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Show 37* IT/fo S P A R T A N D A M.E, I fear a future Tyranny. Cleom. Away ! M y Thoughts, m y every Word, m y Actions, Are Slaves to the Obedience of thy Will, Nor can alTume a Privilege from Pow'r Of violating thee : But Want will fpeak* And all m y Want is Love. Thel. Call it not Love : Coming from you, it has another Name, Too horrid for the Ear : Were I that Wretch; Were every Ligrjt extinguifh'd in the Mind, Which brightens Virtue, and (hows Vice moft foul * Were I forfaken of all Senfe of Good; Abandon'd, and led Captive to all 111: One> whofe experienc'd Wickednefs cou'd prove Adultery no Sin : Yet ev'n there, Among the c o m m o n Rout, you cou'd not hope; Tho' I were fear'd sganft all other Sins, Inceft wou'd make m e tremble : Sure it is, O n this fide Hell, known only in the Name: There cannot be a Reprobate fo loft, So damn'd a Reprobate to a£r it, fure ! Cleom. Why, Madam, do you think I cou'd proceed Thus far, upon this Subject, without Thought, A ferious, judging Senfe of Good and 111 ? I have a Mind, like you, a Confcience too, That apprehends the Terror of fuch Guilt; With Fears as nice as yours; and, but I know M y loving you cannot be any Crime." » Thel. H o w ! not a Crime ! Cleom. As purely innocent as any other Love] Thel. I have a Refuge yet, a Dagger here. [Afu Cleom. Brother, and Sifter, arc but Terms of Art, Occafionally fafhion'd to the Ends Of Government; as Marriage is no more Than a mere human Obligation ; Of no moie Force than is ouam'd by Pow'rj Which, as it ties thc knot, unties it too; And I ordain U (ball no longer bind. TheLOl Sir, coato,.. The SPARTAN DAME. 377 Cleom. All that you can fay, h have confider'd. I have cjrs'd m y Fate, gut how does that avail m e ? Curs'd my felf, And the repented Raftjnefs of m y Youth, Whofe unadvifing Folly gave m e to |your Sifter's Bed, n o w furfeited, and loath'd. Thel. Can you repent your Marriage ? Cleom. Curfes can't [Mend m y Condition : Yet I muft curfe Wpion, all the World, that comes between Me, and m y Joys in thee but this is wild, Quite from m y Purpofe, idly loiing Time, Whofe precious Minutes, as they pafs along, May bring m e Comforts: O h \ there can be none, But in thy Arms: There I muft find m y Joys, [Or never find 'em. [He freffmg her, fhe draws a Dagger] thel Find 'em in the Grave. Ckom. A Dagger 4 arm'd againft m e ! Thel. Stir not a Step 1 wear it for m y felf, [if you attempt m e farther.. Cleom. Have a Care: Y o u wonnot wound your felf? Thel A thoufand Wounds his, as the Guard of Virtue, fhall beftow, Rather than leave m e to your brutal Will, |The Murder of m y Fame. Cleom. This wonnot do : muft try other Means. [Afide. Thel. I know I am |within your Pow'r, expos'd to your wild Rage : But Death's a Sanctuary from all Wrongs, |And that I can command. Cleom. O ! only die |The guilty Memory of what is paft, ly Sin, and n o w m y Shame. Thel. Can you fay fo, and not repent ? Ckom. But you cannot forgive : [1 can't forgive m y felf: I've done thofe Things* IWkich Pardon cannot reach. . thel If this be true-- ^ CltmM cleom. |