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Show 1 *. 164 Secret-Love : Or, Help mc to reproach him; for I refolve irth no more to love him. . M«i4«n« ft. Truth is, I wondrcd at your Patience Madam. Did you not mark his words, his meen his adieu, H o w follofhaughtinefs, h o w fmall ^ e f t ? Qu. And he to ufe m e thus, he w h o m I favoured, Nay more, he w h o m I lov'd? Prefence » Aft. A Man, methinks, oi vulgar Parts and Pretence . Qu. Or allow him fomething Handfome, Valiant, or fo - Yet this to m e 1 , Thc Workmanfhip of inconfiderate Favour, The Creature of rafh Love ; one of thofe Meteors Which Monarchs raife from Earth, And People wondring how they came fo high, . Fear, from their influence, Plagues, and Wars, and Famme. &. Ha! * . Aft. One w h o m inftead of banifhing a day, You fhould have plum'd of all his borrow'd honours: And let him fee what abjed things they are W h o m Princes often love without defert. Qu. What has m y Philocles deferv'd from thee, That thou fhouldft ufe him thus ? Were he the bafeft of Mankind thou could'ft not Have given him ruder Language. Aft. Did not your Majefty Command me, I not your felf begin ? Qu. I grant I did, but I have right to do it; I love him and may rail; in you 'tis Malice ; : in the moft higheft degree ; for never M an . s more deferving than m y Philocles. Or, do you love him, ha! and plead that title ? Confefs, and I'll forgive you. For none can look on him but needs muft love. Aft. I love him, M a d a m ! I befeech your Majefty Have better thoughts of me. Qu. Doft thou not love him then! Good Heav'n, how ftupid and how dull is fhe! H o w moft invincibly infenfible! N o W o m a n does deferve to live That loves not Philocles Aft. Dear Madam, recollect your felf; alas H o w much diffracted are your thoughts, and how Dif-jointed all your words ; - • - The Sybills leaves more orderly were laid. Where is that harmony of Mind, that Prudence Which guided all you did ! that fenfe of glory Which rais'd you, high above the reft of Kings, As Kings are o'er the level of Mankind! Qu. Gone, gone Afteria, all is gone, Or loft within m e far from any ufe. Sometimes I ftruggk"like the Sun in Clouds, But ftraight I a m o'r-catt. Aft. I grieve to fee it. • Qu. Then thou haft yet the goodnefs Tcwfewfcn what V laid. Alas, I ufe m y felf much worfe than thee. Love rages in great Souls, • For there his Pow'r moft oppofition finds ; High Trees are fhook, becaufe they dare the Winds. [Exeunt, ACT The Maiden-Queen. 165 ACT III. SCENE of the Aft. The Court Gallery. Philocles, Solus. Phil. " T H l S True, fhe banifh'd m e but for a day; But Favourites, once declining, fink apace. Yet Fortune, ftop, this is the likelieft place To meet- Afteria, and by her convey, M y humble Vows to m y offended Queen. Enter Queen and Afteria. Ha ! She comes her felf; Unhappy M a n ! Where fhall I hide ? • U -!{t- Qu. Is not that Philocles W h o makes fuch hafte away ? Philocles, f hi lodes • Philocles coming back.~] I fear'd fhe faw me. Qu. H o w now, Sir, a m I fuch a Bugbear That I feare People from m e ? Phil. 'Tis true, I fhould more carefully have fliun'd The place where you might be; as, when it thunders Men reverently quit the open Air, Becaufe the angry Gods are then abroad. Qu. What does he mean, Afteria ! I do not underftand him. Aft. Your Majefty forgets you banifh'd him Your Prefence for this day. \T° her foft ly. Qu. Ha! banifh'd him! 'tis true indeed; But, as thou fayft, I had forgot it quite. [To her. Aft. That's very Arrange, fcarce half an hour ago. Qu. But Love had drawn his Pardon up fo foon That I forgot he e'er offended me. Phil. Pardon me, that I could not thank you fooner: Your fudden grace, like fome fwift Flood pour'd in on narrow Banks O'r-flow'd m y Spirits. Qu. N o ; tis for m e to ask your Pardon, Philocles, For the great Injury I did you, In not remembring I was angry with you. But I'll repair m y Fault, And rowze m v Anger up againft you yet. Phil. N o , Madam, m y forgivenefs was your Act ot grace, And I lay hold of it. Qu. Princes fometimes may pafs, Acts of Oblivion in their o w n wrong. Phil. 'Tis true, but not recal them. Qu. But, Philocles, fince I have told you there is one I love. I will go on ; and let vou know What paffed this day'betwixt us; be our Judge Whether m y Servant have dealt well with me. Phil. I befeech your Majefty excufe m e : Any thing more of him may make me Relapfe too foon, and forfeit m y late Pardon. Qu. But you'l be glad to know it. Phil. M a y I not hope then You have fome quarrel to him? Qu. Yes, a great one. But firft to juftifie m y felf, Know, Philocles, I have conceal'd m y Paffion With fuch care from him, that he knows not yet I love, but only that I much efteem him. Phil. O ftupid Wretch . That by a thoufand Tokens could not guefs it! Qu. He loves elfewhere, and that has blinded lnm- Phil. He's Blifd indeed ! Sft |