vows of fidelity, and make it a merit that I should oppose myself to
what you ask of me. I must not listen to my heart only before engaging
in such a union, but my hand must await my father's decision before it
can dispose of itself, and my sisters have rights superior to mine.
But if I were referred absolutely to my own wishes, you might both
have too great a share in them, and my entire esteem be so evenly
balanced between you that I should not be able to decide in favour of
either. I would indeed respond with most affectionate interest to the
ardour of your suit, but amid so much merit two hearts are too much
for me, one heart too little for you. The accomplishment of my dearest
wishes would be to me a burden were it granted to me by your love.
Yes, Princes, I should greatly prefer you to all those whose love will
follow yours, but I could never have the heart to prefer one of you to
the other. My tenderness would be too great a sacrifice to the one
whom I might choose, and I should think myself barbarously unjust to
inflict so great a wrong upon the other. Indeed, you both possess such
greatness of soul that it would be wrong to make either of you
miserable, and you must seek in love the means of being both happy. If
your hearts honour me enough to give me the right of disposing of
them, I have two sisters well fitted to please, who might make your
destinies happy, and whom friendship endears to me enough for me to
wish that you should be their husbands.

CLE. Can a heart whose love, alas! is extreme, consent to be given
away by her it loves? We yield up our two hearts, Madam, to your
divine charms, even should you doom them to death; but we beg you not
to make them over to any one but yourself.

AGE. It would be too unjust to the princesses, Madam, and too poor a
tribute to their charms, if we should give to them the remains of a