University of Virginia Library

SCEN. IX.

Enter Queen, Princess, and Attendants.
Rich.
Madam, at last Propitious Heaven affords
Success to the Endeavour of our Swords.
We at your Royal Feet our Persons lay,
And all the mighty Trophies of the Day.

Princess.
Sir, these Submissions must not come from you:
No Homage from a Conqu'rer can be due.
Your Laurel should in Justice be a Crown,
For all by double Conquest is your own.

Rich.
How gloriously your Servants you reward!

Princess.
No, Sir; from that I am by Duty bar'd:
A Parent's leave must first the Gift allow,
Ere I the merited Reward bestow.

Richmond.
To the Queen.]
Sway'd by my Love to her, whom you love best,
I have unduly my Respects addrest;
This Madam, for her sake, you'l not reprove:
All Laws of Ceremony yield to Love.

Queen.
What you oblige me in, needs no Excuse:
And, Sir, I were unjust, should I refuse
My vote to such a Publick Happiness.
May all the Powers above this Union bless!

Richmond
to the Queen.]
I must with humble adoration kiss
The Hand, which does confer so high a bliss.
To the Prin.]
Now, Madam, what say you?

Princess.
I must obey.

Rich.
Succeeding Times shall magnify this Day,
Whose Fruitful Joys shall flow to distant Age,
And rescue Nations from Rebellious Rage.
But, Madam, in this Publick Jubilee
Charlot's Concerns must not neglected be:
This Fav'rite to us both does newly find
A Noble Father in my greatest Friend;
And (what is yet more strange) that Fathers Eye
Does here a Daughter, not a Son descry.

Princess.
I'm lost in wonder: but what ere he be,
No Sex can equal his great Loyaltie.
Now Charlot, ease my Mind, which longs to know
The secret Cause, whence all these Wonders flow.

Charlot.
Can any thing, but Love, such Wonders do,
As have disguis'd the Soul, and Body too?
Madam, I drunk my Poyson when my Eye
Did first his Image, whom you love, descry.
I was too young to weigh, how far above
The level of my Birth I rais'd my love.
My wounded Heart in Bretany first bled;
And, when our Exile thence to Paris fled,
Leaving my Home, my Parents, and my Shape,
To follow him I made a bold Escape:
And to his Service I soon gain'd access,
Helpt by Industrious Love, and this feign'd dress.

Princess.
Charlot, no History shall ever show
So brave a Rival, and so kind a Foe.
Pity, and Envy both attend thy Fate;
Thou art more Generous, I more Fortunate.

Richmond.
Ah, gentle Charlot! in a high degree
Thou hast at once oblig'd, and punish'd me:
The Torment of great minds I undergo,
Paying so little, where so much I owe.

Strange.
Sir, I want Merit; but your Goodness may
For Service yet to come advance my pay:
Grant me your Favour in my great design
Of off'ring my Devotions at this Shrine.
I long have known her, and with envious Eyes
Have seen above my own her Vertue rise:
But, Madam, now a double change we find;
[To Charlot.
For your Sex alter'd has transform'd my Mind:
My Jealousie grows Love; and what before
With Envy I beheld, I now adore.

Richmond.
Thy Passion makes me happy; and I know,
Your Father's Judgement will this choice allow.
Her Fortune, as her Birth, shall equal you:
Who marries her, marries our Favour too.
Chandew, I hope, that in this happy Bride,
Your scrup'lous Honour now is satisfi'd.

Chandew.
Not only satisfi'd, but much encreast;
Where I unhappy was, I now am blest.

Charlot.
How much must I to such Indulgence owe,
As on the Guilty does Reward bestow?
But, Sir, no Power can former Vows release,
Which bar me from this proffer'd happiness.
Ambitious Flames will ever upwards tend;
They may their Object lose, but ne're descend.
Mine still shall rise, and in a Cloister chuse
The lasting Love of an Immortal Spouse.

Strange.
Ah! leave us not: Heaven wants you less, then we.

Princess.
Vertue will leave that Land, which loseth thee.

Charlot.
All Vertue stays, when you are left behind.
Madam, in vain you urge my setled Mind.