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Queens ought to tear their hair, and with their tears
Bathe 'em. Forgive me, thou that art the wealth
Of poor Philafter!

Enter King, Arethufa, and a guard.

King. Is the villain ta'en?

Pha. Sir, here be two confess the deed; but say it was Philafter.

Phi. Question it no more, it was.

King. The fellow, that did fight with him, will

tell us.

Are. Ah me! I know he will.

King. Did not you know him?

Are. No, Sir; if it was he, he was disguised.
Phi. I was fo. Oh, my ftars! that I should live ftill.
King. Thou ambitious fool!

Thou that hast laid a train for thy own life;
Now I do mean to do, I'll leave to talk.
Bear him to prifon.

Are. Sir, they did plot together to take hence
This harmless life; fhould it pass unreveng'd,
I fhould to earth go weeping: Grant me then
(By all the love a father bears his child)
The cuftody of both, and to appoint

Their tortures and their death.

King. 'Tis granted: take'em to you, with a guard.

Come,

Come, princely Pharamond, this business past,

We

may

with more security go on

To your intended match.

[Exeunt.

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SCENE, the Palace.

Enter Philafter, Arethufa and Bellario.

Arethufa.

AY, dear Philafter, grieve not! we are well. Bel. Nay, good my lord, forbear; we are wondrous well.

Phi. Oh, Arethufa! oh, Bellario! leave to be

kind:

I shall be shot from Heav'n, as now from earth, If you continue fo. I am a man,

Falfe to a pair of the
That ever earth bore.

Forgive, and leave me

most trusty ones

!

To call me to my death:

Can it bear us all?

but the king hath sent

oh, fhew it me,

And then forgive me. And for thee, my boy,

I fhall deliver words will mollify

The hearts of beafts, to fpare thy innocence.

VOL. III.

G

Bel.

Bel. Alas, my lord, my life is not a thing Worthy your noble thoughts; 'tis not a life, 'Tis but a piece of childhood thrown away: Should I out-live you, I should then out-live Virtue and honour; and, when that day comes, If ever I fhall close these eyes but once, May I live spotted for my perjury,

And waste my limbs to nothing!

Are. And I (the woful'ft maid that ever was, Forc'd with my hands to bring my lord to death) Do by the honour of a virgin fwear,

To tell no hours beyond it.

Phi. Make me not hated fo.

People will tear me, when they find you true
To fuch a wretch as I; I fhall die loath'd.
Enjoy your kingdoms peaceably, whilft I
For ever fleep forgotten with my faults.
Ey'ry juft fervant, ev'ry maid in love,
Will have a piece of me, if you be true.
Are. My dear lord, fay not fo.
Bel. A piece of you!

He was not born of woman that can cut

It and look on.

Phi. Take me in tears betwixt you,

For else my heart will break with fhame and forrow.

Are. Why, 'tis well.

Bel.

Bel. Lament no more.

Phi. What would you have done

If you had wrong'd me bafely, and had found
My life no price, compar'd to yours? For love, Sirs,
Deal with me plainly.

Bel. 'Twas mistaken, Sir.

Phi. Why, if it were?

Bel. Then, Sir, we would have ask'd you pardon. Phi. And have hope to enjoy it?

Are. Enjoy it! ay.

Phi. Would you, indeed? be plain.

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Bel. We would, my lord.

Phi. Forgive me then!

Are. So, fo.

Bel. 'Tis as it should be now.

Phi. Lead to my death!

Scene, the Prefence Chamber.

[Exeunt.

Enter King, Dion, Cleremont, and Thrafiline. King. Gentlemen, who faw the prince? Clere.So please you, Sir, he's gone to see the city, And the new platform, with fome gentlemen Attending on him.

King. Is the princess ready

To bring her prisoner out?

Thra. She waits your grace.

King. Tell her we stay.

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Enter

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Mef. To your strength, O king,

And rescue the prince Pharamond from danger. He's taken prisoner by the citizens,

Fearing the lord Philafter.

Enter another Messenger.

Mef. Arm, arm, O king, the city is in mutiny, Led by an old grey ruffian, who comes on In refcue of the lord Philafter,

[Exit.

King. Away to th' citadel; I'll see them fafe, And then cope with these burghers: Let the guard And all the gentlemen give strong attendance. [Exit king. Manent Dion, Cleremont, Thrafiline, Clere. The city up! this was above our wishes. Dion.Well, my dear countrymen, if you continue, and fall not back upon the first broken shin, I'll have you chronicled, and chronicled, and cut and chronicled, and fung in all-to-be-prais'd fonnets, and grav'd in new brave ballads, that all tongues shall troule you in fæcula fæculorum, my kind can-carriers! Thra. What if a toy take 'em i'th' heels now, and they all run away, and cry, the devil take the hindmoft?'

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