KING. To bed, to bed!

And whilst in gentle dreams-the sweets of

sleep

Thy heart doth revel, mine the watch shall keep.

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Enter ORAMONT, AMADORE.

AMADORE. Without the use of my commission, sir,

The courteous Radegond procur'd me, from
The King, a licence for my stay,

Which I believe may last, as long as you
Shall think my service fit for your command.

ORA. In this disease of grief, that poisons all My blood, and strives to taint my heart, no help From Heaven could keep me living, Amadore, But the most precious cordial of thy love.

AMA. I wish, sir, you would stop the current of Your doubts, unless you were provok'd by More receiv'd authority than men's reports: Two of the lesser whisperers, that rule But at a distance 'bout the King,

To make a friendship with you, have this morn Reveal'd all others' secrets to you, and their own. ORA. They've overcharg'd mine ear; were I to

meet

Them now, I would be deaf.

AMA. Could they discover aught that will detect Your sister by such reasons, as her friends

Must needs allow, as well as enemies?

ORA. Last night the King i' th' dark, and unattended too,

Stole to her chamber, where he stay'd until
The morn did seem most bashfully to blush
In's face, but then return'd to his own bed,
As secretly, and single as before.

AMA. Unless your judgment be severe and nice, What can it urge from this?

ORA. Enough to cause thee hate her too, when

thou

Shalt read those comments which observers make:
His secret visits, and his favors to her
Have perfected so much the suff'rings of
The Queen, as now, that patience, which
Before was but necessitously kind, is grown
Most willingly devout.

AMA. 'Tis strange to me!

ORA. Sir, though affliction at the first doth

vex

Most virtuous natures, from the sense that 'tis
Unjustly laid yet when th' amazement which
That new pain brings is worn away, they then
Embrace oppression strait, with such

Obedient cheerfulness, as if it came
From Heaven, not men.

AMA. The Queen is then resolv'd?

ORA. Most strictly, sir! just now she did implore

My aid to that effect.

AMA. What noise is that?

[A shout within.

ORA. My glorious sister comes abroad to-day ;
I'th' fresh and early breathing of the morn,
She airs her sinful beauty in these walks.

It seems a crowd of slaves, whom, in her pride,
And bounteous cstentation, she redeem'd
From Turkish chains, salute her in

Her passage hither. Let's hasten from her sight!

[Exeunt.

Enter EUMENA, GARTHA, LADIES, PHYLENIO, RADEGOND, SALADINE, THORELLO, ALERAN, OLD COURTIERS, CAPTAIN, and SUITORS with petitions.

EUME. Yond' slaves! are they of Corsica, or those

Of Maltha, which I bought from the gallies of Algiers ?

RADEG. Of Maltha, madam, whom you last redeem'd.

EUME. Go back and let the Provost know, they must

Be cloath'd, and bid my auditor give
Them a thousand crowns; but, pray,
Prevent their loud return of thanks.

[Exit an old Courtier.

RADEG. Madam, I beg your goodness would

procure

The Genovese may be dismiss'd without

A tax upon his goods; you will oblige
A noble family.

EUME. It shall be done!

PHYL. The Treasurer o'th' Customs doth present His humble suit unto your gracious care, and hopes The pattent for the place may be renew'd.

EUME. My lord, he hath too hastily enlarg'd
His lands. He toils, and reckons for the King,
But gathers for himself. I dare not mov't.
SAL. The Abbot of Cajeta, Madam, sends
His brother here, to be protected by

Your favour, in his first request.

[He presents a Suitor to her.

EUME. I know your business, sir,
The Chancellor of Cuma's dead; and, for
Regard unto your brother's piety,

I'll strive you may succeed in that command.

[Other Suitors present petitions.

You, sir, have got the common hope to help
An evil cause with importunity.

Pray, trouble me no more!

THOR. This, Madam, is a captain of Puteoli, A modest and a valiant man; he sues

For his arrears since the last war.

EUME. I shall deserve his trust; and see it paid. [Exeunt all but Saladine, Thorello, Aleran. THOR. Here, gallants, you must make a stop! for still

The privy lodging doors are shut to wit,

Greatness doth love't at distance, but not near; "Tis held too sharp a spy.

SAL. How lovingly

Yon brace of lords hug, and consent before
The public face as they were twins, and now,
Grown old, would both pursue but equal hopes;
Yet th' are of diff'rent factions, Aleran.

THOR. Right, sir! and hate each other with As true devout a heart, as over-zealous fools That differ in their faiths.

ALER. 'Twere good the King would reconcile These civil factions in his Court.

SAL. You must excuse him, sir, the King's too wise :

He'd so deprive his ears of those complaints,
Which, utter'd sev'rally in dull revenge,

Furnish his knowledge with their secret faults. THOR. HOW, Aleran! Talk of atoning factions here?

I tell thee, 'tis not profitable for

The King, that they should reconcile themselves;
For, in good troth, they seldom do't but at
His charge, since they begin that friendship still
With mutual courtesies of begging suits,
One for the other, till both sides grow rich
In their new truce, by kindly cozening him.

Enter OLD COURTIERS.

SAL. Look there! the rev'rend waiters are return'd;

The living furniture o'th' Court, though spent with

age;

Yet such his Highness' grandsire never bought,
But they paid dearly for their places, sir,
And so bought him.

THOR. Good faithful squires!

Their everlasting business is, slowly

To move behind, when the King walks; and When he dines, to stand in a selected crowd, as They would stare him out of count'nance.

SAL. And yet they take it ill they are not rich. THOR. With reason, sir; for they have waited hard.

That is, worn out his Grace's hangings with
Their backs, and, with their feet, his mats. I

would

Have men of brain and courage fill a Court.

ALER. Come, let's in now! and hear them rail [Exeunt.

at us.

Enter EUMENA and GARTHA.

EUME. Who is't that's so importunate?
GAR. Your brother, madam, and he brings

A lady with him, vested like a nun.

EUME. Give them admittance, and retire a while!

The choice he makes of his society

[Exit Gartha.

Is very sad and strange. The Queen disguis'd!

Enter ORAMONT, and QUEEN in a nun's habit. ORA. The blessings of the day, great sister, are So much at your command 'twere idle ceremony To salute you with a courtly wish.