Cyp. This injury sads all my joys on earth.
Epire. Horns are not shunn'd by wisdom, wealth, or birth.
Cyp. Watch their close meetings, and then give us notice;
Mean space, my love shall in thy bosom rest.
My grief is like my birth, great—great and high.
Give close intelligence: till then farewell.
Lust is the broadest path which leads to hell.
[Exit Cyprus.
Ire. He's gone with black suspicion in his heart:
And his soul made a slave to jealousy,
My plots shall drive him to his own destruction;
And I gain both revenge and dignity.
He shall no sooner put his queen to death,
But I'll proclaim her spotless innocence;
All men will hate him for so vile an act,
And mad with rage depose him from his crown.
Then I will be his death: his state doth give:
Kings once depos'd long after must not live.
For, like a phœnix rare in jealousy,
He shall consume himself in scorching flames,
Whilst from his ashes I a phœnix spring.
Many renounce their God to be a king,
And I'll be one to kill men with a frown,
None dare dispute the actions of a crown. [Exit.
FOOTNOTES:
[180] [Edits., thee.]
[181] Alluding to the old law for pressing prisoners who refused to plead.
[182] i.e., Dove's down.—Steevens.