CLEORA. If a virgin, Whose speech was ever yet ushered with fear; One knowing modesty and humble silence To be the choicest ornaments of our sex In the presence of so many reverend men, Struck dumb with terror and astonishment, Presume to clothe her thought in vocal sounds, Let her find pardon. First to you, great sir, A bashful maid’s thanks, and her zealous prayers, Wing’d with pure innocence, bearing them to heaven, For all prosperity that the gods can give To one whose piety must exact their care, Thus low I offer. TIMOLEON. ’Tis a happy omen. Rise, blest one, and speak boldly. On my virtue I am thy warrant, from so clear a spring Sweet rivers ever flow. CLEORA. Then thus to you, My noble father, and these lords, to whom I next owe duty; no respect forgotten To you my brother, and these bold young men (Such I would have them) that are, or should be, The city’s sword and target of defence, To all of you I speak; and if a blush Steal on my cheeks, it is shown to reprove Your paleness, willingly I would not say, Your cowardice or fear; think you all treasure Hid in the bowels of the earth, or shipwreck’d In Neptune’s wat’ry kingdom, can hold weight, When liberty and honour fill one scale, Triumphant Justice sitting on the beam? Or dare you but imagine that your gold is Too dear a salary for such as hazard Their blood and lives in your defence? For me, An ignorant girl, bear witness! heaven, so far I prize a soldier, that to give him pay, With such devotion as our flamens offer Their sacrifices at the holy altar, I do lay down these jewels, will make sale Of my superfluous wardrobe, to supply The meanest of their wants.(127) This passage is printed in a broadside (headed “Countrymen”) relating to the expected invasion of England by Bonaparte, to be found at the British Museum. A short statement of the plot of _The Bondman_ is followed by a quotation of Act I., 3, 213-368, with one or two slight omissions. Possibly Gifford inspired its publication. Perhaps the most eloquent passage in Massinger is the speech of Paris, the Roman actor, before the Senate, in defence of his profession: ARETINUS. Are you on the stage, You talk so boldly?