Siege, The: Or, Love's Convert, A Tragi-Comedy - Act 1. Scene 5

ACT. I. S CEN. V.

Mis. Hear you no News yet Captains from the City?
Phil. They slight your Majesty by their delaies,
Thinking to weary your desire by lingring,
Mis. I dealt too mildly with 'em, in that I
Did offer to request without the Sword:
They shall know what 'tis to delude him that
Ne'r threatned twice; whose anger then is base
When it admits that respite, as to give
A second warning.
Cleo. 'Tis below your Highness
Thus to expect: were you a private Man
It were past suff'rance.
Mis. Do they mock me then?
I'l fall upon them like a Judgement. Plagues
And Famines shall be modest; what they count
A visitation now, shall be my Custome,
One of my slightest punishments, and so
Reckon'd hereafter among ord'nary things.
Cal. Please you but to give leave wee'l force admittance,
And ransack all the Citty ere Sunset.
Mis. Traytor, thou know'st not what thou wishest: there's
A Jewel in't, which if it should be touch'd
By any but my selfe, I should account
My Diadem guilty of offending Nature.
Be thankfull that I pardon thy request.
Tim. They are below your Anger; let no such
Vile, abject things disturb your higher thoughts,
Unto whose fame you'l add by Conquering;
Let them enjoy a Peace of your bestowing.
Mis. Think not Timophilus to divert my Fury:
I'l raze their City into a solitude;
Then, if they please, let 'em call that a Peace.
My Reconciliation is by Ruine.
Tim. Me thinks y' have executed a Revenge
Sufficient by the Preparation to it:
Anothers War carries less Miserie with it
Than your Provision for one; and they suffer
As Conquer'd, whiles that you do but approach.
Mis. They do but grone divided yet; their sighs
Fly yet, as doth their smoak, here and there some;
I'l have them make one Cloud, wherein I will
Sit like a Deity in a softer Chariot,
Triumphing over Earth — — But I do ill
To menace such misfortunes to a City
That doth contain a Virgin of such sweetness
As makes each Place Elysium as she passeth:
I must be tender of their good — — Yet why,
Why shall they dare thus to deny her me
To whom all things of price are due? They're stubborn;
I'l bring those Buildings of that threatning height
As low as their Foundations, and their Minds
Lower than them. Callimachus , give order
Unto the Souldier for a sudden Assault.
Cal. You thought it not excusable, but by
Your speciall Pardon, that I only ask'd it.
I will not dye for doing your Command.
Mi. Am I neglected then? Ph. I'l go, and 't please you.
Mis. Stay, Villain, or thou dy'st. Among the Throng
Of more ignoble Creatures, she perhaps
Might perish too; but that her Beauty will
Disarm ev'n Cruelty it self, and so
Work her escape by conquering with a Look.
Howe'r the Sin's too much, if that I should
Proceed but so far only, as to fright her.
Yet there's no other way of winning — — Go — —
Do not — — Why stir you not? — — Come back — —
To suffer thus, Misander , for that Blest one
(For sure she must be blest that is so fair)
Is chief of all thy Glories — — Captains, to
Your charges; what do you here? — — I am not well.
Cal. He hath two Furies in him, Hate, and Love.
Killing, and Making Mortals wholly share him.
Phil. A little Red i'th' Cheeks will melt him, when
A stream of bloud spilt by his own Command,
Moves him no more than if 'twere so much water.
Call. This 'tis to have an hunting Eye; as he
Pass'd through Byzantium , he survey'd each Virgin
With a most eager and committing Look.
This one among the rest (who e'r she be)
He had no sooner spy'd, but his nimble Soul
Did visibly climb up unto her Eyes
By their own Beams.
Phil. And he will hate as soon;
I'd rather be his Jument than his Mistresse:
Suspicion makes his Bed an Armory;
His head lyes never soft untill he hath
Guarded his Pillow with a brace of Daggers.
Call. His Feare hath brought him to that custom too,
That let a Gnat but buzze, he stabs the Ayr,
Strikes out of Habit, and sleeps cruelly.
Phil. Peace, let's withdraw, if that we mean to live.
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