Gods are theirs not ours and when we pray For happy Omens We their price must pay In vain at Shrines th'ungiving suppliant stands This 't is to make a Vow with Empty hands Fat Offrings are the Priesthoods only care They take the Money and Heaven hears the Prayer Without a Bribe their Oracles are mute And their Instructed Gods refuse the suit Exit Cass. in a fury King and Attendants follow Scene closes SCENE The Port of Alexandria Enter Cleomenes and Cleanthes Cleom. The Propositions are unjust and hard And if I swallow 'em 'T is as we take The Wrath of Heaven We must have patience for they will be Gods And give us no account of what we suffer Cleanth My Father much abhors this middle way Betwixt a Gift and Sale of Courtesy But 't is the Mistress She that seem'd so kind 'T is she that bears so hard a hand upon you She that would half Oblige and half Affront Cleom. Let her be what she is That 's Curse enough But such a Wife a Mother and a Son Oh sure ye Gods when ye made this vile Aegypt Ye little thought they should be Mortgag'd here My only Comfort Is that I trust these precious Pawns with thee For thou art so religiously a Friend That I would sooner leave 'em in thy hands Than if I had security from Heav'n And all the Gods to answer for their safety Cleanth Yes yes They shall be safe And thou shalt have a pledge As strong as Friendship can make over to thee Deny me not for I must go with thee And share what Fate allots for thee in Greece Cleomenes looks discontentedly Nay cast not on me that forbidding frown But let me be their pawn as they are thine So I shall have thee wholly to my self And be thy Wife thy Mother and thy Son As thou art all to me Cleom. Oh Friend Sighs and wipes his Eyes Cleanth What wouldst thou say my better part Cleom. No more but this That thou art too unkind When even in kindness thou wouldst over-come Cleanth Let me be proud and pardon thou my Pride Base Worthless Aegypt has no other Pawn To Counter-ballance these but only me 'T was on such terms alone I durst propose it Shalt thou leave these And I not leave a Father whom I love Come come It must be so We 'll give each other all we have besides And then we shall be even Here they are I leave thee Break those tender Ties of Nature As gently as thou canst they must be broken Going returns But when thou seest Cassandra curb thy Spleen Seem to receive the kindness as from her And if thou thinkst I love thee for my sake Remembring me strive to forget my Father Exit Cleanth Enter Cleora Cratisiclea and Cleonidas Cleom. But how can I sustain to tell 'em this Walking from ' em Even in the gentlest Terms There are not words in any Tongue so soft As I would use The Gods must make a new one If they would have me speak Cratisi How King of Sparta When your Fortune smiles A Glorious Sun-shine and a Gloomy Soul The Gods love chearfullness when they are kind They think their Gifts despis'd and thrown away On sullen thankless Hearts Cleor. I hear my dearest Lord that we shall go Cleom. Go Cleon. What a mournful Eccho makes my Father By Mars he stifles Go upon his Tongue And kills the joyful sound he speaks so low That Heaven must Listen if it hear his thanks Cleom. Yes I shall go but how Cleor. With Aegypt's aid Cleon. With his own Soul and Sword a Thousand strong And worth ten Aegypts and their ten Thousand Gods Cratis There 's something more in this than what we guess Some Secret anguish rowls within his Breast That shakes him like an Earthquake which he presses And will not give it vent I know him well He Blushes and would speak and wants a Voice And stares and Gapes like a forbidden Ghost Till he be spoke to first Tell me my Son Cleom. Mother I will And yet I cannot neither aside Mother that word has struck me dumb again For how can I say Mother and propound To leave her here behind who gave me Life Mother and Wife and Son the names that Nature Most Loves to speak are banish'd from my Mouth Cleor. Tell us My Love the King has chang'd his mind And has refus'd us leave for we can bear it Aegypt is Greece to me while you are here Cleom. Oh I would speak But Oh! you speak so kindly That you forbid my Speech You call me Love Cleor. Was that too kind a Word Cleom. It was to me I am a meer Barbarian A Brute a stock for I have no Relations Or shortly shall have none Cleor. Then we must die Cleonid We must and welcome Death Cratis To save his Life Cleom. The Gods forbid that you should dye for me No You may live but I must dye thrice over For I must leave you here or must not go These are the hard Conditions offer'd me Cratis Then Aegypt would have Pledges Is this all Cleom. Yes and a mighty All 'T is all I have But I propose it not Remember that Cratis I do and therefore I propose it first To save this virtuous Shame this good Confusion That would not let you speak Cleom. Oh! I could almost think you love me not You Granted me so quick so willingly What I bear witness Heaven was slow to ask And would be loath to have Cleor. I cannot leave you Cleom. I was but wishing thou wouldst draw me back And now I cannot go Cratis Are you turn'd Woman No more of this fond Stuff Cleon. Shall I be left to gather Rust in Aegypt A Glue of Sloth to stick to my young Pinions And marr their flight Habitual Cowardise No I must learn my stubborn Trade of War From you alone and envy you betimes Cleom. But the Conditions Oh these hard Conditions That such a Spirit must be left behind Untaught unfashion'd by a Fathers hands A Spirit fit to start into an Empire And look the World to Law Cratis No more debating for I see the pinch He must be left and so must She and I For we are but your softnesses My Son Th' Incumbrances and Luggage of the War Fight for us and redeem us if you please For there we are your clogs of Virtue Here The Spurs of your return Cleom. I Thank you Mother Once more you have Erected me to Man And set me upright with my Face to Heaven The Woman and the Boy be yours awhile The War be mine alone Cratis There spoke the Spartan King Think not on us Cleom. I wonnot Cleora Not in Pray'rs Cleon. In Pray'rs That 's poor As if the Gods were Thoughtless of their work Think on us when you fight and when you make A lusty stroke Cry out That 's for my Boy Cratis Dispose this mouldring Carcass as you please E're lingring Age or Sickness wear it out
