_Cas._ [_Rises._] Accursed be thou, grass-eating foddered god! Accursed thy temple! more accursed thy priests! The gods are theirs, not ours; and when we pray For happy omens, we their price must pay. In vain at shrines the ungiving suppliant stands; This 'tis to make a vow with empty hands: Fat offerings are the priesthood's only care; They take the money, and heaven hears the prayer. Without a bribe their oracles are mute; And their instructed gods refuse the suit. [_Exit_ CASSANDRA _in a fury, King and Attendants follow. Scene closes._ SCENE III.--_The Port of Alexandria._ _Enter_ CLEOMENES, _and_ CLEANTHES. _Cleom._ The propositions are unjust and hard; And if I swallow them, 'tis as we take The wrath of heaven. We must have patience, for they will be gods, And give us no account of what we suffer. _Clean._ My father much abhors this middle way, Betwixt a gift and sale of courtesy. But 'tis the mistress; she that seemed so kind, 'Tis she, that bears so hard a hand upon you; She that would half oblige, and half affront. _Cleom._ Let her be what she is: that's curse enough. But such a wife, a mother, and a son! Oh sure, ye gods! when ye made this vile Egypt, Ye little thought, they should be mortgaged here! My only comfort Is, that I trust these precious pawns with thee; For thou art so religiously a friend, That I would sooner leave them in thy hands, Than if I had security from heaven, And all the gods to answer for their safety. _Clean._ Yes, yes; they shall be safe; And thou shall have a pledge, As strong as friendship can make over to thee. Deny me not, for I must go with thee, And share what fate allots for thee in Greece. [CLEOMENES _looks discontentedly_. Nay, cast not on me that forbidding frown; But let me be their pawn, as they are thine: So I shall have thee wholly to myself, And be thy wife, thy mother, and thy son, As thou art all to me. _Cleom._ Oh friend! [_Sighs, and wipes his eyes._ _Clean._ What wouldst thou say, my better part? _Cleom._ No more, but this, that thou art too unkind, When even in kindness thou wouldst overcome.