The Broken Heart Broken Heart The EMOTHE0354

Source text for this digital edition:
Ford, John. The Broken Heart. In: Brooke, Charles F. Tucker; Paradise, Nathaniel Burton (ed.). English Drama 1580-1642. Boston: Heath, 1933.

For this digital edition, speech prefixes have been expanded.

With the support of research project GVAICO2016-094, funded by Generalitat Valenciana (2016-2017).

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The Speakers' Names, Fitted To Their Qualities

Amyclas Common to the Kings of Laconia

Ithocles Honour of loveliness, a Favourite

Orgilus Angry, son to Crotolon

Bassanes Vexation, a jealous Nobleman

Armostes an Appeaser, a Councillor of State

Crotolon Noise, another Councillor

Prophilus Dear, Friend to Ithocles

Nearchus Young Prince, Prince of Argos

Tecnicus Artist, a Philosopher

Lemophil Glutton, }

Groneas Tavern-haunter, } two Courtiers

Amelus Trusty, Friend to Nearchus

Phulas Watchful, Servant to Bassanes

Calantha Flower of beauty, the King's Daughter

Penthea Complaint, Sister to Ithocles [and Wife to Bassanes]

Euphranea Joy, a Maid of honour [Daughter to Crotolon]

Christalla Christal, }

Philema A Kiss, } Maids of honour

Grausis Old Beldam, Overseer of Penthea

Thrasus Fierceness, Father of Ithocles

Aplotes Simplicity, Orgilus so disguised

Both

Sparta

The Prologue

Our scene is Sparta. He whose best of art

Hath drawn this piece calls it The Broken Heart.

The title lends no expectation here

Of apish laughter, or of some lame jeer

At place or persons; no pretended clause

Of jests fit for a brothel courts applause

From vulgar admiration: such low songs,

Tun'd to unchaste ears, suit not modest tongues.

The Virgin Sisters then deserv'd fresh bays,

When Innocence and Sweetness crown'd their lays;

Then vices gasp'd for breath, whose whole commerce

Was whipp'd to exile by unblushing verse.

This law we keep in our presentment now,

Not to take freedom more than we allow.

What may be here thought a fiction, when time's youth

Wanted some riper years, was known a truth:

In which, if words have cloth'd the subject right,

You may partake a pity with delight.

Actus Primus:

Scæna prima

[House of Crotolon]

Enter Crotolon and Orgilus

Crotolon

Dally not further; I will know the reason

That speeds thee to this journey.

Orgilus

Reason! good sir,

I can yield many.

Crotolon

Give me one, a good one;

Such I expect, and ere we part must have.

Athens! Pray, why to Athens? You intend not

To kick against the world, turn Cynic, Stoic?

Or read the logic lecture? or become

An Areopagite, and judge in causes

Touching the commonwealth? for, as I take it,

The budding of your chin cannot prognosticate

So grave an honour.

Orgilus

All this I acknowledge.

Crotolon

You do! Then, son, if books and love of knowledge

Inflame you to this travel, here in Sparta

You may as freely study.

Orgilus

'T is not that, sir.

Crotolon

Not that, sir! As a father, I command thee

To acquaint me with the truth.

Orgilus

Thus I obey ye.

After so many quarrels as dissension,

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, reconcil'd

Your eager swords and seal'd a gentle peace.

Friends you profess'd yourselves; which to confirm,

A resolution for a lasting league

Betwixt your families was entertain'd,

By joining in a Hymenean bond

Me and the fair Penthea, only daughter

To Thrasus.

Crotolon

What of this?

Orgilus

Much, much, dear sir.

A freedom of converse, an interchange

Of holy and chaste love, so fix'd our souls

In a firm growth of holy 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.

Crotolon

Most certain.

Orgilus

From this time sprouted up that poisonous stalk

Of aconite, whose ripen'd fruit hath ravish'd

All health, all comfort of a happy life;

For Ithocles, her brother, proud of youth,

And prouder in his power, nourish'd closely

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

And riches, I confess, beyond my fortunes.

Crotolon

All this is no sound reason to importune

My leave for thy departure.

Orgilus

Now it follows.

Beauteous Penthea, wedded to this torture

By an insulting brother, being secretly

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 thraldom, misery,

Affliction, that he savours not humanity,

Whose sorrow melts not into more than pity

In hearing but her name.

Crotolon

As how, pray?

Orgilus

Bassanes,

The man that calls her wife, considers truly

What heaven of perfections he is lord of

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:

All eyes who gaze upon that shrine of beauty,

He doth resolve, do homage to the miracle;

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

If opportunity but sort, prevail.

So much, out of a self-unworthiness,

His fears transport him; not that he finds cause

In her obedience, but his own distrust.

Crotolon

You spin out your discourse.

Orgilus

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

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;

Lastly, to lose the memory of something

Her presence makes to live in me afresh.

Crotolon

Enough, my Orgilus, enough. To Athens!

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

We shall hear from thee often?

Orgilus

Often.

Crotolon

See,

Thy sister comes to give a farewell.

Enter Euphranea

Euphranea

Brother!

Orgilus

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,

I must prefer a suit t' ye.

Euphranea

You may style it,

My brother, a command.

Orgilus

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.

Crotolon

An easy motion!

I'll promise for her, Orgilus.

Orgilus

Your pardon;

Euphranea's oath must yield me satisfaction.

Euphranea

By Vesta's sacred fires I swear.

Crotolon

And I,

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

100

Not without thy allowance to bestow her

101

On any living.

Orgilus

Dear Euphranea,

102

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

103

As far from any wish of mine, to hinder

104

Preferment to an honourable bed

105

Or fitting fortune. Thou art young and handsome;

106

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

107

Not to advance thy merit. Trust me, sister,

108

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

109

As may become thy choice and our contents.

110

I have your oath.

Euphranea

You have. But mean you, brother,

111

To leave us, as you say?

Crotolon

Ay, ay, Euphranea.

112

He has just grounds direct him. I will prove

113

A father and a brother to thee.

Euphranea

Heaven

114

Does look into the secrets of all hearts.

115

Gods, you have mercy with ye, else —

Crotolon

Doubt nothing;

116

Thy brother will return in safety to us.

Orgilus

117

Souls sunk in sorrows never are without 'em;

118

They change fresh airs, but bear their griefs about 'em.

Exeunt omnes.

Scene 2

[The Court]

Flourish. Enter Amyclas the King, Armostes, Prophilus, and Attendants

Amyclas

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

This silver badge of age, and change this snow

For hairs as gay as are Apollo's locks.

Our heart leaps in new vigour.

Armostes

May old time

Run back to double your long life, great sir!

Amyclas

It will, it must, Armostes. Thy bold nephew,

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

To Lacedæmon'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?

Prophilus

At Pephon,

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.

Amyclas

When comes your friend, the general?

Prophilus

He promis'd

To follow with all speed convenient.

Enter Crotolon, Calantha, Christalla, Philema [with a garland] and Euphranea

Amyclas

Our daughter! — Dear Calantha, the happy news,

The conquest of Messene, hath already

Enrich'd thy knowledge.

Calantha

With the circumstance

And manner of the fight, related faithfully

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

How doth the youthful general demean

His actions in these fortunes?

Prophilus

Excellent princess,

Your own fair eyes may soon report a truth

Unto your judgment, with what moderation,

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.

But Ithocles —

Calantha

Your friend —

Prophilus

He is so, madam,

In which the period of my fate consists:

He, in this firmament of honour, stands

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

Of popular applause or sudden lightning

Of self-opinion. He hath serv'd his country,

And thinks 't was but his duty.

Crotolon

You describe

A miracle of man.

Amyclas

Such, Crotolon,

Flourish.

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

Hark, warning of his coming! All attend him.

Enter Ithocles, Lemophil, 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!

Ithocles

Your humblest subject.

Armostes

Proud of the blood I claim an interest in,

As brother to thy mother, I embrace thee,

Right noble nephew.

Ithocles

Sir, your love 's too partial.

Crotolon

Our country speaks by me, who by thy valour,

Wisdom, and service, shares in this great action;

Returning thee, in part of thy due merits,

A general welcome.

Ithocles

You exceed in bounty.

Calantha

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,

To crown thy temples, this provincial garland:

Accept, wear, and enjoy it as our gift

Deserv'd, not purchas'd.

Ithocles

Y' are a royal maid.

Amyclas

She is in all our daughter.

Ithocles

Let me blush,

Acknowledging how poorly I have serv'd,

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,

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?

Calantha

'A speaks truth.

Ithocles

Whom heaven

Is pleas'd to style victorious, there to such

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 purchase

As his whose much more delicate condition

Hath suck'd the milk of ease. Judgment commands,

But resolution executes. I use not,

Before this royal presence, these fit slights

As in contempt of such as can direct;

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,

Both Lemophil 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.

Amyclas

Courtiers turn soldiers! — We vouchsafe our hand.

[Lemophil and Groneas kiss his hand.]

100

Observe your great example.

Lemophil

With all diligence.

Groneas

101

Obsequiously and hourly.

Amyclas

Some repose

102

After these toils are needful. We must think on

103

Conditions for the conquer'd; they expect 'em.

104

On! — Come, my Ithocles.

Euphranea

Sir, with your favour,

105

I need not a supporter.

Prophilus

Fate instructs me.

Exeunt. Manent Lemophil, Groneas, Christalla, et Philema. Lemophil stays Christalla, Groneas Philema.

Christalla

106

With me?

Philema

Indeed, I dare not stay.

Lemophil

Sweet lady,

107

Soldiers are blunt, — your lip.

Christalla

Fie, this is rudeness:

108

You went not hence such creatures.

Groneas

Spirit of valour

109

Is of a mounting nature.

Philema

It appears so. —

110

Pray, in earnest, how many men apiece

111

Have you two been the death of?

Groneas

'Faith, not many;

112

We were compos'd of mercy.

Lemophil

For our daring,

113

You have heard the general's approbation

114

Before the king.

Christalla

You "wish'd your country's peace":

115

That show'd your charity. Where are your spoils,

116

Such as the soldier fights for?

Philema

They are coming.

Christalla

117

By the next carrier, are they not?

Groneas

Sweet Philema,

118

When I was in the thickest of mine enemies,

119

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

120

Another's arms and legs, —

Philema

And all together.

Groneas

121

Then would I with a sigh remember thee,

122

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

123

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

124

With all thy heart now?

Philema

Now as heretofore.

125

I have not put my love to use; the principal

126

Will hardly yield an interest.

Groneas

By Mars,

127

I'll marry thee!

Philema

By Vulcan, y' are forsworn,

128

Except my mind do alter strangely.

Groneas

One word.

Christalla

129

You lie beyond all modesty: — forbear me.

Lemophil

130

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

131

Mine own by conquest.

Christalla

By petition; sue for 't

132

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

133

Off with your feathers, put on aprons, gallants;

134

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

135

And be good quiet souls of peace, hobgoblins!

Lemophil

136

Christalla!

Christalla

Practise to drill hogs, in hope

137

To share in the acorns. — Soldiers! corncutters,

138

But not so valiant: they ofttimes draw blood,

139

Which you durst never do. When you have practis'd

140

More wit or more civility, we'll rank ye

141

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

142

Dare not to speak to us, — most potent Groneas! —

Philema

143

And Lemophil the hardy! — at your services.

Exeunt Christalla and Philema.

Groneas

144

They scorn us as they did before we went.

Lemophil

145

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

Groneas

146

Shall we?

Lemophil

147

We will: and when we slight them thus,

148

Instead of following them, they'll follow us;

149

It is a woman's nature.

Groneas

'T is a scurvy one.