his Arm side-way to a Pillar and leaning his Forehead upon his Elbow he rested his Body a little while and ran over in his Thoughts what course he should take and then with his Friends went presently to Gythium where finding Ships fitted for the purpose they embark'd Antigonus taking the City Treated the Lacedemonians courteously and neither affronting nor ruining the Dignity of Sparta but permitting them to enjoy their own Laws and Polity and sacrificing to the Gods dislodg'd the the third day for he heard that there was a great War kindled in Macedonia and that the Country was spoil'd by the Barbarians besides he grew sick of a Consumption and continual Defluxion on the Lungs yet he still kept up that he might return and free his own Country and fall more Gloriously upon an heap of slaughter'd Barbarians As Phylarchus says and 't is probable he broke a Vein by shouting in the Battle In the Plays 't was said that after the Victory he cry'd out for Joy O fine Day and presently bringing up abundance of Blood fell into a Fever and dy'd in a short time And thus much concerning Antigonus Cleomenes sailing from Cytherae touch'd at another Island call'd Aegyalia whence as he was about to depart from Cyrene one of his Friends Therycion by name a Man of an haughty Spirit in all Enterprizes and high and boasting in his Talk came privately to him and said thus Sir Death in Battel which is the most Glorious we have let go though all heard us say that Antigonus should never tread over the King of Sparta unless dead And now that which is next in Bravery and Glory is presented to us Whither do we madly sail flying that which is near and seeking that which is far removed For if it is not dishonourable for the Race of Hercules to serve the Successors of Philip and Alexander we shall save a long Voyage by delivering our selves up to Antigonus who probably surpasseth Ptolomy as much as the Macedonians do the Aegyptians but if we think it mean to submit to those whose Arms have conquer'd us why should we chuse him for our Lord by whom we have not yet been beaten Is it that instead of one we might appear meaner than two whilst we fly Antigonus and flatter Ptolemy Or is it for your Mothers sake that you retreat to Aegypt It will indeed be a very fine and very desirable sight for her to be shown her Son by Ptolemy 's Women now chang'd from a Prince into an Exile and a Slave Are we not still Masters of our own Swords And whilst we have Laconia in view shall we not here free our selves from this disgraceful Misery and clear our selves to those who at Sellasia dy'd for the Honour and Defence of Sparta Or shall we sit lazily in Aegypt enquiring what News from Sparta and whom Antigonus hath been pleas'd to make Governor of Lacedemon Thus spoke Therycion and this was Cleomenes's Reply By seeking Death you Coward the most easie and most ready Refuge you fancy that you shall appear couragious and brave though this Flight is baser than thy former Better Men than we have given way to their Enemies having been betray'd by Fortune or oppress'd by Multitude but he that sinks under Labour or Afflictions the Opinions or Reproaches of Men is overcome by his own Effeminacy and Softness For a voluntary Death ought not to be chosen as a Relief from Action but an Exemplary Action it self and 't is base either to live or die only to our selves That Death to which you now invite us I propos'd only as a Release from our present Miseries but carries nothing of Bravery or Profit in it And I think it becomes both me and you not to despair of our Country but when there are no hopes of that left those that have an Inclination may quickly die To this Therycion return'd no Answer but as soon as he could get out of Cleomenes's Company went toward the Shore and ran himself through But Cleomenes sailed from Aegialia landed in Lybia and being honourably conducted through the King's Country came to Alexandria When he was first brought to Ptolomy no more than common Civilities and usual Ceremonies were paid him but when upon tryal he found him a Man of deep Sense and great Reason and that his plain Laconick way of Conversation carried a free Pleasantness with it that he did nothing unbecoming the greatness of his Birth nor bent under Fortune and appear'd a more faithful Counsellor than those who made it their business to please and flatter he was asham'd and repented that he had neglected so great a Man and suffer'd Antigonus to get so much Power and Reputation by ruining him Therefore he heap'd up Honours and Kindnesses on Cleomenes and gave him Hopes that he would furnish him with an Army and a Navy to recover Greece and re-instate him in his Throne Besides he allow'd him a yearly Pension of four and twenty Tallents a little part of which Sum supplied his and his Friends thrifty Temperance and the rest was imploy'd in doing good Offices to and in relieving the Necessities of those that fled Greece and retir'd into Aegypt But the elder Ptolomy dying before Cleomenes's Affairs had receiv'd a full Dispatch and the Successor being a loose voluptuous and effeminate Prince under the power of his Pleasures and his Women his Business was neglected for the King was so besotted with his Women and his Wine that Balls Musick and Dancing were the only Employments of his most busie and serious hours and the greatest Affairs of State were manag'd by Agathoclea the King's Mistress her Mother and the Pimp Oinanthes Therefore at the first they seem'd to stand in need of Cleomenes for Ptolemy being afraid of his Brother Magas who by his Mother's means had a great Interest among the Soldiers took Cleomenes into his Cabinet-Council and acquainted him with the Design of taking off his Brother He though all were for it declar'd his opinion to the contrary saying The King if it were possible should have more Brothers for the better security and management of his Affairs And Sosibius the greatest Favourite replying That they were not secure of the Mercenaries whilst Magas was alive Cleomenes return'd That he need not trouble himself about that Matter for amongst the Mercenaries there were above 3000 Pelopponesians who were his fast Friends and whom he could command at any time with his Nod. This Discourse made Cleomenes for the present to be look'd upon as a Man of Integrity and Power but afterwards Ptolomy's Weakness increasing his Fear and as it usually happens where there is no Judgment and Wisdom at the bottom placing his Security in Jealousie and Suspicion rendred Cleomenes suspected to the Courtiers as having too much Interest with the Mercenaries and many had this Saying in their Mouths That he was a Lion midst a flock of Sheep for such he seem'd to be in the Court slyly overlooking and taking
