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Show .8o -" ~ ' Marriage A-k^odc. ~~~P^a. But can you. in Charity^ meto^^^^f^ in me fome Relief > If it be but to punifh that Sign of a Husband mere, that a* M a t r ^ to Dine abroad on worfe Meat, and to pay dear fort into the bargain. Dor: AlUhis is in vain: Allure your felf, I will never adm.tof any vifit from y°Pda TnTtb to tell me, in other words, my Condition is defperate Dot. I think you in fo ill a Condition, that I am refolved to pray for you, this verv Evening in the clofe Walk, behind die Terras; tor that s a private Place and there Tarn fure no body will difturb m y Devotions. And lo, good- . « '' « Exit. nieht, Sir. . T , L, r Pala. This is the neweft way of making an Appointment, lever neard oi : I ct W o m e n alone to contrive the means; I find we arc but Dunces to em. Well I will not be fo prophane a Wretch as to interrupt' her Devotions; but to make 'cm more effeftual, I'll down upon m y Knees, and endeavour to join m y own with 'em. L™- Amal. {To Rodophil.] I know already they do not love each other ; and that m y Brother afts but a fore'd Obedience to the King's Commands; fb that, it a Quarrel fhould arife betwixt the Prince and him, 1 were moft miferable on both fides. Rho. There fhall be nothing wanting in me, Madam, to prevent fo fad a confequence. Enter th King, Leonidas; th King whifpers Amalthea. [ To himfelf. ] I begin to hate this Palamede,"becaufe he is to Marry m y Miftrifs : yet break with him I dare not, for fear of being quite excluded from her company. 'Tis a hard cafe when a M a n muff go by his Rival to his Miftrifs : But, 'tis at worft but ufing him like a pair of heavy Boots in a dirty Journey ; after I have foul'd him all Day, I'll throw him off at Night. [ Exit. { Amal. to th King.~] This Honour is too great for m e to hope. Poly. You fhall this Hour have the affuranceof it. Leonidas, come hither; youhave heard, I doubt not, that the Father of this Princefs W a s m y moft faithful Friend, while I was yet A private M a n ; and when I did affume This Crown, he ferv'd me in that high Attempt. You fee, then, to what Gratitude obliges m c; Make your Addreflesto her. Leon. Sir, I am yet too young to be a Courtier; I fhould too much betray m y Ignorance, And want of breeding, to fo fair a Lady. Amal. Your Language fpeaks you not bred up in Defarts, But in the foftnefs of fome Afian Court, Where Luxury and Eafe invent kind words, To cozen tender Virgins of their Hearts. Poly. You need not doubt But in what words foe'er a Prince can offer His Crown and Perfon, they will be receiv'd. You know m y Pleafure, and you know your Duty. Leon. Yes, Sir, I (hall Obey, in what I can. Poly. In what you can, Leonidas? Confider, He's both your King and Father, who Commands you. Befides, W h a t is there hard in m y Injunction ? Leon. 'Tis hard to have m y Inclination fore'd. I would not Marry, Sir; and, when 1 do, 1 hope you'll give me freedom in m y Choice. Poly. View well this Lady, Whofe Mind as much tranfeends her Beauteous Face As that excells all others. • Amal M y Beauty, as it ne'er could merit Lo- So neither can it beg : and, Sir, you may Believe that, what the King hasoffer'd you, I fhould refufe, did I not value more Your Perfon than your Crown. Leon, *_-^Think it not Pride, Or Or m y new Fortunes fwell m e to contemn you • Think lefs, that I want Eyes to fee your Beauty • And leaft of all, think Duty wanting in me T'obey a Father's Will : But Poly. . . ga what-5 Leonidas $ For I muft know your Reafon; and be fure It be convincing too. Leon. -Sir, ask the Stars, Which have impos'd Love on us like a Fate, W h y , Minds are bent to one, and-fly anoth r? Ask why all Beauties cannot move all Hearts e For though there may Be made a Rule for Colour or for Feature; There can be none for liking. Poly. Leonidas, you owe me more Than to oppofe your Liking to m y Pleafure. Leon. 1 owe you all things, Sir ; but fomething too I owe m y felf. Poly. You fhall difpure no more; I am a King, And I will be Obey'd. Leon. You are a King, Sir, but you are no God ; Or if you were, you could not force m y Will. Poly. But you are juft, you Gods; O you are juft, In punifhing the Crimes of m y Rebellion With a Rebellious Son! Yet I can punifh him, as you do me. Leonidas, there is no jefting with M y Will: I ne'er had done fo much to gain A Crown, but to be Abfolute in all things. Amal. O, Sir, be not fo much a King, as to Forget you are a Father : Soft Indulgence Becomes that Name. Though Nature gives you Pow'r, T o bind his Duty, 'tis with filken Bonds: Command him, then, as you Command your felf : He is as much a part of you, as are Your Appetite and Will, and thofe you force not, But gently bend, and make 'em pliant to your Reafon. Poly. It may be I have us'd too rough a way: Forgive me, m y Leonidas; I know I lie as open to the gufts of Paffion, As the bare Shore to every beating Surge. I will not force thee, now; but I intreat thee, Abfolve a Father's V o w to this fair Virgin : A V o w which hopes of having fuch a Son Firft caus'd. Leon. Show not m y Difobedience by your Pray'rs; For I muft ftill deny you, though I now Appear more guilty to m y felf, than you. I have fome reafons, which I cannot utter, That force m y Difobedience; yet I mourn To Death, that the firft thing you ecr enjoin'd me, Should be that only one Command in Nature Which I could not obey. Poly. I did defeend too much below m y felf W h e n I intreated him. Hence to thy Defart, Thou'rt n ct m y Sen. cr art nctfit to be. Amal. Great Sir, I humbly beg you, make not me The caufe of your Difpleafure. I Abfolve Your V o w : Far, far from me be fuch Defigns; So wretched a Defire of being Great, By making him unhappy. You may fee Something fo Noble in the Prince his Nature, As grieves him more not to Obey, than you That you are not Obey'd. y Q.qq2 |