* 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, So grave an honour. 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 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 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 poison- 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. For, knowing how the maid was heretofore 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, Thy sister comes to give a farewell. Enter EUPHRANIA. Euph. Brother! Org. Euphrania, 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, I must prefer a suit t' you. Euph. You may stile it, My brother, a command. Org. That you will promise To pass never to any man, however worthy, Crot. An easy motion; I'll promise for her, Orgilus. Euphrania's oath must yield me satisfaction. 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, Not to advance thy merit. Trust me, sister, Euph. You have; but mean you, brother, To leave us, as you say? Crot. Aye, aye, Euphrania : He has just grounds direct him: I will prove Euph. Heaven Does look into the secrets of all hearts: Gods, you have mercy with ye! else 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 Where didst thou leave him, Prophilus? 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 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 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 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, What nothings I have done, compar'd with the honours Heap'd on the issue of a willing mind; Cal. He speaks truth. Itho. Whom heaven Is pleas'd to stile victorious, there, to such, When as indeed, each common soldier's blood But resolution executes. I use not, Except my mind do alter strangely. Christ. You lie beyond all modesty; forbear me! Hemo. I'll make thee mistress of a city, 'tis Mine own by conquest. All praise to one man's fortune, which is strength-In 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.— Christ. By petition; sue for't forma pauperis.-City? kennell.-Gallants, Off with your feathers; put on aprons, gallants, Learn to reel thrums or trim a lady's dog, And be good quiet souls of peace, hobgoblins! Hemo. Christalla! Christ. Practise to drill hogs, in hope More wit, or more civility, we'll rank ye vices. 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. |