 | Siroes |  |
SCENE XII.
Enter Laodice.Cos.
What brings my fair-one unexpected here?
Laod.
I come to claim protection.—Cosroes' favour
Suffices not, even in these palace walls,
To shelter me from fear; nor those are wanting
That outrage and insult me.
Cos.
Who can dare
So far presume?
Laod.
My crime, alas! is truth
And loyalty to you.
Cos.
Declare the guilty,
And leave with me the care to punish him.
Laod.
Your son attempted to seduce my love,
And when I durst reject his impious suit,
He menac'd me with death.
173
[listening.]
What do I hear?
Cos.
My lov'd Medarses could not thus offend:
No—Siroes is the criminal.
Laod.
'Tis true.
What can a woman, helpless, unprotected,
Against the royal heir of Persia's king?
Sir.
[apart.]
All, all the world conspire against my peace!
Cos.
And shall he prove my rival too in love?
Dry up those tears, O! lovely mourner, calm
Thy troubled thoughts.—O! most ungrateful Siroes!
And hast thou dar'd? Believe not I am Cosroes
If I forget—enough—Laodice,
Yes, thou shalt see—
Sir.
[apart.]
O! pain to think!
Laod.
[aside.]
'Twas wise
In me to accuse him first.
Cos.
[sits at the table.]
Unworthy son!
[sees the paper left by Sir. and reads to himself.
Laod.
Had I foreseen such anguish to your heart
I never then— [aside.]
What paper's that? He reads
Absorb'd and lost—he changes colour!
Cos.
Gods!
What worse could angry Heaven have rais'd against me!
174
[rises.
Laod.
My gracious lord,
What now afflicts you?
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