John Ford. The Broken Heart.
Org. 'T is not that, sir.

Crot. Not that, sir! As a father, I command

thee 15

To acquaint me with the truth.

Org. Thus I obey ye.

After so many quarrels as dissension,

Fury, and rage had broacht in blood, and some-

times

With death to such confederates as sided

With now-dead Thrasus and yourself, my lord;

Our present king, Amyclas, reconcil'd 21

Your eager swords and seal'd a gentle peace:

Friends you profest yourselves; which to con-

firm,

A resolution for a lasting league

Betwixt your families was entertain'd, 25

By joining in a Hymenean bond

Me and the fair Penthea, only daughter

To Thrasus.

Crot. What of this?

Org. Much, much, dear sir.

A freedom of converse, an interchange

Of holy and chaste love, so fixt our souls 30

In a firm growth of union, that no time

Can eat into the pledge: we had enjoy'd

The sweets our vows expected, had not cruelty

Prevented all those triumphs we prepar'd for,

By Thrasus his untimely death.

Crot. Most certain. 35

Org. From this time sprouted up that poison-

ous stalk

Of aconite, whose ripened fruit hath ravisht

All health, all comfort of a happy life;

For Ithocles, her brother, proud of youth,

And prouder in his power, nourisht closely 40

The memory of former discontents,

To glory in revenge. By cunning partly,

Partly by threats, 'a woos at once and forces

His virtuous sister to admit a marriage

With Bassanes, a nobleman, in honour 45

And riches, I confess, beyond my fortunes.

Crot. All this is no sound reason to impor-

tune

My leave for thy departure.

Org. Now it follows.

Beauteous Penthea, wedded to this torture

By an insulting brother, being secretly 50

Compell'd to yield her virgin freedom up

To him who never can usurp her heart,

Before contracted mine, is now so yok'd

To a most barbarous thraldrom, misery,

Affliction, that he savours not humanity, 55

Whose sorrow melts not into more than pity

In hearing but her name.

Crot. As how, pray?

Org. Bassanes,

The man that calls her wife, considers truly

What heaven of perfections he is lord of

By thinking fair Penthea his: this thought 60

Begets a kind of monster-love, which love

Is nurse unto a fear so strong and servile

As brands all dotage with a jealousy:

All eyes who gaze upon that shrine of beauty

He doth resolve 1 do homage to the miracle; 65

Some one, he is assur'd, may now or then,

If opportunity but sort, 2 prevail.

So much, out of a self-unworthiness,

His fears transport him; not that he finds

cause

In her obedience, but his own distrust. 70

Crot. You spin out your discourse.

Org. My griefs are violent:

For knowing how the maid was heretofore

Courted by me, his jealousies grow wild

That I should steal again into her favours,

And undermine her virtues; which the gods 75

Know I nor dare nor dream of. Hence, from

hence

I undertake a voluntary exile;

First, by my absence to take off the cares

Of jealous Bassanes; but chiefly, sir,

To free Penthea from a hell on earth; 80

Lastly, to lose the memory of something

Her presence makes to live in me afresh.

Crot. Enough, my Orgilus, enough. To Ath-

ens,

I give a full consent. — Alas, good lady! —

We shall hear from thee often?

Org. Often.

Crot. See, 85

Thy sister comes to give a farewell.

Enter EUPHRANEA.

Euph. Brother!

Org. Euphranea, thus upon thy cheeks I

print

A brother's kiss; more careful of thine honour,

Thy health, and thy well-doing, than my life.

Before we part, in presence of our father, 90

I must prefer a suit t' ye.

Euph. You may style it,

My brother, a command.

Org. That you will promise

To pass never to any man, however

Worthy, your faith, till, with our father's

leave,

I give a free consent.

Crot. An easy motion! 95

I'll promise for her, Orgilus.

Org. Your pardon;

Euphranea's oath must yield me satisfaction.

Euph. By Vesta's sacred fires I swear.

Crot. And I,

By Great Apollo's beams, join in the vow,

Not without thy allowance to bestow her 100

On any living.

Org. Dear Euphranea,

Mistake me not: far, far 't is from my thought,

As far from any wish of mine, to hinder

Preferment to an honourable bed

Or fitting fortune; thou art young and hand-

some; 105

And 't were injustice, — more, a tyranny, —

Not to advance thy merit. Trust me, sister,

It shall be my first care to see thee match'd

As may become thy choice and our contents. 109

I have your oath.

Euph. You have. But mean you, brother,

To leave us, as you say?

Crot. Ay, ay, Euphranea;

____________________

1 Decide 2 Agree.

771

He has just grounds direct him. I will prove

A father and a brother to thee.

Euph. Heaven

Does look into the secrets of all hearts:

Gods, you have mercy with ye, else —

Crot. Doubt nothing; 115

Thy brother will return in safety to us.

Org. Souls sunk in sorrows never are without

'em.

They change fresh airs, but bear their griefs

about 'em. Exeunt omnes.

SCENE II. 1

Flourish. Enter AMYCLAS the King, ARMOS-

TES, PROPHILUS, [Courtiers,] and Attendants.

Amy. The Spartan gods are gracious; our

humility

Shall bend before their altars, and perfume

Their temples with abundant sacrifice.

See, lords, Amyclas, your old king, is ent'ring

Into his youth again! I shall shake off 5

This silver badge of age, and change this snow

For hairs as gay as are Apollo's locks;

Our heart leaps in new vigour.

Arm. May old time

Run back to double your long life, great sir!

Amy. It will, it must, Armostes: thy bold

nephew, 10

Death-braving Ithocles, brings to our gates

Triumphs and peace upon his conquering

sword.

Laconia is a monarchy at length;

Hath in this latter war trod under foot

Messene's pride; Messene bows her neck 15

To Lacedaemon's royalty. O, 't was

A glorious victory, and doth deserve

More than a chronicle — a temple, lords,

A temple to the name of Ithocles. —

Where didst thou leave him, Prophilus?

Pro. At Pephon, 20

Most gracious sovereign; twenty of the noblest

Of the Messenians there attend your pleasure,

For such conditions as you shall propose

In settling peace, and liberty of life.

Amy. When comes your friend, the general?

Pro. He promis'd 25

To follow with all speed convenient.

Enter CALANTHA, EUPHRANEA; CHRISTALLA

and PHILEMA [with a garland;] and CROTO-

LON.

Amy. Our daughter! — Dear Calantha, the

happy news,

The conquest of Messene, hath already

Enrich'd thy knowledge.

Cal. With the circumstance

And manner of the fight, related faithfully 30

By Prophilus himself: — But, pray, sir, tell me

How doth the youthful general demean

His actions in these fortunes?

Pro. Excellent princess,

Your own fair eyes may soon report a truth

Unto your judgment, with what moderation, 35

Calmness of nature, measure, bounds, and limits

Of thankfulness and joy, 'a doth digest

Such amplitude of his success as would

In others, moulded of a spirit less clear,

Advance 'em to comparison with heaven: 40

But Ithocles —

Cal. Your friend —

Pro. He is so, madam,

In which the period of my fate consists:

He, in this firmament of honour, stands

Like a star fixt, not mov'd with any thunder

Of popular applause or sudden lightning 45

Of self-opinion; he hath serv'd his country,

And thinks 't was but his duty.

Crot. You describe

A miracle of man.

Amy. Such, Crotolon,

On forfeit of a king's word, thou wilt find

him. — Flourish. 49

Hark, warning of his coming! All attend him.

Enter ITHOCLES, HEMOPHIL, and GRONEAS;

the rest of the Lords ushering him in.

Return into these arms, thy home, thy sanctuary,

Delight of Sparta, treasure of my bosom,

Mine own, own Ithocles!

Ith. Your humblest subject.

Arm. Proud of the blood I claim an interest

in.

As brother to thy mother, I embrace thee, 55

Right noble nephew.

Ith. Sir, your love's too partial.

Crot. Our country speaks by me, who by thy

valour,

Wisdom, and service, shares in this great ac-

tion;

Returning thee, in part of thy due merits,

A general welcome.

Ith. You exceed in bounty. 60

Cal. Christalla, Philema, the chaplet. [Takes

the chaplet from them.] — Ithocles,

Upon the wings of Fame the singular

And chosen fortune of an high attempt

Is borne so past the view of common sight,

That I myself with mine own hands have

wrought, 65

To crown thy temples, this provincial garland: 2

Accept, wear, and enjoy it as our gift

Deserv'd, not purchas'd.

Ith. Y' are a royal maid.

Amy. She is in all our daughter.

Ith. Let me blush,

Acknowledging how poorly I have serv'd, 70

What nothings I have done, compar'd with th'

honours

Heap'd on the issue of a willing mind;

In that lay mine ability, that only:

For who is he so sluggish from his birth,

So little worthy of a name or country, 75

That owes not out of gratitude for life

A debt of service, in what kind soever

Safety or counsel of the commonwealth

Requires, for payment? ____________________

1 A room in the palace. 2 The laurel wreath . . . conferred on those who

added a province to the empire. (Gifford.)

772

Cal. 'A speaks truth.

Ith. Whom heaven

Is pleas'd to style victorious, there to such 80

Applause runs madding, like the drunken

priests

In Bacchus' sacrifices, without reason,

Voicing the leader-on a demi-god;

Whenas, indeed, each common soldier's blood

Drops down as current coin in that hard pur-

chase 85

As his whose much more delicate condition

Hath suckt the milk of ease: judgment; com-

mands,

But resolution executes. I use not,

Before this royal presence, these fit slights 1

As in contempt of such as can direct; 90

My speech hath other end; not to attribute

All praise to one man's fortune, which is

strengthen'd

By many hands. For instance, here is Prophilus,

A gentleman — I cannot flatter truth —

Of much desert; and, though in other rank, 95

Both Hemophil and Groneas were not missing

To wish their country's peace; for, in a word,

All there did strive their best, and 't was our

duty.

Amy. Courtiers turn soldiers! — We vouch-

safe our hand.

[HEMOPHIL and GRONEAS kiss his

hand.]

Observe your great example.

Hem. With all diligence. 100

Gron. Obsequiously and hourly.

Amy. Some repose

After these toils is 2 needful. We must think

on

Conditions for the conquered; they expect 3

'em.

On! — Come, my Ithocles.

Euph. Sir, with your favour,

I need not a supporter.

Pro. Fate instructs me. 105

Exeunt. HEMOPHIL stays CHRIS-

TALLA; GRONEAS, PHILEMA.

Chris. With me?

Phil. Indeed, I dare not stay.

Hem. Sweet lady.

Soldiers are blunt, — your lip.

Chris. Fie, this is rudeness:

You went not hence such creatures.

Gro. Spirit of valour

Is of a mounting nature.

Phil. It appears so. —

Pray, in earnest, how many men apiece 110

Have you two been the death of?

Gro. 'Faith, not many;

We were compos'd of mercy.

Hem. For our daring,

You heard the general's approbation

Before the king.

Chris. You "wish'd your country's peace;"

That show'd your charity: where are your

spoils, 115

Such as the soldier fights for?

Phil. They are coming.

Chris. By the next carrier, are they not?

Gro. Sweet Philema,

When I was in the thickest of mine enemies,

Slashing off one man's head, another's nose,

Another's arms and legs, —

Phil. And all together. 120

Gro. Then would I with a sigh remember

thee,

And cry "Dear Philema, 't is for thy sake

I do these deeds of wonder!" — Dost not love

me

With all thy heart now?

Phil. Now as heretofore.

I have not put my love to use; the principal 125

Will hardly yield an interest.

Gro. By Mars,

I'll marry thee!

Phil. By Vulcan, you 're forsworn,

Except my mind do alter strangely.

Gro. One word.

Chris. You lie beyond all modesty: — for-

bear me. 129

Hem. I'll make thee mistress of a city; 't is

Mine own by conquest.

Chris. By petition; sue for 't

In forma pauperis. — City! kennel. — Gallants,

Off with your feathers, put on aprons, gallants;

Learn to reel, thrum, 4 or trim a lady's dog, 134

And be good quiet souls of peace, hobgoblins!

Hem. Christalla!

Chris. Practise to drill hogs, in hope

To share in the acorns. — Soldiers! corncutters,

But not so valiant; they ofttimes draw blood,

Which you durst never do. When you have

practis'd

More wit or more civility, we'll rank ye 140

I' th' list of men: till then, brave things-at-

arms,

Dare not to speak to us, — most potent Gro-

neas! —

Phil. And Hemophil the hardy! — at your

services.

Exeunt CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA.

Gro. They scorn us as they did before we

went.

Hem. Hang 'em! let us scorn them, and be

reveng'd. 145

Gro. Shall we?

Hem. We will: and when we slight them thus,

Instead of following them, they'll follow us;

It is a woman's nature,

Gro. 'T is a scurvy one. Exeunt.

