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Cleora. The immortal gods Accept the meanest altars that are raised By pure devotions; and sometimes prefer An ounce of frankincense, honey or milk, Before whole hecatombs, or Sabæan gums, Offered in ostentation.-Are you sick Of your old disease? I'll fit you.

Leost. You seem moved.

[Aside.

The thing I was born, my lord? Timag. The same wise thing.

'Slight, what a beast they have made thee! Africk never

Produced the like.

Asot. I think so: nor the land

Where apes and monkeys grow, like crabs and walnuts

Cleora. Zealous, I grant, in the defence of On the same tree. Not all the catalogue

virtue.

Why, good Leosthenes, though I endured

A penance for your sake above example,
I have not so far sold myself, I take it,

To be at your devotion, but I may
Cherish desert in others where I find it.
How would you tyrannize, if you stood posses-
sed of

That, which is only yours in expectation,
That now prescribe such hard conditions to me?
Leost. One kiss, and I am silenced.
Cleora. I vouchsafe it;

Yet, I must tell you 'tis a favour that
Marullo, when I was his, not mine own,
Durst not presume to ask: No; when the city
Bowed humbly to licentious rapes and lust,
And when I was, of men and gods forsaken,
Delivered to his power, he did not press me
To grace him with one look or syllable,
Or urged the dispensation of an oath,
Made for your satisfaction. The poor wretch,
Having related only his own sufferings,
And kissed my hand, which I could not deny him,
Defending me from others, never since
Solicited my favours.

Leost. Pray you, end;

The story does not please me.

Cleora. Well, take heed

Of doubts and fears;-for know, Leosthenes,
A greater injury cannot be offered

To innocent chastity than unjust suspicion.
I love Marullo's fair mind, not his person;

Let that secure you. And I here command you,
If I have any power in you, to stand
Between him and all punishment, and oppose
His temperance to his folly; if you fail-
No more; I will not threaten.

Leost. What a bridge

[Exit.

Of glass I walk upon, over a river
Of certain ruin! Mine own weighty fears
Cracking what should support me! and those

helps,

Which confidence yields to others, are from me Ravished by doubts and wilful jealousy. [Exit.

SCENE IV. Another Room in the same. Enter TIMAGORAS, CLEON, ASOTUS, CORISCA, and OLYMPIA.

Cleon. But are you sure we're safe?
Timag. You need not fear:

They are all under guard, their fangs pared off:
The wounds their insolence gave you, to be cu-

red

With the balm of your revenge.

Asot. And shall I be

Of conjurers or wise women, bound together, Could have so soon transformed me, as my ras

cal

Did with his whip; For not in outside only,
But in my own belief, I thought myself
As perfect a baboon-

Timag. An ass thou wert ever.

Asot. And would have given one leg, with all my heart,

For good security to have been a man
After three lives, or one and twenty years,
Though I had died on crutches.

Cleon. Never varlets

So triumphed o'er an old fat man-I was famished.

Timag. Indeed you're fallen away.
Asot. Three years of feeding

On cullises and jelly, though his cooks
Lard all he eats with marrow, or his doctors
Pour in his mouth restoratives as he sleeps,
Will not recover him.

Timag. But your ladyship looks

Sad on the matter, as if you had miss'd
Your ten-crown amber possets, good to smooth
The cutis, as you call it, and prepare you
Active, and high, for an afternoon's encounter
With a rough gamester, on your couch, Fie
on't!

You are grown thrifty, smell like other women;
The college of physicians have not sat,
As they were used, in council, how to fill
The crannies in your cheeks, or raise a rampire
With mummy, ceruses, or infants' fat,
To keep off age and time.

Coris. Pray you, forbear ;
I am an alter'd woman.

Timag. So it seems;

A part of your honour's ruff stands out of rank

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You are no more your own, nor mine, but must
Resolve to serve and suffer his commands,
And not dispute them; ere it be too late,
Consider it duly. I must to the senate.

