 | The Spartan Dame |  |
Scene I.
Agesilaus and Crites.Ages.
That Way I have my Wish; but Celona! she
Confounds my Policy: What can she mean?
Crit.
What can she mean? Why she speaks plain enough.
Ages.
I apprehend the fatal Consequence,
Tho' the King won't.
Crit.
Alas, Sir, he's employ'd
In other Fears: Love takes up all his Time:
But the sole Ministry of his Affairs,
The State, you rule.
Ages.
And I had fix'd it sure,
Had not my Ambush for Leonidas been disappointed.
Crit.
I should think, indeed, his Death were well resolv'd.
Ages.
I have advis'd it often, but the King—
Crit.
Dont trouble him.
When 'tis once done, he'll find that 'tis well done.
Ages.
'Tis certainly most necessary.
29
If it be necessary, it is just;
And in just Things, sometimes to serve a Prince
Against his Will, is the best Loyalty.
Ages.
Then 'tis our Duty, Crites?
Crit.
Without Doubt;
And more than so, our own Security.
Ages.
What's to be done? There's nothing to be done
Or thought on, where he is—cou'd we decoy
Him here to Sparta—
Crit.
That's impossible.
Ages.
But how? What Means? What Arts?
Crit.
O! there are none.
Ages.
Then think not on't:
He must live on, if tis impossible
To bring him in our Pow'r.
Crit.
Not quite impossible,
But very difficult.
Ages.
Suppose you, you, methinks, might quickly find
Pretences probable in his Affair, to draw him here.
Crit.
What, Sir, if he were here?
Ages.
Here he shou'd stay,
Murder'd as soon as enter'd.
Crit.
Here's a Letter
Will speak what I have thought upon these Things.
Ages.
'Tis to Leonidas.
Crit.
Pray read it.
SIR,
The
Gods declare upon your Side, in their Inspiration
of Celona, whose Virtue, confirm'd by me, has this
Night resolv'd the Murder of the Tyrant. Pray fail
not to head your Friends, who will be ready to serve you.
Crites.
Ages.
This cannot fail:
Her Carriage makes all easy to his Faith:
He will believe, and come.
30
Come! he will come:
Not for those Reasons, which you apprehend,
And might invite another.
Ages.
I cannot guess what you rely on—
Crit.
This. I know the Niceness of his Virtue such,
That when the Letter tells him that his Daughter
Intends her Husband's Murder, he will fly,
To save her from the Sin.
Ages.
He may resolve
To pardon her, and so not make such Haste.
Crit.
O! You are wide of him: Not this Earth's Rule
Cou'd bribe him to consent to such a Crime,
Tho' far remov'd, and distant from his Blood;
But when so near him as a Daughter's Sin,
You need not doubt his Coming.
Ages.
Have you said when he shou'd come?
Crit.
The Postscript says at Twelve.
Ages.
It does, and it appoints your House the Place:
It is the fittest Place.
Crit.
I'm unsuspected:
Give me but your Authority, and some
Convenient Villains, who dare do the Deed,
And he shall fall as soon as enter there.
Ages.
This Letter must be sent.
Crit.
Timæus will convey it speedily—
He waits without—
[Goes to the Door, Timæus takes the Letter.]
Ages.
So, this will make all sure.
Crit.
Fail not upon your Life.
Tim.
My Life upon't.
[Exit.
Crit.
I've order'd him to stay, just 'till he sees
Leonidas set forward, then to come
With his best Speed, and bring me certain Word.
Ages.
You must attend—
Crit.
Only a Love Affair,
Which happens luckily enough, and shall
To-Night employ the King.
31
That will allow
Us Time for our Designs: I'm glad it thrives.
Crit.
O! all goes very well.
Ages.
He's coming forth:
When you're at Leisure, I must speak with you.
[Exit.
Cleombrotus to Crites.
Cleom.
Thou art the Life of Counsel!
It must be just as thou say'st.
Crit.
Indeed, I think it best.
Cleom.
Undoubtedly the best: And I must own
Myself ith' Wrong, as Passion always is,
So like a mad brain'd Boy, to think of Force.
Crit.
I must confess, a violent Remedy
In some despairing Points does very well;
When nothing else will do, 'tis well apply'd,
And then a Rape is necessary. But
Your Case is far from this: She's in your Pow'r,
And cannot 'scape you: Nay, I say agen,
She shannot, Sir; and when I thus declare,
You shall enjoy her any Way you please,
You wou'd not chuse a Violation.
Cleom.
Thou art my Guide of Love.
Crit.
This Way, that I propose,
Shall introduce you for Eurytion,
Give you a free Admission to her Bed,
Which you may satisfy as well as he.
Cleom.
Then for his Care in coming unattended, in the Dark—
Crit.
Unknown of all but me, his faithful Friend.
Cleom.
Makes still for us.
Crit.
All Things must be remov'd,
And silent to receive you.
Cleom.
If she discover me—
Crit.
Why, if she does—
Cleom.
Wou'd it were come to that.
Crit.
Sir, it shall come.
Cleom.
I am impatient.
32
'Tis too early, yet, and you must wait; there is no Remedy.
Cleom.
Then I must wait.
Crit.
The Hour will soon arrive.
Cleom.
Crites, withdraw with me—We must be nice
In every Circumstance of Place, and Time:
Those we'll agree within—This Service done,
My Thanks in thy Reward shall follow soon.
[Exeunt.
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