Tec. 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.
Org. But I, most learned artist, am not so
much

At odds with nature, that I grudge 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.

Tec. Spirit of truth inspire thee!

On these conditions I conceal thy change,
And willingly admit thee for an auditor.-
I'll to my study.

Org. I to contemplations,

[Exit.

In these delightful walks.-Thus metamorphosed,

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

Themselves are not secure.] i. e. sure, certain: they cannot depend on the results of their own omniscience in these inquiries.

Of beauty; physic yet hath never found
A remedy to cure a lover's wound.-

Ha! who are those that cross you private walk Into the shadowing grove, in amorous foldings?

PROPHILUS and EUPHRANEA pass by, arm in arm, and whispering.

My sister; O, my sister! 'tis Euphranea
With Prophilus; supported too! I would
It were an apparition! Prophilus

Is Ithocles his friend: it strangely puzzles me.

Re-enter PROPHILUS and EUPHRANEA.

Again! help me my book; this scholar's habit
Must stand my privilege; my mind is busy,
Mine eyes and ears are open.

[Walks aside, pretending to read.

Pro. Do not waste

The span of this stolen time, lent by the gods

8

For precious use, in niceness. Bright Euphranea, Should I repeat old vows, or study new,

For purchase of belief to my desires,—

Org. Desires!

Pro. My service, my integrity.—

Org. That's better.

Pro. I should but repeat a lesson

Oft conn'd without a prompter, but thine eyes: My love is honourable.—

8 Do not waste

The span of this stolen time, lent by the gods

For precious use, in niceness.] i. e. in unnecessary pre

ciseness; in starting trivial and unimportant objections.

To

Org. So was mine

my Penthea; chastely honourable.

Pro. Nor wants there more addition to my wish Of happiness, than having thee a wife;

Already sure of Ithocles, a friend
Firm and unalterable.

Org. But a brother

More cruel than the grave.

Euph. What can you look for
In answer to your noble protestations,
From an unskilful maid, but language suited
To a divided mind?

Org. Hold out, Euphranea!

Euph. Know, Prophilus, I never undervalued,
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 your's; 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. She is foresworn else.

Pro. Leave me that task.

Euph. My brother, ere he parted

To Athens, had oath.

my

Org. Yes, yes, he had sure.

Pro. I doubt not, with the means the court

supplies,

But to prevail at pleasure.

Org. Very likely!

Pro. Meantime, best, dearest, I may build my hopes

On the foundation of thy constant sufferance,
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

I seal the like.

Org. There is no faith in woman.

Passion, O be contain'd!-my very heart-strings Are on the tenters.

Euph. We are overheard.'

Cupid protect us! 'twas a stirring, sir,

Of some one near.

Pro. 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.

66

Euph. We are overheard.] The 4to reads, Sir, we are overheard," which destroys both metre and rhythm. From the manner in which this is printed in the old copy, I am almost persuaded that the original stood thus:

"We are overheard, sir. Cupid protect us! 'twas a stirring, sure, Of some one near."

Euph. Methinks

I hear one talking to himself—I see him.
Pro. "Tis a poor scholar; as I told you, lady.
Org. I am discover'd.-Say it; is it possible,
[Half aloud to himself, as if studying.
With a smooth tongue, a leering countenance,
Flattery, or force of reason-I come to you, sir—
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; you may as easily
Outrun a cloud driven by a northern blast,
As-fiddle-faddle so! peace, or speak sense.
Euph. Call you this thing a scholar? 'las, he's
lunatic.

Pro. Observe him, sweet; 'tis but his recreation. Org. But will you hear a little? You are so tetchy,

You keep no rule in argument; philosophy
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 engender'd,
Appear to us unnatural; that's all.

-

Prove it; yet, with a reverence to your gravity, I'll baulk illiterate sauciness, submitting

My sole opinion to the touch of writers.

Pro. Now let us fall in with him.

[They come forward.