Org. By Apollo,

70

Thou talk'st a goodly language! for requital
I will report thee to thy mistress richly ;
And take this peace along : some few short minutes
Determined, my resolves shall quickly follow
Thy wrathful ghost; then, if we tug for mastery,
Penthea's sacred eyes shall lend new courage.
Give me thy hand

ing

be healthful in thy part

From lost mortality ! thus, thus I free it. [Stabs him. Ith. Yet, yet, I scorn to shrink.

Org. Keep up thy spirit :

I will be gentle even in blood; to linger

Pain, which I strive to cure, were to be cruel.

80

[Stabs him again.

Ith. Nimble in vengeance, I forgive thee. Follow
Safety, with best success; oh, may it prosper !—
Penthea, by thy side thy brother bleeds;
The earnest of his wrongs to thy forced faith.
Thoughts of ambition, or delicious banquet
With beauty, youth, and love, together perish
In my last breath, which on the sacred altar
Of a long looked for peace-now-moves-to heaven.

[Dies. Org. Farewell, fair spring of manhood! henceforth

welcome

Best expectation of a noble sufferance!

I'll lock the bodies safe, till what must follow

90

Shall be approved.-Sweet twins, shine stars for

ever!

In vain they build their hopes, whose life is shame, No monument lasts but a happy name!

[Locks the door and exit.

ACT V

SCENE I

A Room in Bassanes' House

Enter Bassanes.

Bass. Athens-to Athens I have sent, the nursery

Of Greece for learning, and the fount of knowledge;
For here, in Sparta, there's not left amongst us
One wise man to direct; we are all turn'd madcaps.
'Tis said Apollo is the god of herbs,

Then certainly he knows the virtue of them :
To Delphos I have sent too; if there can be
A help for nature, we are sure yet.

Org. Honour

Enter Orgilus.

Attend thy counsels ever.

Bass. I beseech thee,

With all my heart, let me go from thee quietly;
I will not ought to do with thee, of all men.

10

The doubles of a hare,-or, in a morning,
Salutes from a splay-footed witch,-to drop
Three drops of blood at th' nose just, and no more,-
Croaking of ravens, or the screech of owls,
Are not so boding mischief, as thy crossing
My private meditations: shun me, prithee;
And if I cannot love thee heartily,

I'll love thee as well as I can.

Org. Noble Bassanes,

Mistake me not.

Bass. Phew! then we shall be troubled.

20

Thou wert ordained my plague-heaven make me thankful,

And give me patience too, heaven, I beseech thee! Org. Accept a league of amity for henceforth,

I vow, by my best genius, in a syllable,
Never to speak vexation; I will study

Service and friendship, with a zealous sorrow 30
For my past incivility towards you.

Bass. Hey-day, good words, good words! I must believe 'em,

And be a coxcomb for my labour.

Org. Use not

So hard a language; your misdoubt is causeless :
For instance, if you promise to put on

A constancy of patience, such a patience
As chronicle or history ne'er mentioned,
As follows not example, but shall stand

A wonder, and a theme for imitation,
The first, the index pointing to a second,

I will acquaint you with an unmatched secret, Whose knowledge to your griefs shall set a period. Bass. Thou canst not, Orgilus; 'tis in the power

Of the gods only; yet, for satisfaction,
Because I note an earnest in thine utterance,
Unforced, and naturally free, be resolute,
The virgin-bays shall not withstand the lightning
With a more careless danger, than my constancy
The full of thy relation; could it move
Distraction in a senseless marble statue,
It should find me a rock: I do expect now
Some truth of unheard moment.

Org. To your patience

You must add privacy, as strong in silence As mysteries locked up in Jove's own bosom. Bass. A skull hid in the earth a treble age,

Shall sooner prate.

Org. Lastly, to such direction

As the severity of a glorious action

Deserves to lead your wisdom and your judgment,
You ought to yield obedience.

Bass. With assurance

Of will and thankfulness.

Org. With manly courage
Please then to follow me.
Bass. Where'er, I fear not.

40

50

60

[Exeunt.