Leon. I say, I am the- [Getting loose a little. Arga. So; gag him, and lead him off.

[Again stopping his mouth. [LEONIDAS, HERMOGENES, ÉUBULUS, 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, shew 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 turn'd 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,

That whatsoe'er subjects, like you, 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 design'd for me

Poly. And we expect it.

Argo. I have too long been happy, to live wretched. Poly. And I too long have govern'd, 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 own'd. [Embraces him. Poly. O, had I known you could have been this king,

Thus god-like, great and good, I should have wish'd

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

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

Like the first streaks of light broke loose from dark

ness,

Anddawning into blushes.-Sir, you said [ToPoLY. 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 unravell❜d
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 Iam, 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 repair'd,

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 Almathea, 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 you 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.

EPILOGUE,

THUS have my spouse and I inform'd the nation,
And led you all the way to reformation;

Not with dull morals, gravely writ, like those,
Which men of easy phlegm with care compose,-
Your poets, of stiff words and limber sense,
Born on the confines of indifference ;
But by examples drawn, I dare to say,
From most of you who hear and see the play.
There are more Rhodophils in this theatre,
More Palamedes, and some few wives, I fear:
But yet too far our poet would not run ;
Though 'twas well offer'd, there was nothing done,
He would not quite the women's frailty bare,
But stript them to the waist, and left them there :
And the men's faults are less severely shown,
For he considers that himself is one.-
Some stabbing wits, to bloody satire bent,
Would treat both sexes with less compliment ;
Would lay the scene at home; of husbands tell,
For wenches, taking up their wives i' the Mall;
And a brisk bout, which each of them did want,
Made by mistake of mistress and gallant.
Our modest author thought it was enough
To cut you off a sample of the stuff;

He spared my shame, which you, I'm sure, would not,
For you were all for driving on the plot:
You sigh'd when I came in to break the sport,
And set your teeth when each design fell short.
To wives and servants all good wishes lend,
But the poor cuckold seldom finds a friend.
Since, therefore, court and town will take no pity,
I humbly cast myself upon the city.