of more How I could curse my Name of Ptolomy For 't is so long it asks an Hour to write it By Heav'n I 'll change it into Iove or Mars Or any other civil Monosyllable That will not tire my Hand Sosyb. These are for Common Good Shewing Papers Ptol. I am glad of that Those shall be sure to wait Sosyb. Orders to pay the Soldiers ripe for Mutiny They may Revolt Ptol. To whom Sosyb. The Man you fear Your Brother Magas Ptol. That 's indeed the danger Give me the Physick Let me swallow quick There 's Ptolomy for that Now not one more For every Minute I expect Cassandra To call me to the Musick If she should find me at this rare Employment Of Signing out her Treasures Sosyb The rest are only Grants to her you love And places for her Friends Ptol. I 'll Sign 'em all were every one a Province Thou know'st her Humor not to brook denial And then a Quarrel on her Birth-day too Would be of ill presage Signs more Papers Enter Cassandra Women Cassand I heard you waired but you 'll pardon me I was not sooner Drest Ptol. Thus I begin my Homage to the Day Kisses her Hand That brought me forth a Mistriss and am proud To be your foremost Slave Cassand Our little Entertainment waits not worth A longer Ceremony please to Grace it The SCENE opens and discovers Cassandra's Apartment Musicians and Dancers Ptolomy leads in Cassandra Sosybius follows They Sit. Towards the end of the Song and Dance Enter Cleomenes and Cleanthes on one side of the Stage where they stand SONG NO no poor suff'ring Heart no Change endeavour Choose to sustain the smart rather than leave her My ravish'd Eyes behold such Charms about her I can dye with her but not live without her One tender Sigh of hers to see me Languish Will more than pay the price of my past Anquish Beware O cruel Fair how you smile on me 'T was a kind Look of yours that has undone me Love has in store for me one happy Minute And She will end my pain who did begin it Then no day void of Bliss or Pleasure leaving Ages shall slide away without perceiving Cupid shall guard the Door the more to please us And keep out Time and Death when they would seize us Time and Death shall depart and say in flying Love has found out a way to Live by Dying After the Musick is over Cleomenes speaks Cleom. to Cleanth Is this the Council of th' Aegyptian King And am I call'd upon the Grave Debate To judge of trilling Notes and tripping Feet Cleanth 'T is of a piece with all the rest of Ptolomey A Singing and a Dancing Government O Aegypt Aegypt Thou art grown the Lees Of all the World The slime of thy own Nyle Sure we had neither Human Syres nor Mothers The Sun and Nyle begot us W' are so Cowardly And yet so proud so many Gods we have And yet not One Cleom. No more They seem to gaze on me with wonder Cleanth And well they may to see a Man in Aegypt King Cassand Sosyb. rise and come forward Ptol. Welcome Royal Stranger Not only to my Court but to my Bosom Cleom. I heard you sent for me but on what Business Am yet to learn Ptol. The greatest in the World To see the Man Whom even his Foes extoll His Friends adore And all Mankind admire Cleom. Say rather Sir A Man forsaken of his better Stars A banish'd Prince The shadow of a King Pto. My Fathers Friend Cleom. I must not think so vainly of my self To be what you have said lest it upbraid you To let your Fathers Friend for three long Months Thus Dance attendance for a word of Audience Cassand Now by my Soul 't is nobly urg'd He speaks As if he were in Sparta on his Throne aside Not asking Aid but granting How little looks our Pageant Prince to him This is the only King I ever saw Cleom. By all the Gods when I have stood repuls'd Before your Gates and could not gain admittance I have not Sigh'd so much for my own sorrows As I have blush'd for your ungenerous Usage Cleanth Not a word Ptolomey Asham'd by all that 's good to be miscall'd A King when this is present Cleom. Think you 't is nothing For me to beg That I constrain my Temper To sue for Aid which you should first have offer'd Believe me Ptolomey a Noble Soul Does much that asks He gives you pow'r t' oblige him Know Sir There 's a proud Modesty in merit Averse from begging and resolv'd to pay Ten times the Gift it asks Pto. I have been to blame And you have justly tax'd my long neglect I am Young and am a Lover and how far Fair Eyes may make even Kings forgetful Look And read my best Excuse Cleanth O Miracle He blushes Aside The first red Virtue I have ever seen Upon that Face Cassand I am sorry Sir y'have made me your Excuse As if I stood betwixt the Good you meant And intercepted every Royal Grace Now in my own Defence I must solicite All his concerns as mine And if my Eyes have pow'r He should not sue In vain nor linger with a long delay Ptolo. Well! J'll consider Cassand Say that word again And I 'll consider too Ptolo. Prithee be satisfy'd He shall be aided Or I 'll no more be King Cleanth When wert thou one For shame for shame ye Gods aside That e'er you put it in a Strumpets power To do so good a Deed Cleom. I am a Spartan Madam scarce of Words We have but just enough to speak our Meaning Be thank'd That 's all I could have said to Iove Had Iove like you restor'd me to my Crown Sosyb. The Gods have giv'n you Sir the speedy means to Cleom. To satisfie your Debt of Gratitude Cleom. Oh make me happy Tell me how this Sword This and my Heart are all that 's left me now Can be Employ'd to serve the Crown of Aegypt Cleanth Well said Father Thou art a true Statesman aside So much for so much is the way at Court Sosyb. My King has in the Camp a Younger Brother Valiant they say but very Popular He gets too far into the Soldiers Grace And Inches out my Master Cleom. Is the King Assur'd of this by any Overt-Act Or any close Conspiracy reveal'd Ptolo. He has it in his pow'r to be a Traytor And that 's enough Sosyb. He has it in his will too Else why this Ostentation of his Virtues His Bounty Valour and his Temperance Why are they thus expos'd to publick View But as a Venus set besides a Monster To make an Odious Comparison As if his Brother wanted what he boasts Ptolo. What 's to be done with him Cassand There needs no more I think but to contrive With Secresy and Safety to Dispatch him Cleanth I thank thee that thou hast not Cozen'd me aside In this Advice For two good deeds together Had been too much in
