Cal. To whom that jewel? Pen. To virgin-wives, such as abuse not wedlock By freedom of desires, but covet chiefly The pledges of chaste beds for ties of love, Cal. You mean to part with? Pen. 55 By scandal yet untouched: this I bequeath 65 If ever my unhappy name find mention When I am fall'n to dust, may it deserve Cal. How handsomely thou play'st with harmless sport Of mere imagination! speak the last. I strangely like thy will. Pen. Is dearly precious to me; you must use Cal. This jewel, madam, 70 Do not doubt me. Pen. 'Tis long agone since first I lost my heart : Long I have lived without it, else for certain I should have given that too; but instead Of it, to great Calantha, Sparta's heir, 75 112 By service bound and by affection vowed, Mine only brother, Ithocles. Cal. What saidst thou? Impute not, heaven-blest lady, to ambition. Of a devoted suppliant can endow it : Cal. Shall I answer here, Or lend my ear too grossly? Pen. 80 Shall fall in cinders, scorched by your disdain, Ere he will dare, poor man, to ope an eye On these divine looks, but with low-bent thoughts He dares not utter any but of service : 90 Cal. What new change Appears in my behaviour, that thou dar'st Tempt my displeasure? Pen. I must leave the world 95 100 I am a sister, though to me this brother Hath been, you know, unkind, O, most unkind! Cal. Christalla, Philema, where are ye?—Lady, Your check lies in my silence. Re-enter CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA. Chris, and Phil. Madam, here. 105 Cal. I think ye sleep, ye drones: wait on Penthea Unto her lodging.—[Aside] Ithocles? wronged lady! Pen. My reckonings are made even; death or fate Can now nor strike too soon nor force too late. III [Exeunt. ACT THE FOURTH. SCENE I. The Palace. ITHOCLES' Apartment. Ith. Forbear your inquisition; curiosity In fears of love too quick, too slow of credit.— Arm. 5 Nephew, be, then, As I would wish ;—all is not right.—Good heaven Confirm your resolutions for dependence On worthy ends, which may advance your quiet! Ith. I did the noble Orgilus much injury, But grieved Penthea more: I now repent it,Now, uncle, now; this "now is now too late.>> IO So provident is folly in sad issue, That after-wit, like bankrupts' debts, stands tallied, Sure, he's an honest, very honest gentleman ; Arm. I believe it: Yet, nephew, 'tis the tongue informs our ears; 15 Ith. The princess! ha! Arm. With her the Prince of Argos. 20 Enter NEARCHUS, leading CALANTHA; AMELUS, Near. Great fair one, grace my hopes with any instance Of livery, from the allowance of your favour; This little spark [Attempts to take a ring from her finger. Cal. Near. A toy ! Love feasts on toys, For Cupid is a child;-vouchsafe this bounty: Cal. You shall not value, Sweet cousin, at a price, what I count cheap; So cheap, that let him take it who dares stoop for❜t, And give it at next meeting to a mistress : She'll thank him for't, perhaps. Ame. 25 [Casts the ring before ITHOCLES, who takes it up. The ring, sir, is 30 The princess's; I could have took it up. Ith. Learn manners, prithee.-To the blessèd owner, Upon my knees- [Kneels and offers it to CALANTHA. Near. Cal. You're saucy. This is pretty! I am, belike, "a mistress "-wondrous pretty!— |