Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/489

 COUNTESS OP WINCHILSEA 351 �Protect him from their Knowledge, some kind Pow'r, If Youth, or Virtue e'er engag'd your Pity! �Clar. Let it be so, and speedily perform'd, [Aloud. �For He'll ne'er yield to what has been demanded. �Anax. You nam'd the Dungeon, with a Threaten too Of swift Revenge, thinking to fright our Justice : 70 �But we'll take care, first, to perform our Part, Then, venture what your daring Son can offer. The Dungeon is his Sentence, thither bear him. �Aristor. Not till this Hand has done a swifter Justice. �[Draws and runs at Anax. �Anax. Ha! what means this, my Guards! �[He avoids the thrust : Phila runs in. �PTiila. Help, Soldiers, help ; seize that distracted Spartan. Who now has got a Sword ; Disarm, and take him. �[They disarm him. �Aristor. 'Tis false; stand off, ye Slaves, and know I am �Phila. Oh ! stop his Mouth ; for if he raves, he Dyes. �[They stop his Mouth with a Handkerchief. �Aristom. As sure as now he Lives, had he spoke more [Aside. Therefore be blest the Stratagem that stopt him! 81 �Anax. What means this, Phila; speak, Who is this Madman? �Phila. One by a Friend entrusted to my Care, Sent from the Country here to find a Cure ; But hearing, as the Croud pass'd by his Lodgings, That Aristomenes wou'd soon be Sentenc'd, He broke his Ward, and fancy'd He must save him. I have pursu'd him, 'till I'm faint with Crying, And am confounded at his frantick Passion. Oh! Royal Sir, forgive it- 90 �Anax. We do, and pity him: remove him hence, Then, to thy Mistress, my dear Daughter, Go And say we now again shall soon see Sparta. ������ �