Tec. Ah, Orgilus, Neglects in young men of delights and life At odds with nature, that I grudge the thrift Tec. Spirit of truth inspire thee! On these conditions I conceal thy change, Org. I to contemplations, [Erit. In these delightful walks.-Thus metamorphos'd, Ha! who are those that cross yon private walk Is Ithocles his friend: it strangely puzzles me- Re-enter PROPHILUS and EUPHRANIA. The span of this stolen time, lent by the gods To my Penthea: chastely honourable. Proph. Nor wants there more addition to my wish Of happiness, than having thee a wife, Org. But a brother More cruel than the grave. Euph. What can you look for, In answer to your noble protestations, Org. Hold out, Euphrania! [Aside Euph. Know, Prophilus, I never undervalued, Org. She is forsworn else- To Athens, had my oath. Org. Yes, yes, he had sure. Proph. I doubt not, with the means the court supplies, But to prevail at pleasure. Org. Very likely. Proph. Mean time, best, dearest, I may build my hopes On the foundation of thy constant sufferance Euph. Death shall sooner Divorce life, and the joys I have in living, I seal the like. Org. I am discover'd-Say it, is it possible- No, no; they'll out, they'll out; ye may as easily Proph. Observe him, sweet, 'tis but his re- Org. But will you hear a little? you're so tetchy, You keep no rule in argument; philosophy Works not upon impossibilities, But natural conclusions.-Mew!-absurd! Prove it; yet with a reverence to your gravity, These apish boys, when they but task the grammars, They can oppose their teachers. Confidence Proph. By your leave, sir. Euph. Are you a scholar, friend? With pardon of your deities, a mushroom, On whom the dew of heaven drops now and then: He is my master surely: yonder door Proph. Happy creatures! Such people toil not, sweet, in heats of state, Proph. Lady, a new conceit comes in my And most available for both our comforts. Euph. Occasion is most favourable; use it. Proph. Aplotes, wilt thou wait us twice-a-day At nine i'th morning, and at four at night, 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. Org. Jove make me thankful! thankful, I beseech thee, Propitious Jove !-I will prove sure and trusty. You will not fail me books? Proph. Nor aught besides, Thy heart can wish. This lady's name's Euphrania, Mine Prophilus. Org. I have a pretty memory, It must prove my best friend. I will not miss One minute of the hours appointed. Proph. Write The books thou would'st have brought thee in a note, Or take thyself some money. Org. No, no money; Money to scholars is a spirit invisible, We dare not finger it: or books, or nothing. Proph. Books of what sort thou wilt: do not forget Our names. We'll feed thy torches with eternal fires. [Exeunt PROPH. and EUPH. They die too basely, who out-live their glories. ACT II. SCENE I.-A Room at Bassanes' House. Enter BASSANES and PHULAS. Bass. I'll have that window next the street damm'd up; It gives too full a prospect to temptation, That gaudy earwig, or my lord, your patron, Phul. Care shall be had; I will turn every thread About me to an eye. Here's a sweet life! Bass. The city house-wives, cunning in the traffic Of chamber merchandise, set all at price By wholesale; yet they wipe their mouths and simper, Cull, kiss, and cry sweetheart, and stroke the head Which they have branch'd, and all is well again. Dull clods of dirt, who dare not feel the rubs Struck on their foreheads! Phul. 'Tis a villainous world, One cannot hold his own in't. Buss. Dames at court, Who flaunt in riots, run another bias: By such unlawful hire. The country mistress Phul. O my lord, Phul. Moreover, please your lordship, 'tis re- For certain, that whoever is found jealous, Bass. Antick, no more! ideots and stupid fools Phul. The horn of plenty crest him! [Exit PHULAS. Bass. Swarms of confusion huddle in my thoughts In rare distemper. Beauty! O it is An unmatch'd blessing, or a horrid curse. Enter PENTHEA, and GRAUSIS, an old Lady. She comes, she comes; so shoots the morning forth, Spangled with pearls of transparent dew! The way to poverty is to be rich; As I in her am wealthy, but for her, In all contents a bankrupt.