_Theo._ I return your Majesty thanks; yet hope, that no one will venture his Life for me: the Life of a Friend is more than a Kingdom. _King._ Venture my Life! what is my Life? let me not pass through this World, the common Road to Eternity; fade away through the blasting Word from on high, that mingles with the Air, and makes all Men mortal; I had much rather surrender this Life up an offering, and die in the Service of some dear Friend; in Vehemency of Spirit, and Fervency of Friendship, I could plunge through a Flood of Fire to deliver a Friend from the Jaws of a Lion. _Theo._ I do believe ’tis in your Majesty’s Power to establish me upon my Throne; but all Nature in my Breast is chang’d; that which is Gall to another, is Honey to me: Life is bitter, and makes Death sweet. What is a Post of Honour to a Man who thinks he has enough, and has no Ambition? He that will be rich, must destroy Ambition; Ambition is a Monster not to be fed, never satisfied till he is starved out. _King._ ’Tis true, _Hurlo_; from whence proceeds Ambition? _Hurlo._ A Man’s Heart and his Bladder changes Places. _King._ And what is Honour? _Hurlo._ Honour is, and it is not; yet Honour is to be found. _Theo._ My Intellect has rang’d in pursuit of Honour throughout the Universe, nay, even to the Skies, but found it not. _Hurlo._ O it’s on t’other side, my Lord. _King._ O _Theorbeo_, I admire how a Man can so much despise Power? _Theo._ True Power lies in the Mind, or Strength that can sway the Faculties. _King._ I beg pardon for interrupting; I must beg leave to see the Lady your Sister. [_Ex._ King, Theo. _and_ Hurlo. [_Scene changes, and discovers_ Cademore, Seringo, _and_ Lusingo. _Enter_ King, _and salutes_ Cademore. _Cade._ Oh he’s here! O my Soul starts, and my Heartstrings shiver! _King._ O my _Cademore_, now I live: as that great Sun revives this lower World, and makes all Nature rejoice in his Presence; so you cherish and revive my Heart, all my Faculties rise up in Raptures: A thousand sublime Thoughts spring up in my Soul: Is there any thing in my Kingdom can yield you Pleasure. _Cad._ Every thing here is pleasing to me. _Seringo_, Let the King hear the musical Description of _Arsinoe_’s Dancing. Ser. _Brisk and Airy, tript with a_ Fairy _Air of Scorn, Sink in the rising, all surprizing Charms adorn. Swift and Gay in every Part, And flies away with every Heart: Return’d them back with cold Despair, Which much reviv’d the jealous Fair._ _The End of the First Act._ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] ACT II. _Enter_ Urlandenny _and_ Darony. _Daro._ What News, my Lord?