University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

The Scene the Palace of Aristarchus.
Philocles
and Dion.
Yes, Dion, I beheld the royal Maid
With Adoration; all my Thoughts by Day,
And all my Dreams by Night, were of Urania;
Th' Ideas of my Soul were all confin'd
To her; her ev'ry Gesture, ev'ry Word,
Enrich'd my Mind with Images of Love.

Dion.
The more you lov'd the brighter shines your Glory:
Who but a Prince with ev'ry Virtue crown'd
Cou'd act like you? That Title which you claim'd,
From a King's Promise, from a Parent's Word,
You greatly have resign'd, and forc'd your Tongue
To plead Philander's Cause.

Philocles.
The good and brave
Are always Friends; nor was I e'er his Foe.
While I might hope to make Urania mine
I stop'd not my Pursuit; but now I find
The Cement of their Love so strong, my Joy
Shall be to make them happy, and myself
Less wretched than I shou'd be, if I striv'd
Still to divide them. With this Sigh I give
My unsuccessful Passion to the Wind.
The Prince of Rhodes, Philander, is thy Friend,
And will be foremost, when he meets thee next,
To give thee Proofs of his avow'd Esteem.
I'd rather, Dion, take the marble Form,
To my Embraces, than the living Maid
Cold as the Marble to my eager Love.
Have you prepar'd to let Philander know
How much I prize his Worth, and seek his Ease?

Dion.
I have; and he's, 'e're now, arriv'd at Court.
Behold the mournful Majesty of Cyprus:
In solemn Sadness comes the aged King,
With Grief depress'd, yet aweful in his Sorrows.