Enter Philocles, and Lisander.
Phi. Heres a strange turne, Lisander.
Lisa. 'Tis a Kingdom
Easily purchas'd, who will trust the faith
Of multitudes?
Phi. It was his fault, that would
So tamely give his Title to their Mercy,
The new King has possession.
Lisa. And is like
To keep't, we are alone, what dost think of
This innovation? Is't not a fine Jigge?
A precious cunning in the late Protector
To shuffle a new Prince into the state.
Phi. I know not how they have shuffled, but my head on't,
A false card is turn'd up trump, but fates look to't.
Enter Cassander and Eubulus.
Eub. Does he not carry it bravely?
Cos. Excellently.
Philocles, Lisander.
Phi. Lis. Your Lordships servants,
Are we not bound to heaven, for multiplying
These blessings on the Kingdom.
Phi. Heaven alone
Works miracles, my Lord.
Lisa. I think your Lordship
Had as little hope once to see these Princes
Revive.
Phi. Here we must place our thanks,
Next providence, for preserving
So dear a pledge.
Enter Leonatus attended.
Eub. The King.
Leo. It is our pleasure
The number of our guard be doubled, give
A Largess to the Soldiers; but dismiss not
The Troops till we command.
Cas. May it please.
Leo. It will not please us otherwise, my Lord,
We have try'd your faith.
Eub. Does he not speak with confidence?
Leo. My Lords and Gentlemen, to whose faith we must
Owe next to Heaven our fortune, and our safety,
After a tedious eclipse, the day
Is bright, and we invested in those honors,
Our bloud, and birth did challenge.
Cas. May no time
Be registred in our annals, that shall mention
One that had life to oppose your sacred person.
Leo. Let them, whose Titles forg'd and flaw'd, suspect
Their states security, our right to Epire,
Heaven is oblig'd to prosper, treason has
No face so black to fright it, all my cares
Level to this, that I may worthily
Manage the province, and advance the honor
Of our dear Countrey, and be confident,
If an expence of bloud, may give addition
Of any happiness to you, I shall
Offer my heart the sacrifice, and rejoyce
To make my self a ghost, to have inscrib'd
Upon my marble, but whose cause I died for.
Eub. May Heaven avert such danger.
Cas. Excellent Prince,
In whom we see the Copy of his Father,
None but the Son of Theodosius,
Could have spoke thus.
Leo. [You] are pleas'd to interpret well,
Yet give me leave to say in my own justice,
I have but exprest the promptness of my soul
To serve you all, but 'tis not empty wishes
Can satisfie our mighty charge, a weight
Would make an Atlas double, a Kings name
Doth sound harmoniously to men at distance;
And those who cannot penetrate beyond
The bark, and out-skin of a Common-wealth,
Or state, have eyes, but ravish'd with the Ceremony
That must attend a Prince, and understand not
What cares allay the glories of a Crown,
But good Kings find and feel the contrary,
You have try'd, my Lord, the burden, and can tell
It would require a Pilot of more years
To steer this Kingdom, now impos'd on me,
By justice of my birth.
Cas. I wish not life,
But to partake those happy days, which must
Succeed these fair proceedings, we are blest,
But Sir, be sparing to your self, we shall
Hazard our joyes in you too soon, the burden
Of state affairs, impose upon your counsel.
'Tis fitter that we waste our lives than you,
Call age too soon upon you with the trouble,
And cares that threaten such an undertaking,
Preserve your youth.
Leo. And choose you our [Prote[c]tor],
Is't that you would conclude my Lord? We will
Deserve our subjects faith for our own sake,
Not sit an idle gazer at the helm.
Enter Messenger.
Phi. How observ'd you that,
Mark how Cassander's Planet struck.
Eu. He might have look'd more calmly for all that,
I begin to fear; but do not yet seem troubled.
Leo. With what news travels his haste? I must secure
My self betimes, not be a King in jest,
And wear my Crown a Tenant to their breath.
Cas. Demetrius, Sir, your brother,
With other Traitors that oppose your claims,
Are fled to the Castle of Nestorius,
And fortifie.
Mes. I said not so my Lord.
Cas. I'll have it thought so, hence. [Exit Messen.
Leo. Plant forces to batter
The walls, and in their ruin bring us [wor[d]
They live not.
Eub. Good Sir hear me.
Cas. Let it work,
Were Demetrius dead, we easily might uncrown
This swoln Impostor, and my Son be fair
To piece with young Sophia, who I hear
Repents her late affront.
Eub. Their lives may do
You service, let not blood stain your beginnings
The people not yet warm in their allegeance,
May think it worth their tumult to revenge it
With hazard of your self.
Leo. Who dares but think it?
Yet offer first our mercy, if they yield,
Demetrius must not live, my Lord your counsel,
What if he were in heaven?
Cas. You have my consent,
You sha'not stay long after him.
Leo. Sophia is
Not my Sister,
To prevent all that may indanger us, we'll marry her;
That done, no matter though we stand discover'd,
For in her Title then we are King of Epire,
Without dispute.
Cas. Hum; in my judgement, Sir,
That wonot do so well.
Leo. What's your opinion?
Cas. He countermines my plot: are you so cunning.
Leo. What's that you mutter; Sir?
Cas. I mutter, Sir?
Leo. Best say I am no King, but some impostor
Rais'd up to gull the state.
Cas. Very fine to have said within
Few hours you'd been no King, nor like to be,
Was not in the compass of High Treason
I take it.
Eub. Restrein your anger, the Kings mov'd, speak not.
Cas. I will speak louder, do I not know him?
That self-same hand that rais'd him to the throne
Shall pluck him from it, is this my reward?
Leo. Our guard, to prison with him.
Cas. Me to prison?
Leo. Off with his head.
Cas. My head?
Eub. Vouchsafe to hear me, great Sir.
Cas. How dares he be so insolent?
I ha' wrought my self into a fine condition,
Do'e know me Gentlemen?
Phi. Very well my Lord;
How are we bound to heaven for multiplying
These blessings on the Kingdom.
Leo. We allow it.
Eub. Counsel did never blast a Princes ear.
Leo. Convey him to the sanctuary of Rebels,
Nestorius house, where our proud brother has
Enscons'd himself, they'll entertain him lovingly,
He will be a good addition to the Traitors,
Obey me, or you dye for't, what are Kings
When subjects dare affront 'em?
Cas. I shall vex
Thy soul for this.
Leo. Away with him: when Kings
Frown, let offenders tremble, this flows not
From any cruelty in my nature, but
The fate of an Usurper: he that will
Be confirm'd great without just title [to't],
Must lose compassion, know what's good, not [do't]. [Exeunt.
Enter Polidora and her servant.
Serv. Madam, the Princess Sophia.
Pol. I attend her Highness.