University of Virginia Library

Actus Tertius

Scæna prima.

Enter Tecnicus, and Orgilus in his owne shape.
Tecn.
Be well aduis'd, let not a resolution
Of giddy rashnesse choake the breath of reason.

Org.
It shall not, most sage Master.

Tecn.
I am iealous:
For if the borrowed shape so late put on,
Inferr'd a consequence, we must conclude
Some violent designe of sudden nature
Hath shooke that shadow off, to flye vpon
A new-hatch'd execution: Orgilus,
Take heed thou hast not (vnder our integrity)
Shrowded vnlawfull plots: our mortall eyes
Pierce not the secrets of your hearts, the gods
Are onely priuie to them.

Org.
Learned Tecnicus,
Such doubts are causelesse, and to cleere the truth
From misconceit, the present State commands me.
The Prince of Argos comes himselfe in person
In quest of great Calantha for his Bride,
Our kingdomes heire; besides, mine onely sister
Euphrania is dispos'd to Prophilus.
Lastly, the King is sending letters for me
To Athens, for my quicke repaire to Court.
Please to accept these Reasons.

Tecn.
Iust ones, Orgilus,
Not to be contradicted: yet beware
Of an vnsure foundation; no faire colours
Can fortifie a building faintly ioynted.
I haue obseru'd a growth in thy aspect
Of dangerous extent, sudden, and (looke too't)
I might adde certaine—

Org.
My aspect? could Art
Runne through mine inmost thoughts, it should not sift
An inclination there, more then what suited
With iustice of mine honour.

Tecn.
I beleeue it.
But know then Orgilus what honour is:
Honour consists not in a bare opinion
By doing any act that feeds content;
Braue in appearance, 'cause we thinke it braue:
Such honour comes by accident, not nature
Proceeding from the vices of our passion
Which makes our reason drunke. But reall Honour
Is the reward of vertue, and acquir'd
By Iustice or by valour, which for Bases
Hath Iustice to vphold it. He then failes
In honour, who for lucre of Reuenge
Commits thefts, murthers, Treasons and Adulteries,
With such like, by intrenching on iust Lawes,
Whose sou'raignty is best preseru'd by Iustice.
Thus as you see how honour must be grounded
On knowledge, not opinion: For opinion
Relyes on probability and Accident,
But knowledge on Necessity and Truth:
I leaue thee to the fit consideration
Of what becomes the grace of reall Honour,
Wishing successe to all thy vertuous meanings.

Org.
The gods increase thy wisdome (reuerend Oracle)
And in thy precepts make me euer thrifty.

Exit Org.
Tecn.
I thanke thy wish.—Much mystery of Fate
Lyes hid in that mans fortunes, Curiosity
May lead his actions into rare attempts;
But let the gods be moderators still,
No humane power can preuent their will.
Enter Armostes.
From whence come 'ee?

Armo.
From King Amyclas; (pardon
My interruption of your Studies)—Here
In this seal'd box he sends a treasure deare
To him as his Crowne, 'a prayes your grauity
You would examine, ponder, sift and bolt
The pith and circumstance of euery tittle
The scroll within containes.

Tecn.
What is't Armostes?

Armo.
It is the health of Sparta, the Kings life,
Sinewes and safety of the Common-wealth,
The summe of what the Oracle deliuer'd,
When last he visited the propheticke Temple
At Delphos; what his reasons are for which
After so long a silence he requires
You counsaile now (graue man) his maiesty
Will soone himselfe acquaint you with.

Tecn.
Apollo
Inspire my Intellect.—The Prince of Argos
Is entertain'd.

Armo.
He is, and has demanded
Our Princesse for his wife; which I conceive
One speciall cause the King importunes you
For resolution of the Oracle.

Tecn.
My duty to the King, good peace to Sparta,
And faire day to Armostes.

Armo.
Like to Tecnicus. Exeunt.



Soft Musicke. A Song.
Can you paint a thought? or number
Euery fancy in a slumber?
Can you count soft minutes rouing
From a dyals point by mouing?
Can you graspe a sigh? or lastly,
Rob a Virgins honour chastly?
No, ô no; yet you may
Sooner doe both that and this,
This and that, and neuer misse,
Then by any praise display
Beauties beauty, such a glory
As beyond all Fate, all Story,
All armes, all arts,
All loues, all hearts,
Greater then those, or they,
Doe, shall, and must obey.
During which time, Enters Prophilus, Bassanes, Penthea, Gransis, passing ouer the Stage; Bassanes and Gransis enter againe softly, stealing to seuerall stands, and listen.

