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Show m 400 The S P A R T A N D A M E. Thel. You may find M y Meaning out hereafter: for this Time I would be private. Cleom. Y o u won't fay, farewel? Thel. T o be alone. Thel. Then bid m e go. Thel. Farewel. Cleom. That Farewel bids m e ftay: but I muft go. [^ Thel. O ! what a Part a m I condemn'd to a&, T o fave m y Husband's Life! M y Husband! O h! I have no Husband : This foul Ravifher, Ufurper, Tyrant, Author of all Ills, Divorces m e for ever from m y Lord: Has robb'd m e of the Honour of a Wife: Nor a m I worthy of that Title now, Or any N a m e , but Oh! let m e here Bury that Name, and all m y Miferies: Sink d o w n beneath the Burden of m y Woes, Into m y Grave, unmention'd, and unmourn'dj Ne'er be remembred in m y Scory more, T o the difhonour of m y Royal Houfe, Or fhame of virtuous Wives. Celona and Byzanthe to her. Byz. What do I hear? Celo. Amazement of m y Senfes! can this be Thelamia on the Earth! thefe Sorrows hers? Byz. She minds you not. Cdo. O ! 'tis Celona fpeaks, thy tender, loving Sifter! Byz. See, that N a m e raifes her Head a little. Celo. N o w thy Tears Flow fafter than before. O ! you good Gods! Inftrucl m e to redrefs, or comfort her. Nay, I iatreat thee, do not fmother thus Thy Griefs with Groans, but give thy Paftion Words; They will unload the Burden of thy Heart, If they do nothing more: Byzanthe, help, Help m e to raife her. Thel. O ! you mifemploy Your Charity on a Wretch, w h o m all the Gods The SPARTAN D A M E . 401 Concurring in their Bleffings, with your Means To bring m e Comfort, never can reftore To Happinefs. Celo. O you malfcious Stars ! I thought m y Fortunes might have fatisfied For our whole Family: You fhow'd your Pow'r Enough in m e: You might have fpar'd her Peace; But n o w where will you end? O ! Sifter, fay, Speak to me, tell me, can there be a Caufe Of this Diftrefs? Thel. There is, a wretched Caufe: Believe it^fuch, and feek to know no more. Celo. VI] help you to fuppore Thel. The Load will fink us both. Celo. Then w e fhall fall together. Come, the Caufe? 1 have a Sifter's Title, and a Friend's, That wonnot be deny'd--J-Nay, no more Tears, But tell m c , Thel. I can't fpeak- CTehleol.. TAwoa ayn«y , but a Sifter. Celo. Pray withdraw- [Byzanthe £*?* out* Now tell your Griefs, none but a Sifter hears. Thel. And n o w I dare not. O ! enquire no more: Tho' 'tis moft fit m y Griefs fhould be reveal'd, Tis moft unfit they be reveal'd to you. Celo. If they relate to me, I a m prepar'd, Give 'em a Tongue. Thel. You'll curfe it, when it fpeaks--Cleomfootus~~ Cleo. M y Husband? Thel. Monfter of Men. Celo. Indeed his " Ufurpation does deferve To be thus treated; but, Thelamia^ I Have not deferv'd to hear you call him fo. If he has made you wretched, I a m made Unhappy too: If in a Husband's lofs, I have loft him too, equal in all your Griefs. Thel. O ! yet there is a Grief beyond all thefe! A Lofs, beyond m y Father, Husband, Life, You wonnot underftand - - - - Ok* |
