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Show 368 The SPARTAN DAME. Celo. I did not think, Thelamia, that your Husband Cou'd pafs thus coldly by: Methought his Eyes Were cautious of me, and at diftance held, Glanc'd on m e the Sufpicion of his Fears. Thel. O ! do not blame Eurytion, tax not him O f any Fault, but charge it " on the Times, " Whufe fudden Turns of various Interefts, " May reafonably give us Jealoufies " O f one another, and of all the World. Celo. I bring along with m e a Sifter's Love; Wou'd have it fo believ'd, and fo return'd, N o Spy upon his Actions. Thel. Y o u are rais'd a Partner of that Pow'r, he has oppos'd. Celo. " O hated Pow'r! whofe blind Ambition "^Stands like a fatal Rock in Nature's Courfe, " Dividing thus our Loves, and Interefts, " Which elfe had kindly to one Channel run, « In fruitful Currents, to our C o m m o n Good. Thel. F r o m that Reflection, Sifter, you muft find M y Lord's Excufe; who, banifh'd from himfelf, And driven from thc Temper of his Soul, The natural Difpofition of his Love, Compelled and fore'd, appears thus chang'd, and cold Celo O Sifter! can a Lady fhow herfelf T o more Advantage, than in pleading thus A Husband's Caufe ? -Yet that I a m deny'd. O ! 'tis a T h e m e for the Athenian Soisg; And fits the Virtue of a Spartan Wife: " But wretched that l a m ! what can I fay " T o extenuate Cleombroius's Guilt? c« I a m his Wife, the Partner of his Fame, ** But wou'd not be Partaker of his Crimes; ** And h o w can I avoid it to the World! Cleombrotus enters with Agchlaus, Thel. Here comes the King. Celo. " H o w , Sifter! what is then * Our Father, if Cleombrotus be King ? " O no: call him, m y Lord, m y Husband,or u Your Brother, if you pleafe, but not the King. \ The SPARTAN D A M I 369 Cleom. I am plcas;d. his Flight has fcap'd 'em • Tc)Teg*a I k n o w to gone: forrre t W hours hence 11 fhall have Bufmeic ripe for your Advic- Agef M y Duty fhall attend your Majefty rExit Thel. 'Tis fit I leave you, J /- ltX"' Celo. I would have you ftay. Cleom. O Madam ! are you found ?• This is a Place I'm pleas'd to find you in. Celo. I'm glad you're pleas'd. Cleom. I come, Thelamia, as a Brother ought, Tovifit you. Thel. That Title of your Love Makes all m y Happinefs. Cleom. I k n o w your Heart -* Is full of Fears, that your foft, gentle Sex, The Difpofition of your Natures takes More dangerous Impremons of your Fears, Than Bodies ftronger form'd; therefore I c o m e ~ - Celo. Like a kind Brother • Thel. Heaven grant he prove no more! [Afide* Ckom. I know, in the Obligation of your Blood, And as becomes the Office of your Love, You have already told her Celo. Told her, Sir! Cleom. Ay, giv'n her all thofe kind AfTurances-. Celo. O f what, m y Lord ? Cleom. O f me, and of m y Fortune: Which, as m y Friends fhall ftill command, (he m ay Expect an ample Share in. Celo. That Subject, Sir, you beft can fpeak upoa. Cleom. You fhou'd have done it. Celo. What Pow'r had I ? Cleom. You know, m y Pow'r is yours: Befides, it muft have been a grateful Theme. Celo. I thought not fo. Clem. H o w ! 'twould have pleas'd you fure ? Celo, Far otherwife. C W , I thought it might have plea«'d you* 9LT Cfo, |