you forget your birth, thus to misplace
This act of your obedience; you should kneel
To nothing but to heaven, and to a king.

_Leon._ I never shall forget what nature owes,
Nor be ashamed to pay it; though my father
Be not a king, I know him brave and honest,
And well deserving of a worthier son.

_Poly._ He bears it gallantly.

_Leon._ Why would you not instruct me, sir, before, [_To_ HERM.
Where I should place my duty?
From which, if ignorance have made me swerve,
I beg your pardon for an erring son.

_Palm._ I almost grieve I am a princess, since
It makes him lose a crown.

_Leon._ And next, to you, my king, thus low I kneel,
To implore your mercy; if in that small time
I had the honour to be thought your son,
I paid not strict obedience to your will.
I thought, indeed, I should not be compelled,
But thought it as your son; so what I took
In duty from you, I restored in courage;
Because your son should not be forced.

_Poly._ You have my pardon for it.

_Leon._ To you, fair princess, I congratulate
Your birth; of which I ever thought you worthy:
And give me leave to add, that I am proud
The gods have picked me out to be the man,
By whose dejected fate yours is to rise;
Because no man could more desire your fortune,
Or franklier part with his, to make you great.

_Palm._ I know the king, though you are not his son,
Will still regard you as my foster-brother,
And so conduct you downward from a throne,
By slow degrees, so unperceived and soft,
That it may seem no fall: Or, if it be,
May fortune lay a bed of down beneath you!

_Poly._ He shall be ranked with my nobility,
And kept from scorn by a large pension given him.

_Leon._ You are all great and royal in your gifts; [_Bowing._
But at the donor's feet I lay them down:
Should I take riches from you, it would seem
As I did want a soul to bear that poverty,
To which the gods designed my humble birth:
And should I take your honours without merit,
It would appear, I wanted manly courage
To hope them, in your service, from my sword.

_Poly._ Still brave, and like yourself.
The court shall shine this night in its full splendour,
And celebrate this new discovery.
Argaleon, lead my daughter: As we go,
I shall have time to give her my commands,
In which you are concerned. [_Exeunt all but_ LEONIDAS.

_Leon._ Methinks, I do not want
That huge long train of fawning followers,
That swept a furlong after me.
'Tis true