Page:Works of Sir John Suckling.djvu/128

108 Agl. Betray me not,

My willing sense, too soon; yet, if that voice

Be false

Ther. Open, fair saint, and let me in!

Agl. It is the prince. As willingly as those

That cannot sleep do light

Welcome, sir. [Opens] Welcome above. [Spies his sword drawn Bless me!

What means this unsheath'd minister of death?

If, sir, on me quick justice be to pass,

Why this? Absence, alas! or such strange looks

As you now bring with you, would kill as soon.

Ther. Softly! for I, like a hard-hunted deer,

Have only herded here; and, though the cry

Reach not our ears, yet am I follow' d close:

O my heart! since I saw thee

Time has been strangely active, and begot

A monstrous issue of unheard-of story:

Sit; thou shalt have it all! nay, sigh not:

Such blasts will hinder all the passage.

Dost thou remember how we parted last?

Agl. Can I forget it, sir?

Ther. That word of parting was ill-plac'd, I swear.

It may be ominous; but dost thou know

Into whose hands I gave thee?

Agl. Yes, into Ziriff's, sir.

Ther. That Ziriff was thy brother, brave Zorannes,

Preserv'd by miracle in that sad day

Thy father fell, and since, thus in disguise

Waiting his just revenge.

Agl. You do amaze me, sir.

Ther. And must do more, when I tell all the story.

The king, the jealous king, knew of the marriage;

And, when thou thought'st thyself by my direction,

Thou wert his prisoner.

Unless I would renounce all right, and cease

To love thee—O strange and fond request!—immur'd

Thou must have been in some sad place, and lock'd

For ever from Thersames' sight, for ever!

And, that unable to endure, this night

1 did attempt his life.

Agl. Was it well done, sir?

Ther. O no! extremely ill!

For to attempt and not to act was poor.