Page 1301 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Affords them dust and shadow.

FIRST QUEEN
But our lords [145]
Lie blistering ’fore the visitating sun,
And were good kings when living.

THESEUS
It is true,

And I will give you comfort,
To give your dead lords graves; the which to do
Must make some work with Creon.

FIRST QUEEN
And that work [150]

Presents itself to th’doing.
Now ’twill take form; the heats are gone tomorrow.
Then, bootless toil must recompense itself
With its own sweat; now, he’s secure,
Not dreams we stand before your puissance, [155]

Rinsing our holy begging in our eyes
To make petition clear.

SECOND QUEEN
Now you may take him,
Drunk with his victory.

THIRD QUEEN

And his army full
Of bread and sloth.

THESEUS
Artesius, that best knowest
How to draw out fit to this enterprise [160]
The primest for this proceeding, and the number

To carry such a business, forth and levy
Our worthiest instruments, whilst we dispatch