PHIL. O, 'tis but glass, And cannot bear this axe's massiness. Duke, thy brave words, that second thy brave deeds, Fill me with emulation: only we two Stand equal victors; then if thou hast that tie And bond of well-knit valour, which unites Virtue and fame together, let us restore Our captives unto freedom, and we two In single combat try out the mastery. Where whoso falls, each other shall subscribe To every clause in each condition. EPIRE. Thou art the index of mine ample thought, And I am pleas'd with thine election. Speak, madam, if ever I deserved grace, Grace me with your consent. QUEEN. 'Tis all my will. Thy noble hand erect and perfect me. PHIL. What says his majesty? My stars are writ in heaven: nor death nor fate Are slaves to fear, to hope, or human state. CYP. I neither fear thy fortune nor my ruin; But hold them all beyond all prophecy. Thou hast my free consent, and on thy power Lies my life's date or my death's hour. EPIRE. Then rise and live with safety. PHIL. Alphonso, here my hand, Thy fortune lends thy peace no infamy. And now, thou glorious issue of Jove's brain[158], That burnt the Telamonian ravisher, Look from thy sphere, and if my heart contain An impure thought of lust, send thy monsters forth And make me more than earthly miserable. [_Here the cornets sound, they fight, and_ PHILOCLES _overcomes the_ DUKE. _The_ QUEEN _descends_[159]. PHIL. Yield, recreant[160], or die! EPIRE. Thine axe hath not the power to wound my thought, And yields a word my tongue could never sound. I say thou'rt worthy, valiant, for my death: Let the queen speak it--'tis an easy breath. QUEEN. Not for the world's large circuit; hold, gentle prince, Thus I do pay his ransom: low as the ground, I tender my unspotted virgin love To thy great will's commandment: let not my care, My woman tyranny, or too strict guard, In bloody purchase take away those sweets Till now have govern'd your amaz'd desires; For trust me, king, I will redeem my blame With as much love as Philocles hath fame.