proclamation, till they saw Philaster ride through the streets pleased, and without a guard; at which they threw their hats, and their arms from them; some to make bonfires, some to drink, all for his deliverance. Which, wise men say, is the cause, the king labours to bring in the power of a foreign nation, to awe his own with. Enter GALATEA, MEGRA, and a Lady. Thra. See, the ladies. What's the first? Dion. A wise and modest gentlewoman that attends the princess. Cle. The second? Dion. She is one that may stand still discreetly enough, and ill-favour'dly dance her measure; simper when she is courted by her friend, and slight her husband. Cle. The last? Dion, Marry, I think she is one whom the state keeps for the agents of our confederate princes. She'll cog and lye with a whole army, before the league shall break: Her name is common through the kingdom, and the trophies of her dishonour advanced beyond Hercules' pillars. She loves to try the several constitutions of men's bodies; and indeed, has destroyed the worth of her own body, by making experiments upon it, for the good of the commonwealth. Cle. She is a profitable member. La. Peace, if you love me! You shall see these gentlemen stand their ground, and not court us. Gal. What if they should? Meg. What if they should? La. Nay, let her alone. What if they should? Why, if they should, I say they were never abroad. What foreigner would do so? it writes them Gal. Why, what if they be? Meg. What if they be? La. Good madam, let her go on. What if they be? Why if they be, I will justify, they cannot maintain discourse with a judicious lady, nor make a leg, nor say excuse me. Gal. Ha, ha, ha! La. Do you laugh, madam? Dion. Your desires upon you, ladies. La. Then you must sit beside us. Dion. I shall sit near you then, lady, La. Near me, perhaps: But there's a lady endures no stranger; and to me you appear a very strange fellow. Meg. Methinks, he's not so strange; he would quickly be acquainted. Thra. Peace, the king. Enter KING, PHARAMOND, ARETHUSA, and train. King. To give a stronger testimony of love Than sickly promises (which commonly In princes find both birth and burial In one breath), we have drawn you, worthy sir, To make your fair endearments to our daughter, And worthy services known to our subjects, Now loved and wondered at. Next, our intent, To plant you deeply, our immediate heir, In making no ill day, knows no ill dreams. A sweeter mistress than the offered language vants. Last, noble son (for so I now must call you), Thra. This will be hardly done. So brave a gentleman's wronged, and Thra. I fear. Cle. Who does not ? Dion. I fear not for myself, and yet I fear too. Well, we shall see, we shall see. No more. Aside. You in me have your wishes. Oh, this country! Dion. I wonder what's his price? For certainly He'll sell himself, he has so praised his shape.But here comes one, more worthy those large speeches, Than the large speaker of them. Let me be swallowed quick, if I can find, By this sun, he'll never make king Unless it be for trifles, in my poor judgment. King. Rise; you have it, sir. Dion. Mark but the king, how pale he looks with fear! Oh! this same whorson conscience, how it jades us! King. Speak your intents, sir. Phi. Shall I speak them freely? Be still my royal sovereign.— We give you freedom. Phi. Then thus I turn My language to you, prince; you, foreign man! Ne'er stare, nor put on wonder, for you must Endure me, and you shall. This earth you tread upon (A dowry, as you hope, with this fair princess) To part so calmly with it, and sit still, And say, 'I might have been.' I tell thee, Pha ramond, When thou art king, look I be dead and rotten, And my name ashes: For, hear me, Pharamond! This very ground, thou goest on, this fat earth, My father's friends made fertile with their faiths, Before that day of shame, shall gape and swallow Thee and thy nation, like a hungry grave, Into her hidden bowels. Prince, it shall; By Nemesis, it shall! Pha. He's mad; beyond cure, mad. Dion. Here is a fellow has some fire in his veins : The outlandish prince looks like a tooth-drawer. Phi. Sir prince of poppingjays, I'll make it well appear To you, I am not mad. Phi. No, sir, I am too tame, Too much a turtle, a thing born without passion, A faint shadow, that every drunken cloud sails over, And makes nothing. King. I do not fancy this. Call our physicians: Sure he is somewhat tainted. Thra. I do not think 'twill prove so. Dion. He has given him a general purge already, for all the right he has; and now he means to let him blood. Be constant, gentlemen: By these hilts, I'll run his hazard, although I run my name out of the kingdom. Cle. Peace, we are all one soul. Pha. What you have seen in me, to stir offence, To mutiny within you; without disputing Whose branch you are. The king will leave it Phi. It must be, sir, when I am nobler used. Gal. Ladies, This would have been a pattern of succession, Had he ne'er met this mischief. By my life, He is the worthiest the true name of man This day within my knowledge. Meg. I cannot tell what you may call your knowledge; But th' other is the man set in my eye. Gal. A dog it is. The injuries you aim at, in your riddles. Phi. If you had my eyes, sir, and sufferance, My griefs upon you, and my broken fortunes, My wants great, and now nought but hopes and fears, Phi. Take them, And ease me of a load would bow strong Atlas. Cle. He dares not stand the shock. Dion. I cannot blame him: there's danger in't. Every man in this age has not a soul of crystal, for all men to read their actions through: Men's hearts and faces are so far asunder, that they hold no intelligence. Do but view yon stranger well, and you shall see a fever through all his bravery, and feel him shake like a true recreant. If he give not back