She begs you wear these Trifles, as a pawn,
Which, at your wisht return, she will redeem.
This, to the great Ventidius she presents,
Whom she can never count her Enemy,
Because he loves her Lord.
Ven.Tell her I'll none on't;
I'm not asham'd of honest Poverty:
Not all the Diamonds of the East can bribe
Ventidius from his Faith. I hope to see
These, and the rest of all her sparkling store,
Where they shall more deservingly be plac'd.
Ant.And who must wear 'em then?
Ven.The wrong'd Octavia.
Ant.You might have spar'd that word.
Ven.And he that Bribe.
Ant.But have I no remembrance?
Alex.Yes, a dear one:
Your Slave, the Queen———
Ant.My Mistress.
Alex.Then your Mistress,
Your Mistress would, she says, have sent her Soul,
But that you had long since; she humbly begs
This Ruby Bracelet, set with bleeding hearts,
(The emblems of her own) may bind your Arme.
Ven.Now, my best Lord, in Honor's name, I ask you,
For Manhood's sake, and for your own dear safety,
Touch not these poyson'd gifts,
Infected by the sender, touch 'em not,
Miriads of blewest Plagues lye underneath 'em,
And more than Aconite has dipt the Silk.
Ant.Nay, now you grow too Cynical, Ventidius.
A Lady's Favours may be worn with honor.
What, to refuse her Bracelet! On my Soul,
When I lye pensive in my Tent alone,
'Twill pass the wakeful hours of Winter nights,
To tell these pretty Beads upon my arm,
