 | Themistocles |  |
SCENE IX.
Enter Lysimachus with a train of Greeks.Lys.
Great king! in whom, though in a foe to Greece,
Athens not only pays the honours due
To regal majesty, but, from thy virtue
(Unbounded as thy empire) now expects
A gift beyond the noblest.
Xer.
Let it not
Be peace thou seek'st:—then sit and freely speak.
Neoc.
[to Them.]
Is that Lysimachus?
[Lys. sits.
Them.
It is?
Neoc.
The friendship
Of one so dear, may stand you so much in stead.
Them.
[to Neoc.]
Be silent or depart.
Lys.
[to Xer.]
To sweep from earth
A rash disturber of the public peace
One common interest claims from all that rule;
Even foes should here concur: the single state
That shelters one proscrib'd, must injure all;
92
The mind to each excess. Themistocles,
(Forgive me, hapless friend!) is now the criminal
That Athens seeks. Within these palace walls
'Tis thought he dwells; she could of right demand him,
But rather asks him as a gift from Xerxes.
Neoc.
[aside.]
O! cruel embassy? O! faithless friend!
Them.
[aside.]
O! loyal citizen!
Xer.
We shall not now,
Ambassador, explore the secret purpose
That hither turn'd thy steps, nor what our trust
Due to the Grecian faith; but this I know,
Not all thy studied artifice of speech
Can hide the boldness of a claim like this.
Say, what imports to me the peace of Athens?
Must I be made the power subservient here
To do your bidding? Who shall thus presume
To frame new leagues to bind contending foes?
And com'st thou now to give me laws or counsel?
The last I little trust, the first I spurn.
Let not a single victory swell you thus
With transient pride; for know, the fate of Greece
Is little yet secur'd; and know, to Athens
The way lies open still for Xerxes' arms.
Lys.
But what imports to you Themistocles?
Xer.
Learn that, when Xerxes finds him in his power—
93
And dwells he not in Susa?
Xer.
Were it so,
Of him I hold no conference with thee.
Lys.
My lord, your hatred of the Grecian name
Blinds you too far, and if I now begin
On peaceful terms—
Xer.
No more: I have forbid thee
To speak of peace.
Lys.
'Tis true; but yet—
Xer.
Enough:
I know what thou would'st say, and have reveal'd
To thee my thoughts at full—thou may'st depart.
Lys.
I go; but since so little weighs
With thee the name of friend;
Think not a boast can win the praise,
That must on deeds depend.
With thee the name of friend;
Think not a boast can win the praise,
That must on deeds depend.
Foes may be felt, though lightly priz'd,
As Asia late has tried;
Foes, that the more they seem'd despis'd
Have dangers more defied.
As Asia late has tried;
Foes, that the more they seem'd despis'd
Have dangers more defied.
[Exit with train.
| Themistocles | |