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| Minerva. | You must not let it come within her clutch. Then,—Thetis' interests she does not touch. Nile's fertile vale she does not take,— |
| Thetis. | She can't. |
| Minvera. | Nor holds poor Isis's boats in pledge,— |
| Thetis. | She shan't. |
| Minerva. | Stamboul she enters not, although so nigh,— |
| Thetis. | I keep a boat or two, in case, close by;— Of course we need not trace a motive thence; It's what we call a " strange coincidence." |
| Minerva. | Remains the question,—"What about the Key?" (As for the Turk, right glad we'd be to see Him—pace Gladstone—out of Coventree!) I will say to th' opinion I incline That no one need complain of Proserpine; So none will do so, since that is my view;— I'm strong, I said;—I'm independent, too. |
| Thetis. | Excuse me, Pallas,—I will speak my mind;— You independent?—nothing of the kind!— What obligations for the past you feel, You best know,—but the fact you can't conceal. Strong you are, 'gainst a foe that's single-handed, But rightly shrink from two together banded;— Strong, and, to imitate your bluntness fully, A little bit inclined to play the bully. You well know Venus for revenge is greedy, |
