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Show 404 The SPARTAN DAME. Beyond m y Curfes now, and only Hell, All Hell can do him Juftice. Celo. " Heavy Thought! Leon. " While he ufurpt m y Right, m y Place, and Crown> " I took him for theMinifter of that Doom, « High Heav'n had pafs'd upon this rebel Land; « Nor murmur'd at m y Fate. Had the good Gods Thought fit to exercife m y Patience, Stript m e of all the Comforts of this Life, M y Friends, m y Hopes, ev'n to m y very felf But here m y Age gives way; here I confefs The Frailty of a Man, furpriz'd, unarrn'd, Unguarded, naked to this ftunning Blow, That drives m e to the Earth a weak, old Man. Cel. O Mifery on Miferv! Leon. A w a y ! Tears are thy Sexes Comforts: I muft find Mine in Revenge. Celo. Revenge! Leon. Revenge for thee, thy Sifter and us All. 0 ! I have been Aflifting to this Ruine: Had m y Ears Been open to the Counfels of m y Friends, " I might have been reftor'd, and this undone 3 But it is done, and n o w muft be reveng'd. Celo. O ! Sir, forbear a while; Leon. N o Time fo fit for m y Defigns. Celo. But hear m e Leon. Paffion has no Ears. Or if I did, Words cannot alter m e - - [Exit, Celo. Alas! m y Woman's Weaknefs has undone All that m y Virtue had fo long preferv'd; N o w I too late perceive the Confequence: H o w fatal this Difcovery muft be- T o m y Cleombrotus! for he is mine, M y Husband ftill, however bafe and falfe. Tho' I a m wrong'd in the moft tender Part, Moft fenfible of Pain, I a m his Wife; That is thc Character I muft maintain: But to preferve it! fornething I muft do, But what, or how, the Gods yet only know. L^ The SPARTAN DAME. 405* ( Crites paffmg over the Stage. Crit. All that I could of Moment I have learnt; But when the Husband follows at m y Heels, Tis Time to vanifh: I have done m y do At Chamber-practice, and muft fhift the Scene. [Exit; Eurytion enters. Eury. I meet with nothing but Diffraction Thro' all the Houfe: M y Servants fly the R o om Still as I enter it, as each were loth To be the firft in fome unwelcome News; Ev'n Crites fhuns m e too: Something there i s - 1 wonnot think the worft Heav'n? guard the King, And m y Thelamia: If either be concern'd, Twill be too foon to know, when I muft know; Till then I would not guefs: But there's the King, And half m y Fears are vain. Leonidas enters. Leon. The other half, w h o is your Fear? Eury. O ! you may guefs, m y Wife. Leon. This is no Time for Wives. Eury. N o Time indeed, If your Employment calls me. Leon. Then no Time, for I have Bufinefs for thce^ Eury. Sir, fpeak on. Tho' I fhould ftarve the Youth of m y Defires, And come but old to her expecting Arms, * When I can ferve m y Royal Mafter's Caufe, The bare Reflection of m y Loyalty Shall make amends for all m y Lofs of Love. Leo*. Have thy Reward, and hear m e ; thou art rafh, And muft be prefae'd into Government, And Temper of thofe Paflions, which would rife Againft m y Reafons, and undo us all. Eury. Sir, I a m calm. Leon. Then know, I have this Night Refolv'd to undertake the publick Caufe, With m y o w n Right, and reafcend the Throne. Eury. Heav'n profper the Refolve. Leon. What all m y Friends With honeft, weary Counfels could not gain, The |