Syph. By laying up his counsels in your heart. Jub. His counsels bade me yield to thy directions : Vent all thy passion, and I'll stand it's shock, When not a breath of wind flies o'er it's surface. Syph. Alas! my prince, I'd guide you to your safety! Syph. And therefore died. Jub. Better to die ten thousand thousand deaths, Than wound my honour. Syph. Rather say your love. Jub. Syphax, I've promis'd to preserve my temper : Why wilt thou urge me to confess a flame I long have stifled, and would fain conceal? Syph. Believe me, prince, though hard to conquer love, "Tis easy to divert and break it's force: Absence might cure it, or a second mistress Jub. "Tis not a set of features, or complexion, Beauty soon grows familiar to the lover, CATO. CHAP. XVII. EDWARD AND WARWICK. Edw. LET me have no intruders; above all, Keep Warwick from my sight.— Enter WARWICK. War. Behold him here; No welcome guest, it seems, unless I ask Edw. There was a time, perhaps, When Warwick more desir'd, and more- -deserv'd it Guided in secret ev'ry latent wheel Of government, and mov'd the whole machine: War. Who gave that cipher worth, and seated thee And moulder'd in oblivion, had not Warwick Bade the rough waves subside in peace, and steer'd You may despise, perhaps, that useless aid, Edw. Know too, reproach for benefits receiv'd Pays ev'ry debt, and cancels obligation. War. Why that indeed is frugal honesty; A thrifty, saving knowledge: when the debt Grows burdensome, and cannot be discharg'd, A sponge will wipe out all, and cost you nothing. Edw. When you have counted o'er the num❜rous train Of mighty gifts your bounty lavish'd on me, You may remember next the injuries, Which I have done you; let me know them all, And I will make you ample satisfaction. War. Thou canst not: thou hast robb'd me of a jewel, It is not in thy power to restore ; I was the first, shall future annals say, That broke the sacred bond of public trust, That haunt your court, could none be found but Warwick, Edw. And wouldst thou turn the vile reproach on me? If I have broke my faith, and stain'd the name Of England, thank thy own pernicious counsels, That urg'd me to it, and extorted from me War. I've been abus'd, insulted, and betray'd; Edw. These gusts of passion Will but inflame them. If I have been right War. Elizabeth! Edw. Nay, start not; I have cause War. And so have I ; Too well I know thy breach of friendship there, Edw. I scorn it, Sir-Elizabeth hath charms, War. By Heav'n, 'tis false ! You knew it all, and meanly took occasion, I had a right; nor will I tamely yield My claim to happiness, the privilege To choose the partner of my throne and bed; It is a branch of my prerogative. War. Prerogative! what's that? the boast of tyrants A borrow'd jewel, glittʼring in the crown With specious lustre, lent but to betray: You had it, Sir, and hold it—from the people. Edw. And therefore do I prize it: I would guard Their liberties, and they shall strengthen mine; But when proud Faction, and her rebel crew, Insult their sov'reign, trample on his laws, And bid defiance to his pow'r, the people, In justice to themselves, will then defend His cause, and vindicate the rights they gave. War. Go to your darling people, then; for soon, If I mistake not, 'twill be needful; try Their boasted zeal, and see if one of them Edw. Is it so, my lord? Then mark my words: I've been your slave too long, But henceforth know, proud peer, I am thy master, His pow'r to others' hands but ill deserves War. Look well then to your own; It sits but loosely on your head; for know, Edw. Nor he who threaten'd Edward- EARL OF WARWICK CHAP. XVIII. HOTSPUR AND GLENDOWER. Glen. SIT, cousin Percy; sit, good cousin Hotspur ; For by that name as oft as Lancaster Doth speak of you, his cheek looks pale! and with A risen sigh, he wisheth you in Heav'n. Hot. And you in Hell, as often as he hears Owen Glendower spoke of. Glen. I blame him not: at my nativity The front of Heav'n was full of fiery shapes, Of burning cressets; know, that at my birth The frame and the foundation of the earth Shook like a coward. Hot. So it would have done At the same season, if your mother's cat 1 |