SCENE III. 5

Enter TECNICUS, a philosopher, and ORGILUS

disguised like a Scholar of his.

Tec. Tempt not the stars; young man, thou

canst not play

With the severity of fate: this change

Of habit and disguise in outward view

Hides not the secrets of thy soul within thee

From their quick-piercing eyes, which dive at

all times 5

____________________

1 Appropriately belittling terms. 2 Q. are. 3 Await. 4 Weave. 5 The gardens of the palace. A grove.

773

Down to thy thoughts: in thy aspect I note

A consequence of danger.

Org. Give me leave,

Grave Tecnicus, without foredooming destiny,

Under thy roof to ease my silent griefs,

By applying to my hidden wounds the balm 10

Of thy oraculous lectures. If my fortune

Run such a crooked by-way as to wrest

My steps to ruin, yet thy learned precepts

Shall call me back and set my footings straight.

I will not court the world.

Tec. Ah, Orgilus, 15

Neglects in young men of delights and life

Run often to extremities; they care not

For harms to others who contemn their own.

Org. But I, most learned artist, am not so

much

At odds with nature that I grudge the thrift 20

Of any true deserver; nor doth malice

Of present hopes so check them with despair

As that I yield to thought of more affliction

Than what is incident to frailty: wherefore

Impute not this retired course of living 25

Some little time to any other cause

Than what I justly render, — the information

Of an unsettled mind; as the effect

Must clearly witness.

Tec. Spirit of truth inspire thee!

On these conditions I conceal thy change, 30

And willingly admit thee for an auditor. —

I'll to my study.

Org. I to contemplations

In these delightful walks. Exit TECNICUS.

Thus metamorphos'd

I may without suspicion hearken after

Penthea's usage and Euphranea's faith. 35

Love, thou art full of mystery! The deities

Themselves are not secure 1 in searching out

The secrets of those flames, which, hidden,

waste

A breast made tributary to the laws

Of beauty: physic yet hath never found 40

A remedy to cure a lover's wound. —

Ha! who are those that cross yon private walk

Into the shadowing grove in amorous foldings?

PROPHILUS passeth over, supporting 2 EUPHRA-

NEA, and whispering.

My sister! O, my sister! 't is Euphranea

With Prophilus: supported too! I Would 45

It were an apparition! Prophilus

Is Ithocles his friend: it strangely puzzles me.

Again! help me, my book; this scholar's habit

Must stand my privilege: my mind is busy,

Mine eyes and ears are open.

Walks by, reading.

Re-enter PROPHILUS and EUPHRANEA.

Pro. Do not waste 50

The span of this stol'n time, lent by the gods

For precious use, in niceness. 3 Bright Eu-

phranea,

Should I repeat old vows, or study new,

For purchase of belief to my desires, —

Org. [Aside.] Desires!

Pro. My service, my integrity, — 55

Org. [Aside.] That's better.

Pro. I should but repeat a lesson

Oft conn'd without a prompter but thine eyes.

My love is honourable.

Ory. [Aside] So was mine

To my Penthea, chastely honourable.

Pro. Nor wants there more addition to my

wish 60

Of happiness than having thee a wife;

Already sure of Ithocles, a friend

Firm and unalterable.

Org. [Aside.] But a brother

More cruel than the grave.

Euph. What Can you look for,

In answer to your noble protestations, 65

From an unskilful maid, but language suited

To a divided mind?

Org. [Aside.] Hold out, Euphranea!

Euph. Know, Prophilus, I never undervalu'd,

From the first time you mentioned worthy love,

Your merit, means, or person: it had been 70

A fault of judgment in me, and a dulness

In my affections, not to weigh and thank

My better stars that offered me the grace

Of so much blissfulness. For, to speak truth,

The law of my desires kept equal pace 75

With yours; nor have I left that resolution:

But only, in a word, whatever choice

Lives nearest in my heart must first procure

Consent both from my father and my brother,

Ere he can own me his.

Org. [Aside.] She is forsworn else. 80

Pro. Leave me that task.

Euph. My brother, ere he parted

To Athens, had my oath.

Org. [Aside.] Yes, yes, 'a had, sure.

Pro. I doubt not, with the means the court

supplies,

But to prevail at pleasure.

Org. [Aside.] Very likely!

Pro. Meantime, best, dearest, I may build

my hopes 85

On the foundation of thy constant suff'rance

In any opposition.

Euph. Death shall sooner

Divorce life and the joys I have in living

Than my chaste vows from truth.

Pro. On thy fair hand

I seal the like. 90

Org. [Aside.] There is no faith in woman.

Passion, O, be contain'd! My very heart-strings

Are on the tenters.4

Euph. Sir, we are overheard.

Cupid protect us! 'T was a stirring, sir,

Of some one near.

Pro. Your fears are needless, lady; 95

None have access into these private pleasures

Except some near in court, or bosom-student

From Tecnicus his oratory, granted

By special favour lately from the king

Unto the grave philosopher.

Euph. Methinks 100

I hear one talking to himself, — I see him. ____________________

1 Certain. 2 With his arm round her waist. (Dyce.) 3 Coyness; over-particular scruples. 4 Hooks for stretching cloth; on the rack.

774

Pro. 'T is a poor scholar, as I told you, lady.

Org. [Aside.] I am discovered. — [Half aloud

to himself, as if studying.] Say it; is it

possible,

With a smooth tongue, a leering countenance,

Flattery, or force of reason — I come t' ye,

sir — 105

To turn or to appease the raging sea?

Answer to that. — Your art! what art to catch

And hold fast in a net the sun's small atoms?

No, no; they'll out, they'll out: ye may as

easily

Outrun a cloud driven by a northern blast 110

As fiddle-faddle so! Peace, or speak sense,

Euph. Call you this thing a scholar? 'Las,

he's lunatic.

Pro. Observe him, sweet; 't is but his recrea-

tion.

Org. But will you hear a little? You're so

tetchy,

You keep no rule in argument. Philosophy 115

Works not upon impossibilities,

But natural conclusions. — Mew! — absurd!

The metaphysics are but speculations

Of the celestial bodies, or such accidents

As not mixt perfectly, in the air engend'red 120

Appear to us unnatural; that's all.

Prove it; yet, with a reverence to your gravity,

I'll balk illiterate sauciness, submitting

My sole opinion to the touch of writers.

Pro. Now let us fall in with him.

[They come forward.]

Org. Ha, ha, ha! 125

These apish boys, when they but taste the

grammates 1

And principles of theory, imagine

They can oppose their teachers. Confidence

Leads many into errors.

Pro. By your leave, sir.

Euph. Are you a scholar, friend?

Org. I am, gay creature, 130

With pardon of your deities, a mushroom

On whom the dew of heaven drops now and

then;

The sun shines on me too, I thank his beams!

Sometime I feel their warmth; and eat and

sleep.

Pro. Does Tecnicus read to thee?

Org. Yes, forsooth. 135

He is my master surely; yonder door

Opens upon his study.

Pro. Happy creatures!

Such people toil not, sweet, in heats of state,

Nor sink in thaws of greatness; their affections

Keep order with the limits of their modesty; 140

Their love is love of virtue. — What's thy

name?

Org. Aplotes, sumptuous master, a poor

wretch.

Euph. Dost thou want anything?

Org. Books, Venus, books.

Pro. Lady, a new conceit; comes in my

thought,

And most available for both our comforts. 145

Euph. My lord, —

Pro. Whiles I endeavour to deserve

Your father's blessing to our loves, this

scholar

May daily at some certain hours attend 2

What notice I can write of my success, 149

Here in this grove, and give it to your hands

The like from you to me: so can we never

Barr'd of our mutual speech, want sure intelli-

gence,

And thus our hearts may talk when our tongues

cannot.

Euph. Occasion is most favourable; use it.

Pro. Aplotes, wilt thou wait us twice a day,

At nine i' the morning and at four at night, 156

Here in this bower, to convey such letters

As each shall send to other? Do it willingly,

Safely, and secretly, and I will furnish

Thy study, or what else thou canst desire. 160

Org. Jove, make me thankful, thankful, I

beseech thee

Propitious Jove! I will prove sure and trusty.

You will not fail me books?

Pro. Nor aught besides

Thy heart can wish. This lady's name's Eu-

phranea,

Mine Prophilus.

Org. I have a pretty memory; 165

It must prove my best friend. I will not miss

One minute of the hours appointed.

Pro. Write

The books thou wouldst have bought thee in a

note,

Or take thyself some money.

Org. No, no money;

Money to scholars is a spirit invisible, 170

We dare not finger it: or books, or nothing.

Pro. Books of what sort thou wilt: do not

forget

Our names.

Org. I warrant ye, I warrant ye.

Pro. Smile, Hymen, on the growth of our

desires;

We'll feed thy torches with eternal fires! 175

Exeunt PROPHILUS and EUPHRANEA.

Org. Put out thy torches, Hymen, or their

light

Shall meet a darkness of eternal night!

Inspire me, Mercury, with swift deceits.

Ingenious Fate has leapt into mine arms,

Beyond the compass of my brain. 3 Mortality 180

Creeps on the dung of earth, and cannot reach

The riddles which are purpos'd by the gods.

Great arts best write themselves in their own

stories;

They die too basely who outlive their glories.

Exit.

ACT II

SCENE I. 4

Enter BASSANES and PHULAS.

Bass. I'll have that window next the street

damm'd up;

____________________

1 Rudiments. 2 Wait for. 3 Beyond what I could have planned. 4 A room in Bassanes' house.

775

Grau. Now 't is well said, my lord. — What,

lady! laugh,

Be merry; time is precious.

Bass. [Aside.] Furies whip thee! 90

Pen. Alas, my lord, this language to your

hand-maid

Sounds as would music to the deaf; I need

No braveries nor cost of art to draw

The whiteness of my name into offence:

Let such, if any such there are, who covet 95

A curiosity of admiration,

By laying-out their plenty to full view,

Appear in gaudy outsides; my attires

Shall suit the inward fashion of my mind;

From which, if your opinion, nobly plac'd, 100

Change not the livery your words bestow,

My fortunes with my hopes are at the highest.

Bass. This house, methinks, stands some-

what too much inward,

It is too melancholy; we'll remove 104

Nearer the court: or what thinks my Penthea

Of the delightful island we command?

Rule me as thou canst wish.

Pen. I am no mistress.

Whither you please, I must attend; all ways

Are alike pleasant to me.

Grau. Island; prison!

A prison is as gaysome: we'll no islands; 110

Marry, out upon 'em! Whom shall we see

there?

Sea-gulls, and porpoises, and water-rats,

And crabs, and mews, and dog-fish; goodly

gear

For a young lady's dealing, — or an old one's!

On no terms islands; I'll be stew'd first.

Bass. [Aside to GRAUSIS.] Grausis, 115

You are a juggling bawd. — This sadness,

sweetest,

Becomes not youthful blood. — [Aside to GRAU-

SIS.] I'll have you pounded. —

For my sake put on a more cheerful mirth;

Thou 'lt mar thy cheeks, and make me old in

griefs. —

[Aside to GRAUSIS.] Damnable bitch-fox!

Grau. I am thick of hearing, 120

Still, when the wind blows southerly. — What

think ye,

If your fresh lady breed young bones, my

lord?

Would not a chopping boy d'ye good at heart?

But, as you said —

Bass. [Aside to GRAUSIS.] I'll spit thee on a

stake,

Or chop thee into collops!

Grau. Pray, speak louder. 125

Sure, sure the wind blows south still.

Pen. Thou prat'st madly.

Bass. 'T is very hot; I sweat extremely.

Re-enter PHULAS.

Now?

Phu. A herd of lords, sir.

Bass. Ha!

Phu. A flock of ladies.

Bass. Where?

Phu. Shoals of horses.

Bass. Peasant, how?

Phu. Caroches 1

In drifts; th' one enter, th' other stand with-

out, sir: 130

And now I vanish. Exit.

Enter PROPHILUS, HEMOPHIL, GRONEAS,

CHRISTALLA, and PHILEMA.

Pro. Noble Bassanes!

Bass. Most welcome, Prophilus; ladies, gen-

tlemen,

To all my heart is open; you all honour me, —

[Aside.] A tympany 2 swells in my head al-

ready, —

Honour me bountifully. — [Aside.] How they

flutter, 135

Wagtails and jays together!

Pro. From your brother

By virtue of your love to him, I require

Your instant presence, fairest.

Pen. He is well, sir?

Pro. The gods preserve him ever! Yet, dear

beauty,

I find some alteration in him lately, 140

Since his return to Sparta. — My good lord,

I pray, use no delay.

Bass. We had not needed

An invitation, if his sister's health

Had not fallen into question. — Haste, Penthea,

Slack not a minute. — Lead the way, good

Prophilus; 145

I'll follow step by step.