Exeunt omnes.

Scene 3

[Grove near the palace]

Enter Tecnicus, a philosopher, and Orgilus disguised like a Scholar of his

Tecnicus

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

Down to thy thoughts. In thy aspect I note

A consequence of danger.

Orgilus

Give me leave,

Grave Tecnicus, without foredooming destiny,

Under thy roof to ease my silent griefs

By applying to my hidden wounds the balm

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.

Tecnicus

Ah, Orgilus,

Neglects in young men of delights and life

Run often to extremities; they care not

For harms to others who contemn their own.

Orgilus

But I, most learned artist, am not so much

At odds with nature that I grutch the thrift

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

Some little time to any other cause

Than what I justly render, — the information

Of an unsettled mind; as the effect

Must clearly witness.

Tecnicus

Spirit of truth inspire thee!

On these conditions I conceal thy change,

And willingly admit thee for an auditor. —

I'll to my study.

Orgilus

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.

Love, thou art full of mystery! The deities

Themselves are not secure 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

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 Euphranea, and whispering

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

With Prophilus: supported too! I Would

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.

Enter again Prophilus and Euphranea

Prophilus

Do not waste

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

For precious use, in niceness. Bright Euphranea,

Should I repeat old vows, or study new,

For purchase of belief to my desires, —

Orgilus

[Aside.]

Desires!

Prophilus

My service, my integrity, —

Orgilus

[Aside.]

That's better.

Prophilus

I should but repeat a lesson

Oft conn'd without a prompter but thine eyes.

My love is honourable.

Orgilus

[Aside]

So was mine

To my Penthea, chastely honourable.

Prophilus

Nor wants there more addition to my wish

Of happiness than having thee a wife;

Already sure of Ithocles, a friend

Firm and unalterable.

Orgilus

[Aside.]

But a brother

More cruel than the grave.

Euphranea

What can you look for,

In answer to your noble protestations,

From an unskilful maid, but language suited

To a divided mind?

Orgilus

[Aside.]

Hold out, Euphranea!

Euphranea

Know, Prophilus, I never undervalu'd,

From the first time you mention'd worthy love,

Your merit, means, or person. It had been

A fault of judgment in me, and a dulness

In my affections, not to weigh and thank

My better stars that offer'd me the grace

Of so much blissfulness. For, to speak truth,

The law of my desires kept equal pace

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.

Orgilus

[Aside.]

She is forsworn else.

Prophilus

Leave me that task.

Euphranea

My brother, ere he parted

To Athens, had my oath.

Orgilus

[Aside.]

Yes, yes, 'a had, sure.

Prophilus

I doubt not, with the means the court supplies,

But to prevail at pleasure.

Orgilus

[Aside.]

Very likely!

Prophilus

Meantime, best, dearest, I may build my hopes

On the foundation of thy constant suff'rance

In any opposition.

Euphranea

Death shall sooner

Divorce life and the joys I have in living

Than my chaste vows from truth.

Prophilus

On thy fair hand

I seal the like.

Orgilus

[Aside.]

There is no faith in woman.

Passion, O, be contain'd! My very heartstrings

Are on the tenters.

Euphranea

Sir, we are overheard.

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

Of some one near.

Prophilus

Your fears are needless, lady.

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.

Euphranea

Methinks

100

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

Prophilus

101

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

Orgilus

102

[Aside.]

I am discover'd. —

[Half aloud to himself, as if studying.]

Say it: is it possible,

103

With a smooth tongue, a leering countenance,

104

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

105

To turn or to appease the raging sea?

106

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

107

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

108

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

109

Outrun a cloud driven by a northern blast

110

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

Euphranea

111

Call you this thing a scholar? 'Las, he's lunatic.

Prophilus

112

Observe him, sweet; 't is but his recreation.

Orgilus

113

But will you hear a little? You are so tetchy,

114

You keep no rule in argument. Philosophy

115

Works not upon impossibilities,

116

But natural conclusions. — Mew! — absurd!

117

The metaphysics are but speculations

118

Of the celestial bodies, or such accidents

119

As not mix'd perfectly, in the air engend'red

120

Appear to us unnatural; that's all.

121

Prove it. Yet, with a reverence to your gravity,

122

I'll balk illiterate sauciness, submitting

123

My sole opinion to the touch of writers.

Prophilus

124

Now let us fall in with him.

[They come forward.]

Orgilus

Ha, ha, ha!

125

These apish boys, when they but taste the grammates

126

And principles of theory, imagine

127

They can oppose their teachers. Confidence

128

Leads many into errors.

Prophilus

By your leave, sir.

Euphranea

129

Are you a scholar, friend?

Orgilus

I am, gay creature,

130

With pardon of your deities, a mushroom

131

On whom the dew of heaven drops now and then.

132

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

133

Sometime I feel their warmth, and eat and sleep.

Prophilus

134

Does Tecnicus read to thee?

Orgilus

Yes, forsooth,

135

He is my master surely; yonder door

136

Opens upon his study.

Prophilus

Happy creatures.

137

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

138

Nor sink in thaws of greatness; their affections

139

Keep order with the limits of their modesty;

140

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

Orgilus

141

Aplotes, sumptuous master, a poor wretch.

Euphranea

142

Dost thou want anything?

Orgilus

Books, Venus, books.

Prophilus

143

Lady, a new conceit comes in my thought,

144

And most available for both our comforts.

Euphranea

145

My lord, —

Prophilus

Whiles I endeavour to deserve

146

Your father's blessing to our loves, this scholar

147

May daily at some certain hours attend

148

What notice I can write of my success,

149

Here in this grove, and give it to your hands;

150

The like from you to me: so can we never,

151

Barr'd of our mutual speech, want sure intelligence,

152

And thus our hearts may talk when our tongues cannot.

Euphranea

153

Occasion is most favourable; use it.

Prophilus

154

Aplotes, wilt thou wait us twice a day,

155

At nine i' th' morning and at four at night,

156

Here in this bower, to convey such letters

157

As each shall send to other? Do it willingly,

158

Safely, and secretly, and I will furnish

159

Thy study, or what else thou canst desire.

Orgilus

160

Jove, make me thankful, thankful, I beseech thee,

161

Propitious Jove! I will prove sure and trusty:

162

You will not fail me books?

Prophilus

Nor aught besides

163

Thy heart can wish. This lady's name 's Euphranea,

164

Mine Prophilus.

Orgilus

I have a pretty memory;

165

It must prove my best friend. I will not miss

166

One minute of the hours appointed.

Prophilus

Write

167

The books thou wouldst have bought thee in a note,

168

Or take thyself some money.

Orgilus

No, no money.

169

Money to scholars is a spirit invisible,

170

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

Prophilus

171

Books of what sort thou wilt: do not forget

172

Our names.

Orgilus

I warrant ye, I warrant ye.

Prophilus

173

Smile, Hymen, on the growth of our desires;

174

We'll feed thy torches with eternal fires!

Exeunt. Manet Orgilus.

Orgilus

175

Put out thy torches, Hymen, or their light

176

Shall meet a darkness of eternal night!

177

Inspire me, Mercury, with swift deceits.

178

Ingenious Fate has leapt into mine arms,

179

Beyond the compass of my brain. Mortality

180

Creeps on the dung of earth, and cannot reach

181

The riddles which are purpos'd by the gods.

182

Great arts best write themselves in their own stories;

183

They die too basely who outlive their glories.

Exit.

Actus Secundus:

Scæna Prima

[House of Bassanes]

Enter Bassanes and Phulas

Bassanes

I'll have that window next the street damm'd up.

It gives too full a prospect to temptation,

And courts a gazer's glances. There's a lust

Committed by the eye, that sweats and travails,

Plots, wakes, contrives, till the deformed bear-whelp,

Adultery, be lick'd into the act,

The very act. That light shall be damm'd up;

D' ye hear, sir?

Phulas

I do hear, my lord; a mason

Shall be provided suddenly.

Bassanes

Some rogue.

Some rogue of your confederacy, — factor

For slaves and strumpets! — to convey close packets

From this spruce springal and t' other youngster,

That gaudy earwig, or my lord your patron,

Whose pensioner you are. — I'll tear thy throat out,

Son of a cat, ill-looking hound's-head, rip up

Thy ulcerous maw, if I but scent a paper,

A scroll, but half as big as what can cover

A wart upon thy nose, a spot, a pimple,

Directed to my lady. It may prove

A mystical preparative to lewdness.

Phulas

Care shall be had: I will turn every thread

About me to an eye. —

[Aside.]

Here's a sweet life!

Bassanes

The city housewives, 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

Stuck on their foreheads.

Phulas

'T is a villanous world;

One cannot hold his own in 't.

Bassanes

Dames at court,

Who flaunt in riots, run another bias.

Their pleasure heaves the patient ass that suffers

Up on the stilts of office, titles, incomes;

Promotion justifies the shame, and sues for 't.

Poor honour, thou art stabb'd, and bleed'st to death

By such unlawful hire! The country mistress

Is yet more wary, and in blushes hides

Whatever trespass draws her troth to guilt.

But all are false. On this truth I am bold:

No woman but can fall, and doth, or would. —

Now for the newest news about the city;

What blab the voices, sirrah?

Phulas

O, my lord,

The rarest, quaintest, strangest, tickling news

That ever —

Bassanes

Hey-day! up and ride me, rascal!

What is 't?

Phulas

Forsooth, they say the king has mew'd

All his gray beard, instead of which is budded

Another of a pure carnation colour,

Speckled with green and russet.

Bassanes

Ignorant block!

Phulas

Yes, truly; and 't is talk'd about the streets

That, since Lord Ithocles came home, the lions

Never left roaring, at which noise the bears

Have danc'd their very hearts out.

Bassanes

Dance out thine too.

Phulas

Besides, Lord Orgilus is fled to Athens

Upon a fiery dragon, and 't is thought

'A never can return.

Bassanes

Grant it, Apollo!

Phulas

Moreover, please your lordship, 't is reported

For certain, that whoever is found jealous,

Without apparent proof that's wife is wanton,

Shall be divorc'd: but this is but she-news;

I had it from a midwife. I have more yet.

Bassanes

Antic, no more! Idiots and stupid fools

Grate my calamities. Why, to be fair

Should yield presumption of a faulty soul! —

Look to the doors.

Phulas

[Aside.]

The horn of plenty crest him!

Exit Phulas.

Bassanes

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?

Grausis

In sooth, not well.

She is so over-sad.

Bassanes

Leave chattering, magpie. —

Thy brother is return'd, sweet, safe, and honour'd

With a triumphant victory: thou shalt 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; whiles every wond'ring eye

Shall crave none other brightness but thy presence.

Choose thine own recreations; be a queen

Of what delights thou fanciest best, what company,

What place, what times. Do anything, do all things

Youth can command, so thou wilt chase these clouds

From the pure firmament of thy fair looks.

Grausis

Now 't is well said, my lord. — What, lady! laugh,

Be merry; time is precious.

Bassanes

[Aside.]

Furies whip thee!

Penthea

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

A curiosity of admiration,

By laying out their plenty to full view,

Appear in gaudy outsides; my attires

100

Shall suit the inward fashion of my mind;

101

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

102

Change not the livery your words bestow,

103

My fortunes with my hopes are at the highest.

Bassanes

104

This house, methinks, stands somewhat too much inward,

105

It is too melancholy; we'll remove

106

Nearer the court: or what thinks my Penthea

107

Of the delightful island we command?

108

Rule me as thou canst wish.

Penthea

I am no mistress.

109

Whither you please, I must attend; all ways

110

Are alike pleasant to me.

Grausis

Island? prison!

