To the jealous fires, which burn too hot already In lord Leosthenes.

Cleora. Let them consume him!

I am mistress of myself. Where cruelty reigns, Theredwells 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.
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 inutiny, if he loved her (as, you say,
She does confess he did,) but to enjoy,
VOL. I.

[Aside.

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
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.
Timag. Impudence
Beyond expression!

Leost. Shall I be a bawd
To her lust, and my dishonour?
Timan. She'll run mad, else,

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'll hear no more.

Come, sir, we'll follow her; and if no persua

sion

Can make her take again her natural form,
Which by lust's powerful spell she has cast off,
This sword shall disenchant her.
Lcost. O my heart-strings!

[Exeunt LEOSTHENES and TIMAGORAS.

P

With which you have made evident proofs that you

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. No; 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

sed,

Timag. If you believe so,

Follow the chace still; and in open court

[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,

judge

Our friend, I fear not.

Leost. Something I shall say,

But what

SCENE III.-The Court of Justice. Enter TIMOLEON, ARCHIDAMUS, CLEORA, and Officers.

Timol. 'Tis wondrous strange! nor can it fall within

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,

Ungrateful fair one; and, since you are such,
'Tis lawful for me to proclaim myself,
And what I have deserved.
Cleora. Neglect and scorn
From me, for this proud vaunt.
Leost. You nourish, lady,

Your own dishonour in this harsh reply,
And almost prove, what some hold of your sex,
You're all made up of passion: For, if reason
Or judgment could find entertainment with you,
Or that you would distinguish of the objects
You look on in a true glass, not seduced
By the false light of your too violent will,
I should not need to plead for that which you
With joy should offer. Is my high birth a ble-
mish?

Or does my wealth, which all the vain expence
Of women cannot waste, breed loathing in you?
The honours, I can call mine own, thought scan-
dals?

Am I deformed, or, for my father's sins,
Mulcted by Nature? If you interpret these
As crimes, 'tis fit I should yield up myself
Most miserably guilty. But, perhaps,
(Which yet I would not credit) you have seen
This gallant pitch the bar, or bear a burden
Would crack the shoulders of a weaker bond-
man;

Or any other boisterous exercise,
Assuring a strong back, to satisfy

Your loose desires, insatiate as the grave.
Cleora. You are foul-mouthed.

Arch. Ill-mannered too.

· Leost. I speak

In the way of supposition, and entreat you,
With all the fervour of a constant lover,
That you would free yourself from these asper-
sions,

Or any imputation black-tongued slander
Could throw on your unspotted virgin whiteness;
To which there is no easier way, than by
Vouchsafing him your favour; him, to whom,
Next to the general, and the gods, and fautors,
The country owes her safety.

Timag. Are you stupid?

'Slight, leap into his arms, and there ask pardon-
Oh! you expect your slave's reply; no doubt
We shall have a fine oration: I will teach
My spaniel to howl in sweeter language,
And keep a better method.

Arch. You forget
The dignity of the place.
Diph. Silence!

Timol. Speak boldly.

Pis. 'Tis your authority gives me a tongue,
I should be dumb else; and I am secure,
I cannot clothe my thoughts, and just defence,
In such an abject phrase, but 'twill appear
Equal, if not above, my low condition.

I need no bombast language, stolen from such
As make nobility from prodigious terms
The hearers understand not; I bring with me
No wealth to boast of, neither can I number
Uncertain fortune's favours with my merits;

I dare not force affection, or presume
To censure her discretion, that looks on me
As a weak man, and not her fancy's idol.
How I have loved, and how much I have suf
fered,

And with what pleasure undergone the barthen
Of my ambitious hopes (in aiming at
The glad possession of a happiness,
The abstract of all goodness in mankind
Can at no part deserve,) with my confession
Of mine own wants, is all that can plead for me.
But if that pure desires, not blended with
Foul thoughts, that like a river keeps his course,
Retaining still the clearness of the spring
From whence it took beginning, may be thought
Worthy acceptance; then I dare rise up,
And tell this gay man to his teeth, I never
Durst doubt her constancy, that, like a rock,
Beats off temptations, as that mocks the fury
Of the proud waves; nor from my jealous fears
Question that goodness, to which, as an altar
Of all perfection, he, that truly loved,
Should rather bring a sacrifice of service,
Than raze it with the engines of suspicion;
Of which, when he can wash an Ethiop white,
Leosthenes may hope to free himself;
But, till then, never.

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.

Thy soul (if thou hast any) can bear witness,
That thou were not thine own. For proof of this,
Look better on this virgin, and consider,
This Persian shape laid by, and she appearing
In a Greekish dress, such as when first you saw her,
If she resemble not Pisander's sister,
One called Statilia ?

Leost. 'Tis the same! my guilt

So chokes my spirits, I cannot deny
My falsehood, nor excuse it.

Pis. This is she,

To whom thou wert contracted: This the lady, That, when thou wert my prisoner, fairly taken In the Spartan war, that begged thy liberty, And with it gave herself to thee, ungrateful!

Statil. No more, sir, I entreat you: I perceive 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

Drew me from Thebes with a full intent to kill 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
To live far from her, love (the mistress of
All quaint devices) prompted me to treat
With a friend of mine, who, as a pirate, sold me
For a slave to you, my lord, and gave my sister
As a present to Cleora.

Timo!. Strange meanders!

Pis. There how I bare myself needs no relation.
But, if so far descending from the height
Of my then flourishing fortunes, to the lowest
Condition of a man, to have means only

To feed my eye with the sight of what I honoured;
The dangers too I underwent, the sufferings;
The clearness of my interest, may deserve
A noble recompence in your lawful favour;
Now 'tis apparent that Leosthenes

Can claim no interest in you, you may please
To think upon my service.

Cleora. Sir, my want

Of power to satisfy so great a debt,

Makes me accuse my fortune; but if that,
Out of the bounty of your mind, you think
A free surrender of myself full payment,
I gladly tender it.

Arch. With my consent too,

All injuries forgotten.

Timag. I will study,

In my future service, to deserve your favour

And good opinion.

Leost. Thus I gladly fee

This advocate to plead for me. [Kissing STATILIA.
Pis. You will find me

An easy judge. When I have yielded reasons
Of your bondmen's falling off from their obedi-

Grac. Give me leave;

I'll speak for all.

Timol. What canst thou say, to hinder The course of justice?

Grac. Nothing. You may see

We are prepared for hanging, and confess
We have deserved it.. Our most humble suit is,
We may not twice be executed.

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.
Let but a chapel fall, or a street be fired,
A foolish lover hang himself for pure love,
Or any such like accident, and before
They are cold in their graves, some damned dit-
ty's made,

Which makes their ghosts walk.-Let the state take order

For the redress of this abuse, recording
'Twas done by my advice, and, for my part,
I'll cut as clean a caper from the ladder
As ever merry Greek did.

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,

[Capers.

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!
Timol. Cease these clamours.

And now, the war being ended to our wishes,'
And such as went the pilgrimage of love,
Happy in full fruition of their hopes,
'Tis lawful, thanks paid to the powers divine,
To drown our cares in honest mirth and wine.

[Exeunt.