Pro. Your arm, fair madam.

Exeunt all but BASSANES and GRAUSIS.

Bass. One word with your old bawdship: th'

hadst been better

Rail'd at the sins 3 thou worshipp'st than have

thwarted

My will: I'll use thee cursedly.

Grau. You dote,

You are beside yourself. A politician 150

In jealousy? No, y' are too gross, too vulgar.

Pish, teach not me my trade; I know my cue.

My crossing you sinks me into her trust,

By which I shall know all; my trade's a sure

one.

Bass. Forgive me, Grausis, 't was considera-

tion 155

I relish'd not; 4 but have a care now.

Grau. Fear not.

I am no new-come-to 't.

Bass. Thy life's upon it,

And so is mine. My agonies are infinite.

Exeunt.

Scene II. 5

Enter ITHOCLES, alone.

Ith. Ambition! 't is of vipers' breed: it

gnaws

A passage through the womb that gave it mo-

tion.

Ambition, like a seeled 6 dove, mounts upward,

Higher and higher still, to perch on clouds,

But tumbles headlong down with heavier ruin.

____________________

1 Coaches. 2 Swelling. 3 Gifford emend. saints. 4 I did not see the point of. 5 The palace. Ithocles' apartment. 6 Blinded by sewing up the eye-lids.

777

So squibs and crackers fly into the air,

Then, only breaking with a noise, they vanish

In stench and smoke. Morality, appli'd

To timely practice, keeps the soul in tune,

At whose sweet music all our actions dance: 10

But this is form of books and school-tradition;

It physics not the sickness of a mind

Broken with griefs: strong fevers are not eas'd

With counsel, but with best receipts and means;

Means, speedy means and certain; that's the

cure. 15

Enter ARMOSTES and CROTOLON.

Arm. You stick, Lord Crotolon, upon a point

Too nice and too unnecessary; Prophilus

Is every way desertful. I am confident

Your wisdom is too ripe to need instruction

From your son's tutelage.

Crot. Yet not so ripe, 20

My Lord Armostes, that it dares to dote

Upon the painted meat 1 of smooth persuasion,

Which tempts me to a breach of faith.

Ith. Not yet

Resolv'd, my lord? Why, if your son's consent

Be so available, we'll write to Athens 25

For his repair to Sparta. The king's hand

Will join with our desires; he has been mov'd

to 't.

Arm. Yes, and the king himself impórtun'd

Crotolon

For a dispatch.

Crot. Kings may command; their wills

Are laws not to be questioned.

Ith. By this marriage 30

You knit an union so devout, so hearty,

Between your loves to me and mine to yours,

As if mine own blood had an interest in it;

For Prophilus is mine, and I am his.

Crot. My lord, my lord! —

Ith. What, good sir? Speak your thought. 35

Crot. Had this sincerity been real once,

My Orgilus had not been now unwiv'd,

Nor your lost sister buried in a bride-bed.

Your uncle here, Armostes knows this truth;

For had your father Thrasus liv'd, — but peace

Dwell in his grave! I have done.

Arm. Y' are bold and bitter. 41

Ith. [Aside.] 'A presses home the injury; it

smarts. —

No reprehensions, uncle; I deserve 'em.

Yet, gentle sir, consider what the heat

Of an unsteady youth, a giddy brain, 45

Green indiscretion, flattery of greatness,

Rawness of judgment, wilfulness in folly,

Thoughts vagrant as the wind and as uncertain,

Might lead a boy in years to: — 't was a fault,

A capital fault; for then I could not dive 50

Into the secrets of commanding love;

Since when, experience, by the extremes 2 (in

others),

Hath forc'd me collect. 3 And, trust me, Croto-

lon,

I will redeem those wrongs with any service

Your satisfaction can require for current. 55

Arm. The 4 acknowledgment is satisfaction:

What would you more?

Crot. I'm conquer'd: if Euphranea

Herself admit the motion, let it be so;

I doubt not my son's liking.

Ith. Use my fortunes,

Life, power, sword, and heart, — all are your

own. 60

Arm. The princess, with your sister.

Enter CALANTHA, PENTHEA, EUPHRANEA,

CHRISTALLA, PHILEMA, GRAUSIS, BASSANES,

and PROPHILUS.

Cal. I present ye

A stranger here in court, my lord; for did not

Desire of seeing you draw her abroad,

We had not been made happy in her company.

Ith. You are a gracious princess. — Sister,

wedlock 65

Holds too severe a passion in your nature,

Which can engross all duty to your husband,

Without attendance on so dear a mistress. —

[To BASSANES.] 'T is not my brother's pleasure,

I presume,

T' immure her in a chamber.

Bass. 'T is her will; 70

She governs her own hours. Noble Ithocles,

We thank the gods for your success and wel-

fare:

Our lady has of late been indispos'd,

Else we had waited on you with the first.

Ith. How does Penthea now?

Pen. You best know, brother, 75

From whom my health and comforts are de-

riv'd.

Bass. [Aside.] I like the answer well; 't is

sad and modest.

There may be tricks yet, tricks. — Have an eye,

Grausis!

Cal. Now, Crotolon, the suit we join'd in

must not

Fall by too long demur.

Crot. 'T is granted, princess, 80

For my part.

Arm. With condition, that his son

Favour the contract.

Cal. Such delay is easy. —

The joys of marriage make thee, Prophilus,

A proud deserver of Euphranea's love,

And her of thy desert!

Pro. Most sweetly gracious! 85

Bass. The joys of marriage are the heaven on

earth,

Life's paradise, great princess, the soul's quiet,

Sinews of concord, earthly immortality,

Eternity of pleasures; — no restoratives

Like to a constant woman! — [Aside.] But

where is she? 90

'T would puzzle all the gods but to create

Such a new monster. — I can speak by proof,

For I rest in Elysium; 't is my happiness.

Crot. Euphranea, how are you resolv'd, speak

freely,

In your affections to this gentleman? 95

Euph. Nor more nor less than as his love as-

sures me; ____________________

1 Gifford suggests bait. 2 Q. extremities. 3 Infer, understand. 4 Q. Thu.

778

Which — if your liking with my brother's war-

rants —

I cannot but approve in all points worthy.

Crot. So, so! — [To PROPHILUS.] I know your

answer.

Ith. 'T had been pity

To sunder hearts so equally consented. 100

Enter HEMOPHIL.

Hem. The king, Lord Ithocles, commands

your presence; —

And, fairest princess, yours.

Cal. We will attend him.

Enter GRONEAS.

Gro. Where are the lords? All must unto the

king

Without delay: the Prince of Argos —

Cal. Well, sir?

Gro. Is coming to the court, sweet lady.

Cal. How! 105

The Prince of Argos?

Gro. 'T was my fortune, madam,

T' enjoy the honour of these happy tidings.

Ith. Penthea! —

Pen. Brother?

Ith. Let me an hour hence

Meet you alone within the palace-grove; 109

I have some secret with you. — Prithee, friend,

Conduct her thither, and have special care

The walks be clear'd of any to disturb us.

Pro. I shall.

Bass. [Aside.] How's that?

Ith. Alone, pray be alone. —

I am your creature, princess. — On, my lords!

Exeunt all but BASSANES.

Bass. Alone! alone! What means that word

"alone"? 115

Why might not I be there? — hum! — he's

her brother.

Brothers and sisters are but flesh and blood,

And this same whoreson court-ease is tempta-

tion

To a rebellion in the veins; — besides, 119

His fine friend Prophilus must be her guar-

dian:

Why may not he dispatch a business nimbly

Before the other come? — or — pand'ring, pan-

d'ring

For one another, — be 't to sister, mother

Wife, cousin, anything, — 'mongst youths of

mettle

Is in request; it is so — stubborn fate! 125

But if I be a cuckold, and can know it,

I will be fell, and fell.

Re-enter GRONEAS.

Gro. My lord, y 'are call'd for.

Bass. Most heartily I thank ye. Where's my

wife, pray ?

Gro. Retir'd amongst the ladies.

Bass. Still I thank ye.

There 's an old waiter with her; saw you her

too? 130

Gro. She sits i 'th' presence-lobby fast asleep,

sir.

Bass. Asleep ! asleep, sir!

Gro. Is your lordship troubled ?

You will not to the king?

Bass. Your humblest vassal.

Gro. Your servant, my good lord.

Bass. I wait your footsteps.

Exeunt.

SCENE III. 1

Enter PROPHILUS and PENTHEA.

Pro. In this walk, lady, will your brother find

you:

And, with your favour, give me leave a little

To work a preparation. In his fashion

I have observ'd of late some kind of slackness

To such alacrity as nature [once] 5

And custom took delight in; sadness grows

Upon his recreations, which he hoards

In such a willing silence, that to question

The grounds will argue little skill in friendship,

And less good manners.

Pen. Sir, I'm not inquisitive 10

Of secrecies without an invitation.

Pro. With pardon, lady, not a syllable

Of mine implies so rude a sense; the drift —

Enter ORGILUS, [disguised as before.]

[To ORG.] Do thy best

To make this lady merry for an hour. Exit. 15

Org. Your will shall be a law, sir.

Pen. Prithee, leave me;

I have some private thoughts I would account

with;

Use thou thine own.

Org. Speak on, fair nymph; our souls

Can dance as well to music of the spheres

As any's who have feasted with the gods. 20

Pen. Your school-terms are too troublesome.

Org. What Heaven

Refines mortality from dross of earth

But such as uncompounded beauty hallows

With glorified perfection ?

Pen. Set thy wits

In a less wild proportion.

Org. Time can never 25

On the white table of unguilty faith

Write counterfeit dishonour; turn those eyes,

The arrows of pure love, upon that fire,

Which once rose to a flame, perfum'd with

vows

As sweetly scented as the incense smoking 30

On Vesta's altars, . . . . . . . 2

. . . the holiest odours, virgin's tears,

. . . . sprinkled, like dews, to feed 'em

And to increase their fervour.

Pen. Be not frantic.

Org. All pleasures are but mere imagination,

Feeding the hungry appetite with steam 36

And sight of banquet, whilst the body pines,

Not relishing the real taste of food:

Such is the leanness of a heart divided

From intercourse of troth-contracted loves; 40

____________________

1 The gardens of the palace. A grove. 2 Gifford's emend. Q. reads

as the incense smoking

The holiest altars, virgin tears (like

On Vesta's odours) sprinkled dews to feed 'em

And to increase.

779

No horror should deface that precious figure

Seal'd with the lively stamp of equal souls.

Pen. Away! some Fury hath bewitch'd thy

tongue.

The breath of ignorance, that flies from thence,

Ripens a knowledge in me of afflictions 45

Above all suff'rance. — Thing of talk, begone!

Begone, without reply!

Org. Be just, Penthea,

In thy commands; when thou send'st forth a

doom

Of banishment, know first on whom it lights.

Thus I take off the shroud, in which my cares 50

Are folded up from view of common eyes.

[Throws of his Scholar's dress.]

What is thy sentence next ?

Pen. Rash man! thou layest

A blemish on mine honour, with the hazard

Of thy too-desperate life: yet I profess,

By all the laws of ceremonious wedlock, 55

I have not given admittance to one thought

Of female change since cruelty enforc'd

Divorce betwixt my body and my heart.

Why would you fall from goodness thus ?

Org. O, rather

Examine me, how I could live to say 60

I have been much, much wrong'd. 'T is for thy

sake

I put on this imposture: dear Penthea,

If thy soft bosom be not turn'd to marble,

Thou 'lt pity our calamities; my interest

Confirms me thou art mine still.

Pen. Lend your hand; 65

With both of mine I clasp it thus, thus kiss it,

Thus kneel before ye.

Org. You instruct my duty.

Pen. We may stand up. — Have you aught

else to urge

Of new demand? As for the old, forget it;

'T is buried in an everlasting silence, 70

And shall be, shall be ever. What more would

ye ?

Org. I would possess my wife; the equity

Of very reason bids me.

Pen. Is that all ?

Org. Why, 't is the all of me, myself.

Pen. Remove

Your steps some distance from me: — at this

space 75

A few words I dare change; but first put on

Your borrowed shape.

Org. You are obey'd; 't is done.

[He resumes his disguise.]

Pen. How, Orgilus, by promise I was thine

The heavens do witness: they can witness too

A rape done on my truth: how I do love thee 80

Yet, Orgilus, and yet, must best appear

In tendering thy freedom; for I find

The constant preservation of thy merit,

By thy not daring to attempt my fame

With injury of any loose conceit, 85

Which might give deeper wounds to discon-

tents.

Continue this fair race: 1 then, though I cannot

Add to thy comfort, yet I shall more often

Remember from what fortune I am fallen, 89

And pity mine own ruin. — Live, live happy, —

Happy in thy next choice, that thou mayst peo-

ple

This barren age with virtues in thy issue!

