University of Virginia Library

Scen. V.

To them Adraste, Philondas, Pæstanus.
Adr.
Charistus,
Heir to the Cretan Kingdom lost say you?

Phi.
Yes, and suspected to lye hid in Cyprus.

Adr.
And this is that doth stop the War?

Pæst.
This, and
Th' Equality of Forces.

Adr.
Do our men
Awake, and rouze themselves?

Phi.
Rich noble Spirits,
And Minds that have kept Altars burning still,
To Glory break out dayly, shewing how
Peace and Religion did not sink, but calm 'em:
This blast will swell 'em big, and high, and make 'em
Ride Conquerours o'r the Flouds.

Adr.
They do not sleep then?

Phi.
No, nor watch lazily; the World will see,
He, whose blest goodness hath kept War from us,
Hath not took Courage from us too; When his
Sad study'd Councels did remove the danger,
They did not then remove the Mind. The Arm
Of this days Cyprus, if provok'd, will strike
As deep as Cyprus six Olympiads backwards,
And the unquiet Cretan shall appear
But as he did of old, our Exercise,
More than our Foe: a people that we suffer
To breath, and be, to keep our selves in breath.

Adr.
What doth the King?

Pæst.
More than the meanest Souldier,
Yet still comes fresh from Actions: his Commands
Are great, but his Examples greater still.

Phi.
With his uncover'd head he dares the Thunder,
Slights hail and snow, and wearies out a Tempest,
Then after all he shakes himself, and gives
Rain, as the Heavens did before, but with
A more serene Aspect. He doth exact
Labour, and hardness, hunger, heat, and cold,
And dust, as his Prerogatives, and counts them
Only his serious Pleasures; Others Wars
Are not so manly as his Exercises,
And pitch'd Fields often are more easie service
Than his meer Preparations.

Adr.
'Tis enough;
Y' have spoke a Composition, so made up
Of Prince and Souldier, that th' admiring World
May imitate, not equall. Come, my Lords,
I have a business to employ you back with.

Exeunt.