111

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

112

Marry, out upon 'em! Whom shall we see there?

113

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

114

And crabs, and mews, and dog-fish? goodly gear

115

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

116

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

Bassanes

[Aside to Grausis.]

Grausis,

117

You are a juggling bawd. — This sadness, sweetest,

118

Becomes not youthful blood. —

[Aside to Grausis.]

I'll have you pounded. —

119

For my sake put on a more cheerful mirth;

120

Thou 't mar thy cheeks, and make me old in griefs. —

121

[Aside to Grausis.]

Damnable bitch-fox!

Grausis

I am thick of hearing,

122

Still, when the wind blows southerly. — What think ye,

123

If your fresh lady breed young bones, my lord?

124

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

125

But, as you said —

Bassanes

[Aside to Grausis.]

I'll spit thee on a stake,

126

Or chop thee into collops!

Grausis

Pray, speak louder.

127

Sure, sure the wind blows south still.

Penthea

Thou prat'st madly.

Bassanes

128

'T is very hot; I sweat extremely.

Enter Phulas.

Now?

Phulas

129

A herd of lords, sir.

Bassanes

Ha!

Phulas

A flock of ladies.

Bassanes

130

Where?

Phulas

Shoals of horses.

Bassanes

Peasant, how?

Phulas

Caroches

131

In drifts; th' one enter, th' other stand without, sir:

132

And now I vanish.

Exit Phulas.

Enter Prophilus, Lemophil, Groneas, Christalla, and Philema

Prophilus

Noble Bassanes!

Bassanes

133

Most welcome, Prophilus! Ladies, gentlemen,

134

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

135

[Aside.]

A tympany swells in my head already, —

136

Honour me bountifully. —

[Aside.]

How they flutter,

137

Wagtails and jays together!

Prophilus

From your brother,

138

By virtue of your love to him, I require

139

Your instant presence, fairest.

Penthea

He is well, sir?

Prophilus

140

The gods preserve him ever! Yet, dear beauty,

141

I find some alteration in him lately,

142

Since his return to Sparta. — My good lord,

143

I pray, use no delay.

Bassanes

We had not needed

144

An invitation, if his sister's health

145

Had not fallen into question. — Haste, Penthea,

146

Slack not a minute. — Lead the way, good Prophilus;

147

I'll follow step by step.

Prophilus

Your arm, fair madam.

Exeunt omnes sed Bassanes & Grausis.

Bassanes

148

One word with your old bawdship: th' hadst been better

149

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

150

My will. I'll use thee cursedly.

Grausis

You dote,

151

You are beside yourself. A politician

152

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

153

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

154

My crossing you sinks me into her trust,

155

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

Bassanes

156

Forgive me, Grausis, 't was consideration

157

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

Grausis

Fear not.

158

I am no new-come-to 't.

Bassanes

Thy life's upon it,

159

And so is mine. My agonies are infinite.

Exeunt omnes.

Scene 2

[Lodging of Ithocles]

Enter Ithocles, alone

Ithocles

Ambition! 't is of vipers' breed: it gnaws

A passage through the womb that gave it motion.

Ambition, like a seeled dove, mounts upward,

Higher and higher still, to perch on clouds,

But tumbles headlong down with heavier ruin.

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.

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.

Enter Armostes and Crotolon

Armostes

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.

Crotolon

Yet not so ripe,

My Lord Armostes, that it dares to dote

Upon the painted meat of smooth persuasion,

Which tempts me to a breach of faith.

Ithocles

Not yet

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

Be so available, we'll write to Athens

For his repair to Sparta. The king's hand

Will join with our desires; he has been mov'd to 't.

Armostes

Yes, and the king himself impórtun'd Crotolon

For a dispatch.

Crotolon

Kings may command; their wills

Are laws not to be question'd.

Ithocles

By this marriage

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.

Crotolon

My lord, my lord! —

Ithocles

What, good sir? Speak your thought.

Crotolon

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.

Armostes

Y' are bold and bitter.

Ithocles

[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,

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

Into the secrets of commanding love;

Since when, experience, by the extremes (in others),

Hath forc'd me to collect. And, trust me, Crotolon,

I will redeem those wrongs with any service

Your satisfaction can require for current.

Armostes

Thy acknowledgment is satisfaction.—

[To Crotolon]

What would you more?

Crotolon

I'm conquer'd. If Euphranea

Herself admit the motion, let it be so;

I doubt not my son's liking.

Ithocles

Use my fortunes,

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

Enter Bassanes, Prophilus, Calantha, Penthea, Euphranea, Christalla, Philema, and Grausis

Armostes

The princess, with your sister!

Calantha

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.

Ithocles

You are a gracious princess. — Sister, wedlock

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.

Bassanes

'T is her will;

She governs her own hours. Noble Ithocles,

We thank the gods for your success and welfare.

Our lady has of late been indispos'd,

Else we had waited on you with the first.

Ithocles

How does Penthea now?

Penthea

You best know, brother,

From whom my health and comforts are deriv'd.

Bassanes

[Aside.]

I like the answer well; 't is sad and modest.

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

Calantha

Now, Crotolon, the suit we join'd in must not

Fall by too long demur.

Crotolon

'T is granted, princess,

For my part.

Armostes

With condition, that his son

Favour the contract.

Calantha

Such delay is easy. —

The joys of marriage make thee, Prophilus,

A proud deserver of Euphranea's love,

And her of thy desert!

Prophilus

Most sweetly gracious!

Bassanes

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?

'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.

Crotolon

Euphranea, how are you resolv'd, speak freely,

In your affections to this gentleman?

Euphranea

Nor more nor less than as his love assures me;

Which (if your liking with my brother's warrants)

I cannot but approve in all points worthy.

Crotolon

100

So, so! —

101

[To Prophilus.]

I know your answer.

Ithocles

102

'T had been pity

103

To sunder hearts so equally consented.

Enter Lemophil

Lemophil

104

The king, Lord Ithocles, commands your presence; —

105

And, fairest princess, yours.

Calantha

We will attend him.

Enter Groneas

Groneas

106

Where are the lords? All must unto the king

107

Without delay: the Prince of Argos —

Calantha

Well, sir?

Groneas

108

Is coming to the court, sweet lady.

Calantha

How!

109

The Prince of Argos?

Groneas

'T was my fortune, madam,

110

T' enjoy the honour of these happy tidings.

Ithocles

111

Penthea! —

Penthea

Brother?

Ithocles

Let me an hour hence

112

Meet you alone within the palace-grove;

113

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

114

Conduct her thither, and have special care

115

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

Prophilus

116

I shall.

Bassanes

[Aside.]

How's that?

Ithocles

Alone, pray be alone. —

117

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

Exeunt. [Manet] Bassanes.

Bassanes

118

Alone! alone! What means that word "alone"?

119

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

120

Brothers and sisters are but flesh and blood,

121

And this same whoreson court ease is temptation

122

To a rebellion in the veins. — Besides,

123

His fine friend Prophilus must be her guardian:

124

Why may not he dispatch a business nimbly

125

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

126

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

127

Wife, cousin, anything, — 'mongst youths of mettle

128

Is in request. It is so — stubborn fate!

129

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

130

I will be fell, and fell.

Enter Groneas

Groneas

My lord, y 'are call'd for.

Bassanes

131

Most heartily I thank ye. Where's my wife, pray?

Groneas

132

Retir'd amongst the ladies.

Bassanes

Still I thank ye.

133

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

Groneas

134

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

Bassanes

135

Asleep! sleep, sir!

Groneas

Is your lordship troubled?

136

You will not to the king?

Bassanes

Your humblest vassal.

Groneas

137

Your servant, my good lord.

Bassanes

I wait your footsteps.

Exeunt.

Scene the third

[The Palace-Grove]

Prophilus, Penthea

Prophilus

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

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.

Penthea

Sir, I'm not inquisitive

Of secrecies without an invitation.

Prophilus

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.

Orgilus

Your will shall be a law, sir.

Penthea

Prithee, leave me.

I have some private thoughts I would account with:

Use thou thine own.

Orgilus

Speak on, fair nymph; our souls

Can dance as well to music of the spheres

As any's who have feasted with the gods.

Penthea

Your school-terms are too troublesome.

Orgilus

What Heaven

Refines mortality from dross of earth

But such as uncompounded beauty hallows

With glorified perfection?

Penthea

Set thy wits

In a less wild proportion.

Orgilus

Time can never

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

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

. . . the holiest odours, virgin tears,

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

And to increase their fervour.

Penthea

Be not frantic.

Orgilus

All pleasures are but mere imagination,

Feeding the hungry appetite with steam

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.

No horror should deface that precious figure

Seal'd with the lively stamp of equal souls.

Penthea

Away! some fury hath bewitch'd thy tongue.

The breath of ignorance, that flies from thence,

Ripens a knowledge in me of afflictions

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

Begone, without reply!

Orgilus

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

Are folded up from view of common eyes.

[Removes his Scholar's gown.]

What is thy sentence next?

Penthea

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,

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?

Orgilus

O, rather

Examine me, how I could live to say

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 't pity our calamities; my interest

Confirms me, thou art mine still.

Penthea

Lend your hand.

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

Thus kneel before ye.

Orgilus

You instruct my duty.

Penthea

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,

And shall be, shall be ever. What more would ye?

Orgilus

I would possess my wife; the equity

Of very reason bids me.

Penthea

Is that all?

Orgilus

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

Penthea

Remove

Your steps some distance from me: — at this space

A few words I dare change; but first put on

Your borrow'd shape.

Orgilus

You are obey'd; 't is done.

[He resumes his disguise.]

Penthea

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

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,

Which might give deeper wounds to discontents.

Continue this fair race: then, though I cannot

Add to thy comfort, yet I shall more often

Remember from what fortune I am fallen,

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

Happy in thy next choice, that thou mayst people

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. —

Now let us part.

Orgilus

Part! yet advise thee better:

Penthea is the wife to Orgilus,

And ever shall be.

Penthea

Never shall nor will.

Orgilus

How!

Penthea

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

100

The virgin-dowry which my birth bestow'd

101

Is ravish'd by another; my true love

102

Abhors to think that Orgilus deserv'd

103

No better favours than a second bed.

Orgilus

104

I must not take this reason.

Penthea

To confirm it,

105

Should I outlive my bondage, let me meet

106

Another worse than this and less desir'd,

107

If, of all men alive, thou shouldst but touch

108

My lip or hand again!

Orgilus

Penthea, now

109

I tell 'ee, you grow wanton in my sufferance.

110

Come, sweet, th' art mine.

Penthea

Uncivil sir, forbear!

111

Or I can turn affection into vengeance;

112

Your reputation, if you value any,

113

Lies bleeding at my feet. Unworthy man,

114

If ever henceforth thou appear in language,

115

Message, or letter, to betray my frailty,

116

I'll call thy former protestations lust,

117

And curse my stars for forfeit of my judgment.

118

Go thou, fit only for disguise and walks,

119

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

120

I laugh at mine own confidence; my sorrows

121

By thee are made inferior to my fortunes.

122

If ever thou didst harbour worthy love,

123

Dare not to answer. My good genius guide me,

124

That I may never see thee more! — Go from me!

Orgilus

125

I'll tear my veil of politic frenzy off,

126

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

127

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

Exit Orgilus.

Penthea

128

'A sigh'd my name, sure, as he parted from me:

129

I fear I was too rough. Alas, poor gentleman!

130

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

131

But like the ruins of those ruins. Honour,

132

[Walks aside.]

How much we fight with weakness to preserve thee!

Enter Bassanes and Grausis

Bassanes

133

Fie on thee! damn thee, rotten maggot, damn thee!

