Of truly noble friends, and watchful subjects.

O, Rhetias, thou art just; the youth thou told'st me, That liv'd at Athens, is return'd at last

To her own fortunes, and contracted love.

Rhe. My knowledge made me sure of my report, sir. Pal. Eroclea, clear thy fears; when the sun shines,

Clouds must not dare to muster in the sky,

Nor shall they here. [CLEO. and AMET. kneel.]—Why do they kneel? Stand up;

The day, and place is privileged.

Soph. Your presence,

Great sir, makes every room a sanctuary.

Pal. Wherefore does this young virgin use such circumstance

In duty to us? Rise!

Ero. "T is I must raise her.

Forgive me, sister, I have been too private,
In hiding from your knowledge any secret,

That should have been in common 'twixt our souls;
But I was ruled by counsel.

Cleo. That I show

Myself a girl, sister, and bewray

Joy in too soft a passion 'fore all these,

I hope you cannot blame me.

[Weeps, and falls into the arms of Ero,

Pal. We must part

The sudden meeting of these two fair rivulets,
With th' island of our arms.-[Embraces ERO.]
Cleophila,

The custom of thy piety hath built,
Even to thy younger years, a monument
Of memorable fame; some great reward

Must wait on thy desert.

Soph. The prince speaks t' you, niece.

Cor. Chat low, I pray; let us about our business, The good old man awakes. My lord, withdraw; Rhetias, let's settle here the couch.

Pal. Away then!

[Exeunt.

Soft music.-Re-enter CORAX and RHETIAS, with MELEANDER asleep, on a couch, his hair and beard trimmed, habit and gown changed.-While they are placing the couch, a Boy sings, without.

SONG.

Fly hence, shadows, that do keep
Watchful sorrows charm'd in sleep!
Though the eyes be overtaken,
Yet the heart doth ever waken
Thoughts, chain'd up in busy snares
Of continual woes and cares:
Love and griefs are so express'd,
As they rather sigh than rest.
Fly hence, shadows, that do keep
Watchful sorrows charm'd in sleep.

Mel. [awakes.] Where am I? ha! What sounds are these? 'Tis day, sure.

Oh, I have slept belike; 't is but the foolery
Of some beguiling dream. So, so! I will not
Trouble the play of my delighted fancy,
But dream my dream out.

Cor. Morrow to your lordship!

You took a jolly nap, and slept it soundly.
Mel. Away, beast! let me alone.

Cor. O, by your leave, sir,

[The music ceases.

I must be bold to raise you; else your physic

Will turn to further sickness.

Mel. Physic, bear-leech.

[He assists MEL. to sit up.

Cor. Yes, physic; you are mad.

Mel. Trollio! Cleophila!

Rhe. Sir, I am here.

Mel. I know thee, Rhetias; prithee rid the

room

Of this tormenting noise. He tells me, sirrah,
I have took physic, Rhetias; physic, physic!

Rhe. Sir, true, you have; and this most learned

scholar

Applied t' ye. Oh, you were in dangerous plight,
Before he took you [in] hand.

Mel. These things are drunk,

Directly drunk. Where did you get your liquor?
Cor. I never saw a body in the wane
Of age, so overspread with several sorts
Of such diseases, as the strength of youth
Would groan under and sink.

Rhe. The more your glory

In the miraculous cure.

Cor. Bring me the cordial1

Prepared for him to take after his sleep,

'T will do him good at heart.

Rhe. I hope it will, sir.

[Exit.

Mel. What dost [thou] think I am, that thou

shouldst fiddle

So much upon my patience?

Fool, the weight Of my disease sits on my heart so heavy,

That all the hands of art cannot remove

One grain, to ease my grief. If thou couldst poison

My memory, or wrap my senses up

Into a dulness, hard and cold as flints;

If thou couldst make me walk, speak, eat, and laugh,
Without a sense or knowledge of my faculties,
Why then, perhaps, at marts, thou mightst make
benefit

Of such an antic motion, and get credit
From credulous gazers; but not profit me.

Study to gull the wise; I am too simple
To be wrought on.

1 Bring me the cordial.] He alludes to the successive appearance of the messengers from the prince, to whom the hint was now to be given, and more particularly to the entrance of Eroclea and her sister, who are brought in by Rhetias.-GIFFORD.

2 Of such an antic motion,] i. e. of such a strange automaton, or puppet. Exhibitions of this kind formed, in the poet's days, one of the principal attractions of the people on all public occasions.-GIFFORD.

Cor. I'll burn my books, old man,

But I will do thee good, and quickly too.

Enter ARETUS, with a patent.

Are. Most honour'd lord Meleander! our great

master,

Prince Palador of Cyprus, hath by me

Sent you this patent, in which is contain'd
Not only confirmation of the honours

You formerly enjoy'd, but the addition

Of the marshalship of Cyprus; and ere long
He means to visit you. Excuse my haste;
I must attend the prince.

Cor. There's one pill works.

[Exit.

Mel. Dost know that spirit? 't is a grave familiar,

And talk'd I know not what.

Cor. He's like, methinks,

The prince's tutor, Aretus.
Mel. Yes, yes;

It may be I have seen such a fórmality;

No matter where, or when.

Enter AMETHUS, with a staff.

Ame. The prince hath sent you,
My lord, this staff of office, and withal
Salutes you grand commander of the ports
Throughout his principalities. He shortly
Will visit you himself; I must attend him.
Cor. D'ye feel your physic stirring yet?
Mel. A devil

Is a rare juggler, and can cheat the eye,
But not corrupt the reason, in the throne
Of a pure soul.

Enter SOPHRONOS, with a tablet.1

Another! I will stand thee;

Be what thou canst, I care not.

[Exit

1 With a tablet,] 1. e. with a miniature of Eroclea, which Palador had worn so long in his bosom, and to which he alludes, p. 110.-GIYFORD.

Soph. From the prince,

Dear brother, I present you this rich relic,
A jewel he hath long worn in his bosom:

Henceforth, he bade me say, he does beseech

you

To call him son, for he will call you father;
It is an honour, brother, that a subject
Cannot but entertain with thankful prayers.
Be moderate in your joys; he will in person
Confirm my errand, but commands my service.

Cor. What hope now of your cure?
Mel. Stay, stay!-What earthquakes

[Exit.

Roll in my flesh!-Here's prince, and prince, and prince;

Prince upon prince! The dotage of my sorrows
Revels in magic of ambitious scorn:

Be they enchantments deadly as the grave,
I'll look upon them. Patent, staff, and relic!
To the last first.-[Taking up the miniature.]—Round
me, ye guarding ministers,

And ever keep me waking, till the cliffs

That overhang my sight, fall off, and leave
These hollow spaces to be cramm'd with dust!

Cor. "T is time, I see, to fetch the cordial.1

Prithee,

Sit down; I'll instantly be here again.

[Exit.

Mel. Good, give me leave; I will sit down:

indeed,

Here's company enough for me to prate to.

[Looks at the picture. Eroclea! 't is the same; the cunning arts-man Faulter'd not in a line. Could he have fashion'd A little hollow space here, and blown breath To have made it move and whisper, 't had been excellent:

1 'Tis time, I see, to fetch the cordial,] i. e. the prince; with whom he subsequently returns, and whom he terms the sure, or crowning, cordial. GIFFORD.

VOL. I.-11