| |
|
|
THE BROKEN HEART
BY JOHN FORD
THE SPEAKERS' NAMES FITTED TO
THEIR
QUALITIES
|
| AMYCLAS, Common to
the
Kings of Laconia. |
CALANTHA, Flower of
beauty,
the King's Daughter. |
| ITHOCLES, Honour of
loveliness, a Favourite. |
PENTHEA, Complaint,
Sister to Ithocles [and Wife to
Bassanes]. |
| ORGILUS, Angry,
son to
Crotolon. |
| BASSANES, Vexation, a
jealous
Nobleman. |
EUPHRANEA, Joy,
a Maid of honour [Daughter to Croto-
lon]. |
| ARMOSTES, an Appeaser,
a Councillor of State. |
| CROTOLON, Noise,
another Councillor. |
CHRISTALLA, Christal, |
}
|
Maids of honour. |
| PROPHILUS, Dear,
Friend to Ithocles. |
PHILEMA, A Kiss. |
| NEARCHUS, Young
Prince,
Prince of Argos. |
GRAUSIS, 1
Old Beldam, Overseer of Penthea. |
| TECNICUS, Artist,
a
Philosopher. |
|
| HEMOPHIL, Glutton, |
}
|
two Courtiers. |
|
PERSONS
INCLUDED. |
| GRONEAS, Tavern-haunter, |
|
| AMELUS, Trusty,
Friend
to Nearchus. |
THEASUS, Fierceness,
Father of Ithocles. |
| PHULAS, Watchful,
Servant to Bassanes. |
APLOTES, Simplicity,
Orgilus so disguised. |
| Lords, Courtiers,
Officers,
Attendants, etc. |
|
SCENE — Sparta.
|
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 fiction, 2
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. |
Enter CROTOLON and
ORGILUS.
Crot. Dally not
further; I
will know the reason
That speeds thee to this journey.
Ory.
Reason! good sir,
I can yield many.
Crot.
Give me one, a good
one;
Such I expect, and ere we part must have.
| Athens! Pray, why to
Athens?
You intend not |
5 |
To kick against the world, turn cynic, stoic,
Or read the logic lecture, or become
An Areopagite, 4
and judge in cases
Touching the commonwealth; for, as I take it,
The budding of your chin cannot prognosticate
So grave an honour.
| Org.
All this I
acknowledge. |
11 |
Crot. You do! Then,
son,
if books and love
of knowledge
Inflame you to this travel, here in Sparta
You may as freely study.
____________________
| 1 |
Q. Gransis,
throughout. |
| 2 |
Q. a fiction. |
| 3 |
A room in Crotolon's
house. |
| 4 |
A member of the
Areopagus,
the highest judicial
court in Athens. |
770
|
|
|
Org.
'T is not that, sir.
Crot. Not that, sir! As a father, I command
To acquaint me with the truth.
Org.
Thus I obey ye.
After so many quarrels as dissension,
Fury, and rage had broacht in blood, and some-
times
With death to such confederates as sided
With now-dead Thrasus and yourself, my lord;
| Our present king,
Amyclas,
reconcil'd |
21 |
Your eager swords and seal'd a gentle peace:
Friends you profest yourselves; which to con-
firm,
A resolution for a lasting league
| Betwixt your families
was
entertain'd, |
25 |
By joining in a Hymenean bond
Me and the fair Penthea, only daughter
To Thrasus.
Crot.
What of this?
Org.
Much, much, dear sir.
A freedom of converse, an interchange
| Of holy and chaste
love, so
fixt our souls |
30 |
In a firm growth of 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.
Org. From this time
sprouted up that poison-
ous stalk
Of aconite, whose ripened fruit hath ravisht
All health, all comfort of a happy life;
For Ithocles, her brother, proud of youth,
| And prouder in his
power,
nourisht closely |
40 |
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 |
45 |
And riches, I confess, beyond my fortunes.
Crot. All this is no
sound
reason to impor-
tune
My leave for thy departure.
Org.
Now it follows.
Beauteous Penthea, wedded to this torture
| By an insulting
brother,
being secretly |
50 |
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 thraldrom, misery,
| Affliction, that he
savours
not humanity, |
55 |
Whose sorrow melts not into more than pity
In hearing but her name.
Crot.
As how, pray?
Org.
Bassanes,
The man that calls her wife, considers truly
What heaven of perfections he is lord of
| By thinking fair
Penthea
his: this thought |
60 |
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 1
do homage to the miracle; |
65 |
Some one, he is assur'd, may now or then,
If opportunity but sort, 2
prevail.
So much, out of a self-unworthiness,
His fears transport him; not that he finds
cause
| In her obedience, but
his
own distrust. |
70 |
Crot. You spin out your discourse.
Org.
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 |
75 |
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; |
80 |
Lastly, to lose the memory of something
Her presence makes to live in me afresh.
Crot. Enough, my Orgilus, enough. To Ath-
ens,
I give a full consent. — Alas, good lady! —
We shall hear from thee often?
Org.
Often.
Thy sister comes to give a farewell.
Enter
EUPHRANEA.
Euph.
Brother!
Org. 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, |
90 |
I must prefer a suit t' ye.
Euph.
You may style it,
My brother, a command.
Org.
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.
I'll promise for her, Orgilus.
Org.
Your pardon;
Euphranea's oath must yield me satisfaction.
Euph. By Vesta's
sacred
fires I swear.
Crot.
And I,
By Great Apollo's beams, join in the vow,
| Not without thy
allowance to
bestow her |
100 |
On any living.
Org.
Dear Euphranea,
Mistake me not: far, far 't is from my thought,
As far from any wish of mine, to hinder
Preferment to an honourable bed
Or fitting fortune; thou art young and hand-
And 't were injustice, — more, a tyranny, —
Not to advance thy merit. Trust me, sister,
It shall be my first care to see thee match'd
| As may become thy
choice and
our contents. |
109 |
I have your oath.
Euph.
You have. But mean
you, brother,
To leave us, as you say?
Crot.
Ay, ay, Euphranea;
____________________
771
|
|
|
He has just grounds direct
him. I
will prove
A father and a brother to thee.
Euph.
Heaven
Does look into the secrets of all hearts:
Gods, you have mercy with ye, else —
Thy brother will return in safety to us.
Org. Souls sunk in
sorrows
never are without
'em.
They change fresh airs, but bear their griefs
about 'em.
Exeunt omnes.
Flourish.
Enter
AMYCLAS
the King, ARMOS-
TES, PROPHILUS, [Courtiers,] and Attendants.
Amy. 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 |
5 |
This silver badge of age, and change this snow
For hairs as gay as are Apollo's locks;
Our heart leaps in new vigour.
Arm.
May old time
Run back to double your long life, great sir!
Amy. It will, it
must,
Armostes: thy bold
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 |
15 |
To Lacedaemon'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?
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.
Amy. When comes your
friend, the general?
To follow with all speed convenient.
Enter CALANTHA, EUPHRANEA;
CHRISTALLA
and PHILEMA [with a garland;] and CROTO-
LON.
Amy. Our daughter! —
Dear
Calantha, the
happy news,
The conquest of Messene, hath already
Enrich'd thy knowledge.
Cal.
