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Show 374 The SPARTAN DAME. «« Reftrain m y Tears, that m y weak Eye may fee « The Bounds of Parricide and Piety; « By turns fuftain the Daughter, and the Wife, « That through divided Virtue's ^orious ftrife, ««* I may reftorc the King, and fave a Husband's Life. [Exit. Thelamia followm CSeom. Y o u wonnot leave m e too? Thel. I'll follow her, and bring her back. Cleom. O ! you may fparc your pains. Her Fury muft have way; (he's beft alone, And w e as well without her. Thel. H o w , m y Lord! You do not fpeak your Thoughts, you cannot m e a n - Cleom. I can mean only thee! All that thy Prayers Can ask of Heav'n, all that the Gods can grant In anfwer of thy Wifhes, all be thine: Eternal Youth, an Ever-rifing Spring Of fmiling Beauty, in its biufhing Bloom, Make thee the Pride, and Wifh, of Hearts and Eyes: All Joys, all Bleflmgs, which long happy Years Of Empire ean beftow, I mean to thee. Thel. Where would this lead m e? Cleom. OI thou canft not be So dull, Thelamia, not to apprehend What this intends: I would prepare thee thus By foft degrees, gently engage thy Ear, In favour of a Caufe, which I muft plead, And you muft judge. Thel. M y Sentence will be mild. Cleom. Indeed thy Looks are wondrous pitiful: Thy Heart's a-kin to 'em. Thel. I mean, m y Lord, I may prove partial, and pronounce for you, As you're m y King, and Brother. Cleom. Othat Word! Would I were more than that, or not fo much; That Brother is too cold; canft thou not find A nearer N a m e ? one neaier to thy Love, That better can befpeak thee. Thel. There is none; N o N a m e in the Relation of our Blood, The SPARTAN DAME, 375 Kindred, or Family, nearer ally'd L our AfTeclions, than a Brother isj Lsband is only more. Cleom. And yet you fee .| am forfaken; nay, Thelamia, you, lEv'n you're abandon'd by a Husband too. |Good Gods! what is this Marriage? that fo foon bepraves our Appetites, .that thus prefers lyjle Things to precious? It comes, like Froft [Upon a forward Spring; the Flower of Youth, Wanton in gay Defires, here nipt, forinks in [With all its Sweets, drooping the tender Head Upon its Stalk, no worthier than a Weed. Thel. You're merry, Sir, with our Condition. Cleom. W h o , but a Husband, ever could perfuade His Heart, to leave the Bcfom of thy Love, For any phlegmatick Defign of State, Of Life, or Fortune? But he's fatisfied, And I fhould not complain: His Abfence makes I We room for m y D e f i r e s - - Thel. Defires, m y Lord! Cleom. W e are forfaken, but not quite forlorn, Not deftitute of Comfort; there remains A Recompence Thel. A Recompence! Cleom. Rich as m y Hopes • Thel. What Hopes! Cleom. That feems intended by our very Fatej, Deflgningly removing every Bar, = To make our way to one another's Arms. Why do you fly m e ? . , . Thel. O ! I n o w perceive m y R u m plain. Cleom. What can you fear in m e? Thel. I a m moft miferable. Cleom* H o w ? Thel. N o more : I've heard too much. It was too great a Wrong Ev'n to fufpeft m y Virtue: But to explain Your guilty Thoughts, is fuch a Privilege Your high Place only gives yoti; and from this • 1 • r 3t ^ffL' I m |