I could give away all my wardrobe, and go naked for them.

Phil. Go naked? Then you would be a Venus, madam. O Jupiter! what had I forgot? This paper was given me by Rhodophil's page.

Mel. [Reading the letter.] Beg the favour from you.- Gratify my passion-so far-assignation-in the grotto-behind the terrace--clock this evening-Well, for the billets dour there is no man in Sicily must dispute with Rhodophil; they are so French, so gallant, and so tendre, that I cannot resist the temptation of the assignation. Now, go you away, Philotis; it imports me to practise what to say to my servant when I meet him. [Exit PHILOTIS.] Rhodophil, you'll wonder at my assurance to meet you here;-let me die, I am so out of breath with coming, that I can render you no reason of it.Then he will make this repartee; Madam, I have no reason to accuse you for that which is so great a favour to me.-Then I reply, But why have you drawn me to this solitary place? Let me die, but I am apprehensive of some violence from you. Then says he, Solitude, madam, is most fit for lovers; but by this fair hand- Nay, now I vow you're rude, sir. O fy, fy, fy; I hope you'll be honourable?--You'd laugh at me if I should, madam.—What, do you mean to throw me down thus? Ah me! ah! ah! ah!

Enter POLYDAMAS, LEONIDAS, and Guards. O Venus! the king and court. fear they have found my foible, into ridicule.

Leon. Sir, I beseech you.

Poly. Do not urge my patience.
Leon. I'll not deny,

Let me die, but I and will turn me [Exit, running.

But what your spies informed you of is true:

I love the fair Palmyra; but I loved her

title to my

blood.

Enter PALMYRA guarded.

See, here she comes, and looks, amidst her guards,
Like a weak dove under the falcon's gripe.
O heaven, I cannot bear it.

Poly. Maid, come hither.

Have you presumed so far, as to receive
My son's affections?

Palm. Alas, what shall I answer? To confess it Will raise a blush upon a virgin's face;

Yet I was ever taught 'twas base to lie.

Poly. You've been too bold, and you must love

no more.

Palm. Indeed I must; I cannot help my love; I was so tender when I took the bent,

That now I grow that way.

Poly. He is a prince, and you are meanly born. Leon. Love either finds equality, or makes it: Like death, he knows no difference in degrees, But plains, and levels all.

Palm. Alas! I had not rendered up my heart, Had he not loved me first; but he preferred me Above the maidens of my age and rank,Still shunned their company, and still sought mine. I was not won by gifts, yet still he gave; And all his gifts, though small, yet spoke his love. He picked the earliest strawberries in woods, The clustered filberds, and the purple grapes; He taught a prating stare to speak my name; And, when he found a nest of nightingales, Or callow linnets, he would show them me, And let me take them out.

Poly. This is a little mistress, meanly born, Fit only for a prince's vacant hours,

And then, to laugh at her simplicity,

Not fix a passion there.

Now hear my sentence. Leon. Remember, ere you give it, 'tis pronounced

Against us both.

Poly. First, in her hand

There shall be placed a player's painted sceptre,
And, on her head, a gilded pageant crown :
Thus shall she go,

With all the boys attending on her triumph;
That done, be put alone into a boat,

With bread and water only for three days;
So on the sea she shall be set adrift,
And who relieves her dies.

Palm. I only beg that you would execute
The last part first: Let me be put to sea;
The bread and water for my three days life
I give you back, I would not live so long;
But let me 'scape the shame.

Leon. Look to me, piety; and you, O Gods, look to my piety!

Keep me from saying that, which misbecomes a son; But let me die before I see this done.

Poly. If you for ever will abjure her sight, I can be yet a father; she shall live.

Leon. Hear, O you powers! is this to be a father?

I see 'tis all my happiness and quiet
You aim at, sir; and take them:

I will not save even my Palmyra's life
At that ignoble price; but I'll die with her.
Palm. So had I done by you,

Had fate made me a princess.-Death, methinks,

Is not a terror now:

He is not fierce, or grim, but fawns, and sooths me, And slides along, like Cleopatra's aspick,

Offering his service to my troubled breast.

Leon. Begin what you have purposed when you please;

Lead her to scorn, your triumph shall be doubled. As holy priests,

In pity, go with dying malefactors,

So I will share her shame.

Poly. You shall not have your will so much; first part them,

Then execute your office.

Leon. No; I'll die

In her defence.

[Draws his sword.

Palm. Ah, hold, and pull not on

A curse, to make me worthy of my death:
Do not by lawless force oppose your father,
Whom you have too much disobeyed for me.
Leon. Here, take it, sir, and with it pierce my
heart:

[Presenting his sword to his Father upon his

knees.

You have done more in taking my Palmyra.
You are my father; therefore I submit.

Poly. Keep him from any thing he may design
Against his life, while the first fury lasts;
And now perform what I commanded you.
Leon. In vain; if sword and poison be denied

me,

I'll hold my breath and die.

Palm. Farewell, my last Leonidas; yet live,
I charge you, live, 'till you believe me dead.
I cannot die in peace, if you die first;
If life's a blessing, you shall have it last.
Poly. Go on with her, and lead him after me.

Enter ARGALEON hastily, with HERMOGENES. Arga. I bring you, sir, such news as must amaze you,

And such as will prevent you from an action,

Which would have rendered all your life unhappy. [HERMOGENES kneels. Poly. Hermogenes, you bend your knees in vain, My doom's already past.

Her. I kneel not for Palmyra, for I know She will not need my prayers; but for myself: With a feigned tale I have abused your ears, And, therefore, merit death: but since, unforced, I first accuse myself, I hope your mercy. Poly. Haste to explain your meaning.

Her. Then, in few words, Palmyra is your daughter.

Poly. How can I give belief to this impostor? He, who has once abused me, often may.

I'll hear no more.

Arga. For your own sake, you must.

Her. A parent's love, for I confess my crime,Moved me to say, Leonidas was yours;

But when I heard Palmyra was to die,

The fear of guiltless blood so stung my conscience, That I resolved, even with my shame, to save Your daughter's life.

Poly. But how can I be certain, but that interest, Which moved you first to say your son was mine, Does not now move you too, to save your daughter?

Her. You had but then my word; I bring you

now

Authentic testimonies. Sir, in short,

[Delivers on his knees a jewel, and letter.

If this will not convince you, let me suffer.

Poly. I know this jewel well; 'twas once my

mother's,

[Looking first on the jewel.

Which, marrying, I presented to my wife.

And this, O this is my Eudocia's hand.

This was the pledge of love given to Eudocia, [Reads. Who, dying, to her young Palmyra leaves it;