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 The summons of departure short and certain. Of human greatness are but pleasing dreams, 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 Who count the best a misery. Cal. Indeed You have no little cause; yet none so great Pen. That remedy Must be a winding-sheet, a fold of lead, Cal. Speak;' I enjoy it. Pen. Vouchsafe, then, to be my executrix, Cal. Now, beshrew thy sadness, [Weeps. Melt into passion.-[Aside.]-Then I have assur ance Encouraging my boldness. In this paper My will was character'd; which you, with pardon, It is a pretty earnest. Pen. I have left me But three poor jewels to bequeath. The first is Čal. To whom that? Pen. To virgin-wives, such as abuse not wedlock Before the flattery of delights by marriage; Čal. A second jewel You mean to part with? Pen. "T is my Fame; I trust, By scandal yet untouch'd: this I bequeath 1 i. e. proceed: I take pleasure in it. When I am fall'n to dust, may it deserve Cal. How handsomely thou play'st with harmless sport Of mere imagination! speak the last; Pen. This jewel, madam, Is dearly precious to me; you must use Cal. Do not doubt me. Pen. "T is long agone since first I lost my heart: Long have I lived without it, else for certain I should have given that too; but instead Of it, to great Calantha, Sparta's heir, Cal. What saidst thou? Pen. Impute not, heaven-blest lady, to ambition A faith as humbly perfect as the prayers Of a devoted suppliant can endow it: Look on him, princess, with an eye of pity; Cal. Shall I answer here, Or lend my ear too grossly? Shall fall in cinders, scorch'd by your disdain, Yet this lost creature loves you.-Be a princess Cal. What new change Appears in my behaviour, that thou dar'st Pen. I must leave the world To revel [in] Elysium, and 't is just To wish my brother some advantage here; His life and end. Cal. You have forgot, Penthea, How still I have a father. Pen. But remember I am a sister, though to me this brother Enter CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA. Both. Madam, here. Cal. I think you sleep, you drones: wait on Penthea Unto her lodging.-Ithocles! wrong'd lady! [Aside. Pen. My reckonings are made even; death or fate Can now nor strike too soon, nor force too late. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. The Palace. ITHOCLES's Apartment. Enter ITHOCLES and ARMOSTES. Ith. Forbear your inquisition; curiosity Arm. Nephew, be then As I would wish ;—all is not right.-Good heaven Confirm your resolutions for dependence That after-wit, like bankrupts' debts, stands tallied, Sure he's an honest, very honest gentleman; Arm. I believe it. Yet, nephew, 't is the tongue informs our ears; Ith. The princess? ha! Arm. With her the prince of Argos. Enter NEARCHUS, leading CALANTHA; AMELUS, CHRISTALLA, PHILEMA. Near. Great fair one, grace my hopes with any instance Of livery, from the allowance of your favour; [Attempts to take a ring from her finger. Cal. A toy! Near. Love feasts on toys, For Cupid is a child;-vouchsafe this bounty: Cal. You shall not value, Sweet cousin, at a price, what I count cheap: So cheap, that let him take it who dares stoop for 't, 1 A man of single meaning,] i. e. plain, open, sincere, unreserved. It appears, notwithstanding the disavowal of Armostes, that he did not altogether adopt the fatal error of his nephew.-GIFFORD. 2 Grace my hopes with any instance Of livery,] i. e. favour me with some badge, some ornament from your person, to show that you have condescended to enrol me among your servants. This was the language of courtship; and was derived from the practice of distinguishing the followers and retainers of great families by the badge or crest of the house.-GIFFORD |