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Show 38Z The S P A R T A N DAME. Cleom. Undoubtedly the beft. And I muft own * M y felf i'th' Wrong, as Paflion always is. So like a mad-brain'd Boy, to think of Force. Crit. I muft confefs, a violent Remedy, In fome defpairing Points, does very well: W h e n nothing elfe will do, 'tis well apply'd, And then a Rape is neceffary ; but Your Cafe is far from this: She's in your Pow'r, And cannot 'fcape you : Nay, I fay again, She fhannot, Sir: And when I thus declare, Y o u fhall enjoy her any w a y you pleafe, Y o u wou'd not chufe a Violation ? Cleom. Thou art m y Guide of Love* Crit. This W a y , that I propofe, Shall introduce you for Eurytion, Give you a free Admiflion to her Bed, Which you may fatisfy as well as he. Cleom. Then for his Care In coming unattended, in the Dark. •• ~ Crit. U n k n o w n of all but me, his faithful Friend. Cleom. Makes ftill for us. Crit. All Things muft be remov'd, And filent to receive you. Cleom. If fhedifcover me- Crit. W h y , if (he docs. Cleom. Wou'd it were come to that. Crit. Sir, it fhall come. Cleom. I a m impatient, • Crit. 'Tis too early, yet, And you muft wait : There is no Remedy. Cleom. Then I muft wait. Crit. The Hour will foon arrive. Cleom. Crites, withdraw with m e : W e muft be nice In every Circumftance of Place, and Time : Thofe we'll agree within ; This Service done, M y Thanks in thy Reward fhall follow foon. [Exe S C EN The S P A R T A N D A M E . 383 SCENE II. A Be^Cbamber. Thelamia and Byzanthe. Thel. I pity thee, Byzanthe; thy Gaiety as caught the Infection of m y Company, od thou art melancholy too. Byz. I wifh I cou'd divert you. ihel. I thank thy Love, m y Friend; 'tis growing late! et, e'er I go to Bed, I'll try to read n Hour away : It may deceive the Time. Byx,. Pleafe you, Pll ftay, and wait. thel. O ! by no means : am too troublefome, but thou art kind. [Byzanthe £w; out, Thelamia fits down at a Table, and opens a Book. fere I gave o'er-- The Story feems diftrefs'cfe "ow will it end ! [Reads, tyepinius Sextus then, Pretending on a Journey, late at Night Came to Collatia, where Lucrece was, And breaking thro' all hofpitable Laws, At Midnight ravifh'd her •-O Villany ! And moft unhappy Lady ! Collatine, Where was her Husband then ? - - - [Reads again. • ^ What do I read ? a little farther on, My Author, in his C o m m e n t on the Fact, Says 'twas her Husband's Abfence ruin'd her. 0fearful Apprehenfion ! This is juft The State of m y Condition : T h e fad T a e May ominoufly reprefent m y Fate, In wrong'd Lucretia : 1 a m helplefs now, As (he was then: M y Husband abfent too, As hers then was - - Nay, he has already dar'd To force the Mocefty of m y chafte Ears With the bold brutal PalTion of his Love: And after that--But I have forgiv'n him that, And he repents O! k is falfe, and feign'd, |