With
the circumstance
| And manner of the
fight,
related faithfully |
30 |
By Prophilus himself: — But, pray, sir, tell me
How doth the youthful general demean
His actions in these fortunes?
Pro.
Excellent princess,
Your own fair eyes may soon report a truth
| Unto your judgment,
with
what moderation, |
35 |
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: |
40 |
But Ithocles —
Cal.
Your friend —
Pro.
He is so, madam,
In which the period of my fate consists:
He, in this firmament of honour, stands
Like a star fixt, not mov'd with any thunder
| Of popular applause or
sudden lightning |
45 |
Of self-opinion; he hath serv'd his country,
And thinks 't was but his duty.
Crot.
You describe
A miracle of man.
Amy.
Such, Crotolon,
On forfeit of a king's word, thou wilt find
Hark, warning of his coming! All attend him.
Enter ITHOCLES,
HEMOPHIL,
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!
Ith.
Your humblest
subject.
Arm. Proud of the
blood I
claim an interest
in.
| As brother to thy
mother, I
embrace thee, |
55 |
Right noble nephew.
Ith.
Sir, your love's too
partial.
Crot. Our country
speaks
by me, who by thy
valour,
Wisdom, and service, shares in this great ac-
tion;
Returning thee, in part of thy due merits,
A general welcome.
| Ith.
You exceed in
bounty. |
60 |
Cal. 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
To crown thy temples, this provincial garland: 2
Accept, wear, and enjoy it as our gift
Deserv'd, not purchas'd.
Ith.
Y' are a royal maid.
Amy. She is in all
our
daughter.
Ith.
Let me blush,
| Acknowledging how
poorly I
have serv'd, |
70 |
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, |
75 |
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?
____________________
| 1 |
A room in the palace. |
| 2 |
The laurel wreath . .
.
conferred on those who
added a province to the empire. (Gifford.) |
772
|
|
|
Cal.
'A speaks truth.
Ith.
Whom heaven
| Is pleas'd to style
victorious, there to such |
80 |
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 pur-
As his whose much more delicate condition
Hath suckt the milk of ease: judgment; com-
mands,
But resolution executes. I use not,
Before this royal presence, these fit slights 1
| As in contempt of such
as
can direct; |
90 |
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, |
95 |
Both Hemophil 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.
Amy. Courtiers turn
soldiers! — We vouch-
safe our hand.
[HEMOPHIL and GRONEAS kiss
his
hand.]
Observe your great example.
| Hem.
With all
diligence. |
100 |
Gron. Obsequiously
and
hourly.
Amy.
Some
repose
After these toils is 2 needful. We must think
on
Conditions for the conquered; they expect 3
'em.
On! — Come, my Ithocles.
Euph.
Sir, with your
favour,
I need not a supporter.
| Pro.
Fate instructs
me. |
105 |
Exeunt. HEMOPHIL stays CHRIS-
TALLA; GRONEAS, PHILEMA.
Chris. With me?
Phil.
Indeed, I dare not
stay.
Hem.
Sweet lady.
Soldiers are blunt, —
your lip.
Chris.
Fie, this is
rudeness:
You went not hence such creatures.
Gro.
Spirit
of valour
Is of a mounting nature.
Phil.
It appears so. —
| Pray, in earnest, how
many
men apiece |
110 |
Have you two been the death of?
Gro.
'Faith, not many;
We were compos'd of mercy.
Hem.
For our daring,
You heard the general's approbation
Before the king.
Chris. You "wish'd
your
country's peace;"
That show'd your charity: where are your
Such as the soldier fights for?
Phil.
They are coming.
Chris. By the next
carrier, are they not?
Gro.
Sweet Philema,
When I was in the thickest of mine enemies,
Slashing off one man's head, another's nose,
Another's arms and legs, —
| Phil.
And all
together. |
120 |
Gro. Then would I with a sigh remember
thee,
And cry "Dear Philema, 't is for thy sake
I do these deeds of wonder!" — Dost not love
me
With all thy heart now?
Phil.
Now as heretofore.
| I have not put my love
to
use; the principal |
125 |
Will hardly yield an interest.
Gro.
By Mars,
I'll marry thee!
Phil.
By Vulcan, you 're
forsworn,
Except my mind do alter strangely.
Gro.
One word.
Chris. You lie
beyond all
modesty: — for-
Hem. I'll make thee mistress of a city; 't is
Mine own by conquest.
Chris.
By petition; sue
for 't
In forma pauperis. — City! kennel. —
Gallants,
Off with your feathers, put on aprons, gallants;
| Learn to reel, thrum, 4
or trim a lady's dog, |
134 |
And be good quiet souls of peace, hobgoblins!
Hem. Christalla!
Chris.
Practise to drill
hogs, in hope
To share in the acorns. — Soldiers! corncutters,
But not so valiant; they ofttimes draw blood,
Which you durst never do. When you have
practis'd
| More wit or more
civility,
we'll rank ye |
140 |
I' th' list of men: till then, brave things-at-
arms,
Dare not to speak to us, — most potent Gro-
neas! —
Phil. And Hemophil
the
hardy! — at your
services.
Exeunt
CHRISTALLA and
PHILEMA.
Gro. They scorn us
as they
did before we
went.
Hem. Hang 'em! let
us
scorn them, and be
Gro. Shall
we?
Hem. We will: and
when we
slight them thus,
Instead of following them, they'll follow us;
It is a woman's nature,
Gro.
'T is a scurvy one. Exeunt.
Enter
TECNICUS, a
philosopher, and ORGILUS
disguised like a Scholar of his.
Tec. 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
____________________
| 1 |
Appropriately
belittling
terms. |
| 2 |
Q. are. |
| 3 |
Await. |
| 4 |
Weave. |
| 5 |
The gardens of the
palace. A
grove. |
773
|
|
|
Down to thy thoughts: in thy
aspect I note
A consequence of danger.
Org.
Give me leave,
Grave Tecnicus, without foredooming destiny,
Under thy roof to ease my silent griefs,
| By applying to my
hidden
wounds the balm |
10 |
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.
Neglects in young men of delights and life
Run often to extremities; they care not
For harms to others who contemn their own.
Org. But I, most
learned
artist, am not so
much
| At odds with nature
that I
grudge the thrift |
20 |
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 |
25 |
Some little time to any other cause
Than what I justly render, — the information
Of an unsettled mind; as the effect
Must clearly witness.
Tec.
Spirit of truth
inspire thee!
| On these conditions I
conceal thy change, |
30 |
And willingly admit thee for an auditor. —
I'll to my study.
Org.
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. |
35 |
Love, thou art full of mystery! The deities
Themselves are not secure 1
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 |
40 |
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 2
EUPHRA-
NEA, and whispering.
My sister! O, my sister! 't
is
Euphranea
| With Prophilus:
supported
too! I Would |
45 |
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.
Re-enter
PROPHILUS and
EUPHRANEA.
The span of this stol'n time, lent by the gods
For precious use, in niceness. 3
Bright Eu-
phranea,
Should I repeat old vows, or study new,
For purchase of belief to my desires, —
Org. [Aside.] Desires!
| Pro.
My service, my
integrity, — |
55 |
Org. [Aside.]
That's better.
Pro.
I should but repeat a
lesson
Oft conn'd without a prompter but thine eyes.
My love is honourable.
