Princess let me die but this is a most horrid spectacle to see a person who makes so grand a figure in the Court without the Suitte of a Princess and entertaining your Chagrin all alone Naivete should have been there but the disobedient word would not come in Palm What is she Artemis Art An impertinent Lady Madam very ambitious of being known to your Highness Pal. to Melantha Let me die Madam if I have not waited you here these two long hours without so much as the Suitte of a single Servant to attend me entertaining my self with my own Chagrin till I had the honour to see your Ladiship who are a person that makes so considerable a figure in the Court Mel. Truce with your douceurs good servant you see I am addressing to the Princess pray do not embarrass me embarrass me what a delicious French word do you make me lose upon you too To the Princess Your Highness Madam will please to pardon the Bâ—vene which I made in not sooner finding you out to be a Princess but let me die if this Eclaircissement which is made this day of your quality does not ravish me and give me leave to tell you Pal. But first give me leave to tell you Madam that I have so great a tender for your person and such a panchant to do you service that Mel. What must I still be troubled with your Sottises There 's another word lost that I meant for the Princess with a mischief to you But your Highness Madam Pal. But your Ladiship Madam Enter Leonidas guarded and led over the Stage Mel. Out upon him how he looks Madam now he 's found no Prince he is the strangest figure of a man how could I make that Coup d' etourdy to think him one Palm Away impertinent My dear Leonidas Leon. My dear Palmyra Palm Death shall never part us My Destiny is yours He is led off she follows Mel. Impertinent Oh I am the most unfortunate person this day breathing that the Princess should thus rompre en visiere without occasion Let me die but Iâ—ll follow her to death till I make my peace Pal. holding her And let me die but I 'll follow you to the Infernals till you pity me Mel. turning towards him angrily Ay 't is long of you that this Malheur is fall'n upon me your impertinence has put me out of the good graces of the Princess and all that which has ruin'd me and all that and therefore let me die but I 'll be reveng'd and all that Pal. Façon façon you must and shall love me and all that for my old man is coming up and all that and I am desesperé au dernier and will not be disinherited and all that Mel. How durst you interrupt me so mal a propos when you knew I was addressing to the Princess Pal. But why would you address your self so much a contre-temps then Mel. Ah mal peste Pal. Ah I'enrage Phil. Radoucissez vous de grace Madame vous êtes bien en colere pour pen de chose Vous n' entendez pas la raillerie gallante Mel. Ad ' autres ad ' autres he mocks himself of me he abuses me ah me unfortunate cries Phil. You mistake him Madam he does but accommodate his phrase to your refin'd language Ah qu'il est un Cavalier accomply pursue your point Sir To him Pal. Ah qu'il fait beau dans ces boccages Singing Ah que le ciel donne un beau jour There I was with you with a minouét Mel. Let me die now but this singing is fine and extremely French in him Laughs But then that he should use my own words as it were in contempt of me I cannot bear it Crying Pal. Ces beaux sejours ces doux ramages Singing Mel. Ces beaux Sejours ces doux ramages Singing after him Ces beaux sejours nous invitent a l'amour Let me die but he sings en Cavalier and so humours the Cadence Laughing Pal. Voy ma Clymene voy soubs ce chesne Singing again S'entrebaiser ces oiseaux amoreux Let me die now but that was fine Ah now for three or four brisk Frenchmen to be put into Masquing habits and to sing it on a Theatre how witty it would be and then to dance helter skelter to a Chanson a boire toute la terre toute la terre est a moy what 's matter though it were made and sung two or three years ago in Cabarets how it would attract the admiration especially of every one that 's an eveille Mel. Well I begin to have a tender for you but yet upon condition that when we are marri'd you Pal. sings while she speaks Phil. You must drown her voice if she makes her French conditions you are a slave for ever Mel. First will you engage that Pal. Fa la la la c. Louder Mel. Will you hear the conditions Pal. No I will hear no conditions I am resolv'd to win you en Francois to be very aiery with abundance of noise and no sense Fa la la la c. Mel. Hold hold I am vanquish'd with your gayeté d' esprit I am yours and will be yours sans nulle reserve ny condition and let me die if I do not think my self the happiest Nymph in Sicily My dear French Dear stay but a minuite till I raccommode my self with the Princess and then I am yours jusq ' a la mort Allons done Exeunt Mel. Philot. Pal. Solus fanning himself with his hat I never thought before that wooing was so laborious an exercise if she were worth a million I have deserv'd her and now me-thinks too with taking all this pains