t I can impart;
But cannot give my person, with my heart.

_Leon._ Your love is then no gift:
For, when the person it does not convey,
'Tis to give gold, and not to give the key.

_Palm._ Then ask my father.

_Leon._ He detains my throne;
Who holds back mine, will hardly give his own.

_Palm._ What then remains?

_Leon._ That I must have recourse
To arms, and take my love and crown, by force.
Hermogenes is forming the design;
And with him all the brave and loyal join.

_Palm._ And is it thus you court Palmyra's bed?
Can she the murderer of her parent wed?
Desist from force: So much you well may give
To love, and me, to let my father live.

_Leon._ Each act of mine my love to you has shewn;
But you who tax my want of it, have none.
You bid me part with you, and let him live;
But they should nothing ask, who nothing give.

_Palm._ I give what virtue, and what duty can,
In vowing ne'er to wed another man.

_Leon._ You will be forced to be Argaleon's wife.

_Palm._ I'll keep my promise, though I lose my life.

_Leon._ Then you lose love, for which we both contend;
For life is but the means, but love's the end.
_Palm._ Our souls shall love hereafter.

_Leon._ I much fear,
That soul, which could deny the body here
To taste of love, would be a niggard there.

_Palm._ Then 'tis past hope: our cruel fate, I see,
Will make a sad divorce 'twixt you and me.
For, if you force employ, by heaven I swear,
And all blessed beings,--

_Leon._ Your rash oath forbear.

_Palm._ I never--

_Leon._ Hold once more. But yet, as he,
Who 'scapes a dangerous leap, looks back to see;
So I desire, now I am past my fear,
To know what was that oath you meant to swear.

_Palm._ I meant, that if you hazarded your life,
Or sought my father's, ne'er to be your wife.

_Leon._ See now, Palmyra, how unkind you prove!
Could you, with so much ease, forswear my love?

_Palm._ You force me with your ruinous design.

_Leon._ Your father's life is more your care, than mine.

_Palm._ You wrong me: 'Tis not, though it ought to be;
You are my care, heaven knows, as well as he.

_Leon._ If now the execution I delay,
My honour, and my subjects, I betray.
All is prepared for the just enterprise;
And the whole city will to-morrow rise.
The leaders of the party are within,
And Eubulus has sworn that he will bring,
To head their arms, the person of their king.

_Palm._ In telling this, you may be guilty too;
I therefore must discov