To shake our sweet contents; nor here, Drusilla,

cence:

Cares, like eclipses, darken our endeavours: We love here without rivals, kiss with inno[dren Our thoughts as gentle as our lips, our chilThe double heirs both of our forms and faiths. Drus. I'm glad ye make this right use of this sweetness,

This sweet retiredness.

Dio. 'Tis sweet indeed, love, And every circumstance about it shews it. How liberal is the spring in every place here! The artificial court shews but a shadow, A painted imitation of this glory. [cellence; Smell to this flower; here Nature has her exLet all the perfumes of the empire pass this, The carefull'st lady's cheek shew such a coThey're gilded and adulterate vanities. [lour; And here in poverty dwells noble nature. What pains we take to cool our wines, to allay us,

And bury quick the fuming God to quench us! [Musick below. Methinks this chrystal well-Ha! what

Drus. Be not afraid; 'tis some good angel That's come to welcome you.

[Song. you!

Delph. Go near, and hear, son. Dio. Oh, mother, thank you, thank this was your will. Delph. You shall not want delights to bless your presence. [nour you. Now you are honest, all the stars shall ho

Enter Shepherds and Dancers.

Stay; here are country shepherds; here's some sport too,

And you must grace it, sir; 'twas meant to welcome you. [son. A king shall never feel your joy: Sit down, A dance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses; Pan leading the men, Ceres the maids. Hold, hold! my messenger appears. Leave off, friends,

Leave off a while, and breathe.

Dio. What news? You're pale, mother. Delph. No; I am careful of thy safety, son. Be not affrighted, but sit still; I'm with thee. Enter Maximinian, Aurelia, and Soldiers. And now, dance out your dance.--D' you know that person?

Be not amaz'd, but let him shew his dreadfullest. [pleasures,

Mari. How confident he sits amongst his And what a cheerful colour shews in's face! And yet he sees me too, the soldiers with me. Aur. Be speedy in your work, (you will be stopt else)

And then you are an emperor!

Mari. I'll about it.

Dio. My royal cousin, how I joy to see you, You and your royal empress!

Maxi. You're too kind, sir.

I come not to eat with you, and to surfeit In these poor clownish pleasures; but to tell I look upon you like my winding-sheet, [you, The coffin of my greatness, nay, my grave: For whilst you are alive

Dio. Alive, my cousin?

Mari. I say, alive--I am no emperor;
I'm nothing but mine own disquiet.
Dio. Stay, sir!

Mari. I cannot stay. The soldiers dote

upon you.

[rity I would fain spare you; but mine own secuCompels me to forget you are my uncle, Compels me to forget you made me Cæsar; For, whilst you are remember'd, I am buried. Dio. Did not I make you emperor, dear cousin?

The free gift from my special grace?
Delph. Fear nothing.

[you?

Dio. Did not I chuse this poverty, to raise That royal woman gave into your arms too? Bless'd you with her bright beauty? Gave [you? The soldier that hung to me, fix'd him on Gave you the world's command?

the soldier,

Maxi. This cannot help you.

Dio. Yet this shall ease me. Can you be
so base, cousin,

So far from nobleness, so far from nature,
As to forget all this? to tread this tie out?
Raise to yourself so foul a monument
That every common foot shall kick asunder?
Must my blood glue you to your peace?

Mari. It must, uncle;

I stand too loose else, and my foot too feeble: You gone once, and their love retir'd, I'm

rooted.

Dio. And cannot this remov'd poor state obscure me?

[tiously I do not seek for yours, nor enquire ambiAfter your growing fortunes. Take heed, my kinsman!

Ungratefulness and blood mingled together, Will, like two furious tides

Mari. I must sail thro' 'em;

Let 'em be tides of death, sir, I must stem up. Dio. Hear but this last, and wisely yet consider!

Place round about my Grange a garrison,
That if I offer to exceed my limits,
Or ever in my common talk name emperor,
Ever converse with any greedy soldier,
Or look for adoration, nay, for courtesy,

How thick and hot they come! We shall be burnt all!

Delph. Fall on, soldiers!

[bravely!

You that sell innocent blood, fall on full 1 Sold. We cannot stir.

Delph. You have your liberty; So have you, lady: One of you come do it. [A hand with a bolt appears above. D'ye stand amaz’d? Look o'er thy head, Maximinian,

Look, to thy terror, what overhangs thee; Nay, it will nail thee dead: Look how it theatens thee! [es; The bolt for vengeance on ungrateful wretchThe bolt of innocent blood :' Read those hot characters, [lady, And spell the will of Heav'n. Nay, lovely You must take part too, as spur to Ambition. Are you humble? Now speak; my part is Does all your glory shake? [ended.

Maxi. Hear us, great uncle, Good and great sir, be pitiful unto us! Below your feet we lay our lives; be merciful! Begin you, Heaven will follow.

Aur. Oh, it shakes still!