Bass.
All silent, calme, secure.—Gransis, no creaking?
No noyse; dost heare nothing?

Grans.
Not a mouse,
Or whisper of the winde.

Bass.
The floore is matted,
The bed posts sure are steele or marble.—Souldiers
Should not affect (me thinkes) straines so effeminate;
Sounds of such delicacy are but fawnings
Vpon the floth of Luxury: they heighten
Cinders of couert lust vp to a flame.

Grans.
What doe you meane (my Lord) speak low; that gabling
Of yours will but vndoe vs.

Bass.
Chamber-combats
Are felt, not hard.

Pro.
'A wakes.

Bas.
What's that?

Ith.
Who's there
Sister? all quit the roome else.

Bass.
'Tis consented.

Enter Prophilus.
Proph.
Lord Bassanes, your brother would be priuate,
We must forbeare; his sleepe hath newly left him.
Please 'ee withdraw?

Bass.
By any meanes, 'tis fit.

Proph.
Pray Gentlewoman walke too.

Gran.
Yes, I will Sir.

Exeunt omnes.
Ithocles discouered in a Chayre, and Penthea.
Itho.
Sit nearer sister to me, nearer yet;
We had one Father, in one wombe tooke life,
Were brought vp twins together, yet haue liu'd
At distance like two strangers. I could wish
That the first pillow whereon I was cradell'd,
Had prou'd to me a graue.

Pen.
You had beene happy:
Then had you neuer knowne that sinne of life
Which blots all following glories with a vengeance,
For forfeiting the last will of the dead,
From whom you had your being.

Itho.
Sad Penthea,
Thou canst not be too cruell; my rash spleene
Hath with a violent hand pluck'd from thy bosome
A louer-blest heart, to grind it into dust,
For which mine's now a breaking.

Pen.
Not yet, heauen
I doe beseech thee: first let some wild fires
Scorch, not consume it; may the heat be cherisht
With desires infinite, but hopes impossible.

Itho.
Wrong'd soule, thy prayers are heard.

Pen.
Here lo I breathe
A miserable creature led to ruine
By an vnnaturall brother.

Itho.
I consume
In languishing affections for that trespasse,
Yet cannot dye.

Pen.
The handmaid to the wages,
The vntroubled of Country toyle, drinkes streames
With leaping kids, and with the bleating lambes;
And so allayes her thirst secure, whiles I
Quench my hot sighes with fleerings of my teares.

Itho.
The labourer doth eat his coursest bread,
Earn'd with his sweat, and lyes him downe to sleepe;
Which euery bit I touch turnes in disgestion
To gall, as bitter as Penthea's curse.
Put me to any pennance for my tyranny,
And I will call thee mercifull.

Pen.
Pray kill me,
Rid me from liuing with a iealous husband,
Then we will ioyne in friendship, be againe
Brother and sister.—Kill me pray: nay, will 'ee?

Itho.
How does thy Lord esteeme thee?

Pen.
Such an one
As onely you haue made me; a faith-breaker,
A spotted whore, forgiue me; I am one
In art, not in desires, the gods must witnesse.

Itho.
Thou dost be lye thy friend.

Pen.
I doe not Ithocles;
For she that's wife to Orgilus, and liues
In knowne Adultery with Bassanes,
Is at the best a whore. Wilt kill me now?
The ashes of our parents will assume
Some dreadfull figure, and appeare to charge
Thy bloody gilt, that hast betray'd their name
To infamy, in this reproachfull match.

Itho.
After my victories abroad, at home
I meet despaire; ingratitude of nature
Hath made my actions monstrous: thou shalt stand
A Deity (my sister) and be worship'd,
For thy resolued martyrdome: wrong'd maids,
And married wiues shall to thy hallowed shrine
Offer their crisons, and sacrifice
Pure Turtles crown'd with mirtle, if thy pitty
Vnto a yeelding brothers pressure, lend
One finger but to ease it.

Pen.
O no more.

Itho.
Death waits to waft me to the Stygian bankes,
And free me from this Chaos of my bondage,
And till thou wilt forgiue, I must indure.

