University of Virginia Library

SCÆNA IIII.

Leosthenes, Timagorus.
Timagoras.
I am so farre from enuie, I am proud
You haue outstrip'd me in the race of honour.
O 'twas a glorious day, and brauely wonne!
Your bold performance gaue such lustre to
Timoleons wise directions, as the Armie
Rests doubtfull, to whom they stand most ingag'de
For their so great successe.

Leosthenes.
The Gods first honour'd,
The glory be the Generalls; 'tis farre from mee
To be his riuall.

Timagoras.
You abuse your fortune,
To entertaine her choyce, and gratious fauours,
With a contracted browe; Plum'd victorie
Is truly painted with a cheerefull looke,
Equally distant from proud insolence,
And base deiection.

Leosthenes.
O Timagoras,
You onely are acquainted with the cause,
That loades my sad heart with a hill of lead.
Whose ponderous waight, neither my new got honour,
Assisted by the generall applause
The souldier crownes it with: nor all warres glories
Can lessen, or remoue; and would you please,
With fit consideration to remember,
How much I wrong Cleoras innocence,
With my rash doubts; and what a grieuous pennance,
Shee did impose vpon her tender sweetnesse,
To plucke away the Vulture iealousie,
That fed vpon my Liuer: you cannot blame me,
But call it a fit iustice on my selfe,
Though I resolue to be a stranger to
The thought of mirth, or pleasure.

Timandra.
You haue redeem'd
The forfeit of your fault, with such a ransome
Of honourable action, as my Sister
Must of necessitie confesse her suffrings
Weigh'd downe by your faire merits; and when she views you
Like a triumphant Conquerour, carried through
The Streets of Syracusa, the glad people
Pressing to meet you, and the Senators
Contending who shall heape most honours on you;
The Oxen crown'd with Girlands led before you
Appointed for the Sacrifice; and the Altars
Smoaking with thankfull Incense to the gods:
The Souldiers chaunting loud hymnes to your praise:
The windowes fill'd with Matrons, and with Virgins,
Throwing vpon your head, as you passe by,
The choycest Flowers; and silently inuoking
The Queene of Loue, with their particular vowes,
To be thought worthy of you; can Cleora,
(Though, in the glasse of selfe-loue, shee behold
Her best deserts) but with all ioy acknowledge,
What she indur'd, was but a noble tryall
You made of her affection? and her anger
Rising from your too amorous eares, soone drench'd
In Lethe, and forgotten.

Leosthenes.
If those glories
You so set forth were mine, they might plead for mee:
But I can laye no claime to the least honour,
Which you with foule iniustice rauish from her;
Her beauty, in me wrought a myracle,
Taught me to ayme at things beyond my power,
Which her perfections purchas'd, and gaue to me
From her free bounties; she inspir'd me with
That vallour, which I dare not call mine owne:
And from the faire reflexion of her minde,
My soule receau'd the sparckling beames of courage.
Shee from the magazine of her proper goodnesse,
Stock'd me with vertuous purposes; sent me forth
To trade for honour; and she being the owner
Of the barke of my aduentures, I must yeeld her
A iust accompt of all, as fits a Factor:
And howsoeuer others thinke me happy,
And cry aloud, I haue made a prosperous voyage:
One frowne of her dislike at my returne,
(Which, as a punishment for my fault, I looke for)
Strikes dead all comfort.

Timagoras.
Tush, these feares are needlesse,
Shee cannot, must not, shall not be so cruell.
A free confession of a fault winnes pardon;
But being seconded by desert, commands it.
The Generall is your owne, and sure; my Father
Repents his harshnesse: for my selfe, I am
Euer your creature, one day shall be happy
In your triumph, and your Mariage.

Leosthenes.
May it proue so,
With her consent, and pardon.

Timagoras.
Euer touching
On that harsh string? she is your owne, and you
Without disturbance seaze on what's your due.

Exeunt.