That the strong tie of wedlock should do more
Than nature in her nearest ligaments
Of blood and propagation! I should ne'er
Have begot such a daughter of my own:
A daughter-in-law! law were above nature,
Were there more such children.

CLEAN. This admiration

Helps nothing to your safety: think of that, sir.

LEON. Had you heard her, Cleanthes, but labour In the search of means to save my forfeit life, And knew the wise and [the] sound preservations That she found out, you would redouble all My wonder, in your love to her.

CLEAN. The thought,

The very thought, claims all that [love] from me,
And she is now possest of't: but, good sir,
If you have aught receiv'd from her advice,
Let's follow it; or else let's better think,
And take the surest course.

LEON. I'll tell thee one;

She counsels me to fly my severe country;
[To] turn all into treasure, and there build up
My decaying fortunes in a safer soil,

Where Epire's law cannot claim me.

CLEAN. And, sir,

I apprehend it as a safest course,
And may be easily accomplished;

Let us be all most expeditious.

Every country where we breathe will be our own, Or better soil; heaven is the roof of all;

And now, as Epire's situate by this law,

There is 'twixt us and heaven a dark eclipse.
HIP. O then avoid it, sir; these sad events
Follow those black predictions.

y strong] Old ed. "stronger."

she is.... of't] Old ed. "shees . . . . of it."

LEON. I prithee, peace;

I do allow thy love, Hippolita,

But must not follow it as counsel, child;
I must not shame my country for the law.
This country here hath bred me, brought me up,
And shall I now refuse a grave in her ?

I'm in my second infancy, and children
Ne'er sleep so sweetly in their nurse's cradle
As in their natural mother's.

HIP. Ay, but, sir,

She is unnatural; then the stepmother's b
To be preferr'd before her.

LEON. Tush! she shall

Allow it me despite of her entráils.

Why, do you think how far from judgment 'tis,
That I should travel forth to seek a grave
That is already digg'd for me at home,
Nay, perhaps find it in my way to seek it?
How have I then sought a repentant sorrow?
For your dear loves, how have I banish'd you
From your country ever? With my base attempt,
How have I beggar'd you, in wasting that
Which only for your sakes I bred together;
Buried my name in Epire, which I built
Upon this frame, to live for ever in?
What a base coward shall I be, to fly from
That enemy which every minute meets me,

And thousand odds he had not long vanquish'd me
Before this hour of battle! Fly my death!

a

allow] i. e. approve.

b 's] Old ed. " is." Buried my name in Epire, &c.] "This is obscure. Perhaps Leonides means, that he had so conducted himself in his native country (i. e. so raised his reputation there), that his memory would always live in the recollection of the people, unless he now quitted them for a residence elsewhere. The conclusion of this speech I do not understand."-GIFFORD.

I will not be so false unto your states,

Not fainting to the man that's yet in me :

I'll meet him bravely; I cannot (this knowing) fear That, when I am gone hence, I shall be there. Come, I have days of preparation left.

CLEAN. Good sir, hear me :

I have a genius that has prompted me,

And I have almost form'd it into words 'Tis done, pray you observe 'em; I can conceal

you;

And yet not leave your country.

LEON. Tush! it cannot be,

Without a certain peril on us all.

CLEAN. Danger must be hazarded, rather than
accept

A sure destruction. You have a lodge, sir,
So far remote from way of passengers,

That seldom any mortal eye does greet with't;e
And yet so sweetly situate with thickets,
Built with such cunning labyrinths within,
As if the provident heavens, foreseeing cruelty,
Had bid you frame it to this purpose only.

LEON. Fie, fie! 'tis dangerous-and treason too, To abuse the law.

HIP. 'Tis holy care, sir,

Of your dear life, which is your own to keep,
But not your own to lose, either in will

Or negligence.

CLEAN. Call you it treason, sir?

I had been then a traitor unto you,

Had I forgot this; beseech you, accept of it;

It is secure, and a duty to yourself.

LEON. What a coward will you make me!

d

on us] Old ed. "ons."

with't] Old ed. "with it." 1 yet] Old ed.

yes."

CLEAN. You mistake;

'Tis noble courage; now you fight with death,
And yield not to him till you stoop under him.
LEON. This must needs open to discovery,
And then what torture follows!

CLEAN. By what means, sir?

Why, there is but one body in all this counsel,
Which cannot betray itself: we two are one,
One soul, one body, one heart, that think one h
thought;

And yet we two are not completely one,
But as [I] have deriv'd myself from you.-
Who shall betray us where there is no second?
HIP. You must not mistrust my faith, though
my sex plead

Weakness] and frailty for me.

LEON. OI dare not!

But where's the means that must make answer for

me?

I cannot be lost without a full account,

And what must pay that reckoning?
CLEAN. O sir, we will

Keep solemn obits for your funeral;

We'll seem to weep, and seem to joy withal,

That death so gently has prevented you

The law's sharp rigour; and this no mortal ear

shall

Participate the knowledge of.

LEON. Ha, ha, ha!

This will be a sportive fine demur,
If the error be not found.

CLEAN. Pray doubt of none.
Your company and best provision,

there is] Old ed. "theres." h one] Old ed. "all one."

Must be no further furnish'd than by us;
And, in the interim, your solitude may
Converse with heaven, and fairly prepare
[For that] which was too violent and raging
Thrown headlong on you.

LEON. Still, there are some doubts

Of the discovery; yet I do allow't.

HIP. Will you not mention now the cost and

charge

Which will be in your keeping!

LEON. That will be somewhat,

Which you might save too.

CLEAN. With his will against him,

What foe is more to man than man himself?
Are you resolved, sir?

LEON. I am, Cleanthes :

If by this means I do get a reprieve,
And cozen death awhile, when he shall come
Armed in his own power to give the blow,
I'll smile upon him then, and laughing go.

ACT II. SCENE I.

Before the Palace.

[Exeunt.

Enter EVANDER, three COURTIERS, and CRATILUS.

EVAN. Executioner!

CRAT. My lord.

EVAN. How did old Diocles take his death? CRAT. As weeping brides receive their joys at night;i

With trembling, yet with patience.

EVAN. Why, 'twas well.

VOL. I.

i at night] Old ed. " at night, my lord."

D