134

Sleep? sleep at court? and now? Aches, convulsions,

135

Imposthumes, rheums, gouts, palsies, clog thy bones

136

A dozen years more yet!

Grausis

Now y' are in humours.

Bassanes

137

She's by herself, there's hope of that; she's sad too;

138

She's in strong contemplation; yes, and fix'd:

139

The signs are wholesome.

Grausis

Very wholesome, truly.

Bassanes

140

Hold your chops, nightmare! — Lady, come; your brother

141

Is carried to his closet; you must thither.

Penthea

142

Not well, my lord?

Bassanes

A sudden fit; 't will off!

143

Some surfeit or disorder. — How dost, dearest?

Penthea

144

Your news is none o' the best.

Enter Prophilus

Prophilus

The chief of men,

145

The excellentest Ithocles, desires

146

Your presence, madam.

Bassanes

We are hasting to him.

Penthea

147

In vain we labour in this course of life

148

To piece our journey out at length, or crave

149

Respite of breath: our home is in the grave.

Bassanes

150

Perfect philosophy!

Penthea

Then let us care

151

To live so, that our reckonings may fall even

152

When w' are to make account.

Prophilus

He cannot fear

153

Who builds on noble grounds: sickness or pain

154

Is the deserver's exercise; and such

155

Your virtuous brother to the world is known.

156

Speak comfort to him, lady; be all gentle:

157

Stars fall but in the grossness of our sight;

158

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

Exeunt omnes.

Actus Tertius:

Scæna prima

[House of Tecnicus]

Enter Tecnicus, and Orgilus in his own shape

Tecnicus

Be well advis'd; let not a resolution

Of giddy rashness choke the breath of reason.

Orgilus

It shall not, most sage master.

Tecnicus

I am jealous;

For if the borrow'd shape so late put on

Inferr'd a consequence, we must conclude

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

Pierce not the secrets of your heart, the gods

Are only privy to them.

Orgilus

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

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:

Please to accept these reasons.

Tecnicus

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 aspect

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

I might add, certain —

Orgilus

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.

Tecnicus

I believe it.

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,

Proceeding from the vices of our passion,

Which makes our reason drunk. But real honour

Is the reward of virtue, and acquir'd

By justice, or by valour which for basis

Hath justice to uphold it. He then fails

In honour, who for lucre or revenge

Commits thefts, murders, treasons, and adulteries,

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

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,

Wishing success to all thy virtuous meanings.

Orgilus

The gods increase thy wisdom, reverend oracle,

And in thy precepts make me ever thrifty!

Tecnicus

I thank thy wish.

Exit Orgilus.

Much mystery of fate

Lies hid in that man's fortunes. Curiosity

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?

Armostes

From King Amyclas, — pardon

My interruption of your studies. — Here,

In this seal'd box, he sends a treasure dear

To him as his crown. 'A prays your gravity,

You would examine, ponder, sift, and bolt

The pith and circumstance of every tittle

The scroll within contains.

Tecnicus

What is 't, Armostes?

Armostes

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,

After so long a silence, he requires

Your counsel now, grave man, his majesty

Will soon himself acquaint you with.

Tecnicus

[Takes the casket.]

Apollo

Inspire my intellect! — The Prince of Argos

Is entertain'd?

Armostes

He is; and has demanded

Our princess for his wife; which I conceive

One special cause the king importunes you

For resolution of the oracle.

Tecnicus

My duty to the king, good peace to Sparta,

And fair day to Armostes!

Armostes

Like to Tecnicus!

Exeunt.

[Scene II.]

[Ithocles' Apartment]

Soft music.

A Song

Can you paint a thought? or number

Every fancy in a slumber?

Can you count soft minutes roving

From a dial's point by moving?

Can you grasp a sigh? or, lastly,

Rob a virgin's honour chastely?

No, O, no! yet you may

Sooner do both that and this,

This and that, and never miss,

Than by any praise display

Beauty's beauty; such a glory,

As beyond all fate, all story,

All arms, all arts,

All loves, all hearts,

Greater than those or they,

Do, shall, and must obey.

During which time enters Prophilus, Bassanes, Penthea, Grausis, passing over the stage. Bassanes and Grausis enter again softly, stealing to several stands, and listen.

Bassanes

All silent, calm, secure. — Grausis, no creaking?

No noise? Dost hear nothing?

Grausis

Not a mouse,

Or whisper of the wind.

Bassanes

The floor is matted;

The bedposts sure are steel or marble. — Soldiers

Should not affect, methinks, strains so effeminate:

Sounds of such delicacy are but fawnings

Upon the sloth of luxury, they heighten

Cinders of covert lust up to a flame.

Grausis

What do you mean, my lord? — speak low; that gabbling

Of yours will but undo us.

Bassanes

Chamber-combats

Are felt, not heard.

Prophilus

[Within.]

'A wakes.

Bassanes

What's that?

Ithocles

[Within.]

Who's there?

Sister? — All quit the room else.

Bassanes

'T is consented!

Enter Prophilus

Prophilus

Lord Bassanes, your brother would be private.

We must forbear; his sleep hath newly left him.

Please ye, withdraw.

Bassanes

By any means; 't is fit.

Prophilus

Pray, gentlewoman, walk too.

Grausis

Yes, I will, sir.

Exeunt omnes.

Ithocles discovered in a chair, and Penthea

Ithocles

Sit nearer, sister, to me; nearer yet.

We had one father, in one womb took life,

Were brought up twins together, yet have liv'd

At distance, like two strangers. I could wish

That the first pillow whereon I was cradled

Had prov'd to me a grave.

Penthea

You had been happy:

Then had you never known that sin of life,

Which blots all following glories with a vengeance

For forfeiting the last will of the dead,

From whom you had your being.

Ithocles

Sad Penthea,

Thou canst not be too cruel; my rash spleen

Hath with a violent hand pluck'd from thy bosom

A love-bless'd heart, to grind it into dust;

For which mine 's now a-breaking.

Penthea

Not yet, Heaven,

I do beseech thee! First let some wild fires

Scorch, not consume it! may the heat be cherish'd

With desires infinite, but hopes impossible!

Ithocles

Wrong'd soul, thy prayers are heard.

Penthea

Here, lo, I breathe,

A miserable creature, led to ruin

By an unnatural brother!

Ithocles

I consume

In languishing affections for that trespass;

Yet cannot die.

Penthea

The handmaid to the wages

Of country toil drinks the untroubled streams

With leaping kids and with the bleating lambs,

And so allays her thirst secure; whiles I

Quench my hot sighs with fleetings of my tears.

Ithocles

The labourer doth eat his coarsest bread,

Earn'd with his sweat, and lies him down to sleep;

While every bit I touch turns in digestion

To gall as bitter as Penthea's curse.

Put me to any penance for my tyranny,

And I will call thee merciful.

Penthea

Pray kill me,

Rid me from living with a jealous husband;

Then we will join in friendship, be again

Brother and sister. — Kill me, pray; nay, will ye?

Ithocles

How does thy lord esteem thee?

Penthea

Such an one

As only you have made me: a faith-breaker,

A spotted whore. — Forgive me, I am one

In act, not in desires, the gods must witness.

Ithocles

Thou dost belie thy friend.

Penthea

I do not, Ithocles;

For she that's wife to Orgilus, and lives

In known adultery with Bassanes,

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

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.

Ithocles

After my victories abroad, at home

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 hallow'd shrine

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.

Penthea

O, no more!

Ithocles

Death waits to waft me to the Stygian banks,

And free me from this chaos of my bondage;

And till thou wilt forgive, I must endure.

Penthea

Who is the saint you serve?

Ithocles

Friendship, or nearness

Of birth to any but my sister, durst not

Have mov'd that question. 'T is a secret, sister,

I dare not murmur to myself.

Penthea

Let me,

By your new protestations, I conjure 'ee,

Partake her name.

Ithocles

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

Penthea

100

All your respects are forg'd.

Ithocles

They are not. — Peace!

101

Calantha is — the princess — the king's daughter —

102

Sole heir of Sparta. — Me most miserable!

103

Do I now love thee? For my injuries

104

Revenge thyself with bravery, and gossip

105

My treasons to the king's ears, do. Calantha

106

Knows it not yet, nor Prophilus, my nearest.

Penthea

107

Suppose you were contracted to her, would it not

108

Split even your very soul to see her father

109

Snatch her out of your arms against her will,

110

And force her on the Prince of Argos?

Ithocles

Trouble not

111

The fountains of mine eyes with thine own story;

112

I sweat in blood for 't.

Penthea

We are reconcil'd.

113

Alas, sir, being children, but two branches

114

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

115

Have comfort, you may find it.

Ithocles

Yes, in thee;

116

Only in thee, Penthea mine.

Penthea

If sorrows

117

Have not too much dull'd my infected brain,

118

I'll cheer invention for an active strain.

Ithocles

119

Mad man! why have I wrong'd a maid so excellent!

Enter Bassanes with a poniard, Prophilus, Groneas, Lemophil, and Grausis

Bassanes

120

I can forbear no longer; more, I will not.

121

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

122

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

123

Ye ride my easy nature, and proclaim

124

My sloth to vengeance a reproach and property.

Ithocles

125

The meaning of this rudeness?

Prophilus

He's distracted.

Penthea

126

O, my griev'd lord! —

Grausis

127

Sweet lady, come not near him;

128

He holds his perilous weapon in his hand

129

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

Bassanes

130

My birth is noble. Though the popular blast

131

Of vanity, as giddy as thy youth,

132

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

133

Or progress in the chariot of the sun,

134

I am no clod of trade, to lackey pride,

135

Nor, like your slave of expectation, wait

136

The bawdy hinges of your doors, or whistle

137

For mystical conveyance to your bed-sports.

Groneas

138

Fine humours! they become him.

Lemophil

How 'a stares,

139

Struts, puffs, and sweats! Most admirable lunacy!

Ithocles

140

But that I may conceive the spirit of wine

141

Has took possession of your soberer custom,

142

I'd say you were unmannerly.

Penthea

Dear brother! —

Bassanes

143

Unmannerly! — mew, kitling! — smooth Formality

144

Is usher to the rankness of the blood,

145

But Impudence bears up the train. Indeed, sir,

146

Your fiery mettle, or your springal blaze

147

Of huge renown, is no sufficient royalty

148

To print upon my forehead the scorn, "cuckold."

Ithocles

149

His jealousy has robb'd him of his wits;

150

'A talks 'a knows not what.

Bassanes

Yes, and 'a knows

151

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

152

In swine-security of bestial incest.

Ithocles

153

Ha, devil!

Bassanes

154

I will halloo 't; though I blush more

155

To name the filthiness than thou to act it.

Ithocles

156

Monster!

[Draws his sword.]

Prophilus

Sir, by our friendship —

Penthea

By our bloods —

157

Will you quite both undo us, brother?

Grausis

Out on him!

158

These are his megrims, firks, and melancholies.

Lemophil

159

Well said, old touch-hole.

Groneas

Kick him out at doors.

Penthea

160

With favour, let me speak. — My lord, what slackness

161

In my obedience hath deserv'd this rage?

162

Except humility and silent duty

163

Have drawn on your unquiet, my simplicity

164

Ne'er studied your vexation.

Bassanes

Light of beauty,

165

Deal not ungently with a desperate wound!

166

No breach of reason dares make war with her

167

Whose looks are sovereignty, whose breath is balm.

168

O, that I could preserve thee in fruition

169

As in devotion!