Conscience for thy calling Ptolo. He Dies that 's out of doubt Cleom. Your Brother Sir Ptolo. Why do you ask that Question Cleom. Because I had a Brother Oh grief to say I had and have not now Wise Valiant Temperate and in short a Spartan Had all the Virtues which your Counsellor Imputed to your Brother as his Crimes He Lov'd me well so well he could but die To shew he Lov'd me better than his Life He lost it for me in Sellasia's Field And went the greatest Ghost of all our name That ever had a Brother or a King Sosyb. Wipe off the Tears that stand upon your Eyes Good Nature works too far Kings have no Brothers What Men call such are Rivalls of their Crowns Yours tim'd his Death so as to Merit Grief Who knows but he laid in by that last Action The means to have betray'd you had he Liv'd Cleom. I would say something but I curb my passion Because thou art the Father to my Friend To you Sir this If you Condemn your Brother To Ptolo. Only because he 's Bounteous Great and Brave Know you Condemn those Virtues own you want ' em Had you a Thousand Brothers such as he You ought to shew you are above 'em all By daring to reward and Cherish 'em As Bucklers of your Crown in time of War And in soft Peace the Jewels that adorn it Cassand I stand Corrected Sir he ought to Live Ptolo. I think so too Sosyb. I do not wish his Death Howe're I seem'd to give that rugged Counsel Cleanth aside Well said again Father Comply comply Follow the Sun True Shadow Sosyb. I only wish my Master may be safe But there are Mercenaries in the Army Three thousand Greeks the Flower of all our Troops Like Wolves indeed among Aegyptian Lambs If these Revolt I do not say they will But if your Brother please to take the Crown And be not good enough to let you Reign Those Greeks where e'er they go will turn the Scale Ptol. What think you Cleomenes Cleom. He says true Ptol. Then Magas must not live Cleom. That does not follow Fear not those Mercenaries They are mine Devoted to my Interest Commanded by my Nod They are my Limbs of War and I their Soul Were they in Arms against you at your Gates High in their Rage and fix'd upon the Spoil Should I say Hold Nay should I only Frown They could not bear my Eyes but Aw'd and Master'd Like Lions to their Keepers would couch and fawn And disobey their Hunger Ptol. Wondrous Man Embraces him How I admire thy Virtue Cassand And his Genius Some are born Kings Made up of three parts Fire so full of Heaven It sparkles at their Eyes Inferior Souls Know 'em as soon as seen by sure instinct To be their Lords and naturally Worship The secret God within ' em Sosyb. Sir I humbly beg A word in private to Ptol. Ptol. Madam Cassand You may go Sosyb. Cleanthes follow me Ex. Ptol. Sosyb. Cleanthes Enter Cleonidas Cleonid Panthaeus brought me hither to attend you Cleom. And thou art welcome but thou com'st too late Cassand Your Page of Honour Cleonid The mistake is easie in such a Courts as this Where Princes look like Pages Cleom. 'T is my Son Cassand I must have leave to love you Royal Youth Above all Nations I Adore a Greek And of all Greeks a Spartan Looking on Cleomenes Cleom. What he is And what I am are owing to your Favour Cassand to Cleonid Shall I not be your Mistriss Looking on Cleom. Cleonid No for I would not get Aegyptians Cassand For what Sir do you take us Cleonid For what you are When the Gods moulded up the Paste of Man Some of their Dough was left upon their hands For want of Souls And so they made Aegyptians They were intended for four Feet And when They come to run before our Noble Spartans They 'l curse the Gods for the Two Legs they ow'd ' em Cassand Then since you will not let me be your Mistriss Would I had been your Mother Looking still on Cleom. Cleon. So would not I For then I had not been all Spartan Cassand aside He answers not my Glances stupid Man My tender Looks my languishing Regards Are like mis-aiming Arrows lost in Air And miss the flying Prey While She walks Cleom. and Cleonid are looking on a Picture hanging on the side of the Scenes She takes out a Pocket Glass and looks in it These Eyes I Thank the Gods Are still the same The Diamonds are not dimm'd Nor in their Lustre lost in Ptolomy Small Boast Alas Ptolomy has no Soul 'T is what he wants I love in Cleomenes Perhaps he dares not think I would be Lov'd Then must I make the advance and making lose The vast Prerogative our Sex enjoys Of being Courted first Courted To what To our own Wishes There 's the point but still To speak our wishes first Forbid it pride Forbid it Modesty True They forbid it But Nature does not When we are a Thirst Or Hungry Will imperious Nature stay Not Eat nor Drink before 't is bid Fall on Well Sex if this must be That I must not invite I may at least be suffer'd To lay some kind Occasion in his way That if he dare but speak He may succeed She turns towards 'em and observes what they 're doing Cleom. turns and meets her Cleonid looks still on the Picture Cleom. I durst not have presum'd to interrupt Your private Thoughts Cassan. They wholly were imploy'd in serving you But durst not and presume are words of Fear I thought they were not in your Spartan Tongue For my sake banish 'em On what were you so earnestly employ'd You would not look this way Cleom. A Picture Madam Cassand View it agen 't is worth a second Sight Your Son observes it still 'T were well to help My Lover's Understanding Goes with him to the Picture Know you this Piece young Prince Cleon. Some Battle I believe and in that Thought I gaze with such Delight Cleom. Some Rape I guess Cassand That 's near the true Design and yet mistaken 'T is Paris bearing from your Spartan Shore The Beauteous Hellen How do you approve it Cleom. Not in the least for 't is a scurvy piece Cassand And yet 't is known to be Apelles Hand The Style is his you grant he was a Master Cleom. 'T is scurvy still because it represents A base dishonest Act to violate All Hospitable Rites to force away His Benefactors Wife Ungrateful Villain And so the Gods Th' avenging Gods have judg'd Cleonid Was he a Spartan King that suffer'd this Sure he reveng'd the Rape Cleom. He did my Boy And slew the Ravisher Cassand Look better Sir You 'll find it was no Rape Mark well that Hellen in her Lovers Arms Can you not see she but affects to strive She heaves not up her Hands to Heav'n for help But hugs the kind Companion of her Flight See how her tender Fingers
