University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

SCENE, The King's Apartment.
A Table set.—Ptolomey, Sosybius, Cassandra, sitting: Ptolomy at the Upper end; Cassandra on one side, Sosybius on the other.
Ptolomy.
I must confess 'twas Obvious.

Sosyb.
He said he could Command 'em with his Nod:
Can he do this with Mercenaries, rais'd
Not at his Charge, but yours? by you maintain'd:
What could he more, had they been Spartans born?

Cassand.
What would you hence infer?

Sosyb.
What you observ'd?
Some are born Kings; and so is Cleomenes.

Cassand.
A great Soul dares not call himself a Villain:
He has that Interest, and will use it nobly;
To serve, and not to ruine his Protector,

Sosyb.
Is Ægypt's safety, and the Kings, and Yours,
Fit to be trusted on a bare suppose,
That he is Honest? Honest, let him be;
But on his own Experiment, not ours!
Man is but Man; Unconstant still, and Various;
There's no to Morrow in him, like to Day.
Perhaps the Atoms rowling in his Brain,
Make him think Honestly this present Hour;
The next a Swarm of Base, Ungrateful Thoughts
May mount aloft: And where's our Ægypt then?
Who would trust Chance? since all Men have the Seeds
Of Good and Ill, which should work upward first.

Cassand.
All men! then you are one; and by that Rule,
Your wicked Atomes may be working now
To give bad Council; That you still may Govern.

Sosyb.
I would the King would Govern.

Cassand.
Because you think I have too much Command.

Ptolo.
Would you would rule me both by turns, in quiet,
And let me take my Ease!

Cassand.
Then my turns first.

Sosyb.
Our Masters Safety in sound reason ought
To be prefer'd to both.

Ptolo.
So thinks Cassandra too.

Cassand.
No; Court Sosybius, and cast Cassandra off.

Ptolo.
What have I said, or done,
To merit this unkindness?
Tell me but what you think of Cleomenes,
And be my Oracle.

Cassand.
I know him Grateful.

Sosyb.
To know him grateful, is enough for Jove.

Cassand.
And therefore not too much for me in Ægypt:
I say, I know him Honest.

Ptolo.
Then I know it.
Now may Sosybius speak?

Cassand.
He may: but not to contradict my knowledge.

Sosyb.
Then I concur, to let him go for Greece;
And wish our Ægypt fairly rid of him.
For, as our Apis, tho' in Temples fed,
And under Golden Roofs, yet loaths his food,
Because restrain'd; and longs to roam in Meads,
Among the Milky-Mothers of the Herd.
So, Cleomenes, kept by force in Ægypt,
Is sullen at our Feasts; abhors our Dainties;
And longs to change 'em for his Spartan Broth.
He may be dang'rous here; Then send him hence,
With aid enough to Conquer all he lost,
And make him formidable to Mankind.

Cassand.
He may be formidable then to us,
That thou wou'dst say.

Sosyb.
No: for you know him grateful.

Cassand.
Would thou wouldst learn to speak without a double,
Thou Delphian Statesman.

[Rises.
Sosyb.
Would I could know your Wishes that I might:
I would but smooth their way and make em 'easy!

[bowing.
Cassand.
Good Old Man!
[Smiling.
A little over Zealous, but well-meaning.
My Wishes are the honour of my King.
That Ptolomy may keep his Royal word,
And I my promise to procure this Aid;
If to be Mistriss, signifies Command,
Let this be done: If not, the King may find,
Another Beauty, worthier of his Bed;
And I another Lover, less ungrateful:

Ptol.
Let Ægypt sink before that fatal day;
No, we are one: Cassandra, we are one:
Or I am nothing? Thou art Ptolomy.

Cassand.
Now you deserve to be the first of Kings,
Because you rank your self the first of Lovers:
What can I do to show Cassandra grateful?
Nothing but this;
To be so nice in my Concerns for you:
To doubt where Doubts are not: To be too fearful:
To raise a Bug-bear Shadow of a Danger,
And then be frighted, tho' it cannot reach you.

Sosyb.
Be pleas'd to name your apprehensions, Madam.

Cassand.
Plain Souls like mine, judge others by themselves:
Therefore I hold our Cleomenes honest:
But since 'tis possible: Tho' barely so,
That he may prove ungrateful,
I would have pledges given us of his Faith,
His Wife, his Mother, and his Son, be left
As Hostages in Ægypt.

Sosyb.
Admirable:
Some God inspir'd you with this prudent Council.

Ptol.
I thought so too, but that I durst not speak.

Sosyb.
Leave me to manage this.

Cassand.
My best Sosybius!
But do it surely, by the easiest means,
Infuse it gently: Do not pour it down;
Let him not think he stands suspected here;
And least of all, by Me!

Sosyb.
He shall not, Madam.
Now Sir, th'Illumination-Feast attends you:
For Apis has appear'd,

Ptol.
Why then I must be formal,
Go to the Temple.
Come my fair Cassandra,
That I may have an Object worth my Worship.