And O, when thou art married, think on me

With mercy, not contempt! I hope thy wife,

Hearing my story, will not scorn my fall. — 95

Now let us part.

Org. Part! yet advise thee better:

Penthea is the wife to Orgilus,

And ever shall be.

Pen. Never shall nor will.

Org. How!

Pen. Hear me; in a word I'll tell thee why.

The virgin-dowry which my birth bestow'd 100

Is ravish'd by another; my true love

Abhors to think that Orgilus deserv'd

No better favours than a second bed.

Org. I must not take this reason.

Pen. To confirm it

Should I outlive my bondage, let me meet 105

Another worse than this and less desir'd,

If, of all men alive, thou shouldst but touch

My lip or hand again!

Org. Penthea, now

I tell ye, you grow wanton in my sufferance:

Come, sweet, th' art mine.

Pen. Uncivil sir, forbear! 110

Or I can turn affection into vengeance;

Your reputation, if you value any,

Lies bleeding at my feet. Unworthy man,

If ever henceforth thou appear in language,

Message, or letter, to betray my frailty, 115

I'll call thy former protestations lust,

And curse my stars for forfeit of my judgment.

Go thou, fit only for disguise, and walks, 2

To hide thy shame: this once I spare thy life.

I laugh at mine own confidence; my sorrows

By thee are made inferior to my fortunes. 121

If ever thou didst harbour worthy love,

Dare not to answer. My good genius guide me,

That I may never see thee more! — Go from

me!

Org. I'll tear my veil of politic French off,

And stand up like a man resolv'd to do: 126

Action, not words, shall show me. — O Penthea!

Exit.

Pen. 'A sighed my name, sure, as he parted

from me:

I fear I was too rough. Alas, poor gentleman

'A look'd not like the ruins of his youth, 130

But like the ruins of those ruins. Honour,

How much we fight with weakness to preserve

thee! [Walks aside.]

Enter BASSANES and GRAUSIS.

Bass. Fie on thee ! damn thee, rotten mag-

got, damn thee!

Sleep? sleep at court? and now? Aches, 3 con-

vulsions,

Imposthumes, rheums, gouts, palsies, clog thy

bones 135

A dozen years more yet! ____________________

1 Course. 2 Apparently corrupt. 3 The word was pronounced aitches.

780

Grau. Now y' are in humours.

Bass. She's by herself, there's hope of that;

she's sad too;

She's in strong contemplation; yes, and fixt:

The signs are wholesome.

Grau. Very wholesome, truly.

Bass. Hold your chops, 1 nightmare! — Lady,

come; your brother 140

Is carried to his closet; you must thither.

Pen. Not well, my lord ?

Bass. A sudden fit; 't will off!

Some surfeit or disorder. — How dost, dearest ?

Pen. Your news is none o' the best.

Re-enter PROPHILUS.

Pro. The chief of men,

The excellentest Ithocles, desires 145

Your presence, madam.

Bass. We are hasting to him.

Pen. In vain we labour in this course of life

To piece our journey out at length, or crave

Respite of breath: our home is in the grave.

Bass. Perfect philosophy!

[Pen.] Then let us care 150

To live so, that our reckonings may fall even

When we 're to make account.

Pro. He cannot fear

Who builds on noble grounds: sickness or pain

Is the deserver's exercise; 2 and such

Your virtuous brother to the world is known.

Speak comfort to him, lady; be all gentle: 156

Stars fall but in the grossness of our sight;

A good man dying, th' earth doth lose a light.

Exeunt omnes.

ACT III

SCENE I. 3

Enter TECNICUS, and ORGILUS in his own

shape.

Tec. Be well advis'd; let not a resolution

Of giddy rashness choke the breath of reason.

Org. It shall not, most sage master.

Tec. I am jealous; 4

For if the borrowed, shape so late put on

Inferr'd a consequence, we must conclude 5

Some violent design of sudden nature

Hath shook that shadow off, to fly upon

A new-hatch'd execution. Orgilus,

Take heed thou hast not, under our integrity,

Shrouded unlawful plots; our mortal eyes 10

Pierce not the secrets of your heart, the gods

Are only privy to them.

Org. Learned Tecnicus

Such doubts are causeless; and, to clear the

truth

From misconceit, the present state commands

me.

The Prince of Argos comes himself in person 15

In quest of great Calantha for his bride,

Our kingdom's heir; besides, mine only sister,

Euphranea, is dispos'd to Prophilus;

Lastly, the king is sending letters for me

To Athens, for my quick repair to court: 20

Please to accept these reasons.

Tec. Just ones, Orgilus,

Not to be contradicted: yet beware

Of an unsure foundation; no fair colours

Can fortify a building faintly jointed.

I have observ'd a growth in thy aspéct 25

Of dangerous extent, sudden, and — look to 't —

I might add, certain —

Org. My aspéct! Could art

Run through mine inmost thoughts, it should

not sift

An inclination there more than what suited

With justice of mine honour.

Tec. I believe it. 30

But know then, Orgilus, what honour is.

Honour consists not in a bare opinion

By doing any act that feeds content,

Brave in appearance, 'cause we think it brave;

Such honour comes by accident, not nature, 35

Proceeding from the vices of our passion,

Which makes our reason drunk: but real hon-

our

Is the reward of virtue, and acquir'd

By justice, or by valour which for basis

Hath justice to uphold it. He then fails 40

In honour, who for lucre [or] revenge

Commits thefts, murders, treasons, and adul-

teries,

With suchlike, by intrenching on just laws,

Whose sovereignty is best preserv'd by justice.

Thus, as you see how honour must be grounded

On knowledge, not opinion, — for opinion 46

Relies on probability and accident,

But knowledge on necessity and truth, —

I leave thee to the fit consideration

Of what becomes the grace of real honour, 50

Wishing success to all thy virtuous meanings.

Org. The gods increase thy wisdom, reverend

oracle,

And in thy precepts make me ever thrifty! 5

Tec. I thank thy wish. Exit.

Much mystery of fate

Lies hid in that man's fortunes; curiosity 55

May lead his actions into rare attempts: —

But let the gods be moderators still;

No human power can prevent their will.

Enter ARMOSTES [with a casket].

From whence come ye ?

Arm. From King Amyclas, — pardon

My interruption of your studies. — Here, 60

In this seal'd box, he sends a treasure [to you,]

Dear to him as his crown. 'A prays your grav-

ity

You would examine, ponder, sift, and bolt

The pith and circumstance of every tittle

The scroll within contains.

Tec. What is 't, Armostes? 65

Arm. It is the health of Sparta, the king's

life,

Sinews and safety of the commonwealth;

The sum of what the oracle deliver'd

When last he visited the prophetic temple

At Delphos: what his reasons are, for which, 70

____________________

1 Jaws. 2 Discipline. 3 The study of Tecnicus. 4 Suspicious. 5 Make me ever avail myself of thy precepts.

781

For she that's wife to Orgilus, and lives

In known adultery with Bassanes,

Is at the best a whore. Wilt kill me now? 75

The ashes of our parents will assume

Some dreadful figure, and appear to charge

Thy bloody guilt, that hast betray'd their name

To infamy in this reproachful match.

Ith. After my victories abroad, at home 80

I meet despair; ingratitude of nature

Hath made my actions monstrous. Thou shalt

stand

A deity, my sister, and be worshipp'd

For thy resolved martyrdom; wrong'd maids

And married wives shall to thy hallowed

shrine 85

Offer their orisons, and sacrifice

Pure turtles, crown'd with myrtle; if thy pity

Unto a yielding brother's pressure lend

One finger but to ease it.

Pen. O, no more!

Ith. Death waits to waft me to the Stygian

banks, 90

And free me from this chaos of my bondage;

And till thou wilt forgive, I must endure.

Pen. Who is the saint you serve?

Ith. Friendship, or [nearness] 1

Of birth to any but my sister, durst not

Have mov'd that question; ['t is] 2 a secret,

sister, 95

I dare not murmur to myself.

Pen. Let me,

By your new protestations I conjure ye,

Partake her name.

Ith. Her name? — 't is — 't is — I dare not.

Pen. All your respects are forg'd.3

Ith. They are not. — Peace!

Calantha is — the princess — the king's daugh-

ter — 100

Sole heir of Sparta. — Me, most miserable

Do I now love thee? For my injuries

Revenge thyself with bravery, and gossip

My treasons to the king's ears, do: — Calantha

Knows it not yet, nor Prophilus, ray nearest. 105

Pen. Suppose you were contracted to her,

would it not

Split even your very soul to see her father

Snatch her out of your arms against her will,

And force her on the Prince of Argos ?

Ith. Trouble not

The fountains of mine eyes with thine own

story; 110

I sweat in blood for't.

Pen. We are reconcil'd.

Alas, sir, being children, but two branches

Of one stock, 't is not fit we should divide:

Have comfort, you may find it.

Ith. Yes, in thee;

Only in thee, Penthea mine.

Pen. If sorrows 115

Have not too much dull'd my infected brain,

I'll cheer invention for an active strain.4

Ith. Mad man! why have I wrong'd a maid

so excellent!

Enter BASSANES with a poniard; PROPHILUS,

GRONEAS, HEMOPHIL, and GRAUSIS.

Bass. I can forbear no longer; more, I will

not.

Keep off your hands, or fall upon my point. —

Patience is tir'd; for, like a slow-pac'd ass, 121

Ye ride my easy nature, and proclaim

My sloth to vengeance a reproach and property.5 Ith. The meaning of this rudeness?

Pro. He 's distracted.

Pen. O, my griev'd lord! —

Grau. Sweet lady, come not near him; 125

He holds his perilous weapon in his hand

To prick 'a cares not whom nor where, — see,

see, see!

Bass. My birth is noble: though the popu-

lar blast

Of vanity, as giddy as thy youth,

Hath rear'd thy name up to bestride a cloud, 130

Or progress in the chariot of the sun,

I am no clod of trade, to lackey pride,

Nor, like your slave of expectation,6 wait

The bawdy hinges of your doors, or whistle

For mystical conveyance to your bed-sports. 135

Gro. Fine humours! they become him.

Hem. How 'a stares,

Struts, puffs, and sweats! Most admirable 7

lunacy!

Ith. But that I may conceive the spirit of

wine

Has took possession of your soberer custom,

I'd say you were unmannerly.

Pen. Dear brother! — 140

Bass. Unmannerly! — mew, kitling! —

smooth Formality

Is usher to the rankness of the blood,

But Impudence bears up the train. Indeed, sir,

Your fiery mettle, or your springal 8 blaze

Of huge renown, is no sufficient royalty 145

To print upon my forehead the scorn, "cuck-

old."

Ith. His jealousy has robb'd him of his wits;

'A talks 'a knows not what.

Bass. Yes, and 'a knows

To whom 'a talks; to one that franks 9 his lust

In swine-security of bestial incest. 150

Ith. Ha, devil !

Bass. I will haloo 't; 10 though I blush more

To name the filthiness than thou to act it.

Ith. Monster ! [Draws his sword.]

Pro. Sir, by our friendship —

Pen. By our bloods —

Will you quite both undo us, brother?

Grau. Out on him!

These are his megrims, firks,11 and melancho-

lies. 155

Hem. Well said, old touch-hole.

Gro. Kick him out of doors.

Pen. With favour, let me speak. — My lord,

what slackness

In my obedience hath deserv'd this rage ?

Except humility and silent duty

____________________

1 Q. omits. 2 'Tis, Dyce emend. Q. as. 3 I. e. You do not care for me as you say. 4 I will attempt to devise something. 5 Personal characteristics. 6 Attendant slave. 7 Wonderful. 8 Youthful. 9 Feeds; fattens, as one fattens swine. 10 Proclaim. 11 Freaks.

783

Have drawn on your unquiet, my simplicity 160

Ne'er studied your vexation.

Bass. Light of beauty,

Deal not ungently with a desperate wound!

No breach of reason dares make war with

her

Whose looks are sovereignty, whose breath is

balm.

O, that I could preserve thee in fruition 165

As in devotion!

Pen. Sir, may every evil

Lock'd in Pandora's box shower, in your pre-

sence,

On my unhappy head, if, since you made me

A partner in your bed, I have been faulty

In one unseemly thought against your honour!

Ith. Purge not his griefs, Penthea.

Bass. Yes, say on, 171

Excellent creature! — [To ITHOCLES.] Good,

be not a hindrance

To peace and praise of virtue. — O, my senses

Are charm'd with sounds celestial! — On, dear,

on:

I never gave you one ill word; say, did I? 175

Indeed I did not.

Pen. Nor, by Juno's forehead,

Was I o'er guilty of a wanton error.

Bass. A goddess! let me kneel.

Grau. Alas, kind animal!