Depends on you Think first and then Command Cassand Know then that his last Thrid is on the Distaff And I can cut it now Cleanth And are resolv'd Cassand I only said I can and I can Save Disarm and hurt him not Cleanth Once more your Sword Cleom. Send off those Villains Tho' I fear 'em not Yet Cowards are offensive to my sight Nor shall they see me do an Act that looks Below the Courage of a Spartan King Cassand Cleanthes May I trust your Faith Cleanth You may Cassand Begone and wait my Call Ex. Guards Cleom. Cleanthes Stil my Friend for such I hold thee Tho' this bad Woman says thou art my Spy I cannot give a greater proof than this That I believe her not Gives him his Sword If thou art false 'T is in thy power to show it safely now And compass that by Treason which in Arms Nor Thou nor any Man alive can force Remember still I gave it to a Friend For Life and Death are equal in themselves That which would cast the Ballance is thy falshood To make my Death more wretched Cleanth Then you may think me that which you call False But Duty to my Father Cleom. Say no more I would not curse thee for thou wer 't my Friend I think thee still as honest as thou couldst Impenetrably good but like Achilles Thou hadst a soft Aegyptian Heel undipt And that has made thee Mortal Cassand Cleanthes Thou hast well approv'd thy Faith And as this Palace is thy Government On utmost peril of thy Life secure him One farther word Whispers Ex Cleanth looking concernedly on Cleomenes Cleom. So guilty as thou art and canst thou look On him thou hast betraid Go take thy hire Which thou hast dearly purchas'd and be great Cassand For you brave Sir as you have given my hopes But Air to feed on Air shall be your Food No Bread shall enter these forbidden Doors Thin hungry Diet I confess but still The liker Spartan Fare Keen Appetites And quick Digestion wait on you and yours Cleom. O mix not Innocence and Guilt together What Love have they refus'd or how offended Be Just tho' you are Cruel or be Kind And punish me alone Cassand There Nature works Then there I 'll stab thee in thy tender part Shreeks of Women within Cleom. What dismal Cries are those Cassand Nothing a trifling sum of Misery New added to the foot of thy Account Thy Wife is seiz'd by Force and born away Farewel I dare not trust thy Vengeance further Running to the Door he is stopt by Guards with drawn Swords Cleom. Cleora There stands Death but no Cleora I would find both together Enter Cratisiclea Cleonidas and Pantheus bloody on his hand Cratis Oh King of Sparta Cleom. Peace Mother Peace I have had news from Hell before you Cleora's gone to Death Is there a Door A Casement or a Rift within these Walls That can let loose my Body to her rescue Panth. All clos'd nothing but Heaven above is open Cleom. Nay that 's clos'd too The Gods are deaf to Pray'rs Hush then th' irrevocable Doom's gone forth And Pray'rs lagg after but can ne'r o'er-take Let us talk forward of our woes to come Cratis Cleanthes Oh could you suspect his Faith 'T was he that headed those who forc'd her hence Cleom. Pantheus bleeds Panth. A scratch a feeble Dart At distance thrown by an Aegyptian hand Cratis You heard me not Cleanthes is Cleom. He was no more good Mother He tore a piece of me away and still The void place akes within me O my Boy I have bad news to tell thee Cleonid None so bad As that I am a Boy Cleanthes scorn'd me And when I drove a Thrust home as I could To reach his Traytor Heart He put it by And cryed as in derision Spare the Stripling Oh that insulting word I wou'd have swopp'd Youth for old Age and all my Life behind To have been then a momentary Man Cleom. Alas Thy Manhood like a forward Spring Before it comes to bear the promis'd Fruit Is blighted in the Bud Never my Boy Canst thou fetch Manhood up with thy short steps While with long strides the Giant stalks before thee Cleonid Am I to dye before I am a Man Cleom. Yes thou must dye with me and I with her Who gave me life and our poor Infant too within Must dye before it knows what dying means Three different Dates of Nature one would think But Fate has cramm'd us all into one Lease And that even now expiring Panth. Yet we live Cleom. No even now we dye Death is within us And keeps out Life for nourishent is Life And we have fed our last Hunger feeds Death Cratis A lingring Doom but four days hence the same And we can shorten those turn Days to Hours And Hours to Moments Death is in our Call Panth. The sooner then the better Cleonid So say I. Panth. While we have spirits left to meet him boldly Cleonid I 'le hold my Breath And keep my Soul a pris'ner in my Body There let it creep and wander in the dark Till tir'd to find no out-let it Retreats Into my Spartan Heart and there lies pleas'd So we two are provided Sir your choice To Cleom. Cleom. Not this dispatch for we may dye at leisure This Famine has a sharp and meager Face 'T is Death in an undress of Skin and Bone Where Age and Youth their Land-mark tane away Look all one common furrow Cratis Yet you chuse it To please our Foes that when they view our Skeletons And find 'em all alike they may cry out Look how these dull obedient Spartans dy'd Just as we wish'd as we prescrib'd their Death And durst not take a nobler nearer way Cleom. Not so but that we durst not tempt the Gods To break their Images without their leave The moment e'r Cassandra came I had A Note without a Name the Hand unknown That bad me not despair but still hope well Then dye not yet For Heaven has means to free us if not me Yet these and you I am the hunted Stag Whose Life may may ransom yours Crat. No more of that I find your distant drift to die alone An unkind Accusation of us all As if we durst not die I 'll not survive you Panth. Nor I. Cleonid Nor I. Cleom. But hear my Reasons Enter Cleora in a black Veil Ha! What Shadow 's this This that can glide through Walls Or pass its subtle Limbs through Bolts and Bars Black too like what it represents our Fate Cleor. Too true a Shadow I and you the Substance Lifts up her Veil Omn. Cleora Cleom. Thus let me grow again to thee Too close for Fate to sever Or let Death find me in these dear dear Arms And looking on thee spare my better part And take me willing hence Crat. What! are you dreaming Son with Eyes cast upwards Like a mad Prophet in an Ecstasie Cleom. Musing on what we saw Just