[aside.
Cassand.
The God that I Adore is in my Breast;
This is the Tomple: This is the Sacrifice:
But to the Pow'rs Divine we make Appeal,
with great Devotion; and with little Zeal.

[Exeunt Ptol, and Cassand.
Sosyb.
solus.
Yes yes, it shall be done; but not her way:
Call in my Son Cleanthes: This Cassandra
Is our enchanting Syren: She that Sings
Our Ptolomy into secure Destruction:
In vain I Counsel him t'avoid his Ruine:
These Women-Charmers, Oh they have a Devil
Too strong to dispossess. Call in my Son.
[Goes to the Door.
Enter Cleanthes.
Cleanthes! Are you Cleomenes's Friend,
Or only seem you such?

Cleanth.
To seem to be, and not to be what I seem,
Are things my honest Nature understands not.

Sosyb.
But you must love your King and Country more.

Cleanth.
Yes, when I have a King and Country
That can deserve my Love!
Ægypt, as Ægypt is, deserves it not:
A People, baser than the Beasts they worship:
Below their Pot-herb-gods that grow in Gardens:
The King—

Sosyb.
Go to; Young Man, what e'er he be,
I must not hear my Master vilify'd.

Cleanth.
Why did you name him then? Were I at Pray'rs,
And even for you, whom as my Soul I love,
If Ptolomy should come a Cross my Thoughts,
A Curse would follow where I meant a Blessing.

Sosyb.
'Tis well, tis well, I am so fond a Father;
Those words were death in any other Mouth;
I know too much of you, you love the Spartan,
Beyond your King and Country.

Cleanth.
'Tis a Truth;
So Noble; I would own it to the Gods,
And they be proud to hear it,

Sosyb.
Confess you love him better than your Father.

Cleanth.
No; but I love him equal with my Father.

Sosyb.
Say better, and say true:
If we were opposite, and one must fall,
Whom wouldst thou Save?

Cleanth.
Neither; For both would dye:
Before I could resolve.

Sosyb.
If I command thee,
To break thy Friendship with him? Wouldst thou?

Cleanth.
No:

Sosyb.
Why then thou hast confess'd, thou lov'st him more.

Cleanth.
Not so: For should he bid me disobey,
Or not love you: Thus, would I answer him,
As I have answer'd you.

Sosyb.
Ungrateful Boy!

Cleanth.
You bid me tell you true, and this is my reward.

Sosyb.
Go from my Sight.

Cleanth.
I will; but would not go
Without your Blessing.

Sosyb.
O, so well I love thee,
That I could Curse thee for not loving me:
Stay, I would send thee on a Message to him,
But that I fear thy Faith.

Cleanth.
You wrong my Piety.

Sosyb.
It much concerns my Interest, which is thine;
Would'st thou deliver what I have to say?
Would'st thou induce his Reason to comply?

Cleanth.
Both; Granting your Proposals Honourable;
If not, employ some Mercenary Tongue,
The Court affords you store: And spare my Virtue!

Sosyb.
I would have Cleomenes sent away,
With Royal Aid.

Cleanth.
You promis'd him he should.

Sosyb.
And would have thee perswade him to this Voyage.

Cleanth.
A welcome Errand: Oh my dear, dear Father.

Sosyb.
But on my terms, mark that; my terms; Cleanthes.

Cleanth.
I fear'd the Statesman in you.

Sosyb.
I would have Ægypt safe: That's all my Interest;
And therefore he must leave behind for Pawns,
His Mother, Wife and Son.

Cleanth.
'Tis clogging of a Gift: 'Tis base, mean Council;
I hope you gave it not.

Sosyb.
No: 'Twas Cassandra!
But she would have that Odium cast on me,
I am her Beast of Burden and must bear it.

Cleanth.
I never can belye so good a Father!
But this I'll do:
The Message shall be faithfully deliver'd,
And all the Strumpet stand expos'd to shame.

Sosyb.
Thou hitst my meaning; but he must be secret;
Must seem to take the Favour as from Her:
And lay the hardship of the Terms on me.

Cleanth.
He shall.

Sosyb.
And thou wilt Gild this bitter Pill:
For there's no other way to go from hence,
But leaving these behind.

Cleanth.
A Beam of Thought comes glancing on my Soul.
[aside.
I'll undertake it
To his Father.
The Pledges shall be left.

Sosyb.
My best Cleanthes:
[Embraces him.
But haste, and lose no time!

Cleanth.
I am all on fire to serve my Friend and Father.
Ex. Cleanthes.

Sosyb.
alone.
This Cleomenes ought to be dispatch'd:
Dispatch'd the safest way: He ought to dye;
Not, that I hate his Virtue; but I fear it:
The Mistriss drives my Councils to the Leeward;
Now I must edge upon a point of Wind;
And make slow way, recovering more and more,
Till I can bring my Vessel safe ashore.
Exit. Sosyb.