_Lys_. Spite of prudence it will out:--'Tis Philocles! Now judge, when I was made a property To cheat myself, by making him your prisoner, Whether I had not right to take up arms? _Queen_. Poor envious wretch! Was this the venom that swelled up thy breast? My grace to Philocles mis-deemed my love! _Lys_. Tis true, the gentleman is innocent; He ne'er sinned up so high, not in his wishes; You know he loves elsewhere. _Queen_. You mean your sister. _Lys_. I wish some Sibyl now would tell me, Why you refused her to him. _Queen_. Perhaps I did not think him worthy of her. _Lys_. Did you not think him too worthy, madam? This is too thin a veil to hide your passion; To prove you love him not, yet give her him, And I'll engage my honour to lay down my arms. _Queen_. He is arrived where I would wish-- [_Aside_. Call in the company, and you shall see what I will do. _Lys_. Who waits without there? [_Exit_ LYS. _Queen_. Now hold, my heart, for this one act of honour, And I will never ask more courage of thee: Once more I have the means to reinstate myself into my glory. I feel my love to Philocles within me Shrink, and pull back my heart from this hard trial. But it must be, when glory says it must: As children, wading from some river's bank, First try the water with their tender feet; Then, shuddering up with cold, step back again, And straight a little further venture on, Till, at the last, they plunge into the deep, And pass, at once, what they were doubting long: I'll make the experiment; it shall be done in haste, Because I'll put it past my power to undo. _Enter at one door_ LYSIMANTES, _at the other_ PHILOCLES, CELADON, CANDIOPE, FLORIMEL, FLAVIA, OLINDA, SABINA, _the three deputies, and soldiers_. _Lys_. In arms! is all well, Philocles? _Phil_. No, but it shall be. _Queen_. He comes, and with him The fever of my love returns to shake me. I see love is not banished from my soul; He is still there, but is chained up by glory. _Ast_. You've made a noble conquest, madam. _Queen_. Come hither Philocles: I am first to tell you, I and my cousin are agreed; he has Engaged to lay down arms. _Phil_. 'Tis well for him he has; for all his party, By my command, already are surprised, While I was talking with your majesty. _Cel_. Yes, 'faith, I have done him that courtesy; I brought his followers, under pretence of guarding it, to a strait place, where they are all coupt up without use of their arms, and may be pelted to death by the small infantry o'er the town. _Queen_. 'Twas more than I expected, or could hope; Yet still I thought your meaning honest. _Phil_. My fault was rashness, but 'twas full of zeal: Nor had I e'er been led to that attempt, Had I not seen, it would be done without me: But by compliance I preserved the power, Which I have since made use of for your service. _Queen_. And which I purpose so to recompence-- _Lys_. With her crown, she means: I knew 'twould come to it. [_Aside_.