University of Virginia Library

Scæna prima.

Enter Crotolon and Orgilus.
Crot.
Dally not further, I will know the reason
That speeds thee to this iourney.

Org.
Reason? good Sir,
I can yeeld many.

Crot.
Giue me one, a good one;
Such I expect, and e're we part must haue:
Athens? pray why to Athens? you intend not
To kicke against the world, turne Cynicke, Stoicke,
Or read the Logicke Lecture, or become
An Arcepagste; and Iudge in causes
Touching the Common wealth? for as I take it,
The budding of your chin cannot prognosticate
So grave an honour.

Org.
All this I acknowledge.

Crot.
You doe: then (Son) if books and loue of knowledge
Enflame you to this trauell, here in Sparta
You may as freely study.

Org.
'Tis not that Sir.

Crot.
Not, that Sir? As a father I command thee
To acquaint me with the truth.

Org.
Thus I obey 'ee:
After so many quarrels, as dissention,
Fury, and Rage had brauch't in blood, and sometimes
With death to such confederates, as sided
With now dead Thrasus, and
Our present King Annilas reconcil'd
Your eager swords, and Seal'd a gentle peace:
Friends you profest your selues, which to confirme,
A resolution for a lasting league
Betwixt your Families was entertain'd,
By ioyning in a Hyminean bond,
Me, and the faire Penthea, onely daughter
To Thrasus.

Crot.
What of this?

Org.
Much, much (deere sir)
A freedome of conuerse, an enterchange
Of holy, and chast loue, so fixt our soules
In a firme grouth of vnion, that no Time
Can eat into the pledge: we had enioy'd
The sweets our vowes expected, had not cruelty
Preuented all those triumphs we prepar'd for,
By Thrasus his vntimely death.

Crot.
Most certaine.

Org.
From this time sprouted vp that poysonous stalke
Of Aconite, whose ripened fruit hath ravisht
All health, all comfort of a happy life:
For Ithocles her brother, proud of youth,
And prouder in his power, nourisht closely
The memory of former discontents.
To glory in reuenge, by cunning partly,
Partly by threats, a wooes at once, and forces
His virtuous sister to admit a marriage
With Basanes, a Noble man, in honour
And riches, I confesse beyond my fortunes.

Crot.
All this is no found reason to importune
My leave for thy departure.

Org.
Now it followes,
Beauteous Penthea wedded to this torture
By an insulting brother, being secretly
Compeld to yeeld her virgine freedome vp
To him, who neuer can vsurpe her heart
Before contracted mine, is now so yoak'd
To a most barbarous thraldome misery,
Affliction, that he sauors not humanity—
Whose sorrow melts not into more than pitty,
In hearing but her name.

Crot.
As how pray?

Org.
Bassanes
The man that calls her wife; considers truly
What Heaven of perfections he is Lord of,
By thinking faire Penthea his: This thought
Begets a kinde of Monster-Loue, which Loue
Is nurse vnto a feare so strong, and seruile,
As brands all dotage with a Iealousie.
All eyes who gaze upon that shrine of beauty,
He doth resolue, doe homage to the miracle;
Some one, he is assur'd, may now or then
(If opportunity but sort) preuaile:
So much out of a selfe-vnworthinesse
His feares transport him, not that he findes cause
In her obedience, but his owne distrust.

Crot.
You spin out your discourse.

Org.
My griefs are violent;
For knowing how the Maid was heretofore
Courted by me, his iealousies grow wild
That I should steale againe into her fauours,
And vndermine her vertues: which the gods
Know I nor dare, nor dreame of: hence, from hence,
I vndertake a voluntary exile.
First, by my absence to take off the eares
Of Iealous Bassanes, but chiefly (Sir)
To free Penthea from a hell on earth:
Lastly, to lose the memory of something,
Her presence makes to liue in me afresh.

Crot.
Enough (my Orgilus) enough: To Athens
I giue a full consent:—Alas good Lady—
Wee shall heare from thee often?

Org.
Often.

Crot.
See
Thy Sister comes to giue a farewell.

Enter Euphrania.
Euphr.
Brother.

Org.
Euphrania, thus vpon thy cheekes I print
A brothers kisse, more carefull of thine honour,
Thy health, and thy well-doing, then my life.
Before we part, in presence of our father,
I must preferre a suit to 'ee.

Euphr.
You may stile it,
My brother, a command.

Org.
That you will promise
To passe neuer to any man, how euer worthy,
Your faith, till with our Fathers leave
I giue a free consent.

Crot.
An easie motion,
I'le promise for her, Orgilus.

Org.
Your pardon;
Euphrania's oath must yeeld me satisfaction.

Euphr.
By Vesta's sacred fires I sweare.

Crot.
And I
By great Apollo's beames ioyne in the vow;
Not without thy allowance, to bestow her
On any liuing.

Org.
Deere Euphrania
Mistake me not; farre, farre 'tis from my thought,
As farre from any wish of mine, to hinder
Preferment to an honourable bed,
Or fitting Fortune: thou art young, and handsome;
And 'twere iniustice; more, a tyrannie
Not to aduance thy merit. Trust me Sister,
It shall be my first care to see thee match'd
As may become thy choyce, and our contents:
I haue your oath.

Euphr.
You haue: but meane you brother
To leaue us as you say?

Crot.
I, I, Euphrania:
He has iust grounds direct him: I will proue
A father and a brother to thee.

Euphr,
Heauen
Does looke into the secrets of all hearts:
Gods you haue mercy with 'ee, else—

Crot.
Doubt nothing
Thy brother will returne in safety to vs.

Org.
Soules sunke in sorrowes, never are without 'em;
They change fresh ayres, but beare their griefes about 'em.

Exeunt omnes.