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.

Pen. 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 sufferance.-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
Are folded up from view of common eyes.

[Throws off his scholar's dress.

What is thy sentence next?

Pen. Rash man! thou lay'st

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 enforced
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

I have been much, much wrong'd. 'Tis 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.

Pen. Lend your hand;

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

Thus kneel before ye.

Org. You instruct my duty.

[PEN. kneels.

[ORG. kneels.

Pen, We may stand up. (They rise.) Have you ought else to urge

Of new demand? as for the old, forget it;

"Tis buried in an everlasting silence,

And shall be, shall be ever: what more would

Of

you?

Org. I would possess my wife; the equity

very reason bids me.

Pen. Is that all?

Org. Why, 'tis the all of me, myself.

Pen. Remove

Your steps some distance from me; at this space A few words I dare change; but first put on

Your borrow'd shape."

Org. You are obey'd; 'tis done.

[He resumes his disguise. Pen. How, Orgilus, by promise, I was thine,

but first put on

Your borrow'd shape.] This, as I have elsewhere observed, is the green-room term for a dress of disguise. In the opening of the next Act, Orgilus, who had resumed his usual habit, is said to appear in his own shape.

U

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 may'st people
This barren age with virtues in thy issue!
And, oh, 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.

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,
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.

Another worse than this, and less desired,

If, of all men alive, thou should'st but touch
My lip, or hand again!

Org. Penthea, now

I tell you, you grow wanton in my sufferance; Come, sweet, thou art mine.

Pen. Uncivil sir, forbear,

Or I can turn affection into vengeance;

Your reputation, if you

Lies bleeding at my feet.

value any,

Unworthy man,

If ever henceforth thou appear in language,
Message, or letter, to betray my frailty,
I'll call thy former protestations lust,

And curse my stars for forfeit of my judgment.
Go thou, fit only for disguise, and walks,
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:
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:-
Action, not words, shall shew me.-Oh Penthea!
[Exit.

Pen. He sigh'd my name sure, as he parted

from me;

I fear I was too rough. Alas, poor gentleman!
He look'd not like the ruins of his youth,
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 maggot, damn thee!

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

Imposthumes, rheums, gouts, palsies, clog thy

bones

A dozen years more yet!

Grau. Now you are in humours.

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

She's in strong contemplation; yes, and fix'd:
The signs are wholesome.

Grau. Very wholesome, truly.

Bass. Hold your chops, nightmare!--Lady, come; your brother

Is carried to his closet; you must thither.

Pen. Not well, my lord?

Bass. A sudden fit, 'twill off;

Some surfeit or disorder.-How dost, dearest ?

Pen. Your news is none o'th' best.

Enter PROPHilus.

Pro. The chief of men,

The excellentest Ithocles, desires

Your presence, madam.

Bass. We are hasting to him.