Pen.
Who is the Saint you serue?

Itho.
Friendship, or
Of birth to any but my sister, durst not
Haue mou'd that question as a secret, Sister:
I dare not murmure to my selfe.

Pen.
Let me,
By your new protestations I coniure 'ee,
Partake her name.

Itho.
Her name,—'tis,—'tis, I dare not.

Pen.
All your respects are forg'd.

Itho.
They are not.—Peace
Calantha is the Princesse, the Kings daughter,
Sole heire of Sparta—Me most miserable.
Doe I now loue thee? for my iniuries
Reuenge thy selfe with brauery, and gossip
My treasons to the Kings eares. Doe; Calant
Knowes it not yet, nor Prophilus my nearest.

Penth.
Suppose you were contracted to her, would it not
Split euen your very soule to see her father
Snatch her out of your armes against her will,
And force her on the Prince of Argos?

Itho.
Trouble not
The fountaines of mine eyes with thine owne story,
I sweat in blood for't.

Pen.
We are reconcil'd:
Alas, Sir, being children, but two branches
Of one stocke, 'tis not fit we should diuide:
Haue comfort, you may find it.

Itho.
Yes in thee:
Onely in thee Penthea mine.

Pen.
If sorrowes
Haue not too much dult'd my infected braine,
I'le cheere inuention for an actiue straine.

Itho.
Mad man! why haue I wrong'd a maid so excellent?

Enter Bassanes with a ponyard, Prophilus, Groneas, Hemophill and Gransis.
Bass.
I can forbeare no longer: more, I will not;
Keepe off your hands, or fall vpon my point:
Patience is tyr'd, for like a slow-pac'd Asse
Ye ride my easie nature, and proclaime
My sloth to vengeance, a reproach and property.

Itho.
The meaning of this rudenesse.

Proph.
Hee's distracted.

Pen.
O my grieu'd Lord.

Grans.
Sweet Lady come not neere him;
He holds his perilous weapon in his hand
To pricke 'a cares not whom, nor where,—see, see, see.

Bass.
My birth is noble, though the popular blast
Of vanity, as giddy as thy youth,
Hath rear'd thy name vp to bestride a cloud,
Or progresse in the Chariot of the Sunne;
I am no clod of trade, to lackey pride,
Nor like your slaue of expectation wait
The baudy hinges of your dores, or whilst
For mysticall conueyance to your bed-sports.

Gron.
Fine humors, they become him.

Hem.
How 'a stares,
Struts, puffes, and sweats: most admirable lunacy?

Itho.
But that I may conceiue the spirit of wine
Has tooke possession of your soberer custome,
I'de say you were vnmannerly.

Pen.
Deare brother.

Bass.
Vnmannerly—Mew Kitling—smooth formality
Is vsher to the ranknesse of the blood,
But Impudence beares vp the traine: Indeed, sir,
Your fiery mettall, or your springall blaze
Of huge renowne, is no sufficient Royalty
To print vpon my forehead the scorne Cuckold.

Itho,
His Iealousie has rob'd him of his wits,
'A talkes 'a knowes not what.

Bass.
Yes, and 'a knowes
To whom 'a talkes; to one that franks his lust
In Swine-security of bestiall incest.

Ith.
Hah deuill.

Bass.
I will hallo't, though I blush more
To name the filthinesse, than thou to act it.

Ith.
Monster!

Proph.
Sir by our friendship.

Pen.
By our bloods,
Will you quite both vndoe vs, Brother?

Grans.
Out on him,
These are his megrims, firks and melancholies.

Hem.
Well said, old Touch-hole.

Gron.
Kick him out at dores.

Pen.
With fauour let me speake.—My Lord? what slacknesse
In my obedience hath deseru'd this rage?
Except humility and sinlent duty
Haue drawne on your vnquiet, my simplicity
Ne're studied your vexation.

Bass.
Light of beauty,
Deale not vngently with a desperate wound!
No breach of reason dares make warre with her
Whose lookes are soueraignty, whose breath is balme?
O that I could preserue thee in fruition
As in deuotion!

Pen.
Sir, may euery euill
Lock'd in Pandora's box, showre (in your presence)
On my vnhappy head, if since you made me
A partner in your bed, I haue beene faulty
In one vnseemely thought against your honour.

