fall.

_Theo._ Oh, long-dead mother,
Who now art with the saints, shut fast thy ears
Against thy daughter's shame! These are the things
That make it pain to live: all precious gifts,
Honour, observance, virtue, flung away
For one o'ermastering passion. Why are we
Above the brute so far, if we keep still
The weakness of the brute? Go from my sight,
Thou vile, degraded wretch. For him whose craft
And wickedness has wronged thee, this I swear--
I will kill him, if I can, or he shall me.
I will call on him to draw, and make my sword
Red with a villain's blood.

_Ire._ (_eagerly_). Nay, nay, my brother,
That would proclaim my shame; and shouldst thou slay him,
Thou wouldst break thy lady's heart.

_Theo._ Doth she so love him?

_Ire._ Ay, passionately, brother.

_Theo._ Oh, just Heaven!
And oh, confused world!
How are we fettered here! I may not kill
A villain who has done my sister wrong,
Since she I love has given her heart to him,
And hangs upon his life. I would not pain
My Gycia with the smallest, feeblest pang
That wrings a childish heart, for all the world.
How, then, to kill her love, though killing him
Would rid the world of a villain, and would leave
My lady free to love? 'Twere not love's part
To pain her thus, not for the wealth and power
Of all the world heaped up. I tell thee, sister,
Thy paramour is safe--I will not seek
To do him hurt; but thou shalt go to-night
To my Bithynian castle. Haply thence,
After long penances and recluse days,
Thou mayst return, and I may bear once more
To see my sister's face.

_Ire._ Farewell, my brother!
I do obey; I bide occasion, waiting
For what the years may bring.

_Theo._ Repent thy sin.

END OF ACT II.

ACT III.

SCENE I.--_Cherson, two years after. The palace of_ LAMACHUS.

ASANDER _and_ GYCIA.

_Gycia._ What day is this, Asander? Canst thou tell me?

_Asan._ Not I, my love. All days are now alike;
The weeks fleet by, the days equivalent gems
Strung on a golden thread.

_Gycia._ Thou careless darling!
I did not ask thee of the calendar.
Dost think a merchant's daughter knows not that?
Nay, nay; I only asked thee if thou knewest
If aught upon this day had ever brought
Some great change to thee