Ory. [Aside]
So was
mine
To my Penthea, chastely honourable.
Pro. Nor wants there
more
addition to my
Of happiness than having thee a wife;
Already sure of Ithocles, a friend
Firm and unalterable.
Org. [Aside.]
But a brother
More cruel than the grave.
Euph. What Can you
look
for,
| In answer to your
noble
protestations, |
65 |
From an unskilful maid, but language suited
To a divided mind?
Org. [Aside.]
Hold
out, Euphranea!
Euph. Know,
Prophilus, I
never undervalu'd,
From the first time you mentioned worthy love,
| Your merit, means, or
person: it had been |
70 |
A fault of judgment in me, and a dulness
In my affections, not to weigh and thank
My better stars that offered me the grace
Of so much blissfulness. For, to speak truth,
| The law of my desires
kept
equal pace |
75 |
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.
| Org. [Aside.]
She is forsworn else. |
80 |
Pro. Leave me that
task.
Euph.
My brother, ere he
parted
To Athens, had my oath.
Org. [Aside.]
Yes, yes, 'a
had, sure.
Pro. I doubt not,
with the
means the court
supplies,
But to prevail at pleasure.
Org. [Aside.]
Very likely!
Pro. Meantime, best,
dearest, I may build
On the foundation of thy constant suff'rance
In any opposition.
Euph.
Death shall sooner
Divorce life and the joys I have in living
Than my chaste vows from truth.
Pro.
On thy fair hand
Org. [Aside.]
There is no
faith in woman.
Passion, O, be contain'd! My very heart-strings
Are on the tenters.4
Euph.
Sir, we are
overheard.
Cupid protect us! 'T was a stirring, sir,
Of some one near.
| Pro.
Your fears are
needless, lady; |
95 |
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.
I hear one talking to himself, — I see him.
____________________
| 1 |
Certain. |
| 2 |
With his arm round her
waist. (Dyce.) |
| 3 |
Coyness;
over-particular
scruples. |
| 4 |
Hooks for stretching
cloth;
on the rack. |
774
|
|
|
Pro. 'T is a poor
scholar,
as I told you, lady.
Org. [Aside.]
I am
discovered. — [Half aloud
to himself, as if studying.] Say it; is it
possible,
With a smooth tongue, a leering countenance,
Flattery, or force of reason — I come t' ye,
To turn or to appease the raging sea?
Answer to that. — Your art! what art to catch
And hold fast in a net the sun's small atoms?
No, no; they'll out, they'll out: ye may as
easily
| Outrun a cloud driven
by a
northern blast |
110 |
As fiddle-faddle so! Peace, or speak sense,
Euph. Call you this
thing
a scholar? 'Las,
he's lunatic.
Pro. Observe him,
sweet;
't is but his recrea-
tion.
Org. But will you
hear a
little? You're so
tetchy,
| You keep no rule in
argument. Philosophy |
115 |
Works not upon impossibilities,
But natural conclusions. — Mew! —
absurd!
The metaphysics are but speculations
Of the celestial bodies, or such accidents
| As not mixt perfectly,
in
the air engend'red |
120 |
Appear to us unnatural; that's all.
Prove it; yet, with a reverence to your gravity,
I'll balk illiterate sauciness, submitting
My sole opinion to the touch of writers.
Pro. Now let us fall
in
with him.
[They come forward.]
These apish boys, when they but taste the
grammates 1
And principles of theory, imagine
They can oppose their teachers. Confidence
Leads many into errors.
Pro.
By
your leave, sir.
Euph. Are you a
scholar,
friend?
| Org.
I
am, gay
creature, |
130 |
With pardon of your deities, a mushroom
On whom the dew of heaven drops now and
then;
The sun shines on me too, I thank his beams!
Sometime I feel their warmth; and eat and
sleep.
Pro.
Does Tecnicus read to
thee?
He is my master surely; yonder door
Opens upon his study.
Pro.
Happy creatures!
Such people toil not, sweet, in heats of state,
Nor sink in thaws of greatness; their affections
| Keep order with the
limits
of their modesty; |
140 |
Their love is love of virtue. — What's thy
name?
Org.
Aplotes, sumptuous
master, a poor
wretch.
Euph. Dost
thou want
anything?
Org.
Books, Venus, books.
Pro. Lady, a new
conceit;
comes in my
thought,
| And most available for
both
our comforts. |
145 |
Euph. My lord, —
Pro.
Whiles I endeavour to deserve
Your father's blessing to our loves, this
scholar
May daily at some certain hours attend 2
| What notice I can
write of
my success, |
149 |
Here in this grove, and give it to your hands
The like from you to me: so can we never
Barr'd of our mutual speech, want sure intelli-
gence,
And thus our hearts may talk when our tongues
cannot.
Euph.
Occasion is most
favourable; use it.
Pro. Aplotes, wilt
thou
wait us twice a day,
| At nine i' the morning
and
at
four at night, |
156 |
Here in this bower, to convey such letters
As each shall send to other? Do it willingly,
Safely, and secretly, and I will furnish
| Thy study, or what
else thou
canst desire. |
160 |
Org. Jove, make me thankful, thankful, I
beseech thee
Propitious Jove! I will prove sure and trusty.
You will not fail me books?
Pro.
Nor aught besides
Thy heart can wish. This lady's name's Eu-
phranea,
Mine Prophilus.
| Org. I have a
pretty
memory; |
165 |
It must prove my best friend. I will not miss
One minute of the hours appointed.
Pro.
Write
The books thou wouldst have bought thee in a
note,
Or take thyself some money.
Org. No, no money;
| Money to scholars is a
spirit invisible, |
170 |
We dare not finger it: or books, or nothing.
Pro. Books of what
sort
thou wilt: do not
forget
Our names.
Org. I warrant ye, I
warrant ye.
Pro. Smile, Hymen,
on the
growth of our
desires;
| We'll feed thy torches
with
eternal fires! |
175 |
Exeunt
PROPHILUS and
EUPHRANEA.
Org. Put out thy
torches,
Hymen, or their
light
Shall meet a darkness of eternal night!
Inspire me, Mercury, with swift deceits.
Ingenious Fate has leapt into mine arms,
| Beyond the compass of
my
brain. 3
Mortality |
180 |
Creeps on the dung of earth, and cannot reach
The riddles which are purpos'd by the gods.
Great arts best write themselves in their own
stories;
They die too basely who outlive their glories.
Exit.
Enter BASSANES and
PHULAS.
Bass. I'll have that
window next the street
damm'd up;
____________________
| 1 |
Rudiments. |
| 2 |
Wait for. |
| 3 |
Beyond what I could
have
planned. |
| 4 |
A room in Bassanes'
house. |
775
|
|
|
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 trav-
ails,
Plots, wakes, contrives, till the deformed bear-
Adultery, be lick'd into the act,
The very act. That light shall be damm'd up;
D' ye hear, sir?
Phu.
I do hear, my lord; a
mason
Shall be provided suddenly. 1
Bass.
Some
rogue,
| Some rogue of your
confederacy, -- factor 2
|
10 |
For slaves and strumpets! — to convey close
packets
From this spruce springal 3
and t' other young-
ster,
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 |
15 |
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. |
20 |
Phu. Care shall be had: I will turn every
thread
About me to an eye. — [Aside.] Here's a sweet
life!
