Phu. Yes, truly; and 'tis talked about the streets, That since Lord Ithocles came home, the lions

Never left roaring, at which noise the bears.

Have danced their very hearts out.

Bass.

Dance out thine too.

Phu. Besides, Lord Orgilus is fled to Athens Upon a fiery dragon, and 'tis thought

Phu. Moreover, please your lordship, 'tis reported For certain, that whoever is found jealous Without apparent proof that's wife is wanton Shall be divorced : but this is but she-news; I had it from a midwife. I have more yet.

Bass. Antic, no more! idiots and stupid fools
Grate my calamities. Why to be fair

Should yield presumption of a faulty soul-
Look to the doors.

Phu.

The horn of plenty crest him!

[Aside, and exit.

Bass. Swarms of confusion huddle in my thoughts In rare distemper.-Beauty! O, it is

An unmatched blessing or a horrid curse.

She comes, she comes! so shoots the morning forth, Spangled with pearls of transparent dew.

The way to poverty is to be rich,

As I in her am wealthy; but for her,

In all contents a bankrupt.

Thy brother is returned, sweet, safe, and honoured
With a triumphant victory; thou shalt visit him:

Leave chattering, magpie.

We will to court, where, if it be thy pleasure,
Thou shalt appear in such a ravishing lustre
Of jewels above value, that the dames
Who brave it there, in rage to be outshined,
Shall hide them in their closets, and unseen
Fret in their tears; whiles every wondering eye
Shall crave none other brightness but thy presence.
Choose thine own recreations; be a queen

Of what delights thou fanciest best, what company,
What place, what times; do anything, do all things
Youth can command, so thou wilt chase these clouds
From the pure firmament of thy fair looks.

Grau. Now 'tis well said, my lord.--What, lady! laugh, Be merry; time is precious.

Bass. [Aside]

Furies whip thee!

Pen. Alas, my lord, this language to your hand-maid Sounds as would music to the deaf; I need

No braveries nor cost of art to draw

The whiteness of my name into offence:
Let such, if any such there are, who covet
A curiosity of admiration,

By laying-out their plenty to full view,
Appear in gaudy outsides; my attires
Shall suit the inward fashion of my mind;
From which, if your opinion, nobly placed,
Change not the livery your words bestow,

My fortunes with my hopes are at the highest.

Bass. This house, methinks, stands somewhat too much

inward,

It is too melancholy; we'll remove

Nearer the court: or what thinks my Penthea

Of the delightful island we command?

Rule me as thou canst wish.

Pen.

:

I am no mistress:

Whither you please, I must attend; all ways

Are alike pleasant to me,

Grau.
Ford,

Island! prison;

Р

A prison is as gaysome: we'll no islands;
Marry, out upon 'em! whom shall we see there?
Sea-gulls, and porpoises, and water-rats,
And crabs, and mews, and dog-fish; goodly gear
For a young lady's dealing, or an old one's!
On no terms islands; I'll be stewed first.
Bass. [Aside to GRAUSIS]

Grausis,

You are a juggling bawd.-This sadness, sweetest, Becomes not youthful blood.-[Aside to GRAUSIS] I'll have you pounded.—

For my sake put on a more cheerful mirth ;

Thou'lt mar thy cheeks, and make me old in griefs.— [Aside to GRAUSIS] Damnable bitch-fox!

Grau.

I am thick of hearing,

Still, when the wind blows southerly.-What think ye,
If your fresh lady breed young bones, my lord !
Would not a chopping boy d'ye good at heart ?
But, as you said-

Bass. [Aside to GRAUSIS] I'll spit thee on a stake,
Or chop thee into collops!

Grau.

Sure, sure the wind blows south still.

Pen.

Pray, speak louder.

Thou prat'st madly.

Bass. 'Tis very hot; I sweat extremely.

In drifts; the one enter, the other stand without, sir:

Enter PROPHILUS, HEMOPHIL, GRONEAS, CHRISTALLA, and PHILEMA.

Pro.

Noble Bassanes !

Bass. Most welcome, Prophilus; ladies, gentlemen, To all my heart is open; you all honour me,[Aside] A tympany swells in my head already,— Honour me bountifully.-[Aside] How they flutter, Wagtails and jays together!

Pro.

From your brother

By virtue of your love to him, I require

Your instant presence, fairest.

Pen.

He is well, sir?

Pro. The gods preserve him ever! Yet, dear beauty,

I find some alteration in him lately,

Since his return to Sparta.-My good lord,

I pray, use no delay.

Bass.

We had not needed

An invitation, if his sister's health

Had not fall'n into question.-Haste, Penthea,

Slack not a minute.-Lead the way, good Prophilus ;
I'll follow step by step.

Pro.

Your arm, fair madam.

[Exeunt all but BASSANES and GRAUSIS.

Bass. One word with your old bawdship: th' hadst

been better

Railed at the sins 1 thou worshipp'st than have thwarted My will: I'll use thee cursedly

Grau.

You are beside yourself. A politician

You dote,

In jealousy? no, you're too gross, too vulgar.
Pish, teach not me my trade; I know my cue :
My crossing you sinks me into her trust,

By which I shall know all; my trade's a sure one.
Bass. Forgive me, Grausis, 'twas consideration
I relished not; but have a care now.

1 Altered by Gifford to "saints."

Grau.

I am no new-come-to't.

Bass.

Fear not,

Thy life's upon it,

And so is mine. My agonies are infinite.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. The Palace. ITHOCLES' Apartment.

Enter ITHOCLES.

Ith. Ambition! 'tis of vipers' breed: it gnaws
A passage through the womb that gave it motion,
Ambition, like a seelèd' dove, mounts upward,
Higher and higher still, to perch on clouds,
But tumbles headlong down with heavier ruin.
So squibs and crackers fly into the air,
Then, only breaking with a noise, they vanish
In stench and smoke. Morality, applied
To timely practice, keeps the soul in tune,.
At whose sweet music all our actions dance :
But this is formed of books and school-tradition;
It physics not the sickness of a mind

Broken with griefs: strong fevers are not eased
With counsel, but with best receipts and means;
Means, speedy means and certain; that's the cure.

Enter ARMOSTES and CROTOLON.

Arm. You stick, Lord Crotolon, upon a point Too nice and too unnecessary; Prophilus

Is every way desertful. I am confident

Your wisdom is too ripe to need instruction
From your son's tutelage.

Crot.

Yet not so ripe,

My Lord Armostes, that it dare to dote

Upon the painted meat2 of smooth persuasion,
Which tempts me to a breach of faith.

1 Blinded by sewing up the eye-lids.

2 ? Bait.