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Show 18d Secret-Love: Or, And ftreight a little further venture on, Till at thc laft they plunge into the deep, And pafs at once, what they were doubting long: I'll make the lame experiment ; it fhall be done in haiie, Becaufe I'll put it pall m y Pow'r t' undo. Enter at one Door Lyfimantes, at the other Philocles, Celadon, Candiope, Florimel, Flavia,' Olinda, Sabina ; the three Deputies, and Soldiers. Lyf. In Arms! is all well, Philocles? .'. No, but it fhall be. Qu. He comes, and with him The Fevor of m y Love returns to fliakc me. I fee Love is not banifh'd from m y Soul He is ftill there, but is chain'd up by glory. . You've made a noble Conqueft, Madam. Qu. Come hither, Philocles: I a m firft to ttll you 1 and m y Coufin are agreed, he has Engag'd to lay down Arms. il. 'Tis well for him he has; for all his Party, By m y Command, already are furpriz'd, While I was talking with your Majefty. Cel. Yes 'Faith I have done him that Courtciie ; J brought his Followers, under pretence of guarding it, to a ftraight place where they areallcoupt up without ufe of their Arms,aiid may be pelted to death by die fmall Infantry o' the Town. Qu 'Twas more than I expected, or could hope; Yet ftill I thought your meaning honeft. 7. M y fault was rafhnefs, but 'twas full of Zeal : Nor had I e'er been led to that attempt, FT ad I not feen it would be done without m e : But by compliance I preferv'd the Pow'r Which I have fince made ufe of for your Service. Qu. And which I purpofe fo to recompence. • Lyf. With her Crown fhe means; I knew 'twould come to't. [Afide. ^ Phil. 0 Heav'ns, fhe'll own her Love ' Then I muft lofe Candiope for ever, And floating in a vaft abyfs of glory, Seek and not find m y felf! Qu. Take four Candiope; and be as happy As Love can make you both: how pleas'd I am That I can force m y Tongue, To fpeak words fo far d iff ant from m y Heart! [Afide Can. M y Happinefs is more than lean utter! Lyf. Methinks I could do Violence on m y felf tor taking Arms Againft a Queen fo good, fo Bountiful : Give me leave, Madam, in m y Extafie Of Joy, to give you thanks for Philocles, You have preferv'd m y Friend, and now he owes not His Fortunes only to your Favour; but What's more his Life, and more than that, his Love. 1 am convincd, fhe never lov'd him now • Since by her free content, all force remov'd She gives him to m y Sifter. Flavia was an Impoftor and deceiv'd me. Phil Asfor me, Madam, I can only fav He feems not fatisfi'd ; for I ftill wifl, * ' PlCaS d 1 nat he may Love me. ttfu'n I fee Afi'rU ^uded me With flattering hopes ofthe Queens I ove On y to draw me o f f f t o m X ^ J ^ But I will think no more on't. rm The Maiden-Queen. \%j I'm going to poffefs Candiope, And I am ravifh'd with the joy on't! ha I Not ravifh'd neither. For what can be more charming than the Queen.' Behold how Night fits lovely on her Eyes-Brows, While Day breaks from her Eyes .' Then a Crown too / Loft, loft, for ever loft, and now 'tis gone 'Tis beautiful. • [Afide. Aft. H o w he Eyes you ftill! [To the Queen. Phil. Sure I had one of the fallen Angels Dreams; All Heav'n within this hour was mine ! [Afide. Can. What is it that difturhs you, Dear ? Phil. Only the greatnefs of m y Joy : I've ta'n too ftrong a Cordial, Love, And cannot yet digeft it. Qu. 'Tis done! but this pang more ; [Clapping her Hand on Afteria- And then a glorious Birth. The tumults of this day, m y loyal Subjects Have fetled in m y heart a refolution, Happy Tor you, and glorious too for mc. Firft for m y Coufin, though attempting on m y Perfon, H e has incurr'd the danger of the Laws, I will not punifh him. Lyf. You bind m e ever to m y Loyalty. Qu. Then that I may oblige you more to it. • I here declare you rightful Succeffor, And Heir immediate to m y Crown: This, Gentlemen. [To the Deputies. I hope will ftill m y Subjects difcontents, W h e n they behold Succeffion firmly fetled. Deputies. Heav'n Preferve your Majefty. Qu. As for m y Self, I have refolv'd Still to continue as I am, Unmarried : The Cares, Obfervances, and all the Duties Which I fhould pay an Husband, I will place Upon m y People ; and our mutual love Shall make aBleffing more than Conjugal. And this the States fhall ratifie. Lyf. Heav'n bear m e Witnefs that I take no joy In the Succeffion of a Crown Which muft defeend to m e fb fad away. Qu. Coufin, no more; m y Refolution's paft, Which Fate fhall never alter. Phil. Then I am once more happy! For fince none poffefs her, I a m pleas'd With m y own choice, and will defire no more; For multiplying Withes is a Curfe That keep the Mind ftill painfully awake. Qu. Celadon! Your Care and Loyalty have this Day obliged m e ; But h o w to be acknowledging I know not, Unlets you give the means. Cel. I was in hope your Majefty had forgot m e ; therefore if you pleafe, Madam, I'll only beg a Pardon for having taken up Arms once to day againft you; for I have a fbolifh kind of Confidence, which I wifh many of your Subjects had, that will not let m e ask a Recompence for m y Loyalty, when I know I have been a Rebel. Qu. Your Modefty fhall not ferve the turn: Ask fomething. Cel. Then I beg, Madam, you will C o m m a n d Florimel never to be Friends with me. , „ , -, Flor. Ask again, I grant that without the Queen: But w h y are you aft raid on t f Cel. Becaufe I a m fure as foon as ever you are, you'll Marry me. Flor. D o you fear it ? Cel. No, 'twill come with a fear. Flor. If you do, I will not ftick with vou for a n O ' |