Ith. No; but for penance.

Bass. Noble sir, what is it ?

With gladness I embrace it; yet, pray let not

My rashness teach you to be too unmerciful. 181

Ith. When you shall show good proof that

manly wisdom,

Not oversway'd by passion or opinion,

Knows how to lead [your] judgment, then

this lady,

Your wife, my sister, shall return in safety 185

Home, to be guided by you; but, till first

I can out of clear evidence approve it,

She shall be my care.

Bass. Rip my bosom up,

I'll stand the execution with a constancy;

This torture is unsufferable.

Ith. Well, sir, 190

I dare not trust her to your fury.

Bass. But

Penthea says not so.

Pen. She needs no tongue

To plead excuse who never purpos'd wrong.

Hem. Virgin of reverence and antiquity,

Stay you behind.

Gro. [to GRAUSIS.] The court wants not

your diligence. 195

Exeunt all but BASS. and GRAU.

Grau. What will you do, my lord? My lady's

gone;

I am deni'd to follow.

Bass. I may see her,

Or speak to her once more ?

Grau. And feel her too, man;

Be of good cheer, she 's your own flesh and

bone.

Bass. Diseases desperate must find cures

alike. 200

She swore she has been true.

Grau. True, on my modesty.

Bass. Let him want truth who credits not

her vows!

Much wrong I did her, but her brother infinite;

Rumour will voice me the contempt of man-

hood 204

Should I run on thus. Some way I must try

To outdo art, and [jealousy decry.] 1 Exeunt.

[SCENE III.] 2

Flourish. Enter AMYCLAS. NEARCHUS, leading

CALANTHA, ARMOSTES, CROTOLON, EU-

PHRANEA, CHRISTALLA, PHILEMA, and AM-

ELUS.

Amy. Cousin of Argos, what the heavens

have pleas'd,

In their unchanging counsels to conclude

For both our kingdoms' weal, we must submit

to:

Nor can we be unthankful to their bounties,

Who, when we were even creeping to our

grave, 5

Sent us a daughter, in whose birth our hope

Continues of succession. As you are

In title next, being grandchild to our aunt,

So we in heart desire you may sit nearest

Calantha's love; since we have ever vow'd 10

Not to enforce affection by our will,

But by her own choice to confirm it gladly.

Near. You speak the nature of a right just

father.

I come not hither roughly to demand

My cousin's thraldom, but to free mine own. 15

Report of great Calantha's beauty, virtue,

Sweetness, and singular perfections, courted

All ears to credit what I find was publish'd

By constant truth; from which, if any service

Of my desert can purchase fair construction, 20

This lady must command it.

Cal. Princely sir,

So well you know how to profess observance, 3

That you instruct your hearers to become

Practitioners in duty; of which number

I'll study to be chief.

Near. Chief, glorious virgin, 25

In my devotions, as in all men's wonder.

Amy. Excellent cousin, we deny no liberty;

Use thine own opportunities. — Armostes,

We must consult with the philosophers;

The business is of weight.

Arm. Sir, at your pleasure. 30

Amy. You, told me, Crotolon, your son's re-

turn'd

From Athens: wherefore comes he not to court

As we commanded?

Crot. He shall soon attend

Your royal will, great sir.

Amy. The marriage

Between young Prophilus and Euphranea 35

Tastes of too much delay.

Crot. My lord, —

Amy. Some pleasures

At celebration of it would give life

____________________

1 Q. cry a Iealousie. 2 A room in the palace. 3 Worship, courtship.

784

To th' entertainment of the prince our kins-

man;

Our court wears gravity more than we relish.

Arm. Yet the heavens smile on all your high

attempts, 40

Without a cloud.

Crot. So may the gods protect us.

Cal. A prince a subject ?

Near. Yes, to beauty's sceptre;

As all hearts kneel, so mine.

Cal. You are too courtly.

Enter ITHOCLES, ORGILUS, and PROPHILUS.

Ith. Your safe return to Sparta is most; wel-

come :

I joy to meet you here, and, as occasion 45

Shall grant us privacy, will yield you reasons

Why I should covet to deserve the title

Of your respected friend; for, without compli-

ment,

Believe it, Orgilus, 't is my ambition.

Org. Your lordship may command me, your

poor servant. 50

Ith. [Aside.] So amourously close! — so soon! — my heart!

Pro. What sudden change is next ?

Ith. Life to the king!

To whom I here present this noble: gentleman,

New come from Athens: royal sir, vouchsafe

Your gracious hand in favour of his merit. 55

[The King gives ORGILUS his hand

to kiss.]

Crot. [Aside.] My son preferr'd by Ithocles!

Amy. Our bounties

Shall open to thee, Orgilus; for instance, —

Hark in thine ear, — if, out of those inventions

Which flow in Athens, thou hast there en-

grost 1

Some rarity of wit, to grace the nuptials 60

Of thy fair sister, and renown our court

In th' eyes of this young prince, we shall be

debtor

To thy conceit: think on 't.

Org. Your highness honours me.

Near. My tongue and heart are twins.

Cal. A noble birth,

Becoming such a father. — Worthy Orgilus, 65

You are a guest most wish'd for.

Org. May my duty

Still rise in your opinion, sacred princess!

Ith. Euphranea's brother, sir; a gentleman

Well worthy of your knowledge.

Near. We embrace him,

Proud of so dear acquaintance.

Amy. All prepare 70

For revels and disport; the joys of Hymen,

Like Phoebus in his lustre, put to flight

All mists of dulness, crown the hours with

gladness:

No sounds but music, no discourse but mirth!

Cal. Thine arm, I prithee, Ithocles. — Nay,

good 75

My lord, keep on your way; I am provided.

Near. I dare not disobey.

Ith. Most heavenly lady! Exeunt.

[SCENE IV.] 2

Enter CROTOLON and ORGILUS.

Crot. The king hath spoke his mind.

Org. His will he hath;

But were it lawful to hold plea against

The power of greatness, not the reason, haply

Such undershrubs as subjects sometimes might

Borrow of nature justice, to inform 5

That license sovereignty holds without check

Over a meek obedience.

Crot. How resolve you

Touching your sister's marriage? Prophilus

Is a deserving and a hopeful youth.

Org. I envy not his merit, but applaud it; 10

Could wish him thrift 3 in all his best desires,

And with a willingness inleague our blood

With his, for purchase of full growth in friend-

ship.

He never touch'd on any wrong that malic'd

The honour of our house nor stirr'd our peace:

Yet, with your favour, let me not forget 16

Under whose wing he gathers warmth and com-

fort,

Whose creature he is bound, made, and must

live so.

Crot. Son, son, I find in thee a harsh condi-

tion; 4

No courtesy can win it; 't is too rancorous. 20

Org. Good sir, be not severe in your construc-

tion;

I am no stranger to such easy calms

As sit in tender bosoms: lordly Ithocles

Hath grac'd my entertainment in abundance,

Too humbly hath descended from that height 25

Of arrogance and spleen which wrought the

rape

On griev'd Penthea's purity; his scorn

Of my untoward fortunes is reclaim'd

Unto a courtship, almost to a fawning: —

I 'll kiss his foot, since you will have it so. 30

Crot. Since I will have it so! Friend, I will

have it so,

Without our ruin by your politic plots,

Or wolf of hatred snarling in your breast.

You have a spirit, sir, have ye? A familiar

That posts i' th' air for your intelligence? 35

Some such hobgoblin hurried you from Athens,

For yet you come unsent for.

Org. If unwelcome,

I might have found a grave there.

Crot. Sure, your business

Was soon dispatch'd, or your mind alter'd

quickly.

Org. 'T was care, sir, of my health cut short

my journey; 40

For there a general infection

Threatens a desolation.

Crot. And I fear

Thou hast brought back a worse infection with

thee, —

Infection of thy mind; which, as thou say'st,

Threatens the desolation of our family. 45

Org. Forbid it, our dear genius! I will rather

____________________

1 Acquired. 2 A room in the house of Crotolon. 3 Prosperity. 4 Disposition.

785

Be made a sacrifice on Thrasus' monument,

Or kneel to Ithocles, his son, in dust,

Than woo a father's curse. My sister's mar-

riage

With Prophilus is from my heart confirm'd; 50

May I live hated, may I die despis'd,

If I omit to further it in all

That can concern me!

Crot. I have been too rough.

My duty to my king made me so earnest;

Excuse it, Orgilus.

Org. Dear sir! —

Crot. Here comes 55

Euphranea with Prophilus and Ithocles.

Enter PROPHILUS, EUPHRANEA, ITHOCLES,

GRONEAS, and HEMOPHIL.

Org. Most honoured! — ever famous!

Ith. Your true friend;

On earth not any truer. — With smooth eyes

Look on this worthy couple; your consent

Can only make them one.

Org. They have it. — Sister, 60

Thou pawn'dst to me an oath, of which engage-

ment

I never will release thee, if thou aim'st

At any other choice than this.

Euph. Dear brother,

At him, or none.

Crot. To which my blessing 's added.

Org. Which, till a greater ceremony per-

fect, — 65

Euphranea, lend thy hand, — here, take her,

Prophilus;

Live long a happy man and wife; and further,

That these in presence may conclude an omen,

Thus for a bridal song I close my wishes:

[Sings.]

Comforts lasting, loves increasing, 70

Like soft hours never ceasing:

Plenty's pleasure, peace complying,

Without jars, or tongues envying;

Hearts by holy union wedded,

More than theirs by custom bedded;

75

Fruitful issues; life so graced,

Not by age to be defaced,

Budding, as the year ensu'th,

Every spring another youth:

All what thought can add beside 80

Crown this bridegroom and this bride!

Pro. You have seal'd joy close to my soul. —

Euphranea,

Now I may call thee mine.

Ith. I but exchange

One good friend for another.

Org. If these gallants

Will please to grace a poor invention 85

By joining with me in some slight device,

I'll venture on a strain my younger days

Have studied for delight.

Hem. With thankful willingness

I offer my attendance.

Gro. No endeavour

Of mine shall fail to show itself.

Ith. We will 90

All join to wait on thy directions, Orgilus.

Org. O, my good lord, your favours flow towards

A too unworthy worm; — but as you please;

I am what you will shape me.

Ith. A fast friend.

Crot. I thank thee, son, for this acknowledg-

ment; 95

It is a sight of gladness.

Org. But my duty. Exeunt.

[SCENE V.] 1

Enter CALANTHA, PENTHEA, CHRISTALLA, and PHILEMA.

Cal. Whoe'er would speak with us, deny his

entrance;

Be careful of our charge.

Chris. We shall, madam.

Cal. Except the king himself, give none ad-

mittance;

Not any.

Phil. Madam, it shall be our care.

Exeunt [CHRISTALLA and PHIL-

EMA].

Cal. Being alone, Penthea, you have granted

The opportunity you sought, and might 6

At all times have commanded.

Pen. 'T is a benefit

Which I shall owe your goodness even in death

for.

My glass of life, sweet princess, hath few minutes

Remaining to run down; the sands are spent;

For by an inward messenger I feel 11

The summons of departure short and certain.

Cal. You feel too much your melancholy.

Pen. Glories

Of human greatness are but pleasing dreams

And shadows soon decaying: on the stage 15

Of my mortality my youth hath acted

Some scenes of vanity, drawn out at length

By varied pleasures, sweet'ned in the mixture,

But tragical in issue: beauty, pomp,

With every sensuality our giddiness 20

Doth frame an idol, are unconstant friends,

When any troubled passion makes assault

On the unguarded castle of the mind.

Cal. Contemn not your condition for the proof

Of bare opinion only: to what end 25

Reach all these moral texts?

Pen. To place before ye

A perfect mirror, wherein you may see

How weary I am of a ling'ring life,

Who count the best a misery.

Cal. Indeed

You have no little cause; yet none so great 30

As to distrust a remedy.

Pen. That remedy

Must be a winding-sheet, a fold of lead,

And some untrod-on corner in the earth. —

Not to detain your expectation, princess,

I have an humble suit.

Cal. Speak; I enjoy 2 it. 35

Pen. Vouchsafe, then, to be my executrix,

And take that trouble on ye to dispose

Such legacies as I bequeath, impartially.

I have not much to give, the pains are easy;

____________________

1 Calantha's apartment in the palace. 2 So Q. Dyce suggests enjoin.

[[*AJ Note. How about enjoy= entertain,

i.e., "I entertain your suit"??*]]

786

Heaven will reward your piety, and thank it 40

When I am dead; for sure I must not live;

I hope I cannot.

Cal. Now, beshrew thy sadness,

Thou turn'st me too much woman. [Weeps.]

Pen. [Aside.] Her fair eyes

Melt into passion. — Then I have assurance

Encouraging my boldness. In this paper 45

My will was character'd; which you, with par-

don,

Shall now know from mine own mouth.

