[_Kneeling._
The cause of your displeasure. I absolve
Your vow; far from me be such designs;
So wretched a desire of being great,
By making him unhappy. You may see
Something so noble in the prince's nature,
As grieves him more, not to obey, than you,
That you are not obeyed.

_Poly._ Then, for your sake,
I'll give him one day longer to consider,
Not to deny; for my resolves are firm
As fate, that cannot change. [_Exeunt King and_ AMAL.

_Leon._ And so are mine.
This beauteous princess, charming as she is,
Could never make me happy: I must first
Be false to my Palmyra, and then wretched.
But, then, a father's anger!
Suppose he should recede from his own vow,
He never would permit me to keep mine.

_Enter_ PALMYRA; ARGALEON _following her, a little after._

See, she appears!
I'll think no more of any thing, but her.
Yet I have one good hour ere I am wretched.
But, oh! Argaleon follows her! so night
Treads on the footsteps of a winter's sun,
And stalks all black behind him.

_Palm._ O, Leonidas,
For I must call you still by that dear name,
Free me from this bad man.

_Leon._ I hope he dares not be injurious to you.

_Arga._ I rather was injurious to myself,
Than her.

_Leon._ That must be judged, when I hear what you said.

_Arga._ I think you need not give yourself that trouble:
It concerned us alone.

_Leon._ You answer saucily, and indirectly:
What interest can you pretend in her?

_Arga._ It may be, sir, I made her some expressions
Which I would not repeat, because they were
Below my rank, to one of hers.

_Leon._ What did he say, Palmyra?

_Palm._ I'll tell you all: First, he began to look,
And then he sighed, and then he looked again;
At last, he said, my eyes wounded his heart:
And, after that, he talked of flames and fires,
And such strange words, that I believed he conjured.

_Leon._ O my heart!--Leave me, Argaleon.

_Arga._ Come, sweet Palmyra,
I will instruct you better in my meaning:
You see he would be private.

_Leon._ Go yourself,
And leave her here.

_Arga._ Alas, she's ignorant,
And is not fit to entertain a prince.

_Leon._ First learn what's fit for you; that's to obey.

_Arga._ I know my duty is to wait on you.
A great king's son, like you, ought to forget
Such mean converse.

_Leon._ What? a disputing subject?
Hence, or my sword shall do me justice on thee.

_Arga._ Yet I may find a time-- [_Going._

_Leon