Ith.

'Tis granted:

120

And for a league of privacy between us,
Read o'er my bosom and partake a secret ;
The princess is contracted mine.

Org.

Still, why not?

I now applaud her wisdom: when your kingdom
Stands seated in your will secure and settled,
I dare pronounce you will be a just monarch;
Greece must admire and tremble.

Ith.

125

Then the sweetness

Of so imparadised a comfort, Orgilus !
It is to banquet with the gods.

Org.

The glory

Of numerous children, potency of nobles,
Bent knees, hearts paved to tread on!

Our fortunes merely in the title; partners

In all respects else but the bed.

Org.

The bed!

135

Forfend it Jove's own jealousy !—till lastly
We slip down in the common earth together;
And there our beds are equal; save some monu-

ment

To show this was the king, and this the subject.—

[Soft, sad music.

List, what sad sounds are these,-extremely sad ones?

Love's martyrs must be ever, ever dying.

Ith. O, my misgiving heart!

150

A horrid stillness

Org. Succeeds this deathful air; let's know the reason: Tread softly; there is mystery in mourning. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. PENTHEA's Apartment in the Palace. PENTHEA discovered in a chair, veiled; CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA at her feet mourning. Enter two Servants with two other chairs, one with an engine. Enter ITHOCLES and ORGILUS.

1st Ser. [aside to ORGILUS] 'Tis done; that on her right hand.

Org.

Good begone.

[Exeunt Servants.

And begged some gentle voice to tune a farewell 5

To life and griefs: Christalla touched the lute;

I wept the funeral song.

Chris.

Which scarce was ended

But her last breath sealed-up these hollow sounds, "O, cruel Ithocles and injured Orgilus !"

So down she drew her veil, so died.

Ith.

So died !

10

Org. Up! you are messengers of death; go

from us;

[CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA rise.

Here's woe enough to court without a prompter :

Away; and-hark ye-till you see us next,

No syllable that she is dead.—Away,

Keep a smooth brow.

I'll seat me here in this: between us sits

The object of our sorrows; some few tears
We'll part among us; I perhaps can mix
One lamentable story to prepare 'em.-
There, there; sit there, my lord.

Ith.

20

Yes, as you please.

[Sits down, the chair closes upon him.

What means this treachery?

Org.

Caught! you are caught,

Young master; 'tis thy throne of coronation,

Thou fool of greatness! See, I take this veil off;
Survey a beauty withered by the flames

Of an insulting Phaëton, her brother.

Ith. Thou mean'st to kill me basely?
Org.

I foreknew

The last act of her life, and trained thee hither
To sacrifice a tyrant to a turtle.

25

You dreamt of kingdoms, did ye? how to bosom 30
The delicacies of a youngling princess;

How with this nod to grace that subtle courtier,
How with that frown to make this noble tremble,
And so forth; while Penthea's groans and tortures,
Her agonies, her miseries, afflictions,

35

Ne'er touched upon your thought: as for my injuries,
Alas, they were beneath your royal pity;
But yet they lived, thou proud man, to confound thee.
Behold thy fate; this steel! [Draws a dagger.

Ith.

Strike home! A courage

As keen as thy revenge shall give it welcome :

40

But prithee faint not; if the wound close up,
Tent it with double force, and search it deeply.

Thou look'st that I should whine and beg compassion,

As loth to leave the vainness of my glories;
A statelier resolution arms my confidence,
To cozen thee of honour; neither could I
With equal trial of unequal fortune.
By hazard of a duel; 'twere a bravery
Too mighty for a slave intending murder.
On to the execution, and inherit

A conflict with thy horrors.

Org.

By Apollo,

Thou talk'st a goodly language! for requital
I will report thee to thy mistress richly :

45

50

55

And take this peace along; some few short minutes
Determined, my resolves shall quickly follow
Thy wrathful ghost; then, if we tug for mastery,
Penthea's sacred eyes shall lend new courage.
Give me thy hand: be healthful in thy parting
From lost mortality! thus, thus I free it. [Stabs him.
Ith. Yet, yet, I scorn to shrink.

Org.

Keep up thy spirit :

61

I will be gentle even in blood; to linger
Pain, which I strive to cure, were to be cruel.

[Stabs him again.

Follow

65

Ith. Nimble in vengeance, I forgive thee. Safety, with best success: O, may it prosper !— Penthea, by thy side thy brother bleeds; The earnest of his wrongs to thy forced faith. Thoughts of ambition, or delicious banquet With beauty, youth, and love, together perish In my last breath, which on the sacred altar Of a long-looked-for peace-now-moves-to heaven.

[Dies.