Heaven in thy palm this day the balance 10 hings, Which makes kings gods, or men more great than kings, Calio. So, now let the heralds give the champions

sign

Of ready preparations.

[Exit Heralds. The cornets sound; and enter at one end of the stage a herald, two pages, one with pole axes, the other with hand axes, the Duke of EPIRE and ALPHONSO like combatants, the QUEEN and MARIANA and PRATE, LOLLIA, COLLAQUINTIDA, and PRECEDENT aloft. Florio. What are you that appear, and what devoir Draws you within these lists?

Epire. I am the duke of Epire, "and the mine Which doth attract my spirit to run this marshal course Is the fair guard of a distressed queen,

Would wed to hate and inequality and brutish force, Which to withstand I boldly enter thus,

And will 12 defail, or else prove recreant.

Florio. And what are you, or your intendiments? Alphonso. I am Alphonso, marshal of this realm, Who, of like-temper'd thoughts and like desires, Have grounded this my sanctimonious zeal, And will approve the duke's assertions,

Or in this field lie slain and recreant.

Florio. Enter and prosper as your cause deserves. The cornets sound; and enter at the other end of the stage a herald, two pages with axes and pole-axes ; then the king of CYPRUS, and PHILOCLES, like combatants, and their army.

Calio. What are you that appear, and what devoir Draws you within these lists?

Cyprus. I am the king of Cyprus, who, led on By the divine instinct of heavenly love,

Come with my sword to beg that royal maid,

10 hings] A Scotch word, signifying hangs. See the Glossary to Douglas's Virgil, voce Hingare.

11 and the mine, &c.] The magnet, for in Kent they call the iron stone mine, quasi mineral. S. P.

12 defail] i. e. prove defective, fail in my strength, defailler,

Fr. S.

And to approve by gift of heaven and fate
She is alone to me appropriate:

Which to maintain I challenge entrance here,
Where I will live a king or recreant.

Calio. And what are you or your intendiments? Philocles. I am less than my thoughts, more than

myself,

Yet nothing but the creature of my fate;
By name my nature only is obscur'd,
And yet the world baptiz'd me Philocles;
My entrance here is proof of holy zeal,
And to maintain that, no severe disdain,
False shape of chastity, nor woman's will,
Neglective petulance, or uncertain hope,
Foul vizard coyness, nor seducing fame,
Should rob the royal temper of true love
From the desired aim of his desires,
Which my best blood shall witness, or this field
Intomb my body made a recreant.

Calio. Enter and prosper as your cause deserves..
[Draws two swords.
Florio. Princes, lay your hands on these swords

points.

13 Here you shall swear by hope, by heaven, by Jove,
And by the right you challenge in true fame,
That here you stand not arm'd with any guile,
Malignant hate, or usurpation

Of philters, charms, of night-spels; characters,
Or other black infernal vantages;

But even with thoughts as pure

As your pure valours, or the sun's pure beams,
T'approve the right of pure

affection;

13 Here you shall swear, &c.] When the combat was demanded and allowed, it was the custom for each party to take an oath to the following, purport: viz. "That they had not brought into the "lists other armour or weapon than was allowed, neither any on'gine, instrument, herbe, charm, or enchantment, and that neither of "them should put affiance or trust in any thing other than God " and their own valors, as God and the holy Evangelists should help them." Segar on Honor, p. 134.

See also Mr. Steevens's Note on Macbeth, A. 5. S. 7.

And howsoe'er your fortunes rise or fall,
To break no faith in your conditions.

So help you Jove.

All. We swear.

Queen. How often do my maiden thoughts correct And chide my froward will, for this extreme Pursuit of blood! believe me, fain I would Recal mine oath's vow, did not my shame Hold fast my cruelty, by which is taught Those gems are prized best, are dearest bought, Sleep my love's softness then, waken my flame, Which guards a vestal sanctity! Princes, behold, Upon those weapons sits my god of love, And in their powers my love's severity. If them you conquer, we are all your slaves; If they triumph, we'll mourn upon your graves. Mariana. Now, by my maiden modesty, I wish Good fortune to that Philocles; my mind Presages virtue in his eaglet's eyes.

