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To love our liberty, if not command,
Should the strong serve the weak, the fair de-
formed ones?

Or such as know the cause of things, pay tribute
To ignorant fools? All's but the outward gloss
And politic form that does distinguish us.
Cimbrio, thou art a strong man; if, in place
Of carrying burthens, thou hadst been trained up
In martial discipline, thou might'st have proved
A general, fit to lead and fight for Sicily,
As fortunate as Timoleon.
Cim. A little fighting.
Will serve a general's turn.

Pis. Thou, Gracculo,

Hast fluency of language, quick conceit;
And, I think, covered with a senator's robe,
Formally set on the bench, thou wouldst appear
As brave a senator-

Grac. Would I had lands,

Or money to buy a place; and if I did not
Sleep on the bench with the drowsiest of 'em,
Play with my chain,

Look on my watch when my guts chim'd twelve, and wear

A state beard, with my barber's help, rank with them

In their most choice peculiar gifts; degrade me,
And put me to drink water again, which (now
I've tasted wine) were poison.
Pis. 'Tis spoke nobly,
And like a gown-man: None of these, Ithink too,
But would prove good burghers.

Grae. Hum! the fools are modest:

I know their insides.-Here's an ill-faced fellow
(But that will not be seen in a dark shop,)
If he did not in a month learn to out-swear,
In the selling of his wares, the cunningest trades-

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In Syracusa, I've no skill.-Here's another,
Observe but what a cozening look he has !-
Hold up thy head, man; if, for drawing gallants
Into mortgages for commodities, cheating heirs
With your new counterfeit gold thread, and gum
med velvets,

He does not transcend all that went before him,
Call in his patent. Pass the rest; they'll all make
Sufficient beccos, and with their brow-antlers
Bear up the cap of maintenance.

Pis. Is't not pity, then,

Men of such eminent virtues should be slaves? Cim. Our fortune.

Pis. 'Tis your folly; daring men Command, and make their fates. Say, at this instant,

I marked you out a way to liberty;
Possessed you of those blessings our proud lords
So long have surfeited in; and, what is sweetest,
Arm you with power, by strong hand to revenge
Your stripes, your unregarded toil, the pride,
The insolence, of such as tread upon
Your patient sufferings; fill your famished mouths
With the fat and plenty of the land; redeem you
From the dark vale of servitude, and seat you
Upon a hill of happiness; what would you de
To purchase this, and more?

Grac. Do! any thing:

Toburn a church or two, and dance by the light on't, | Are only left at home.

Were but a May-game.

Pol. I have a father living;

But, if the cutting of his throat could work this,
He should excuse me.

Cim. 'Slight, I would cut mine own,
Rather than miss it, so I might but have
A taste on't ere I die.

Pis. Be resolute men,

You shall run no such hazard; nor groan under
The burthen of such crying sins.

Cim. The means?

Grac. I feel a woman's longing.

Pol. Do not torment us

With expectation.

Pis. Thus then: Our proud masters,

And all the able freemen of the city
Are gone unto the wars-

Pol. Observe but that.

Pis. Old men, and such as can make no resist

ance,

Grac. And the proud young fool,

My master-If this take, I'll hamper him.

Pis. Their arsenal, their treasure's in our power,
If we have hearts to seize them. If our lords fail
In the present action, the whole country's ours.
Say they return victorious, we have means
To keep the town against them; at the worst,
To make our own conditions. Now, if you dare
Fall on their daughters and their wives, break up
Their iron chests, banquet on their rich beds,
And carve yourselves of all delights and pleasures
You have been barred from, with one voice cry
with me,

Liberty, liberty!

All. Liberty, liberty!

Pis. Go then, and take possession: Use all
freedom;

But shed no blood.-So, this is well begun;
But not to be commended till 't be done.

[Exeunt,

ACT III.

Pis. Guide her hither,

SCENE I.—The same. A Room in ARCHIDAMUS'S And make her understand the slaves' revolt;

House.

PISANDER, and TIMANDRA.

