CLEANDER

Were their longest life but three minutes, and that time uncertain, they were to be preferred before the realest, and most continuing you could think on, these are pure and celestial pleasures, to be fed on only by the fantasy, I'll in and again invite them with a slumber. Exit. I need not excuse my want of answer to you, there is nothing fit for me to say, which way so ever I open my mouth to this purpose will appear foolish, when there I refuse, or grant both are alike ridiculous. I can not turn my self in this place, without committing shame, it's not with me as with elder years they may deny such offers and be admired for their modesty, or accept them and be honoured for that Nobleness, I have nothing yet at my dispose, obedience is my best partly; here I am; you may use me as you please, command me, even to wear a Crown, and make me submit unto the highest honours, set me on the Throne you speak of, and when I have had it long enough, take it again from me Like other toys I play with, yet my Lords, I am not so young, but that I know I am a subject, and that I have a King; that thus, though but a sport, to use his titles is a fault, or for any to acknowledge such a spirit as you my Lord have spoken, is no less a traitor then he which strikes the Crown from off his head. My Lord, set me not such a spectacle of shame. If I may yet take confidence to speak, and it will become me to say something of my self. I could tell you how this day hath been familiar to me, and in a dream I have seen things so often, that did not these shouts confirm me, which were then Still the concluders of my happiness, I could not yet believe but all that I have now suffered is only airy, and these shapes I see, merely fantastic. My Lord, I am yet as in a new World, and know no more then if I now began to live, the most common things are wonders to me, you must excuse me therefore if I know not how to entertain such accidents as these, yet I can love, if you point me where I should, and being that I want art, and reason I'll lay on the more. My Lord, I never enjoyed safety Like these dangers. My Lord, Now to leave suspicions, I can write certain news of the conspiracy we have a long time feared, the swarms are now flown out, the Hives are grown too narrow for their numbers, and they keep their murmurings abroad, every petty Jnmate upon his Country grievance dares threaten a State-revenge, and what the Law takes from him, will repay with ruin. Aratus, Phronimus, Eurild chus the three great diseases —