Page:Power of affection.pdf/22

(22) me reduced? Or, it is my duty to array in robes of royalty and  when I behold the huſband I received  you in the flower of my youth, on the  of periſhing by your dagger? Should he unable to diſarm your reſentment, and  your ſoul to compaſſion by the tears of  wife and children, permit, me to aſſure  that he will be puniſhed with more  for his imprudence, then was even  by yourſelf, when he ſhould ſee a wife  is ſo deer to him, expiring at his feet; ſo you are not to think, that in my preſent condition, I will ever conſent to out-live him" Chelonida, at the coneluſion of theſe words, reclined her cheek on that of Cloombrutus; while with her eyes, that ſpoke her ſorrow in in her tears, ſhe caſt a languid look on thoſe who were preſent.

Leonidas, after a few moments diſcourſe with his friends, ordered Cleombrutus to rise, and immediately to puit Sparta; but earneſtly importuned his daughter to continue there, and not forsake a father who gave her such a peculiar proof of tendernass as to spare the life of her huſband. His solicitations were, however, ineffectual; and the moment Cleombrutus rose from his seat ſhe placed one of her children in his arms, and clasped the other in her own; and when ſhe had offered up her prayers to the goddess, and kiſſed the altar, ſhe beceme a voluntary exile with her huſband.