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Show i$8 Secret-Love: Or, Phil. You your felf clear me, Madam, had I ton: More pow'r, this it the w; Bur, when your fafety was in queftion, When all your People were unfatisfied, Defir'd a King, nay more, defign'd thc Man, It wzs m y duty then. Qu. Let m e be judge of m y own fafety ; I am a W o m a n , But danger from m y Subiects cannot fright me. Phil. But .' 'dam, is a Perfon' - Qu. I cannot lo- - Shall I, I w h o am Sovereign Queen, Be barr'd of that which God and Nature gives The meaneft Slave, a freedom in m y love? Leave me, good Philocles, to m y own thoughts; W h e n next I need your counfel I'll fend for you • Phil. I'm moft unhappy in your high difpleafure ; But, fince I muft not fpeak, Madam, be pleas'd To perufe this, and therein, read m y care. [He plucks out a Paper, and prefent s it to her, But drops, unknown to him., a Picture. Queen reads. . [Exit Philocles, A Catalogue of fuch Perfons Spies the Box. What's this he has let fall I Afteria ? Aft. YourMajefty Qu. Take that up, it fell from Philocles. [She takes it up, looks on it, andfmiles. H o w now, what makes you merry ? Aft. A fmall difcovery I have made, Madam. . Qu. Of what ? Aft. Since firft your Majefty grae'd Philocles, I have not heard him nam'd for any Miftrefs, But now this Picture has convine'd me, Qu. Ha! let m e fee it [Snatches it from her. Candiope, Prince Lyfimantes, Sifter! . Your favour Madam, may encourage h i m - - And yet he loves in a high place for him: A Princefs ofthe Blood, and what is more, Beyond comparifon the faireft Lady Our Ifle can boaft. Qu. H o w ! fhe the faireft Beyond comparifon: 'tis falfe, you flatter her ; She is not fair. Aft. I humbly beg forgivenefs on m y Knees, If I offended you: but next yours, Madam, Which all muft yield to Qu. I pretend to none. Aft. She paffes for a Beauty. Qu. I, flie may pafs. But w h y do I fpeak other ? Dea:v Afteria lead me, I am not well o' th' fudden. [She faints Aft Who's near there ? help the Queen. . [The Guards are coming'. Qu. B:d em away, 'twas but a qualm, 6 And 'tis already going. Aft. Dear Madam, what's the matter! y' are Ot late fo alter'd I fcarce know you. You were gay humour'd, and you now are penfive, Unce calm, and now unquiet; Pardon m y boldnefs that I prefs thus far Into your fecret thoughts: I have at leaft A Subjects fhare in you. £?• T h ° u haft a greater, .hat of a Friend ; but am I froward, faift thou ! •W. It ill becomes m e Madam, to fay that. Qy. I know I am: prithee forgive m e for it. I cannot help it, but thou haft Not long to fuffer it. The Maiden-Queen. i Aft. Alas! Qu. I feel m y ftrength each day and hour confume, Like Lillies wafting in a Lymbeck's heat. Yet a few days And thou fhalt fee m e lie all damp and cold, Shrowded within fome holtow Vault, among M y filent Anceftors. Aft. O deareft M a d a m ! Speak not of death, or think not, if you die That I will ftay behind. Qu. Thy love has mbv'd me, I for once will have The pleafure to be pitied; I'll unfold A thing fo ttrange, fo horrid of m y felf; Aft. Blefsme, fweet Heaven! So horrid, faid you, Madam ? Qu. That Sun, w h o with one look furveys the Globe, Sees not a Wretch like m e : and could the World Take a right meafure of m y ftate within, Mankind muft either pity me, or feorn me. Aft. Sure none could clo the laft. Qu. Thou long'ft to know't: And I do tell thee, but fhame flops m y mouth. Firft promife m e thou wilt excufc m y folly, And next be fecret. - - - Aft. . . Can you doubt it, M a d a m ! Qu. Yet you might fpare m y labour; Can you not guefs • Aft. Madam, pleafe you, I'll try. Qu. Hold : Afteria. I would not have you guefs, for fhould you find it I fhould imagine, that fome other might, And then, I were molt wretched. Therefore, though you fhould know it, flatter m e : And fay you could not guefs it Aft. Madam, I need not flatter you, I cannot - • ana yet, Might not Ambition trouble your repole ? Qu. M y Sicily I thank the Gods, contents me. But fince I muft reveal it, know 'tis love : I w h o pretended fo to glory, am Become the Slave of Love.--- Aft. I thought your Majefty had fram'd defigns T o fubvert all your Laws ; become a Tyrant, Or vex your Neighbours with injurious Wars ; Is this all ? Madam. Qu. Is not this enough ? Then know, I love below m y Self; a Subject; Love one w h o loves another, and who knows not That I love him. Aft. H e muft be told it, Madam. Qa. Not for the World: Afteria: W t e n e'er he knows it I fhall die for fhame. Aft What is it then that would content your Qu. Nothing, but that I had not lov d. Aft. M a y I not ask, without offence, w h o tis? Qu Ev'n that confirms me, I have lov damns, Since thou canft know I love, and not imagine It muft be Philocles. • T» /%.,. Aft. M y Coufin is indeed a moft deferving Perfon; Valiant and Wife; and handfome; and well born. Qu. But not of Royal Blood: I know his Fate unfit to be a King. GJ T o be his Wife I could forfake m y Crown;, but not m y uio . Yet -would he did not love Candiope, Would he lov'd m e , _ but knew not ot m y love. Or X |