Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/488

 350 THE POEMS OF ANNE �This is the Choice, we kindly set before you, And wish, that you would take the safest Part, �Aristom. Enslave my Country, to secure my Life! That Pow'r forbid it, under whose Protection I've often fought her Battles with Success, And drove th' ill-grounded War home to your Sparta! �Clar. He braves us in his Bonds: then you wou'd Dye. �Aristom. I do not say I wou'd; 40 �I am a Man, and Nature bars that saying: Yet I dare Dye ; no Spartan here, but knows it. But since the Fates (whose Wills we best can read, When thus unfolded in their dire Events) Tell me by these vile Bonds I must submit; Propose the gentlest Bargain you can make, And if I find my Life bears equal Weight, I am content to take it, else 'tis Yours. �Anax. 'Tis not for Us to wave, or change our Terms, Mistaken Man, who think not of our Power, 50 �And that we may command what we propose: Since the first Sally, now, must take Possession Of what your frighted Rout will soon abandon. �Aristom. My frighted Rout! Ye basely wrong with foul reproachful Names Those valiant Troops, which yet ye cannot Conquer: For know, thou proud insulting Anaxander, There's at their head a resolute young Man, That will not 'bate thee in his strict Account One Sigh or Groan, thy Tortures or thy Dungeons 60 �Shall wrest in Dying from his Father's Bosom. �Anaxander and the Senate talk among themselves, whilst Aristor �comes forward upon the Stage, �But there he stand's! [Aside seeing Aristor. �Aristor thro' that Spartan Dress I view, And ne'er till now, wish'd not to see my Son. ��� �