Have all thy will of words; talk out thine heart.


ALTHAEA.

Refrain your lips, O brethren, and my son,
Lest words turn snakes and bite you uttering them.


TOXEUS.

Except she give her blood before the gods,
What profit shall a maid be among men?


PLEXIPPUS.

Let her come crowned and stretch her throat for a knife,
Bleat out her spirit and die, and so shall men
Through her too prosper and through prosperous gods;
But nowise through her living; shall she live
A flower-bud of the flower-bed, or sweet fruit
For kisses and the honey-making mouth,
And play the shield for strong men and the spear?
Then shall the heifer and her mate lock horns,
And the bride overbear the groom, and men
Gods, for no less division sunders these;
Since all things made are seasonable in time,
But if one alter unseasonable are all.