SCENE II.

EUL. Though Orpheus' harp, Arion's lute, the chimes Whose silver sound did Theban towers raise: Though sweet Urania with her ten-string'd lyre, Unto whose stroke the daily-rolling spheres Dance their just measures, should with tune and tone Tickle my air-bred ear; yet can their notes Those fabulous stones more enter, than my soul. Lead, poppy, slumber, stupefy my heart; But Bedlam grief acts gambols in my brain. The Centaur's wheel, Prometheus' hawk, the vulture Of Tityus, Sisyphus' never-mossy stone, The tale of Danaids' tub and Tantalus' gaping, Are but flea-bitings to my smart. I've slain A kinsman--more, a friend I dearly lov'd: Nay more, no cause provoking, but in rash And hellish choler. I thought my love had cannon-proof been 'gainst A world of injuries; when see, all is split By a small wind. Cursed be thou, my sword, The instrument of fury! cursed hand, Which mad'st the thrust! but most accursed part, Whose ruddy flesh triangular boil'd in flame, Like an Ætnean or Vesuvian salamander! That breast I so could hug, that faithful breast, That snowy white, I with dark sanguine stain'd; And from the wound's red lips his panting heart Did seem to say, Is this a friendly deed? O no, Hirildas: bears can harmless play, Lions can dally, and sheathe up their claws; I only, worst of brutes, kill friends in jest. Why does Androgeus, kindly-cruel, keep Me from their sentence? say, law bids me die; If law should not, I'll make that law myself. Shall ensigns be display'd, and nations rage About so vile a wretch? shall foreign hoofs Kick up our trembling dust, and must a Cæsar Redeem my folly with a kingdom's fall? First may I stop black Cerberus' triple jaws. Die, die! thou hast outliv'd thyself. Thou only, Phoenix of females, still dost bind and bound My runagate spirit in these walls of mud; From thee and for thee 'tis I breathe. Yet how Borrow can I his shape, or use mine own? Odious before, now worse than hell-born goblin, With brand and chains to scare this dove, all quaking 'Twixt wrath and fear. But time may favour win; When hope doth fail, then knife or rope begin. [_Exit._