_Clean._ Yes, when I have a king and country, That can deserve my love. Egypt, as Egypt is, deserves it not: A people baser than the beasts they worship; Below their pot-herb gods, that grow in gardens: The king-- _Sosib._ Go to; young man, whate'er he be, I must not hear my master vilified. _Clean._ Why did you name him then? Were I at prayers. And even for you, whom as my soul I love, If Ptolemy should come across my thoughts, A curse would follow, where I meant a blessing. _Sosib._ 'Tis well, 'tis well I am so fond a father; Those words were death in any other mouth. I know too much of you; you love the Spartan Beyond your king and country. _Clean._ 'Tis a truth So noble, I would own it to the gods, And they be proud to hear it. _Sosib._ Confess, you love him better than your father. _Clean._ No; but I love him equal with my father. _Sosib._ Say better, and say true. If we were opposite, and one must fall, Whom wouldst thou save? _Clean._ Neither; for both would die, Before I could resolve. _Sosib._ If I command thee To break thy friendship with him, wouldst thou? _Clean._ No. _Sosib._ Why, then thou hast confessed, thou lovest him more. _Clean._ Not so: for, should he bid me disobey, Or not love you, thus would I answer him, As I have answered you. _Sosib._ Ungrateful boy! _Clean._ You bid me tell you true, and this is my reward. _Sosib._ Go from my sight! _Clean._ I will; but would not go Without your blessing. _Sosib._ O, so well I love thee, That I could curse thee for not loving me!-- Stay, I would send thee on a message to him, But that I fear thy faith. _Clean._ You wrong my piety. _Sosib._ It much concerns my interest, which is thine. Wouldst thou deliver what I have to say? Wouldst thou induce his reason to comply? _Clean._ Both; granting your proposals honourable: If not, employ some mercenary tongue,-- The court affords you store,--and spare my virtue. _Sosib._ I would have Cleomenes sent away With royal aid. _Clean._ You promised him he should. _Sosib._ And would have thee persuade him to this voyage. _Clean._ A welcome errand: Oh my dear, dear father! _Sosib._ But on my terms, mark that; my terms, Cleanthes. _Clean._ I feared the statesman in you. _Sosib._ I would have Egypt safe; that's all my interest: And therefore he must leave behind, for pawns, His mother, wife, and son. _Clean._ 'Tis clogging of a gift; 'tis base, mean counsel. I hope you gave it not. _Sosib._ No, 'twas Cassandra: But she would have that odium cast on me; I am her beast of burden, and must bear it. _Clean._ I never can bely so good a father; But this I'll do: The message shall be faithfully delivered, And all the strumpet stand exposed to shame.