_Phil_. O heavens, she'll own her love! Then I must lose Candiope for ever, And, floating in a vast abyss of glory, Seek and not find myself!-- _Queen_. Take your Candiope; and be as happy As love can make you both:--How pleased I am, That I can force my tongue To speak words, so far distant from my heart! [_Aside_. _Cand_. My happiness is more than I can utter! _Lys_. Methinks I could do violence on myself, for taking arms Against a queen, so good, so bountiful: Give me leave, madam, in my ecstasy Of joy, to give you thanks for Philocles:-- You have preserved my friend, and now he owes not His fortunes only to your favour; but, What's more, his life, and, more than that, his love. I am convinced, she never loved him now; Since by her free consent, all force removed, She gives him to my sister. Flavia was an impostor, and deceived me. [_Aside_. _Phil_. As for me, madam, I can only say, That I beg respite for my thanks; for, on a sudden, The benefit's so great, it overwhelms me. _Ast_. Mark but the faintness of the acknowledgement. [_To the Queen, aside_. _Queen to Ast_.] I have observed it with you, and am pleased, He seems not satisfied; for I still wish That he may love me. _Phil_. I see Asteria deluded me, With flattering hopes of the queen's love. Only to draw me off from Lysimantes: But I will think no more on't. I'm going to possess Candiope, And I am ravished with the joy on't!--ha! Not ravished neither. For what can be more charming than that queen! Behold how night sits lovely on her eye-brows, While day breaks from her eyes! then a crown too: Lost, lost, for ever lost; and now 'tis gone, Tis beautiful.--[_Aside_. _Ant_. How he eyes you still! [_To the queen._ _Phil_. Sure I had one of the fallen angels' dreams; All heaven within this hour was mine! [_Aside_. _Cand_. What is it, that disturbs you, dear? _Phil_. Only the greatness of my joy: I've ta'en too strong a cordial, love, And cannot yet digest it. _Queen_. Tis done! [_Clapping her hand on_ ASTERIA, But this pang more, and then a glorious birth.-- The tumults of this day, my loyal subjects, Have settled in my heart a resolution, Happy for you, and glorious too for me. First, for my cousin; tho', attempting on my person, He has incurred the danger of the laws, I will not punish him. _Lys_. You bind me ever to my loyalty. _Queen_. Then that I may oblige you more to it, I here declare you rightful successor, And heir immediate to my crown: This, gentlemen--[_To the deputies_. I hope will still my subjects' discontents, When they behold succession firmly settled. _Dep_. Heaven preserve your majesty! _Queen_. As for myself, I have resolved Still to continue as I am, unmarried: The cares, observances, and all the duties Which I should pay an husband, I will place Upon my people; and our mutual love Shall make a blessing more than conjugal, And this the states shall ratify.