hould,
I must weep too. [_Aside._

_Poly._ No, you shall live at court, sweet innocence,
And see him there. Hermogenes,
Though you intended not to make me happy,
Yet you shall be rewarded for the event.
Come, my Leonidas, let's thank the gods;
Thou for a father, I for such a son.
[_Exeunt all but_ LEON. _and_ PALM.

_Leon._ My dear Palmyra, many eyes observe me,
And I have thoughts so tender, that I cannot
In public speak them to you: Some hours hence,
I shall shake off these crowds of fawning courtiers,
And then-- [_Exit_ LEON.

_Palm._ Fly swift, you hours! you measure time for me in vain,
'Till you bring back Leonidas again.
Be shorter now; and, to redeem that wrong,
When he and I are met, be twice as long! [_Exit._

ACT II. SCENE I.

_Enter_ MELANTHA _and_ PHILOTIS.

_Phil._ Count Rhodophil's a fine gentleman indeed, madam; and, I
think, deserves your affection.

_Mel._ Let me die but he's a fine man; he sings and dances _en
Francois_, and writes the _billets doux_ to a miracle.

_Phil._ And those are no small talents, to a lady that understands,
and values the French air, as your ladyship does.

_Mel._ How charming is the French air! and what an _etourdi bete_ is
one of our untravelled islanders! When he would make his court to me,
let me die but he is just AEsop's ass, that would imitate the courtly
French in his addresses; but, instead of those, comes pawing upon me,
and doing all things so _mal a droitly_.

_Phil._ 'Tis great pity Rhodophil's a married man, that you may not
have an honourable intrigue with him.

_Mel._ Intrigue, Philotis! that's an old phrase; I have laid that word
by; amour sounds better. But thou art heir to all my cast words, as
thou art to my old wardrobe. Oh, count Rhodophil! Ah _mon cher_! I
could live and die with him.

_Enter_ PALAMEDE, _and a Servant._

_Serv._ Sir, this is my lady.

_Pala._ Then this is she that is to be divine, and nymph, and goddess,
and with whom I am to be desperately in love.
[_Bows to her, delivering a letter._
This letter, madam, which I present you from your father, has given me
both the happy opportunity, and the boldness, to kiss the fairest
hands in Sicily.

_Mel._ Came you lately from Palermo, sir?

_Pala._ But yesterday, madam.

_Mel._ [Reading th