Ast.  He must be told it, madam.

Queen.  Not for the world, Asteria:  Whene’er he knows it, I shall die for shame.

Ast.  What is it, then, that would content you?

Queen.  Nothing, but that I had not lov’d.

Ast.  May I not ask, without offence, who ’tis?

Queen.  Ev’n that confirms me, I have loved amiss; Since thou canst know I love, and not imagine It must be Philocles.

Ast.  My cousin is, indeed, a most deserving person; Valiant, and wise; handsome, and well-born.

Queen.  But not of royal blood: 
I know his fate, unfit to be a king. 
To be his wife, I could forsake my crown; but not my glory: 
Yet—­would he did not love Candiope;
Would he loved me—­but knew not of my love,
Or e’er durst tell me his.

Ast.  In all this labyrinth, I find one path, conducting to our quiet.

Queen.  O tell me quickly then!

Ast.  Candiope, as princess of the blood,
Without your approbation cannot marry: 
First, break his match with her, by virtue of
Your sovereign authority.

Queen.  I fear, that were to make him hate me, Or, what’s as bad, to let him know, I love him:  Could you not do it of yourself?

Ast.  I’ll not be wanting to my pow’r: 
But if your majesty appears not in it,
The love of Philocles will soon surmount
All other difficulties.

Queen.  Then, as we walk, we’ll think what means are best;
Effect but this, and thou shar’st half my breast. [Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I—­The Queens Apartment.

ASTERIA alone.

Nothing thrives that I have plotted;
For I have sounded Philocles, and find
He is too constant to Candiope: 
Her too I have assaulted, but in vain,
Objecting want of quality in Philocles. 
I’ll to the queen, and plainly tell her,
She must make use of her authority
To break the match.

Enter CELADON looking about him.

Brother! what make you here
About the queen’s apartments? 
Which of the ladies are you watching for?

Cel.  Any of ’em, that will do me the good turn, to make me soundly in love.

Ast.  Then I’ll bespeak you one, you will be desperately in love with; Florimel:  So soon as the queen heard you were returned, she gave you her for mistress.

Cel.  Thank her majesty; but, to confess the truth, my fancy lies partly another way.

Ast.  That’s strange:  Florimel vows you are already in love with her.

Cel.  She wrongs me horribly; if ever I saw or spoke with this Florimel—­

Ast.  Well, take your fortune, I must leave you.

[Exit ASTERIA.

Enter FLORIMEL, sees him, and is running back.