Cal. Talk on, prithee;

It is a pretty earnest.

Pen. I have left me

But three poor jewels to bequeath. The first is

My youth; for though I am much old in griefs,

In years I am a child.

Cal. To whom that [jewel]? 51

Pen. To virgin-wives, such as abuse not wed-

lock

By freedom of desires, but covet chiefly

The pledges of chaste beds for ties of love, 54

Rather than ranging of their blood; and next

To married maids, such as prefer the number

Of honourable issue in their virtues

Before the flattery of delights by marriage:

May those be ever young!

Cal. A second jewel.

You mean to part with?

Pen. 'T is my fame, I trust 60

By scandal yet untouch'd: this I bequeath

To Memory, and Time's old daughter, Truth.

If ever my unhappy name find mention

When I am fall'n to dust, may it deserve

Beseeming charity without dishonour! 65

Cal. How handsomely thou play'st with harmless sport

Of mere imagination! Speak the last.

I strangely like thy will.

Pen. This jewel, madam,

Is dearly precious to me; you must use

The best of your discretion to employ 70

This gift as intend it.

Cal. Do not doubt me.

Pen. 'T is long agone since first I lost my heart:

Long I have liv'd without it, else for certain

I should have given that too; but instead

Of it, to great Calantha, Sparta's heir, 75

By service bound and by affection vow'd,

I do bequeath, in holiest rites of love,

Mine only brother, Ithocles.

Cal. What saidst thou?

Pen. Impute not, heaven-blest lady, to am-

bition

A faith as humbly perfect as the prayers 80

Of a devoted suppliant can endow it.

Look on him, princess, with an eye of pity;

How like the ghost of what he late appear'd

'A moves before you.

Cal. Shall I answer here,

Or lend my ear too grossly?

Pen. First his heart 85

Shall fall in cinders, scorch'd by your disdain,

Ere he will dare, poor man, to ope an eye

On these divine looks, but with low-bent

thoughts

Accusing such presumption; as for words,

'A dares not utter any but of service: 90

Yet this lost creature loves ye. — Be a princess

In sweetness as in blood; give him his doom,

Or raise him up to comfort.

Cal. What new change

Appears in my behaviour, that thou dar'st

Tempt my displeasure?

Pen. I must leave the world 95

To revel in Elysium, and 't is just

To wish my brother some advantage here;

Yet, by my best hopes, Ithocles is ignorant

Of this pursuit. But if you please to kill him,

Lend him one angry look or one harsh word, 100

And you shall soon conclude how strong a

power

Your absolute authority holds over

His life and end.

Cal. You have forgot, Penthea,

How still I have a father.

Pen. But remember

I am a sister, though to me this brother 105

Hath been, you know, unkind, O, most unkind!

Cal. Christalla, Philema, where are ye? —

Lady,

Your check lies in my silence.

Re-enter CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA.

Chris. and Phil. Madam, here.

Cal. I think ye sleep, ye drones: wait on

Penthea

Unto her lodging. — [Aside.] Ithocles? Wrong'd

lady! 110

Pen. My reckonings are made even; death or fate

Can now nor strike too soon, nor force too late.

Exeunt.

ACT IV

SCENE I. 1

Enter ITHOCLES and ARMOSTES.

Ith. Forbear your inquisition: curiosity

Is of too subtle and too searching nature,

In fears of love too quick, too slow of credit. —

I am not what you doubt me.

Arm. Nephew, be, then,

As I would wish; — all is not right. — Good

heaven 5

Confirm your resolutions for dependence

On worthy ends, which may advance your quiet!

Ith. I did the noble Orgilus much injury,

But griev'd Penthea more: I now repent it, —

Now, uncle, now; this "now" is now too late.

So provident is folly in sad issue, 11

That after-wit, like bankrupts' debts, stands

tallied,

Without all possibilities of payment.

Sure, he's an honest, very honest gentleman;

A man of single 2 meaning.

Arm. I believe it : 15

Yet, nephew, 't is the tongue informs our ears;

Our eyes can never pierce into the thoughts, ____________________

1 The palace. Ithocles' apartment. 2 Sincere.

[[*AJ Note: And perhaps as well single=singular? *]]

787

Arm. O fie, fie!

Near. This odd youth's pride turns heretic

in loyalty.

Sirrah! low mushrooms never rival cedars.

Exeunt NEARCHUS and AMELUS.

Ith. Come back! — What pitiful dull thing

am I

So to be tamely scolded at! come back! — 100

Let him come back, and echo once again

That scornful sound of mushroom! painted

colts —

Like heralds' coats gilt o'er with, crowns and

sceptres —

May bait a muzzled lion.

Arm. Cousin, cousin,

Thy tongue is not thy friend.

Org. In point of honour 105

Discretion knows no bounds. Amelus told me

'T was all about a little ring.

Ith. A ring

The princess threw away, and I took up.

Admit she threw 't to me, what arm of brass

Can snatch it hence? No; could he grind the

hoop 110

To powder, 'a might sooner reach my heart

Than steal and wear one dust on 't. — Orgilus,

I am extremely wrong'd.

Org. A lady's favour

Is not to be so slighted.

Ith. Slighted!

Arm. Quiet

These vain unruly passions, which will render

Into a madness. 115

Org. Griefs will have their vent.

Enter TECNICUS [with a scroll].

Arm. Welcome; thou com'st in season, rev-

erend man,

To pour the balsam of a suppling 1 patience

Into the festering wound of ill-spent fury.

Org. [Aside.] What makes he here?

Tec. The hurts are yet but 2 mortal, 120

Which shortly will prove deadly. To the king,

Armostes, see in safety then deliver

This seal'd-up counsel; bid him with a con-

stancy

Peruse the secrets of the gods. — O Sparta,

O Lacedaemon! double-nam'd, but one 125

In fate: when kingdoms reel, — mark well my

saw, —

Their heads must needs be giddy. Tell the

king

That henceforth he no more mast inquire after

My aged head; Apollo wills it so:

I am for Delphos.

Arm. Not without some conference 130

With our great master?

Tec. Never more to see him :

A greater prince commands me. — Ithocles,

When youth is ripe, and age from time doth part,

The lifeless trunk shall wed the broken heart.

Ith. What's this, if understood?

Tec. List, Orgilus; 135

Remember what I told thee long before,

These tears shall be my witness.

Arm. 'Las, good man!

Tec. Let craft with courtesy a while confer,

Revenge proves its own executioner.

Org. Dark sentences are for Apollo's priests;

I am not Oedipus.

Tec. My hour is come; 141

Cheer up the king; farewell to all. — O Sparta,

O Lacedaemon! Exit.

Arm. If prophetic fire

Have warm'd this old man's bosom, we might

construe

His words to fatal sense.

Ith. Leave to the powers 145

Above us the effects of their decrees;

My burthen lies within me: servile fears

Prevent no great effects. — Divine Calantha!

Arm. The gods be still propitious!

Exeunt ITHOCLES and ARMOSTES.

Org. Something oddly

The book-man prated, yet 'a talk'd it weeping;

Let craft with courtesy a while confer, 151

Revenge proves its own executioner.

Con it again; — for what? It shall not puzzle

me;

'T is dotage of a withered brain. — Penthea

Forbade me not her presence; I may see her,

And gaze my fill. Why see her, then, I may, 156

When, if I faint to speak — I must be silent.

Exit.

[SCENE II.] 3

Enter BASSANES, GRAUSIS, and PHULAS.

Bass. Pray, use your recreations, all the ser-

vice

I will expect is quietness amongst ye;

Take liberty at home, abroad, at all times,

And in your charities appease the gods,

Whom I, with my distractions, have offended. 5

Grau. Fair blessings on thy heart!

Phu. [Aside.] Here 's a rare change!

My lord, to cure the itch, is surely gelded;

The cuckold in conceit hath cast his horns.

Bass. Betake ye to your several occasions;

And wherein I have heretofore been faulty, 10

Let your constructions mildly pass it over.

Henceforth I'll study reformation, — more

I have not for employment.

Grau. O, sweet man!

Thou art the very "Honeycomb of Honesty." 4

Phu. The "Garland of Good-will." — Old

lady, hold up 15

Thy reverend snout, and trot behind me softly,

As it becomes a moil 5 of ancient carriage.

Exeunt GRAUSIS and PHULAS.

Bass. Beasts, only capable of sense, enjoy

The benefit of food and ease with thankful-

ness;

Such silly creatures, with a grudging, kick not

Against the portion nature hath bestow'd: 21

But men, endow'd with reason and the use ____________________

1 Q. supplying. 2 Gifford suggests not. 3 A room in Bassanes' house. 4 The Honeycomb of Honesty, like the Garland of

Goodwill, was probably one of the popular miscellanies

of the day. ( Gifford.) See Additional Notes. 5 Mule.

789

Of reason, to distinguish from the chaff

Of abject scarcity the quintessence,

Soul, and elixir of the earth's abundance, 25

The treasures of the sea, the air, nay, heaven,

Repining at these glories of creation

Are verier beasts than beasts; and of those

beasts

The worst am I : I, who was made a monarch

Of what a heart could wish for, — a chaste

wife, — 30

Endeavour'd what in me lay to pull down

That temple built for adoration only,

And level 't in the dust of causeless scandal.

But, to redeem a sacrilege so impious,

Humility shall pour, before the deities 35

I have incenst, a largess of more patience

Than their displeased altars can require:

No tempests of commotion shall disquiet

The calms of my composure.

Enter ORGILUS.

Org. I have found thee,

Thou patron of more horrors than the bulk 40

Of manhood, hoop'd about with ribs of iron,

Can cram within thy breast: Penthea, Bas-

sanes

Curst by thy jealousies, — more, by thy dot-

age, —

Is left a prey to words.

Bass. Exercise

Your trials for addition to my penánce; 45

I am resolv'd.

Org. Play not with misery

Past cure: some angry minister of fate hath

Depos'd the empress of her soul, her reason,

From its most proper throne; but, what's the

miracle

More new, I, I have seen it, and yet live! 50

Bass. You may delude my senses, not my

judgment;

'T is anchor'd into a firm resolution;

Dalliance of mirth or wit can ne'er unfix it:

Practise 1 yet further.

Org. May thy death of love to her

Damn all thy comforts to a lasting fast 55

From every joy of life! Thou barren rock,

By thee we have been split in ken 2 of harbour.

Enter ITHOCLES, PENTHEA her hair about her

ears, [ARMOSTES,] PHILEMA, and CHRIS-

TALLA.

Ith. Sister, look up; your Ithocles, your

brother,

Speaks t' ye; why do you weep? Dear, turn

not from me. —

Here is a killing sight; lo, Bassanes, 60

A lamentable object!

Org. Man, dost see't?

Sports are more gamesome; am I yet in merri-

ment?

Why dost not laugh?

Bass. Divine and best of ladies,

Please to forget my outrage; mercy ever

Cannot but lodge under a roof so excellent. 65

I have cast off that cruelty of frenzy

Which once appear'd imposture, 3 and then

juggled

To cheat my sleeps of rest.

Org. Was I in earnest?

Pen. Sure, if we were all Sirens, we should

sing pitifully.

And't were a comely music, when in parts 70

One sung another's knell. The turtle sighs

When he hath lost his mate; and yet some say

He must be dead first. 'T is a fine deceit

To pass away in a dream; indeed, I 've slept

With mine eyes open a great while. No false-

hood 75

Equals a broken faith; there's not a hair

Sticks on my head but, like a leaden plum-

met,

It sinks me to the grave. I must creep thither;

The journey is not long.

Ith. &nbsp: But, thou, Penthea,

Hast many years, I hope, to number yet, 80

Ere thou canst travel that way.

Bass. Let the sun first

Be wrapp'd up in an everlasting darkness,

Before the light of nature, chiefly form'd

For the whole world's delight, feel an eclipse

So universal!

Org. Wisdom, look ye, begins 85

To rave! — Art thou mad too, antiquity?

Pen. Since I was first a wife, I might have

been

Mother to many pretty prattling babes;

They would have smil'd when I smil'd, and for

certain

I should have cri'd when they cri'd: — truly,

brother, 90

My father would have pick'd me out a hus-

band,

And then my little ones had been no bastards;

But 't is too late for me to marry now,

I am past child-bearing; 't is not my fault.

Bass. Fall on me, if there be a burning

Aetna, 95

And bury me in flames! Sweats hot as sulphur

Boil through my pores! Affliction hath in store

No torture like to this.

Org. Behold a patience!

Lay by thy whining gray dissimulation,

Do something worth a chronicle; show justice

Upon the author of this mischief; dig out 101

The jealousies that hatch'd this thraldom first

With thine own poniard. Every antic rapture

Can roar as thine does.

Ith. Orgilus, forbear.