There 's Justice for my self and for my Son Look up sweet Boy And tell me that thou liv'st Cleonid Fain I would live To Comfort you I bleed and am asham'd To say I faint and call my self your Son O Traytor Coenus What 's become of him Cleom. Look there he lies Cleonid I am glad on 't Forgive me Heaven I hope 't is no offence To say I am glad because he kill'd me basely Still I grow fainter Hold me hold me Father Cleom. Cheer up and thou shalt live Cleonid No I 'm just dying Cleom. What shall I lose Cleonid A Boy That 's all I might have liv'd to Manhood But once I must have dy'd Cleom. But not before thy Father Cleonid Nay then you envy me that I am first Happy I go and when you come pray find me out And own me for your Son Dies Cleom. There went his Soul Fate thou hast done thy worst And all thou canst henceforth is but mean Slaughter The gleanings of this Harvest Enter Pantheus Panth. Sir y 're well found our Enemies are fled I left our men pursuing and made haste To bring this joyfull News Cleom. Look there and if thou dar'st now give me joy Panth. Enough y' have stopp'd my mouth what Coenus kill'd I ask no Questions then of who kill'd who The Bodies tell their Story as they lie Haste and revenge Cleom. Where are our Enemies Panth. Sculking disperst in Garrets and in Cellars Enter Cleanthes Cleom. Not worth the seeking Are these fit t' atone For Cleomenes Mother Son and Wife But what the Gods have left us we must take Cleanth 'T is all in vain we have no further work The People will not be dragg'd out to Freedom They bar their Doors against it Nay the Prisoners Even guard their Chains as their inheritance And Man their very Dungeons for their Masters Lest Godlike Liberty the Comon Foe Should enter in and they be judg'd hereafter Accomplices of Freedom Panth. Then we may sheath our Swords Cleanth We may Pantheus But so as brave men should each in his Bosome That onely way is left us to die free Cleom. All 's lost for which I once desir'd to live Panth. Come to our business then Be speedy Sir And give the word I 'll be the first to charge The Grim Foe death Cleom. Fortune Thou hast reduc'd me very low To do the Drudgery of fate my self What! not one brave Egyptian not one worthy To do me manly Right in single Combat To fall beneath my fury For that 's Justice But then to drag me after For to die And yet in Death to Conquer is my Wish Cleanth Then have your Wish The Gods at last are kind And have provided you a Sword that 's worthy To match your own 'T is an Egyptians too Cleom. Is there that hidden Treasure in thy Countrey The Gods be prais'd for such a Foe I want Cleanth Not such a Foe but such a Friend am I. I would fall first for fear I should survive you And pull you after to make sure in Death To be your undivided Friend for ever Cleom. Then enter We into each others Breasts 'T is a sharp passage yet a kind one too But to prevent the blind mistake of Swords Lest one drop first and leave his Friend behind Both thrust at once and home and at our Hearts Let neither stand on Guard but let our Bosomes Lie open to each other in our Death As in our Life they were Cleanth I Seal it thus Kiss and embrace Panth. And where 's my part You shut me out like Churls While you devour the Feast of Death betwixt you Cleom. Cheer up thy Soul and thou shalt die Pantheus But in thy turn There 's Death enough for all But as I am thy Master wait my leisure And honestly Compose my Limbs to Rest Then serve thy self Now are you ready Friend Cleanth I am Cleom. Then this to our next happy meeting They both push together then stagger backwards and fall together in each others Arms. Cleanth Speak have I serv'd you to your Wish my Friend Cleom. Yes Friend thou hast I have thee in my heart Say art Thou sped Cleanth I am 't is my last Breath Cleom. And mine Then both are Happy both Die Panth. So this was well perform'd and soon dispatch'd Both sound asleep already And farewell both for one short moment Trumpets sound Victory within Those are the Foes our little band is lost For want of these Defenders I must hasten Lest I be forc'd to live and led in Triumph Defrauded of my Fate I 've earn'd it well And finish'd all my Task This is my place Just at my Masters feet Guard him yee Gods And save his sacred Corps from publick shame He falls on his Sword and lies at the feet of Cleom. Dies Enter Sosybius Cassandra and Aegyptians Sosyb. 'T is what my Heart foreboded There he lies Extended by the Man whom best he lov'd A better Friend than Son Cassand What 's he or Thou or Ptolomy or Aegypt Or all the world to Cleomenes lost Sosyb. Then I suspected right If my revenge Can ease my sorrow This the King shall know That thou mayst reap the due reward of Treason And violated Love Cassand Thy worst old Dotard I wish to die but if my mind should Change So well I know my Power that Thou art lost Sosyb. The King's arrival shall decide our Fate Mean time to show how much I honour Virtue Take up that Hero's Body bear it high Like the Procession of a Deity Let his arm'd Figure on his Tomb be set And We like Slaves lie grovling at his feet Whose Glories growing till his latest Breath Excell'd all others And his own in Death Ex. omnes FINIS
