Leost. 'Tis my fault. Distrust of others springs, Timagoras, From diffidence in ourselves. But I will strive, Timag. 'Tis a guest, In wisdom, never to be entertained He does appear in pregnant proofs, not fashioned [Aside. Timag. Why she should be so passionate for a bondman, Falls not in compass of my understanding, Leost. I pray you, no more; already I have answered that objection, in my strong Timag. 'Tis unfit, then, That I should press it farther. Timan. Now I must [Timandra steps out distractedly. Make in, or all is lost. Timag. What would Timandra? Leost. How wild she looks! How is it with thy lady? Timag. Collect thyself and speak. Timan. As you are noble, Have pity, or love pity. Oh! Leost. Take breath. Timag. Out with it boldly. Timan. Oh! the best of ladies, I fear, is gone for ever. Leost. Who, Cleora? Timag. Deliver, how. 'Sdeath, be a man, sir! speak. Timan. Take it, then, in as many sighs as words: My lady Timag. What of her? Timan. No sooner heard Marullo was imprisoned, but she fell Timag. But she recovered? Say so, or he will sink too: hold, sir! fie, 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. Timag. Impudence Beyond expression! Leost. Shall I be a bawd To her lust and my dishonour? Or do some violent act upon herself. My lord, her father, sensible of her sufferings, Labours to gain his freedom. Leost. O, the devil! Has she bewitched him too? Timag. I will hear no more: Come, sir, we will follow her; and if no persua Pis. Could I expire now, These white and innocent hands closing my eyes thus, Twere not to die, but in a heavenly dream Cleora. No, for believe it, Marullo, And be not too indulgent to your folly; And then (but that grief stops my speech) imagine What language I should use. Cleora. Against thyself.Thy malice cannot reach me. Timag. How? Cleora. No, brother! Though you join in the dialogue to accuse me, And, though at first it did appear a fable, fortune Cleora. Sir, you graced me For the preserver of my fame and honour; 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 As justice with mine honour can give way, Enter CLEON, ASOTUS, DIPHILUS, OLYMPIA, and CORISCA. To let in mercy. Sit, and take your places: Cleon. With all rigour We do expect Cor. Tempered, I say, with mercy. ness Supply defects in such a thing, that never Cleora. Neglect and scorn Your own dishonour in this harsh reply, With joy should offer.-Is my high birth a ble- | Retaining still the clearness of the spring, mish? Or does my wealth, which all the vain expence Am I deformed, or, for my father's sins, Your loose desires, insatiate as the grave. In the way of supposition, and entreat you, That you would free yourself from these asper sions, Or any imputation black-tongued slander Timag. Are you stupid? 'Slight, leap into his arms, and there ask pardon- Arch. You forget The dignity of the place. Diph. Silence! Timol. Speak boldly. Pis. 'Tis your authority gives me a tongue; I need no bombast language, stolen from such And with what pleasure undergone the burthen Of mine own wants, is all that can plead for me. From whence it took beginning, may be thought Timag. Bold, presumptuous villain! Pis. I will go farther, and make good upon him, In the pride of all his honours, birth and fortunes, He's more unworthy than myself. Leost. Thou liest. Timag. Confute him with a whip, and, the doubt decided, Punish him with a halter. Pis. O the gods! My ribs, though made of brass, cannot contain My heart, swoln big with rage-The lie! A whip! [Plucks off his disguise. Let fury then disperse these clouds, in which I long have masked, disguised; that, when they know Whom they have injured, they may faint with horror Of my revenge, which, wretched men! expect, As sure as fate, to suffer! Leost. Ha! Pisander? Timag. 'Tis the bold Theban! Asot. There's no hope for me then! I thought I should have put in for a share, And borne Cleora from them both: But now, This stranger looks so terrible, that I dare not So much as look on her. Pis. Now, as myself, Thy equal at thy best, Leosthenes.— If she resemble not Pisander's sister, Leost. 'Tis the same! my guilt Pis. This is she, To whom thou wert contracted: This is the lady, That, when thou wert my prisoner, fairly taken In the Spartan war, that begged thy liberty, ceive True sorrow in his looks, and a consent To make me reparation in mine honour; And then I am most happy. Pis. The wrong done her Such as have undergone their insolence, It may not be offensive, though I study Drew me from Thebes with a full intent to kill Pity more than revenge. thee: But this fair object met me in my fury, And quite disarmed me. Being denied to have her By you, my lord Archidamus, and not able Timol. Strange meanders! Cor. 'Twill best become you. Asot. For me, I'll find a time To be revenged hereafter. Enter GRACCULO, CIMBRIO, POLIphron, ZanTHIA and the other slaves, with halters about their necks. Grac. Give me leave; I'll speak for all. Timol. What canst thou say, to hinder Pis. There how I bare myself needs no rela- The course of justice? Grac. Nothing. You may see We are prepared for hanging, and confess Timol. Twice? How mean'st thou ? Grac. At the gallows first, and after in a ballad, Sung to some villainous tune. There are tengroat rhymers About the town grown fat on these occasions.— They are cold in their graves, some damned ditty's made, Which makes their ghosts walk.-Let the state take order For the redress of this abuse, recording Timol. Yet I think You would shew more activity, to delight Your master for a pardon. Grac. O! I would dance As I were all air and fire. Timol. And ever be Obedient and humble? Grac. As his spaniel, Though he kicked me for exercise; and the like I promise for all the rest. Timol. Rise then, you have it. All Slaves. Timoleon! Timoleon! And now, the war being ended to our wishes, [Exeunt. |