_Speu._ Why, if breaks my cup, I think what now an it had been my vase From Phelas' shop? I break my vase, and straight I cry ho! ho! now had my house been burnt That were a woe! But burns my house indeed, I think of wife and child who perished not; When dies my wife or son, I thank the gods That Death crept all so near and touched not me. And when his certain hour to clutch me comes I'll think of famines, plagues, of earthquakes, floods, And nations swept away. And still I'll cure Such broad affliction with the thought of how The Universe itself is but a shell To crackle when it please the hand that made it. So, friends, I mend each woe with its own cloth Till all looks well again. _Tim._ Ay, but the patch Is greater than the garment. [_Enter Calippus, hurrying_] _Speu._ Ho, Calippus! _Cal._ Hail, friends! But stay me not. I run to join The general without the city gates. _Asc._ What? Dion? _Cal._ Ay! _Tim._ Without the gates? _Cal._ 'Tis so. Phillistus and the admiral have seized Excitement's topping hour to turn all hearts With fear's mad eloquence,--saying that Dion Comes to avenge his wrongs and set up rule More cruel than Dionysius dared. And so This gay and garlanded humanity Troop to these traitors, while lord Dion camps Without the city. _Speu._ Gods! Did he go mildly? By Erebus' black daughter, I'd have turned And beat them to subjection. Not a blow? _Cal._ He came to lift their yoke, not add another, And struck to heart with their ingratitude Gave them their choice, nor made warlike retort Beyond to warn them, with his finger lifted To yonder frowning castle, that the tyrant Was bayed, not conquered. _Tim._ Conquered? No! The city never knew a woe till now. _Speu._ Ay, Syracuse should with one general bray Cry ass to Heaven. O, mullets of Abdera, Would ye be kings, come reign in Sicily! _Asc._ Phillistus has no force to meet the foe Will belch from that black fort. _Speu._ Haste, friends, to Dion! _Cal._ You'll go? _Speu._ What else? There'll be some good play yet. Bray, Syracuse, thou populated ass! [_Exeunt. The sunlight fades into twilight, and the full moon rises, right, rear, where the Lesser Harbor widens to the sea. Theano comes out of Phillistus' house and places fresh verbenas on the entrance altar. An Amazon follows her_] _The._ Though gods forget me I'll remember them. [_Sees the Amazon_] Stand back! I'll not be dogged! [_The Amazon advances, folds her arms and takes station near Theano, who turns wearily from her and looks out upon the scene_]