But I come furnished with what will stop Nov. sen. Yes, 'tis my son's. Rom. May it please your lordships, read it, And yet but that 'tis fit I spare the dead- Enter Officers with AYMER, FLORIMEL, and Charmi. Have they ta'en their oaths? Rom. They have, and, rather than endure the rack, Confess the time, the meeting, nay the act; What would you more? Only this matron made A free discovery to a good end; And therefore I sue to the court, she may not Be placed in the black list of the delinquents. Pont. I see by this, Novall's revenge needs me, And I shall do Charmi. 'Tis evident. Nov. sen. That I Till now was never wretched: Here's no place To curse him or my stars. [Exit NOVALL sen. Charmi. Lord Charalois, The injuries you have sustained appear The letter of the law, they yet acquit you. Pont. But, in Novall, I do condemn him-thus. [Stabs him. Char. I am slain ! Rom. Can I look on? Oh, murderous wretch! Thy challenge now I answer. So! die with him. [Stabs PONTALIER. Charmi. A guard! disarm him. Rom. I yield up my sword Unforced-Oh, Charalois ! Char. For shame, Romont! Mourn not for him that dies as he hath lived, Still constant and unmoved; what's fallen upon me, Is by Heaven's will, because I made myself Pont. I receive The vengeance, which my love, not built on virtue, Has made me worthy, worthy of. Charmi. We're taught [Dies. By this sad precedent, how just soever [Exeunt. VOL. I. R THE BROKEN HEART. BY FORD. AMYCLAS, THE SPEAKERS' NAMES FITTED TO THEIR QUALITIES,* Common to the kings of Laconia. ITHOCLES, Honour of loveliness, a favorite. ORGILUS, Angry, son to Crotolon. BASSANES, Veration, a jealous nobleman. ARMOSTES, An appeaser, a counsellor of state. CROTOLON, Noise, another counsellor, PROPHILUS, Dear, friend to Ithocles. NEARCHUS, Young Prince, prince of Argos. TECNICUS, Artist, a philosopher. HEMOPHIL, Glutton, GRONEAS, Tavernhunter, Two courtiers, AMELUS, Trusty, friend to Nearchus. SCENE.-Sparta. PERSONS INCLUDED. Fierceness, father of Ithocles. Simplicity, Orgilus so disguised. * This whimsical enumeration of the Dramatis Personæ has been carefully preserved from the old copy. ACT I. Partly by threats, he wooes, at once, and forces, SCENE I.-An Apartment in the House of His virtuous sister to admit a marriage CROTOLON. Enter CROTOLON and ORGILUS. Crot. Dally not further; I will know the reason, That speeds thee to this journey. I can yield many. Crot. Give me one, a good one, Such I expect, and e'er we part must have: Touching the commonwealth? for, as I take it, Org. All this I acknowledge. With Bassanes, a nobleman, in honour Org. Now it follows, Beauteous Penthea, wedded to this torture Crot. As how, pray? Org. Bassanes, The man that calls her wife, considers tru Crot. You do? Then, son, if books and love What heaven of perfections he is lord of, of knowledge Inflame you to this travel, here in Sparta You may as freely study. Org. 'Tis not that, sir. By thinking fair Penthea his: This thought Begets a kind of monster love, which love Is nurse unto a fear so strong, and servile, As brands all dotage with a jealousy, Crot. Not that, sir? As a father, I command All eyes who gaze upon that shrine of beauty, thee To acquaint me with the truth. Org. Thus I obey you: After so many quarrels, as dissentions, Fury, and rage, had broach'd in blood, and sometimes With death to such confederates, as sided With now dead Thrasus, and yourself, my lord, Our present king Amyclas reconciled Your eager swords, and seal'd a gentle peace: Friends you profess'd yourselves, which to confirm, A resolution for a lasting league Me and the fair Penthea, only daughter To Thrasus. Crot. What of this? Org. Much, much, dear sir. A freedom of converse, an interchange Crot. Most certain. Org. From this time sprouted up that poisonous stalk Of aconite, whose ripen❜d fruit hath ravished He doth resolve, do homage to the miracle; So much out of a self unworthiness Crot. You spin out your discourse. I undertake a voluntary exile. First, by my absence to take off the cares Crot. Enough, my Orgilus, enough: To Athens Org. Often. Crot. See, Euphrania'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 On any living. Org. Dear Euphrania, Mistake me not; far, far, 'tis from my thought, Euph. You have; but mean you, brother, Crot. Aye, aye, Euphrania : He has just grounds direct him: I will prove Euph. Heaven Does look into the secrets of all hearts: Crot. Doubt nothing, Thy brother will return in safety to us. Örg. Souls sunk in sorrows never are without them; They change fresh airs, but bear their griefs about them. