SCENE II. Should the strong serve the weak, the fair deformed ones? Enter PISANDER and POLIPH RON, bringing forth Or such as know the cause of things, pay tribute a Table. Pis. More wine; pry'thee drink hard, friend, And when we're hot, whatever I propound, Enter CIMBRIO, GRACCULO, and other Slaves. Second with vehemency.-Men of your words, all welcome! Slaves use no ceremony; sit down, here's a health. Pol. Let it run round, fill every man his glass. Grac. We look for no waiters: this is wine. Pis. The better, To ignorant fools? All's but the outward gloss Cim. A little fighting Pis. Thou, Gracculo, Hast fluency of language, quick conceit; 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, Strong, lusty wine. Drink deep; this juice will Play with my chain, make us 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, I think too, But would prove good burghers. Grac. Hum! the fools are modest : I know their insides.-Here's an ill-faced fellow man In Syracusa, I've no skill.-Here's another, To loath base water. I would be hanged in peace Observe but what a cozening look be has; And yet defy the whip, if you are men, Our lords are no gods? Gruc. They are devils to us, I am surc. Cold, hunger, and diseases. Grac. In abundance : Your lord, that feels no ach in his chine at twenty, Forfeits his privilege; how should their chirurgeons build else, Or ride on their foot-clothes? Pis. Equal Nature fashioned us All in one mould: The bear serves not the bear, Nor the wolf the wolf; 'twas odds of strength in tyrants, That plucked the first link from the golden chain, With which that thing of things bound in the world. Why then, since we are taught, by their examples, To love our liberty, if not command, (Hold up thy head, man) if for drawing gallants Into mortgages for commodities, cheating heirs With your new counterfeit gold thread, and gummed 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; Pis. Old men, and such as can make no resist ance, Are only left at home. 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 fall 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 it be done. [Exeunt all, crying liberty. ACT III. 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 make her understand the slaves revolt; And with your utmost eloquence enlarge Their insolence and rapes done in the city. Forget not, too, I am their chief, and tell her Pierce not my deep designs; nor shall they dare You strongly think my extreme dotage on her, 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 Pis. 'Tis true, up. In what is rashly undertook. Long since A just defence and use: It may appear, too, As might with greater violence and danger As I am Marullo, caused this sudden uproar To make way to enjoy her. Timan. Punctually I will discharge my part. [Exit Timandra. The pleasure though I'm absent. This is some Revenge for my disgrace. Pol. But, sir, I fear, If your authority restrain them not, Pis. I will among them; Pol. At your pleasure. SCENE II. [Exeunt. Not fortune, but affection, marks your slave : CLEORA, TIMANDRA, a chair, a shout within. Timan. They're at our gates, my heart! affrights and horrors , Increase each minute: No way left to save us, Enter PISANDER, speaking at the door. A foot beyond this, comes upon my sword. 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 are yet open; And you infringe no vow, though you vouchsafe To give them warrant to convey unto Your understanding parts, the story of A tortured and despairing lover whom 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, [Cleora starts. Or take my wishes here, (nay, fear not, madam, I dare not touch those viands that ne'er taste well, [Cleora kneels, then pulls off her glove, Enter LEOSTHENES and TIMAGORAS. Thang. I am so far from envy, I am proud You have outstripped me in the race of honour. Oh! 'twas a glorious day, and bravely won! Your bold performance gave such lustre to Timoleon's wise directions, as the army Rests doubtful, to whom they stand most engaged For their so great success. Leost. The gods first honoured, The glory be the general's; 'tis far from me Timag. You abuse your fortune, To entertain her choice and gracious favours Leost. O Timagoras! You only are acquainted with the cause, Weighed down by your fair merits; and, when she views you, you, Like a triumphant conqueror, carried through Leost. If those glories You so set forth, were mine, they might plead for me: But I can lay no claim to the least honour The soldiers crown it with, nor all war's glories, ance She did impose upon her tender sweetness, That fed upon my liver, you cannot blame ine, The forfeit of your fault with such a ransom voyage, Timag. Tush! these fears are needless; She cannot, must not, shall not be so cruel. free confession of a fault wins pardon, But, being seconded by desert, commands it. The general is your own, and sure my father Repents his harshness: for myself, I am Ever your creature; one day shall be happy In your triumph and your marriage. Leost. May it prove so, With her consent and pardon. Timag. Ever touching On that harsh string? she is your own, and you Without disturbance seize on what's your due. E [Exeunt. SCENE I. Enter PISANDER and TIMANDRA. Pis. SHE has her health, then? ACT IV. Timan. With all care. Pis. And how does she receive it? With a seeming kind of joy: but yet appears not red on Enter TIMOLEON, ARCHIDAMUS, DIphilus, LeOSTHENES, TIMAGORAS, and others. Timol. Thus far we are returned victorious; crowned With wreaths triumphant, (famine, blood and death Banished your peaceful confines) and bring home That such as boldly stood the shock of war, Arch. When I look on (The labour of so many men and ages) Diph. Sleep the citizens? Or are they overwhelmed with the excess Leost. We receive A silent entertainment. Timag. I have long since Expected that the virgins and the matrons, Arch. And upon the walls Enter above PISANDER, POLIPHRON, CIMBRIO, GRACCULO, &c. Diph. I should know These faces.-They are our slaves. Timag. The mystery, rascals? Open the ports, and play not with an anger Timol. This is above wonder! Arch. Our bondmen stand against us? We were in man's remembrance.-The slaves are turned Lords of the town, or so.-Nay, be not angry: Perhaps, on good terms, giving security 3 |