_Queen_. Yet you might spare my labour:-- Can you not guess? _Ast_. Madam, please you, I'll try. _Queen_. Hold, Asteria!-- I would not have you guess; for should you find it, I should imagine that some other might, And then I were most wretched:-- Therefore, though you should know it, flatter me, And say you could not guess it. _Ast_. Madam, I need not flatter you, I cannot--and yet, Might not ambition trouble your repose? _Queen_. My Sicily, I thank the Gods, contents me. But, since I must reveal it, know,--'tis love: I, who pretended so to glory, am Become the slave of love. _Ast_. I thought your majesty had framed designs To subvert all your laws; become a tyrant, Or vex your neighbours, with injurious wars; Is this all, madam? _Queen_. Is not this enough? Then, know, I love below myself; a subject; Love one, who loves another, and who knows not That I love him. _Ast_. He must be told it, madam. _Queen_. Not for the world, Asteria: Whene'er he knows it, I shall die for shame. _Ast_. What is it, then, that would content you? _Queen_. Nothing, but that I had not lov'd. _Ast_. May I not ask, without offence, who 'tis? _Queen_. Ev'n that confirms me, I have loved amiss; Since thou canst know I love, and not imagine It must be Philocles. _Ast_. My cousin is, indeed, a most deserving person; Valiant, and wise; handsome, and well-born. _Queen_. But not of royal blood: I know his fate, unfit to be a king. To be his wife, I could forsake my crown; but not my glory: Yet--would he did not love Candiope; Would he loved me--but knew not of my love, Or e'er durst tell me his. _Ast_. In all this labyrinth, I find one path, conducting to our quiet. _Queen_. O tell me quickly then! _Ast_. Candiope, as princess of the blood, Without your approbation cannot marry: First, break his match with her, by virtue of Your sovereign authority. _Queen_. I fear, that were to make him hate me, Or, what's as bad, to let him know, I love him: Could you not do it of yourself? _Ast_. I'll not be wanting to my pow'r: But if your majesty appears not in it, The love of Philocles will soon surmount All other difficulties. _Queen_. Then, as we walk, we'll think what means are best; Effect but this, and thou shar'st half my breast. [_Exeunt_. ACT II. SCENE I--_The Queens Apartment_. ASTERIA _alone_. Nothing thrives that I have plotted; For I have sounded Philocles, and find He is too constant to Candiope: Her too I have assaulted, but in vain, Objecting want of quality in Philocles. I'll to the queen, and plainly tell her, She must make use of her authority To break the match. _Enter_ CELADON _looking about him_. Brother! what make you here About the queen's apartments? Which of the ladies are you watching for? _Cel_. Any of 'em, that will do me the good turn, to make me soundly in love. _Ast_. Then I'll bespeak you one, you will be desperately in love with; Florimel: So soon as the queen heard you were returned, she gave you her for mistress.