_Ast_. As great souls should, that make their own content. The hardest term, she for your act could find, Was only this, O Philocles, unkind! Then, setting free a sigh, from her fair eyes She wiped two pearls, the remnant of wild showers, Which hung like drops upon the bells of flowers: And thanked the heavens, Which better did, what she designed, pursue, Without her crime, to give her power to you. _Phil_. Hold, hold! you set my thoughts so near a crown, They mount above my reach, to pull them down: Here constancy, ambition there does move; On each side beauty, and on both sides love. _Ast_. Methinks the least you can, is to receive This love with reverence, and your former leave. _Phil_. Think but what difficulties come between! _Ast_. 'Tis wondrous difficult to love a queen. _Phil_. For pity, cease more reasons to provide, I am but too much yielding to your side; And, were my heart but at my own dispose, I should not make a scruple now to chuse. _Ast_. Then if the queen will my advice approve, Her hatred to you shall expel her love. _Phil_. Not to be loved by her as hard would be, As to be hated by Candiope. _Ast_. I leave you to resolve while you have time; You must be guilty, but may chuse your crime. [_Exit_ ASTERIA. _Phil_. One thing I have resolved; and that I'll do, Both for my love, and for my honour too; But then (ingratitude and falsehood weighed), I know not which would most my soul upbraid. Fate shoves me headlong down a rugged way; Unsafe to run, and yet too steep to stay. [_Exit_ PHIL. ACT V. SCENE I.--_The Court_. FLORIMEL _in man's habit_. _Flor_. 'Twill be rare now, if I can go through with it, to outdo this mad Celadon in all his tricks, and get both his mistresses from him; then I shall revenge myself upon all three, and save my own stake into the bargain; for I find I do love the rogue, in spite of all his infidelities. Yonder they are, and this way they must come. If clothes and a _bon mien_ will take them, I shall do it.--Save you, Monsieur Florimel! Faith, me thinks you are a very janty fellow, _poudré et ajusté_, as well as the best of 'em. I can manage the little comb; set my hat, shake my garniture, toss about my empty noddle, walk with a courant slur, and at every step peck down my head: If I should be mistaken for some courtier now, pray where's the difference? _Enter, to her,_ CELADON, OLINDA, _and_ SABINA. _Olin_. Never mince the matter! _Sab_. You have left your heart behind with Florimel; we know it. _Cel_. You know you wrong me: when I am with Florimel, 'tis still your prisoner, it only draws a longer chain after it. _Flo_. Is it e'en so! then farewell, poor Florimel! thy maidenhead is condemned to die with thee. _Cel_. But let's leave this discourse; 'tis all digression, that does not speak of your beauties. _Flo_. Now for me, in the name of impudence!--[_Comes forward_.] They are the greatest beauties, I confess, that ever I beheld--