Penthea

Sir, may every evil

170

Lock'd in Pandora's box shower, in your presence,

171

On my unhappy head, if, since you made me

172

A partner in your bed, I have been faulty

173

In one unseemly thought against your honour!

Ithocles

174

Purge not his griefs, Penthea.

Bassanes

Yes, say on,

175

Excellent creature! —

[To Ithocles.]

Good, be not a hindrance

176

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

177

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

178

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

179

Indeed I did not.

Penthea

Nor, by Juno's forehead,

180

Was I e'er guilty of a wanton error.

Bassanes

181

A goddess! let me kneel.

Grausis

Alas, kind animal!

Ithocles

182

No; but for penance.

Bassanes

Noble sir, what is it?

183

With gladness I embrace it; yet, pray let not

184

My rashness teach you to be too unmerciful.

Ithocles

185

When you shall show good proof that manly wisdom,

186

Not oversway'd by passion or opinion,

187

Knows how to lead your judgment, then this lady,

188

Your wife, my sister, shall return in safety

189

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

190

I can out of clear evidence approve it,

191

She shall be my care.

Bassanes

Rip my bosom up,

192

I'll stand the execution with a constancy;

193

This torture is unsufferable.

Ithocles

Well, sir,

194

I dare not trust her to your fury.

Bassanes

But

195

Penthea says not so.

Penthea

She needs no tongue

196

To plead excuse who never purpos'd wrong.

Lemophil

197

[To Grausis.]

Virgin of reverence and antiquity,

198

Stay you behind.

Groneas

The court wants not your diligence.

Exeunt omnes sed Bassanes & Grausis.

Grausis

199

What will you do, my lord? My lady's gone;

200

I am denied to follow.

Bassanes

I may see her,

201

Or speak to her once more?

Grausis

And feel her too, man.

202

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

Bassanes

203

Diseases desperate must find cures alike.

204

She swore she has been true.

Grausis

True, on my modesty.

Bassanes

205

Let him want truth who credits not her vows!

206

Much wrong I did her, but her brother infinite;

207

Rumour will voice me the contempt of manhood

208

Should I run on thus. Some way I must try

209

To outdo art, and tie up jealousy.

Exeunt omnes.

[Scene III]

[The Court]

Flourish. Enter Amyclas, Nearchus, leading Calantha, Armostes, Crotolon, Euphranea, Christalla, Philema, and Amelus

Amyclas

210

Cousin of Argos, what the heavens have pleas'd,

211

In their unchanging counsels, to conclude

212

For both our kingdoms' weal, we must submit to:

213

Nor can we be unthankful to their bounties,

214

Who, when we were even creeping to our grave,

215

Sent us a daughter, in whose birth our hope

216

Continues of succession. As you are

217

In title next, being grandchild to our aunt,

218

So we in heart desire you may sit nearest

219

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

220

Not to enforce affection by our will,

221

But by her own choice to confirm it gladly.

Nearchus

222

You speak the nature of a right just father.

223

I come not hither roughly to demand

224

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

225

Report of great Calantha's beauty, virtue,

226

Sweetness, and singular perfections, courted

227

All ears to credit what I find was publish'd

228

By constant truth; from which, if any service

229

Of my desert can purchase fair construction,

230

This lady must command it.

Calantha

Princely sir,

231

So well you know how to profess observance,

232

That you instruct your hearers to become

233

Practitioners in duty; of which number

234

I'll study to be chief.

Nearchus

Chief, glorious virgin,

235

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

Amyclas

236

Excellent cousin, we deny no liberty;

237

Use thine own opportunities. — Armostes,

238

We must consult with the philosophers;

239

The business is of weight.

Armostes

Sir, at your pleasure.

Amyclas

240

You told me, Crotolon, your son 's return'd

241

From Athens: wherefore comes 'a not to court

242

As we commanded?

Crotolon

He shall soon attend

243

Your royal will, great sir.

Amyclas

The marriage

244

Between young Prophilus and Euphranea

245

Tastes of too much delay.

Crotolon

My lord, —

Amyclas

Some pleasures

246

At celebration of it would give life

247

To th' entertainment of the prince our kinsman.

248

Our court wears gravity more than we relish.

Armostes

249

Yet the heavens smile on all your high attempts,

250

Without a cloud.

Crotolon

So may the gods protect us.

Calantha

251

A prince a subject?

Nearchus

Yes, to beauty's sceptre:

252

As all hearts kneel, so mine.

Calantha

You are too courtly.

To them Ithocles, Orgilus, Prophilus

Ithocles

253

Your safe return to Sparta is most welcome:

254

I joy to meet you here, and, as occasion

255

Shall grant us privacy, will yield you reasons

256

Why I should covet to deserve the title

257

Of your respected friend; for, without compliment,

258

Believe it, Orgilus, 't is my ambition.

Orgilus

259

Your lordship may command me, your poor servant.

Ithocles

260

[Aside.]

So amorously close! — so soon! — my heart!

Prophilus

261

What sudden change is next?

Ithocles

Life to the king!

262

To whom I here present this noble gentleman,

263

New come from Athens. Royal sir, vouchsafe

264

Your gracious hand in favour of his merit.

[The King gives Orgilus his hand to kiss.]

Crotolon

265

[Aside.]

My son preferr'd by Ithocles!

Amyclas

Our bounties

266

Shall open to thee, Orgilus; for instance, —

267

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

268

Which flow in Athens, thou hast there engross'd

269

Some rarity of wit, to grace the nuptials

270

Of thy fair sister, and renown our court

271

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

272

To thy conceit: think on 't.

Orgilus

Your highness honours me.

Nearchus

273

My tongue and heart are twins.

Calantha

A noble birth,

274

Becoming such a father. — Worthy Orgilus,

275

You are a guest most wish'd for.

Orgilus

May my duty

276

Still rise in your opinion, sacred princess!

Ithocles

277

Euphranea's brother, sir; a gentleman

278

Well worthy of your knowledge.

Nearchus

We embrace him,

279

Proud of so dear acquaintance.

Amyclas

All prepare

280

For revels and disport; the joys of Hymen,

281

Like Phœbus in his lustre, put to flight

282

All mists of dulness, crown the hours with gladness:

283

No sounds but music, no discourse but mirth!

Calantha

284

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

285

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

Nearchus

286

I dare not disobey.

Ithocles

Most heavenly lady!

Exeunt.

[Scene IV]

[House of Crotolon]

Enter Crotolon, Orgilus

Crotolon

The king hath spoke his mind.

Orgilus

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

That license sovereignty holds without check

Over a meek obedience.

Crotolon

How resolve you

Touching your sister's marriage? Prophilus

Is a deserving and a hopeful youth.

Orgilus

I envy not his merit, but applaud it;

Could wish him thrift in all his best desires,

And with a willingness inleague our blood

With his, for purchase of full growth in friendship.

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

Under whose wing he gathers warmth and comfort,

Whose creature he is bound, made, and must live so.

Crotolon

Son, son, I find in thee a harsh condition;

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

Orgilus

Good sir, be not severe in your construction.

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

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.

Crotolon

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?

Some such hobgoblin hurried you from Athens,

For yet you come unsent for.

Orgilus

If unwelcome,

I might have found a grave there.

Crotolon

Sure, your business

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

Orgilus

'T was care, sir, of my health cut short my journey;

For there a general infection

Threatens a desolation.

Crotolon

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.

Orgilus

Forbid it, our dear genius! I will rather

Be made a sacrifice on Thrasus' monument,

Or kneel to Ithocles, his son, in dust,

Than woo a father's curse. My sister's marriage

With Prophilus is from my heart confirm'd.

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

If I omit to further it in all

That can concern me!

Crotolon

I have been too rough.

My duty to my king made me so earnest;

Excuse it, Orgilus.

Orgilus

Dear sir! —

Crotolon

Here comes

Euphranea with Prophilus and Ithocles.

Enter Prophilus, Euphranea, Ithocles, Groneas, Lemophil

Orgilus

Most honoured! — ever famous!

Ithocles

Your true friend,

On earth not any truer. — With smooth eyes

Look on this worthy couple; your consent

Can only make them one.

Orgilus

They have it. — Sister,

Thou pawn'dst to me an oath, of which engagement

I never will release thee, if thou aim'st

At any other choice than this.

Euphranea

Dear brother,

At him, or none.

Crotolon

To which my blessing 's added.

Orgilus

Which, till a greater ceremony perfect, —

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,

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!

Prophilus

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

Now I may call thee mine.

Ithocles

I but exchange

One good friend for another.

Orgilus

If these gallants

Will please to grace a poor invention

By joining with me in some slight device,

I'll venture on a strain my younger days

Have studied for delight.

Lemophil

With thankful willingness

I offer my attendance.

Groneas

No endeavour

Of mine shall fail to show itself.

Ithocles

We will

All join to wait on thy directions, Orgilus.

Orgilus

O, my good lord, your favours flow towards

A too unworthy worm; — but as you please.

I am what you will shape me.

Ithocles

A fast friend.

Crotolon

I thank thee, son, for this acknowledgment;

It is a sight of gladness.

Orgilus

But my duty.

Exeunt omnes.

[Scene V]

[Calantha's Apartment]

Enter Calantha, Penthea, Christalla, Philema

Calantha

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

Be careful of our charge.

Christalla

We shall, madam.

Calantha

Except the king himself, give none admittance;

Not any.

Philema

Madam, it shall be our care.

Exeunt [Christalla and Philema].

Calantha

Being alone, Penthea, you have granted

The opportunity you sought, and might

At all times have commanded.

Penthea

'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

The summons of departure short and certain.

Calantha

You feel too much your melancholy.

Penthea

Glories

Of human greatness are but pleasing dreams

And shadows soon decaying: on the stage

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

Doth frame an idol, are unconstant friends,

When any troubled passion makes assault

On the unguarded castle of the mind.

Calantha

Contemn not your condition for the proof

Of bare opinion only: to what end

Reach all these moral texts?

Penthea

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.

Calantha

Indeed

You have no little cause; yet none so great

As to distrust a remedy.

Penthea

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.

Calantha

Speak, I enjoy it.

Penthea

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;

Heaven will reward your piety, and thank it

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

I hope I cannot.

Calantha

Now, beshrew thy sadness;

Thou turn'st me too much woman.

[Weeps.]

Penthea

[Aside.]

Her fair eyes

Melt into passion. Then I have assurance

Encouraging my boldness. — In this paper

My will was character'd; which you, with pardon,

Shall now know from mine own mouth.

Calantha

Talk on, prithee;

It is a pretty earnest.

Penthea

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.

Calantha

To whom that?

Penthea

To virgin-wives, such as abuse not wedlock

By freedom of desires, but covet chiefly

The pledges of chaste beds for ties of love,

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!

Calantha

A second jewel

You mean to part with?

Penthea

'T is my fame, I trust

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!

Calantha

How handsomely thou play'st with harmless sport

Of mere imagination! Speak the last.

I strangely like thy will.

Penthea

This jewel, madam,

Is dearly precious to me; you must use

The best of your discretion to employ

This gift as I intend it.

Calantha

Do not doubt me.

Penthea

'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,

By service bound and by affection vow'd,

I do bequeath, in holiest rites of love,

Mine only brother, Ithocles.

Calantha

What saidst thou?

Penthea

Impute not, heaven-bless'd lady, to ambition

A faith as humbly perfect as the prayers

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.

Calantha

Shall I answer here,

Or lend my ear too grossly?

Penthea

First his heart

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:

Yet this lost creature loves ye. — Be a princess

In sweetness as in blood; give him his doom,

Or raise him up to comfort.

Calantha

What new change

Appears in my behaviour, that thou dar'st

Tempt my displeasure?

