Leon. Sir, I beseech you. Poly. Do not...

Leon. Sir, I beseech you.

Poly. Do not urge my patience. Leon. I'll not deny, But what your spies informed you of is true: I love the fair Palmyra; but I loved her Before I knew your title to my blood. Enter Palmyra guarded. See, here she comes, and looks, amidst her guards, Like a weak dove under the falcon's gripe. O heaven, I cannot bear it. Poly. Maid, come hither. Have you presumed so far, as to receive My son's affections? Palm. Alas, what shall I answer? To confess it Will raise a blush upon a virgin's face; Yet I was ever taught 'twas base to lie. Poly. You've been too bold, and you must love no more. Palm. Indeed I must; I cannot help my love; I was so tender when I took the bent, That now I grow that way. Poly. He is a prince, and you are meanly born. Leon. Love either finds equality, or makes it: Like death, he knows no difference in degrees, But plains, and levels all. Palm. Alas! I had not rendered up my heart, Had he not loved me first; but he preferred me Above the maidens of my age and rank,— Still shunned their company, and still sought mine. I was not won by gifts, yet still he gave; And all his gifts, though small, yet spoke his love. He picked the earliest strawberries in woods, The clustered filberds, and the purple grapes; He taught a prating stare to speak my name; And, when he found a nest of nightingales, Or callow linnets, he would show them me, And let me take them out. Poly. This is a little mistress, meanly born, Fit only for a prince's vacant hours, And then, to laugh at her simplicity, Not fix a passion there. Now hear my sentence. Leon. Remember, ere you give it, 'tis pronounced Against us both. Poly. First, in her hand There shall be placed a player's painted sceptre, And, on her head, a gilded pageant crown: Thus shall she go, With all the boys attending on her triumph; That done, be put alone into a boat, With bread and water only for three days; So on the sea she shall be set adrift, And who relieves her dies. Palm. I only beg that you would execute The last part first: Let me be put to sea; The bread and water for my three days life I give you back, I would not live so long; But let me 'scape the shame.

Leon. Look to me, piety; and you, O Gods, look to my piety! Keep me from saying that, which misbecomes a son; But let me die before I see this done. Poly. If you for ever will abjure her sight, I can be yet a father; she shall live. Leon. Hear, O you powers! is this to be a father? I see 'tis all my happiness and quiet You aim at, sir; and take them: I will not save even my Palmyra's life At that ignoble price; but I'll die with her. Palm. So had I done by you, Had fate made me a princess.—Death, methinks, Is not a terror now: He is not fierce, or grim, but fawns, and soothes me, And slides along, like Cleopatra's aspick, Offering his service to my troubled breast. Leon. Begin what you have purposed when you please; Lead her to scorn, your triumph shall be doubled. As holy priests, In pity, go with dying malefactors, So I will share her shame. Poly. You shall not have your will so much; first part them, Then execute your office. Leon. No; I'll die In her defence. [Draws his sword.] Palm. Ah, hold, and pull not on A curse, to make me worthy of my death: Do not by lawless force oppose your father, Whom you have too much disobeyed for me. Leon. Here, take it, sir, and with it pierce my heart: [Presenting his sword to his Father upon his knees.] You have done more in taking my Palmyra. You are my father; therefore I submit. Poly. Keep him from any thing he may design Against his life, while the first fury lasts; And now perform what I commanded you. Leon. In vain; if sword and poison be denied me, I'll hold my breath and die. Palm. Farewell, my last Leonidas; yet live, I charge you, live, 'till you believe me dead. I cannot die in peace, if you die first; If life's a blessing, you shall have it last. John Dryden, Marriage a la Mode, Public Domain, 1673, pp. 288 -290