Sent us a daughter, in whose birth our hope I come not hither roughly to demand Cal. Princely sir, So well you know how to profess observance, Near. Chief, glorious virgin, In my devotion, 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. Amy. You told me, Crotolon, your son's returned 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 Euphrania Tastes of too much delay. Crot. My lord Amy. Some pleasures, At celebration of it, would give life To th' entertainment of the prince, our kinsman: Our court wears gravity more than we relish. Arm. Yet the Heavens smile on all your high attempts, Without a cloud. Crot. So may the gods protect us! Near. Yes; to beauty's sceptre As all hearts kneel, so mine. Cal. You are too courtly. Enter ITHOCLES, ORGILUS, PROPHILUS. Ith. Your safe return to Sparta is most wel 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. Crot. My son preferr'd by Ithocles? [Aside. Shall open to thee, Orgilus; for instance, Org. Your highness honours me. Near. My tongue and heart are twins. Becoming such a father.--Worthy Orgilus, Still rise in your opinion, sacred princess. Near. We embrace him, Proud of so dear acquaintance. Amy. All prepare For revels and disport; the joys of Hymen, All mists of dulness: crown the hours with glad Enter CROTOLON and ORGILUS. Crot. The king hath spoke his mind. But were it lawful to hold plea against The power of greatness, not the reason, haply That licence sovereignty holds without check Crot. How resolve you, Touching your sister's marriage? Prophilus Org. I envy not his merit, but applaud it ; Crot. Son, son, I find in thee a harsh condition, No courtesy can win it; 'tis too rancorous. Org. Good sir, be not severe in your construe tion, I am no stranger to such easy calms As sit in tender bosoms: Lordly Ithocles Crot. Since I will have it so? Friend, I will Without our ruin by your politic plots, Some such hobgoblin hurried you from Athens, Org. If unwelcome, I might have found a grave there. Was soon dispatch'd, or your mind altered quickly. Org. 'Twas care, sir, of my health, cut short my journey; For there, a general infection Crot. And I fear SONG. Comforts lasting, loves increasing, 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; 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, Crown this bridegroom and this bride. Proph. You have seal'd joy close to my soul: Now I may call thee mine. Will please to grace a poor invention, Hem. With thankful willingness Gro. No endeavour Of mine shall fail to shew itself. All join to wait on thy direction, Orgilus. wards Cal. You feed too much your melancholy. Of human greatness are but pleasing dreams, Cal. Contemn not your condition for the proof Pen. To place before ye A perfect mirror, wherein you may see Cal. Indeed Cal. To whom that? A faith as humbly perfect, as the prayers Cal. Shall I answer here, Pen. First his heart Shall fall in cinders, scorch'd by your disdain, Cal. What new change Pen. I must leave the world To wish my brother some advantage here; Cal. You have forgot, Penthea, Pen. To virgin-wives, such as abuse not wed- How still I have a father. lock By freedom of desires, but covet chiefly Cal. A second jewel You mean to part with. Pen. 'Tis my fame; I trust, By scandal yet untouched: this I bequeath To Memory, and Time's old daughter Truth. If ever my unhappy name find mention, When I am fallen to dust, may it deserve Pen. But remember ACT IV. Cal. A toy. Near. Love feasts on toys, For Cupid is a child;-vouchsafe this bounty: It cannot be denied. Cal. You shall not value, Sweet cousin, at a price, what I count cheap : So cheap, that let him take it, who dares stoop for't, And give it at next meeting to a mistress; She'll thank him for't perhaps. [Casts the ring to ITHOCLES. Ame. The ring, sir, is The princess's; I could have took it up. Ith. Learn manners, pr'ythee.-To the blessed 1th. Look ye, uncle: Some such there are, whose liberal contents In flatteries of the night, exchange of dalliance; From her own hand. Arm. The princess threw it to you. Ith. True, and she said--well I remember what! Her cousin prince would beg it? Arm. Yes, and parted In anger at your taking on't. Ith. Penthea, Oh! thou hast pleaded with a powerful language: Arm. What is't you say? In anger let him part; for could his breath, Arm. Contain yourself, my lord: Ixion aim ing To embrace Juno, bosomed but a cloud, Ith. I thank ye; Yet, with your licence, I should seem uncharitable To gentler fate, if, relishing the dainties Arm. He deserves small trust, Enter NEARCHUS, ORGILUS, and AMELUS. Org. Your excellence mistakes his temper; Ame. Was't your modesty Term'd any of the prince's servants spaniel? Near. A gallant man at arms is here: a doc tor In feats of chivalry; blunt and rough-spoken, Org. No more, illustrious sir, 'tis matchless Near. You might have understood who I am. I did,--else--but the presence calmed th' affront; Near. To the king too; A certain instrument that lent supportance Ith. There is more divinity In beauty than in majesty. Remember what I told thee long before, Arm. Alas, good man! Tec. Let craft with courtesy awhile confer, Revenge proves its own executioner. Org. Dark sentences are for Apollo's priests: Near. This odd youth's pride turns heretick in I am not Oedipus. loyalty. Sirrah! low mushrooms never rival cedars. [Exeunt NEARCHUS and AMELUS. May bait a muzzled lion. Org. In point of honour Discretion knows no bounds. Amelus told me 'Twas all about a little ring. Ith. A ring The princess threw away, and I took up: To powder, he might sooner reach my heart I am extremely wronged. Org. A lady's favour Is not to be so slighted. Ith. Slighted? Arm. Quiet Tec. My hour is come; Cheer up the king: farewell to all.-O Sparta, 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 [Exeunt ITHOCLES and ARMOSTES. Org. Something oddly The bookman prated; yet he talked it weeping: Con it again;-For what? It shall not puzzle me; SCENE II.-A Room in the House of BASSANES. These vain unruly passions, which will render ye I will expect is quietness amongst ye: Into a madness. Take liberty at home, abroad at all times, |