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Show i 56 Secret-Love : Or, .< j . . .. -- /'^•//.-Command m y fervice. Lyf. I know your Intereft with the Queen is great; (I fpeak not this as envying your fortune, For franckly I confefs you have deferv'd it.) Befides, m y Birth, m y Courage, and m y Honour, Are all above fo bafe a Vice. Phil. I know, m y Lord, you are firft Prince p' th'Blood j Your Countreys fecond hope; And that the publick Vote, when the Queen weds, Defigns you for her choice. Lyf. I a m not worthy. Except Love makes defert; For doubtlefs flic's the glory other time ; Of faultlefs Beauty, blooming as the Spring, ' In our Sicilian Groves; fs in Vertue, And largely fold, where e'r her bounty gives, As with each breath flic could create new Indies. Phil. But jealous of her glory. Lyf. You are a Courtier; and in other terms, Would you fay fhe is averfe from Marriage, Left it might leffon her authority. But, whenfoe'r fhe does, I know the people Will fearcely fuffer her to match With any neighb'ring Prince, whofe power might bend Our free Sicilians to a Foreign Yoke. Phil. I love too well m y Country to defire it. Lyf. Then to proceed, (as you well know, m y Lord) The Provinces have fent their Deputies, Humbly to move her fhe would chufe at home : And, for fhe feems averfe from fpeaking with them By m y appointment, have defign'd thefe walks, Where well fhe cannot fhun them. N o w , if you Affift their fuit, by joining yours to it, And by your mediation I prove happy, I freely promife you. Phil. Without a Bribe command m y utmoft in it: And yet, there is a thing, which time may give m e The confidence to name : . « Lyf. 'Tis your* whatever. But tell me true ; does fhe 'not entertain Some deep and fetled thoughts againft m y perfon ? Phil. I hope not fo ; but fhe of late is froward ; Referv'd, and fad, and vex'd at little thinps; Which her great Soul afham'dof, ftrait ftiakes off, d is compos'd again. Lyf. You are ftill near the Queen, and all our Anions come to Princes Eves, as they are reprefented by them that hold the Miter. ^ryes, as f W Here fhe comes, and with her the Deputies; I fear all is not right. Enter Queen; Deputies after her; Afteria, Guard, Flavia, Olinda, Sabina. Queen turns back to the Deputies, and fpeaks entrinz. kft. And I muft tell you, A It is a fawcy boldncfs thus to prefs O n m y retirements. 1. Dep Our bufinefs being of no lefs concern l ten is the peace and quiet of your SubjeQs itdelay'd 2. Dep we humbly took this time lo reprefent your Peoples fears to you. T&v'Jnlh^tv Ffa r S ; ^ h o ™ d e them States-men? S intake their bufinefs, ifthey think to govern : . J The Rights of Subjects and of Sovcreirins things diftinft in Nature: theirs if t 0 v Propriety, not Empire. Lyf. The Maiden-Queen. 57 Lyf. Ifthey have err'd, 'twas but an over-care ; A n ill-tim'd Duty. Qu. Coufin, I expect From your near Blood, not to excufe, but check \ They would impofe aRukr Upon their Lawful Queen : For what's an Husband elfe ? Lyf. Far, Madam, be it from the thoughts Of any who pretends to that high Honour, T o wifh for more than to be reckon'd As the moft grae'd and firft of all your Servants. Qu. Thefe are th' infinuating promifes Of thofe w h o aim at pow'r: but tell me, Coufin; (For you are unconcern'd, and may be Judge) Should that afpiringMan compafs his ends," What pawn of his obedience could he give me, W h e n Kingly Pow'r were once inverted in him ? Lyf. What greater pledge than Love: when thofe fair Ev Caft their comm.?riding Beams, he thatcou'd be A Rebel to your Birth, muft pay them homage. Qu. All Eyes are fair That fparkle with the Jewels of a Crown : But now I fee m y Government is odious; M y People find I a m not fit to Reign, Elfe they would never Lyf. So far from that, w e all acknowledge you The bounty of the Gods to Sicilie 1 More than they are you cannot make our Joys ; Make them but lafting in a Succeffor. Phil. Your People feek not to impofe a Prince; But humbly offer one to your free choice: And fuch a one as he is, (may I have leave T o fpeak fome little of his great deferts.) Qu. I'll hear no more To the Dep. For you, attend to morrow at the Council, There you fhall have m y firm refolves; mean time M y Coufin I a m fure will welcome you. Lyf. Still more and more myfterious: but I have gain'd one of her W o m e n that fhall unriddle it: Come, Gentlemen. AH Dep. Heav'n preferve your Majefty. [Exeunt Lyfimantes and Deputies, Qu. Philocles, you may ftay. Phil. I humbly wait your Majefties Commands. Qu. Yet now I better think on't, you may go. Phil. Madam! Qu. I have no Commands. or, what's all one You, no Obedience. Phil. H o w , no Obedience, Madam ? I plead no other Merit; 'tis the Charter By which I hold vour Favour, and my Fortunes. Qu. M y Favours are cheap Bleffings, like Rain and Sun-fhine, For which w e fearcely thank the Gods, becaufe W e daily have them. Phil. Madam, your Breath which rais'd m e from the duft May lay me there again: But Fate nor Time can ever make m e lofe The fence of your Indulgent Bounties to me. Qu. You are above them now ; grown popular: Ah Philocles, could I expect from you That ufage ! no Tongue but yours T o move m e to a Marriage ? The factious Deputies might have fome end in't, And m y Ambitious Coufin gain a Crown; Biit what advantage could there come to you ? What could you hope from Lyfimantes's Reign That you can want in mine ? [Weeps. Phil. |
