Agr. Can you ghefs the Caufe of this Ceremony? Cleon. That's plain, Sir, the foreign Prince that's come to marry Araminta, Heirefs to this Kingdom.

Adel. Your diving Politicians, and those who would feem to have deep Intelligence, give out that fhe does not like him.

Cleon. O, Sir, the Multitude speak what they would have. But her Father has fent this Prince fo many Affurances of the Match before his coming over, that I think she's refolved to be ruled.

Agr. And will this foreign Prince enjoy both the Kingdom of Sicily and Calabria, Sir?

Cleon. That it is fo intended is most certain; but it will fure be very troublesome and difficult for him to enjoy them both in Safety, the Right Heir to one of them being now living, and of fo noble and virtuous a Character, efpecilaly when the People are poffeffed with an Admiration of the Bravery of his Mind and Pity of his Injuries.

Agr. You mean Philander.

Cleon. I mean the fame. His Father, we all know, was unjustly driven by our late King of Calabria from his fruitful Sicily: I wifh the Blood I drew my felf in those accursed Wars were well wash'd off.

Agr. My Ignorance of the Affairs of Sicily will not let me know how it comes to pafs that Philander (being Heir to one of these Kingdoms) the King Thould fuffer him to go abroad fo much at Liberty.

Cleon. Your Temper is more fortunate, I find, than to bufy your felf in enquiring after State News; but I muft tell you that lately the King rifqu'd both his Kingdoms for offering to imprifon Philander. For the City rofe in Armes, nor could be quell'd by any Threats or Force till they faw the Prince ride thro' the Streets unguarded; and then throwing up their Caps with loud Huzza's and Bonfires, they laid afide their military Appointments. This Reafon Politici

ans

4

ans give for the Marriage of his Daughter to a foreign Prince, that he may be able to keep his own People in Awe by his Forces.

Agr. Who is this Prince's Father?

Cleon. A Perfon of mean Extraction, but by Wiles and Arts obtaining Power, ufurp'd the Kingdom where he reigns, and keeps it under by a standing Army, which our King intends to copy.

Enter Melefında, Alga, a Lady and a Spaniard.
Adel. See the Ladies, what's the firft?

Cleon. A worthy Lady that attends the Princefs.
Adel. The other that follows her?

Cleon. She is one that loves to try the feveral Conftitutions of Men's Bodies, and indeed has destroyed her own by making Experiments upon them, for the good of the Commonwealth.

Agr. Of which he is certainly a very profitable Member.

Adel. And pray what odd grave Fellow's that who follows alone?

Cleon. One of Prince Thrafomond's Train, and his Governour.

Agr. Why is that Prince a Boy?

Cleon. Yes, he's a pretty forward Boy about four and twenty.

Adel. That is a forward Boy indeed, when will he be a Man?

Cleon. Never; he'll live a Boy till threefcore, and then turn Child again.

May you have your Defires, Ladies!.

Alga. Then you must fit down by us.
Adel. With all our Hearts, Ladies.
Gover. I will fit near this Lady.

Mel. Not near me, Sir, but there's a Lady loves a Strånger, and you appear to me a very ftrange Fellow. Agr. Madam, how strange foever he is, he will not be fo long, for I perceive he can quickly be acquainted. B 4

Adel. Peace,

Adel. Peace, the King.

Enter King, Thrafomond, Araminta, and Train.
King. To give a stronger Teftimony of Love
Than only Promises (which commonly
In Princes find at once both Birth and Burial)
We've drawn you by our Letters, noble Prince
To make here your Addreffes to our Daughter,
And your felf known and lov'd by all our Subjects.
As for this Lady Maid, whofe Sex and Innocence
Yet teach her nothing but her Fears and Blushes ;
I hope herModesty fo recommends her to you for aWife,
Were fhe not fair enough to be a Mistress.

Laftly, my noble Son, (for fo I now must call you)
That I have done this publickly, is not
To add a Comfort in particular

To you or me, but all, and to confirm

The Nobles and the Gentry of these Kingdoms

By Oath to your Succeffion; this fhall be
Within a Week at most.

