Sy. But let my gold do more.
Zan. I am your creature.
Sy. Be yet;[343] ’tis no stain;
The god of service is however gain.
[Exit.
So. Zanthia, where are we now? speak worth my service;
Ha’ we done well?
Zan. Nay, in height of best
I fear’d a superstitious virtue would spoil all, 70
But now I find you above women rare.
She that can time her goodness hath true care
Of her best good. Nature at home begins;
She, whose integrity herself hurts, sins.
For Massinissa, he was good, and so;
But he is dead, or worse, distress’d, or more
Than dead, or much distress’d. O sad, poor,—
Who ever held such friends? no, let him go;
Such faith is praised, then laugh’d at; for still know
Those are the living women that reduce 80
All that they touch unto their ease and use,
Knowing that wedlock, virtue, or good names,
Are courses and varieties of reason,
To use or leave, as they advantage them,
And absolute within themselves reposed,
Only to greatness ope, to all else closed.
Weak sanguine fools are to their own good nice;
Before I held you virtuous, but now wise.
So. Zanthia, victorious Massinissa lives,
My Massinissa lives. O steady powers, 90
Keep him as safe as heaven keeps the earth,
Which looks upon it with a thousand eyes!
That honest valiant man! and Zanthia,
Do but record the justice of his love,
And my for ever vows, for ever vows!
Zan. Ay, true madam; nay, think of his great mind,
His most just heart, his all of excellence,
And such a virtue as the gods might envy.
Against this, Syphax, is but——and you know,
Fame lost, what can be got that’s good for——
So. Hence! 100
Take, nay, with one hand.