Org. Farewell, fair spring of manhood! henceforth

welcome

Best expectation of a noble sufferance.

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

71

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.

76

[Locks the door, and exit.

ACT THE FIFTH.

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're all turned madcaps.
"Tis said Apollo is the god of herbs,

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

5

With all my heart, let me go from thee quietly;
I will not aught to do with thee, of all men.
The doubles of a hair,—or, in a morning,
Salutes from a splay-footed witch, to drop

IO

15

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.

ΙΟΟ

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
For my past incivility towards ye.

25

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: 30
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 ye with an unmatched secret,

Whose knowledge to your griefs shall set a period.

35

Bass. Thou canst not, Orgilus; 'tis in the power

Of the gods only: yet, for satisfaction,

40

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

45

Distraction in a senseless marble statue,

It should find me a rock: I do expect now
Some truth of unheard moment.

To your patience

Org.
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.

Of will and thankfulness.

Org.

50

Where'er, I fear not. [Exeunt.

Please, then, to follow me.

Bass.

SCENE II. A State-room in the Palace.

A flourish. Enter EUPHRANEA led by GRONEAS and HEMOPHIL; PROPHILUS, led by CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA; NEARCHUS supporting CALANTHA ; CROTOLON and AMELUS.

Cal.

We miss our servant Ithocles and Orgilus ; On whom attend they?

Crot.

My son, gracious princess, Whispered some new device, to which these revels

Should be but usher : wherein I conceive

Lord Ithocles and he himself are actors.

5

Cal. A fair excuse for absence: as for Bassanes, Delights to him are troublesome : Armostes

Is with the king?

Crot.

Cal.

He is.

On to the dance !

Dear cousin, hand you the bride; the bridegroom

must be

Intrusted to my courtship. Be not jealous,

Euphranea; I shall scarcely prove a temptress.—
Fall to our dance.

The Revels.

Music. NEARCHUS dances with EUPHRANEA, PROPHILUS with CALANTHA, CHRISTALLA with HEMOPHIL, PHILEMA with GRONEAS.

They dance the first change; during which ARMOSTES