_Flo_. Look ye now, is not such a marriage as good as wenching,
Celadon?
_Cel_. This is very good; but not so good, Florimel.
_Queen_. Now set we forward to the assembly.--You promise,
cousin, your consent?
_Lys_. But most unwillingly.
_Queen_. Philocles, I must beg your voice too.
_Phil_. Most joyfully I give it.
_Lys_. Madam, but one word more;--
Since you are so resolved,
That you may see, bold as my passion was,
'Twas only for your person, not your crown;
I swear no second love
Shall violate the flame I had for you,
But, in strict imitation of your oath,
I vow a single life.
_Queen_. Now, my Asteria, my joys are full;
[_To_ ASTERIA.
The powers above, that see
The innocent love I bear to Philocles,
Have given its due reward; for by this means
The right of Lysimantes will devolve
Upon Candiope: and I shall have
This great content, to think, when I am dead,
My crown may fall on Philocles's head.
[_Exeunt_.
EPILOGUE,
WRITTEN BY
A PERSON OF HONOUR.
Our poet, something doubtful of his fate,
Made choice of me to be his advocate,
Relying on my knowledge in the laws;
And I as boldly undertook the cause.
I left my client yonder in a rant,
Against the envious, and the ignorant,
Who are, he says, his only enemies:
But he condemns their malice, and defies
The sharpest of his censurers to say,
Where there is one gross fault in all his play.
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