Cre. You killed him not! proclaim your innocence,
Accuse the princess: So I knew 'twould be.
Adr. I thank thee, thou instructest me:
No matter how I killed him.
Cre. [Aside.] Cooled again!
Eur. Thou, who usurp'st the sacred name of conscience,
Did not thy own declare him innocent?
171 To me declare him so? The king shall know it.
Cre. You will not be believed, for I'll forswear it.
Eur. What's now thy conscience?
Cre. 'Tis my slave, my drudge, my supple glove,
My upper garment, to put on, throw off,
As I think best: 'Tis my obedient conscience.
Adr. Infamous wretch!
Cre. My conscience shall not do me the ill office
To save a rival's life; when thou art dead,
(As dead thou shalt be, or be yet more base
Than thou think'st me,
By forfeiting her life, to save thy own,—)
Know this,—and let it grate thy very soul,—
She shall be mine: (she is, if vows were binding;)
Mark me, the fruit of all thy faith and passion,
Even of thy foolish death, shall all be mine.
Adr. Thine, say'st thou, monster! shall my love be thine?
O, I can bear no more!
Thy cunning engines have with labour raised
My heavy anger, like a mighty weight,
To fall and pash thee dead.
See here thy nuptials; see, thou rash Ixion,[Draws.
Thy promised Juno vanished in a cloud;
And in her room avenging thunder rolls,
To blast thee thus!—Come both!—[Both draw.