If all the excellence of woman-kind Were mine;--No, 'tis too little all for him: Were I made up of endless, endless joys!
_Adr._ And so thou art: The man, who loves like me, Would think even infamy, the worst of ills, Were cheaply purchased, were thy love the price. Uncrowned, a captive, nothing left but honour,-- 'Tis the last thing a prince should throw away; But when the storm grows loud, and threatens love, Throw even that o'er-board; for love's the jewel, And last it must be kept.
_Cre._ [_To_ DIOC.] Work him, be sure, To rage; he is passionate; Make him the aggressor.
_Cre._ To you! why what are you, that I should fear you? I am not Laius. Hear me, prince of Argos; You give what's nothing, when you give your honour: 'Tis gone; 'tis lost in battle. For your love, Vows made in wine are not so false as that: You killed her father; you confessed you did: A mighty argument to prove your passion to the daughter!
_Adr._ [_Aside._] Gods, must I bear this brand, and not retort The lye to his foul throat!
_Adr._ [_Aside._] O, I burn inward: my blood's all on fire! Alcides, when the poisoned shirt sate closest, Had but an ague-fit to this my fever. Yet, for Eurydice, even this I'll suffer, To free my love.--Well then, I killed him basely.
_Cre._ You had your fellow thieves about you, prince; They conquered, and you killed.
_Adr._ [_Aside._] Down, swelling heart! 'Tis for thy princess all:--O my Eurydice!-- [_To her._
_Eur._ [_To him._] Reproach not thus the weakness of my sex, As if I could not bear a shameful death, Rather than see you burdened with a crime Of which I know you free.
_Cre._ You do ill, madam, To let your head-long love triumph o'er nature: Dare you defend your father's murderer?
_Cre._ O power of conscience, even in wicked men! It works, it stings, it will not let him utter One syllable, one,--no, to clear himself From the most base, detested, horrid act That ere could stain a villain,--not a prince.
_Dioc._ Echo to him, groves: cry villain.
_Adr._ Let me consider--did I murder Laius, Thus, like a villain?
_Cre._ Best revoke your words, And say you killed him not.
_Adr._ Not like a villain; pr'ythee, change me that For any other lye.
_Cre._ You killed him not! proclaim your innocence, Accuse the princess: So I knew 'twould be.