Bass.
The city housewives,
cunning in the
traffic
Of chamber merchandise, set all at price
By wholesale; yet they wipe their mouths and
Cull,4 kiss, and cry "sweetheart," and
stroke
the head
Which they have branch'd; 5
and all is well
again!
Dull clods of dirt, who dare not feel the rubs
Stuck on the[ir] foreheads.
Phu.
'T
is a villanous world;
One cannot hold his own in 't.
Who flaunt in riots, run another bias; 6
Their pleasure heaves the patient ass that suf-
fers
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
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; |
41 |
What blab the voices, sirrah?
Phu.
O,
my lord,
The rarest, quaintest, strangest, tickling news
That ever —
Bass.
Hey-day! up
and ride
me, rascal!
What is 't?
Phu.
Forsooth, they
say
the king has
All his gray beard, instead of which is budded
Another of a pure carnation colour,
Speckled with green and russet.
Bass.
Ignorant
block!
Phu. Yes, truly; and
't is
talkt about the
streets
That, since Lord Ithocles came home, the lions
| Never left roaring, at
which
noise the bears |
51 |
Have danc'd their very hearts out.
Bass.
Dance out thine too.
Phu. Besides, Lord
Orgilus
is fled to Athens
Upon a fiery dragon, and 't is thought
'A never can return.
| Bass.
Grant
it,
Apollo! |
55 |
Phu. Moreover,
please your
lordship, 't is re-
ported
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. |
60 |
Bass. 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.
Phu. [Aside.]
The horn of
plenty crest him!
Exit.
Bass. Swarms of
confusion
huddle in my
In rare distemper. — Beauty! O, it is
An unmatcht 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, |
70 |
As I in her am wealthy; but for her,
In all contents a bankrupt. —
Lov'd
Penthea!
How fares my heart's best joy?
Grau.
In
sooth, not well,
She is so over-sad.
Bass.
Leave chattering,
magpie. —
Thy brother is return'd, sweet, safe, and hon-
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, |
60 |
Shall hide them in their closets, and unseen
Fret in their tears; whiles every wond'ring eye
Shall crave none other brightness but thy pres-
ence.
Choose thine own recreations; be a queen
Of what delights thou fanciest best, what com-
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.
____________________
| 1 |
At once. |
| 2 |
Agent. |
| 3 |
Youth. |
| 4 |
Embrace. |
| 5 |
Cuckolded: the
inevitable
jest on the cuckold's
horns. |
| 6 |
Direction. |
| 7 |
Moulted. |
776
|
|
|
Grau. Now 't is well
said,
my lord. — What,
lady! laugh,
Be merry; time is precious.
| Bass. [Aside.]
Furies
whip thee! |
90 |
Pen. 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 |
95 |
A curiosity of admiration,
By laying-out their plenty to full view,
Appear in gaudy outsides; my attires
Shall suit the inward fashion of my mind;
| From which, if your
opinion,
nobly plac'd, |
100 |
Change not the livery your words bestow,
My fortunes with my hopes are at the highest.
Bass. This house,
methinks, stands some-
what too much inward,
| It is too melancholy;
we'll
remove |
104 |
Nearer the court: or what thinks my Penthea
Of the delightful island we command?
Rule me as thou canst wish.
Pen.
I am
no mistress.
Whither you please, I must attend; all ways
Are alike pleasant to me.
Grau.
Island;
prison!
| A prison is as
gaysome:
we'll no islands; |
110 |
Marry, out upon 'em! Whom shall we see
there?
Sea-gulls, and porpoises, and water-rats,
And crabs, and mews, and dog-fish; goodly
gear
For a young lady's dealing, — or an old one's!
On no terms islands; I'll be stew'd first.
| Bass. [Aside
to
GRAUSIS.]
Grausis, |
115 |
You are a juggling bawd. — This sadness,
sweetest,
Becomes not youthful blood. — [Aside to GRAU-
SIS.] I'll have you pounded. —
For my sake put on a more cheerful
mirth;
Thou 'lt mar thy cheeks, and make me old in
griefs. —
[Aside to GRAUSIS.]
Damnable bitch-fox!
| Grau.
I am
thick of
hearing, |
120 |
Still, when the wind blows southerly. — What
think ye,
If your fresh lady breed young bones, my
lord?
Would not a chopping boy d'ye good at heart?
But, as you said —
Bass. [Aside to
GRAUSIS.] I'll spit thee on a
stake,
Or chop thee into collops!
| Grau.
Pray,
speak
louder. |
125 |
Sure, sure the wind blows south still.
Pen.
Thou prat'st madly.
Bass. 'T is very
hot; I
sweat extremely.
Re-enter PHULAS.
Now?
Phu. A herd of
lords, sir.
Bass.
Ha!
Phu.
A flock of
ladies.
Bass. Where?
Phu.
Shoals of horses.
Bass.
Peasant,
how?
Phu.
Caroches 1
In drifts; th' one enter, th' other stand with-
And now I
vanish.
Exit.
Enter PROPHILUS,
HEMOPHIL, GRONEAS,
CHRISTALLA, and
PHILEMA.
Pro.
Noble
Bassanes!
Bass. Most welcome,
Prophilus; ladies, gen-
tlemen,
To all my heart is open; you all honour me, —
[Aside.] A tympany 2
swells in my head al-
ready, —
Honour me bountifully. — [Aside.]
How they
Wagtails and jays together!
Pro.
From your
brother
By virtue of your love to him, I require
Your instant presence, fairest.
Pen.
He
is well, sir?
Pro. The gods preserve him ever! Yet, dear
beauty,
| I find some alteration
in
him lately, |
140 |
Since his return to Sparta. — My good lord,
I
pray, use no delay.
Bass.
We had not needed
An invitation, if his sister's health
Had not fallen into question. — Haste, Penthea,
Slack not a minute. — Lead the way, good
I'll follow step by step.
Pro.
Your
arm, fair madam.
Exeunt
all
but BASSANES and GRAUSIS.
Bass. One word with
your
old bawdship: th'
hadst been better
Rail'd at the sins 3
thou worshipp'st than have
thwarted
My will: I'll use thee cursedly.
Grau.
You
dote,
| You are beside
yourself. A
politician |
150 |
In jealousy? No, y' are too gross, too vulgar.
Pish, teach not me my trade; I know my cue.
My crossing you sinks me into her trust,
By which I shall know all; my trade's a sure
one.
Bass. Forgive me,
Grausis,
't was considera-
I relish'd not; 4 but have a care now.
Grau.
Fear
not.
I am no new-come-to 't.
Bass.
Thy life's upon it,
And so is mine. My agonies are infinite.
Exeunt.
Enter ITHOCLES, alone.
Ith. Ambition! 't is
of
vipers' breed: it
gnaws
A passage through the womb that gave it mo-
tion.
Ambition, like a seeled 6
dove, mounts upward,
Higher and higher still, to perch on clouds,
But tumbles headlong down with heavier ruin.
____________________
| 1 |
Coaches. |
| 2 |
Swelling. |
| 3 |
Gifford emend. saints.
|
| 4 |
I did not see the
point of. |
| 5 |
The palace. Ithocles'
apartment. |
| 6 |
Blinded by sewing up
the
eye-lids. |
777
|
|
|
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: |
10 |
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
Enter
ARMOSTES and CROTOLON.
