University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

The Queens appartments.
Enter Queen and Asteria.
Qu.
No more news yet from Philocles?

Ast.
None, Madam, since Flavia's return!

Qu.
O my Asteria, if you lov'd me, sure
You would say something to me of my Philocles;
I could speak ever of him.

Ast.
Madam, you commanded me no more to name him to you.

Qu.
Then I command you now to speak of nothing else:
I charge you here, on your allegiance, tell me
What I should do with him.

Ast.
When you gave orders that he should be taken,
You seem'd resolv'd how to dispose of him.

Qu.
Dull Asteria not to know,
Mad people never think the same thing twice.
Alas, I'm hurried restless up and down,
I was in anger once, and then I thought
I had put into shore!
But now a gust of love blows hard against me,
And bears me off again.

Ast.
Shall I sing the Song you made of Philocles,
And call'd it Secret-love.

Qu.
Do, for that's all kindness: and while thou sing'st it,
I can think nothing but what pleases me.

Qu.
Peace: Me thinks I hear the noise
Of clashing Swords, and clatt'ring Armes, below.
Enter Flavia.
Now; what news that you press in so rudely?

Flav.
Madam, the worst that can be;
Your Guards upon the sudden are surpris'd,
Disarm'd, some slain, all scatter'd.

Qu.
By whom?

Flav.
Prince Lysimantes, and Lord Philocles.

Qu.
It cannot be; Philocles is a Prisoner.

Flav.
What my eyes saw—

Qu.
Pull 'em out, they are false Spectacles.

Ast.
O vertue, impotent and blind as Fortune!
Who would be good, or pious, if this Queen
Thy great Example suffers!

Qu.
Peace, Asteria, accuse not vertue;
She has but given me a great occasion
Of showing what I am when Fortune leaves me.

Ast.
Philocles, to do this!

Qu.
I, Philocles, I must confess 'twas hard!
But there's a fate in kindness
Still, to be least return'd where most 'tis given.
Where's Candiope?

Flav.
Philocles was whispering to her.

Qu.
Hence Screech-owl; call my Guards quickly there:
Put 'em apart in several Prisons.
Alas! I had forgot I have no Guards,
But those which are my Jaylors.
Never till now unhappy Queen:
The use of pow'r, till lost, is seldom known;
Now I would strike, I find my Thunder gone.

Exit Queen and Flavia.
Philocles enters, and meets Asteria going out.
Phil.
Asteria! Where's the Queen?

Ast.
Ah my Lord what have you done!
I came to seek you.

Phil.
Is it from her you come?

Ast.
No, but on her behalf: her heart's too great,
In this low ebb of Fortune, to intreat.

Phil.
'Tis but a short Ecclipse,
Which past, a glorious day will soon ensue:
But I would ask a favour too, from you.

Ast.
When Conquerors petition, they command:
Those that can Captive Queens, who can withstand?

Phil.
She, with her happiness, might mine create;
'Yet seems indulgent to her own ill fate:
But she, in secret, hates me sure; for why
If not, should she Candiope deny?

Ast.
If you dare trust my knowledg of her mind,
She has not thoughts of you that are unkind.

Phil.
I could my sorrows with some patience bear,
Did they proceed from any one but her:
But from the Queen! whose person I adore,
By Duty much, by inclination more.—

Ast.
He is inclin'd already, did he know
That she lov'd him, how would his passion grow!

[aside.
Phil.
That her fair hand with Destiny combines!—
Fate ne're strikes deep, but when unkindness joynes!
For, to confess the secret of my mind,
Something so tender for the Queen I find,
That ev'n Candiope can scarce remove,
And, were she lower, I should call it love.

Ast.
She charg'd me not this secret to betray,
But I best serve her if I disobey:
For, if he loves, 'twas for her int'rest done;
If not, he'll keep it secret for his own.

[aside.
Phil.
Why are you in obliging me so slow?

Ast.
The thing's of great importance you would know;
And you must first swear secresie to all.

Phil.
I swear:

(Ast.)
Yet hold; your oath's too general:
Swear that Candiope shall never know.

Phil.
I swear:

(Ast.)
No not the Queen her self:

(Phil.)
I vow.

Ast.
You wonder why I am so cautious grown
In telling, what concerns your self alone:
But spare my Vow, and guess what it may be
That makes the Queen deny Candiope:
'Tis neither hate nor pride that moves her mind;
Methinks the Riddle is not hard to find.

Phil.
You seem so great a wonder to intend,
As were, in me, a crime to apprehend.

Ast.
'Tis not a crime, to know; but would be one
To prove ungrateful when your Duty's known.

Phil.
Why would you thus my easie faith abuse!
I cannot think the Queen so ill would chuse.
But stay, now your imposture will appear;
She has her self confess'd she lov'd elsewhere:
On some ignoble choice has plac'd her heart,
One who wants quality, and more, desert.

Ast.
This, though unjust, you have most right to say,
For, if you'l rail against your self, you may

Phil.
Dull that I was!
A thousand things now crowd my memory
That make me know it could be none but I.
Her Rage was Love: and its tempestuous flame,
Like Lightning, show'd the Heaven from whence it came.
But in her kindness my own shame I see;
Have I dethron'd her then, for loving me?
I hate my self for that which I have done,
Much more, discover'd, then I did unknown.
How does she brook her strange imprisonment?

Ast.
As great souls should, that make their own content.
The hardest term she for your act could find
Was onely this, O Philocles, unkind!
Then, setting free a sigh, from her fair eyes
She wip'd two pearls, the remnants of mild show'rs,
Which hung, like drops upon the bells of flowers:
And thank'd the Heav'ns,
Which better did, what she design'd, pursue,
Without her crime to give her pow'r to you.

Phil.
Hold, hold, you set my thoughts so near a Crown,
They mount above my reach to pull them down:
Here Constancy; Ambition there does move;
On each side Beauty, and on both sides Love.

Ast.
Me thinks the least you can is to receive
This love, with reverence, and your former leave.

Phil.
Think but what difficulties come between!

Ast.
'Tis wond'rous difficult to love a Queen.

Phil.
For pity cease more reasons to provide,
I am but too much yielding to your side;
And, were my heart but at my own dispose,
I should not make a scruple where to choose.

Ast.
Then if the Queen will my advice approve,
Her hatred to you shall expel her love.

Phil.
Not to be lov'd by her, as hard would be
As to be hated by Candiope.

Ast.
I leave you to resolve while you have time;
You must be guilty, but may choose your crime.
Exit Asteria.

Phil.
One thing I have resolv'd; and that I'le do
Both for my love, and for my honour too.
But then, (Ingratitude and falshood weigh'd,)
I know not which would most my soul upbraid.
Fate shoves me headlong down, a rugged way;
Unsafe to run, and yet too steep to stay.
[Exit Phil.