_Poly._ Guards, you may now retire; Give him his sword, And leave him free. _Leon._ Then the first use I make of liberty Shall be, with your permission, mighty sir, To pay that reverence to which nature binds me. [_Kneels to_ HERMOGENES. _Arga._ Sure you forget your birth, thus to misplace This act of your obedience; you should kneel To nothing but to heaven, and to a king. _Leon._ I never shall forget what nature owes, Nor be ashamed to pay it; though my father Be not a king, I know him brave and honest, And well deserving of a worthier son. _Poly._ He bears it gallantly. _Leon._ Why would you not instruct me, sir, before, [_To_ HERM. Where I should place my duty? From which, if ignorance have made me swerve, I beg your pardon for an erring son. _Palm._ I almost grieve I am a princess, since It makes him lose a crown. _Leon._ And next, to you, my king, thus low I kneel, To implore your mercy; if in that small time I had the honour to be thought your son, I paid not strict obedience to your will. I thought, indeed, I should not be compelled, But thought it as your son; so what I took In duty from you, I restored in courage; Because your son should not be forced. _Poly._ You have my pardon for it. _Leon._ To you, fair princess, I congratulate Your birth; of which I ever thought you worthy: And give me leave to add, that I am proud The gods have picked me out to be the man, By whose dejected fate yours is to rise; Because no man could more desire your fortune, Or franklier part with his, to make you great. _Palm._ I know the king, though you are not his son, Will still regard you as my foster-brother, And so conduct you downward from a throne, By slow degrees, so unperceived and soft, That it may seem no fall: Or, if it be, May fortune lay a bed of down beneath you! _Poly._ He shall be ranked with my nobility, And kept from scorn by a large pension given him. _Leon._ You are all great and royal in your gifts; [_Bowing._ But at the donor's feet I lay them down: Should I take riches from you, it would seem As I did want a soul to bear that poverty, To which the gods designed my humble birth: And should I take your honours without merit, It would appear, I wanted manly courage To hope them, in your service, from my sword. _Poly._ Still brave, and like yourself. The court shall shine this night in its full splendour, And celebrate this new discovery. Argaleon, lead my daughter: As we go, I shall have time to give her my commands, In which you are concerned. [_Exeunt all but_ LEONIDAS.