S'foot, he looks like a sparrow-hawk, or a wanton fire,
A flash of lightning, or a glimpse of day;

His eye steals to my heart, and lets it see
More than it would: peace blab, no secrecy,
He must have blows.

Florio. Sound cornets, princes respect your guards. Here they fight and Philocles overthrows Alphonso and and Epire overthrows Cyprus.

Philocles. I crave the queen's conditions, or this blow

Sends this afflicted soul to heaven or hell.
Speak, madam, will you yield, or shall he die?

Epire. Neither, bold prince; if thou but touch a hair,

The king's breath shall redeem it: madam, your love
Is safe in angels guarding, let no fear

Shake hands with doubtfulness, you are as safe
As in a tower of diamonds.

Philocles. O'tis but glass,

And cannot bear this axe's massiness.

Duke, thy brave words, that second thy brave deeds,
Fill me with emulation: only we two

Stand equal victors; then if thou hast that tie
And bond of well-knit valour, which unites
Virtue and fame together, let us restore
Our captives unto freedom, and we two,
In single combat, try out the mastery.
Where whoso falls, each other shall subscribe
To every clause in each condition.

Epire. Thou art the index of mine ample thought,

And I am pleas'd with thine election.

Speak, madam, if ever I deserved grace,

Grace me with your consent.

Queen. 'Tis all my will.

Thy noble hand erect and perfect me.
Philocles. What says his majesty?

My stars are writ in heaven, nor death nor fate
Are slaves to fear, to hope or human state.

Cyprus. I neither fear thy fortune nor my
But hold them all beyond all prophesy.
Thou hast my free consent, and on thy power
Lies my life's date, or my death's hour.
Epire. Then rise and live with safety.
Philocles. Alphonso, here my hand,
Thy fortune lends thy peace no infamy.
And now thou glorious issue of Jove's brain,
That burnt the Telamonian ravisher,

ruin;

Look from thy sphere, and if my heart contain
An impure thought of lust, send thy monsters forth
And make me more than earthly miserable.
Here the cornets sound, they fight, and Philocles over.
comes the Duke, the Queen descends.*

Philocles. Yield, recant, or die.

Epire. Thine axe hath not the power to wound my thought,

14

thou glorious issue of Jove's brain,

That burnt the Telamonian ravisher,] i. e. Minerva, who killed Ajax Oileus with a thunderbolt for ravishing Cassandra in her temple. S.

**"The Queen defends" it stands in both the quartos. C.

And yields a word my tongue could never sound;
I say thou'rt worthy, valiant, for my death,

Let the Queen speak it, 'tis an easy breath.

Queen. Not for the world's large circuit; hold, gentle prince,

Thus I do pay his ransom: low as the ground,
I tender my unspotted virgin love

To thy great will's commandment; let not my care,
My woman tyranny, or too strict guard,

In bloody purchase take away those sweets
Till now have govern'd your amaz'd desires;
For trust me, king, I will redeem my blame
With as much love as Philocles hath fame.

Cyprus. Thus comes a calm unto a sea-wreck'd soul, 1.

Ease to the pained, food unto the starv'd,
As you to me, my best creation.

Trust me, my queen; my love's large chronicle
Thou never shalt o'er-read, because each day
It shall beget new matter of amaze,

And live to do thee grace eternally.

Next whom my Philocles, my bounteous friend,
Author of life, and sovereign of my love,

My heart shall be thy throne, thy breast the shrine,
Where I will sit to study gratefulness.

To you, and you my lords, my best of thoughts,
Whose loves have shew'd a duteous carefulness;
To all free thanks and graces; this unity
Of love and kingdoms is a glorious sight.

Mount up the royal champion, musick and cornets sound,

Let shouts and cries make heaven and earth rebound. [Exeunt.

Epire. How like the sun's great bastard o'er the

world

Rides this man-mounted engine, this proud prince,
And with his breath singes our continents.
Sit fast, proud Phaeton, for by heaven I'll kick
And plunge thee in the sea; if thou❜lt needs ride,