Lys.  Methinks I could do violence on myself, for taking arms
Against a queen, so good, so bountiful: 
Give me leave, madam, in my ecstasy
Of joy, to give you thanks for Philocles:—­
You have preserved my friend, and now he owes not
His fortunes only to your favour; but,
What’s more, his life, and, more than that, his love. 
I am convinced, she never loved him now;
Since by her free consent, all force removed,
She gives him to my sister. 
Flavia was an impostor, and deceived me. [Aside.

Phil.  As for me, madam, I can only say, That I beg respite for my thanks; for, on a sudden, The benefit’s so great, it overwhelms me.

Ast.  Mark but the faintness of the acknowledgement. [To the Queen, aside.

Queen to Ast.] I have observed it with you, and am pleased,
He seems not satisfied; for I still wish
That he may love me.

Phil.  I see Asteria deluded me,
With flattering hopes of the queen’s love. 
Only to draw me off from Lysimantes: 
But I will think no more on’t. 
I’m going to possess Candiope,
And I am ravished with the joy on’t!—­ha! 
Not ravished neither. 
For what can be more charming than that queen! 
Behold how night sits lovely on her eye-brows,
While day breaks from her eyes! then a crown too: 
Lost, lost, for ever lost; and now ’tis gone,
Tis beautiful.—­[Aside.

Ant.  How he eyes you still! [To the queen.

Phil.  Sure I had one of the fallen angels’ dreams; All heaven within this hour was mine! [Aside.

Cand.  What is it, that disturbs you, dear?

Phil.  Only the greatness of my joy: 
I’ve ta’en too strong a cordial, love,
And cannot yet digest it.

Queen.  Tis done! [Clapping her hand on ASTERIA,
But this pang more, and then a glorious birth.—­
The tumults of this day, my loyal subjects,
Have settled in my heart a resolution,
Happy for you, and glorious too for me. 
First, for my cousin; tho’, attempting on my person,
He has incurred the danger of the laws,
I will not punish him.

Lys.  You bind me ever to my loyalty.

Queen.  Then that I may oblige you more to it,
I here declare you rightful successor,
And heir immediate to my crown: 
This, gentlemen—­[To the deputies. 
I hope will still my subjects’ discontents,
When they behold succession firmly settled.

Dep.  Heaven preserve your majesty!

Queen.  As for myself, I have resolved
Still to continue as I am, unmarried: 
The cares, observances, and all the duties
Which I should pay an husband, I will place
Upon my people; and our mutual love
Shall make a blessing more than conjugal,
And this the states shall ratify.

Lys.  Heaven bear me witness, that I take no joy
In the succession of a crown,
Which must descend to me so sad a way.