[knowledge

Maxi. And dreadfully it theatens. We acOur base and foul intentions: Stand between us! [given:

For faults confess'd, they say, are half forWe're sorry for our sins. Take from us, sir, That glorious weight that made us swell, that poison'd us;

That mass of majesty I labour'd under, (Too heavy and too inighty for my manage)

Once more I give you all; learn to deserve it, And live to love your good more than your greatness.fror, Now shew your loves to entertain this empeMy honest neighbours! Geta, see all hand[little;

Your Grace must pardon us; our house is But such an ample welcome as a poor man And his true love can make you and your Madam, we have no dainties. [empressAur. 'Tis enough, sir;

clesian!

We shall enjoy the riches of your goodness. Sold. Long live the good and gracious Dio[rashness, Dio. I thank you, soldiers; I forgive your And, royal sir, long may they love and honour you!

[Drums beat a march afar off. What drums are those?

Delph. Meet 'em, my honest son; They are thy friends, Charinus and the old soldiers,

That come to rescue thee from thy hot cousin. But all is well; and turn all into welcomes! Two emperors you must entertain now.

Dio. Oh, dear mother,

I've will enough, but I want room and glory. Delph. That shall be my care. Sound your pipes now merrily, [welcomes! And all your handsome sports: Sing 'em full Dio. And let 'em know, our true love

breeds more stories,

And perfect joys, than kings do, and their glories. [Exeunt,

SCENE I.

Enter Neanthes, Sosicles, and Eraton.

Eraton. THE general is return'd then?

Neun. With much honour.

Sos. And peace concluded with the prince of Argos?

Nean. To the Queen's wishes: The con-
ditions sign'd

So far beyond her hopes, to the advantage
Of Corinth, and the good of all her subjects,
That tho' Leonidas, our brave general,
Ever came home a fair and great example,
He never yet return'd or with less loss
Qr more deserved honour.

Era. Have you not heard
The motives to this general good?

Neun. The main one

Was admiration first in young Agenor (For by that name we know the prince of Argos)

Of our Leonidas' wisdom and his valour; Which, tho' an enemy, first in him bred won

der,

1

That liking, love succeeded that, which was Followed by a desire to be a friend, Upon what terms soever, to such goodness. They had an interview; and, that their friendship [cluded, Might with our peace be ratified, it was conAgenor, yielding up all such strong places As he held in our territories, should receive (With a sufficient dower paid by the Queen) The fair Merione for his wife.

Era. But how [know, Approves the Queen of this? since we well Nor was her highness ignorant, that her son The prince Theanor made love to this lady, And in the noblest way.

Nean. Which she allow'd of,

And I have heard from some familiar with Her nearest secrets, she so deeply priz'd her, Being from an infant train'd up in her service, (Or, to speak better, rather her own creature) She once did say, that if the prince should steal

A marriage without her leave, or knowledge, With this Merione, with a little suit

did you leave him?

Where

Nean. Near Vesta's teniple (for there he dismiss'd me)

And full of troubled thoughts, calling for Crates: [purpose,

He went with him, but whither, or to what I am a stranger.

Enter Theanor and Crates.

Era. They're come back, Neanthes,

The. I like the place well.

Cra. Well, sir? it is built

As if the architect had been a prophet,
And fashion'd it alone for this night's action;
The vaults so hollow, and the walls so strong,
As Dian there might suffer violence,

And with loud shrieks in vain call Jove to help her;

Or should he hear, his thunder could not find An entrance to it.

Fit to rule others, and, in shaking off
The bonds in which your mother fetters you,
Discharge your debt to Nature: She's your
Follow her boldly, sir.
[guide;

The. I am confirm'd,
Fall what may fall.

Cra. Yet still disguise your malice In your humility.

The. I am instructed.

Cra. Tho' in your heart there rage a thousand tempests,

All calmness in your looks.

The. I shall remember.

Cra. And at no hand, tho' these are us'd as agents, [instant Acquaint them with your purpose, till the That we employ thein; 'tis not fit they have Time to consider: When 'tis done, reward Or fear will keep them silent. Yet you may Grace them as you pass by; 'twill make them And greedier to deserve you 2. [surer,

The. I'll move only

As you would have me. Good day, gentlemer Nay, spare this ceremonious form of duty To him that brings love to you, equal love, And is in nothing happier than in knowing It is return'd by you; we are as one.

Sos. I am o'erjoyed! I know not How to reply; but

Era. Hang all buts !--My lord,
For this your bounteous favour-
Nean. Let me speak.

If to feed vultures here, after the halter
Has done his part, or if there be a hell
To take a swinge or two there, may deserve
Sos. We're ready.

Era. Try us any way.

Nean. Put us to it.

The. What jewels I have in you!

Cra. Have these souls,

[this

That for a good look, and a few kind words, Part with their essence?

Το

The. Since you will compel me

put that to the trial which I doubt not, Crates, may be suddenly, will instruct you How, and in what, to shew your loves: Obey As you would bind me to you.

Cra. 'Tis well grounded;

Leave me to rear the building.

In

Neun. We will do

Cra. I know it.

[him

Era. Any thing you'll put us to. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter Leonidas, Merione, and Beliza.

Leo. Sister, I reap the harvest of my labours

your preferment; be you worthy of it, And with an open bosom entertain [for! A greater fortune than my love durst hope

favour.'