A conqueror! And, this unfortunate king Entombed with honour, we'll to Rome, where Cæsar
Will shew he can give kingdoms; for the senate,
Thy brother dead, shall willingly decree The crown of Egypt, that was his, to thee. [Exeunt omnes.
I Now should wish another had my place,
But that I hope to come off, and with grace;
And, but express some sign that you are pleas'd,
We of our doubts, they of their fears, are eas'd.
I would beg further, gentlemen, and much say
I'th' favour of ourselves, them, and the play,
Did I not rest assur'd, the most I see
Hate impudence, and cherish modesty.
That has the strongest arm and sharpest sword,
I'd court Bellona in her horrid trim,
As if she were a mistress, and bless fortune
That offers my young valour to the proof,
How much I dare do for your sister's love.
But, when that I consider how averse
Your noble father, great Archidamus,
Is, and hath ever been, to my desires,
Reason may warrant me to doubt and fear,
What seeds soever I sow in these wars
Of noble courage, his determinate will
May blast, and give my harvest to another,
That ne'er toiled for it.
Timag. Prithee, do not nourish
These jealous thoughts; I'm thine, and, pardon
Though I repeat it, that Timagoras
That, for thy sake, when the bold Theban sued,
Far-famed Pisander, for my sister's love,
Sent him disgraced and discontented home;
I wrought my father then; and I, that stopped not
In the career of my affection to thee,
When that renowned worthy, that brought with
him
High birth, wealth, courage, as fee'd advocates
To mediate for him, never will consent,
A fool, that only has the shape of man,
Asotus, though he be rich Cleon's heir,
Shall bear her from thee.
Leost. In that trust I love.
Timag. Which never shall deceive you.
Enter PISANDER.
Pis. Sir, the general,
Timoleon, by his trumpets hath given warning
For a remove.
Timag. 'Tis well; provide my horse.
Pis. I shall, sir.
[Exit PISANDER.
Leost. This slave has a strange aspect ? -
Timag. Fit for his fortune; 'tis a strong limbed
My father bought him for my sister's litter.
O pride of women! Coaches are too common;
They surfeit in the happiness of peace,
And ladies think they keep not state enough,
If, for their pomp and ease, they are not borne
In triumph on mens' shoulders.
Leost. Who commands
The Carthaginian fleet?
Timag. Gisco's their admiral,
And, 'tis our happiness, a raw young fellow,
One never trained in arms, but rather fashioned
To tilt with ladies lips than crack a lance,
Ravish a feather from a mistress' fan,
And wear it as a favour. A steel helmet,
Made horrid with a glorious plume, will crack
His woman's neck.
Leo. No more of him.-The motives
That Corinth gives us aid?
Timag. The common danger:
For Sicily being on fire, she is not safe;
It being apparent that ambitious Carthage,
(That to enlarge her empire strives to fasten
An unjust gripe on us, that live free lords
Of Syracusa) will not end, till Greece
Acknowledge her their sovereign.
Leost. I'm satisfied.
What think you of our general?
Timag. He is a man
Of strange and reserved parts; but a great soldier.
[A Trumpet sounds.
His trumpets call us ; I'll forbear his character:
To-morrow, in the senate-house, at large
He will express himself.
Leost. I'll follow you!
Syracuse. A room in CLEON's House.
You take no pity on me; I shall swoon
As soon as you are absent; ask my man else,
You know he dares not tell a lie.
You are no sooner out of sight, but she Does feel strange qualms; then sends for her young doctor,
Who ministers physic to her on her back,
Her ladyship lying as she were entranced:
(I've peep'd in at the key-hole, and observed
them :)
And sure his potions never fail to work,
For she's so pleasant in the taking them,
She tickles again.
Coris. And all's to make you merry
When you come home.
Cleon. You flatter me; I'm old,
And wisdom cries, Beware.
Coris. Old, duck! to me
You are a young Adonis.
Grac. Well said, Venus;
I am sure she Vulcan's him.
Coris. I will not change thee
For twenty boisterous young things without beards.
These bristles give the gentlest titillations,
And such a sweet dew flows on them, it cures
My lips without pomatum. Here's a round belly!
'Tis a down pillow to my back; I sleep
So quietly by it: and this tunable nose,
Faith, when you hear it not, affords such music,
That I curse all night-fiddlers.
Grac. This is gross.
Not find she flouts him!
Coris. As I live, I'm jealous.
Cleon. Jealous of me, wife?
Coris. Yes; and I have reason;
Knowing how lusty and active a man you are.
Cleon. Hum, hum!
Grac. This is no cunning quean! 'slight, she
Called for a caudle.