[Erit ARCH.
Cleora. I am much distracted; in Leosthenes
I can find nothing justly to accuse,
But this excess of love, which I have studied
To cure with more than common means; yet still
It grows upon him. And, if I may call
My sufferings merit, I stand bound to think on
Marullo's dangers; though I save his life,
His love is unrewarded. I confess,
Both have deserved me; yet of force must be
Unjust to one such is my destiny.

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To the jealous fires, which burn too hot already My lady

In lord Leosthenes.

Cleora. Let them consume him!

I am mistress of myself. Where cruelty reigns, There dwells nor love, nor honour. [Exit CLEORA. Timan. So! it works.

Though hitherto I have run a desperate course To serve my brother's purposes, now 'tis fit

Enter LEOSTHENES and TIMAGORAS.

I study mine own ends. They come ;-assist me In these my undertakings, Love's great patron, As my intents are honest!

Leost. 'Tis my fault :

Distrust of others springs, Timagoras,

From diffidence in ourselves. But I will strive, With the assurance of my worth and merits, To kill this monster, jealousy.

Timag. 'Tis a guest,

In wisdom, never to be entertained
On trivial probabilities; but when

He does appear in pregnant proofs, not fashioned
By idle doubts and fears, to be received.

They make their own horns that are too secure,
As well as such as give them growth and being
From mere imagination. Though I prize
Cleora's honour equal with mine own,
And know what large additions of power
This match brings to our family, I prefer
Our friendship, and your peace of mind, so far
Above my own respects, or hers, that if
She hold not her true value in the test,
'Tis far from my ambition for her cure,
That you should wound yourself.
Timan. This argues for me.

[Aside.

Timag. Why she should be so passionate for a bondman,

Falls not in compass of my understanding,
But for some nearer interest: or he raise
This mutiny, if he loved her (as, you say,
She does confess he did,) but to enjoy,

VOL. I.

Timag. What of her?

Timan. No sooner heard

Marullo was imprisoned, but she fell
Into a deadly swoon.

Timag. But she recovered?

Say so, or he will sink too :-hold, sir! fie,
This is unmanly.

Timan. Brought again to life,

But with much labour, she awhile stood silent,
Yet in that interim vented sighs, as if
They laboured, from the prison of her flesh,
To give her grieved soul freedom. On the sudden,
Transported on the wings of rage and sorrow,
She flew out of the house, and, unattended,
Entered the common prison.

Leost. This confirms

What but before I feared.

Timan. There you may find her; And, if you love her as a sisterTimag. Damn her!

Timan. Or you respect her safety, as a lover, Procure Marullo's liberty.

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Are strongly fortified, cannot fall, though shaken With the shock of fierce temptations; but still triumphs

In spite of opposition. For myself,

I may endeavour to confirm your goodness,
(A sure retreat which never will deceive you)
And with unfeigned tears express my sorrow
For what I cannot help.

Pis. Do you weep for me?

[Weeps.

O! save that precious balm for nobler uses!
I am unworthy of the smallest drop,
Which, in your prodigality of pity,

You throw away on me. Ten of these pearls
Were a large ransom to redeem a kingdom
From a consuming plague, or stop heaven's ven-
geance,

Called down by crying sins, though at that instant
In dreadful flashes falling on the roofs

Of bold blasphemers. I am justly punished
For my intent of violence to such pureness;
And all the torments flesh is sensible of,
A soft and gentle penance.

Cleora. Which is ended
In this your free confession.

Enter LEOSTHENES and TIMAGORAS unseen. Leost. What an object

Have I encountered!
Timag. I am blasted too:
Yet hear a little further.
Pis. Could I expire now,
These white and innocent hands closing my eyes
thus,

'Twere not to die, but in a heavenly dream
To be transported, without the help of Charon,
To the Elysian shades. You make me bold;
And, but to wish such happiness, I fear,
May give offence.