Then must I rust in Aegypt never more Appear in Arms and be the Chief of Greece Now by yon Blew Palace The Mansion of my great Fore-father Hercules I would loose o're-agen Sellasia's Field Rather than Fight behind when proud Aratus led the Graecian Van. Cleon. What when the lively Trumpets sound a Charge The word of Battle may be Hercules And after our great Grandsires Name Aratus Cries Cleomenes bring you up the Rear Panth. If Fortune takes not off this Boy betimes He 'l make mad work and Elbow all his Neighbors Cleon. My Neighbours Little Elbow all rhe World And push off Kings like Counters from the Board To place my self the foremost Panth. What wilt thou be young Cockeril when thy Spurs Are grown to sharpness Cleon. Why I 'll be a Spartan For if I said a King I should say less I mean a Spartan while I live on Earth But when in Heaven I 'le stand next Hercules And thrust between my Father and the God Cleo. Do you not view my Lord As in a Glass your Darling Fault Ambition Reflected in your Son Cleom. My Virtue rather I love to see him sparkle out betimes For 't was my Flame that lighted up his Soul I am pleas'd with my own Work Iove was not more With Infant Nature when his spatious Hand Had rounded this huge ball of Earth and Seas To give it the first push and see it rowl Along the vast Abyss Cleon. My Mother would have had my Youth brought up To Spin with Girls in Sparta Cratis Well said my Boy Yet Hercules they say Took up the Distass once Cleon. Yes when he had been Conquer'd by a Woman Panth. One thing I had forgot which may import you to Cleom. You 'l suddainly hear news from Greece Cleom. Thou wert Indeed forgetful not to tell me that For from my first arrival on this Coast This fatal Aegypt where I fled for Refuge In three long Months I have not heard from Greece What makes thee think I shall have news so soon Panth. As walking on the Beach I saw a Ship Just entring in the Port and on the Deck Stood Coenus Cleom. Coenus saidst thou Panth. Yes our Coenus the rich Messenian Lord I saw and knew him but amidst the shouts Of Mariners and busie Care to sling His Horses soon ashore He saw not me Cleom. Then I shall hear of thee once more Dear Country I fear too soon shall hear how proud Antigonus Led o'er Eurota's Banks his Conquering Troops And first to wondring Sparta shew'd a King A King that was not Hers Then I shall hear of Sacriledge and Murthers And Fires and Rapes on Matrons and on Maids Panth. Such news we must expect Cleom. O happy Ghosts Of those that fell in the last fatal Fight And liv'd not to survive their Countries Loss Base as I was I should have fall'n there too But first have rais'd a Mountain of the Dead To choak their way to Sparta Panth. Thus I knew Your Blood would boil and therefore I delaid So long to tell you Coenus was arriv'd Cleom. Go My Mother my Cleora and my Boy Stroking Cleonid Your Ears would be polluted with such Ills Which I must try to mollify before They reach your tender hearing Cleor. I Obey you But let not Grief disorder you too much For what you lost For me while I have You and you are kind I ask no more of Heaven Cleonid I go too Because my King and Father bids me go Else I have sternness in my Soul enough To hear of Murders Rapes and Sacrilege For those are Soldiers work and I wou'd hear 'em To spur me to Revenge Exeunt Cratisiclea Cleora Cleonidas Panth. He 's here already Now bear it like your self Cleom. I am arm'd against it Enter Coenus Salutes Cleomenes Caenus I heard Sir you were refug'd in this Court And come to beg a favour Cleom. Good a Favour Sure thou mistak'st me for the King of Egypt And think'st I govern here Coenus Y' are Cleomenes Cleom. No thanks to Heaven for that I shou'd have dy'd And then I had not been this Cleomenes Panth. You promis'd Patience Sir Cleom. Thou art a Scurvy Monitor I am Patient Do I foam at Lips Or stare at Eyes Methinks I am wondrous Patient Now thou shalt see how I can swallow Gall. I prithee Gentle Coenus tell the Story Speaking Softly Of Ruin'd Sparta leave no Circumstance Untold of all their Woes And I will hear thee As unconcern'd as if thou told'st a Tale Of ruin'd Troy I prithee tell us how The Victors robb'd the Shrines polluted Temples Ransack'd each Wealthy House No spare me that Poor honest Sparta had no Wealth to lose But when thou com'st to tell of Matrons ravish'd Raises his Voice And Virgins forc'd Then raise thy Voice And let me hear their Howlings And dreadful shrieks as in the act of Rape Panth. Again you are distemper'd Cleom. softly Peace I am not I was but reaching him to grace his Tale With decent Horror Coenus Your sick Imagination feigns all this Now hear a truth and wonder Cleom. Has not the Conqueror been at Sparta Coenus Yes Cleom. Nay then I know what follows Victory Panth. You interrupt as if you would not know Coenus Then if you will Imagine think some King Who lov'd his People took a peaceful Progress To some far distant place of his Dominions Smil'd on his Subjects as he rode in Triumph And strew'd his Plenty wheresoe'er he pass'd Nay raise your Thoughts yet higher Think some Deity Some better Cerés drawn along the Sky By Gentle Dragons scatter'd as she flew Her fruitful Grains upon the teeming Ground And bad new Harvests rise Cleom. Do we Dream Pantheus Panth. No sure We are awake but 't is he Dreams Coenus The Soldiers march'd as in Procession slow And enter'd Sparta like a Choir of Priests As if they fear'd to tread on holy Ground No Noise was heard no Voice but of the Cryer Proclaiming Peace and Liberty to Sparta At that a peal of loud applause rang out And thin'd the Air till even the Birds fell down Upon the Shouters Heads The Shops flew open And all the busie Trades renew'd their Tasks No Law was chang'd no Custom was controul'd That had Lycurgus liv'd or you return'd So Sparta would have shown Panth. If this be true Cleom. If this indeed be true Then farewell Sparta Coenus Hear me out He reap'd no fruit of Conquest but their Blessings Nor stay'd three Days in Sparta Summon'd thence With sudden News that a Barbarian Host Was enter'd Macedonia And like a Mighty Deluge rowling on Swept all before ' em Thus alarm'd he left us March'd Homeward Met and Fought 'em Nay and Liv'd To say the Field is mine Panth. Dy'd of his Wounds Coenus Not so but straining loud his feeble Voice To animate his Soldiers broke a Vein And in a purple Vomit pour'd his Soul Panth. O Bless'd Bless'd Coenus for this happy News Embraces Coenus Cleom. O Wretch O Born to