Itho.
Purge not his griefes, Penthea.

Bass.
Yes, say on,
Excellent creature—Good be not a hinderance
To peace, and praise of vertue.—O my senses
Are charm'd with sounds cælestiall.—On, deare, on;
I neuer gaue you one ill word; say, did I?
Indeed I did not.

Pen.
Nor, by Iuno's forehead,
Was I e're guilty of a wanton error.

Bass.
A goddesse, let me kneele.

Grans.
Alas kind Animall.

Itho.
No, but for pennance.

Bass.
Noble sir, what is it?
With gladnesse I embrace it; yet pray let not
My rashnesse teach you to be too vnmercifull.

Itho.
When you shall shew good proofe that manly wisdome,
Not ouer-sway'd by passion, or opinion,
Knowes how to lead iudgement; then this Lady
Your wife, my sister, shall returne in safety
Home to be guided by you, but till first
I can, out of cleare euidence approue it,
Shee shall be my care.

Bass.
Rip my bosome vp,
I'le stand the execution with a constancy:
This torture is vnsufferable.

Itho.
Well Sir,
I dare not trust her to your fury.

Bass.
But
Penthea sayes not so.

Pen.
She needs no tongue
To plead excuse, who neuer purpos'd wrong.

Hemo.
Virgin of reuerence and antiquity
Stay you behind.

Gron.
The Court wants not your diligence.

Exeunt omnes, sed Bass. & Grans.
Grans.
What will you doe my Lord? my Lady's gone,
I am deny'd to follow.

Bass.
I may see her,
Or speake to her once more.

Grans.
And feele her too, man,
Be of good cheare, she's your owne flesh and bone.

Bass.
Diseases desperate must find cures alike:
She swore she has beene true.

Grans.
True on my modesty.

Bass.
Let him want truth who credits not her vowes:
Much wrong I did her, but her brother infinite;
Rumor will voyce me the contempt of manhood,
Should I run on thus. Some way I must try
To out-doe Art, and cry a Iealousie.

Exeunt omnee.
Flourish.
Enter Amyclas, Nearchus leading Calantha, Armostes, Crotolon, Euphranea, Christalla, Philema, and Amelus.
Amy.
Cozen of Argos, what the heauens haue pleas'd
In their vnchanging Counsels to conclude
For both our kingdomes weale, we must submit to:
Nor can we be vnthankfull to their bounties,
Who when we were euen creeping to our graues,
Sent vs a daughter; in whose birth, our hope
Continues of succession: As you are
In title next, being grandchilde to our Aunt,
So we in heart desire you may sit nearest
Calantha's loue; since we haue euer vow'd
Not to inforce affection by our will,
But by her owne choyce to confirme it gladly.

Near.
You speake the nature of a right iust father:
I come not hither roughly to demand
My Cozens thraldome, but to free mine owne:
Report of great Calantha's beauty, vertue,
Sweetnesse, and singular perfections, courted
All eares to credit what I finde was publish'd
By constant truth: from which if any seruice
Of my desert can purchase faire construction,
This Lady must command it.

Calan.
Princely Sir,
So well you know how to professe obseruance;
That you instruct your hearers to become
Practitioners in duty; of which number
I'le study to be chiefe.

Near.
Chiefe, glorious Virgine,
In my deuotions, as in all mens wonder.

Amy.
Excellent Cozen, we deny no libertie;
Vse thine owne opportunities.—Armostes,
We must consult with the Philosophers,
The businesse is of weight.

Armost.
Sir, at your pleasure.

Amy.
You told me, Crotolon, your sonne's return'd
From Athens? wherefore comes 'a not to Court
As we commanded?

Crot.
He shall soone attend
Your royall will, great Sir.

Amy.
The marriage
Betweene young Prophilus and Euphranea,
Tafts of too much delay:

Crot.
My Lord.

Amy.
Some pleasures
At celebration of it would giue life
To th'entertainment of the Prince our kinsman.
Our Court weares grauity more then we rellish.

Armo.
Yet the heauens smile on all your high attempts,
Without a Cloud.

Crot.
So may the gods protect vs.

Calan.
A Prince, a subiect?

Near.
Yes, to beauties scepter:
As all hearts kneele so mine.

Calan.
You are too Courtly.