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-A Room in the Palace. A Flourish. Enter AMYCLAS the king, ARMOSTES, PROPHILUS, and attendants. Amy. The Spartan gods are gracious; our humility Shall bend before their altars, and perfume See, lords, Amyclas, your old king, is entering This silver badge of age, and change this snow Armo. May old time Run back to double your long life, great sir! Amy. It will, it must, Armostes; thy bold ne phew, Death-braving Ithocles, brings to our gates Most gracious sovereign; twenty of the noblest Amy. When comes your friend, the general? To follow with all speed convenient. Enter CROTOLON, CALANTHA, CHRYSTALLA, PHILEMA and EUPHRANIA. Amy. Our daughter?-Dear Calantha, the happy news, The conquest of Messene, hath already Calan. With the circumstance And manner of the fight, related faithfully Pro. Excellent princess, Your own fair eyes may soon report a truth Cal. Your friend. Proph. He is so, madam, In which the period of my fate consists; Crot. You describe A miracle of man. Amy. Such, Crotolon, On forfeit of a king's word, thou wilt find him: Hark, warning of his coming; all attend him ! [Flourish. Enter ITHOCLES; HEMAPHIL, and GRONEAS, and the rest of the Lords, ushering him in. Amy. Return into these arms, thy home, thy sanctuary, Delight of Sparta, treasure of my bosom, Itho. Your humble subject. Armo. Proud of the blood I claim an interest in, As brother to thy mother, I embrace thee, Right noble nephew. Itho. Sir, your love's too partial. Crot. Our country speaks by me, who, by thy valour, Wisdom, and service, shares in this great action; Itho. You exceed in bounty. Cal. Chrystalla, Philema, the chaplet!-Ithocles, Upon the wings of fame, the singular And chosen fortune of an high attempt Is borne so past the view of common sight, Itho. You're a royal maid. Amy. She is, in all, our daughter. Itho. Let me blush, Acknowledging how poorly I have served, Pray, in earnest, how many men a-piece You heard the general's approbation Christ. You wish'd your country peace; That shew'd your charity: where are your spoils, What nothings I have done, compar'd with the Such as the soldier fights for? honours Heap'd on the issue of a willing mind; Cal. He speaks truth. Is pleas'd to stile victorious, there, to such, When as indeed, each common soldier's blood But resolution executes. I use not, en'd By many hands. For instance, here is Prophilus, A gentleman, (I cannot flatter truth,) Of much desert; and, though in other rank, Observe your great example. After these toils is needful; we must think on Euphr. [To Prophilus.] Sir, with your favour, I need not a supporter. Proph. Fate instructs me. [Exeunt. Manent HEMOPHIL, detaining CHRISTALLA, and GRONEAS, PHILEMA. Christ. With me? Phil. Indeed, I dare not stay. Hemo. Sweet lady, Soldiers are blunt; your lip. Christ. Fye, this is rudeness: You went not hence such creatures. Gron. Spirit of valour Is of a mounting nature. Phil. It appears so.— Phil. They are coming. Christ. By the next carrier, are they not? Gron. 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 altogether. Gron. Then I would with a sigh remember thee, And cry," dear Philema, 'tis 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 I'll Phil. By Vulcan, you're forsworn, Except my mind do alter strangely. Gron. One word. Christ. Youlie beyond all modesty; forbear me! Hemo. I'll make thee mistress of a city, 'tis Mine own by conquest. Christ. By petition; sue for't In forma pauperis.-City? kennell.-Gallants, Christ. Practise to drill hogs, in hope More wit, or more civility, we'll rank ye I'th' list of men: till then, brave things at arms, Dare not to speak to us, most potent Groneas!Phil. And Hemophil the hardy! At your ser |