I came to soothe thee,
not to raise thy passions. I did not say Jabaster willed thy death,
though Asriel says so; 'tis me he wars against; and if indeed Jabaster
be a man so near thy heart, if he indeed be one so necessary to thy
prosperity, and cannot live in decent order with thy slave that's here,
I know my duty, Sir. I would not have thy fortunes farred to save my
single heart, although I think 'twill break. I will go, I will die,
and deem the hardest accident of life but sheer prosperity if it profit
thee.'
'O Schirene! what wouldst thou? This, this is torture.'
'To see thee safe and happy; nothing more.'
'I am both, if thou art.'
'Care not for me, I am nothing.'
'Thou art all to me.'
'Calm thyself, my soul. It grieves me much that when I came to soothe I
have only galled thee. All's well, all's well. Say that Jabaster lives.
What then? He lives, and may he prove more duteous than before; that's
all.'
'He lives, he is my prisoner, he awaits his doom. It must be given.'
'Yes, yes!'
'Shall we pardon?'
'My lord will do that which it pleases him.'
'Nay, nay, Schirene, I pray thee be more kind. I am most wretched.
Speak, what wouldst thou?'
'If I must speak, I say at once, his life.
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