 | Cleomenes, the Spartan Heroe |  |
Enter Cassandra and Sosybius.
Sos.
And what
Have you determin'd?
Cass.
He shall die.
Sos.
A wholsome Resolution: Have you fix'd
The Time?
Cass.
He daily dies, by Hours and Moments:
All vital Nourishment but Air is wanting!
Three rising Days and two descending Nights
Have chang'd the Face of Heav'n and Earth by turns;
But brought no kind Vicissitude to him:
His State is still the same: With hunger pinch'd:
Waiting the slow approaches of his Death;
Which halting on-wards, as his life goes back,
Still gains upon his Ground!
Sos.
But e'er Fate reach him,
The Mercy of the King may interpose:
You have the Signet?
Cass.
Yes! In your Despite!
Sos.
Be not displeas'd suppose he shou'd escape?
Cass.
Suppose he shou'd have Wings? Impossible.
Sos.
Yet, Keepers have been brib'd: To whom can Ptolomy
Impute that Crime, but you?
Cass.
He may: But let him if he dares:
Come, Statesman! Do not shuffle in your pace;
You wou'd expose me to the People's Hatred,
By hurrying on this Act of Violence:
You know a little thing provokes the Crowd
Against a Mistress: She's the Publick Mark:
Therefore content your self I will be safe:
Nor shall the Prisoner die a speedier Death,
Than what my Doom decreed: Unless the King
Reverse his Orders, by my Messenger.
Sos.
May I presume to ask you, whom you sent?
Cass.
Thy Son, unknown to thee; for so I charg'd him:
And this the promis'd hour of his Return.—Nay wonder not,
I chose him with design: That whatsoe'er
The King ordains, you both shou'd share th'Event:
And stand or fall with me. Ponder on that, and leave me!
Sos.
aside.
What can she mean? She neither kills nor saves—
[Exit Sosybius.
Cass.
Now tell me, Heart: Now answer for thy self:
What wilt thou do! and what dost thou desire!
His Life? No, he's ungrateful: Or, his Death?
I tremble at that Word. What then? His Love!
His Love! my Heart! What! by Restraint, and Famine?
Are these the means to compass thy Design?
Revenge! My Hands so soft, his Heart so hard,
The blow recoils, and hurts me while I strike!
Like the mad Viper, scourg'd into a Rage,
I shoot into my self my fatal Sting.
Enter Mariner.
Marin.
The Ship is ready, when you please to sail,
And waits but your Command: The Wind stands fair.
Cass.
Be secret, and attend my farther pleasure—
[Gives him a Purse, and exit Mariner.
So; this was time well manag'd: In three Days
To hire a Vessel—Put my Wealth on board:
Send off th'observing Son, and Fool the Father:
See him I will, to sound his last Resolves,
If Love can soften him, or Fear can bow.
If both shou'd fail, th'ungrateful Wretch shall find,
Rage has no Bounds in slighted Woman-kind.
[Exit Cassandra.
Sos.
And what
Have you determin'd?
Cass.
He shall die.
Sos.
A wholsome Resolution: Have you fix'd
The Time?
Cass.
He daily dies, by Hours and Moments:
All vital Nourishment but Air is wanting!
Three rising Days and two descending Nights
Have chang'd the Face of Heav'n and Earth by turns;
But brought no kind Vicissitude to him:
His State is still the same: With hunger pinch'd:
Waiting the slow approaches of his Death;
Which halting on-wards, as his life goes back,
Still gains upon his Ground!
Sos.
But e'er Fate reach him,
The Mercy of the King may interpose:
You have the Signet?
Cass.
Yes! In your Despite!
Sos.
Be not displeas'd suppose he shou'd escape?
Cass.
Suppose he shou'd have Wings? Impossible.
Sos.
Yet, Keepers have been brib'd: To whom can Ptolomy
Impute that Crime, but you?
Cass.
He may: But let him if he dares:
Come, Statesman! Do not shuffle in your pace;
You wou'd expose me to the People's Hatred,
By hurrying on this Act of Violence:
You know a little thing provokes the Crowd
Against a Mistress: She's the Publick Mark:
Therefore content your self I will be safe:
Nor shall the Prisoner die a speedier Death,
52
Reverse his Orders, by my Messenger.
Sos.
May I presume to ask you, whom you sent?
Cass.
Thy Son, unknown to thee; for so I charg'd him:
And this the promis'd hour of his Return.—Nay wonder not,
I chose him with design: That whatsoe'er
The King ordains, you both shou'd share th'Event:
And stand or fall with me. Ponder on that, and leave me!
Sos.
aside.
What can she mean? She neither kills nor saves—
[Exit Sosybius.
Cass.
Now tell me, Heart: Now answer for thy self:
What wilt thou do! and what dost thou desire!
His Life? No, he's ungrateful: Or, his Death?
I tremble at that Word. What then? His Love!
His Love! my Heart! What! by Restraint, and Famine?
Are these the means to compass thy Design?
Revenge! My Hands so soft, his Heart so hard,
The blow recoils, and hurts me while I strike!
Like the mad Viper, scourg'd into a Rage,
I shoot into my self my fatal Sting.
Enter Mariner.
Marin.
The Ship is ready, when you please to sail,
And waits but your Command: The Wind stands fair.
Cass.
Be secret, and attend my farther pleasure—
[Gives him a Purse, and exit Mariner.
So; this was time well manag'd: In three Days
To hire a Vessel—Put my Wealth on board:
Send off th'observing Son, and Fool the Father:
See him I will, to sound his last Resolves,
If Love can soften him, or Fear can bow.
If both shou'd fail, th'ungrateful Wretch shall find,
Rage has no Bounds in slighted Woman-kind.
[Exit Cassandra.
| Cleomenes, the Spartan Heroe | |