DRAMATIS PERSONE. AMYCLAS, King of Laconia. ITHOCLES, a Favourite. ORGILUS, Son of Crotolon. BASSANES, a jealous Nobleman. TECNICUS, a Philosopher. HEMOPHIL, GRONEAS, Courtiers. AMELUS, Friend of Nearchus. PHULAS, Servant to Bassanes. Lords, Courtiers, Officers, Attendants, &c. CALANTHA, Daughter of Amyclas. PENTHEA, Sister of Ithocles and Wife of Bassanes. EUPHRANEA, Daughter of Crotolon, a Maid of honour. CHRISTALLA, Maids of honour. PHILEMA, Enter CROTOLON and ORGILUS. ROT. Dally not further; I will know Such I expect, and ere we part must Athens! pray, why to Athens? you intend not To kick against the world, turn cynic, stoic, An Areopagite, and judge in cases Touching the commonwealth; for, as I take it, Org. All this I acknowledge. [have: Crot. You do! then, son, if books and love of know Inflame ledge you to this travel, here in Sparta You may as freely study. Crot. Not that, sir! As a father, I command thee T'acquaint me with the truth. Org. Thus I obey ye. After so many quarrels as dissension, Fury, and rage had broached in blood, and sometimes With death to such confederates as sided With now-dead Thrasus and yourself, my lord; Our present king, Amyclas, reconciled Betwixt your families was entertained, Me and the fair Penthea, only daughter Crot. Org. What of this? Much, much, dear sir. A freedom of convérse, an interchange Crot. Most certain. Org. From this time sprouted-up that poisonous stalk Of aconite, whose ripened fruit hath ravished All health, all comfort of a happy life; For Ithocles, her brother, proud of youth, And prouder in his power, nourished closely To glory in revenge. By cunning partly, His virtuous sister to admit a marriage With Bassanes, a nobleman, in honour And riches, I confess, beyond my fortunes. Crot. All this is no sound reason to impórtune My leave for thy departure. Org. Now it follows. Beauteous Penthea, wedded to this torture Crot. Org. As how, pray? The man that calls her wife, considers truly All eyes who gaze upon that shrine of beauty So much, out of a self-unworthiness, Bassanes, His fears transport him; not that he finds cause My griefs are violent : Crot. You spin-out your discourse. I undertake a voluntary exile; Hence, from hence, First, by my absence to take off the cares 1 i.e. Convince himself. Her presence makes to live in me afresh. Crot. Enough, my Orgilus, enough. To Athens, I give a full consent.-Alas, good lady !— We shall hear from thee often? Org. Euphranea, thus upon thy cheeks I print A brother's kiss; more careful of thine honour, Thy health, and thy well-doing, than my life. Before we part, in presence of our father, I must prefer a suit t' ye. Euph. My brother, a command. Org. You may style it, That you will promise Never to pass to any man, however Worthy, your faith, till, with our father's leave, Euphranea's oath must yield me satisfaction. Euph. By Vesta's sacred fires I swear. By great Apollo's beams, join in the vow, And I, Mistake me not: far, far 'tis from my thought, As far from any wish of mine, to hinder Or fitting fortune; thou art young and handsome; Not to advance thy merit: trust me, sister, |