And with a speaking eye command bare heads
And knees. But now[Beats his breast again30
Greatness is but the shadow of the beams
Of prince's favours, nourish'd in extremes;
First taught to creep, and feed on hopes, to live
Upon the glance, and humbly to observe
Each under-minion, till its own desire35
Work itself near enough to set itself on fire.[Studies a little
Fain would I make my audit up with heaven,
For 'tis a large one; but the small, vain hopes,
Which yet I have of life and of revenge,
Smother these thoughts within me40
Faster than they are born.
Enter Fidelio disguised like a friar
A ghostly father!
My minutes are but few, I see by this.
Sir, you are welcome:
I was but now considering how to die,
And, trust me, I do find it something hard.45
I shall extremely need some such good help
As yours to do it well.
Fid. Faith, my lord, divines do hold
The way to die well is to live well first.[Discovers himself
Clar. Fidelio!
Fid. Not too loud: there's danger in't.
The king has promised life; but none as ye⟨t⟩50
Must know't: the enemies are too potent,
And must be soft'ned by degrees.
Clar. Why, then,
I see he hath not quite forgot pass'd services.
Fid. Not too much of that:
This is not gratitude; or, if it be, it does55
As thankfulness in great ones use[s] to do;
It looks asquint, and seems to turn to favours,
But regards new ends.
Clar. Prithee, unriddle.
Fid. Why, to be short, it is your daughter's beauty,
Not your merit.
Clar. My fears prompt me too quick:60
She's not turned whore, is she?
Fid. No; but her honesty is so strait beset,
