her?
Dear Asteria lead me, I am not well o'th sudden.—

[She faints
Ast.
Who's near there? help the Queen.

The Guards are coming,
Qu.
Bid 'em away, 'twas but a qualm,
And 'tis already going.—

Ast.
Dear Madam what's the matter! y'are
of late so alter'd I scarce know you.
You were gay humour'd, and you now are pensive,
Once calm, and now unquiet;
Pardon my boldness that I press thus far
Into your secret thoughts: I have at least
A subjects share in you.

Qu.
Thou hast a greater,
That of a friend; but am I froward, saist thou!

Ast.
It ill becomes me, Madam, to say that.

Qu.
I know I am: prithee forgive me for it.
I cannot help it, but thou hast
Not long to suffer it.

Ast.
Alas!

Qu.
I feel my strength insensibly consume,
Like Lillies wasting in a Lymbecks heat.
Yet a few dayes—
And thou shalt see me lie all damp and cold,
Shrowded within some hollow Vault, among
My silent Ancestors.

Ast.
O dearest Madam!
Speak not of death, or think not, if you die
That I will stay behind.

Qu.
Thy love has mov'd me, I for once will have
The pleasure to be pitied; I'le unfold
A thing so strange, so horrid of my self;—

Ast.
Bless me, sweet Heaven!
So horrid, said you, Madam?

Qu.
That Sun, who with one look surveys the Globe,
Sees not a wretch like me: and could the world
Take a right measure of my state within,
Mankind must either pity me, or scorn me.

Ast.
Sure none could do the last.

Qu.
Thou long'st to know it:
And I to tell thee, but shame stops my mouth.
First promise me thou wilt excuse my folly,
And next be secret.—

Ast.
—Can you doubt it Madam!

Qu.
Yet you might spare my labours
Can you not guess—

Ast.
Madam, please you, I'le try.

Qu.
Hold: Asteria:
I would not have you guess, for should you find it
I should imagine, that some other might,
And then, I were most wretched.
Therefore, though you should know it, flatter me:
And say you could not guess it.—

Ast.
Madam, I need not flatter you, I cannot.—and yet,
Might not Ambition trouble your repose?

Qu.
My Sicily I thank the Gods, contents me.
But since I must reveal it, know 'tis love:
I who pretended so to glory, am
Become the slave of love.—

Ast.
I thought your Majesty had fram'd designes
To subvert all your Laws; become a Tyrant,
Or vex your neighbours with injurious wars;
Is this all? Madam?

Qu.
Is not this enough?
Then, know, I love below my self; a Subject;
Love one who loves another, and who knows not
That I love him.

Ast.
He must be told it, Madam.

Qu.
Not for the world: Asteria:
When ere he knows it I shall die for shame.

Ast.
What is it then that would content you?

Qu.
Nothing, but that I had not lov'd?

Ast.
May I not ask without offence who 'tis?

Qu.
Ev'n that confirms me I have lov'd amiss;
Since thou canst know I love, and not imagine
It must be Philocles

Ast.
My Cousin is indeed a most deserving person;
Valiant and wise; and handsome; and well born,

Qu.
But not of Royal bloud:
I know his fate unfit to be a King.
To be his wife I could forsake my Crown; but not my glory:
Yet,—would he did not love Candiope;
Would he lov'd me,—but knew not of my love,
Or ere durst tell me his:

Ast.
In all this Labyrinth,
I find one path conducing to your quiet,

Qu.
O tell me quickly then.

Ast.
Candiope, as Princess of the Bloud
Without your approbation cannot marry:
First break his match with her, by vertue of
Your Sovereign Authority.

Qu.
I fear. That were to make him hate me.
Or, what's as bad, to let him know I love him:
Could you not do it of your self?

Ast.
Ile not be wanting to my pow'r
But if your Majesty appears not in it
The love of Philocles will soon surmount
All other difficulties.

Qu.
Then, as we walk, we'l think what means are best
Effect but this, and thou shar'st halfe my breast.

Exeunt.