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Enter Philafter.

Phi. I have done ill; my confcience calls me

falfe.

What, strike at her, that would not strike at me!
When I did fight, methought, I heard her pray
The gods to guard me. She may be abus'd,
And I a loathed villain: If fhe be,

She'll not discover me; the flave has wounds,
And cannot follow, neither knows he me.
Who's this? Bellario fleeping! If thou beeft
Guilty, there is no justice that thy fleep

Should be fo found; and mine, whom thou haft wrong'd,

So broken.

Bel. Who is there? my lord Philafter!

[A cry within. Hark! you are purfu'd; fly, fly my lord! and fave Yourself.

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Phi. How's this! wouldft thou I fhould be fafe?

Bel. Elfe were it vain for me to live; oh, feize,

My lord, thefe offer'd means of your escape!
The princess, I am fure, will ne'er reveal you;
They have no mark to know you, but your wounds;
I, coming in betwixt the boor and you,

Was wounded too. To ftay the lofs of blood
I did bind on this fcarf, which thus

I tear

I tear away. Fly! and 'twill be believ'd 'Twas I affail'd the princess.

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What haft thou done? Art thou then true to me?

Bel. Or let me perish loath'd! come, my good lord, Creep in amongst those bushes: Who does know, But that the gods may fave your much-lov'd breath? Phi. Oh, I fhall die for grief! what wilt thou do? Bel. Shift for myself well: Peace, I hear 'em come! Within. Follow, follow, follow; that way they

went.

Bel. With my own wounds I'll bloody my own fword!

I need not counterfeit to fall; Heav'n knows
That I can ftand no longer.

Enter Pharamond, Dion, Cleremont, Thrafiline, &c.

Pha. To this place we have track'd him by his

blood.

Clere. Yonder, my lord, creeps one away,
Dion. Stay, Sir, what are you?

Bel. A wretched creature wounded in thefe woods

By beafts! relieve me, if your names be men,
Or I fhall perifh!

Dion. This is he, my lord,

Upon my foul, affail'd her; 'tis the boy,

That

That wicked boy, that ferv'd her.
Pha. Oh, thou damn'd

In thy creation! what caufe couldst thou shape
To hurt the princefs?

Bel. Then I am betray'd.

Dion. Betray'd! no, apprehended.
Bel. I confefs,

Urge it no more, that, big with evil thoughts,
I fet upon her, and did make my aim
Her death. For charity, let fall at once
The punishment you mean, and do not load
This weary flesh with tortures!

Pha. I will know

Who hir'd thee to this deed.

Bel. My own revenge.

Pha. Revenge, for what?

Bel. It pleas'd her to receive

Me as her page, and, when my fortunes ebb'd,
That men ftrid o'er them carelefs, fhe did fhower
Her welcome graces on me, and did fwell
My fortunes, till they overflow'd their banks,
Threatning the men that croft 'em; when, as swift
As ftorms arife at fea, fhe turn'd her eyes

To burning funs upon me, and did dry
The ftreams fhe had beftow'd; leaving me worse,
And more contemn'd than other little brooks,

Because

Because I had been great: In fhort, I knew

I could not live, and therefore did defire
To die reveng❜d.

Pha. If tortures can be found,

Long as thy natural life, prepare to feel

The utmost rigour.

Clere. Help to lead him hence.

Philafter comes forth.

Phi. Turn back, you ravishers of innocence! Know ye the price of that you bear away

So rudely?

Pha. Who's that?

Dion. 'Tis the lord Philafter.

Phi. "Tis not the treasure of all kings in one, The wealth of Tagus, nor the rocks of pearl That pave the court of Neptune, can weigh down That virtue. It was I affail'd the princess. Place me, fome god, upon a piramis,

Higher than hills of earth, and lend a voice

Loud as your thunder to me, that from thence

I

may difcourfe to all the under-world

The worth that dwells in him!

Pha. How's this?

Bel. My lord, fome man

Weary of life, that would be glad to die.

Phi. Leave thefe untimely courtefies, Bellario. Bel. Alas! he's mad; come, will you lead me on? Phi. By all the oaths that men ought most to keep, And gods do punish most, when men do break, He touch'd her not. Take heed, Bellario, How thou doft drown the virtues, thou haft fhewn, With perjury. By all that's good, 'twas I: You know, fhe ftood betwixt me and my right. Pha. Thy own tongue be thy judge. Clere. It was Philafter.

Dion. Is't not a brave boy?

Well, Sirs, I fear me, we are all deceiv'd.

Phi. Have I no friend here?

Dion. Yes.

Phi. Then fhew it; fome

Good body lend a hand to draw us nearer.
Would you have tears shed for you when you die?
Then lay me gently on his neck, that there
I may weep floods, [they lead him to Bellario] and
there breathe out my spirit:

"Tis not the wealth of Plutus, nor the gold
Lock'd in the heart of earth can buy away
This arm-full from me. You hard-hearted men,
More ftony than these mountains, can you see
Such clear pure blood drop, and not cut your
To stop his life? to bind whofe bitter wounds,

flesh

Queens

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