Bass. Disturb him not; it is a talking motion 4

Provided for my torment. What a fool am I 106

To bandy 5 passion! Ere I'll speak a word,

I will look on and burst.

Pen. I lov'd you once. [To ORGILUS.]

Org. Thou didst, wrong'd creature: in de-

spite of malice,

For it I love thee ever.

Pen. Spare your hand; 110

Believe me, I'll not hurt it.

Org. My 6 heart too.

____________________

1 Test me. 2 Sight. 3 Q. appear'd, Impostors. 4 Puppet. 5 Q. baudy. 6 Q. Paine my, and omits [Pen.] in next line.

790

[Pen.] Complain not though I wring it hard.

I 'll kiss it;

O, 't is a fine soft palm! — hark, in thine ear;

Like whom do I look, prithee? — Nay, no

whispering.

Goodness! we had been happy; too much hap-

piness 115

Will make folk proud, they say — but that is

he — Points at ITHOCLES.

And yet he paid for 't home; alas, his heart

Is crept into the cabinet of the princess;

We shall have points 1 and bride-laces. Re-

member,

When we last gather'd roses in the garden, 120

I found my wits; but truly you lost yours.

That 's he, and still 't is he.

[Again pointing at ITHOCLES.]

Ith. Poor soul, how idly

Her fancies guide her tongue!

Bass. [Aside.] Keep in, vexation,

And break not into clamour.

Org. [Aside.] She has tutor'd me:

Some powerful inspiration checks my lazi-

ness. — 125

Now let me kiss your hand, griev'd beauty.

Pen. Kiss it. —

Alack, alack, his lips be wondrous cold.

Dear soul, h'as lost his colour: have ye seen

A straying heart? All crannies! every drop

Of blood is turned to an amethyst, 130

Which married bachelors hang in their ears.

Org. Peace usher her into Elysium! —

If this be madness, madness is an oracle. Exit.

Ith. Christalla, Philema, when slept my sister,

Her ravings are so wild?

Chris. Sir, not these ten days. 135

Phil. We watch by her continually; besides,

We can not any way pray her to eat.

Bass. O, misery of miseries!

Pen. Take comfort;

You may live well, and die a good old man.

By yea and nay, an oath not to be broken, 140

If you had join'd our hands once in the

temple, —

'T was since my father died, for had he liv'd

He would have done 't, — I must have call'd

you father. —

O, my wrack'd honour! ruin'd by those tyrants,

A cruel brother and a desperate dotage! 145

There is no peace left for a ravish'd wife

Widow'd by lawless marriage; to all memory

Penthea's, poor Penthea's name is strumpeted:

But since her blood was season'd by the forfeit

Of noble shame with mixtures of pollution, 150

Her blood — 't is just — be henceforth never

height'ned

With taste of sustenance ! Starve; let that ful-

ness

Whose plurisy 2 hath fever'd faith and mod-

esty —

Forgive me; O, I faint!

[Falls into the arms of her Attendants.]

Arm. Be not so wilful,

Sweet niece, to work thine own destruction.

Ith. Nature 155

Will call her daughter monster! — What ! not

eat?

Refuse the only ordinary means

Which are ordain'd for life? Be not, my sister,

A murderess to thyself. — Hear'st thou this,

Bassanes?

Bass. Foh! I am busy; for I have not

thoughts 160

Enow to think: all shall be well anon.

'T is tumbling in my head; there is a mastery

In art to fatten and keep smooth the outside;

Yes, and to comfort up the vital spirits 164

Without the help of food, fumes or perfumes,

Perfumes or fumes. Let her alone; I 'll search

out

The trick on 't.

Pen. Lead me gently; heavens reward ye.

Griefs are sure friends; they leave without control

Nor cure nor comforts for a leprous soul.

Exeunt the maids supporting PEN-

THEA.

Bass. I grant ye; and will put in practice in-

stantly 170

What you shall still admire: 't is wonderful,

'T is super-singular, not to be match'd;

Yet, when, I 've done 't, I 've done 't: — ye shall

all thank me. Exit.

Arm. The sight is full of terror.

Ith. On my soul

Lies such an infinite clog of massy dulness, 175

As that I have not sense enough to feel it. —

See, uncle, th' angry 3 thing returns again;

Shall 's welcome him with thunder? We are

haunted,

And must use exorcism to conjure down

This spirit of malevolence.

Arm. Mildly, nephew. 180

Enter NEARCHUS and AMELUS.

Near. I come not, sir, to chide your late dis-

order,

Admitting that th' inurement to a roughness

In soldiers of your years and fortunes, chiefly,

So lately prosperous, hath not yet shook off

The custom of the war in hours of leisure; 185

Nor shall you need excuse, since y' are to ren-

der

Account to that fair excellence, the princess,

Who in her private gallery expects it

From your own mouth alone: I am a messenger

But to her pleasure.

Ith. Excellent Nearchus, 190

Be prince still of my services, and conquer

Without the combat of dispute; I honour ye.

Near. The king is on a sudden indispos'd,

Physicians are call'd for; 't were fit, Armostes,

You should be near him.

Arm. Sir, I kiss your hands. 195

Exeunt ITHOCLES and ARMOSTES.

Near. Amelus, I perceive Calantha's bosom

Is warm'd with other fires than such as can

Take strength from any fuel of the love

I might address to her. Young Ithocles,

Or ever I mistake, is lord ascendant 200

____________________

1 Tagged laces. 2 Excess. 3 Q. augury.

791

Of her devotions; one, to speak him truly,

In every disposition nobly fashioned.

Ame. But can your highness brook to be so

rivall'd,

Considering the inequality of the persons? 204

Near. I can, Amelus; for affections injur'd

By tyranny or rigour of compulsion,

Like tempest-threat'ned trees unfirmly rooted,

Ne'er spring to timely growth: observe, for in-

stance,

Life-spent Penthea and unhappy Orgilus.

Ame. How does your grace determine?

Near. To be jealous 210

In public of what privately I'll further;

And though they shall not know, yet they shall

find it. Exeunt.

[SCENE III.] 1

Enter HEMOPHIL and GRONEAS leading AMY-

CLAS, and placing him in a chair; followed by

ARMOSTES [with a box], CROTOLON, and

PROPHILUS.

Amy. Our daughter is not near?

Arm. She is retir'd, sir.

Into her gallery.

Amy. Where's the prince our cousin?

Pro. New walk'd into the grove, my lord.

Amy. All leave us

Except Armostes, and you, Crotolon;

We would be private.

Pro. Health unto your majesty! 5

Exeunt PROPHILUS, HEMOPHIL,

and GRONEAS.

Amy. What! Tecnicus is gone?

Arm. He is to Delphos;

And to your royal hands presents this box.

Amy. Unseal it, good Armostes; therein lie

The secrets of the oracle; out with it:

[ARMOSTES takes out the scroll.]

Apollo live our patron! Read, Armostes. 10

Arm. [reads.] The plot in which the vine

takes root

Begins to dry from head to foot;

The stock soon withering, want of sap

Doth cause to quail the budding grape;

But from the neighbouring elm a dew 15

Shall drop, and feed the plot anew.

Amy. That is the oracle : what exposition

Makes the philosopher?

Arm. This brief one only.

[Reads.] The plot is Sparta, the dri'd vine the

king;

The quailing grape his daughter; but the thing 20

Of most importance, not to be reveal'd

Is a near prince, the elm: the rest conceal'd.

TECNICUS.

Amy. Enough; although the opening of this

riddle

Be but itself a riddle, yet we construe

How near our labouring age draws to a rest. 25

But must Calantha quail too? that young

grape

Untimely budded! I could mourn for her;

Her tenderness hath yet deserve'd no rigour

So to be crost by fate.

Arm. You misapply, sir, —

With favour let me speak it, — what Apollo 30

Hath clouded in hid sense. I here conjecture

Her marriage with some neighb'ring prince, the

dew

Of which befriending elm shall ever strengthen

Your subjects with a sovereignty of power.

Crot. Besides, most gracious lord, the pith of

oracles 35

Is to be then digested when th' events

Expound their truth, not brought as soon to

light

As utter'd. Truth is child of Time; and herein

I find no scruple, rather cause of comfort,

With unity of kingdoms.

Amy. May it prove so, 40

For weal of this dear nation! — Where is

Ithocles? —

Armostes, Crotolon, when this wither'd vine

Of my frail carcass, on the funeral pile

Is fir'd into its ashes, let that young man

Be hedg'd about still with your cares and

loves. 45

Much owe I to his worth, much to his service. —

Let such as wait come in now.

Arm. All attend here!

Enter CALANTHA, ITHOCLES, PROPHILUS,

ORGILUS, EUPHRANEA, HEMOPHIL, and

GRONEAS.

Cal. Dear sir! king! father!

Ith. O my royal master!

Amy. Cleave not my heart, sweet twins of

my life's solace,

With your forejudging fears; there is no

physic 50

So cunningly restorative to cherish

The fall of age, or call back youth and vigour,

As your consents in duty. I will shake off

This languishing disease of time, to quicken

Fresh pleasures in these drooping hours of

sadness. 55

Is fair Euphranea married yet to Prophilus?

Crot. This morning, gracious lord.

Org. This very morning;

Which, with your highness' leave, you may ob-

serve too.

Our sister looks, methinks, mirthful and

sprightly,

As if her chaster fancy could already 60

Expound the riddle of her gain in losing

A trifle maids know only that they know not.

Pish! prithee, blush not; 'tis but honest

change

Of fashion in the garment, loose for strait,

And so the modest maid is made a wife. 65

Shrewd business — is 't not, sister?

Euph. You are pleasant.

Amy. We thank thee, Orgilus; this mirth be-

comes thee.

But wherefore sits the court in such a silence?

A wedding without revels is not seemly.

Cal. Your late indisposition, Sir, forbade

it. 70

Amy. Be it thy charge, Calantha, to set forward

The bridal sports, to which I will be present;

____________________

1 An apartment in the palace.

792

If not, at least consenting. — Mine own Ithocles,

I have done little for thee yet.

Ith. Y' have built me

To the full height I stand in.

Cal. [Aside.] Now or never! — 75

May I propose a suit?

Amy. Demand, and have it.

Cal. Pray, sir, give me this young man, and

no further

Account him yours than he deserves in all

things

To be thought worth mine: I will esteem him

According to his merit.

Amy. Still thou 'rt my daughter, 80

Still grow'st upon my heart. — [To ITHOCLES.]

Give me thine hand; —

Calantha, take thine own: in noble actions

Thou 'lt find him firm and absolute. — I would not

Have parted with thee, Ithocles, to any

But to a mistress who is all what I am. 85

Ith. A change, great king, most wisht for, 'cause the same.

Cal. [Aside to ITHOCLES.] Th' art mine. Have

I now kept my word?

Ith. [Aside to CALANTHA.] Divinely.

Org. Rich fortunes guard, [the] 1 favour of a

princess

Rock thee, brave man, in ever-crowned plenty!

Y' are minion of the time; be thankful for

it. — 90

[Aside.] Ho! here 's a swing in destiny — ap-

parent!

The youth is up on tiptoe, yet may stumble.

Amy. On to your recreations. — Now convey

me

Unto my bed-chamber: none on his forehead

Wear a distempered look.

All. The gods preserve ye! 95

Cal. [Aside to ITHOCLES.] Sweet, be not from

my sight.

Ith. [Aside to CALANTHA.] My whole felicity!

Exeunt carrying out the king. ORGI-

LUS stays ITHOCLES.

Org. Shall I be bold, my lord?

Ith. Thou canst not, Orgilus.

Call me thine own; for Prophilus must hence-

forth

Be all thy sister's: friendship, though it cease

not 100

In marriage, yet is oft at less command

Than when a single freedom can dispose it.

Org. Most right, my most good lord, my most

great lord,

My gracious princely lord, I might add, royal.

Ith. Royal! A subject royal?

Org. Why not, pray, sir? 105

The sovereignty of kingdoms in their nonage

Stoop'd to desert, not birth; there 's as much

merit

In clearness of affection as in puddle

Of generation: you have conquer'd love

Even in the loveliest; if I greatly err not, 110

The son of Venus hath bequeath'd his quiver

To Ithocles his manage,2 by whose arrows

Calantha's breast is open'd.

Ith. Can't be possible?

Org. I was myself a piece of suitor once

And forward in preferment too; so forward 115

That, speaking truth, I may without offence,

sir,

Presume to whisper that my hopes, and — hark

ye —

My certainty of marriage stood assured

With as firm footing — by your leave — as

any's

Now at this very instant — but —

Ith. 'T is granted: 120

And for a league of privacy between us,

Read o'er my bosom and partake a secret;

The princess is contracted mine.

Org. Still, why not?

