Pim. The same—But, Colonel, is he indeed so very terrible a thing as Fame gives out?—But she was ever a notable Wag at History.
Val. How dare thy Coward-thoughts venture upon any thing so terrible as the remembrance of that Gallant Man? Is not his Name like Thunder to thy Ears? Does it not make thee shrink into thy self?
Pim. Lord, Colonel, why so hot? ‘Tis the cursed’st thing in the World to be thus continually us’d to fighting; why, how uncivil it renders a Man! I spake by way of Question.
Val. Oh! how soft and wanton I could grow in the Description I could make of him—He merits all in Peace as well as War; Compos’d of Charms would take all Womankind, As those of’s Valour overcome the Men.
Pim. Well said, i’faith, Colonel; but if he be so fine a Man, why did you not keep him here amongst you to do Execution on the Scythians? for I think e’er long you’ll give ‘em Battel.
Val. The General, whose noble Life he sav’d,
Us’d all his Interest with him, but in vain:
He neither could oblige his stay i’th’ Camp,
Nor get him to the Court. Oh! were his Quality
But like his Actions great, he were a Man
To merit Cleomena,
Whose Worth and Beauty, as a thing Divine,
I reverence.
But I abhor the feeble Reign of Women;
It foretels the Downfal of the noblest Trade, War.
Give me a Man to lead me on to Dangers,
Such as Clemanthis is, or as Orsames might have been.
Pim. Colonel, ‘tis Treason but to name Orsames, and much more to wish he were as King.
Val. Not wish he were! by all those Gods I will, Who did conspire against him in their Oracles. Not wish him King! yes, and may live to see it.
Pim. What should we do with such a King? The Gods foretel he shall be fierce and bloody, a Ravisher, a Tyrant o’er his People; his Reign but short, and so unfit for Reign.
Val. The Gods! I’ll not trust ‘em for a Day’s Pay—let them but give one a taste of his Reign, tho but an hour, and I’ll be converted to them.