for her I begin to like her 'T is so I have known many who never car'd for Hare nor Partridge but those they caught themselves would eat heartily the pains and the story a man tells of the taking of 'em makes the meat go down more pleasantly Besides last night I had a sweet dream of her and Gad she I have once dream'd of I am stark mad till I enjoy her let her be never so ugly Enter Doralice Dor. Who 's that you are so mad to enjoy Palamede Pal. You may easily imagine that sweet Doralice Dor. More easily then you think I can I met just now with a certain man who came to you with Letters from a certain old Gentleman yclipped your father whereby I am given to understand that to morrow you are to take an Oath in the Church to be grave henceforward to go ill-dress'd and slovenly to get heirs for your estate and to dandle 'em for your diversion and in short that Love and Courtship are to be no more Pal. Now have I so much shame to be thus apprehended in the manner that I can neither speak nor look upon you I have abundance of grace in me that I find But if you have any spark of true friendship in you retire a little with me to the next
I answer to confess it Will raise a blush upon a Virgin 's face Yet I was ever taught 't was base to lie Poly. You 've been too bold and you must love no more Palm Indeed I must I cannot help my love I was so tender when I took the bent That now I grow that way Poly. He is a Prince and you are meanly born Leon. Love either finds equality or makes it Like death he knows no difference in degrees But plains and levels all Palm Alas I had not render'd up my heart Had he not lov'd me first but he prefer'd me Above the Maidens of my age and rank Still shun'd their company and still sought mine I was not won by gifts yet still he gave And all his gifts though small yet spoke his love He pick'd the earliest Strawberries in Woods The cluster'd Filberds and the purple Grapes He taught a prating Stare to speak my name And when he found a Nest of Nightingales Or callow Linnets he would show 'em me And let me take 'em out Poly. This is a little Mistris meanly born Fit onely for a Prince his vacant hours And then to laugh at her simplicity Not fix a passion there Now hear my sentence Leon. Remember ere you give it 't is pronounc'd Against us both Poly. First in her hand There shall be plac'd a Player's painted Sceptre And on her head a gilded Pageant Crown Thus shall she go With all the Boys attending on her Triumph That done be put alone into a Boat With bread and water onely for three days So on the Sea she shall be set adrift And who relieves her dies Palm I onely beg that you would execute The last part first let me be put to Sea The bread and water for my three days life I give you back I would not live so long But let me scape the shame Leon. Look to me Piety and you O Gods look to my piety Keep me from saying that which misbecomes a son But let me die before I see this done Poly. If you for ever will abjure her sight I can be yet a father she shall live Leon. Hear O you Pow'rs is this to be a father I see 't is all my happiness and quiet You aim at Sir and take 'em I will not save ev'n my Palmyra's life At that ignoble price but I 'll die with her Palm So had I done by you Had Fate made me a Princess Death methinks Is not a terrour now He is not fierce or grim but fawns and sooths me And slides along like Cleopatra's Aspick Off'ring his service to my troubled breast Leon. Begin what you have purpos'd when you please Lead her to scorn your triumph shall be doubled As holy Priests In pity go with dying malefactours So will I share her shame Poly. You shall not have your will so much first part 'em Then execute your office Leon. No I 'll die In her defence Draws his sword Palm Ah hold and pull not on A curse to make me worthy of my death Do not by lawless force oppose your Father Whom you have too much disobey'd for me Leon. Here take it Sir and with it pierce my heart Presenting his sword to his father upon his knees You have done more in taking my Palmyra You are my Father therefore I submit Poly. Keep him from any thing he may design Against his life whil'st the first fury lasts And now perform what I commanded you Leon. In vain if sword and poison be deni'd me I 'll hold my breath and die Palm Farewell my last Leonidas yet live I charge you live till you believe me dead I cannot die in peace if you die first If life 's a blessing you shall have it last Poly. Go on with her and lead him after me Enter Argaleon hastily with Hermogenes Arga. I bring you Sir such news as must amaze you And such as will prevent you from an action Which would have rendred all your life unhappy Poly. Hermogenes you bend your knees in vain Hermogenes kneels My doom 's already past Her I kneel not for Palmyra for I know She will not need my pray'rs but for my self With a feign'd tale I have abus'd your ears And therefore merit death but since unforc'd I first accuse my self I hope your mercy Poly. Haste to explain your meaning Her Then in few words