Part 2 (1/2)

You are obey'd, my Lord.

Antinous:

_Decius_, fall off.

Decius:

I shall.

Ca.s.silanes:

Give leave _Arcanes_: Young man, come nearer to me: who am I?

Antinous:

It were a sin against the piety Of filial duty, if I should forget The debt I owe my Father on my knee: Your pleasure?

Ca.s.silanes:

What, so low? canst thou find joints, Yet be an Elephant? _Antinous_, rise; Thou wilt belye opinion, and rebate The ambition of thy gallantry, that they Whose confidence thou hast bewitch'd, should see Their little G.o.d of War, kneel to his Father, Though in my hand I did grasp Thunder.

Antinous:

Sir, For proof that I acknowledge you the Author Of giving me my Birth, I have discharg'd A part of my Obedience. But if now You should (as cruel fathers do) proclaim Your right, and Tyrant-like usurp the glory Of my peculiar honours, not deriv'd From successary, but purchas'd with my bloud, Then I must stand first Champion for my self Against all interposers.

Ca.s.silanes:

Boldly urg'd, And proudly, I could love thee, did not anger Consult with just disdain, in open language To call thee most ungrateful. Say freely, Wilt thou resign the flatteries whereon The reeling pillars of a popular breath Have rais'd thy Giant-like conceit, to add A suffrage to thy Fathers merit? speak.

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Antinous:

Sir, hear me: were there not a Chronicle Well pen'd by all their tongues, who can report What they have seen you do; or had you not Best in your own performance writ your self, And been your own text, I would undertake Alone, without the help of Art, or Character, But only to recount your deeds in Arms, And you should ever then be fam'd a President Of living victory: But as you are Great, and well worthy to be stiled Great, It would betray a poverty of Spirit In me to obstruct my fortunes, or descent, If I should coward-like surrender up The interest which the inheritance of your vertue And mine own thrifty fate can claim in honour: My Lord, of all the ma.s.s of Fame, which any That wears a Sword, and hath but seen me fight, Gives me, I will not share, nor yield one jot, One t.i.ttle.

Ca.s.silanes:

Not to me?

Antinous:

You are my Father, Yet not to you.

Ca.s.silanes:

Ambitious Boy, how dar'st thou To tell me, that thou wilt contend?

Antinous:

Had I Been slothful, and not follow'd you in all The streights of death, you might have justly then Reputed me a b.a.s.t.a.r.d: 'tis a cruelty More than to murther Innocents, to take The life of my yet infant-honour from me.

Ca.s.silanes: