Before this royal presence, these fit slights

As in contempt of such as can direct ;

My speech hath other end; not to attribute

90

All praise to one man's fortune, which is strengthened
By many hands: for instance, here is Prophilus,
A gentleman-I cannot flatter truth-

95

Of much desert; and, though in other rank,
Both Hemophil and Groneas were not missing
To wish their country's peace; for, in a word,
All there did strive their best, and 'twas our duty.
Amy. Courtiers turn soldiers !—We vouchsafe our
hand.

[HEMOPHIL and GRONEAS kiss his hand.

Observe your great example.

Hem.

With all diligence.

Some repose IOI

Gro. Obsequiously and hourly.

Amy.

After these toils is needful. We must think on
Conditions for the conquered; they expect 'em.
On!-Come, my Ithocles.

[Exit AMYCLAS attended, ITHOCLES, CALANTHA, etc. As CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA are following CALANTHA they are detained by HEMOPHIL and GRoneas.

Chris. With me?

Phil.

Indeed I dare not stay.

ΙΙΟ

You went not hence such creatures.

Gro.

Is of a mounting nature.

Phil.

In earnest, pray, how many men apiece

Have you two been the death of?

That showed your charity: where are your spoils, 115
Such as the soldier fights for?

Phil.

They are coming.

Sweet Philema,

Chris. By the next carrier, are they not?

Gro.

When I was in the thickest of mine enemies,
Slashing off one man's head, another's nose,
Another's arms and legs,—

Phil.

And all together.

Gro. Then would I with a sigh remember thee,
And cry "Dear Philema, 'tis for thy sake

I do these deeds of wonder!"-dost not love me
With all thy heart now?

120

Phil.

Now as heretofore.

I have not put my love to use; the principal
Will hardly yield an interest.

Gro.

I'll marry thee!

Phil.

By Mars,

By Vulcan, you're forsworn,

Except my mind do alter strangely.

Gro.

One word.

125

Chris. You lie beyond all modesty :-forbear me. Hem. I'll make thee mistress of a city; 'tis 130 Mine own by conquest.

Chris.

By petition; sue for't
In forma pauperis.-City! kennel.-Gallants!
Off with your feathers, put on aprons, gallants;
Lear to reel, thrum, or trim a lady's dog,
And be good quiet souls of peace, hobgoblins!

Hem.
Chris.

Christalla !

135

Practise to drill hogs, in hope To share in the acorns.-Soldiers? corncutters,

But not so valiant; they ofttimes draw blood,
Which you durst never do. When you have practised
More wit or more civility, we'll rank ye

140

I' the list of men; till then, brave things-at-arms, Dare not to speak to us,—most potent Groneas!— Phil. And Hemophil the hardy !—at your services. [Exeunt CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA.

Gro. They scorn us, as they did before we went.

Hem. Hang 'em! let us scorn them, and be revenged.

145

Gro. Shall we?

Hem.

We will and when we slight them thus,

Instead of following them, they'll follow us ;

It is a woman's nature.

Gro.

'Tis a scurvy one. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. The Gardens of the Palace. A Grove. Enter TECNICUS, and ORGILUS disguised like one of his Scholars.

Tec. Tempt not the stars; young man, thou canst

not play

With the severity of fate: this change

Of habit and disguise in outward view

Hides not the secrets of thy soul within thee

From their quick-piercing eyes, which dive at all times

Down to thy thoughts: in thy aspéct I note

6

A consequence of danger.

Give me leave,

Org.
Grave Tecnicus, without foredooming destiny,
Under thy roof to ease my silent griefs,
By applying to my hidden wounds the balm
Of thy oraculous lectures. If my fortune
Run such a crooked by-way as to wrest
My steps to ruin, yet thy learned precepts
Shall call me back and set my footings straight.
I will not court the world.

Ah, Orgilus,

Tec.
Neglects in young men of delights and life.
Run often to extremities; they care not

For harms to others who contemn their own.

Org. But I, most learnèd artist, am not so much

IO

15

At odds with nature that I grudge the thrift
Of any true deserver; nor doth malice
Of present hopes so check them with despair
As that I yield to thought of more affliction
Than what is incident to frailty: wherefore
Impute not this retirèd course of living
Some little time to any other cause
Than what I justly render,-the information
Of an unsettled mind; as the effect

Must clearly witness.

Tec.

Spirit of truth inspire thee! On these conditions I conceal thy change, And willingly admit thee for an auditor.I'll to my study.

Org.

I to contemplations

In these delightful walks.

20

25

30

[Exit TECNICUS.

Thus metamorphosed,

I may without suspicion harken after
Penthea's usage and Euphranea's faith.
Love, thou art full of mystery! the deities
Themselves are not secure in searching out
The secrets of those flames, which, hidden, waste
A breast made tributary to the laws

Of beauty physic yet hath never found.
A remedy to cure a lover's wound.—

Ha! who are those that cross yon private walk
Into the shadowing grove in amorous foldings?

PROPHILUS passes by, supporting EUPHRANEA and whispering.

My sister! O, my sister! 'tis Euphranea
With Prophilus supported too! I would

35

40

45