_Flo_. No, I'll deal better with you; since you are unable to pay, I'll give in your bond. _Enter_ PHILOCLES _with a commanders staff in his hand, attended_. _Phil_. Cousin, I am sorry I must take you from your company about an earnest business. _Flo_. There needs no excuse, my lord; we had despatched our affairs, and were just parting. _Cel_. Will you be going, sir? sweet sir,--damn'd sir!--I have but one word more to say to you. _Flo_. As I am a man of honour, I'll wait on you some other time. _Cel_. By these breeches,-- _Flo_. Which, if I marry you, I am resolved to wear; put that into our bargain, and so adieu, sir. [_Exit_ FLO. _Phil_. Hark you, cousin,--[_They whisper_. You'll see it exactly executed; I rely upon you. _Cel_. I shall not fail, my lord; may the conclusion of it prove happy to you. [_Exit_ CEL. PHILOCLES _solus_. Wheree'er I cast about my wandering eyes, Greatness lies ready in some shape to tempt me. The royal furniture in every room, The guards, and the huge waving crowds of people, All waiting for a sight of that fair queen, Who makes a present of her love to me: Now tell me, Stoick! If all these with a wish might be made thine, Would'st thou not truck thy ragged virtue for 'em? If glory was a bait, that angels swallow'd, How then should souls allied to sense resist it? _Enter_ CANDIOPE. Ah poor Candiope! I pity her, But that is all.-- _Cand_. O my dear Philocles! A thousand blessings wait on thee! The hope of being thine, I think, will put Me past my meat and sleep with ecstasy, So I shall keep the fasts of seraphims, And wake for joy, like nightingales in May. _Phil_. Wake, Philocles, wake from thy dream of glory, 'Tis all but shadow to Candiope: Canst thou betray a love so innocent? [_Aside_. _Cand_. What makes you melancholick? I doubt, I have displeased you. _Phil_. No, my love, I am not displeased with you, But with myself, when I consider, How little I deserve you. _Cand_. Say not so, my Philocles; a love so true as yours, That would have left a court, and a queen's favour, To live in a poor hermitage with me,-- _Phil_. Ha! she has stung me to the quick! As if she knew the falsehood I intended: But, I thank heaven, it has recall'd my virtue; [_Aside_. Oh! my dear, I love you, and you only; [_To her_. Go in, I have some business for a while; But I think minutes ages till we meet. _Cand_. I knew you had; but yet I could not chuse, But come and look upon you. [_Exit_ CANDIOPE. _Phil_. What barbarous man would wrong so sweet a virtue! _Enter the Queen in black, with_ ASTERIA. Madam, the states are straight to meet; but why In these dark ornaments will you be seen? _Queen_. They fit the fortune of a captive queen. _Phil_. Deep shades are thus to heighten colours set; So stars in night, and diamonds shine in jet. _Queen_. True friends should so in dark afflictions shine, But I have no great cause to boast of mine.