Cleora. Nó; for believe it, Marullo,
You've won so much upon me, that I know not
That happiness in my gift but you may challenge,
Leost. Are you yet satisfied?
Cleora. Nor can you wish

But what my vows will second, though it were Your freedom first, and then in me full power To make a second tender of myself,

And you receive the present. By this kiss (From me a virgin bounty) I will practise All arts for your deliverance; and, that purcha

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Which you presume will taint me in my honour,
Though jealousy use all her eyes to spy out
One stain in my behaviour, or envy

As many tongues to wound it, shall appear
My best perfections. For, to the world,
I can, in my defence, alledge such reasons,
As my accusers shall stand dumb to hear them;
When, in his fetters, this man's worth and virtues,
But truly told, shall shame your boasted glories,
Which fortune claims a share in.

Timag. The base villain

Shall never live to hear it.

[Offers to stab PISANDER, CLEORA interposes. Cleora. Murder! help!

Through me you shall pass to him.

Enter ARCHIDAMUS, DIPHILUS, and Officers. Arch. What's the matter?

On whom is your sword drawn? Are you a judge?

Or else ambitious of the hangman's office Before it be designed you? You are bold too; Unhand my daughter.

Leost. She's my valour's prize.

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Timag. If you believe so,

Follow the chace still; and in open court

He shall have favour. Bring him in unbound:
[Exeunt Officers.
And, though Leosthenes may challenge from me,
For his late worthy service, credit to
All things he can alledge in his own cause,
Marullo (so I think you call his name)
Shall find I do reserve one ear for him,

Enter CLEON, ASOTUS, DIPHILUS, OLYMPIA, and CORISCA.

To let in mercy. Sit, and take your places:
The right of this fair virgin first determined,
Your bondmen shall be censured.
Cleon. With all rigour

We do expect

Cor. Tempered, I say, with mercy.

Enter at one door LEOSTHENES and TIMAGORAS; at the other, Officers with PISANDER and TIMANDRA.

Timol. Your hand, Leosthenes: I cannot

doubt,

You, that have been victorious in the war,

Should, in a combat fought with words, come off But with assured triumph.

Leost. My deserts, sir,

Plead your own interest. We shall find the (If without arrogance I may style them such).

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The reach of my belief, a slave should be
The owner of a temperance, which this age
Can hardly parallel in free-born lords,
Or kings, proud of their purple.
Arch. "Tis most true;

And, though at first it did appear a fable,
All circumstances meet to give it credit;
Which works so on me, that I am compelled
To be a suitor, not to be denied,
He may have equal hearing.

Cleora. Sir, you graced me

With the title of your mistress; but my fortune
Is so far distant from command, that I
Lay by the power you gave me, and plead hum-
bly

For the preserver of my fame and honour.
And pray you, sir, in charity believe,
That, since I had ability of speech,

My tongue hath been so much inured to truth,
I know not how to lie.

Timol. I'll rather doubt

The oracles of the gods, than question what.
Your innocence delivers; and, as far
As justice and mine honour can give way,

Arm me from doubt and fear.

Timol. 'Tis nobly spoken.—

Nor be thou daunted (howsoe'er thy fortune Has marked thee out a slave) to speak thy me

rits:

For virtue, though in rags, may challenge more
Than vice, set off with all the trim of greatness,
Pis. I'd rather fall under so just a judge,
Than be acquitted by a man corrupt,
And partial in his censure.

Arch. Note his language;
It relishes of better breeding than
His present state dares promise.

Timol. I observe it.

Place the fair lady in the midst, that both, Looking with covetous eyes upon the prize They are to plead for, may, from the fair object, Teach Hermes eloquence.

Leost. Am I fallen so low?

My birth, my honour, and, what's dearest to me,
My love, and witness of my love, my service,
So undervalued, that I must contend
With one, where my excess of glory must
Make his o'erthrow a conquest? Shall my fulness
Supply defects in such a thing, that never
Knew any thing but want and emptiness,
Give him a name, and keep it such, from this
Unequal competition? If my pride,

Or
any bold assurance of my worth,
Has pluck'd this mountain of disgrace upon me,
I'm justly punish'd, and submit; but if

I have been modest, and esteemed myself
More injured in the tribute of the praise,
Which no desert of mine, prized by self-love,
Ever exacted, may this cause and minute
For ever be forgotten. I dwell long
Upon mine anger, and now turn to you,

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