I now applaud her wisdom: when your king-

dom

Stands seated in your will, secure and settled, 125

I dare pronounce you will be a just monarch;

Greece must admire and tremble.

Ith. Then the sweetness

Of so imparadis'd a comfort, Orgilus!

It is to banquet with the gods.

Org. The glory

Of numerous children, potency of nobles, 130

Bent knees, hearts pav'd to tread on!

Ith. With a friendship

So dear, so fast as thine.

Org. I am unfitting

For office; but for service —

Ith. We 'll distinguish

Our fortunes merely in the title; partners

In all respects else but the bed.

Org. The bed! 135

Forfend it Jove's own jealousy! — till lastly

We slip down in the common earth together,

And there our beds are equal; save some mon-

ument

To show this was the king, and this the sub-

ject. — Soft sad music.

List, what sad sounds are these, — extremely

sad ones? 140

Ith. Sure, from Penthea's lodgings.

Org. Hark! a voice too.

A SONG [within].

O, no more, no more, too late

Sighs are spent; the burning tapers

Of a life as chaste as fate,

Pure as are unwritten papers,

Are burnt out: no heat, no light

Now remains; 't is ever night.

Love is dead; let lovers' eyes,

Lock'd in endless dreams,

Th' extremes of all extremes, 150

Ope no more, for now Love dies,

Now Love dies, — implying

Love's martyrs must be ever, ever dying.

Ith. O, my misgiving heart!

Org. A horrid stillness

Succeeds this deathful air; let 's know tho rea-

son: 155

Tread softly; there is mystery in mourning.

Exeunt. ____________________

1 Q. to. 2 To the control of Ithocles.

793

ACT V

SCENE I. 1

Enter BASSANES, alone.

Bass. Athens — to Athens I have sent, the

nursery

Of Greece for learning and the fount of know-

ledge;

For here in Sparta there 's not left amongst us

One wise man to direct; we 're all turn'd mad-

caps.

'T is said Apollo is the god of herbs, 5

Then certainly he knows the virtue of 'em:

To Delphos I have sent too. If there can be

A help for nature, we are sure yet.

Enter ORGILUS.

Org. Honour

Attend thy counsels ever!

Bass. I beseech thee

With all my heart, let me go from thee quietly;

I will not aught to do with thee, of all men. 11

The doubles 2 of a hare, — or, in a morning,

Salutes from a splay-footed witch, — to drop

Three drops of blood at th' nose just and no

more, —

Croaking of ravens, or the screech of owls, 15

Are not so boding mischief as thy crossing

My private meditations. Shun me, prithee;

And if I cannot love thee heartily,

I'll love thee as well as I can.

Org. Noble Bassanes,

Mistake me not.

Bass. Phew! then we shall be troubled. 20

Thou wert ordain'd my plague — heaven make

me thankful,

And give me patience too, heaven, I beseech

thee.

Org. Accept a league of amity; for hence-

forth,

I vow, by my best genius, in a syllable,

Never to speak vexation. I will study 25

Service and friendship, with a zealous sorrow

For my past incivility towards ye.

Bass. Hey-day, good words, good words! I

must believe 'em,

And be a coxcomb for my labour.

Org. Use not

So hard a language; your misdoubt is cause-

less. 30

For instance, if you promise to put on

A constancy of patience, such a patience,

As chronicle or history ne'er mentioned,

As follows not example, but shall stand

A wonder and a theme for imitation, 35

The first, the index 3 pointing to a second,

I will acquaint ye with an unmatch'd secret,

Whose knowledge to your griefs shall set a pe-

riod.

Bass. Thou canst not, Orgilus; 't is in the

power

Of the gods only: yet, for satisfaction, 40

Because I note an earnest in thine utterance,

Unforc'd and naturally free, be resolute 4

The virgin-bays shall not withstand the light-

ning

With a more careless danger than my constancy

The full of thy relation. Could it move 45

Distraction in a senseless marble statue,

It should find me a rock: I do expect now

Some truth of unheard moment.

Org. To your patience

You must add privacy, as strong in silence

As mysteries lock'd-up in Jove's own bosom. 50

Bass. A skull hid in the earth a treble age

Shall sooner prate.

Org. Lastly, to such direction

As the severity of a glorious action

Deserves to lead your wisdom and your judg-

ment,

You ought to yield obedience.

Bass. With assurance 55

Of will and thankfulness.

Org. With manly courage

Please, then, to follow me.

Bass. Where'er, I fear not.

Exeunt omnes.

SCENE II. 5

Loud music. Enter GRONEAS and HEMOPHIL,

leading EUPHRANEA; CHRISTALLA and PHI-

LEMA, leading PROPHILUS; NEARCHUS sup-

porting CALANTHA; CROTOLON and AMELUS.

Cease loud music; all make a stand.

Cal. We miss our servant Ithocles and Orgilus;

On whom attend they?

Crot. My son, gracious princess,

Whisper'd some new device, to which these revels

Should be but usher: wherein I conceive

Lord Ithocles and himself are actors. 5

Cal. A fair excuse for absence: as for Bass-

anes,

Delights to him are troublesome: Armostes

Is with the king ?

Crot. He is.

Cal. On to the dance! —

Dear cousin, hand you the bride; the bride-

groom must be

Intrusted to my courtship, Be not jealous, 10

Euphranea; I shall scarcely prove a tempt-

ress. —

Fall to our dance.

MUSIC.

NEARCHUS dances with EUPHRANEA, PROPHI-

LUS with CALANTHA, CHRISTALLA with HEM-

OPHIL, PHILEMA with GRONEAS.

They dance the first change; during which AR-

MOSTES enters.

Arm. (in CALANTHA'S ear.) The king your

father's dead.

Cal. To the other change.

Arm. Is't possible? They dance again.

Enter BASSANES.

Bass. [whispers CALANTHA.] O, madam!

Penthea, poor Penthea's starved.

____________________

1 A room in Bassanes' house. 2 Q. doublers. 3 The index-hand. 4 Satisfied. 5 A state-room in the palace.

795

Cal. Beshrew thee! —

Lead to the next.

Bass. Amazement dulls my senses. 15

They dance again.

Enter ORGILUS.

Org. [whispers CALANTHA.] Brave Ithocles is

murder'd, murder'd cruelly.

Cal. How dull this music sounds ! Strike up

more sprightly;

Our footings are not active like our heart,

Which treads the nimbler measure.

Org. I am thunderstruck.

The last change. Cease music.

Cal. So! let us breathe awhile. — Hath not

this motion, 20

Rais'd fresher colour on your cheeks?

Near. Sweet princess,

A perfect purity of blood enamels

The beauty of your white.

Cal. We all look cheerfully;

And, cousin, 't is, methinks, a rare presumption

In any who prefer our lawful pleasures 25

Before their own sour censure, t' interrupt

The custom of this ceremony bluntly.

Near. None dares, lady.

Cal. Yes, yes; some hollow voice deliver'd to me

How that the king was dead.

Arm. The king is dead: 30

That fatal news was mine; for in mine arms

He breath'd his last, and with his crown be-

queath'd ye

Your mother's wedding ring; which here I ten-

der.

Crot. Most strange!

Cal. Peace crown his ashes! We are queen,

then. 35

Near. Long live Calantha! Sparta's sovereign

queen!

All. Long live the queen!

Cal. What whispered Bassanes?

Bass. That my Penthea, miserable soul,

Was starv'd to death.

Cal. She's happy; she hath finish'd

A long and painful progress. — A third mur-

mur

Pierc'd mine unwilling ears.

Org. That Ithocles 41

Was murder'd; — rather butcher'd, had not

bravery

Of an undaunted spirit, conquering terror,

Proclaim'd his last act triumph over ruin.

Arm. How ! murder'd !

Cal. By whose hand?

Org. By mine; this weapon 45

Was instrument to my revenge: the reasons

Are just, and known; quit him of these, and

then

Never liv'd gentleman of greater merit,

Hope or abiliment 1 to steer a kingdom.

Crot. Fie, Orgilus!

Euph. Fie, brother!

Cal. You have done it? 50

Bass. How it was done let him report, the

forfeit

Of whose allegiance to our laws doth covet

Rigour of justice; but that done it is,

Mine eyes have been an evidence of credit

Too sure to be convinc'd. 2 Armostes, rent not

Thine arteries with hearing the bare circum-

stances 56

Of these calamities; thou 'st lost a nephew,

A niece, and I a wife: continue man still;

Make me the pattern of digesting evils

Who can outlive my mighty ones, not shrink-

ing 60

At such a pressure as would sink a soul

Into what's most of death, the worst of hor-

rors.

But I have seal'd a covenant with sadness,

And enter'd into bonds without condition,

To stand these tempests calmly; mark me,

nobles, 65

I do not shed a tear, not for Penthea!

Excellent misery!

Cal. We begin our reign

With a first act of justice: thy confession,

Unhappy Orgilus, dooms thee a sentence;

But yet thy father's or thy sister's presence 70

Shall be excus'd. — Give, Crotolon, a blessing

To thy lost son; — Euphranea, take a fare-

well; —

And both be gone.

Crot. [to ORGILUS.] Confirm thee, noble sor-

row

In worthy resolution!

Euph. Could my tears speak,

My griefs were slight.

Org. All goodness dwell amongst ye! 75

Enjoy my sister, Prophilus: my vengeance

Aim'd never at thy prejudice.

Cal. Now withdraw.

Exeunt CROTOLON, PROPHILUS, and EUPHRANEA.

Bloody relater of thy stains in blood,

For that thou hast reported him, whose for-

tunes

And life by thee are both at once snatch'd

from him, 80

With honourable mention, make thy choice

Of what death likes thee best; there's all our

bounty. —

But to excuse delays, let me, dear cousin,

Intreat you and these lords see execution

Instant before ye part.

Near. Your will commands us. 85

Org. One suit, just queen, my last : vouch-

safe your clemency,

That by no common hand I be divided

From this my humble frailty.

Cal. To their wisdoms

Who are to be spectators of thine end

I make the reference. Those that are dead 90

Are dead; had they not now died, of necessity

They must have paid the debt they ow'd to

nature

One time or other. — Use dispatch, my lords;

We'll suddenly prepare our coronation.

Exeunt CALANTHA, PHILEMA, and

CHRISTALLA.

____________________

1 Capacity. 2 Confuted.

796

Arm. 'T is strange these tragedies should

never touch on 95

Her female pity.

Bass. She has a masculine spirit;

And wherefore should I pule, and, like a girl,

Put finger in the eye? Let's be all toughness,

Without distinction betwixt sex and sex.

Near. Now, Orgilus, thy choice?

Org. To bleed to death. 100

Arm. The executioner?

Org. Myself, no surgeon;

I am well skill'd in letting blood. Bind fast

This arm, that so the pipes may from their con-

duits

Convey a full stream; here's a skilful instru-

ment. [Shows his dagger.]

Only I am a beggar to some charity 105

To speed me in this execution

By lending th' other prick to th' tother arm,

When this is bubbling life out.

Bass. I am for ye;

It most concerns my art, my care, my credit. —

Quick, fillet both his arms.

Org. Gramercy, friendship! 110

Such courtesies are real which flow cheerfully

Without an expectation of requital.

Reach me a staff in this hand.

[They give him a staff.]

— If a proneness

Or custom in my nature from my cradle

Had been inclin'd to fierce and eager blood-

shed, 115

A coward guilt, hid in a coward quaking,

Would have betray'd fame to ignoble flight

And vagabond pursuit of dreadful safety:

But look upon my steadiness, and scorn not

The sickness of my fortune, which, since Bass-

anes 120

Was husband to Penthea, had lain bed-rid.

We trifle time in words: — thus I show cunning

In opening of a vein too full, too lively.

[Pierces the vein with his dagger.]

Arm. Desperate courage!

[Near.] 1 Honourable infamy!

Hem. I tremble at the sight.

Gro. Would I were loose! 125

Bass. It sparkles like a lusty wine new

broacht;

The vessel must be sound from which it is-

sues. —

Grasp hard this other stick — I'll be as nim-

ble —

But prithee, look not pale — have at ye! stretch

out

Thine arm with vigour and [with] 2 unshook vir-

tue. [Opens the vein.]

Good! O, I envy not a rival, fitted 131

To conquer in extremities. This pastime

Appears majestical; some high-tun'd poem

Hereafter shall deliver to posterity

The writer's glory and his subject's triumph. 135

How is 't, man? Droop not yet.

Org. I feel no palsies.

On a pair-royal do I wait in death;

My sovereign, as his liegeman; on my mistress,

As a devoted servant; and on Ithocles,

As if no brave, yet no unworthy enemy. 140

Nor did I use an engine to entrap

His life, out of a slavish fear to combat

Youth, strength, or cunning; 3 but for that I

durst not

Engage the goodness of a cause on fortune,

By which his name might have outfac'd my

vengeance