Palmyra is your daughter Poly. How can I give belief to this Impostor He who has once abus'd me often may I 'l hear no more Arga. For your own sake you must Her A parent's love for I confess my crime Mov'd me to say Leonidas was yours But when I heard Palmyra was to die The fear of guiltless bloud so stung my conscience That I resolv'd ev'n with my shame to save Your daughter's life Poly. But how can I be certain but that interest Which mov'd you first to say your son was mine Does not now move you too to save your daughter Her You had but then my word I bring you now Authentick testimonies Sir in short Delivers on his knees a Iewel and a Letter If this will not convince you let me suffer Poly. I know this Jewel well 't was once my mothers Looking first on the Iewel Which marrying I presented to my wife And this O this is my Eudocia's hand This was the pledge of love given to Eudocia Reads Who dying to her young Palmyra leaves it And this when you my dearest Lord receive Own her and think on me dying Eudocia Take it 't is well there is no more to read To Argaleon My eyes grow full and swim in their own light He embraces Palmyra Palm I fear Sir this is your intended Pageant You sport your self at poor Palmyra's cost But if you think to make me proud Indeed I cannot be so I was born With humble thoughts and lowly like my birth A real fortune could not make me haughty Much less a feign'd Poly. This was her mother's temper I have too much deserv'd thou shouldst suspect That I am not thy father but my love Shall henceforth show I am Behold my eyes And see a father there begin to flow This is not feign'd Palmyra Palm I doubt no longer Sir you are a King And cannot lie falshood's a vice too base To find a room in any Royal breast I know in spight of my unworthiness I am your child for when you would have kill'd me Methought I lov'd you then Arga. Sir we forget the Prince Leonidas His greatness should not stand neglected thus Poly. Guards you may now retire Give him his sword And leave him free Leon. Then the first use I make of liberty Shall be with your permission mighty Sir To pay that reverence to which Nature binds me kneels to Hermogenes Arga. Sure you forget your birth thus to misplace This act of your obedience you should kneel To nothing but to Heav'n and to a King Leon. I never shall forget what Nature owes Nor be asham'd to pay it
Mel. My servant to apprehend me this is Surprenant au dernièr Rho. I must on there 's nothing but impudence can help me out Pala. Rhodophil How came you hither in so good company Rho. As you see Palamede an effect of pure friendship I was not able to live without you Pala. But what makes my Mistris with you Rho. Why I heard you were here alone and could not in civility but bring her to you Mel. You 'll pardon the effects of a passion which I may now avow for you if it transported me beyond the rules of bien seance Pala. But who told you I was here they that told you that may tell you more for ought I know Rho. O for that matter we had intelligence Pala. But let me tell you we came hither so very privately that you could not trace us Rho. Us what us you are alone Pala. Us the devil 's in me for mistaking me I meant Or us that is you are me or I you as we are friends that 's us Dor. Palamede Palamede Within Rho. I should know that voice who 's within there that calls you Pala. Faith I can't imagine I believe the place is haunted Dor. Palamede Palamede All-cocks hidden Within Pala. Lord lord what shall I do Well dear friend to let you see I scorn to be jealous and that I dare trust my Mistris with you take her back for I would not willingly have her frighted and I am resolv'd to see who 's there I 'll not be danted with a Bug-bear that 's certain prethee dispute it not it shall be so nay do not put me to swear but go quickly there 's an effect of pure friendship for you now Enter Doralice and looks amaz'd seeing them Rho. Doralice I am thunder-struck to see you here Pala. So am I quite thunder-struck Was it you that callâ—d me within I must be impudent Rho. How came you hither Spouse Pala. Ay how came you hither And which is more how could you be here without my knowledge Dor. To her husband O Gentleman have I caught you i'faith have I broke forth in ambush upon you I thought my suspicions would prove true Rho. Suspicions this is very fine Spouse Prethee what suspicions Dor. O you feign ignorance why of you and Melantha here have I staid these two hours waiting with all the rage of a passionate loving wife but infinitely jealous to take you two in the manner for hither I was certain you would come Rho. But you are mistaken Spouse in the occasion for we came hither on purpose to find Palamede on intelligence he was gone before Pala. I 'll be hang'd then if the same party who gave you intelligence I was here did not tell your wife you would come hither now I smell the malice on 't on both sides Dor. Was it so think you nay then I 'll confess my part of the malice too As soon as ever I spi'd my husband and Melantha come