SCENE III. A Room in the Palace.

Flourish. Enter AMYCLAS, NEARCHUS, leading CALANTHA, ARMOSTES, CROTOLON, EUPHRANEA, CHRISTALLA, PHILEMA, and AMELUS.

Amy. Cousin of Argos, what the heavens have pleased,

In their unchanging counsels, to conclude

For both our kingdoms' weal, we must submit to :
Nor can we be unthankful to their bounties,
Who, when we were even creeping to our grave,
Sent us a daughter, in whose birth our hope
Continues of succession. As you are
In title next, being grandchild to our aunt,
So we in heart desire you may sit nearest
Calantha's love; since we have ever vowed
Not to enforce affection by our will,

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IO

But by her own choice to confirm it gladly.

Near. You speak the nature of a right just father.

I come not hither roughly to demand

My cousin's thraldom, but to free mine own:
Report of great Calantha's beauty, virtue,
Sweetness, and singular perfections, courted
All ears to credit what I find was published
By constant truth; from which, if any service
Of my desert can purchase fair construction,
This lady must command it.

Cal.

Princely sir,

So well you know how to profess observance,
That you instruct your hearers to become

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Practitioners in duty; of which number
I'll study to be chief.

Near.

Chief, glorious virgin,
In my devotion, as in all men's wonder.

Amy. Excellent cousin, we deny no liberty;
Use thine own opportunities.-Armostes,
We must consult with the philosophers;
The business is of weight.

Arm.

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Sir, at your pleasure. 30

Amy. You told me, Crotolon, your son's returned From Athens: wherefore comes he not to court,

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Between young Prophilus and Euphranea
Tastes of too much delay.

Crot.

Amy.

My lord,

Some pleasures

At celebration of it would give life

To the entertainment of the prince our kinsman ;
Our court wears gravity more than we relish.

Arm. Yet the heavens smile on all your high

Enter ITHOCLES, ORGILUS and PROPHILUS.

Ith. Your safe return to Sparta is most welcome :

I joy to meet you here, and, as occasion

Shall grant us privacy, will yield you reasons

Why I should covet to deserve the title

Of your respected friend; for, without compliment, Believe it, Orgilus, 'tis my ambition.

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Org. Your lordship may command me, your poor

servant.

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Ith. [aside] So amorously close!-so soon! my heart!

Pro. What sudden change is next?

Life to the king!

Ith.
To whom I here present this noble gentleman,
New come from Athens: royal sir, vouchsafe
Your gracious hand in favour of his merit.

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[The King gives ORGILUS his hand to kiss. Crot. [aside] My son preferred by Ithocles! Amy.

Our bounties

Shall open to thee, Orgilus; for instance,—
Hark in thine ear,-if, out of those inventions
Which flow in Athens, thou hast there engrossed
Some rarity of wit, to grace the nuptials

Of thy fair sister, and renown our court

In the eyes of this young prince, we shall be debtor To thy conceit : think on't.

Org.

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Your highness honours me.

A noble birth,

Near. My tongue and heart are twins.

Cal.

Precoming such a father.-Worthy Orgilus,
You are a guest most wished for.

Org.

May my duty

Still rise in your opinion, sacred princess!

Ith. Euphranea's brother, sir; a gentleman Well worthy of your knowledge.

Near.

Proud of so dear acquaintance.

Amy.

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For revels and disport; the joys of Hymen,

Like Phoebus in his lustre, put to flight

All mists of dulness, crown the hours with gladness: No sounds but music, no discourse but mirth !

Cal. Thine arm, I prithee, Ithocles.-Nay, good My lord, keep on your way; I am provided. Near. I dare not disobey.

Ith.

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Most heavenly lady!

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. A Room in the House of CROTOLON.

Enter CROTOLON and ORGILUS.

Crot. The king hath spoke his mind.

Org.

His will he hath ;

But were it lawful to hold plea against
The power of greatness, not the reason, haply
Such undershrubs as subjects sometimes might
Borrow of nature justice, to inform

The license sovereignity holds without check
Over a meek obedience.

Crot.

How resolve you

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Touching your sister's marriage? Prophilus
Is a deserving and a hopeful youth.

ΙΟ

Org. I envy not his merit, but applaud it; Could wish him thrift in all his best desires, And with a willingness inleague our blood With his, for purchase of full growth in friendship, He never touched on any wrong that maliced The honour of our house nor stirred our peace : Yet, with your favour, let me not forget Under whose wing he gathers warmth and comfort, Whose creature he is bound, made, and must live so.

Crot. Son, son, I find in thee a harsh condition; No courtesy can win it, 'tis too rancorous.

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Org. Good sir, be not severe in your construction;

I am no stranger to such easy calms

Unto a courtship, almost to a fawning :—

I'll kiss his foot, since you will have it so.

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Since I will have it so! friend, I will have

Crot.

it so,

Without our ruin by your politic plots,

Or wolf of hatred snarling in your breast.

You have a spirit, sir, have ye? a familiar
That posts i' the air for your intelligence?
Some such hobgoblin hurried you from Athens,
For yet you come unsent for.

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