Dioc. You rave; call home your thoughts.
Cre. I pr'ythee let my soul take air a while;
Were she in Œdipus, I were a king;
Then I had killed a monster, gained a battle,
And had my rival prisoner; brave, brave actions!
Why have not I done these?
Dioc. Your fortune hindered.
Cre. There's it; I have a soul to do them all:
But fortune will have nothing done that's great,
But by young handsome fools; body and brawn
Do all her work: Hercules was a fool,
And straight grew famous; a mad boist'rous fool,
Nay worse, a woman's fool;
Fool is the stuff, of which heaven makes a hero.
Dioc. A serpent ne'er becomes a flying dragon,
Till he has eat a serpent[7].
Cre. Goes it there?
I understand thee; I must kill Adrastus.
Dioc. Or not enjoy your mistress:
Eurydice and he are prisoners here,
But will not long be so: This tell-tale ghost
Perhaps will clear 'em both.
Cre. Well: 'tis resolved.
Dioc. The princess walks this way;
You must not meet her,
Till this be done.
Cre. I must.