 | Alcibiades |  |
SCENE a dark Tent.
Theramnes in Chains.
The.
How sweet a quietude's in fetters found!
That it seems almost freedom to be bound.
Though thus confin'd, my agile thoughts may fly
Through all the Region of variety.
Here in a trice I can the World run o're,
And finish whole years labours in an hour.
But oh my Mistress! my Timandra lost!
That is the only bitterness I taste.
This outward fetter but my Body chains,
But that the freedom of my Soul detains.
Why by my Rivals Sword did I not fall;
So bravely have embrac'd one death for all?
Yet why should I court such an abject fate?
Courage is the supporter of the great.
Methinks I've something yet to do, might prove
Becoming both my glory and my love.
I'l—hah this does my busie thoughts prevent.
[Enter Tiss.
Is that old feind for a Tormenter sent?
Good Sir, upon what message are you come?
Am I then destin'd to some harder doom?
Tiss.
No, I am come to give your sorrows ease:
I know you hate Sir Alcibiades:
Nay and I know you love Timandra too.
The.
Well Sir, all this I know as well as you.
Tiss.
Come if you dare be brave, be't on this theam:
Dare you Sir ravish her and murder him?
The.
For what dark ends do you this question bring?
Dare! 'sdeath, old Sir, I dare do any thing.
Tiss.
That word then all my former doubts secures,
Be only res'lute, and Timandra's yours.
My stratagems so subtly I will lay,
That to your arms your Mistress I'l betray.
Thus then, as the first step to our design,
Your guards I'l with adulterated wine
Secure; so they Charm'd in a Lethargy,
I'l from your bonds and prison set you free.
Then when some happy moment shall present
Timandra left ungarded in her tent,
Both of us thither in disguise will move,
To end your rival and compleat your love.
For when your fill of bliss you have enjoy'd,
And your full pleasures with themselves are cloy'd:
I thither will alar'm our enemy,
Where by both Swords he shall be sure to dye.
And the next night (the watch-word given by me)
You may, scape through the Guards to liberty.
The.
Revenge! my love enjoy'd, and freedom too!
Then in the name of Pluto be it so.
What stupid ignorance the World possest,
That only fury plac't i'th'youthful breast!
No 'tis in age alone great Spirits are young:
The Soul's but infant when the Body's strong.
These hoary heads like grisly Comets are,
Which always threaten ruin death and war.
Tiss.
Alas such tame Souls know but half a growth,
I'l make my age a step to a new youth:
Such murders and such cruelties maintain,
I'l from the blood I shed grow young again.
The.
Let's in the name of horrour then go on;
Methinks I long to have the bus'ness done:
Something like Conscience else may all defeat,
You know Sir I'm but a raw villain yet.
Tiss.
Conscience! a trick of State, found out by those
That wanted power to support their Laws;
A bug-bear name to startle fools, but we
That know the weakness of the fallacie,
Know better how to use what nature gave.
That Soul's no Soul which to it self's a slave.
Who any thing for Conscience sake deny,
[Exeunt.
Do nothing else but give themselves the lye.
Theramnes in Chains.
The.
How sweet a quietude's in fetters found!
That it seems almost freedom to be bound.
Though thus confin'd, my agile thoughts may fly
Through all the Region of variety.
Here in a trice I can the World run o're,
And finish whole years labours in an hour.
28
That is the only bitterness I taste.
This outward fetter but my Body chains,
But that the freedom of my Soul detains.
Why by my Rivals Sword did I not fall;
So bravely have embrac'd one death for all?
Yet why should I court such an abject fate?
Courage is the supporter of the great.
Methinks I've something yet to do, might prove
Becoming both my glory and my love.
I'l—hah this does my busie thoughts prevent.
[Enter Tiss.
Is that old feind for a Tormenter sent?
Good Sir, upon what message are you come?
Am I then destin'd to some harder doom?
Tiss.
No, I am come to give your sorrows ease:
I know you hate Sir Alcibiades:
Nay and I know you love Timandra too.
The.
Well Sir, all this I know as well as you.
Tiss.
Come if you dare be brave, be't on this theam:
Dare you Sir ravish her and murder him?
The.
For what dark ends do you this question bring?
Dare! 'sdeath, old Sir, I dare do any thing.
Tiss.
That word then all my former doubts secures,
Be only res'lute, and Timandra's yours.
My stratagems so subtly I will lay,
That to your arms your Mistress I'l betray.
Thus then, as the first step to our design,
Your guards I'l with adulterated wine
Secure; so they Charm'd in a Lethargy,
I'l from your bonds and prison set you free.
Then when some happy moment shall present
Timandra left ungarded in her tent,
Both of us thither in disguise will move,
To end your rival and compleat your love.
For when your fill of bliss you have enjoy'd,
And your full pleasures with themselves are cloy'd:
29
Where by both Swords he shall be sure to dye.
And the next night (the watch-word given by me)
You may, scape through the Guards to liberty.
The.
Revenge! my love enjoy'd, and freedom too!
Then in the name of Pluto be it so.
What stupid ignorance the World possest,
That only fury plac't i'th'youthful breast!
No 'tis in age alone great Spirits are young:
The Soul's but infant when the Body's strong.
These hoary heads like grisly Comets are,
Which always threaten ruin death and war.
Tiss.
Alas such tame Souls know but half a growth,
I'l make my age a step to a new youth:
Such murders and such cruelties maintain,
I'l from the blood I shed grow young again.
The.
Let's in the name of horrour then go on;
Methinks I long to have the bus'ness done:
Something like Conscience else may all defeat,
You know Sir I'm but a raw villain yet.
Tiss.
Conscience! a trick of State, found out by those
That wanted power to support their Laws;
A bug-bear name to startle fools, but we
That know the weakness of the fallacie,
Know better how to use what nature gave.
That Soul's no Soul which to it self's a slave.
Who any thing for Conscience sake deny,
[Exeunt.
Do nothing else but give themselves the lye.
| Alcibiades | |