together I had a strange temptation to make him jealous in revenge and that made me call Palamede Palamede as though there had been an Intrigue between us Mel. Nay I avow there was an apparence of an Intrigue between us too Pala. To see how things will come about Rho. And was it onely thus my dear Doralice Embraces Dor. And did I wrong none Rhodophil with a false suspicion Embracing him Pala. Aside Now am I confident we had all four the same design 't is a pretty odd kind of game this where each of us plays for double stakes this is just thrust and parry with the same motion I am to get his Wife and yet to guard my own Mistris But I am vilely suspitious that while I conquer in the Right Wing I shall be routed in the Left for both our women will certainly betray their party because they are each of them for gaining of two as well as we and I much fear If their necessities and ours were known They have more need of two then we of one Exeunt embracing one another ACT IV. SCENE I. Enter Leonidas musing Amalthea following him Amal. YOnder he is and I must speak or die And yet 't is death to speak yet he must know I have a passion for him and may know it With a less blush because to offer it To his low fortunes shows I lov'd before His person not his greatness Leon. First scorn'd and now commanded from the Court The King is good but he is wrought to this By proud Argaleon's malice What more disgrace can Love and Fortune joyn T' inflict upon one man I cannot now Behold my dear Palmyra she perhaps too Is grown asham'd of a mean ill-plac'd love Amal. Assist me Venus for I tremble when Aside I am to speak but I must force my self Sir I would crave but one short minute with you To him And some few words Leon. The proud Argaleon's sister Aside Amal. Alas it will not out shame stops my mouth Aside Pardon my errour Sir I was mistaken And took you for another Leon. In spight of all his guards I 'll see Palmyra Aside Though meanly born I have a Kingly Soul yet Amal. I stand upon a precipice where fain Aside I would retire but Love still thrusts me on Now I grow bolder and will speak to him Sir 't is indeed to you that I would speak To him And if Leon. O you are sent to scorn my fortunes Your Sex and Beauty are your priviledge But should your Brother Amal. Now he looks angry and I dare not speak I had some business with you Sir But 't is not worth your knowledge Leon. Then 't will be charity to let me mourn My griefs alone for I am much disorder'd Amal. 'T will be more charity to mourn 'em with you Heav'n knows I pity you Leon. Your pity Madam Is generous but 't is unavailable Amal. You know not till 't is tri'd Your sorrows are no secret you have lost A Crown and Mistris Leon. Are not these enough Hang two such weights on any other soul And see if it can bear ' em Amal. More you are banish'd by my Brother's means And ne'r must hope again to see your Princess Except as Pris'ners view fair Walks and Streets And careless Passengers going by their grates To make 'em feel the want of liberty But worse then all The King this morning has injoyn'd his Daughter T' accept my Brother's love Leon. Is this your pity You aggravate my griefs and print 'em deeper In new and heavier stamps Amal. 'T is as Physicians show the desperate ill T' indear their Art by mittigating pains They cannot wholly cure when you despair Of all you wish some part of it because Unhop'd for may be grateful and some other Leon. What other Amal. Some other may My shame again has seiz'd me and I can go Aside No farther Leon. These often failing sighs and interruptions Make me imagine you have grief like mine Have you ne'r lov'd Amal. I never 't
kneeling He who impos'd these bonds still wears your chains When you to Love or Duty false must be Or to your Father guilty or to me These chains alone remain to set you free Noise of swords clashing Poly. within Secure these first then search the inner room Leon. From whence do these tumultuous clamours come Enter Hermogenes hastily Her We are betray'd and there remains alone This comfort that your person is not known Enter the King Argaleon Rhodophil Palamede Guards some like Citizens as prisoners Poly. What mean this midnight-consultations here Where I like an unsummon'd guest appear Leon. Sir Arga. There needs no excuse 't is understood You were all watching for your Prince's good Poly. My reverend City-friends you are well met On what great work were your grave wisdoms set Which of my actions were you scanning here What French invasion have you found to fear Leon. They are my friends and come Sir with intent To take their leaves before my banishment Poly. Your exile in both sexes friends can find I see the Ladies like the men are kind Seeing Palmyra Palm Alas I came but kneeling Poly. Adde not to your crime A lie I 'll hear you speak some other time How Eubulus nor time nor thy disguise Can keep thee undiscover'd from my eyes A Guard there seize 'em all Rho. Yield Sir what use of valour can be shown Pal. One and unarm'd against a multitude O for a sword He reaches