-Lov'd Penthea, How fares my heart's best joy? Gra. In sooth not well, She is so over sad. Bass. Leave chattering, magpye.Thy brother is return'd, sweet; safe, and honour'd With a triumphant victory: thou shall visit him; We will to court, where, if it be thy pleasure, Thou shalt appear in such a ravishing lustre Of jewels above value, that the dames Who brave it there, in rage to be outshin'd, Shall hide them in their closets, and, unseen, Fret in their tears; while every wond'ring eye Shall crave none other brightness but thy presence. Choose thine own recreations, be a queen Of what delights thou fancies best, what company, What place, what times; do any thing, do all things Youth can command, so thou wilt chase these clouds From the pure firmament of thy fair looks. Gra. Now, 'tis well said, my lord. What, lady? laugh, Be merry, time is precious. Bass. Furies whip thee! Penth. Alas, my lord! this language to your handmaid Sounds as would music to the deaf: I need By laying out their plenty to full view, It is too melancholy, we'll remove Bass. Grausis, You are a juggling bawd!—This sadness, sweetest, Becomes not youthful blood.-I'll have you pounded ;[Aside to GRAUSIS. For my sake put on a more chearful mirth; Thou'lt mar thy cheeks, and make me old in griefs. Damnable bitch-fox! [To GRAUSIS. Gra. I am thick of hearing, 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. I'll spit thee on a stake, Or chop thee into collops! Gra. Pray, speak louder. Sure, sure the wind blows south still. Penth. Thou prat'st madly. Ith. Ambition! 'tis of viper's breed; it gnaws A passage through the womb, that gave it motion. Ambition, like a seeled dove, mounts upward, Bass. 'Tis very hot; I sweat extremely. Higher and higher, still to perch on clouds, Now? But tumbles headlong down with heavier ruin. Enter ARMOSTES and CROTOLON. Crot. Yet not so ripe, My lord Armostes, that it dares to dote Ith. Not yet Resolved, my lord? Why, if your son's consent As if mine own blood had an interest in it; Crot. My lord, my lord !— Ith. What, good sir? speak your thought. Crot. Had this sincerity been real once, My Orgilus had not been now unwived, 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. You're bold and bitter. Ith. He presses home the injury, it smarts: No reprehensions, uncle; I deserve them.Yet, gentle sir, consider what the heat Of an unsteady youth, a giddy brain, 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; 'twas a fault, A capital fault, for then I could not dive Into the secrets of commanding love: Since when experience, by th' extremities in others, Hath forc'd ine to collect. And trust me, Crotolon, I will redeem those wrongs with any service Your satisfaction can require for current. Arm. Thy acknowledgment is satisfaction. What would you more? Crot. I'm conquer'd: if Euphrania 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. Enter BASSANES, PROPHILUS, CALANTHA, PENTHEA, EUPHRANIA, CHRYSTALLA, PHILEMA, and GRAUSIS. Arm. The princess, with your sister. A stranger here in court, my lord: for did not Holds too severe a passion in your nature, Bass. 'Tis her will, She governs her own hours. Noble Ithocles, Else we had waited on you with the first. Pen. You best know, brother, From whom my health and comforts are derived. Bass. [Aside.] I like the answer well; 'tis sad and modest. There may be tricks yet, tricks- -Have an eye, Grausis ! Arm. With condition, that his son; Favour the contract. Cal. Such delay is easy. The joys of marriage make thee, Prophilus, Proph. Most sweetly gracious. 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? 'Twould puzzle all the gods, but to create Such a new monster :-I can speak by proof, For I rest in Elysium; 'tis my happiness. Crot. Euphranea, how are you resolv'd, (speak freely,) In your affections to this gentleman? Euph. No more nor less than as his love as Cal. Now, Crotolon, the suit we join'd in must And this same whoreson court-ease is temptation To a rebellion in the veins :-Besides |