For both our kingdoms' weal, we must submit to:
Nor can we be unthankful to their bounties,
Who, when we were ev'n creeping to our graves,
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
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 fa-
ther.

I come not hither roughly to demand
My cousin's thraldom, but to free mine own:
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,
This lady must command it.

Cal. Princely sir,

So well you know how to profess observance,
That you instruct your hearers to become
Practitioners in duty; of which number
I'll study to be chief.

Near. Chief, glorious virgin,

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

Amyc. 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.

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

From Athens; wherefore comes he not to court, As we commanded?

Crot. He shall soon attend

Your royal will, great sir.
Amyc. The marriage

Between young Prophilus and Euphranea,
Tastes of too much delay.

Crot. My lord-

Amyc. Some pleasures

At celebration of it, would give life

To the entertainment of the prince our kinsman; Our court wears gravity more than we relish. Arm. Yet the heavens smile on all your high attempts,

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

Shall grant us privacy, will yield you reasons
Why I should covet to deserve the title

Of your respected friend; for, without compliment, Believe it, Orgilus, 'tis my ambition.

Org. Your lordship may command me, your poor servant.

Ith. So amorously close!-so soon!—my heart!

Pro. What sudden change is next?

Ith. Life to the king!

[Aside.

To whom I here present this noble gentleman,
New come from Athens; royal sir, vouchsafe
Your gracious hand in favour of his merit.

[The King gives ORG, his hand to kiss.

Crot. My son preferr'd by Ithocles!

Amyc. Our bounties

Shall open to thee, Orgilus; for instance,

[Aside.

(Hark, in thine ear)-if, out of those inventions, Which flow in Athens, thou hast there engross'd Some rarity of wit, to grace the nuptials

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. A noble birth,

Becoming such a father.--Worthy Orgilus,

You are a guest most wish'd for.

Org. May my duty

Still rise in your opinion, sacred princess!

if thou hast there engross'd

Some rarity of wit, &c.] i. e. if thou hast posssesed thyself of, mastered, so as to bring away:-the king seems inclined rather to tax the memory of Orgilus than his imagination.

Ith. Euphranea's brother, sir; a gentleman

Well worthy of your knowledge.

Near. We embrace him,

Proud of so dear acquaintance.
Amyc. All prepare

For revels and disport; the joys of Hymen,
Like Phœbus in his lustre, put to flight

All mists of dulness; crown the hours with glad

ness:

No sounds but music, no discourse but mirth!
Cal. Thine arm, I prithee, Ithocles.-Nay, good
My lord, keep on your way, I am provided.
Near. I dare not disobey.
Ith. Most heavenly lady!

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt omnes.

A Room in the House of CROTOLON.

Enter CROTOLON and ORGILUS.

Crot. The king hath spoke his mind.

Org. 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 licence sovereignty holds, without check,
Over a meek obedience.

Crot. How resolve you

Touching your sister's marriage? Prophilus
Is a deserving and a hopeful youth.

Org. 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 maliced 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.

Crot. Son, son, I find in thee a harsh condition,'
No courtesy can win it; 'tis too rancorous.
Org. Good sir, be not severe in your construc-
tion;

I am no stranger to such easy calms
As sit in tender bosoms: lordly Ithocles
Hath graced my entertainment in abundance;
Too humbly hath descended from that height
Of arrogance and spleen which wrought the
On griev'd Penthea's purity; his scorn
Of my untoward fortunes is reclaim'd
Unto a courtship, almost to a fawning':-

rape

I'll kiss his foot, since you will have it so.
Crot. Since I will have it so! friend, I will have

it so,

9 I find in thee a harsh condition.] i. e. temper, disposition. The word occurs in the same sense in all our old writers, and in none more frequently than Ford. The line above,

"I envy not his merit, but applaud it;"

is a close translation of Virgil's-Non equidem invideo, miror magis. The deep dissimulation, the deadly resentment of Orgilus, are powerfully marked in this scene.