Poly. Haste to explain your meaning.

Her. Then, in few words, Palmyra is your daughter.

Poly. How can I give belief to this impostor? 
He, who has once abused me, often may. 
I’ll hear no more.

Arga. For your own sake, you must.

Her. A parent’s love,—­for I confess my crime,—­
Moved me to say, Leonidas was yours;
But when I heard Palmyra was to die,
The fear of guiltless blood so stung my conscience,
That I resolved, even with my shame, to save
Your daughter’s life.

Poly. But how can I be certain, but that interest, Which moved you first to say your son was mine, Does not now move you too, to save your daughter?

Her. You had but then my word; I bring you now
Authentic testimonies.  Sir, in short,
                         [Delivers on his knees a jewel, and letter.
If this will not convince you, let me suffer.

Poly. I know this jewel well; ’twas once my mother’s,
                                        [Looking first on the jewel.
Which, marrying, I presented to my wife.  And this, O this is my Eudocia’s hand. This was the pledge of love given to Eudocia, [Reads. Who, dying, to her young Palmyra leaves it; And this, when you, my dearest lord, receive, Own her, and think on me, dying Eudocia. Take it; ’tis well there is no more to read. [To ARGA.  My eyes grow full, and swim in their own light. [He embraces PALM.

Palm. I fear, sir, this is your intended pageant. 
You sport yourself at poor Palmyra’s cost;
But if you think to make me proud,
Indeed I cannot be so:  I was born
With humble thoughts, and lowly, like my birth. 
A real fortune could not make me haughty,
Much less a feigned.

Poly. This was her mother’s temper. 
I have too much deserved thou shouldst suspect
That I am not thy father; but my love
Shall henceforth show I am.  Behold my eyes,
And see a father there begin to flow: 
This is not feigned, Palmyra.

Palm. I doubt no longer, sir; you are a king,
And cannot lie:  Falsehood’s a vice too base
To find a room in any royal breast. 
I know, in spite of my unworthiness,
I am your child; for when you would have killed me,
Methought I loved you then.

Arga. Sir, we forget the prince Leonidas; His greatness should not stand neglected thus.

Poly. Guards, you may now retire; Give him his sword, And leave him free.

Leon. Then the first use I make of liberty
Shall be, with your permission, mighty sir,
To pay that reverence to which nature binds me.
                                              [Kneels to HERMOGENES.

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