all misfortunes Curst Curst Cleomenes Panth. How 's this Are these the thanks you pay the Gods Who freed your Sparta and remov'd by Death Your only fatal Foe Cleom. O Blind Pantheus Can'st thou not find that had I but defer'd Sellasia's Fight three Days but three short Days Fate then had fought my Battle with Antigonus And I not fighting had been still a King Panth. That 's true but that you knew not when you fought Cleom. Why therefore once again Curst Cleomenes 'T is not to be endur'd That Fate of Empires and the fall of Kings Should turn on flying Hours and Catch of Moments Panth. Now by my Soul 't is Lazy Wickedness To rail at Heaven and not to help your self Heaven 's but too kind in offring you the means Your Fate once more is laid upon the Anvil Now pluck up all the Spartan in your Soul Now stretch at every stroke and Hammer out A new and nobler Fortune Else may the Peaceful Ground restore the Dead And give up Old Antigonus again Cleom. I thank thee Thou hast added Flame to Fury The Spartan Genius shall once more be rowz'd Our Houshold Gods that droop upon our Hearths Each from his Venerable Face shall brush The Macedonian Soot and shine again Panth. Now you confess the Spartan Cleom. Haste Pantheus I struggle like the Priestess with a God With that oppressing God that works her Soul Haste to Cleanthes my Egyptian Friend That only Man that Egypt ever made He 's my Lucina Say my Friendship wants him To help me bring to light a Manly Birth Which to the wondring World I shall disclose Or if he fail me perish in my Throwes Ex. Omnes ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Cleomenes Cleanthes Pantheus Cleom. THe King sent for me say'st thou and to Council Clean. And I was coming to you on that Message Just when I met Pantheus Panth. Good Omen Sir of some intended good Your Fortune mends she reconciles apace When Aegypt makes th'Advances Cleom. Rise a Prophet For since his Fathers death this Ptolomey Has minded me no more Then Boys their last Years Gugaws Petition on Petition Prayer on Prayer For Aid or free Dismission all Unanswer'd As Cleomenes were not worth his Thought Or He that God which Epicurus dreamt Disclaiming Care and lolling on a Cloud Panth. At length it seems it pleases him to wake Cleanth Yes for himself not you he 's drench'd too deep To wake on any Call but his own danger My Father his wise Pilot has observ'd The Face of Heaven and sees a gathering Storm I know not from what quarter but it threatens And while it Threats he wants such hands as yours But when 't is o're the Thoughtless King returns To Native sloth shifts sides and slumbers on Panth. Sure he 'll remember to reward those Hands That help'd him from the plunge Cleanth You Dream Pantheus Of former times when Gratitude was Virtue Reward him Yes like Aesop's Snake the wretch That warm'd him in his Bosom We are Tools Vile abject things created for his use As Beasts for Men as Oxen draw the Yoke And then are sacrific'd Cleom. I would not use him so Cleanth You are not Ptolomy Nor is He Cleomenes Cleom. I 'll press him home To give me my dispatch few Ships will serve To bear my little Band and me to Greece I will not ask him one of his Aegyptians No Let 'em keep 'em all for Slaves and Stallions Fit only to beget their Successors Cleanth Excepting one Aegyptian that 's my self Cleom. Thou need'st not be excepted Thou art only Misplanted in a base degenerate Soil But Nature when she made thee meant a Spartan Panth. Then if your Father will but second us Cleanth I dare not promise for him but I 'll try He loves me Love and Interest sometimes May make a Statesman honest Cleom. For the King I know he 'l not refuse us for he dares not A Coward is the kindest Animal 'T is the most giving Creature in a fright Cleanth Say the most promising and there you hit him Cleom. Well I 'le attack him on the shaking side That next his fearful Heart Enter Coenus Coenus I come to mind you of the late Request You would not hear Be pleas'd t' engage this Lord And then it may succeed Cleom. What wouldst thou Coenus Coenus I brought along Some Horses of the best Thessalian breed High spirited and strong and made for War These I would sell the King Cleom. Mistaken Man Thou shouldst have brought him Whores and Catamites Such Merchandize is fit for such a Monarch Cleanth Would'st thou bring Horses here to shame our Men Those very words of Spirited and War Are Treason in our Clime Cleom. From the King downward if there be a downward From Ptolomy to any of his Slaves No true Aegyptian ever knew in Horses The Far Side from the Near. Cleanth Cleomenes told thee true Thou should have brought A soft pad Strumpet for our Monarch's use Tho' thank'd be Hell we want not one at home Our Master's Mistriss she that Governs all 'T is well ye Pow'rs ye made us but Aegyptians You could not have impos'd On any other People such a Load As an Effeminate Tyrant and a Woman Cleom. Sell me thy Horses and at my return When I have got from Conquer'd Grecce the Pelf That Noble Sparta scorns I 'll pay their value Coenus Just as you paid me for the fair Estate I sold you there aside Cleom. What 's that you mutter Coenus aside Nothing That 's what his Hopes are worth Ex. Coen Panth. I fear he 's gone away dissatisfy'd Cleanth I 'll make it up Those Horses I present you You 'll put 'em to the use that Nature meant ' em Cleom. I burden you too much Cleanth If you refuse you burden me much more A Trifle this A singing Eunuch's price A Pandar's Fee Exceeds this Sum at Court The King expects us Cleom. Come after us Pantheus And bring my Boy Cleonidas along I 'll shew his Youth this base Luxurious Court Just as in sober Sparta we expose Our drunken Helotes Only with design To wean our Children from the vice of Wine Exeunt SCENE II. The Apartment of Cassandra Enter King Ptolomey Sosybius with Papers after him Ptolom No more of Business Sosyb. Sir the Council waits you Ptolom Council What 's that a pack of Bearded Slaves Grave Faces Sawcy Tongues and Knavish Hearts That never speak one word but Self 's at bottom The Scavengers that sweep State-nusances And are themselves the greatest I 'll no Council Sosyb. Remember you appointed them this day Ptol. I had forgot 't was my Cassandra's Birth-day Sosyb. Your Brother Magas daily grows more dangerous And has the Soldiers Hearts Ptol. I 'll cut him off Sosyb. Not so soon done as said The Spartan King Was summon'd for Advice and waits without Ptol. His Business is to wait Sosyb. Be pleas'd to Sign these Papers They are all Of great concern Ptol. My pleasure is