Queen. By whom?
Fla. Prince Lysimantes, and Lord Philocles.
Queen. It cannot be; Philocles is a prisoner.
Fla. What my eyes saw,—
Queen. Pull them out; they are false spectacles.
Ast. O, virtue! impotent and blind as fortune! Who would be good, or pious, if this queen, Thy great example, suffers!
Queen. Peace, Asteria! accuse not virtue; She has but given me a great occasion Of showing what I am, when fortune leaves me.
Ast. Philocles to do this!
Queen. Ay, Philocles!—I must confess 'twas hard!—
But there's a fate in kindness,
Still to be least returned, where most 'tis given.—
Where's Candiope?
Fla. Philocles was whispering to her.