Adel. This will be hardly done.

Agr. It must be ill done whenfoever it is done. Cleon. At least it will be but half done whilft fo brave a Man is thrown off and living.

Enter Philander.

Officer. Make room there for the Lord Philander.
Adel. Mark but the King how pale he looks with
Fear.

King. What brings him here? You're curious I find To fee this Interview.

Phil. The Wonders, Sir, your Majefty has often fpoken in Praise

Of Thrafomond, makes me defire to hear

What he can fay himself.

Gover. Come, now begin.

Thraf. Kiffing your white Hand, Miftrefs, I take

leave.

To thank your Royal Father, and thus far
To be my own free Trumpet: Then observe,
Great King, and these your Subjects, mine that must be,
For fo deferving you have fpoke me, Sir,
(And fo deferving I dare fpeak my felf;)
To a Perfon of what Eminence,

What Expectation, what Faculties,

Manners and Virtues you will wed your Kingdoms;
You have in me all you can wifh. This Country
By more than all my Hopes, I hold most happy
In their dear Memories, that have been Kings
Both great and good; happy in yours, that is,
And from you (as a Chronicle to keep
Your noble Name from eating Age, )do I
Opine my felf of all most happy, Sir.
Believe me in a Word, a Prince's Word,
There shall be nothing to make up a Kingdom
Mighty and flourishing, both fenc'd and fear'd,
But thro' the Travels of my Life I'll find it,
And tie it to this Country: And I vow
My Reign fhall be fo eafie to the Subjects,
That every Man fhall be his Prince himself,
And his own Law, yet I his Prince and Law.
And, deareft Lady, to your deareft Self;

Dear in the Choice of him, (whofe Name and Luftre
Must make you more and mightier,) let me fay,
You are the bleffed'ft living: For, fweet Princefs,
You fhall enjoy a Man to be your Servant,

And you shall make him yours, for whom great Queens
Muft die and figh.

Phil. Thou ugly filly Rogue.

Cleon. I wonder what's his Price, for one may see
He has a mind to fell him felf by his Praises.
Agr. Would I might die if I fee any thing

In him to raise him but to a Conftable.

Adel. Now do I fancy that this Speech was made by the Governour.

Agr. O'

Agr. O' my Conscience I think fo too, for by his Action you might fee the Fool did not understand what he faid.

Cleon. Well, we fhall fee more of it anon.

Phil. May I beg leave, Sir, of your Majesty To speak a Word or two with this strange Prince? King. I give it you, but still remember that you are A Subject.

Phil. Yes, Sir, I am fo: And more a Slave to Ara

minta,

And in fpight of thee and Fate will be fo ever. [Afide.
Thus I turn my felf to you, big foreign Man,
Ne'er ftare, nor put on Wonder, for you must
Endure me, and you fhall. This Earth you tread on
(A Dowry, as you hope, with this fair Princess,
Whofe very Name I bow to) was not left
By my dead Father (O! I had a Father!)
To your Inheritance; and I up and living,
Having my felf about me and my Sword,

Thefe Arms, and fome few Friends befides the Gods,
To part fo calmly with it, and fit ftill;

And fay I might have been! I tell thee, Thrafomond,
When thou art King, look I be dead and rotten,
And my Name loft: Hear, hear me, Thrafomond,
This very Ground thou go ft on, this fat Earth,
My Father's Friends made fertile with their Faith,
Before that Day of Shame shall gape, and swallow
Thee and thy Nation, like a hungry Grave,.
Into her hidden Bowels; Prince, it fhall,
By Nemefis it fhall.

Cleon. Here's a Fellow has fome Fire in his Veins.
The Out-landifh Prince looks like a Tooth-drawer.
King. You do difpleafe us; you're now too bold.
Phil. No, Sir, I am too tame;

Too much a Dove, a thing born without Paffion;
A very Shadow, that each drunken Cloud
Sails over, and makes nothing.

King. What