Arm. 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.
| Crot.
Yet
not so
ripe, |
20 |
My Lord Armostes, that it dares to dote
Upon the painted meat 1
of smooth persuasion,
Which tempts me to a breach of faith.
Ith.
Not
yet
Resolv'd, my lord? Why, if your son's consent
| Be so available, we'll
write
to Athens |
25 |
For his repair to Sparta. The king's hand
Will join with our desires; he has been mov'd
to 't.
Arm. Yes, and the
king
himself impórtun'd
Crotolon
For a dispatch.
Crot. Kings may
command;
their wills
Are laws not to be questioned.
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.
Crot. My lord, my
lord! —
| Ith. What,
good sir?
Speak your thought. |
35 |
Crot. 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.
| Arm.
Y' are bold and
bitter. |
41 |
Ith. [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, |
45 |
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 |
50 |
Into the secrets of commanding love;
Since when, experience, by the extremes 2
(in
others),
Hath forc'd me collect. 3
And, trust me, Croto-
lon,
I will redeem those wrongs with any service
| Your satisfaction can
require for current. |
55 |
Arm. The 4
acknowledgment is satisfaction:
What would you more?
Crot.
I'm conquer'd: if
Euphranea
Herself admit the motion, let it be so;
I doubt not my son's liking.
Ith.
Use
my fortunes,
Life, power, sword, and heart, — all are your
Arm. The princess,
with
your sister.
Enter
CALANTHA, PENTHEA, EUPHRANEA,
CHRISTALLA, PHILEMA, GRAUSIS, BASSANES,
and PROPHILUS.
Cal.
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.
Ith. You are a
gracious
princess. — Sister,
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.
She governs her own hours. Noble Ithocles,
We thank the gods for your success and wel-
fare:
Our lady has of late been indispos'd,
Else we had waited on you with the first.
Ith. How does
Penthea now?
| Pen.
You
best know,
brother, |
75 |
From whom my health and comforts are de-
riv'd.
Bass. [Aside.]
I
like the answer well; 't is
sad and modest.
There may be tricks yet, tricks. — Have an eye,
Grausis!
Cal. Now, Crotolon,
the
suit we join'd in
must not
Fall by too long demur.
| Crot.
'T is granted,
princess, |
80 |
For my part.
Arm.
With
condition, that
his son
Favour the contract.
Cal.
Such delay is easy. —
The joys of marriage make thee, Prophilus,
A proud deserver of Euphranea's love,
And her of thy desert!
| Pro.
Most
sweetly
gracious! |
85 |
Bass. The joys of
marriage
are the heaven on
earth,
Life's paradise, great princess, the soul's quiet,
Sinews of concord, earthly immortality,
Eternity of pleasures; — no restoratives
Like to a constant woman! — [Aside.] But
'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.
Crot. Euphranea, how
are
you resolv'd, speak
freely,
| In your affections to
this
gentleman? |
95 |
Euph. Nor more nor less than as his love as-
sures me;
____________________
| 1 |
Gifford suggests bait.
|
| 2 |
Q. extremities.
|
| 3 |
Infer, understand. |
| 4 |
Q. Thu. |
778
|
|
|
Which — if
your
liking with my
brother's war-
rants —
I cannot but approve in all points
worthy.
Crot. So, so! —
[To
PROPHILUS.] I know your
answer.
Ith.
'T had been pity
| To sunder hearts so
equally
consented. |
100 |
Enter
HEMOPHIL.
Hem. The king, Lord
Ithocles, commands
your presence; —
And, fairest princess, yours.
Cal.
We will attend
him.
Enter GRONEAS.
Gro. Where are the
lords?
All must unto the
king
Without delay: the Prince of Argos —
Cal.
Well,
sir?
Gro. Is coming to
the
court, sweet lady.
The Prince of Argos?
Gro.
'T was
my fortune,
madam,
T' enjoy the honour of these happy tidings.
Ith. Penthea! —
Pen.
Brother?
Ith.
Let
me an hour hence
| Meet you alone within
the
palace-grove; |
109 |
I have some secret with you. — Prithee, friend,
Conduct her thither, and have special care
The walks be clear'd of any to disturb us.
Pro. I shall.
Bass. [Aside.] How's that?
Ith.
Alone,
pray be alone. —
I am your creature, princess. —
On, my lords!
Exeunt all but
BASSANES.
Bass. Alone! alone!
What
means that word
Why might not I be there? — hum! — he's
her brother.
Brothers and sisters are but flesh and blood,
And this same whoreson court-ease is tempta-
tion
| To a rebellion in the
veins; — besides, |
119 |
His fine friend Prophilus must be her guar-
dian:
Why may not he dispatch a business nimbly
Before the other come? — or —
pand'ring, pan-
d'ring
For one another, — be 't to sister, mother
Wife, cousin, anything, — 'mongst youths of
mettle
| Is in request; it is
so —
stubborn fate! |
125 |
But if I be a cuckold, and can know it,
I will be fell, and fell.
Re-enter
GRONEAS.
Gro.
My
lord, y 'are
call'd for.
Bass. Most heartily
I
thank ye. Where's my
wife, pray ?
Gro. Retir'd amongst
the
ladies.
Bass.
Still
I thank ye.
There 's an old waiter with her;
saw you her
Gro. She sits i 'th' presence-lobby fast asleep,
sir.
Bass. Asleep !
asleep, sir!
Gro.
Is
your lordship troubled ?
You will not to the king?
Bass.
Your
humblest vassal.
Gro. Your servant,
my good
lord.
Bass.
I
wait your
footsteps.
Exeunt.
Enter
PROPHILUS and PENTHEA.
Pro. 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] |
5 |
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.
| Pen.
Sir,
I'm not
inquisitive |
10 |
Of secrecies without an invitation.
Pro. 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.
|
15 |
Org. Your will shall be a law, sir.
Pen.
Prithee, leave me;
I have some private thoughts I would account
with;
Use thou thine own.
Org.
Speak
on, fair nymph;
our souls
Can dance as well to music of the spheres
| As any's who have
feasted
with the gods. |
20 |
Pen. Your
school-terms are
too troublesome.
Org.
What Heaven
Refines mortality from dross of earth
But such as uncompounded beauty hallows
With glorified perfection ?
Pen.
Set thy wits
In a less wild proportion.
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 |
30 |
On Vesta's altars, . . . . . . .
2
. . . the holiest
odours, virgin's tears,
. . . . sprinkled,
like
dews, to feed 'em
And to increase their fervour.
Pen.
Be
not frantic.
Org. All pleasures
are but
mere imagination,
| Feeding the hungry
appetite
with steam |
36 |
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; |
40 |
____________________
| 1 |
The gardens of
the
palace. A
grove. |
| 2 |
Gifford's emend.
Q.
reads
as
the incense smoking
The holiest altars, virgin tears (like
On Vesta's
odours) sprinkled dews to feed 'em
And to increase. |
779
|
|
|
No horror should deface that
precious figure
Seal'd with the lively stamp of equal souls.
Pen. Away! some Fury
hath
bewitch'd thy
tongue.
The breath of ignorance, that
flies from thence,
| Ripens a knowledge in
me of
afflictions |
45 |
Above all suff'rance. — Thing of talk, begone!
