And the gross flattery of a gaping crowd, Envious who first should catch, and first applaud Thy hungry minions thought their rights invaded, To save his king's, the boon was begged before. Seb. What say'st thou of Henriquez? Now, by heaven, Thou mov'st me more by barely naming him, Than all thy foul, unmannered, scurril taunts. Dor. And therefore 'twas to gall thee that I named him; That thing, that nothing, but a cringe and smile; Corrupted to a woman; thy man-mistress. Seb. All false as hell or thou. Dor. Yes; full as false As that I served thee fifteen hard campaigns, Seb. I see to what thou tend'st; but tell me first, I was indeed prepared to ask my own Seb. I meant thee a reward of greater worth. Dor. Where justice wanted, could reward be hoped ? Could the robbed passenger expect a bounty From those rapacious hands who stripped him first? Sacred to peace, and safe from all affronts; Ev'n to my face, and done in my despite, To strike the man I loved! Dor. Ev'n in the face of heaven, a place more sacred, Would I have struck the man who, prompt by power, Would seize my right, and rob me of my love: When he refused to meet me in the field, That thou shouldst make a coward's cause thy own! Seb. He durst: nay, more, desired and begged with tears, To meet thy challenge fairly: 'twas thy fault To make it public; but my duty, then To interpose, on pain of my displeasure, Dor. On pain of infamy He should have disobeyed. Seb. Th' indignity thou didst was meant to me: Thy gloomy eyes were cast on me with scorn, As who should say, the blow was there intended; Against anointed power: so was I forced To do a sovereign justice to myself, And spurn thee from my presence. Dor. Thou hast dared To tell me what I durst not tell myself: I durst not think that I was spurned, and live; All my long avarice of honour lost, Heaped up in youth, and hoarded up for age: Has Honour's fountain then sucked back the stream! Seb. Now, by this honoured order which I wear, More gladly would I give than thou dar'st ask it. Nor shall the sacred character of king Be urged to shield me from thy bold appeal. Dor. Thou know'st I have. If thou disown'st that imputation, draw, And prove my charge a lie. Seb. No; to disprove that lie, I must not draw: Be conscious to thy worth, and tell thy soul Than owning that ingratitude thou urgest? Dor. I'll cut that isthmus: Thou know'st I meant not to preserve thy life, But to reprieve it, for my own revenge. I saved thee out of honourable malice: Now draw; I should be loath to think thou dar'st not: Seb. Oh, patience, Heaven! Dor. Beware of patience too; That's a suspicious word: it had been proper, I have thy oath for my security: The only boon I begged was this fair combat: Fight, or be perjured now; that's all thy choice. Seb. Now can I thank thee as thou wouldst be thanked: Never was vow of honour better paid, If my true sword but hold, than this shall be. [Drawing. The sprightly bridegroom, on his wedding-night, And say his master and his friend revenged him. Thou seest me ready; we delay too long. Dor. A minute is not much in either's life, When there's but one betwixt us; throw it in, And give it him of us who is to fall. Seb. He's dead: make haste, and thou may'st yet o'er take him. Dor. When I was hasty, thou delay'dst me longer. I pr'ythee, let me hedge one moment more Into thy promise: for thy life preserved, Be kind; and tell me how that rival died, Seb. If it would please thee, thou shouldst never know. But thou, like jealousy, inquir'st a truth, Which found, will torture thee; he died in fight: Dor. I never can forgive him such a death! Seb. I prophesied thy proud soul could not bear it. I knew you both; and, durst I say, as Heav'n Who should stand firm, who fall. Dor. Had he been tempted so, so had he fall'n; And so had I been favoured, had I stood. Seb. What had been, is unknown; what is, appears ; Confess he justly was preferred to thee. Dor. Had I been born with his indulgent stars, |