200:51,000[' ]| 200:51,001[C ]| Look down ye equal gods and guide my heart 200:51,002[C ]| Or it will throw upon my hands an act 200:51,003[C ]| Which after ages shall record with horror! 200:51,004[C ]| As well might I kill my offended friend 200:51,005[C ]| As think to punish my offending prince; 200:51,006[C ]| The laws of friendship we ourselves create 200:51,007[C ]| And 'tis but simple villainy to break 'em 200:51,008[C ]| But faith to princes broke is sacrilege, 200:51,009[C ]| An injury to the gods and that lost wretch 200:51,010[C ]| Whose breast is poisoned with so vile a purpose 200:51,011[C ]| Fears thunder down from heaven on his own head 200:51,012[C ]| And leaves a curse to his posterity; 200:51,013[C ]| Judge him yourselves you mighty gods who know 200:51,014[C ]| Why you permit sometimes that honour bleed, 200:51,015[C ]| That faith be broke and innocence oppressed, 200:51,016[C ]| My duty's my religion and how e'er 200:51,017[C ]| The great account may rise 'twixt him and you 200:51,018[C ]| Through all his crimes I see your image on him 200:51,019[C ]| And must protect it no way then but this 200:51,020[C ]| To draw far off the injured Maximus 200:51,021[C ]| And keep him there fast prisoner to my friendship; 200:51,022[C ]| Revenge shall thus be flattered or destroyed 200:51,023[C ]| And my bad master whom I blush to serve 200:51,024[C ]| Shall by my means at least be safe. This letter 200:51,025[C ]| Informs him I am gone to Egypt, there 200:51,026[C ]| I shall live secure and innocent, 200:51,027[C ]| His sins shall ne'er o'ertake me nor his fears. 200:51,000[' ]| 200:51,028[C ]| Here comes one for my purpose. Proculus! 200:51,029[C ]| Well met, I have a courtesy to ask of you. 200:51,030[H ]| Of me my lord? Is there a house on fire 200:51,031[H ]| Or is some knotty point now in debate 200:51,032[H ]| Betwixt your lordship and the scavengers 200:51,033[H ]| For you have such a popular and public spirit 200:51,034[H ]| As in dull times of peace will not disdain 200:51,035[H ]| The meanest opportunity to serve your country. 200:51,036[C ]| You witty fools are apt to get your heads broke. 200:51,037[C ]| This is no season for buffooning, sirrah! 200:51,038[C ]| Though heretofore I tamely have endured 200:51,039[C ]| Before the emperor your ridiculous mirth 200:51,040[C ]| Think not you have a title to be saucy: 200:51,041[C ]| When monkeys grow mischievous they are whipped, 200:51,042[C ]| Chained up and whipped. There has been mischief done 200:51,043[C ]| And you I hear a wretched instrument. 200:51,044[C ]| Look to it when e'er I draw this sword to punish: 200:51,045[C ]| You and your grinning crew will tremble, slaves, 200:51,046[C ]| Nor shall the ruined world afford a corner 200:51,047[C ]| To shelter you nor that poor prince's bosom 200:51,048[C ]| You have envenomed and polluted so 200:51,049[C ]| As if the gods were willing it should be 200:51,050[C ]| A dungeon for such toads to crawl and croak in. 200:51,051[H ]| All this in earnest to your humblest creature? 200:51,052[H ]| Nay then my lord I must no more pretend 200:51,053[H ]| With my poor talent to divert your ears 200:51,054[H ]| Since my well-meaning mirth is grown offensive 200:51,055[H ]| Though heaven can tell 200:51,056[H ]| There's not so low an act of servile duty 200:51,057[H ]| I would not with more pride throw my self on 200:51,058[H ]| For great Aecius' sake than gain a province 200:51,059[H ]| Or share with Valentinian in his empire. 200:51,060[C ]| Thou art so fawning and so mean a villain 200:51,061[C ]| That I disdain to hate though I despise thee. 200:51,062[C ]| Whene'er thou art not fearful thou art saucy; 200:51,063[C ]| Be so again, my pardon gives thee leave 200:51,064[C ]| And to deserve it carry this my letter 200:51,065[C ]| To the emperor, tell him I'm gone for Egypt 200:51,066[C ]| And with me Maximus, 'twas scarce fit we two 200:51,067[C ]| Should take our leaves of him, pray use your interests, 200:51,068[C ]| He may forgive us. 'Twill concern you much 200:51,069[C ]| For when we're gone to be base vicious villains 200:51,070[C ]| We'll prove less dangerous. 200:51,000[' ]| 200:51,071[H ]| What the devil possesses 200:51,072[H ]| This rusty back and breast without a headpiece? 200:51,073[H ]| Villains and vicious? Maximus and Egypt? 200:51,074[H ]| This may be treason or I'll make it so. 200:51,075[H ]| The emperor's apt enough to fears and jealousies 200:51,076[H ]| Since his late rape, I must blow up the fire 200:51,077[H ]| And aggravate this doting hero's notions 200:51,078[H ]| Till they such terrors in the prince have bred 200:51,079[H ]| May cost the fool his worst part ~~ that's his head. 200:51,000[' ]|