University of Virginia Library

Simus—Orestes
SIMUS
My Lord, I am very glad to see you safe.
Is the Queen gone? I have been somewhat tardy
In laying my best wishes at your feet
For your escape. But soldier-business kept me.
They are carousing on it all to-night;
And I went round to see that all was quiet;
You understand, hot spirits, but good fellows
In the main, as rough and blunt as I myself,
Who can but say, “I am glad,” and not fringe on it
Fine words of compliment. Where is the Queen?

ORESTES
She will be here anon, my good lord, Simus.
Thanks for your gladness first, for your care next.
Be not impatient for the Queen, she comes
Upon this instant. I entreat you, see,
In this same scramble on the rocks, you know,
Which I make light of, being no escape,
A poor thief merely wanting my gold pieces,
Not worth much boasting over at the best,
I found a seal upon the dead man's finger—
A quaint one 'tis: like you the fashion on't?
Approach, you see not the device so far:
It is a fair small Eros, and he waves
His puny arrow with his bare weak arm
Straight from the shoulder out, a baby wrath,
With something of this motion.

SIMUS
I am slain.
I hate thee, hate—death chokes me—how I hate
And hated thee. I was a poor blind fool
To seek to kill thee by another, when—

ORESTES
So ends a mighty knave; he is dead enough.
True little blade you flew your errand well,
Lurking so gently silent in my sleeve.
You bit as cleanly as this Eros dart
Thro' his false flesh, a soft quick adder's sting,
A bitter Eros, due to lust and hate.
And so being ended out I will put by
All thought of such a worm. And I will cleanse
His blood's pollution from this pure blue steel,
That hath a nobler haven presently.