Cler. Sir, it is thought, with her he fhall enjoy both these kingdoms of Sicily and Calabria.

Dion. Sir, it is, without controverfy, so meant. But 'twill be a troublesome labour for him to enjoy both thefe kingdoms with fafety, the right heir to one of them living, and living fo virtuously; efpecially, the people admiring the bravery of his mind, and lamenting his injuries.

Cler. Who, Philafter?

Dion. Yes, whofe father, we all know, was by our late King of Calabria unrighteoufly depofed from his fruitful Sicily. Myfelf drew fome blood in those wars, which I would give my hand to be washed from.

Cler. Sir, my ignorance in ftate-policy will not let me know why, Philafter being heir to one of thefe kingdoms, the King should suffer him to walk abroad with fuch free liberty.

Dion. Sir, it seems your nature is more conftant than to enquire after state-news. But the King, of late, made a hazard of both the kingdoms of Sicily and his own, with offering but to imprifon Philafter; at which the city was in arms, not to be charmed down by any state-order or proclamation, till they faw Philafter ride through the ftreets, pleased, and without a guard; at which they threw their hats and their arms from them, fome to make bonfires, fome to drink, all for his deliverance. Which, wife men fay, is the cause the King labours to bring in the power of a foreign nation to are his own with. [Flourish.

Thra. Peace; the King.

SCENE draws, and difcovers the King, Pharamond, Arethufa, and Train.

King. To give a stronger teftimony of love Than fickly promifes, (which commonly In princes find both birth and burial

In one breath)' we have drawn you, worthy Sir,
To make your fair indearments to our daughter,
And worthy fervices known to our subjects,

Now lov'd and wonder'd at.' Next, our intent
To plant you deeply, our immediate heir
Both to our blood and kingdoms. For this lady,

(The

(The best part of your life, as you confirm me,
And I believe) though her few years and fex
"Yet teach her nothing but her fears and blushes ;
• Think not, dear Sir, thefe undivided parts,
• That must mould up a virgin, are put on
To fhew her fo, as borrow'd ornaments,
To speak her perfect love to you, or add
"An artificial fhadow to her nature.'
Laft, noble fon, (for so I now must call you)
What I have done thus public, is not only
• To add a comfort in particular

To you or me, but all; and' to confirm
The nobles, and the gentry of these kingdoms,
By oath to your fucceffion, which shall be
Within this month at moft.

Pha. Kiffing your white hand, miftrefs, I take leave, To thank your royal father; and thus far

To be my own free trumpet.

Understand,
Great King, and these your subjects, gentlemen,
Believe me, in a word, a prince's word,
There fhall be nothing to make up a kingdom
Mighty and flourishing, defenced, fear'd,
Equal to be commanded and obey'd,

But through the travels of my life I'll find it,
And tie it to this country. And I vow,
My reign fhall be so easy to the fubject,
That ev'ry man fhall be his prince himself,
And his own law: (yet I his prince and law)
And, dearest lady, let me fay, you are

The bleffed'ft living; for, fweet Princess, you
Shall make him yours for whom great queens must die.
Thra. Miraculous!

Cler. This fpeech calls him Spaniard, being nothing but A large inventory of his own commendations.

But here comes one more worthy thofe large fpeeches,, Than the large fpeaker of them.

Enter Philafter.

Phi. Right noble Sir, as low as my obedience, And with a heart as loyal as my knee,

I beg your favour.

King. Rife; you have it, Sir.

Speak your intents, Sir.

on,

My language to you, Prince, you, foreign man.
Ne'er ftare, nor put on wonder; for you must
Indure me, and you fhall. This earth you tread
(A dowry, as you hope, with this fair Princefs)
By my dead father (Oh, I had a father,
Whofe memory I bow to!) was not left
To your inheritance, and I up and living,
Having myfelf about me, and my fword,
The fouls of all my name, and memories,
These arms and fome few friends, befides the gods,
To part fo calmly with it, and fit ftill,

And fay, I might have been. I tell thee, Pharamond,
When thou art king, look I be dead and rotten,
And my name afhes. For, hear me, Pharamond,
This very ground thou goeft on, this fat earth,
My father's friends made fertile with their faiths,
Before that day of fhame, fhall gape, and swallow
Thee and thy nation, like a hungry grave,
Into her hidden bowels. Prince, it fhall;
By Nemefis, it shall.

