Philon. Ay, a word, This morning, sir,
I blessed the couple here, knowing them free
Of kindred blood,—Alcanor and his Phania.
The strands are doubly woven that now bind
Sparta and Athens. Pyrrha and Biades
Were first to link them one, and now this pair
Unites them o'er.
Amen. You hear, my Spartan friends.
What say you? Is it peace?
Spartans. Peace be to Athens!
Amen. And peace to Sparta! Hearts and altars guard it!
Go, citizens! See that the chariots
Glow with new garlands for this double bridal.
And let the noble wives of these proud lords
Co-queen festivity. All shall rejoice
Save this convicted pair,—you, Pelagon,
And Stesilaus. You we prison here,
Your own sole company, nor shall you speak
Save in a rhyme now dim with little use,
But shall be better known from this day forth
With polish you shall give it. Hear it, sirs:
The man who would his own pie bake
Must from his wife ten fingers take.
[Curtain falls and rises. Pelagon and Stesilaus are discovered, their backs to each other, the only occupants of the garden. Through the breach in the wall the festal procession is seen passing. Curtain]