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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

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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

ΙΟ

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.

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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.

Bass.

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Thou canst not, Orgilus; 'tis in the power

Of the gods only: yet, for satisfaction,

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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.

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.

Of will and thankfulness.

Org.

Please, then, to follow me.

Bass.

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Where'er, I fear not. [Exeunt.

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.

IO

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

They dance the first change; during which ARMOSTES

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