Grac. It was in his sleep;
For, waking, I durst trust my mother with him. Coris. I long to see the man of war: Cleora, Archidamus' daughter, goes, and rich Olympia; I will not miss the show.
Cleon. There's no contending:
For this time I am pleased, but I'll no more on't. [Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The Senate House.
Enter ARCHIDAMUS, CLEON, DIPHILUS, OLYMPIA, CORISCA, CLEORA, and ZANTHIA.
Arch. So careless we have been, my noble lords, In the disposing of our own affairs,
And ignorant in the art of government,
That now we need a stranger to instruct us.
Yet we are happy that our neighbour Corinth
(Pitying the unjust gripe Carthage would lay
On Syracusa) hath vouchsafed to lend us
Her man of men, Timoleon, to defend
Our country and our liberties.
Diph. 'Tis a favour
We are unworthy of, and we may blush
Necessity compells us to receive it.
Arch. O shame! that we, that are a populous nation,
Engaged to liberal nature for all blessings
An island can bring forth; we that have limbs,
And able bodies, shipping, arms and treasure,
The sinews of the war, now we are called
To stand upon our guard, cannot produce
One, fit to be our general!
Cleon. I'm old and fat;
I could say something else.
Arch. We must obey
The time and our occasions; ruinous buildings,
Whose bases and foundations are infirm,
Must use supporters: We are circled round
With danger; o'er our heads with sail-stretched
wings
Destruction hovers, and a cloud of mischief
Ready to break upon us; no hope left us,
That may divert it, but our sleeping virtue,
Roused up by brave Timoleon.
Cleon. When arrives he?
Diph. He is expected every hour.
Arch. The braveries
Of Syracusa, among whom my son
Timagoras, Leosthenes, and Åsotus,
(Your hopeful heir, lord Cleon) two days since
Rode forth to meet him, and attend him to
The city; every minute we expect
To be blessed with his presence.
Cleon. What shout's this? [Shout at a distance.
Diph. 'Tis seconded with loud music.
[Trumpets flourish within.
Arch. Which confirms
His wished-for entrance. Let us entertain him
With all respect, solemnity, and pomp,
A man may merit, that comes to redeem us
From slavery and oppression.
My doors, and guard my gold; these lads of Co
Have nimble fingers, and I fear them more, Being within our walls, than those of Carthage; They are far off.
Arch. And, ladies, be it your care
To welcome him and his followers with all duty. For rest resolved, their hands and swords must keep you
In that full height of happiness you live:
A dreadful change else follows.
(Exeunt ARCH. CLEON, and DIPH.
Olym. We are instructed. Coris. I'll kiss him for the honour of my country, With any she in Corinth.
Olymp. Were he a courtier,
I've sweetmeat in my closet shall content him, Be his palate ne'er so curious.
Coris. And, if need be,
I have a couch and a banqueting-house in my
Where many a man of honour has not scorn'd To spend an afternoon.
Olymp. These men of war,
As I have heard, know not to court a lady.
They cannot praise our dressings, kiss our hands,
Usher us to our litters, tell love-stories,
Commend our feet and legs, and so search up-
wards;
A sweet becoming boldness! They are rough,
Boisterous, and saucy, and at the first sight
Ruffle and touze us, and, as they find their sto-
machs,
Coris. 'Troth, I like them the better:
I can't endure to have a perfumed sir
Stand cringing in the hams, licking his lips
Like a spaniel over a furmety-pot, and yet
Has not the boldness to come on, or offer
What they know we expect.
Olymp. We may commend
A gentleman's modesty, manners, and fine language,
His singing, dancing, riding of great horses,
The wearing of his clothes, his fair complexion;
Take presents from him, and extol his bounty:
Yet, though he observe, and waste his state up-
If he be staunch, and bid not for the stock
That we were born to traffick with; the truth is,
We care not for his company.
Coris. Musing, Cleora?
Olymp. She's studying how to entertain these strangers,
And to engross them to herself.
Cleo. No, surely;
I will not cheapen any of their wares,
Till you have made your market; you will buy,
I know, at any rate.
Coris. She has given it to you.
Olymp. No more, they come; the first kiss For this jewel.
Enter TIMAGORAS, LEosthenes, Asotus, TI-
MOLEON in black, led in by ARCHIDAMUS, DI-
PHILUS, and CLEON; followed by PISANDER,
GRACCULO, CIMBRIO, and other Slaves.
Arch. It is your seat,
Which with a general suffrage,
As to the supreme magistrate, Sicily tenders,
And prays Timoleon to accept.
Timol. Such honours,
To one ambitious of rules or title,
Whose heaven or earth is placed in his command,
And absolute power o'er others, would with joy,
And veins swoln high with pride be entertained.
