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Enter a Lady.

Phi. Is it to me, or any of thefe gentlemen, you come?

Lady. To you, brave lord; the princess would

entreat

Your prefent company,

Phi. Kifs her fair hand, and fay, I will attend her. Dion. Do you know what you do?

Phi. Yes, go to see a woman.

Clere. But do you weigh the danger you are in? Phi. Danger in a sweet face?

Her eye may shoot me dead, or those true red

And white friends in her face may fteal my foul out: There's all the danger in't: But be what may,

Her fingle name hath armed me.

Dion. Go on:

And be as truly happy as thou art fearless:

[Exit.

Come, gentlemen, let's make our friends acquainted,

Left the king prove false.

Scene changes to another apartment,

Enter Arethufa and a Lady.

[Exeunt.

Are. Comes he not?

Lady. Madam?

Are. Will Philafter come?

Lady. Dear madam, you were wont

Το

To credit me at first.

Are. But didft thou tell me fo?

I am forgetful, and my woman's strength
Is fo o'ercharg'd with danger like to grow
About my marriage, that these under things
Dare not abide in fuch a troubled fea;

How look'd he, when he told thee he would come?
Lady. Why, well.

Are. And not a little fearful?

Lady. Fear, madam? Sure he knows not what it is. Are. You all are of his faction; the whole court

Is bold in praise of him; whilst I

May live neglected, and do noble things,
As fools in ftrife throw gold into the sea,

Drown'd in the doing: But, I know, he fears.
Lady. Fear? madam, methought, his looks hid

more

Of love than fear.

Are. Of love? to whom? to you?

Did you

deliver thofe plain words I fent With fuch a winning gefture, and quick look, That you have caught him?

Lady. Madam, I mean to you.

Are. Of love to me? Alas! thy ignorance Lets thee not fee the croffes of our births. Nature, that loves not to be queftion'd why

She

She did or this, or that, but has her ends,

And knows she does well, never gave the world Two things fo oppofite, fo contrary,

As he, and I am.

Lady. Madam, I think I hear him.

Are. Bring him in:

[Exit Lady.

You Gods, that would not have your dooms with

ftood,

Whose holy wifdoms at this time it is,

To make the paffion of a feeble maid
The way unto your justice, I obey.

Re-enter Lady and Philafter.

Lady. Here is my lord Philafter.

Are. Oh! 'tis well:

Withdraw yourself.

Phi. Madam, your messenger

[Exit Lady.

Made me believe, you wish'd to speak with me. Are. 'Tis true, Philafter. Have you ever

known,

That I have ought detracted from your worth?
Have I in perfon wrong'd you? or have fet

My baser inftruments to throw disgrace
Upon your virtues?

Phi. Never, madam, you.

Are. Why then should you, in such a publick place,

Injure

Injure a princess, and a scandal lay
Upon my fortunes, fam'd to be fo great;
Calling a great part of my dowry in question?

Phi. Madam, this truth, which I fhall speak, will

feem

Foolish: But for your fair and virtuous felf,
I could afford myself to have no right
To any thing you wish'd.

Are. Philafter, know,

I must enjoy these kingdoms, of Calabria
And Sicily By fate, I die, Philafter,

If I not calmly may enjoy them both.

Phi. I would do much to fave that noble life: Yet would be loth to have pofterity

Find in our ftories, that Philafter

gave

His right unto a fceptre, and a crown,
To fave a lady's longing.

Are. Nay, then hear:

I muft, and will have them, and more.

Phi. What more? Say, you would have my life; Why, I will give it you; for it is of me

A thing fo loath'd, and unto you that ask
Of fo poor use, I will unmov'dly hear.

Are. Fain would I fpeak, and yet the words are fuch

I have to fay, and do fo ill befeem

The mouth of woman, that I wish them faid,

And

And yet am loth to utter them.-Oh, turn
Away thy face!—a little bend thy looks!-
Spare, fpare me, oh, Philafter!

Phi. What means this?

Are. But that my fortunes hang upon this hour, But that occafion urges me to speak,

And that perversely to keep filence now
Would doom me to a life of wretchedness,

I could not thus have fummon'd thee, to tell thee,
The thoughts of Pharamond are scorpions to me,
More horrible than danger, pain or death!
Yes I must have thy kingdoms-muft have thee!
Phi. How! me?

Are. Thy love !-without which all the land.
Discover'd yet, will ferve me for no use
But to be buried in.

Phi. Is't poffible!

Are. With it, it were too little to bestow

On thee: Now, though thy breath doth ftrike me.

dead,

(Which, know, it may) I have unript my

breaft.

Phi. Madam, you are too full of noble thoughts

To lay a train for this contemned life,

Which you may have for afking: To fufpect
Were bafe, where I deferve no ill. Love you?
By all my hopes, I do, above my life:

But

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