_Cleom._ The propositions are unjust and hard; And if I swallow them, 'tis as we take The wrath of heaven. We must have patience, for they will be gods, And give us no account of what we suffer.
_Clean._ My father much abhors this middle way, Betwixt a gift and sale of courtesy. But 'tis the mistress; she that seemed so kind, 'Tis she, that bears so hard a hand upon you; She that would half oblige, and half affront.
_Cleom._ Let her be what she is: that's curse enough. But such a wife, a mother, and a son! Oh sure, ye gods! when ye made this vile Egypt, Ye little thought, they should be mortgaged here! My only comfort Is, that I trust these precious pawns with thee; For thou art so religiously a friend, That I would sooner leave them in thy hands, Than if I had security from heaven, And all the gods to answer for their safety.
_Clean._ Yes, yes; they shall be safe; And thou shall have a pledge, As strong as friendship can make over to thee. Deny me not, for I must go with thee, And share what fate allots for thee in Greece. [CLEOMENES _looks discontentedly_.
Nay, cast not on me that forbidding frown; But let me be their pawn, as they are thine: So I shall have thee wholly to myself, And be thy wife, thy mother, and thy son, As thou art all to me.
_Cleom._ Oh friend! [_Sighs, and wipes his eyes._
_Clean._ What wouldst thou say, my better part?
_Cleom._ No more, but this, that thou art too unkind, When even in kindness thou wouldst overcome.
_Clean._ Let me be proud; and pardon thou my pride. Base, worthless Egypt has no other pawn, To counter-balance these, but only me. 'Twas on such terms alone I durst propose it. Shalt thou leave these, And I not leave a father, whom I love? Come, come, it must be so. We'll give each other all we have besides; And then we shall be even.--Here they are! I leave thee. Break those tender ties of nature, As gently as thou canst; they must be broken. [_Going, returns._ But, when thou seest Cassandra, curb thy spleen; Seem to receive the kindness as from her; And, if thou think'st I love thee, for my sake, Remembering me, strive to forget my father. [_Exit_ CLEAN.
_Enter_ CLEORA, CRATESICLEA, _and_ CLEONIDAS.
_Cleom._ But how can I sustain to tell them this, [_Walking from them._ Even in the gentlest terms! There are not words in any tongue so soft As I would use: the gods must have a new one, If they would have me speak.