Begone, without reply!
Org.
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 |
50 |
Are folded up from view of common eyes.
[Throws of his
Scholar's dress.]
What is thy sentence next ?
Pen.
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, |
55 |
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 ?
Org.
O,
rather
| Examine me, how I
could live
to say |
60 |
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 'lt pity our calamities; my interest
Confirms me thou art mine still.
With both of mine I clasp it thus, thus kiss it,
Thus kneel before ye.
Org.
You instruct
my duty.
Pen. 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, |
70 |
And shall be, shall be ever. What more would
ye ?
Org. I would possess
my
wife; the equity
Of very reason bids me.
Pen.
Is
that all ?
Org. Why, 't is the
all of
me, myself.
Pen.
Remove
Your steps some distance from me: — at this
A few words I dare change; but first put on
Your borrowed shape.
Org.
You
are obey'd; 't is
done.
[He resumes his
disguise.]
Pen. 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 |
80 |
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, |
85 |
Which might give deeper wounds to discon-
tents.
Continue this fair race: 1
then, though I cannot
Add to thy comfort, yet I shall more often
| Remember from what
fortune I
am fallen, |
89 |
And pity mine own ruin. — Live, live happy, —
Happy in thy next choice, that thou mayst peo-
ple
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. — |
95 |
Now let us part.
Org.
Part!
yet advise thee
better:
Penthea is the wife to Orgilus,
And ever shall be.
Pen.
Never
shall nor will.
Org. How!
Pen. Hear me; in a
word
I'll tell thee why.
| The virgin-dowry which
my
birth bestow'd |
100 |
Is ravish'd by another; my true love
Abhors to think that Orgilus deserv'd
No better favours than a second bed.
Org. I must not take
this
reason.
Pen.
To
confirm it
| Should I outlive my
bondage,
let me meet |
105 |
Another worse than this and less desir'd,
If, of all men alive, thou shouldst but touch
My lip or hand again!
Org.
Penthea,
now
I tell ye, you grow wanton in my sufferance:
Come, sweet, th' art mine.
| Pen.
Uncivil
sir,
forbear! |
110 |
Or I can turn affection into vengeance;
Your reputation, if you value any,
Lies bleeding at my feet. Unworthy man,
If ever henceforth thou appear in language,
| Message, or letter, to
betray my frailty, |
115 |
I'll call thy former protestations lust,
And curse my stars for forfeit of my judgment.
Go thou, fit only for disguise,
and walks, 2
To hide thy shame: this once I spare thy life.
I laugh at mine own confidence; my
sorrows
| By thee are made
inferior to
my fortunes. |
121 |
If ever thou didst harbour worthy love,
Dare not to answer. My good genius guide me,
That I may never see thee more! — Go from
me!
Org. I'll tear
my
veil of
politic French off,
| And stand up like a
man
resolv'd to do: |
126 |
Action, not words, shall show me. — O Penthea!
Exit.
Pen. 'A sighed my
name,
sure, as he parted
from me:
I fear I was too rough. Alas, poor gentleman
| 'A look'd not like the
ruins
of his youth, |
130 |
But like the ruins of those ruins. Honour,
How much we fight with weakness to preserve
thee!
[Walks aside.]
Enter
BASSANES and GRAUSIS.
Bass. Fie on thee !
damn
thee, rotten mag-
got, damn thee!
Sleep? sleep at court? and now? Aches, 3
con-
vulsions,
Imposthumes, rheums, gouts, palsies, clog thy
A dozen years more yet!
____________________
| 1 |
Course. |
| 2 |
Apparently corrupt. |
| 3 |
The word was
pronounced aitches. |
780
|
|
|
Grau.
Now
y' are in
humours.
Bass. She's by
herself,
there's hope of that;
she's sad too;
She's in strong contemplation; yes, and fixt:
The signs are wholesome.
Grau.
Very
wholesome,
truly.
Bass. Hold your
chops, 1
nightmare! — Lady,
Is carried to his closet; you must thither.
Pen. Not well, my
lord ?
Bass.
A
sudden fit; 't
will off!
Some surfeit or disorder. — How dost, dearest ?
Pen. Your news is
none o'
the best.
Re-enter
PROPHILUS.
Pro.
The
chief of men,
| The excellentest
Ithocles,
desires |
145 |
Your presence, madam.
Bass.
We
are hasting to
him.
Pen. In vain we
labour in
this course of life
To piece our journey out at length, or crave
Respite of breath: our home is in the grave.
Bass. Perfect
philosophy!
| [Pen.]
Then
let us
care |
150 |
To live so, that our reckonings may fall even
When we 're to make account.
Pro.
He cannot fear
Who builds on noble grounds: sickness or pain
Is the deserver's exercise; 2
and such
Your virtuous brother to the world is known.
| Speak comfort to him,
lady;
be all gentle: |
156 |
Stars fall but in the grossness of our sight;
A good man dying, th' earth doth lose a light.
Exeunt
omnes.
Enter TECNICUS, and
ORGILUS in his own
shape.
Tec. Be well
advis'd; let
not a resolution
Of giddy rashness choke the breath of reason.
Org. It shall not,
most
sage master.
Tec.
I
am jealous; 4
For if the borrowed, shape so late put on
| Inferr'd a
consequence, we
must conclude |
5 |
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 |
10 |
Pierce not the secrets of your heart, the gods
Are only privy to them.
Org.
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 |
15 |
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: |
20 |
Please to accept these reasons.
Tec.
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 aspéct |
25 |
Of dangerous extent, sudden, and — look to 't —
I might add, certain —
Org.
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.
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, |
35 |
Proceeding from the vices of our passion,
Which makes our reason drunk: but real hon-
our
Is the reward of virtue, and acquir'd
By justice, or by valour which for basis
| Hath justice to uphold
it.
He then fails |
40 |
In honour, who for lucre [or] revenge
Commits thefts, murders, treasons, and adul-
teries,
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 |
46 |
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, |
50 |
Wishing success to all thy virtuous meanings.
Org. The gods
increase thy
wisdom, reverend
oracle,
And in thy precepts make me ever thrifty! 5
Tec. I thank thy
wish.
Exit.
Much
mystery of fate
| Lies hid in that man's
fortunes; curiosity |
55 |
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 ?
Arm.
From King
Amyclas, —
pardon
| My interruption of
your
studies. — Here, |
60 |
In this seal'd box, he sends a treasure [to you,]
Dear to him as his crown. 'A prays your grav-
ity
You would examine, ponder, sift, and bolt
The pith and circumstance of every tittle
The scroll within contains.
| Tec.
What
is 't,
Armostes? |
65 |
Arm. 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, |
70 |
____________________
| 1 |
Jaws. |
| 2 |
Discipline. |
| 3 |
The study of Tecnicus.
|
| 4 |
Suspicious. |
| 5 |
Make me ever avail
myself of
thy precepts. |
781
|
|
|
After so long a silence, he
requires
Your counsel now, grave man, his majesty
Will soon himself acquaint you with.
Tec. [ Takes
the
casket.
]
Apollo
Inspire my intellect! — The Prince of Argos
Is entertain'd ?
| Arm.
He is; and
has demanded |
75 |
Our princess for his wife; which I conceive
One special cause the king importunes you
For resolution of the oracle.
