“Such cure as sick men find in changing beds,
I found in change of airs; the fancy flatter'd
My hopes with ease, as theirs do; but the grief
Is still the same.”

As a companion Menaphon brings back with him a youth, named Parthenophill, whom he had accidentally encountered in the beautiful vale of Tempe, in Thessaly; and the occasion of his meeting with whom forms one of the most interesting tales to be found in the whole compass of the drama. The melancholy seclusion in which Palador lived, and his inattention to the cares of government, began at length to excite serious discontents in Cyprus. His tutor, Aretus, and his minister, Sophronos, in vain endeavour to awake him from his lethargy, and some mummeries practised by the court-physician, Corax, for the same purpose, are attended with little better success. His cure, however, was nearer at hand than his courtiers imagined. The young stranger, Parthenophill, turns out in due course of time to be the lost Eroclea, and the discovery has, as might be expected, the double effect of restoring cheerfulness to Palador and reason to Meleander. Cleophila, released from her pious attendance on her late distracted father, bestows her hand on Amethus, her devoted lover; and Thamasta, shamed out of her haughtiness by a misplaced affection into which the male attire of Eroclea had betrayed her, becomes the wife of Menaphon. The minor characters will disclose themselves in the course of the drama; but none of them will be found to have much claim on the reader's attention or affection except Rhetias, the faithful servant of the heroine of the piece.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE,

PALADoR, Prince of Cyprus.
AMETHUs, cousin to the prince.
MELEANDER, an old lord.
SoPHRoNos, brother to MELEANDER
MENAPHoN, son of SoPHRonos.
ARETUs, tutor to the prince.
CoRAx, a physician.

PELIAs,
Cuculus,
RHETIAs (a reduced courtier), servant to ERocLEA.
TRollio, servant to MELEANDER.
GRILLA, a page of CUCULUs, in woman's dress.

} two foolish courtiers.

THAMASTA, sister of AMEThus, and cousin to the prince.
ERocle A (as PARTHENOPHILL), & Daughters of MELE-
CLEOPHILA, } ANDER.
KALA, waiting-maid to THAMASTA.

Officers, Attendants, &c.
SCENE, Famagosta, in Cyprus.

THE LOVER'S MELANCHOLY.

ACT I. SCENE I.

A Room in the Palace.

Enter MENAPHON and PELIAS. Men. DANGERS! how mean you dangers ? that so

courtly You gratulate my safe return from dangers ?

Pel. From travels, noble sir.

Men. These are delights;
If my experience hath not, truant-like,
Mispent the time, which I have strove to use
For bettering my mind with observation.

Pel. As I am modest, I protest 't is strange!
But is it possible ?

Men. What?

Pel. To bestride
The frothy foams of Neptune's surging waves,
When blustering Boreas tosseth up the deep,
And thumps a thunder-bounce!

Men. Sweet sir, 't is nothing:
Straight comes a dolphin, playing near your ship,
Heaving his crooked back up, and presents
A feather-bed to vaft you to the shore,
As easily as if you slept i' th’ court.

Pel. Indeed! is 't true, I pray ?

Men. I will not stretch
Your faith upon the tenters.--Prithee, Pelias,
Where didst thou learn this language ?

Pel. I this language ?
Alas, sir, we that study words and forms

VOL. I.-5

Of compliment, must fashion all discourse
According to the nature of the subject.
But I am silent :-now appears a sun,
Whose shadow I adore.

Enter AMETHUS, SOTHronos, and Attendants.
Men. My honour'd father!
Soph. From mine eyes, son, son of my care, my

love, The joys that bid thee welcome, do too much Speak me a child. Men. O, princely sir, your hand. Amet. Perform your duties, where you owe them

first;
I dare not be so sudden in the pleasures
Thy presence hath brought home.

Soph. Here thou still find'st
A friend as noble, Menaphon, as when
Thou left'st at thy departure.

Men. Yes, I know it,
To him I owe more service-

Amet. Pray give leave-
He shall attend your entertainments soon,
Next day, and next day ;-for an hour or two
I would engross him only.

Soph. Noble lord!
Amet. You are both dismiss'd.
Pel. Your creature and your servant.

[Exeunt all but AMETHUS and MENAPHON. Amet. Give me thy hand. I will not say, Thou’rt

welcome;
That is the common road of common friends.
I'm glad I have thee here-Oh! I want words
To let thee know my heart.

Men. ”T is pieced to mine.

Amet. Yes, 't is; as firmly as that holy thing Call’d friendship can unite it. Menaphon, My Menaphon! now all the goodly blessings, That can create a heaven on earth, dwell with thee!

Twelve months we have been sundered; but hence

forth We never more will part, till that sad hour, In which death leaves the one of us behind, To see the other's funerals performed. Let's now a while be free.-How have thy travels Disburthen'd thee abroad of discontents ?

Men. Such cure as sick men find in changing beds,
I found in change of airs; the fancy flatter'd
My hopes with ease, as theirs do; but the grief
Is still the same.

Amet. Such is my case at home.
Cleophila, thy kinswoman, that maid
Of sweetness and humility, more pities
Her father's poor afflictions, than the tide
Of my complaints.

Men. Thamasta, my great mistress,
Your princely sister, hath, I hope, ere this
Confirm'd' affection on some worthy choice.

Amet. Not any, Menaphon. Her bosom yet
Is intermured with ice; though, by the truth
Of love, no day hath ever pass'd, wherein
I have not mentioned thy deserts, thy constancy,
Thy-come! in troth, I dare not tell thee what,
Lest thou might'st think I fawn'd on [thee]—a sin
Friendship was never guilty of; for flattery
Is monstrous in a true friend.

Men. Does the court
Wear the old looks too?

Amet. If thou mean'st the prince, It does. He's the same melancholy man He was at's father's death; sometimes speaks sense, But seldom mirth; will smile, but seldom laugh; Will lend an ear to business, deal in none; Gaze upon revels, antic fopperies, But is not mov'd; will sparingly discourse, Hear music; but what most he takes delight in,

1 Perhaps conferrd.—GIFFORD.