[244] There is an Attic flavour in this passage of _stichomythia_. For a passing moment one is reminded of Creon's altercation with his son (in the _Antigone_):-- Kr. ô pankakiste, dia dikês iôn patri. Hai. ou gar dikaia s' examartanonth horô. Kr. hamartanô gar tas emas archas sebôn? Hai. ou gar sebeis, timas ge tas theôn patôn. [245] Marston uses indifferently the forms _chawn_ and _jawn_ for a rift or chasm. [246] "Corbèd" (old eds. "corb'd") is "good," as Polonius would say; but I have no suspicion as to its meaning. It would be a pity to suggest an emendation. [247] Seneca is fond of harping on this theme. "In ultimas expellaris terras licebit," he writes in one of his epistles, "in quolibet barbariæ angulo colloceris, hospitalis tibi illa qualiscumque sedes erit; magis quis veneris quam quo, interest, et ideo nulli loco addicere debemus arbitrium. Cum hac persuasione vivendum est: 'Non sum uni angulo natus, patria mea totus hic mundus est.'" SCENE II. _Before the palace of_ PIERO. _Enter_ ANTONIO, _in black, with a book_; LUCIO _and_ ALBERTO. _Alb._ Nay, sweet, be comforted, take counsel and----. _Ant._ Alberto, peace: that grief is wanton-sick, Whose stomach can digest and brook the diet Of stale ill-relish'd counsel. Pigmy cares Can shelter under patience' shield; but giant griefs Will burst all covert. _Lu._ My lord, 'tis supper time. _Ant._ Drink deep, Alberto; eat, good Lucio; But my pined heart shall eat on nought but woe. _Alb._ My lord, we dare not leave you thus alone. _Ant._ You cannot leave Antonio alone. 10 The chamber of my breast is even throng'd With firm attendance that forswears to flinch. I have a thing sits here; it is not grief, 'Tis not despair, nor the [ut]most plague That the most wretched are infected with; But the most griefful,[248] [most] despairing, wretched, Accursèd, miserable--O, for heaven's sake Forsake me now; you see how light I am, And yet you force me to defame my patience. _Lu._ Fair gentle prince----. 20 _Ant._ Away, thy voice is hateful: thou dost buzz, And beat my ears with intimations That Mellida, that Mellida is light, And stainèd with adulterous luxury! I cannot brook't. I tell thee, Lucio, Sooner will I give faith that Virtue's cant[249] In princes' courts will be adorn'd with wreath Of choice respect, and endear'd intimate; Sooner will I believe that friendship's rein Will curb ambition from utility, 30 Than Mellida is light. Alas, poor soul, Didst e'er see her?--good heart!--hast heard her speak? Kind, kind soul! Incredulity itself Would not be so brass-hearted, as suspect So modest cheeks. _Lu._ My lord----.