Penthea

I must leave the world

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,

100

Lend him one angry look or one harsh word,

101

And you shall soon conclude how strong a power

102

Your absolute authority holds over

103

His life and end.

Calantha

You have forgot, Penthea,

104

How still I have a father.

Penthea

But remember

105

I am a sister, though to me this brother

106

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

Calantha

107

Christalla, Philema, where are ye? — Lady,

108

Your check lies in my silence.

Enter Christalla and Philema

Both

Madam, here.

Calantha

109

I think ye sleep, ye drones: wait on Penthea

110

Unto her lodging. —

[Aside.]

Ithocles? Wrong'd lady!

Penthea

111

My reckonings are made even; death or fate

112

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

Exeunt.

Actus Quartus:

Scæna prima

Enter Ithocles and Armostes

Ithocles

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.

Armostes

Nephew, be, then,

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

Confirm your resolutions for dependence

On worthy ends, which may advance your quiet.

Ithocles

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,

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 meaning.

Armostes

I believe it:

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

Our eyes can never pierce into the thoughts,

For they are lodg'd too inward: — but I question

No truth in Orgilus. — The princess, sir.

Ithocles

The princess! ha!

Armostes

With her the Prince of Argos.

Enter Nearchus, leading Calantha; Amelus, Christalla, Philema

Nearchus

Great fair one, grace my hopes with any instance

Of livery, from the allowance of your favour.

This little spark —

[Attempts to take a ring from her finger.]

Calantha

A toy!

Nearchus

Love feasts on toys,

For Cupid is a child; — vouchsafe this bounty:

It cannot be deni'd.

Calantha

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 it to Ithocles.

Amelus

The ring, sir, is

The princess's; I could have took it up.

Ithocles

Learn manners, prithee. — To the blessed owner,

Upon my knees —

[Kneels and offers it to Calantha.]

Nearchus

Y' are saucy.

Calantha

This is pretty!

I am, belike, "a mistress" — wondrous pretty!

Let the man keep his fortune, since he found it.

He's worthy on 't. — On, cousin!

Ithocles

[To Amelus.]

Follow, spaniel;

I'll force ye to a fawning else.

Amelus

You dare not.

Exeunt. Manent Ithocles and Armostes

Armostes

My lord, you were too forward.

Ithocles

Look 'ee, uncle.

Some such there are whose liberal contents

Swarm without care in every sort of plenty;

Who after full repasts can lay them down

To sleep; and they sleep, uncle: in which silence

Their very dreams present 'em choice of pleasures,

Pleasures — observe me, uncle — of rare object;

Here heaps of gold, there increments of honours,

Now change of garments, then the votes of people;

Anon varieties of beauties, courting,

In flatteries of the night, exchange of dalliance:

Yet these are still but dreams. Give me felicity

Of which my senses waking are partakers,

A real, visible, material happiness;

And then, too, when I stagger in expectance

Of the least comfort that can cherish life. —

I saw it, sir, I saw it; for it came

From her own hand.

Armostes

The princess threw it t' ye.

Ithocles

True; and she said — well I remember what.

Her cousin prince would beg it.

Armostes

Yes, and parted

In anger at your taking on 't.

Ithocles

Penthea!

O, thou hast pleaded with a powerful language!

I want a fee to gratify thy merit;

But I will do —

Armostes

What is 't you say?

Ithocles

In anger!

In anger let him part; for could his breath,

Like whirlwinds, toss such servile slaves as lick

The dust his footsteps print into a vapour,

It durst not stir a hair of mine. It should not;

I'd rend it up by th' roots first. To be anything

Calantha smiles on, is to be a blessing

More sacred than a petty prince of Argos

Can wish to equal, or in worth or title.

Armostes

Contain yourself, my lord. Ixion, aiming

To embrace Juno, bosom'd but a cloud,

And begat Centaurs: 't is an useful moral.

Ambition hatch'd in clouds of mere opinion

Proves but in birth a prodigy.

Ithocles

I thank 'ee;

Yet, with your licence, I should seem uncharitable

To gentler fate, if, relishing the dainties

Of a soul's settled peace, I were so feeble

Not to digest it.

Armostes

He deserves small trust

Who is not privy-counsellor to himself.

Re-enter Nearchus, Orgilus, and Amelus

Nearchus

Brave me!

Orgilus

Your excellence mistakes his temper;

For Ithocles in fashion of his mind

Is beautiful, soft, gentle, the clear mirror

Of absolute perfection.

Amelus

Was 't your modesty

Term'd any of the prince his servants "spaniel"?

Your nurse, sure, taught you other language.

Ithocles

Language!

Nearchus

A gallant man-at-arms is here, a doctor

In feats of chivalry, blunt and rough-spoken,

Vouchsafing not the fustian of civility,

Which rash spirits style good manners!

Ithocles

Manners!

Orgilus

No more, illustrious sir; 't is matchless Ithocles.

Nearchus

You might have understood who I am.

Ithocles

Yes.

I did; else — but the presence calm'd th' affront —

Y' are cousin to the princess.

Nearchus

To the king, too;

A certain instrument that lent supportance

To you colossic greatness — to that king too,

You might have added.

Ithocles

There is more divinity

In beauty than in majesty.

Armostes

O fie, fie!

Nearchus

This odd youth's pride turns heretic in loyalty.

Sirrah! low mushrooms never rival cedars.

Exeunt Nearchus and Amelus.

Ithocles

100

Come back! — What pitiful dull thing am I

101

So to be tamely scolded at! come back! —

102

Let him come back, and echo once again

103

That scornful sound of "mushroom"! painted colts —

104

Like heralds' coats gilt o'er with crowns and sceptres —

105

May bait a muzzled lion.

Armostes

Cousin, cousin,

106

Thy tongue is not thy friend.

Orgilus

In point of honour

107

Discretion knows no bounds. Amelus told me

108

'T was all about a little ring.

Ithocles

A ring

109

The princess threw away, and I took up.

110

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

111

Can snatch it hence? No; could 'a grind the hoop

112

To powder, 'a might sooner reach my heart

113

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

114

I am extremely wrong'd.

Orgilus

A lady's favour

115

Is not to be so slighted.

Ithocles

Slighted!

Armostes

Quiet

116

These vain unruly passions, which will render ye

117

Into a madness.

Orgilus

Griefs will have their vent.

Enter Tecnicus [with a scroll]

Armostes

118

Welcome; thou com'st in season, reverend man,

119

To pour the balsam of a suppling patience

120

Into the festering wound of ill-spent fury.

Orgilus

121

[Aside.]

What makes he here?

Tecnicus

The hurts are yet not mortal,

122

Which shortly will prove deadly. To the king,

123

Armostes, see in safety thou deliver

124

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

125

Peruse the secrets of the gods. — O Sparta,

126

O Lacedæmon! double-nam'd, but one

127

In fate: when kingdoms reel, — mark well my saw, —

128

Their heads must needs be giddy. Tell the king

129

That henceforth he no more must inquire after

130

My aged head; Apollo wills it so.

131

I am for Delphos.

Armostes

Not without some conference

132

With our great master?

Tecnicus

Never more to see him:

133

A greater prince commands me. — Ithocles,

134

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

135

The lifeless trunk shall wed the broken heart.

Ithocles

136

What's this, if understood?

Tecnicus

List, Orgilus!

137

Remember what I told thee long before.

138

These tears shall be my witness.

Armostes

'Las, good man!

Tecnicus

139

Let craft with courtesy a while confer,

140

Revenge proves its own executioner.

Orgilus

141

Dark sentences are for Apollo's priests;

142

I am not Œdipus.

Tecnicus

My hour is come.

143

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

144

O Lacedæmon!

Exit Tecnicus.

Armostes

If prophetic fire

145

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

146

His words to fatal sense.

Ithocles

Leave to the powers

147

Above us the effects of their decrees;

148

My burthen lies within me. Servile fears

149

Prevent no great effects. — Divine Calantha!

Armostes

150

The gods be still propitious!

Exeunt [Ithocles and Armostes.] Manet Orgilus.

Orgilus

Something oddly

151

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

152

Let craft with courtesy a while confer,

153

Revenge proves its own executioner.

154

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

155

'T is dotage of a wither'd brain. — Penthea

156

Forbade me not her presence; I may see her,

157

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

158

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

Exit Orgilus.

[Scene II]

[House of Bassanes]

Enter Bassanes, Grausis, and Phulas

Bassanes

Pray, use your recreations. All the service

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.

Grausis

Fair blessings on thy heart!

Phulas

[Aside.]

Here's a rare change!

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

The cuckold in conceit hath cast his horns.

Bassanes

Betake ye to your several occasions;

And wherein I have heretofore been faulty,

Let your constructions mildly pass it over.

Henceforth I'll study reformation, — more

I have not for employment.

Grausis

O, sweet man!

Thou art the very "Honeycomb of Honesty."

Phulas

The "Garland of Good-will." — Old lady, hold up

Thy reverend snout, and trot behind me softly,

As it becomes a moil of ancient carriage.

Exeunt. Manet Bassanes

Bassanes

Beasts, only capable of sense, enjoy

The benefit of food and ease with thankfulness;

Such silly creatures, with a grudging, kick not

Against the portion nature hath bestow'd:

But men, endow'd with reason and the use

Of reason, to distinguish from the chaff

Of abject scarcity the quintessence,

Soul, and elixir of the earth's abundance,

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, —

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 impíous,

Humility shall pour, before the deities

I have incens'd, a largess of more patience

Than their displeased altars can require.

No tempests of commotion shall disquiet

The calms of my composure.

Enter Orgilus

Orgilus

I have found thee,

Thou patron of more horrors than the bulk

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

Can cram within thy breast. Penthea, Bassanes,

Curs'd by thy jealousies, — more, by thy dotage, —

Is left a prey to words.

Bassanes

Exercise

Your trials for addition to my penance;

I am resolv'd.

Orgilus

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!

Bassanes

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 yet further.

Orgilus

May thy death of love to her

Damn all thy comforts to a lasting fast

From every joy of life! Thou barren rock,

By thee we have been split in ken of harbour.

Enter Ithocles, Penthea, her hair about her ears; [Armostes,] Philema, Christalla

Ithocles

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,

A lamentable object!

Orgilus

Man, dost see 't?

Sports are more gamesome; am I yet in merriment?

Why dost not laugh?

Bassanes

Divine and best of ladies,

Please to forget my outrage; mercy ever

Cannot but lodge under a roof so excellent.

I have cast off that cruelty of frenzy

Which once appear'd, impostor, and then juggled

To cheat my sleeps of rest.

Orgilus

Was I in earnest?

Penthea

Sure, if we were all Sirens, we should sing pitifully.

And 't were a comely music, when in parts

One sung another's knell. The turtle sighs

When he hath lost his mate; and yet some say

'A 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 falsehood

Equals a broken faith; there's not a hair

Sticks on my head but, like a leaden plummet,

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

The journey is not long.

Ithocles

But, thou, Penthea,

Hast many years, I hope, to number yet,

Ere thou canst travel that way.

Bassanes

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!

Orgilus

Wisdom, look 'ee, begins

To rave! — Art thou mad too, antiquity?

Penthea

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,

My father would have pick'd me out a husband,

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.

Bassanes

Fall on me, if there be a burning Ætna,

And bury me in flames! Sweats hot as sulphur

Boil through my pores! Affliction hath in store

No torture like to this.

Orgilus

Behold a patience!

Lay by thy whining gray dissimulation,

100

Do something worth a chronicle; show justice

101

Upon the author of this mischief; dig out

102

The jealousies that hatch'd this thraldom first

103

With thine own poniard. Every antic rapture

104

Can roar as thine does.