Pis. Why, think you that I plot against myself? Fear nothing; you are safe: These thick-skinned slaves

I use as instruments to serve my ends,

And with your utmost eloquence enlarge
Their insolence and rapes done in the city.
Forget not, too, I am their chief; and tell her
You strongly think my extreme dotage on her,
As I am Marullo, caused this sudden uproar,
To make way to enjoy her.
Timan. Punctually

Pierce not my deep designs; nor shall they dare I will discharge my part.
To lift an arm against you.

Timan. With

your

will:

But turbulent spirits, raised beyond themselves
With ease, are not so soon laid: They oft prove
Dangerous to him that called them up.

Pis. "Tis true,

In what is rashly undertook. Long since
I have considered seriously their natures,
Proceeded with mature advice, and know
I hold their will and faculties in more awe
Than I can do my own. Now, for their licence,
And riot in the city, I can make

A just defence and use: It may appear, too,
A politic prevention of such ills

As might with greater violence and danger

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The pleasure, though I'm absent. This is some
Revenge for
my disgrace.
Pol. But, sir, I fear,

Hereafter be attempted; though some smart for it If your authority restrain them not,

It matters not:-However, I am resolved;
And sleep you with security. Holds Cleora
Constant to her rash vow?

Timan, Beyond belief;

To me, that see her hourly, it seems a fable.
By signs, I guess at her commands, and serve them
With silence; such her pleasure is made known
By holding her fair hand thus. She eats little,
Sleeps less, as I imagine; once a-day
I lead her to this gallery, where she walks
Some half a dozen turns, and, having offered
To her absent saint a sacrifice of sighs,
She points back to her prison.

They'll fire the city, or kill one another,
They are so apt to outrage; neither know I
Whether you wish it, and came therefore to
Acquaint you with so much.

Pis. I will among them;
But must not long be absent.
Pol. At your pleasure.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Another Room in the same.

Shouts within. Enter CLEORA, and TIMANDRA.

Timan. They're at our gates, my heart! affrights and horrors

Increase each minute. No way left to save us,
No flattering hope to comfort us, or means
By miracle to redeem us from base lust
And lawless rapine! are there gods, yet suffer
Such innocent sweetness to be made the spoil
Of brutish appetite? Or, since they decree
To ruin Nature's masterpiece (of which
They have not left one pattern), must they chuse,
To set their tyranny off, slaves to pollute
The spring of chastity, and poison it
With their most loathed embraces? And, of those,
He, that should offer up his life to guard it,
Marullo, cursed Marullo, your own bondman,
Purchased to serve you, and fed by your fa-
vours?-
[CLEORA starts.
Nay, start not: it is he; he, the grand captain
Of these libidinous beasts, that have not left
One cruel act undone, that barbarous conquest
Yet ever practised in a captive city.

He, doating on your beauty, and to have fellows
In his foul sin, hath raised these mutinous slaves,
Who have begun the game by violent rapes
Upon the wives and daughters of their lords:
And he, to quench the fire of his base lust,
By force comes to enjoy you: Do not wring
[CLEORA wrings her hands.
Your innocent hands, 'tis bootless; use the means
That may preserve you. 'Tis no crime to break
A vow when you are forced to it; shew your face,
And with the majesty of commanding beauty
Strike dead his loose affections. If that fail,
Give liberty to your tongue, and use entreaties;
There cannot be a breast of flesh and blood,
Or heart so made of flint, but must receive
Impression from your words; or eyes so stern,
But from the clear reflection of your tears,
Must melt, and bear them company: will you not
Do these good offices to yourself? Poor I, then,
Can only weep your fortune:-Here he comes.

Enter PISANDER, speaking at the door.
Pis. He that advances

A foot beyond this, comes upon my sword.
You have had your ways, disturb not mine.
Timan. Speak gently,

Her fears may kill her else.