Tec. My duty to
the
king, good peace to
Sparta,
And fair day to Armostes!
| Arm.
Like to
Tecnicus! Exeunt. |
80 |
Soft music, during which
time enter PROPHILUS,
BASSANES, PENTHEA, GRAUSIS, passing over
the stage. BASSANES and GRAUSIS
enter again
softly, stealing to several stands, and listen.
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, |
5 |
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 |
10 |
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, |
15 |
Do, shall, and must obey. |
Bass. All silent, calm,
secure. — Grausis, no
creaking ?
No noise? Dost hear nothing ?
Grau.
Not a mouse,
Or whisper of the wind.
Bass.
The floor is
matted;
The bedposts sure are steel or marble. — Sol-
Should not affect, methinks, strains so effem-
inate:
Sounds of such delicacy are but fawnings
Upon the sloth of luxury, they heighten
Cinders of covert lust up to a flame.
Grau. What do you
mean,
my lord? — speak
Of yours will but undo us.
Bass.
Chamber-combats
Are felt, not heard.
Pro. [
within.
]
'A wakes.
Bass.
What's that ?
Ith. [
within.
]
Who's there?
Sister? — All quit
the room else.
Bass.
'T
is
consented!
Re-enter
PROPHILUS.
Pro. Lord
Bassanes,
your brother would be
private,
We must forbear; his sleep hath newly left
Please ye withdraw.
Bass.
By any means; 't
is fit.
Pro. Pray,
gentlewoman,
walk too.
Grau.
Yes, I will, sir. Exeunt omnes.
ITHOCLES
discovered in a
chair, and PENTHEA
[ beside him ].
Ith. Sit nearer,
sister
to me; nearer yet.
| We had one father, in
one
womb took life, |
34 |
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.
Pen.
You had been
happy:
Then had you never known that sin of life
Which blots all following glories with a ven-
For forfeiting the last will of the dead,
From whom you had your being.
Ith.
Sad Penthea,
Thou canst not be too cruel; my rash spleen
Hath with a violent hand pluck'd from thy
bosom
| A love-blest
2 heart, to grind it into dust; |
45 |
For which mine 's now a-breaking.
Pen.
Not yet, Heaven,
I do beseech thee! First let some wild fires
Scorch, not consume it! may the heat be cher-
isht
With desires infinite, but hopes impossible!
Ith. Wrong'd
soul, thy
prayers are heard.
| Pen.
Here, lo, I
breathe, |
50 |
A miserable creature, led to ruin
By an unnatural brother!
Ith.
I consume
In languishing affections for that trespass;
Yet cannot die.
| Pen.
The handmaid
to the wages |
54 |
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
3
of my
tears.
Ith. The labourer
doth
eat his coarsest
bread,
Earn'd with his sweat, and lies him down to
While
4
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.
Pen.
Pray kill me,
| Rid me from living
with a
jealous husband; |
65 |
Then we will join in friendship, be again
Brother and sister. — Kill me, pray; nay, will
ye ?
Ith. How does thy
lord
esteem thee?
Pen.
Such
an one
As only you have made me; a faith-breaker,
| A spotted whore: —
forgive
me, I am one |
70 |
In act, not in desires, the gods must witness.
Ith. Thou dost
belie
thy friend.
Pen.
I
do not,
Ithocles;
____________________
| 1 |
The palace. Ithocles'
apartment. |
| 2 |
Q. lover-blest.
|
| 3 |
Streams. |
| 4 |
Q. Which. |
782
|
|
|
For she that's wife to
Orgilus,
and lives
In known adultery with Bassanes,
| Is at the best a
whore. Wilt
kill me now? |
75 |
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.
| Ith. After my
victories abroad, at home |
80 |
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 hallowed
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.
Pen.
O, no more!
Ith. Death waits to waft me to the Stygian
And free me from this chaos of my bondage;
And till thou wilt forgive, I must endure.
Pen. Who is the
saint you
serve?
Ith.
Friendship, or
[nearness] 1
Of birth to any but my sister, durst not
Have mov'd that question; ['t is] 2
a secret,
I dare not murmur to myself.
Pen.
Let me,
By your new protestations I conjure ye,
Partake her name.
Ith. Her name? —
't is —
't is — I dare not.
Pen. All your
respects are
forg'd.3
Ith.
They are not. —
Peace!
Calantha is — the princess — the king's
daugh-
Sole heir of Sparta. — Me, most miserable
Do I now love thee? For my injuries
Revenge thyself with bravery, and gossip
My treasons to the king's ears, do: — Calantha
| Knows it not yet, nor
Prophilus, ray nearest. |
105 |
Pen. Suppose you
were
contracted to her,
would it not
Split even your very soul to see her father
Snatch her out of your arms against her will,
And force her on the Prince of Argos ?
Ith.
Trouble not
The fountains of mine eyes with thine own
I sweat in blood for't.
Pen.
We are reconcil'd.
Alas, sir, being children, but two
branches
Of one stock, 't is not fit we should divide:
Have comfort, you may find it.
Ith.
Yes, in thee;
Only in thee, Penthea mine.
Have not too much dull'd my infected brain,
I'll cheer invention for an active strain.4
Ith. Mad man! why have I wrong'd a maid
so excellent!
Enter BASSANES with a
poniard;
PROPHILUS,
GRONEAS, HEMOPHIL, and
GRAUSIS.
Bass. I can forbear
no
longer; more, I will
not.
Keep off your hands, or fall upon
my point. —
| Patience is tir'd;
for, like
a slow-pac'd ass, |
121 |
Ye ride my easy nature, and proclaim
My sloth to vengeance a reproach and property.5
Ith. The meaning of this rudeness?
Pro.
He 's distracted.
Pen. O, my griev'd
lord! —
| Grau.
Sweet lady,
come not near him; |
125 |
He holds his perilous weapon in his hand
To prick 'a cares not whom nor where, — see,
see, see!
Bass. My birth is
noble:
though the popu-
lar blast
Of vanity, as giddy as thy youth,
| Hath rear'd thy name
up to
bestride a cloud, |
130 |
Or progress in the chariot of the sun,
I am no clod of trade, to lackey pride,
Nor, like your slave of expectation,6
wait
The bawdy hinges of your doors, or whistle
| For mystical
conveyance to
your bed-sports. |
135 |
Gro. Fine humours! they become him.
Hem.
How 'a stares,
Struts, puffs, and sweats! Most admirable 7
lunacy!
Ith. But that I may conceive the spirit of
wine
Has took possession of your soberer custom,
I'd say you were unmannerly.
Bass. Unmannerly! — mew, kitling! —
smooth Formality
Is usher to the rankness of the blood,
But Impudence bears up the train. Indeed, sir,
Your fiery mettle, or your springal
8
blaze
| Of huge renown, is no
sufficient royalty |
145 |
To print upon my forehead the scorn, "cuck-
old."
Ith. His jealousy has robb'd him of his wits;
'A talks 'a knows not what.
Bass.
Yes, and 'a knows
To whom 'a talks; to one that franks 9
his lust
| In swine-security of
bestial
incest. |
150 |
Ith. Ha,
devil !
Bass. I will
haloo
't; 10
though I blush more
To name the filthiness than thou to act it.
Ith. Monster !
