Sparta may grow in power, and proceed

To an increasing height.

Cal.
Hold you the same mind?
Bass. Alas, great mistress, reason is so clouded
With the thick darkness of my infinite woes,
That I forecast nor dangers, hopes, or safety.
Give me some corner of the world to wear out
The remnant of the minutes I must number,
Where I may hear no sounds but sad complaints
Of virgins who have lost contracted partners;
Of husbands howling that their wives were ravished
By some untimely fate; of friends divided

By churlish opposition; or of fathers

Weeping upon their children's slaughter'd carcases;
Or daughters groaning o'er their fathers' hearses;
And I can dwell there, and with these keep consort
As musical as theirs. What can you look for
From an old, foolish, peevish, doting man

But craziness of age?

Cal. Cousin of Argos,—

Near.

Cal.

Madam?

Were I presently

To choose you for my lord, I'll open freely
What articles I would propose to treat on
Before our marriage.

Near.

Name them, virtuous lady.

Cal. I would presume you would retain the royalty Of Sparta in her own bounds; then in Argos Armostes might be viceroy; in Messene Might Crotolon bear sway; and Bassanes— Bass. I, queen! alas, what I?

Be Sparta's marshal:

Cal.
The multitudes of high employments could not
But set a peace to private griefs. These gentlemen,
Groneas and Hemophil, with worthy pensions,
Should wait upon your person in your chamber.-
I would bestow Christalla on Amelus,

She'll prove a constant wife; and Philema

Should into Vesta's Temple.

Bass.

This is a testament!

It sounds not like conditions on a marriage.

Near. All this should be performed.
Cal.

Lastly, for Prophilus,

He should be, cousin, solemnly invested

In all those honours, titles, and preferments
Which his dear friend and my neglected husband
Too short a time enjoyed.

Pro.

I am unworthy

Excellent lady!

To live in your remembrance.

Euph.

Near. Madam, what means that word, "neglected husband"?

Cal. Forgive me :-now I turn to thee, thou shadow Of my contracted lord! Bear witness all, I put my mother's wedding-ring upon His finger; 'twas my father's last bequest.

[Places a ring on the finger of ITHOCLES.

Thus I new-marry him whose wife I am;
Death shall not separate us. O, my lords,
I but deceived your eyes with antic gesture,

When one news straight came huddling on another
Of death! and death! and death! still I danced forward;
But it struck home, and here, and in an instant.

Be such mere women, who with shrieks and outcries
Can vow a present end to all their sorrows,

Yet live to court new pleasures, and outlive them :
They are the silent griefs which cut the heart-strings;
Let me die smiling.

Near.

'Tis a truth too ominous.

Cal. One kiss on these cold lips, my last! [Kisses
ITHOCLES.]-Crack, crack!-

Argos now's Sparta's king.-Command the voices.
Which wait at the altar now to sing the song

Chor. Glories, pleasures, pomps, delights, and ease,
Can but please

The outward senses, when the mind

Is or untroubled or by peace refined.

1st. Voice. Crowns may flourish and decay, Beauties shine, but fade away.

2nd Voice. Youth may revel, yet it must
Lie down in a bed of dust.

3rd Voice. Earthly honours flow and waste,
Time alone doth change and last.
Sorrows mingled with contents prepare
Rest far care;

Chor.

Love only reigns in death; though art
Can find no comfort for a broken heart.

[CALANTHA dies.

Arm. Look to the queen!

Her heart is broke indeed.

Bass.

O, royal maid, would thou hadst missed this part!

Yet 'twas a brave one. I must weep to see

Her smile in death.

Arm.

Wise Tecnicus! thus said he;

"When youth is ripe, and age from time doth part,
The Lifeless Trunk shall wed the Broken Heart."
'Tis here fulfilled.

Shall never be digressed from: wait in order

Upon these faithful lovers, as becomes us.---
The counsels of the gods are never known

Till men can call the effects of them their own. [Exeunt.

EPILOGUE.

WHERE noble judgments and clear eyes are fixed
To grace endeavour, there sits truth, not mixed
With ignorance; those censures may command
Belief which talk not till they understand.

Let some say, "This was flat; some, "Here the scene
Fell from its height;" another, "That the mean
Was ill observed in such a growing passion

As it transcended either state or fashion :"

Some few may cry, "'Twas pretty well," or so,
"But--" and there shrug in silence: yet we know
Our writer's aim was in the whole addrest
Well to deserve of all, but please the best;
Which granted, by the allowance of this strain
The BROKEN HEART may be pieced-up again.