THE

CORONATION (5).

ACT I SCENE I.

M

Enter Philocles, and Lyfander.

PHILO CLES.

AKE way for my Lord Protector.
Lyfan. Your Grace's Servants.

Enter Caffander, and Lyfimachus.

Caf. I like your diligent waiting, where's
Lyfimachus?

Lyfim. I wait upon you, Sir.

Caf. The Queen looks pleafant

This Morning, does the not?

the Preface, or elsewhere, There feems to be no just

(5) It were to be wifh'd that the Publisher of our Authors Works in 1679 had given his Reasons in why he took this Play into that Edition. Grounds upon which he could go, for fo bold a Practice, feeing the Editor of the firft Folio in 1647, Mr. Shirley, has left it out; a Perfon who must be better acquainted with what was our Authors, as living nearer to their Time, than the Editor of the fecond Folio in 1679. 'Tis true, there are feveral fine Strokes in it, which might poffibly be Fletcher's; but thofe will no more entitle him to claim it for his own, than it will Shakespear to affert the Play of the Noble Kinfmen, in which we know he was partially concern'd': To Mr. Shirley therefore, as he has laid claim to it, let's give this Performance; nor rob him of the Glory which The Coronation may do his Memory. Lyfim.

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Lyfim. I ever found

Her gracious Smiles on me.
Caf. She does confult

Her Safety in't; for I must tell thee, Boy,
But in the affurance of her Love to thee,
I should advance thy hopes another way,
And use the Power I have in Epire, to
Settle our own, and uncontróuled Greatness;
But fince fhe carrieth herself so fairly,

I am content t'expect, and by her Marriage
Secure thy Fortune, that's all my Ambition
Now; be ftill careful in thy Applications
To her, I must attend other Affairs;

Return, and use what Art thou canft to lay
More Charms of Love upon her.

Lyfim. I prefume

She always fpeaks the Language of her Heart,
And I can be ambitious for no more
Happiness on Earth, than fhe encourages
Me to expect.

Caf. It was an Act becoming

The Wisdom of her Father, to engage

A Tie between our Families, and the

Hath play'd her beft Discretion to allow it;

But we lofe time in Conference, wait on her

And be, what thou wert born for, King of Epire;

I muft away.

Lyfim. Succefs ever attend you.

(6) Is not the Queen yet coming forth?

**********

Lyfan. Your Servant,

You may command our Duties:

This is the Court Star, Philocles.

Phi. The Star that we must fail by.

Lyfan. All muft borrow

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(6) Is not the Queen yet coming forth?

[Exit.

[Exit Lyfim.

Lyfan. Your Servant.] Lyfander's asking this Queftion fuppoles, that the Gentlemen interrogated were capable of giving him an Anfwer; but that the Reader fees is no where to be found; therefore I have thought proper to mark an Hiatus in the prefent Text.

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A Light from him, the young Queen directs all
Her Favours that way.

Phi. He's a noble Gentleman, :

And worthy of his Expectations:

Too good to be the Son of such a Father.

Lyfan. Peace, peace, remember he is Lord Protector. Phi. We have more need of Heav'n's Protection I'th' mean time; I wonder the old King

Did in his Life design him for the Office.

Lyfan. (7) He might fufpect his Faith, I have heard when

The King, who was no Epirote, advanc'd
His Claim, Caffander, our Protector now,

Young then, oppos'd him toughly with his Faction,
But forc'd to yield, had fair Conditions,

And was declar'd by the whole State, next Heir
If the King wanted Iffue: our Hopes only
Thriv'd in this Daughter.

Phi. Whom but for her Smiles

And hope of Marriage with Lyfimachus,
His Father, by fome Cunning, had remov'd
Ere this:

Lyfan. Take heed, the Arras may have Ears;
I fhould not weep much if his Grace would hence
Remove to Heav'n.

Phi. I prithee what should he do there?
Lyfan. Some Offices will fall.

Phi. And the Sky too, ere I get one Stair higher
While he's in place.

Enter Antigonus.

Ant. Lyfander, Philocles,

How looks the Day upon us? Where's the Queen?
Phi. In her Bed-Chamber. Ant. Who was with her?
Lyfan. None but

(7) He might expect his Faith, The true Reading is recover'd from the old Quarto by Mr. Theobald, as it is again Ave Lines below.

Was declar'd by the whole State;

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Th' young Lord Lyfimachus. Ant. It is no Treafon,

If a Man with himself a Courtier

Of fuch a Poffibility: He has
The mounting Fate.

Phi. I would his Father were
Mounted to th' Gallows.

Ant. H'as a Path fair enough
If he furvive, by Title of his Father.
Lyfan. The Queen will haften his Afcent.
Phi. Would I were Queen.

Ant. Thou wou'dft become rarely the Petticoat,
What would'st thou do? Phi. Why, I wou'd marry my
Gentleman-Ufher, and truft all the Strength

And Burden of my State upon his Legs,
Rather than be call'd Wife by any Son
Of fuch a Father.

Lyfan. Come, let's leave this Subject,

We may find more fecure Difcourfe; when faw
You young Arcadius, Lord Macarius' Nephew?

Ant. There's a Spark, a Youth moulded for a Favourite!
The Queen might do him Honour. Phi! Favourite?
It is too cheap a Name; there were a Match

Now for her Virgin Blood.

Lyfan. Muft every Man,

That has a handfome Face or Leg, feed fuch
Ambition? I confefs I honour him,

He has a nimble Soul, and gives great Hope
To be no Woman-hater; dances handfomely,
Can court a Lady powerfully, but more
Goes to th' making of a Prince. He's here,
And's Uncle.

Enter Arcadius, Macarius, and Seleucus.

Sel. Save, fave you, Gentlemen, who can direct me To find my Lord Protector?

Lyfan. He was here

Within this half Hour; young Lyfimachus

His Son is with the Queen.

Sel. There let him compliment,

I've other Bufinefs; Ha, Arcadius!

[Exit.

Phi. Obferv'd you, with what Eyes Arcadius And he faluted? their two Families

Will hardly reconcile.

Ant. Seleucus carries

Himself too roughly;

He pafs'd by 'em?

with what Pride and Scorn

Lyfan. The other with lefs fhew

Of Anger, carries Pride enough in's Soul;
I wish 'em all at Peace; Macarius' Looks
Are without civil War, a good old Man,
The old King lov'd him well; Seleucus' Father
Was as dear to him, and maintain'd the Character
Of an honeft Lord through Epire; that two Men
So lav'd of others, fhould be fo unwelcome

To one another.

Arc. The Queen was not wont To fend for me. Mac. The Reafon's to herself, It will become your Duty to attend her.

Arc. Save, fave you, Gentlemen, what Novelty Does the Court breathe to Day?

Lyfan. None, Sir; the News

That took the laft Impreffion is, that you
Purpose to leave the Kingdom, and those Men
That honour you, take no Delight to hear it.
Arc. I have Ambition to fee the Difference
Of Courts, and this may fpare me; the Delights
At home do furfeit, and the Mistress, whom
We all do ferve, is fixt, upon one Object

Her Beams are too much pointed; but no Country
Shall make me lofe your Memories.

Enter Queen, Lyfimachus, Macarius, and Charilla.
Queen. Arcadius!

Mac. Your Lordship honour'd me,

I have no Bleffing in his Abfence. Lyfim. 'Tis

Done like a pious Uncle. Queen. We must not
Give any Licence.

Arc. If your Majefty

Would please.

Queen. We are not pleas'd; it had become your Duty T'have firft acquainted us, ere you declar'd

Your