be charmed down by any state order or 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 KING, PHARAMOND, ARETHUSA, and train. In one breath), we have drawn you, worthy sir, Make her feel moderate health; and when she sleeps, In making no ill day, knows no ill dreams. modesty A sweeter mistress than the offered language Thra. This will be hardly done. So brave a gentleman's wronged, and flung 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. J Aside. Pha. Kissing your white hand, mistress, I take leave To thank your royal father; and thus far (For so deserving you have spoke me, sir, And so deserving I dare speak myself) You in me have your wishes. Oh, this country! Thra. Miraculous! 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 a king 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. King. As a subject, We give you freedom. Dion. Now it heats. 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) And say, I might have been.' I tell thee, Pharamond, When thou art king, look I be dead and rotten, 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 Το you, I am not mad. King. You displease us: You are too bold. 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 me; And I dare make it mine. You have your answer. And from this presence, spite of all these bugs, King. Sir, you wrong the prince : You deserve our frown. Go to; be better tempered. Phi. It must be, sir, when I am nobler used. 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, My wrongs would make ill riddles to be laughed at. Phi. Take them, 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 not I Said, I was wronged: I carry all about me, King. Sure, he's possessed. Phi. Yes, with my father's spirit: It is here, O king! A dangerous spirit. Now he tells me, king, I was a king's heir, bids me be a king; And whispers to me, these are all my subjects. 'Tis strange he will not let me sleep, but dives Into my fancy, and there gives me shapes, That kneel, and do me service, cry 66 But I'll suppress him; he's a factious spirit, And will undo me. Noble sir, your hand : I am your servant. me king:" King. Away, I do not like this: I pardon your wild speech, without so much Dion. See, how his fancy labours! Has he not Spoke home, and bravely? What a dangerous train, I gave you not this freedom to brave our best Did he give fire to! How he shook the king, friends. Made his soul melt within him, and his blood Run into whey! It stood upon his brow, Like a cold winter dew. Phi. Gentlemen, You have no suit to me? I am no minion: You stand, methinks, like men, that would be courtiers, If you could well be flattered at a price Phi. Well, very well; And so well, that, if the king please, I find Dion. The king must please, Whilst we know what you are, and who you are, Phi. Friends, no more; Our cars may be corrupted: 'Tis an age We dare not trust our wills to. Do you love me? Of love than fear. Phi. My lord Dion, Are. Of love? to whom? to you! Did you deliver those plain words, I sent, You had a virtuous gentlewoman called you fa- With such a winning gesture, and quick look, ther; Is she yet alive? Dion. Most honoured sir, she is: And, for the penance but of an idle dream, Has undertook a tedious pilgrimage. Enter a Lady. Phi. Is it to me, or any of these gentlemen, you come? Lady. To you, brave lord: The princess would entreat your present company. Phi. The princess send for me! You are mistaken. Lady. If you be called Philaster, 'tis to you. Phi. Kiss her fair hand, and say I will attend her. Dion. Do you know what you do? Phi. Yes; go to see a woman. Cle. But do you weigh the danger you are in? Phi. Danger in a sweet face! 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 That you have caught him? Lady. Madam, I mean to you. Are. Of love to me? alas! thy ignorance Lets thee not see the crosses of our births. Are. Bring him in. Phi. No. Are. Do. Phi. I can't endure it. Turn away my face? I never yet saw enemy, that looked So dreadfully, but that I thought myself As great a basilisk as he; or spake So horribly, but that I thought my tongue Bore thunder underneath, as much as his; Nor beast, that I could turn from: Shall I then Begin to fear sweet sounds? a lady's voice, Whom I do love? Say, you would have my life; Why, I will give it you; for it is to me A thing so loathed, and unto you, that ask, Of so poor use, that I will make no price: If you entreat, I will unmovedly hear. Are. Yet, for my sake, a little bend thy looks. Phi. I do. Are. Then know, I must have them, and thee. Phi. And me? Are. Thy love; without which, all the land, Discovered yet, will serve me for no use, But to be buried in. Phi. Is't possible? Are. With it, it were too little to bestow On thee. Now, though thy breath do strike me dead, (Which, know, it may) I have unript my breast. By all my hopes, I do above my life : Love you, 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, Than this thy breath. But spend not hasty time Is mingled with it. Let us leave, Lest some unwelcome guest should fall betwixt us. Phi. Twill be ill I should abide here long. Are. 'Tis true; and worse You should come often. How shall we devise Phi. I have a boy, Sent by the gods, I hope, to this intent, Of which he borrowed some to quench his thirst, The prettiest lecture of his country art, Are. 'Tis well; no more. Are. What will you do, Philaster, with yourself? Are. Dear, hide thyself. Bring in the prince. Phi. Hide me from Pharamond! When thunder speaks, which is the voice of Jove C 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. Pha. You are gone: By Heaven, I'll fetch you back. Phi. You shall not need. Phi. Know, Pharamond, Phi. Though it should sleep for ever to the I loath to brawl with such a blast as thou, world, Who art nought but a valiant voice: But, ifThou shalt provoke me further, men shall say "Thou wert," and not lament it. ACT II. Phi. AND thou shalt find her honourable, boy, Full of regard unto thy tender youth, For thine own modesty; and, for my sake, Apter to give than thou wilt be to ask, Ay, or deserve. Bel. Sir, you did take me up, when I was nothing; And only yet am something, by being yours. You trusted me unknown; and that, which you were apt To construe a simple innocence in me, Hardened in lies and theft: Yet ventured you you. And bear'st a childish overflowing love [Exeunt at different sides. Thou wilt remember best those careful friends, That placed thee in the noblest way of life. She is a princess I prefer thee to. Bel. In that small time that I have seen the world, I never knew a man hasty to part Bel. Sir, if I have made A fault of ignorance, instruct my youth: |