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Show M 370 The SPARTAN DAME. Celo. No, I do not underhand it. „ Cleom. That is ftrange. Celo. Nor care to be inft rutted. Cleom. This proceeds From fome more fubtle Caufe. Celo. From a plain Truth: Nor do I underftand h o w I can give Her more AlTurances, than I m y fclf Can take from your n e w Fortune. Cleom. That indeed # * You cannot well; She has a Sifter s Claim, But you're the Miftrefs of it, and m y Queen. Come, come, no more of this Indifference, This Coldnefs misbecomes our prefent State, It looks like Fnvy of your Happinefs, 'Which only Fools infli£t upon themfelves. Celo. All Arguments are unavailing now, Tedious, and from the Purpofe; and to ask W h y you have thus proceeded, cannot change The Nature of the A&ion, or undo What is already done. Cleom. Grant that, and then W e muft look forward, where thc opening Scene D fclofes Nature, elegantly drefs'd, T o welcome you in her inviting Arms: W e have that glorious Profpea n o w in view. T o turn, and wonder at the flippery Paths, The heavy Steps, the <Shfricttk Degrees, By which w e rofe, were to deny our felves Thofe Pleafures, which invited firft our Hope*, And would reward our Paint: N o , Madam, no, « Things done are beft forgotten. b Celo. " Some never are forgotten. Thel " Y o u may provoke him. # L1* Ui01 Cleom. " Our Folly then preferves their Memory. Celo. " That Fdly is our Guilt. Cleom u Be mine thar Guilt, « The Guilt cf Rrpire; all its Thorns and Cares «< Be only mine: but the fubftantial Goods, « Which, in Opinion, or Experuace, ^ ^ The SPARTAN DAME. 37* d Make Life a real Blefllng, (ball be thine. Celo. O Sifter, witnefs to m y Virtue now! Which tempted thus, thus courted to a Throne, And by the Man, w h o has all Charms for me, Stands yet refolv'd Ckom. O f what? Refolv'd! Celo. O, Sir! Were it a Task for every common Strength To undertake, it were no Part for m e; But loving as I do, and fo belov'd! profperity inviting every Senfe, With various Arts, tounprovide m y Mind! What but a Spartan Spirit can fuftain The Shock of fuch Temptations; thus refolve To leave the Comforts of your Bed and Throne, And live a Mourner for a " Father's Wrorgs? m Cleom. How's that, Celona ? Wou'd Thelamia e'er Have us'd Eurytion thus ? Celo. He never would Have given her this Caufe: M y Life, m y Love, My Fortune, m y Obedience, all are yours; But of m y living Part, m y eternal Fame, I am the Miftrefs, and muft here command. • 111 Actions, tho' they be paft our Recall, « May be lamented; and not to fhare the Fruit, « The Benefits, which firft drew on their Crime, « Makes fome Amends; but where is their Reward? • A Throne afurpt! M y Father is depos'd « To make m e Queen: Infamous Throne, and Queen! Thel. " This may enrage him, Sifter, pray no more. Celo. " Were I like other W o m e n now, w h o know " No Ufe of Life, but in their Appetites; « Their Tears, their Face of Sorrow, and their Blacks, " Might ferve m y Turn, and by Degrees perfwade • And reconcile m e to m y Royal Fate: * But as I a m above fuch Pageantries, " One of a nobler Aim in all m y Ends, " 1 muft defpife thofe Forms, which cheat the World. True Sorrow only lives within the Heart, And in our Actions beft is underftood; There- |