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Leon. Make me the object of your hate and ven

geance!

Are these decrepid bodies, worn to ruin,
Just ready of themselves to fall asunder,
And to let drop the soul,-

Are these fit subjects for a rack and tortures?
Where would you fasten any hold upon them?
Place pains on me,-united fix them here,-

I have both youth, and strength, and soul to bear them;

And, if they merit death, then I much more,
Since 'tis for me they suffer.

Herm. Heaven forbid

We should redeem our pains, or worthless lives,

By our exposing yours.

Eub. Away with us.

Farewell, sir:

I only suffer in my fears for you.

Arga. So much concerned for him! Then my

Suspicion's true.

[Aside.

[Whispers the King. Palm. Hear yet my last request for poor Leoni

das,

Or take my life with his.

Arga. Rest satisfied, Leonidas is he.

[To the King.

Poly. I am amazed: What must be done? Arga. Command his execution instantly: Give him not leisure to discover it;

He may corrupt the soldiers.

Poly. Hence with that traitor, bear him to his death:

Haste there, and see my will performed.

Leon. Nay, then, I'll die like him the gods have made me.

Hold, gentlemen, I am

[ARGALEON stops his mouth. Arga. Thou art a traitor; 'tis not fit to hear thee.

[blocks in formation]

Leon. I say, I am the

[Getting loose a little.

Arga. So; gag him, and lead him off.

[Again stopping his mouth.

[LEONIDAS, HERMOGENES, EUBULUS, led off; POLYDAMAS and ARGALEON follow.

Palm. Duty and love, by turns, possess my soul And struggle for a fatal victory.

I will discover he's the king:-Ah, no!

That will perhaps save him;

But then I'm guilty of a father's ruin.
What shall I do, or not do? Either way

I must destroy a parent, or a lover.

Break heart; for that's the least of ills to me,
And death the only cure.

Arte. Help, help the princess.

[Swoons.

Rho. Bear her gently hence, where she may Have more succour.

[She is borne off; ARTE. follows her. [Shouts within, and clashing of swords.

Pala. What noise is that?

Enter AMALTHEA, running.

Amal. Oh, gentlemen, if you have loyalty, Or courage, show it now! Leonidas,

Broke on the sudden from his guards, and snatching
A sword from one, his back against the scaffold,
Bravely defends himself, and owns aloud

He is our long-lost king; found for this moment,
But, if your valour helps not, lost for ever.
Two of his guards, moved by the sense of virtue,
Are turned for him, and there they stand at bay
Against an host of foes.

Rho. Madam, no more;

We lose time; my command, or my example,
May move the soldiers to the better cause.
You'll second me?

[TO PALA.

Pala. Or die with you: No subject e'er can meet A nobler fate, than at his sovereign's feet. [Exeunt. [Clashing of swords within, and shouts.

Enter LEONIDAS, RHODOPHIL, PALAMEDE, EUBULUS, HERMOGENES, and their Party, victorious; POLYDAMAS and ARGALEON, disarmed.

Leon. That I survive the dangers of this day, Next to the gods, brave friends, be yours the ho

nour;

And, let heaven witness for me, that my joy
Is not more great for this my right restored,
Than 'tis, that I have power to recompense
Your loyalty and valour. Let mean princes,
Of abject souls, fear to reward great actions;
I mean to shew,

you,

That whatsoe'er subjects, like dare merit,
A king, like me, dares give.

Rho. You make us blush, we have deserved so little.

Pala. And yet instruct us how to merit more. Leon. And as I would be just in my rewards, So should I in my punishments; these two, This, the usurper of my crown, the other, Of my Palmyra's love, deserve that death, Which both designed for me.

Poly. And we expect it.

Arga. I have too long been happy, to live wretched. Poly. And I too long have governed, to desire A life without an empire.

Leon. You are Palmyra's father; and as such, Though not a king, shall have obedience paid From him who is one. Father, in that name All injuries forgot, and duty owned. [Embraces him. Poly. O, had I known you could have been this king,

Thus god-like, great and good, I should have wished

To have been dethroned before. 'Tis now I live, And more than reign; now all my joys flow pure, Unmixed with cares, and undisturbed by conscience. Enter PALMYRA, AMALTHEA, ARTEMIS, DORALICE, and MELANTHA.

Leon. See, my Palmyra comes! the frighted blood Scarce yet recalled to her pale cheeks,

Like the first streaks of light broke loose from dark

ness,

And dawning into blushes.-Sir, you said [To POLY. Your joys were full; Oh, would you make mine so! I am but half restored without this blessing.

Poly. The gods, and my Palmyra, make you happy, As you make me! [Gives her hand to LEONIDAS. Palm. Now all my prayers are heard:

I may be dutiful, and yet may love.

Virtue and patience have at length unravelled
The knots, which fortune tyed.

Mel. Let me die, but I'll congratulate his majesty: How admirably well his royalty becomes him! Becomes! that is lui sied, but our damned language expresses nothing.

Pala. How? Does it become him already? 'Twas but just now you said, he was such a figure of a man. Mel. True, my dear, when he was a private man he was a figure; but since he is a king, methinks he has assumed another figure: He looks so grand, and so august! [Going to the King.

Pala. Stay, stay; I'll present you when it is more convenient. I find I must get her a place at court; and when she is once there, she can be no longer ridiculous; for she is young enough, and pretty enough, and fool enough, and French enough, to bring up a fashion there to be affected.

Leon. [To RHODOPHIL.] Did she then lead you to this brave attempt?

[TO AMALTHEA.] To you, fair Amalthea, what I am'
And what all these, from me, we jointly owe:
First, therefore, to your great desert we give
Your brother's life; but keep him under guard
Till our new power be settled. What more grace
He may receive, shall from his future carriage
Be given, as he deserves.

Arga. I neither now desire, nor will deserve it; My loss is such as cannot be repaired,

And, to the wretched, life can be no mercy.

Leon. Then be a prisoner always: Thy ill fate And pride will have it so: But since in this I cannot, Instruct me, generous Amalthea, how

A king may serve you.

Amal. I have all I hope,

And all I now must wish; I see you happy.
Those hours I have to live, which heaven in pity
Will make but few, I vow to spend with vestals:
The greatest part in prayers for you; the rest
In mourning my unworthiness.

Press me not farther to explain myself;

"Twill not become me, and may cause your trouble. Leon. Too well I understand her secret grief,

[Aside. But dare not seem to know it.-Come, my fairest ; [TO PALMYRA.

Beyond my crown I have one joy in store,
To give that crown to her whom I adore.

[Exeunt.

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