Cleo. How, Clemanthis!
Ther. Ah! Madam, if I too presumptuous grow,
From your Commands, and all your Bounties to me,
You should forgive the Pride you do create,
And all its strange Effects;
Which if I have mistaken, let me die.
Only this Mercy grant me, to believe,
That if our Adorations please the Gods,
Mine cannot be offensive to my Princess,
Since they are equally Religious.
Cleo. Stranger—before I punish thy Presumption,
Inform me who it is that has offended?
Who giving me no other knowledge of him,
Than what his sword has done—dares raise his Eyes to me?
Ther. Madam, what you demand is just,
And I had rather die than disobey you;
But I am constrain’d by a Necessity
(Which when you know, you certainly will pardon)
For some time to conceal my Birth and Name.
Cleo. Till then you should have kept your Flame conceal’d, ’. had been less disobliging from a criminal one, Whose Quality had justify’d his Boldness.
Ther. Ah! Madam, wou’d Heaven and you wou’d find no other Difficulty Than want of Quality to merit you!
Cleo. I must confess, Clemanthis, with a Blush, That nothing of the rest displeases me.
Ther. Ah, Madam, how you bless me!
And now with Confidence I dare assure you,
That which should render me more worthy of you,
Shall be in me found more to your Advantage,
Than in those Princes who have taken on ‘em
The Glory of your Service.
Cleo. As I am very reasonable, and do act
With more Sincerity than Artifice,
I’ll now desire no more.
But have a care you use my Bounty well;
For I am now grown kind enough to think
That all you say is true.
Ther. Madam, banish me your Presence, as the Man
Of all the World unworthy to adore you,
If I present not to you in Clemanthis
A Man enough considerable to hope.