SCENE I—The Queens Apartment.
ASTERIA alone.
Nothing thrives that I have plotted;
For I have sounded Philocles, and find
He is too constant to Candiope:
Her too I have assaulted, but in vain,
Objecting want of quality in Philocles.
I'll to the queen, and plainly tell her,
She must make use of her authority
To break the match.
Enter CELADON looking about him.
Brother! what make you here
About the queen's apartments?
Which of the ladies are you watching for?
Cel. Any of 'em, that will do me the good turn, to make me soundly in love.
Ast. Then I'll bespeak you one, you will be desperately in love with; Florimel: So soon as the queen heard you were returned, she gave you her for mistress.
Cel. Thank her majesty; but, to confess the truth, my fancy lies partly another way.
Ast. That's strange: Florimel vows you are already in love with her.
Cel. She wrongs me horribly; if ever I saw or spoke with this Florimel—