_Palm._ Alas! I had not rendered up my heart, Had he not loved me first; but he preferred me Above the maidens of my age and rank,-- Still shunned their company, and still sought mine. I was not won by gifts, yet still he gave; And all his gifts, though small, yet spoke his love. He picked the earliest strawberries in woods, The clustered filberds, and the purple grapes; He taught a prating stare to speak my name; And, when he found a nest of nightingales, Or callow linnets, he would show them me, And let me take them out. _Poly._ This is a little mistress, meanly born, Fit only for a prince's vacant hours, And then, to laugh at her simplicity, Not fix a passion there. Now hear my sentence. _Leon._ Remember, ere you give it, 'tis pronounced Against us both. _Poly._ First, in her hand There shall be placed a player's painted sceptre, And, on her head, a gilded pageant crown: Thus shall she go, With all the boys attending on her triumph; That done, be put alone into a boat, With bread and water only for three days; So on the sea she shall be set adrift, And who relieves her dies. _Palm._ I only beg that you would execute The last part first: Let me be put to sea; The bread and water for my three days life I give you back, I would not live so long; But let me 'scape the shame. _Leon._ Look to me, piety; and you, O Gods, look to my piety! Keep me from saying that, which misbecomes a son; But let me die before I see this done. _Poly._ If you for ever will abjure her sight, I can be yet a father; she shall live. _Leon._ Hear, O you powers! is this to be a father? I see 'tis all my happiness and quiet You aim at, sir; and take them: I will not save even my Palmyra's life At that ignoble price; but I'll die with her. _Palm._ So had I done by you, Had fate made me a princess.--Death, methinks, Is not a terror now: He is not fierce, or grim, but fawns, and sooths me, And slides along, like Cleopatra's aspick, Offering his service to my troubled breast. _Leon._ Begin what you have purposed when you please; Lead her to scorn, your triumph shall be doubled. As holy priests, In pity, go with dying malefactors, So I will share her shame. _Poly._ You shall not have your will so much; first part them, Then execute your office. _Leon._ No; I'll die In her defence. [_Draws his sword._ _Palm._ Ah, hold, and pull not on A curse, to make me worthy of my death: Do not by lawless force oppose your father, Whom you have too much disobeyed for me. _Leon._ Here, take it, sir, and with it pierce my heart: [_Presenting his sword to his Father upon his knees._ You have done more in taking my Palmyra. You are my father; therefore I submit. _Poly._ Keep him from any thing he may design Against his life, while the first fury lasts; And now perform what I commanded you. _Leon._ In vain; if sword and poison be denied me, I'll hold my breath and die.