Sophronos, my good uncle, suddenly Was like a sailor's boy convey'd a-shipboard, Mel. A policy quick and strange. Ero. The ship was bound for Corinth, whither first, Attended only with your servant Rhetias, From thence, in habit of a youth, we journey'd Mel. Oh, what a thing is man, To bandy factions of distemper'd passions, Ero. So I obey'd Mel. 'Twas safely carried; I humbly thank thy fate. Ero. If earthly treasures Are pour'd in plenty down from heaven on mor tals, They reign amongst those oracles that flow In schools of sacred knowledge, such is Athens; Yet Athens was to me but a fair prison: The thoughts of you, my sister, country, fortunes, And something of the prince, barr'd all contents, Which else might ravish sense; for had not Rhe tias Been always comfortable to me, certainly Mel. Speak low, Eroclea, That "something of the prince" bears danger in it: Yet thou hast travell'd, wench, for such endowments, As might create a prince a wife fit for him, Had he the world to guide; but touch not there. How cam'st thou home? Rhe. Sir, with your noble favour, Kissing your hand first, that point I can answer. Mel. Honest, right honest Rhetias! Rhe. Your grave brother Perceiv'd with what a hopeless love his son, And, to remove the violence of affection, Sent him to Athens, where, for twelve months' space, Your daughter, my young lady, and her cousin, My thankfulness to heaven, and those people Lend me a looking-glass.--How now! how came I Rhe. Here's the glass, sir. Mel. I'm in the trim too.-O Cleophila, This was the goodness of thy care, and cunning[Loud Music. Whence comes this noise? Rhe. The prince, my lord, in person. [They kneel. Enter PALADOR, SOPHRONOS, ARETUS, AMETHUS, MENAPHON, CORAX, THAMASTA, and KALA. Pal. You shall not kneel to us; rise all, I charge you. Father, you wrong your age; henceforth my arms [Embracing MEL. And heart shall be your guard: we have o'er heard All passages of your united loves. Be young again, Meleander, live to number In comforts, as in years! The offices And honours, which I late on thee conferr'd, Mel. My tears must thank you, For my tongue cannot. Cor. I have kept my promise, And given you a sure cordial. Mel. Oh, a rare one. Pal. Good man! we both have shar'd enough of sadness, Though thine has tasted deeper of the extreme; Let us forget it henceforth. Where's the picture I sent you? Keep it; 'tis a counterfeit ; And, in exchange of that, I seize on this, [Takes ERO. by the hand. The real substance: with this other hand I give away, before her father's face, His younger joy, Cleophila, to thee, Cousin Amethus; take her, and be to her More than a father, a deserving husband. Thus, robb'd of both thy children in a minute, Thy cares are taken off. Mel. My brains are dull'd; I am entranced and know not what you mean. Pal. Eroclea was, you know, contracted mine; Cleophila my cousin's, by consent Of both their hearts; we both now claim our own: It only rests in you to give a blessing, For confirmation. Rhe. Sir, 'tis truth and justice. Mel. The gods, that lent you to me, bless your Vows! Oh, children, children, pay your prayers to heaven, For they have shew'd much mercy. But So phronos, Thou art my brother-I can say no more A good, good brother! Pal. Leave the rest to time. Cousin Thamasta, I must give you too; She's thy wife, Menaphon. Rhetias, for thee, thrive, Whom fate in spite of storms hath kept alive. [Exeunt. 7 This line alludes to the last couplet of the Prologue. The concluding scene of this drama is wrought up with singular art and beauty. If the "Very Woman" of Massinger preceded the Lover's Melancholy (as I believe it did,) Ford is indebted to it for no inconsiderable part of his plot. |