Page:Dramas 1.pdf/437

Re-enter Sulpicius and Orceres, breaking out upon him, and Orceres catching hold of his robe as he is going off.

ORCERES.

Ha! noble Maro, to a coward turn'd,

Shunning a spot of danger!

SULPICIUS.

Stay, Cordenius.

The fellest foe thou shalt contend with here,
Is her thou call'st so gentle. As for me,
I do not offer thee this hand more freely
Than I will grant all that may make thee happy,
If Portia has that power.

CORDENIUS.

And dost thou mean, in very earnest mean,

That thou wilt give me Portia—thy dear Portia?
My fancy catches wildly at thy words.

SULPICIUS.

And truly too, Cordenius. She is thine,

If thou wilt promise me to love her truly.

CORDENIUS (eagerly clasping the knees, and then kissing the hands, of Sulpicius).

Thanks, thanks!—thanks from my swoln, o'er-flowing heart,