King. You do displease us.

You are too bold.

Phi. No, Sir, I am too tame,

Too much a turtle, a thing born without paffion,
A faint fhadow, that every drunken cloud fails over,
And maketh nothing.

Pha. What you have seen in me to stir offence
I cannot find, unless it be this lady,

Offer'd into mine arms, with the fucceffion,

Which I must keep, though it hath pleas'd your fury
To mutiny within you. The King grants it,
And I dare make it mine. You have your answer.
Phi. If thou wert fole inheritor to him

That made the world his, and were Pharamond
As truly valiant as I feel him cold,

And ring'd among the choiceft of his friends,

And

And from this prefence, spite of all these stops,
You should hear further from me.

King. Sir, you wrong the Prince.

I gave you not this freedom to brave our best friends;
You do deserve our frown.

Go to; be better temper'd.

Phi. It must be, Sir, when I am nobler us❜d.
King. Philafter, tell me

The injuries you aim at in your riddles.

Phi. If you had my eyes, Sir, and sufferance,
My griefs upon you, and my broken fortunes,

My wants great, and now nought but hopes and fears,.
My wrongs would make ill riddles to be laughed at.
Dare you be fill my King, and right me not ?

King. Go to;

Be more yourself, as you refpect our favour;
You'll ftir us elfe. Sir, I must have you know,

(we

That you're, and fhall be, at our pleafure, what fashion Will put upon you. Smooth your brow, or, by the

gods

Phi. I am dead, Sir; you're my fate. It was not I
Said I was wrong'd. I carry all about me

My weak ftars led me to, all my weak fortunes.
Who dares in all this prefence fpeak, (that is
But man of flesh, and may be mortal) tell me,
I do not most entirely love this Prince,
And honour his full virtues ?

King. Sure he's poffefs'd!

Phi. Yes, with my father's fpirit. It's here, O King! A dangerous fpirit; now he tells me, King,

I was a king's heir, bids me be a king,

And whispers to me, these be all my fubjects.
'Tis ftrange, he will not let me fleep, but dives
Into my fancy, and there gives me fhapes
That kneel, and do me fervice, cry me king.
But I'll fupprefs him; he's a factious spirit,
And will undo me. Noble Sir, your hand;
I am your fervant.

King. Away; I do not like this.
For this time I pardon your wild fpeech.

[Exeunt King, Pha. Are. and train. Dion. See how his fancy labours. Has he not Spoke home, and bravely? What a dangerous train

B: 2

Did

Did he give fire to! How he fhook the King!
Made his foul melt within him, and his blood
Run into whey! It ftood upon his brow,
Like a cold winter dew.

Phi. Gentlemen,

You have no fuit to me; I am no minion,'

You ftand, methinks, like men that would be courtiers, you could well be flatter'd at that price,

If

Not to undo your children. You're all honeft.
Go, get you home again, and make your country
A virtuous court, to which your great ones may,
In their difeafed age, retire, and live reclufe.
Cle. How do you, worthy Sir?

Phi. Well, very well,

And fo well, that, if the King please, I find
I may live many years.

P

Dion. The King must please,

Whilst we know what you are, and who you are,
Your wrongs and injuries. Shrink not, worthy Sir,
But add your father to you; in whose name
We'll waken all the gods, and conjure up
The rods of vengeance, the abufed people,
Who, like to raging torrents, fhall fwell high,
And fo begirt the dens of thefe male-dragons,
That, through the ftrongeft fafety, they fhall beg
For mercy at your
fword's point.

Phi. Friends, no more ;

Our ears may be corrupted. 'Tis an age

We dare not truft our wills to. Do you love me?
Thra. Do we love heav'n and honour?

Phi. My Lord Dion,

You had a virtuous gentlewoman call'd you father:
Is the yet alive?

Dion. Moft honour'd Sir, fhe is;

And for the penance but of an idle dream,

Has undertook a tedious pilgrimage.

Enter a Lady.

Phi. Is it to me, or any of thefe gentlemen you come ? Lady. To you, brave Lord; the Princess would intreat

your prefent company.

Phi. Kifs her fair hand, and fay, I will attend her.
Dion. Do
you know what you do?

Phi.