To-night a feast! I’ll shape me to the image That he must bear in heart, deeming it me! He sees me ever dancing, that is clear, E’en when I’m weeping and dissolved in anguish. Dance then I shall!--set on the cymbal’s clashing That at my sight he be not put to blush! 12. _Instead of this speech of_ SOEMUS _the MS. has_:-- Then stood I not before you. Then on me Had fallen his death-hand, as, when he returns, That death-hand will and must soon as it may. That lay and lies i’ the order. Even as I Was but his limb, I had alone ’twixt death And life the simple choice. My bow was forced And forced the hypocriting--have your word. Albeit my inmost soul before him froze. 13. _Insert:_-- SOEMUS. He hoodwinked me not for a moment’s space. And all the less for this, that Joseph’s death To me was less a riddle than to all Who saw him not upon his latest path. ’Twill shock you to recoil--but there was like Injunction laid on him, and he kept dumb Lest aught should slip his guard. Thus much at least I must believe, for in the very dying He swore he’d naught committed worthy death. MAR. I know it all--yes! SOEMUS. What? ALEX. And gave’t your pardon? SOEMUS. And, that despite, extolled him and defended? Then the mere harboured thought upon your hurt Was a more heinous thing than the wrought deed On any woman else! MAR. Come to my feast! _etc._ 14. _Insert:_-- TITUS. If so be your physician Gave him assurance that from Africa You brought a fever, then (so ran his words) He’d pardon your misthought, but else---- HEROD. So speaks he Knowing full well the aftermath, and fain To be her shield before my vengeance. That I understand. And what veneer, _etc._ _The original version ran thus:_-- TITUS. If so be your physician---- HEROD. What were his grounds? TITUS. The thing you hug so close. HEROD. And how was that? TITUS. He gave me half-light hints. “You laid on him an outrage passing nature In whose compare to set into a blaze The Temple even, were none.” HEROD. And, not content To leave it undischarged, whereby enough Were expiated the most ticklesome Of consciences to mollify, he went Flying to her with my command, and made His bid--no guess you know it-- TITUS. Naught! HEROD.