[Draws
his sword.]
Pro.
Sir, by our
friendship —
Pen.
By our bloods —
Will you quite both undo us, brother?
Grau.
Out on him!
These are his megrims, firks,11
and melancho-
Hem. Well said, old touch-hole.
Gro.
Kick him out of
doors.
Pen. With favour,
let me
speak. — My lord,
what slackness
In my obedience hath deserv'd this rage ?
Except humility and silent duty
____________________
| 1 |
Q. omits. |
| 2 |
'Tis, Dyce
emend. Q. as. |
| 3 |
I. e. You do
not
care for me as you say. |
| 4 |
I will attempt to
devise
something. |
| 5 |
Personal
characteristics. |
| 6 |
Attendant slave. |
| 7 |
Wonderful. |
| 8 |
Youthful. |
| 9 |
Feeds; fattens, as one
fattens swine. |
| 10 |
Proclaim. |
| 11 |
Freaks. |
783
|
|
| Have drawn on your
unquiet,
my
simplicity |
160 |
Ne'er studied your vexation.
Bass.
Light of beauty,
Deal not ungently with a desperate wound!
No breach of reason dares make war with
her
Whose looks are sovereignty, whose breath is
balm.
| O, that I could
preserve
thee in fruition |
165 |
As in devotion!
Pen.
Sir, may every
evil
Lock'd in Pandora's box shower, in your pre-
sence,
On my unhappy head, if, since you made me
A partner in your bed, I have been faulty
In one unseemly thought against your honour!
Ith. Purge not his
griefs,
Penthea.
Excellent creature! — [To ITHOCLES.] Good,
be not a hindrance
To peace and praise of virtue. — O, my senses
Are charm'd with sounds celestial! — On, dear,
on:
| I never gave you one
ill
word; say, did I? |
175 |
Indeed I did not.
Pen.
Nor,
by Juno's
forehead,
Was I o'er guilty of a wanton error.
Bass. A goddess! let
me
kneel.
Grau.
Alas,
kind animal!
Ith. No; but for
penance.
Bass.
Noble
sir, what is
it ?
With gladness I embrace it; yet,
pray let not
| My rashness teach you
to be
too unmerciful. |
181 |
Ith. When you shall show good proof that
manly wisdom,
Not oversway'd by passion or opinion,
Knows how to lead [your] judgment, then
this lady,
| Your wife, my sister,
shall
return in safety |
185 |
Home, to be guided by you; but, till first
I can out of clear evidence approve it,
She shall be my care.
Bass.
Rip
my bosom up,
I'll stand the execution with a constancy;
This torture is unsufferable.
I dare not trust her to your fury.
Bass.
But
Penthea says not so.
Pen.
She
needs no tongue
To plead excuse who never purpos'd wrong.
Hem. Virgin of
reverence
and antiquity,
Stay you behind.
Gro. [to
GRAUSIS.]
The court wants not
Exeunt all but
BASS. and
GRAU.
Grau. What
will you
do, my
lord? My lady's
gone;
I am deni'd to follow.
Bass.
I
may see her,
Or speak to her once more ?
Grau.
And
feel her too,
man;
Be of good cheer, she 's your own flesh and
bone.
Bass. Diseases
desperate
must find cures
She swore she has been true.
Grau.
True,
on my modesty.
Bass. Let him want
truth
who credits not
her vows!
Much wrong I did her, but her brother infinite;
Rumour will voice me the contempt of man-
Should I run on thus. Some way I must try
To outdo art, and [jealousy decry.] 1
Exeunt.
Flourish. Enter
AMYCLAS.
NEARCHUS, leading
CALANTHA, ARMOSTES, CROTOLON, EU-
PHRANEA,
CHRISTALLA, PHILEMA, and AM-
ELUS.
Amy. Cousin of
Argos, what
the heavens
have pleas'd,
In their unchanging counsels to conclude
For both our kingdoms' weal, we must submit
to:
Nor can we be unthankful to their bounties,
Who, when we were even creeping to our
Sent us a daughter, in whose birth our hope
Continues of succession. As you are
In title next, being grandchild to our aunt,
So we in heart desire you may sit nearest
| Calantha's love; since
we
have ever vow'd |
10 |
Not to enforce affection by our will,
But by her own choice to confirm it gladly.
Near. You speak the
nature
of a right just
father.
I come not hither roughly to demand
| My cousin's thraldom,
but to
free mine own. |
15 |
Report of great Calantha's beauty, virtue,
Sweetness, and singular perfections, courted
All ears to credit what I find was publish'd
By constant truth; from which, if any service
| Of my desert can
purchase
fair construction, |
20 |
This lady must command it.
Cal.
Princely
sir,
So well you know how to profess observance, 3
That you instruct your hearers to become
Practitioners in duty; of which number
I'll study to be chief.
| Near.
Chief,
glorious virgin, |
25 |
In my devotions, as in all men's wonder.
Amy. Excellent
cousin, we
deny no liberty;
Use thine own opportunities. — Armostes,
We must consult with the philosophers;
The business is of weight.
| Arm.
Sir, at
your
pleasure. |
30 |
Amy. You, told me, Crotolon, your son's re-
turn'd
From Athens: wherefore comes he not to court
As we commanded?
Crot.
He
shall soon attend
Your royal will, great sir.
Amy.
The
marriage
| Between young
Prophilus and
Euphranea |
35 |
Tastes of too much delay.
Crot.
My
lord, —
Amy.
Some
pleasures
At celebration of it would give life
____________________
| 1 |
Q. cry a Iealousie.
|
| 2 |
A room in the palace. |
| 3 |
Worship, courtship. |
784
|
|
|
To th' entertainment of the
prince
our kins-
man;
Our court wears gravity more than we relish.
Arm. Yet the heavens
smile
on all your high
Without a cloud.
Crot.
So may the gods
protect us.
Cal. A prince a
subject ?
Near.
Yes,
to beauty's
sceptre;
As all hearts kneel, so mine.
Cal.
You
are too courtly.
Enter ITHOCLES,
ORGILUS, and
PROPHILUS.
Ith. Your safe
return to
Sparta is most; wel-
come :
| I joy to meet you
here, and,
as occasion |
45 |
Shall grant us privacy, will yield you reasons
Why I should covet to deserve the title
Of your respected friend; for, without compli-
ment,
Believe it, Orgilus, 't is my ambition.
Org. Your lordship
may
command me, your
Ith. [Aside.]
So
amourously close! — so soon!
— my
heart!
Pro. What sudden
change is
next ?
Ith.
Life
to the king!
To whom I here present this noble: gentleman,
New come from Athens: royal sir, vouchsafe
| Your gracious hand in
favour
of his merit. |
55 |
[The King gives
ORGILUS his hand
to kiss.]
Crot. [Aside.]
My
son preferr'd by Ithocles!
Amy.
Our
bounties
Shall open to thee, Orgilus; for instance, —
Hark in thine ear, — if, out of those inventions
Which flow in Athens, thou hast there en-
grost 1
| Some rarity of wit, to
grace
the nuptials |
60 |
Of thy fair sister, and renown our court
In th' eyes of this young prince, we shall be
debtor
To thy conceit: think on 't.
Org.
Your
highness honours
me.
Near. My tongue and
heart
are twins.
Cal.
| |