Ithocles

Orgilus, forbear.

Bassanes

105

Disturb him not; it is a talking motion

106

Provided for my torment. What a fool am I

107

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

108

I will look on and burst.

Penthea

I lov'd you once.

[To Orgilus.]

Orgilus

109

Thou didst, wrong'd creature: in despite of malice,

110

For it I love thee ever.

Penthea

Spare your hand;

111

Believe me, I'll not hurt it.

Orgilus

Pain my heart too!

Penthea

112

Complain not though I wring it hard. I'll kiss it;

113

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

114

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

115

Goodness! we had been happy; too much happiness

116

Will make folk proud, they say — but that is he —

Points at Ithocles.

117

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

118

Is crept into the cabinet of the princess;

119

We shall have points and bride-laces. Remember,

120

When we last gather'd roses in the garden,

121

I found my wits; but truly you lost yours.

122

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

[Again pointing at Ithocles.]

Ithocles

Poor soul, how idly

123

Her fancies guide her tongue!

Bassanes

[Aside.]

Keep in, vexation,

124

And break not into clamour.

Orgilus

[Aside.]

She has tutor'd me:

125

Some powerful inspiration checks my laziness. —

126

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

Penthea

Kiss it. —

127

Alack, alack, his lips be wondrous cold.

128

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

129

A straying heart? All crannies! every drop

130

Of blood is turned to an amethyst,

131

Which married bachelors hang in their ears.

Orgilus

132

Peace usher her into Elysium! —

133

If this be madness, madness is an oracle.

Exit Orgilus.

Ithocles

134

Christalla, Philema, when slept my sister?

135

Her ravings are so wild?

Christalla

Sir, not these ten days.

Philema

136

We watch by her continually; besides,

137

We can not any way pray her to eat.

Bassanes

138

O, misery of miseries!

Penthea

Take comfort;

139

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

140

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

141

If you had join'd our hands once in the temple, —

142

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

143

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

144

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

145

A cruel brother and a desperate dotage!

146

There is no peace left for a ravish'd wife,

147

Widow'd by lawless marriage; to all memory

148

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

149

But since her blood was season'd by the forfeit

150

Of noble shame with mixtures of pollution,

151

Her blood — 't is just — be henceforth never heighten'd

152

With taste of sustenance! Starve; let that fulness

153

Whose pleurisy hath fever'd faith and modesty —

154

Forgive me; O, I faint!

[Falls into the arms of her Attendants.]

Armostes

Be not so wilful,

155

Sweet niece, to work thine own destruction.

Ithocles

Nature

156

Will call her daughter monster! — What! not eat?

157

Refuse the only ordinary means

158

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

159

A murth'ress to thyself. — Hear'st thou this, Bassanes?

Bassanes

160

Foh! I am busy; for I have not thoughts

161

Enow to think: all shall be well anon.

162

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

163

In art to fatten and keep smooth the outside;

164

Yes, and to comfort up the vital spirits

165

Without the help of food, fumes or perfumes,

166

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

167

The trick on 't.

Penthea

Lead me gently; heavens reward ye.

168

Griefs are sure friends; they leave without control

169

Nor cure nor comforts for a leprous soul.

Exeunt the maids supporting Penthea.

Bassanes

170

I grant ye; and will put in practice instantly

171

What you shall still admire: 't is wonderful,

172

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

173

Yet, when, I've done 't, I've done 't: — ye shall all thank me.

Exit Bassanes.

Armostes

174

The sight is full of terror.

Ithocles

On my soul

175

Lies such an infinite clog of massy dulness,

176

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

177

See, uncle, th' angry thing returns again;

178

Shall 's welcome him with thunder? We are haunted,

179

And must use exorcism to conjure down

180

This spirit of malevolence.

Armostes

Mildly, nephew.

Enter Nearchus and Amelus

Nearchus

181

I come not, sir, to chide your late disorder,

182

Admitting that th' inurement to a roughness

183

In soldiers of your years and fortunes, chiefly,

184

So lately prosperous, hath not yet shook off

185

The custom of the war in hours of leisure;

186

Nor shall you need excuse, since y' are to render

187

Account to that fair excellence, the princess,

188

Who in her private gallery expects it

189

From your own mouth alone: I am a messenger

190

But to her pleasure.

Ithocles

Excellent Nearchus,

191

Be prince still of my services, and conquer

192

Without the combat of dispute; I honour ye.

Nearchus

193

The king is on a sudden indispos'd,

194

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

195

You should be near him.

Armostes

Sir, I kiss your hands.

Exeunt. Manent Nearchus & Amelus.

Nearchus

196

Amelus, I perceive Calantha's bosom

197

Is warm'd with other fires than such as can

198

Take strength from any fuel of the love

199

I might address to her. Young Ithocles,

200

Or ever I mistake, is lord ascendant

201

Of her devotions; one, to speak him truly,

202

In every disposition nobly fashioned.

Amelus

203

But can your highness brook to be so rivall'd,

204

Considering th' inequality of the persons?

Nearchus

205

I can, Amelus; for affections injur'd

206

By tyranny or rigour of compulsion,

207

Like tempest-threaten'd trees unfirmly rooted,

208

Ne'er spring to timely growth: observe, for instance,

209

Life-spent Penthea and unhappy Orgilus.

Amelus

210

How does your grace determine?

Nearchus

To be jealous

211

In public of what privately I'll further;

212

And though they shall not know, yet they shall find it.

Exeunt omnes.

[Scene III]

[The Palace]

Enter Lemophil and Groneas leading Amyclas, and placing him in a chair; followed by Armostes [with a box], Crotolon, and Prophilus

Amyclas

Our daughter is not near?

Armostes

She is retir'd, sir,

Into her gallery.

Amyclas

Where's the prince our cousin?

Prophilus

New walk'd into the grove, my lord.

Amyclas

All leave us

Except Armostes, and you, Crotolon;

We would be private.

Prophilus

Health unto your majesty!

Exeunt Prophilus, Lemophil, and Groneas.

Amyclas

What! Tecnicus is gone?

Armostes

He is to Delphos;

And to your royal hands presents this box.

Amyclas

Unseal it, good Armostes; therein lies

The secrets of the oracle; out with it:

[Armostes takes out the scroll.]

Apollo live our patron! Read, Armostes.

Armostes

[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

Shall drop, and feed the plot anew.

Amyclas

That is the oracle: what exposition

Makes the philosopher?

Armostes

This brief one only.

[Reads.]

The plot is Sparta, the dri'd vine the king;

The quailing grape his daughter; but the thing

Of most importance, not to be reveal'd

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

Tecnicus.

Amyclas

Enough; although the opening of this riddle

Be but itself a riddle, yet we construe

How near our labouring age draws to a rest.

But must Calantha quail too? that young grape

Untimely budded! I could mourn for her;

Her tenderness hath yet deserv'd no rigour

So to be cross'd by fate.

Armostes

You misapply, sir, —

With favour let me speak it, — what Apollo

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.

Crotolon

Besides, most gracious lord, the pith of oracles

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.

Amyclas

May it prove so,

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.

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

Let such as wait come in now.

Armostes

All attend here!

Enter Ithocles, Calantha, Prophilus, Orgilus, Euphranea, Lemophil, and Groneas

Calantha

Dear sir! king! father!

Ithocles

O my royal master!

Amyclas

Cleave not my heart, sweet twins of my life's solace,

With your forejudging fears; there is no physic

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.

Is fair Euphranea married yet to Prophilus?

Crotolon

This morning, gracious lord.

Orgilus

This very morning;

Which, with your highness' leave, you may observe too.

Our sister looks, methinks, mirthful and sprightly,

As if her chaster fancy could already

Expound the riddle of her gain in losing

A trifle maids know only that they know not.

Pish! prithee, blush not; 't is but honest change

Of fashion in the garment, loose for strait,

And so the modest maid is made a wife.

Shrewd business — is 't not, sister?

Euphranea

You are pleasant.

Amyclas

We thank thee, Orgilus; this mirth becomes thee.

But wherefore sits the court in such a silence?

A wedding without revels is not seemly.

Calantha

Your late indisposition, sir, forbade it.

Amyclas

Be it thy charge, Calantha, to set forward

The bridal sports, to which I will be present;

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

I have done little for thee yet.

Ithocles

Y' have built me

To the full height I stand in.

Calantha

[Aside.]

Now or never! —

May I propose a suit?

Amyclas

Demand, and have it.

Calantha

Pray, sir, give me this young man, and no further

Account him yours than he deserves in all things

To be thought worthy mine: I will esteem him

According to his merit.

Amyclas

Still th' art my daughter,

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.

Ithocles

A change, great king, most wish'd for, 'cause the same.

Calantha

[To Ithocles.]

Th' art mine. Have I now kept my word?

Ithocles

Divinely.

Orgilus

Rich fortunes guard, the favour of a princess

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

Y' are minion of the time; be thankful for it. —

[Aside.]

Ho! here's a swing in destiny! Apparent,

The youth is up on tiptoe, yet may stumble.

Amyclas

On to your recreations. — Now convey me

Unto my bed-chamber: none on his forehead

Wear a distemper'd look.

Omnes

The gods preserve ye!

Calantha

[Aside to Ithocles.]

Sweet, be not from my sight.

Ithocles

My whole felicity!

Exeunt, carrying out the king. Orgilus stays Ithocles.

Orgilus

Shall I be bold, my lord?

Ithocles

Thou canst not, Orgilus.

100

Call me thine own; for Prophilus must henceforth

101

Be all thy sister's: friendship, though it cease not

102

In marriage, yet is oft at less command

103

Than when a single freedom can dispose it.

Orgilus

104

Most right, my most good lord, my most great lord,

105

My gracious princely lord, — I might add, royal.

Ithocles

106

Royal! A subject royal?

Orgilus

Why not, pray, sir?

107

The sovereignty of kingdoms in their nonage

108

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

109

In clearness of affection as in puddle

110

Of generation. You have conquer'd love

111

Even in the loveliest; if I greatly err not,

112

The son of Venus hath bequeath'd his quiver

113

To Ithocles his manage, by whose arrows

114

Calantha's breast is open'd.

Ithocles

Can 't be possible?

Orgilus

115

I was myself a piece of suitor once,

116

And forward in preferment too; so forward

117

That, speaking truth, I may without offence, sir,

118

Presume to whisper that my hopes, and — hark 'ee —

119

My certainty of marriage stood assured

120

With as firm footing — by your leave — as any's

121

Now at this very instant — but —

Ithocles

'T is granted:

122

And for a league of privacy between us,

123

Read o'er my bosom and partake a secret:

124

The princess is contracted mine.

Orgilus

Still, why not?

125

I now applaud her wisdom: when your kingdom

126

Stands seated in your will, secure and settled,

127

I dare pronounce you will be a just monarch:

128

Greece must admire and tremble.

Ithocles

Then the sweetness

129

Of so imparadis'd a comfort, Orgilus!

130

It is to banquet with the gods.

Orgilus

The glory

131

Of numerous children, potency of nobles,

132

Bent knees, hearts pav'd to tread on!

Ithocles

With a friendship

133

So dear, so fast, as thine.

Orgilus

I am unfitting

134

For office; but for service —

Ithocles

We 'll distinguish

135

Our fortunes merely in the title; partners

136

In all respects else but the bed.

Orgilus

The bed!

137

Forfend it Jove's own jealousy! — till lastly

138

We slip down in the common earth together.

139

And there our beds are equal; save some monument

140

To show this was the king, and this the subject. —

Soft sad music.

141

List, what sad sounds are these? — extremely sad ones.

