Page:The Maid's Tragedy Altered - Waller (1690).djvu/27

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The Maids Tragedy Alter'd.
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Or from thy guilty Head I'll pluck the Bays,And all thy Triumphs shall become my praise.
Mel. That shall be quickly try'd.
Enter the King with Diphilus.
Mel. That shall beKing. With Sword in hand,Like a good Brother, by your Brother stand.
Diph. Glad that your pleasure lies this noble way;I never did more willingly obey.
King. Thy Life, Melantius, I am come to take,Of which foul Treason does a forfeit make.To do Thee honour, I will shed that blood,Which the just Laws, if I were faultless, should.
Mel. 'Tis bravely urg'd, Sir; but, their Guards away,Kings have but small advantage of the Law.
King. Having infring'd the Law, I wave my rightAs King, and thus submit my self to fight.Why did not you your own fierce hand employ,As I do mine, and tell the reason why?

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