at one of the Guards Halberds and is seiz'd behind I w'not lose my breath In fruitless pray'rs but beg a speedy death Palm O spare Leonidas and punish me Poly. Mean Girl thou want'st an Advocate for thee Now the mysterious knot will be unty'd Whether the young King lives or where he dy'd To morrows dawn shall the dark riddle clear Crown all my joys and dissipate my fear Exeunt omnes ACT V. SCENE I. Palamede Straton Palamede with a Letter in his hand Pal. THis evening say'st thou will they both be here Stra. Yes Sir both my old Master and your Mistris's Father the old Gentlemen ride hard this journey they say it shall be the last time they will see the Town and both of 'em are so pleas'd with this marriage which they have concluded for you that I am afraid they will live some years longer to trouble you with the joy of it Pal. But this is such an unreasonable thing to impose upon me to be marri'd to morrow 't is hurrying a man to execution without giving him time to say his pray'rs Stra. Yet if I might advise you Sir you should not delay it for your younger Brother comes up with 'em and is got already into their favours He has gain'd much upon my old Master by finding fault with Inn-keepers Bills and by starving us and our Horses to show his frugality and he is very well with your Mistris's Father by giving him Receipts for the Splene Gout and Scurvy and other infirmities of old age Pal. I 'll rout him and his Countrey education Pox on him I remember him before I travell'd he had nothing in him but meer Jocky us'd to talk loud and make matches and was all for the crack of the field sense and wit were as much banish'd from his discourse as they are when the Court goes out of Town to a Horse-race Go now and provide your Master's Lodgings Stra. I go Sir Exit Pal. It vexes me to the heart to leave all my designs with Doralice unfinish'd to have flown her so often to a mark and still to be bob'd at retrieve if I had but once enjoy'd her though I could not have satisfi'd my stomach with the feast at least I should have relish'd my mouth a little but now Enter Philotis Phil. Oh Sir you are happily met I was coming to find you Pal. From your Lady I hope Phil. Partly from her but more especially from my self she has just now receiv'd a Letter from her Fathet with an absolute command to dispose her self to marry you to morrow Pal. And she takes it to the death Phil. Quite contrary the Letter could never have come in a more lucky minute for it found her in an ill humour with a Rival of yours that shall be nameless about the pronunciation of a French word Pal. Count Rhodophil never disguise it I know the Amour but I hope you took the occasion to strike in for me Phil. It was my good fortune to do you some small service in it for your sake I discommended him all over cloaths person humour behaviour every thing and to sum up all told her It was impossible to find a marri'd man that was otherwise for they were all so mortifi'd at home with their wives ill humours that they could never recover themselves to be company abroad Pal. Most divinely urg'd Phil. Then I took occasion to commend your good qualities as the sweetness of your humour the comeliness of your person your good Meene your valour but above all your liberality Pal. I vow to Gad I had like to have forgot that good quality in my self if thou had'st not remember'd me on 't here are five Pieces for thee Phil. Lord you have the softest hand Sir it would do a woman good to touch it Count Rhodophil's is not half so soft for I remember I felt it once when he gave me ten Pieces for my New-years gift Pal. O I understand you Madam you shall find my hand as soft again as Count Rhodophil's there are twenty Pieces for you The former was but a Retaining Fee now I hope you 'l plead for me Phil. Your own merits speak enough Be sure onely to ply her with French words and I 'll warrant you 'll do your business Here are a list of her phrases for this day use 'em to her upon all occasions and foil her at her own weapon for she 's like one of the old Amazons she 'l never marry except it be the man who has first conquer'd her Pal. I 'll be sure to follow your advice but you 'll forget to further my design Phil. What do you think I 'll be ungrateful But however if you distrust my memory put some token on my finger to remember it by that Diamond there would do admirably Pal. There 't is and I ask your pardon heartily for calling your memory into question I assure you I 'll trust it another time without putting you to the trouble of another token Enter Palmyra and Artemis Art Madam this way the prisoners are to pass Here you may see Leonidas Palm Then here I 'll stay and follow him to death Enter Melantha hastily Mela. O here 's her Highness Now is my time to introduce my self and to make my court to her in my new French phrases Stay let me read my catalogue suitte figure chagrin naivete and let me die for the Parenthesis of all Pal. aside Do persecute her and I 'll persecute thee as fast in thy own dialect Mel. Madam the