Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/477

���COUNTESS OF WINOHILSEA 339 ���ACT I SCENE I �A pleasant Plain by a Wood-side ; beyond it are seen, on one side, some of the Shepherds Hamlets ; on the other (at a dis- tance) the Walls of Phaerea, a Garrison of the Lacedemonians. �Enter Climander meeting Arcasius; both drest like Shepherds. �dim. Hast thou provided me a Horse and Arms, A Sword, Arcasius, that when Time has freed me From the Severe Injunctions of a Father, May fill my Hand, instead of this vile Hook, And fit it for the Work, a Prince is born to? �Area. Unwillingly, I have obey'd your Orders ; But, 'till to-morrow's, and the next day's Sun Shall light the angry, and contentious World, Your Promise to your Father is in Force ; As well as the Assurance, which you gave, 10 �That in my Custody these Arms shou'd rest, Until that fatal Time demands their Use. �dim. Call it not Fatal; Oh! that 'twere arriv'd! That Aristomenes, the Spartan Terrour, Were leading me, this moment, bravely on Through Dangers, equal to the Cause he fights for, Preserving these free Plains from foreign Bondage! Though in the Strife this Body strew'd the Ground, To Fame, and Publick Good an early Victim. �Area. O wretched Rhodes! Thy Ruin is pronounc'd, 20 And thou beneath th' impending Plagues may'st perish ; Since He, whom Oracles appoint to Aid thee, Thus wishes with his Own, to sell Thy Safety, For the rash Praise of an intruding Warriour. �dim. No more of Oracles! Which oftner we fulfil by heedless Chance, Than the vain Study to pursue their Meaning; ��� �