Pis. Now Love inspire me! Still shall this canopy of envious night Obscure my suns of comfort? And those dainties, Of purest white and red, which I take in at My greedy eyes, denied my famished senses? The organs of your hearing yet are open; And you infringe no vow, though yoù vouchsafe To give them warrant to convey unto Your understanding parts, the story of A tortured and despairing lover, whom Not fortune, but affection, marks your slave:[CLEORA shakes. Shake not, best lady! for, believe it, you are As far from danger as I am from force: All violence I shall offer, tends no farther Than to relate my sufferings, which I dare not Presume to do, till by some gracious sign You shew you're pleased to hear me. Timan. If you are,

Hold forth your right hand.

[CLEORA holds forth her right hand.

Pisan. So, 'tis done; and I

With my glad lips seal humbly on your foot,
My soul's thanks for the favour: I forbear
To tell you who I am, what wealth, what honours
I made exchange of, to become your servant:
And, though I knew worthy Leosthenes
(For sure he must be worthy, for whose love
You have endured so much) to be my rival;
When rage and jealousy counselled me to kill him,
(Which then I could have done with much more

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[CLEORA starts.

Or take my wishes here, (nay, fear not, madam,
True love's a servant, brutish lust a tyrant,)
I dare not touch those viands that ne'er taste well,
But when they're freely offered: Only thus much,
Be pleased I may speak in my own dear cause,
And think it worthy your consideration,
(I have loved truly, cannot say deserved,
Since duty must not take the name of merit,)
That I so far prize your content, before
All blessings that my hope can fashion to me,
That willingly I entertain despair,

And for your sake embrace it. For I know,
This opportunity lost, by no endeavour
The like can be recovered. To conclude,
Forget not that I lose myself to save you:
For what can I expect but death and torture,
The war being ended? And (what is a task
Would trouble Hercules to undertake,)
I do deny you to myself, to give you
A pure unspotted present to my rival.
I've said: If it distaste not, best of virgins,
Reward my temperance with some lawful favour,
Though you contemn my person.

[CLEORA kneels, then pulls off her glove
and offers her hand to PISANDER.

Timan. See, she kneels,

And seems to call upon the gods to pay
The debt she owes your virtue: To perform

which

As a sure pledge of friendship, she vouchsafes vou Her fair right hand.

Pis. I am paid for all my sufferings. Now, when you please, pass to your private

chamber;

My love and duty, faithful guards, shall keep you From all disturbance; and when you are sated

With thinking of Leosthenes, as a fee Due to my service, spare one sigh for me. [Exeunt. CLEORA makes a low courtesy as she goes off.

SCENE III.-The same. A Room in CLEON'S House,

Enter GRACCULO, leading ASOTUS in an ape's habit, with a chain about his neck; ZANTHIA in CORISCA's clothes, she bearing up her train. Grac. Come on, sir. Asot. Oh!

Grac. Do you grumble? You were ever A brainless ass; but, if this hold, I'll teach you To come aloft, and do tricks like an ape. Your mornings lesson: If you missAsot. O no, sir.

Grac, What for the Carthaginians? [ASOTUS makes moppes.] A good beast. What for ourself, your lord? [Dances.] Exceeding well.

There's your reward, Not kiss your paw! So,

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But 'tis a punishment for my lust and pride,

Justly return'd upon me.

Grac, How dost thou like

Thy ladyship, Zanthia?

Zant. Very well; and bear it

With as much state as your lordship,

Grac. Give me thy hand;

Let us, like conquering Romans, walk in triumph, Our captives following; then mount our tribunals, And make the slaves our footstools.

Zant, Fine, by Jove!

Are your hands clean, minion?
Coris. Yes, forsooth,
Zant. Fall off then.

So, now come on; and having made your three duties

Down, I say are you stiff in the hams?-now kneel,

And tie our shoe: Now kiss it, and be happy. Grac. This is state, indeed.

Zant. It is such as she taught me;

A tickling itch of greatness, your proud ladies Expect from their poor waiters: We have chang'd parts;

She does what she forced me to do in her reign; And I must practise it in mine,

Grac. 'Tis justice: Oh! here come more,

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For carbonadoes.

