[Offers to stab himself; is held by _Frederick_, _Laura_, and _Cloris_, who come in with _Isabella_, dress’d like _Philibert_, and the rest. _Lau._ Stay, _Curtius_, and take me with thee in the way. _Cur._ _Laura_, my dearest _Laura_! how came you hither? _Lau._ Commanded by your Letter; have you forgot it? _Fred._ _Curtius_, look here, is this not _Cloris’. Face? _Cur._ The same; Oh my sweet Sister, is it thee? [_Curtius_ goes to embrace her, she goes back. _Fred._ Do not be shy, my Soul, it is thy Brother. _Cur._ Yes, a Brother who despis’d his Life, When he believ’d yours lost or sham’d: But now the Prince will take a care of it. _Clo._ May I believe my Soul so truly bless’d? _Fred._ Yes, _Cloris_, and thus low I beg thy pardon [Kneels. For all the Fears that I have made thee suffer. Enter all the rest, first _Antonio_ and _Alberto_, without their Vizors. _Clo._ Rise, Sir, it is my Duty and my Glory. _Alb._ Sir, we have Pardons too to beg of you. _Fred._ _Antonio_ and _Alberto_, what, turn’d Bravoes? _Cur._ I am amaz’d. _Ant._ You’ll cease your Wonder, Sir, when you shall know, --Those Braves which formerly belong’d to you, Are now maintain’d by me; which _Pietro_ hir’d For this night’s service; and from them we learnt What was to be done, (though not on whom) But that we guess’d, and thought it but our duty To put this Cheat on _Curtius_; Which had we seen had been resolv’d to kill you, Had been by us prevented: The Ladies too would needs be Curtezans To serve your Highness. _Fred._ I’m much oblig’d to them, as you. --_Cloris_, a while I’ll leave thee with thy Brother, Till I have reconcil’d thee to my Father: To marry me, is what he long has wish’d for, And will, I know, receive this News with Joy. [Exit Prince. _Lor._ Here’s fine doings; what am I like to come to if he Turn honest now? This is the worst piece of Inconstancy He ever was guilty of; to change ones Humour, or so, Sometimes, is nothing: but to change Nature, To turn good on a sudden, and never give a Man Civil warning, is a Defeat not be endur’d; I’ll see the end on’t though. [Goes out. _Alb._ Here, _Antonio_--imagine how I love thee, Who make thee such a Present. [Gives him _Clarina_, who is dressed just as _Ismena_ was, and _Ismena_ in a Masquing Habit. _Ant._ _Clarina_, can you pardon my Offence, And bless me with that Love, You have but justly taken from me? _Clar._ You wrong me, Sir, I ne’er withdrew my Heart, Though you, but too unkindly, did your Confidence. _Ant._ Do not upbraid me; that I was so to blame, Is shame enough: pray pardon, and forget it. _Clar._ I do. _Ant._ _Alberto_, to shew my Gratitude in what I may, I beg you would receive _Ismena_ from me. _Alb._ Who’s this? _Ant._ Ismena, whom I promis’d thee. _Alb._ It is _Clarina_; do you mock my Pain? [Shows _Ismena_.