Without our ruin by your politic plots,
Or wolf of hatred snarling in your breast.
You have a spirit, sir, have you? a familiar
That posts i' th' air for your intelligence?
Some such hobgoblin hurried you from Athens,
For yet you come unsent for.

Org. If unwelcome,

I might have found a grave there.

Crot. Sure your business

Was soon dispatch'd, or your mind alter'd quickly. Org. 'Twas care, sir, of my health, cut short my journey;

For there, a general infection

Threatens a desolation.

Crot. And I fear

Thou hast brought back a worse infection with thee,

Infection of thy mind; which, as thou say'st,
Threatens the desolation of our family.

Org. Forbid it, our dear Genius! I will rather
Be made a sacrifice on Thrasus' monument,
Or kneel to Ithocles his son in dust,

Than woo a father's curse: my sister's marriage With Prophilus is from my heart confirm'd; May I live hated, may I die despised,

If I omit to further it in all

That can concern me!

Crot. I have been too rough.

My duty to my king made me so earnest;

Excuse it, Orgilus.

Org. Dear sir!

Enter PROPHILUS, EUPHRANEA, ITHOCLES, Gro

NEAS, and HEMOPHIL.

Crot. Here comes

Euphranea, with Prophilus and Ithocles.
Org. Most honour'd!-ever famous!
Ith. Your true friend;

On earth not any truer.-With smooth eyes . Look on this worthy couple; your consent Can only make them one.

Org. They have it.-Sister,

Thou pawnd'st to me an oath, of which engage- .

ment

I never will release thee, if thou aim'st

At any other choice than this.

Euph. Dear brother,

At him, or none.

Crot. To which my blessing's added.

Org. Which, till a greater ceremony perfect,Euphranea, lend thy hand;-here, take her, Prophilus,

Live long a happy man and wife; and further,
That these in presence may conclude an omen,
Thus for a bridal song I close my wishes:

Comforts lasting, loves increasing,
Like soft hours never ceasing;
Plenty's pleasure, peace complying,
Without jars, or tongues envying;
Hearts by holy union wedded,
More than their's by custom bedded;

Fruitful issues; life so graced,
Not by age to be defaced;
Budding, as the year ensu'th,
Every spring another youth:
All what thought can add beside,

Crown this Bridegroom and this Bride!

Pro. You have seal'd joy close to my soul.

Euphranea,

Now I may call thee mine.

Ith. I but exchange

One good friend for another.

Org. If these gallants

Will please to grace a poor invention
By joining with me in some slight device,
I'll venture on a strain my younger days
Have studied for delight.

Hem. With thankful willingness

I offer my attendance.

Gron. No endeavour

Of mine shall fail to shew itself.

Ith. We will

All join to wait on thy directions, Orgilus.

Org. Oh, my good lord, your favours flow to-
wards

A too unworthy worm;-but, as you please,
I am what you will shape me.

Ith. A fast friend.

Crot. I thank thee, son, for this acknowledgment,

It is a sight of gladness.

Org. But my duty.

[Exeunt omnes,

SCENE V.

CALANTHA'S Apartment in the Palace.

Enter CALANTHA, PENTHEA, CHRISTALLA, and PHILEMA.

Cal. Whoe'er would speak with us, deny his

entrance;

Be careful of our charge.

Chris. We shall, madam.

Cal. Except the king himself, give none admit

Not any.

tance;

Phil. Madam, it shall be our care.

[Exeunt CHRIS, and PHIL.

Cal. Being alone, Penthea, you have, granted, The opportunity you sought, and might

At all times have commanded.

Pen. 'Tis a benefit

Which I shall owe your goodness even in death

for:

My glass of life, sweet princess, hath few minutes
Remaining to run down; the sands are spent ;
For by an inward messenger I feel

The summons of departure short and certain.
Cal. You feed too much your melancholy.
Pen. Glories

Of human greatness are but pleasing dreams,
And shadows soon decaying; on the stage
Of my mortality, my youth hath acted

Some scenes of vanity, drawn out at length
By varied pleasures, sweeten'd in the mixture,
But tragical in issue: beauty, pomp,

With every sensuality our giddiness
Doth frame an idol, are unconstant friends,
When any troubled passion makes assault
On the unguarded castle of the mind.

Cal. Contemn not your condition, for the proof Of bare opinion only to what end Reach all these moral texts?

Pen. To place before you

A perfect mirror, wherein you may see
How weary I am of a lingering life,

Who count the best a misery.

Cal. Indeed

You have no little cause; yet none so great
As to distrust a remedy.

Pen. That remedy

Must be a winding-sheet, a fold of lead,
And some untrod-on corner in the earth.-
Not to detain your expectation, princess,
I have an humble suit.

Cal. Speak; I enjoy it.

Pen. Vouchsafe, then, to be my executrix,
And take that trouble on you, to dispose
Such legacies as I bequeath, impartially;
I have not much to give, the pains are easy;
Heav'n will reward your piety, and thank it
When I am dead; for sure I must not live;
I hope I cannot.