Poliph. Spare the old jade, he's founder'd. Grac. Cut his throat then,

And hang him out for a scarecrow.

Poliph. You have all your wishes
In your revenge, and I bave mine. You see
I use no tyranny: When I was her slave,
She kept me as a sinner, to lie at her back
In frosty nights, and fed me high with dainties,
Which still she had in her belly again ere morning;
And in requital of those courtesies,
Having made one another free, we are married:
And, if you wish us joy, join with us in
A dance at our wedding,

Grac. Agreed; for I have thought of
A most triumphant one, which shall express
We are lords, and these our slaves,
Poliph. But we shall want

A woman.

Grac. No, here's Jane-of-apes shall serve; Carry your body swimming-Where's the musick? Poliph. I have placed it in window.

Grac. Begin then sprightly.

yon

[Musick, and then a dance.

Enter PISANDER behind.

Poliph. Well done on all sides! I have prepared a banquet;

Let's drink and cool us.

Grac, A good motion.
Cimb, Wait here;

You have been tired with feasting, learn to fast

now.

Grac. I'll have an apple for Jack, and may be

some scraps

May fall to your share.

[Exeunt GRAC. ZANT. CIMB. POLIPH. and OLYMP.

Coris. Whom can we accuse

But ourselves, for what we suffer? Thou art just,
Thou all-creating power! and misery
Instructs me now, that yesterday acknowledged
No deity beyond my lust and pride,

There is a heaven above us, that looks down
With the eyes of justice, upon such as number
Those blessings freely given, in the accompt
Of their poor merits; else it could not be,
Now miserable I, to please whose palate
The elements were ransack'd, yet complain'd
Of nature, as not liberal enough

In her provision of rarities

To sooth my taste, and pamper my proud flesh, Should wish in vain for bread,

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To play an overgrown ape. :

Clean. I know I cannot

Last long, that's all my comfort. Come, I forgive both;

'Tis in vain to be angry; let us, therefore, Lament together like friends.

Pisan. What a true mirror

Were this sad spectacle for secure greatness!
Here they, that never see themselves, but in
The glass of servile flattery, might behold
The weak foundation upon which they build
Their trust in human frailty. Happy are those,
That knowing, in their births, they are subject to
Uncertain changé, are still prepared, and arm'd
For either fortune: a rare principle,

And with much labour, learn'd in wisdom's school!

For, as these bondmen, by their actions, shew
That their prosperity, like too large a sail
For their small bark of judgment, sinks them with
A fore-right gale of liberty, ere they reach
The port they long to touch at: so these wretches,
Swollen with the false opinion of their worth,
And proud of blessings left them, not acquired;
That did believe they could with giants arms
Fathom the earth, and were above their fates,
Those borrow'd helps, that did support them,
vanish'd,

Fall of themselves, and by unmanly suffering,
Betray their proper weakness, and make known
Their boasted greatness was lent, not their own.
Cleon. Oh for some meat! They sit long.
Coris. We forgot,

When we drew out intemperate feasts till midnight;

h.

Their hunger was not thought on, nor their watchings;

Nor did we hold ourselves served to the height, But when we did enact and force their duties Beyond their strength and power.

Asot. We pray for't now:

I now could be content to have my head
Broke with a rib of beef, or, for a coffin,
Be buried in the dripping pan.

Re-enter POLIPHRON, CIMBRIO, GRACCULO,
ZANTHIA and OLYMPIA, drunk and quarrelling.
Cimb. Do not hold me:

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A day's march of the city, flesh'd with spoil,
And proud of conquest; the armado sunk;
The Carthaginian admiral, hand to hand,
Slain by Leosthenes.

Cleon. I feel the whip
Upon my back already.
Grac. Every man

Seek a convenient tree, and hang himself. Poliph. Better die once, than live an age, to suffer

New tortures every hour.

Cimb. Say we submit,
And yield us to their mercy?—

Pisan. Can you flatter

Yourselves with such false hopes? Or dare you

think

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