Euph. Humbly he did return, he would wait on you:
But let me implore your Majesty, not to give
His Highness any check, for worthless me;
They are Court canckers, and not Counsellors
That thus inform you: they do but hate the Prince,
And would subvert me: I should curse my fortune
Even at the highest, to be made the ginne
To unscrew a Mothers love unto her Son:
Better had my pale flame in humble shades
Been spent unseen, than to be raised thus high,
Now to be thought a meteor to the State,
Portending ruine and contagion:
Beseech you then rest satisfi'd, the Prince
Is a most noble natur'd Gentleman,
And never did to me but what I took
As favors from him, my blown billowes must not
Strive 'gainst my shore, that should confine me, nor
Justle with Rocks to break themselves to pieces.
Quee. Well, thou'rt the composition of a god:
My Lion, Lamb, my Eaglet, and my Dove,
Whose soul runs clearer then Dianas Fount,
Nature pick'd several flowers from her choyce banks
And bound them up in thee, sending thee forth
A Posie for the bosome of a Queen.
Lady. The Prince attends you.
Quee. Farewell my good Lord.
My honest man; stay, hast no other suit?
I prethee tell me; Sirrah, thine eye speaks
As if thou hadst: out with it modest fool.
Euph. With favor Madam, I would crave your leave
To Marry, where I am bound in gratitude,
The immediate means she was to all my Being:
Nor do I think your wisdom sacred Queen
Fetters in favors, taking from me so
The liberty that meanest men enjoy.
Quee. To marry? you are a fool: thou'st anger'd me:
Leave me, I'll think on't: [Exit Euph. and Conon.
Only to try thee this, for though I love thee,
Enter Theanor.
I can subdue my self: but she that can
Enjoy thee, doth enjoy more than a man.
Nay rise without a blessing, or kneel still:
What's Sir the reason you oppose me thus,
And seek to darken what I would have shine?
Eclipse a fire much brighter than thy self,
Making your Mother not a competent Judge
Of her own actions?
The. Gracious Madam, I
I have done no more than what in royalty
(And to preserve your fame) was fit to do:
Heard you the peoples talk of you, and him
You favor so, his greatness, and your love,
The pitty given to me, you would excuse me,
They prate as if he did dishonor you:
And what know I, but his own lavish tongue
Has uttered some such speeches; he is call'd
The King of Corinth.
Quee. They are traitors all:
I wear a Christal casement 'fore my heart,
Through which each honest eye may look in to't:
Let it be prospect unto all the world,
I care not this.