Page 52
SCENA II.
Oh Sir, this is too great an honour for me, I should not see my King in this poor place. Suffer me on my knees—
No, Father, rise; I do but what a good Prince ought to do: so rare a service, and of such importance, requires the rar'st, and most illustrious honour: you had for pawn thereof his word already, I could no longer have deferred it. I know by his report (which I ne'r doubted) how brave and like your self you bear the death of your two sons, and that your soul already being resolv'd, my consolation would be superfluous: but I come to know what strange misfortune hath follow'd the vertue of your victorious Son, and how it comes, that his too much love for the publick cause bath tane an onely daughter from his father by his own hands: I know what such a stroak can do upon the strongest spirit, and doubt how you may bear this death.
Sir, with displeasure, but yet with patience,
'Tis plain, this is the vertuous effect of your experience: Many have taught by a long file of years, as well as you, that miseries succeed the sweetest happinesse; few know like you t' apply this remedie, and all their Vertue yeelds to their Interest. If my compassion can ease your sorrow, know that 'tis extreme,