his crown again, upon the report of an elder gun, I have no augury. King. Go to! Be more yourself, as you respect our favour; You'll stir us else. Sir, I must have you know, That you are, and shall be, at our pleasure, what fashion we Will put upon you. Smooth your brow, or by the gods Phi. I am dead, sir; you are my fate. It was Said, I was wrong'd: I carry all about me, King. Sure, he's possessed. Phi. Yes, with my father's spirit: It is here, A dangerous spirit. Now he tells me, king, King. Away, I do not like this: I'll make you tamer, or I'll dispossess you [Ex. King, PHA. and ARE. Dion. I thank you, sir; you dare not for the people. Gal. Ladies, what think you now of this brave fellow ? Meg. A pretty talking fellow; hot at hand. But eye yon stranger: Is he not a fine complete gentleman? Oh, these strangers, I do affect them strangely: They do the rarest home things, and please the fullest! As I live, I could love all the nation over and over for his sake. Gal. Pride comfort your poor head-piece, lady! 'Tis a weak one, and had need of a night-cap. Dion. See, how his fancy labours! Has he not Spoke home, and bravely? What a dangerous train, Did he give fire to! How he shook the king, Made his soul melt within him, and his blood Phi. Gentlemen, You have no suit to me? I am no minion: If you could well be flattered at a price Phi. Well, very well; And so well, that, if the king please, I find may live many years. I Dion. The king must please, Whilst we know what you are, and who you are, Phi. Friends, no more; Our ears may be corrupted: "Tis an age You had a virtuous gentlewoman called you father; Is she yet alive? Dion. Do you By Jupiter, I must not fear a woman. Thra. But are you sure it was the princess sent? It may be some foul train to catch your life. Phi. I do not think it, gentlemen; she's noble; Her eye may shoot me dead, or those true red And white friends in her face may steal my soul out: There's all the danger in it. But, be what may, Her single name hath armed me. [Exit PHI. Dion. Go on : And be as truly happy as thou art fearless. Come, gentlemen, let's make our friends acquainted, Are. Of love? to whom? to you! Lady. Madam, I mean to you. Are. Of love to me? alas! thy ignorance Lets thee not see the crosses of our births. Nature, that loves not to be questioned Why she did this, or that, but has her ends, And knows she does well, never gave the world Two things so opposite, so contrary, As he and I am: If a bowl of blood, Drawn from this arm of mine, would poison thee, A draught of his would cure thee. Of love to me? Lady. Madam, I think I hear him. Are. Bring him in.- Made me believe you wished to speak with me. The mouth of woman, that I wish them said, Phi. Never, madam, you. Phi. I can't endure it. Turn away my face? Are. Yet, for my sake, a little bend thy looks. Are. Then know, I must have them, and thee. Are. Thy love; without which, all the land, Phi. Is't possible? Are. With it, it were too little to bestow But how this passion should proceed from you Are. Another soul, into my body shot, Could not have filled me with more strength and spirit, Are. Why, then, should you, in such a public Than this thy breath. But spend not hasty time place, In seeking how I came thus: 'Tis the gods, The gods, that make me so; and, sure, our love | Which will for ever on my conscience lie. Will be the nobler, and the better blest, In that the secret justice of the gods Is mingled with it. Let us leave, and kiss, Phi. "Twill be ill I should abide here long. Are. 'Tis true; and worse You should come often. How shall we devise To hold intelligence, that our true loves, Phi. I have a boy, Sent by the gods, I hope, to this intent, Of which he borrowed some to quench his thirst, read Are. What will you do, Philaster, with your self? Phi. Why, that, which all the gods have appointed out for me. Are. Dear, hide thyself. Bring in the prince. Phi. Hide me from Pharamond ! When thunder speaks, which is the voice of Jove, Though I do reverence, yet I hide me not; And shall a stranger prince have leave to brag Unto a foreign nation, that he made Philaster hide himself? Are. He cannot know it.. Phi. Though it should sleep for ever to the world, It is a simple sin to hide mysel Are. Then, good Philaster, give him scope and Pha. My princely mistress, as true lovers ought, I come to kiss these fair hands; and to shew, In outward ceremonies, the dear love, Writ in my heart. Phi. If I shall have an answer no directlier, I am gone. Pha. To what would he have answer? Pha. Sirrah, I forbare you before the king. Phi. Good sir, do so still: I would not talk with you. Pha. But now time is fitter: Do but offer Phi. Good sir, let me go. Phi. Peace, Pharamond! If thou- Phi. I have done. Pha. You are gone: By heav'n, I'll fetch you back. Phi. You shall not need. Phi. Know, Pharamond, I loath to brawl with such a blast as thou, Who art nought but a valiant voice: But, if Thou shalt provoke me further, men shall say "Thou wert," and not lament it. Pha. Do you slight My greatness so, and in the chamber of the princess? Phi. It is a place, to which, I must confess, I owe a reverence: But were it the church, Ay, at the altar, there's no place so safe, Where thou dar'st injure me, but I dare kill thee. And for your greatness, know, sir, I can grasp You and your greatness thus, thus into nothing. Give not a word, not a word back! Farewell. [Exit PHILASTER. Pha. 'Tis an odd fellow, madam: We must stop His mouth with some office, when we are married. Are. You were best make him your controller. Pha. I think he would discharge it well. But, madam, I hope our hearts are knit; and yet, so slow I must withdraw in honour. [Exit. Pha. The constitution of my body will never hold out till the weddin! I must seek elsewhere. [Exit. |