They take not me; for I have ever loved
An equal freedom, and proclaim all such
As would usurp another's liberties,
Rebels to nature, to whose bounteous blessings
All men lay claim as true legitimate sons.
But such as have made forfeit of themselves
By vicious courses, and their birthright lost,
'Tis not injustice they are marked for slaves
To serve the virtuous. For myself, I know
Honours and great employments are great bur-
dens,
And must require an Atlas to support them.
He that would govern others, first should be
The master of himself, richly endued
With depth of understanding, height of courage,
And those remarkable graces which I dare not
Ascribe unto myself.
Are trumpets of their own deserts; but you,
That are not in opinion, but in proof,
Really good, and full of glorious parts,
Leave the report of what you are to fame,
Which, from the ready tongues of all good men,
Aloud proclaims you.
Diph. Besides, you stand bound,
Having so large a field to exercise
Your active virtues offered you, to impart
Your strength to such as need it.
Timol. 'Tis confessed:
And, since you'll have it so, such as I am,
For you, and for the liberty of Greece,
I am most ready to lay down my life:
But yet consider, men of Syracusa,
Before that you deliver up the power
(Which yet is yours) to me, to whom 'tis given;
To an impartial man, with whom nor threats
Nor prayers shall prevail; for I must steer
An even course.
Arch. Which is desired of all.
Timol. Timophanes, my brother, for whose
death
I'm tainted in the world, and foully tainted;
In whose remembrance I have ever worn,
In peace and war, this livery of sorrow,
Can witness for me, how much I detest
Tyrannous usurpation: with grief
I must remember it: For when no persuasion
Could win him to desist from his bad practice,
To change the aristocracy of Corinth
Into an absolute monarchy, I chose rather
To prove a pious and obedient son
To my country, my best mother, than to lend
Assistance to Timophanes, tho' my brother,
That, like a tyrant, strove to set his foot
Upon the city's freedom.
Timag. 'Twas a deed
Deserving rather trophies than reproof.
This seat of justice, or engage myself
Your state at home, swear all upon my sword,
To fight for you abroad, or to reform
And call the gods of Sicily to witness
The oath you take; that whatsoe'er I shall
Propound for safety of your commonwealth,
Not circumscribed or bound in, shall by you
Be willingly obeyed.
Arch. Diph. Cleon. So may we prosper,
As we obey in all things!
Timag. Leos. Aso. And observe
your commands as oracles!
Timol. Do not repent it. [Takes the State.
Olymp. He ask'd not our consent.
Coris. He's a clown, I warrant him.
Olymp. I offer'd myself twice, and yet the churl Would not salute me.
Coris. Let him kiss his drum!
I'll save my lips, I rest on it.
Olymp. He thinks women
No part of the republic.
Coris. He shall find
We are a commonwealth.
Cleo. The less your honour.
Timol. First then, a word or two, but without
bitterness,
Concerning your ill government of the state,
(And yet mistake me not, I am no flatterer)
In which the greatest, noblest, and most rich,
Stand, in the first file, guilty.
Cleon. Ha! how's this?
Timol. You have not, as good patriots should
do, studied
The public good, but your particular ends;
Factious among yourselves, preferring such
To offices and honours, as ne'er read
The elements of saving policy;
But deeply skill'd in all the principles,
That usher to destruction,
Leost. Sharp.
Timag. The better.
Timol. Your senate-house, which used not to admit
A man, however popular, to stand
At the helm of government, whose youth was not
Made glorious by action; whose experience,
Crowned with grey hairs, gave warrant to his
counsels,
Heard and received with reverence; is now filled
With green heads, that determine of the state
Leost. And will be still remembered to your Over their cups, or when their sated lusts
If you forsake not us.
Diph. If you free Sicily
From barbarous Carthage yoke, it will be said In him you slew a tyrant.
Arch. But giving way
To her invasion, not vouchsafing us
(That fly to your protection) aid and comfort, "Twill be believed, that for your private ends You killed a brother.
Timol. As I then proceed,
To all posterity may that act be crowned
With a deserved applause, or branded with
The mark of infamy-Stay yet; ere I take
Afford them leisure; or supplied by those
Who, rising from base arts and sordid thrift,
Are eminent for their wealth, not for their wis-
: dom :
Which is the reason that to hold a place
In council, which was once esteemed an ho
And a reward for virtue, hath quite lost
Lustre and reputation, and is made
A mercenary purchase.
Timag. He speaks home.
Leost. And to the purpose.
Timol. From whence it proceeds
That the treasure of the city is ingrossed
|