Palm. Then here I’ll stay, and follow him to death.

  Enter MELANTHA, hastily.

Mel. O, here’s her highness!  Now is my time to introduce myself, and to make my court to her, in my new French phrases.  Stay, let me read my catalogue—­Suite, figure, chagrin, naivete, and let me die, for the parenthesis of all.

Pala. [Aside.] Do, persecute her; and I’ll persecute thee as fast in thy own dialect.

Mel. Madam, the princess! let me die, but this is a most horrid spectacle, to see a person, who makes so grand a figure in the court, without the suite of a princess, and entertaining your chagrin all alone:—­Naivete should have been there, but the disobedient word would not come in. [Aside.

Palm. What is she, Artemis?

Art. An impertinent lady, madam; very ambitious of being known to your highness.

Pala. [To MELANTHA.] Let me die, madam, if I have not waited you here these two long hours, without so much as the suite of a single servant to attend me; entertaining myself with my own chagrin till I had the honour of seeing your ladyship, who are a person that makes so considerable a figure in the court.

Mel. Truce with your douceurs, good servant; you see I am addressing to the princess; pray do not embarrass me—­Embarrass me! what a delicious French word do you make me lose upon you too! [To the Princess.] Your highness, madam, will please to pardon the beveue which I made, in not sooner finding you out to be a princess:  But let me die if this eclaircissement, which is made this day of your quality, does not ravish me; and give me leave to tell you—­

Pala. But first give me leave to tell you, madam, that I have so great a tendre for your person, and such a penchant to do you service, that—­

Mel. What, must I still be troubled with your sottises? (There’s another word lost, that I meant for the princess, with a mischief to you!) But your highness, madam—­

Pala. But your ladyship, madam—­

  Enter LEONIDAS, guarded and led over the stage.

Mel. Out upon him, how he looks, madam! now he’s found no prince, he is the strangest figure of a man; how could I make that coup d’etourdi to think him one?

Palm. Away, impertinent!—­my dear Leonidas!

Leon. My dear Palmyra!

Palm. Death shall never part us; my destiny is yours.
                                        [He is led off, she follows.

Mel. Impertinent!  Oh I am the most unfortunate person this day breathing:  That the princess should thus rompre en visiere, without occasion.  Let me die, but I’ll follow her to death, till I make my peace.