Ithocles

142

Sure, from Penthea's lodgings.

Orgilus

Hark! a voice too.

A Song [within]

143

O, no more, no more! too late

144

Sighs are spent; the burning tapers

145

Pure as are unwritten papers,

146

Are burnt out: no heat, no light

147

Now remains; 't is ever night.

148

Love is dead; let lovers' eyes,

149

Lock'd in endless dreams,

150

Th' extremes of all extremes,

151

Ope no more, for now Love dies,

152

Now Love dies, — implying

153

Love's martyrs must be ever, ever dying.

Ithocles

154

O, my misgiving heart!

Orgilus

A horrid stillness

155

Succeeds this deathful air; let 's know the reason.

156

Tread softly; there is mystery in mourning.

Exeunt.

[Scene IV]

[Penthea's Apartment]

Enter Christalla and Philema, bringing in Penthea in a chair, veiled: two other Servants placing two chairs, one on the one side, and the other with an engine on the other. The Maids sit down at her feet, mourning. The Servants go out: meet them Ithocles and Orgilus.

1 Servant

[Aside to Orgilus.]

'T is done; that on her right hand.

Orgilus

Good: begone.

[Exeunt Servants.]

Ithocles

Soft peace enrich this room!

Orgilus

How fares the lady?

Philema

Dead!

Christalla

Dead!

Philema

Starv'd!

Christalla

Starv'd!

Ithocles

Me miserable!

Orgilus

Tell us,

How parted she from life?

Philema

She call'd for music,

And begg'd some gentle voice to tune a farewell

To life and griefs. Christalla touch'd the lute;

I wept the funeral song.

Christalla

Which scarce was ended

But her last breath seal'd up these hollow sounds,

"O, cruel Ithocles and injur'd Orgilus!"

So down she drew her veil, so died.

Ithocles

So died!

Orgilus

Up! you are messengers of death; go from us.

Here's woe enough to court without a prompter.

Away! and — hark ye — till you see us next,

No syllable that she is dead. — Away!

Keep a smooth brow.

Exeunt Philema and Christalla.

My lord, —

Ithocles

Mine only sister!

Another is not left me.

Orgilus

Take that chair;

I'll seat me here in this. Between us sits

The object of our sorrows; some few tears

We'll part among us. I perhaps can mix

One lamentable story to prepare 'em. —

There, there; sit there, my lord.

Ithocles

Yes, as you please.

Ithocles sits down, and is catch'd in the engine.

What means this treachery?

Orgilus

Caught! you are caught,

Young master. 'T is thy throne of coronation,

Thou fool of greatness! See, I take this veil off.

Survey a beauty wither'd by the flames

Of an insulting Phaeton, her brother.

Ithocles

Thou mean'st to kill me basely?

Orgilus

I foreknew

The last act of her life, and train'd thee hither

To sacrifice a tyrant to a turtle.

You dreamt of kingdoms, did ye? How to bosom

The delicacies of a youngling princess;

How with this nod to grace that subtle courtier,

How with that frown to make this noble tremble,

And so forth; whiles Penthea's groans and tortures,

Her agonies, her miseries, afflictions,

Ne'er touch'd upon your thought. As for my injuries,

Alas, they were beneath your royal pity;

But yet they liv'd, thou proud man, to confound thee.

Behold thy fate, this steel!

[Draws a dagger.]

Ithocles

{Vs} Strike home! A courage

As keen as thy revenge shall give it welcome.

But prithee faint not; if the wound close up,

Tent it with double force, and search it deeply.

Thou look'st that I should whine and beg compassion,

As loath to leave the vainness of my glories.

A statelier resolution arms my confidence,

To cozen thee of honour. Neither could I

With equal trial of unequal fortune

By hazard of a duel; 't were a bravery

Too mighty for a slave intending murther.

On to the execution, and inherit

A conflict with thy horrors.

Orgilus

By Apollo,

Thou talk'st a goodly language! For requital

I will report thee to thy mistress richly.

And take this peace along: some few short minutes

Determin'd, my resolves shall quickly follow

Thy wrathful ghost; then, if we tug for mastery,

Penthea's sacred eyes shall lend new courage.

Give me thy hand: be healthful in thy parting

From lost mortality! thus, thus I free it.

Kills him.

Ithocles

Yet, yet, I scorn to shrink.

Orgilus

Keep up thy spirit:

I will be gentle even in blood; to linger

Pain, which I strive to cure, were to be cruel.

[Stabs him again.]

Ithocles

Nimble in vengeance, I forgive thee. Follow

Safety, with best success: O, may it prosper! —

Penthea, by thy side thy brother bleeds,

The earnest of his wrongs to thy forc'd faith.

Thoughts of ambition, or delicious banquet

With beauty, youth, and love, together perish

In my last breath, which on the sacred altar

Of a long-look'd-for peace — now — moves — to heaven.

Moritur.

Orgilus

Farewell, fair spring of manhood! Henceforth welcome

Best expectation of a noble suff'rance.

I'll lock the bodies safe, till what must follow

Shall be approv'd. — Sweet twins, shine stars for ever! —

In vain they build their hopes whose life is shame:

No monument lasts but a happy name.

Exit Orgilus.

Actus Quintus:

Scæna prima

[The House of Bassanes]

Enter Bassanes, alone

Bassanes

Athens — to Athens I have sent, the nursery

Of Greece for learning and the fount of knowledge;

For here in Sparta there's not left amongst us

One wise man to direct; we're all turn'd madcaps.

'T is said Apollo is the god of herbs,

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

Orgilus

Honour

Attend thy counsels ever!

Bassanes

I beseech thee

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

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

The doubles 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,

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.

Orgilus

Noble Bassanes,

Mistake me not.

Bassanes

Phew! then we shall be troubled.

Thou wert ordain'd my plague — heaven make me thankful,

And give me patience too, heaven, I beseech thee.

Orgilus

Accept a league of amity; for henceforth,

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

Never to speak vexation. I will study

Service and friendship, with a zealous sorrow

For my past incivility towards ye.

Bassanes

Hey-day, good words, good words! I must believe 'em,

And be a coxcomb for my labour.

Orgilus

Use not

So hard a language; your misdoubt is causeless.

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,

The first, the index pointing to a second, —

I will acquaint ye with an unmatch'd secret,

Whose knowledge to your griefs shall set a period.

Bassanes

Thou canst not, Orgilus; 't is in the power

Of the gods only: yet, for satisfaction,

Because I note an earnest in thine utterance,

Unforc'd and naturally free, be resolute.

The virgin-bays shall not withstand the lightning

With a more careless danger than my constancy

The full of thy relation. Could it move

Distraction in a senseless marble statue,

It should find me a rock: I do expect now

Some truth of unheard moment.

Orgilus

To your patience

You must add privacy, as strong in silence

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

Bassanes

A skull hid in the earth a treble age

Shall sooner prate.

Orgilus

Lastly, to such direction

As the severity of a glorious action

Deserves to lead your wisdom and your judgment,

You ought to yield obedience.

Bassanes

With assurance

Of will and thankfulness.

Orgilus

With manly courage

Please, then, to follow me.

Bassanes

Where'er, I fear not.

Exeunt omnes.

Scene 2

[The Court]

Loud music. Enter Groneas and Lemophil, leading Euphranea; Christalla and Philema, leading Prophilus; Nearchus supporting Calantha; Crotolon and Amelus. Cease loud music; all make a stand.

Calantha

We miss our servant Ithocles and Orgilus;

On whom attend they?

Crotolon

My son, gracious princess,

Whisper'd some new device, to which these revels

Should be but usher: wherein I conceive

Lord Ithocles and he himself are actors.

Calantha

A fair excuse for absence: as for Bassanes,

Delights to him are troublesome. Armostes

Is with the king?

Crotolon

He is.

Calantha

On to the dance! —

Dear cousin, hand you the bride; the bridegroom must be

Intrusted to my courtship. Be not jealous,

Euphranea; I shall scarcely prove a temptress. —

Fall to our dance.

Music. Nearchus dance with Euphranea, Prophilus with Calantha, Christalla with Lemophil, Philema with Groneas.

They dance the first change; during which

Enter Armostes

Armostes

(In Calantha's ear.)

The king your father 's dead.

Calantha

To the other change.

Armostes

Is 't possible?

Dance again.

Enter Bassanes

Bassanes

[Whispers Calantha.]

O, madam!

Penthea, poor Penthea 's starv'd.

Calantha

Beshrew thee! —

Lead to the next.

Bassanes

Amazement dulls my senses.

Dance again.

Enter Orgilus

Orgilus

[Whispers Calantha.]

Brave Ithocles is murther'd, murther'd cruelly.

Calantha

How dull this music sounds! Strike up more sprightly;

Our footings are not active like our heart,

Which treads the nimbler measure.

Orgilus

I am thunderstruck.

Last change. Cease music.

Calantha

So! let us breathe awhile. — Hath not this motion

Rais'd fresher colour on your cheeks?

Nearchus

Sweet princess,

A perfect purity of blood enamels

The beauty of your white.

Calantha

We all look cheerfully;

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

In any who prefer our lawful pleasures

Before their own sour censure, to interrupt

The custom of this ceremony bluntly.

Nearchus

None dares, lady.

Calantha

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

How that the king was dead.

Armostes

The king is dead:

That fatal news was mine; for in mine arms

He breath'd his last, and with his crown bequeath'd ye

Your mother's wedding ring; which here I tender.

Crotolon

Most strange!

Calantha

Peace crown his ashes! We are queen, then.

Nearchus

Long live Calantha! Sparta's sovereign queen!

Omnes

Long live the queen!

Calantha

What whisper'd Bassanes?

Bassanes

That my Penthea, miserable soul,

Was starv'd to death.

Calantha

She's happy; she hath finish'd

A long and painful progress. — A third murmur

Pierc'd mine unwilling ears.

Orgilus

That Ithocles

Was murther'd; — rather butcher'd, had not bravery

Of an undaunted spirit, conquering terror,

Proclaim'd his last act triumph over ruin.

Armostes

How! murther'd!

Calantha

By whose hand?

Orgilus

By mine; this weapon

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 to steer a kingdom.

Crotolon

Fie, Orgilus!

Euphranea

Fie, brother!

Calantha

You have done it?

Bassanes

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. Armostes, rent not

Thine arteries with hearing the bare circumstances

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 shrinking

At such a pressure as would sink a soul

Into what's most of death, the worst of horrors.

But I have seal'd a covenant with sadness,

And enter'd into bonds without condition,

To stand these tempests calmly. Mark me, nobles:

I do not shed a tear, not for Penthea!

Excellent misery!

Calantha

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

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

To thy lost son; — Euphranea, take a farewell; —

And both be gone.

Crotolon

[To Orgilus.]

Confirm thee, noble sorrow,

In worthy resolution!

Euphranea

Could my tears speak,

My griefs were slight.

Orgilus

All goodness dwell amongst ye!

Enjoy my sister, Prophilus: my vengeance

Aim'd never at thy prejudice.

Calantha

Now withdraw.

Exeunt Crotolon, Prophilus, and Euphranea.

Bloody relater of thy stains in blood,

For that thou hast reported him, whose fortunes

John Ford

The Broken Heart

The Prologue

Actus Primus:

Scæna prima

Scene 2

Scene 3

Actus Secundus:

Scæna Prima

Scene 2

Scene the third

Actus Tertius:

Scæna prima

[Scene II.]

A Song

[Scene IV]

[Scene V]

Actus Quartus:

Scæna prima

[Scene II]

[Scene III]

[Scene IV]

Actus Quintus:

Scæna prima

Scene 2