135 Dioc. We'll about it. [Exeunt Alc. Dioc. and Pyr.
Enter Eurydice.
Cre. Hail, royal maid! thou bright Eurydice,
A lavish planet reigned when thou wert born,
And made thee of such kindred mould to heaven,
Thou seem'st more heaven's than ours.
Eur. Cast round your eyes,
Where late the streets were so thick sown with men,
Like Cadmus' brood, they jostled for the passage;
Now look for those erected heads, and see them,
Like pebbles, paving all our public ways;
When you have thought on this, then answer me,—
If these be hours of courtship?
Cre. Yes, they are;
For when the gods destroy so fast, 'tis time
We should renew the race.
Eur. What, in the midst of horror?
Cre. Why not then?
There's the more need of comfort.
Eur. Impious Creon!
Cre. Unjust Eurydice! can you accuse me
Of love, which is heaven's precept, and not fear
That vengeance, which you say pursues our crimes,
Should reach your perjuries?
Eur. Still the old argument.
I bade you cast your eyes on other men,
Now cast them on yourself; think what you are.