To them, Ithocles, Orgilus, Prophilus
Itho.
Your safe returne to Sparta is most welcome,
I ioy to meet you here, and as occasion
Shall grant vs priuacy, will yeeld you reasons
Why I should couet to deserue the title
Of your respected friend: for without Complement
Beleeue it, Orgilus, 'tis my ambition.

Org.
Your Lordship may command me your poore seruant.

Itho.
So amorously close close?—so soone?—my heart!

Proph.
What sudden change is next?

Itho.
Life to the King,
To whom I here present this Noble gentleman,
New come from Athens; Royall Sir, vouchsafe
Your gracious hand in fauour of his merit.

Crot.
My sonne preferr'd by Ithocles!

Amy.
Our bounties
Shall open to thee Orgilus; for instance,
Harke in thine eare; if out of those inuentions
Which flow in Athens, thou hast there ingrost
Some rarity of wit to grace the Nuptials
Of thy faire sister, and renowne our Court
In th' eyes o' this young Prince, we shall be debtor
To thy conceit, thinke on't.

Org.
Your Highnesse honors me.

Near.
My tongue and heart are twins.

Calan.
A noble birth
Becomming such a father.—worthy Orgilus,
You are a guest most wish'd for.

Org.
May my duty
Still rise in your opinion, sacred Princesse.

Itho.
Euphranea's brother, sir, a Gentleman
Well worthy of your knowledge.

Near.
We embrace him,
Proud of so deare acquaintance.

Amy.
All prepare
For Reuels and disport: the ioyes of Hymen,
Like Phœbus in his lustre, puts to flight
All mists of dulnesse; crowne the houres with gladnesse:
No sounds but musicke, no discourse but mirth.

Calan.
Thine arme I prethe Ithocles.—Nay, good
My Lord keepe on your way, I am prouided.

Near.
I dare not disobey.

Itho.
Most heauenly Lady.

Exeunt.
Enter Crotolon, Orgilus.
Crot.
The King hath spoke his mind.

Org.
His will he hath:
But were it lawfull to hold plea against
The power of greatnesse, not the reason, haply
Such vnder-shrubs as subiects, sometimes might
Borrow of Nature, Iustice, to informe
That licence soueraignty holds without checke
Ouer a meeke obedience.

Crot.
How resolue you
Touching your sisters marriage? Prophilus:
Is a deseruing, and a hopefull youth.

Org.
I enuy not his merit, but applaud it:
Could with him thrift in all his best desires,
And with a willingnesse in league our blood
With his, for purchase of full growth in friendship.
He neuer touch'd on any wrong that malic'd
The honour of our house, nor stirr'd our peace;
Yet, with your fauour, let me not forget
Vnder whose wing he gathers warmth and comfort,
Whose creature he is bound, made; and must liue so.

Crot.
Sonne, sonne, I find in thee a harsh condition,
No curtesie can winne it; 'tis too ranckorous.

Org.
Good Sir be not seuere in your construction,
I am no stranger to such easie calmes
As sit in tender bosomes: Lordly Ithocles
Hath grac'd my entertainment in abundance;
Too humbly hath descended from that height
Of arrogance and spleene which wrought the rape
On grieu'd Penthea's purity; his scorne
Of my vntoward fortunes is reclaim'd
Vnto a Coutship, almost to a fawning:
I'le kisse his foot, since you will haue it so.

Crot.
Since I will haue it so? Friend I will haue it so
Without our ruine by your politike plots,
Or Wolfe of hatred snarling in your breasts
You haue a spirit, Sir, haue ye? a familiar
That poasts i'th ayre for your intelligence?
Some such Hobgoblin hurried you from Athens,
For yet you come vnsent for.

Org.
If vnwelcome,
I might haue found a graue there.

Crot.
Sure your businesse
Was soone dispatch'd, or your mind alter'd quickly.

Org.
'Twas care, Sir, of my health, cut short my iourney;
For there, a generall infection
Threatens a desolation.

Crot.
And I feare
Thou hast brought backe a worse infection with thee,
Infection of thy mind; which, as thou sayst,
Threatens the desolation of our family.

Org.
Forbid it our deare Genius, I will rather
Be made a Sacrifice on Thrasus monument,
Or kneele to Ithocles his sonne in dust,
Then wooe a fathers curse: My sisters marriage
With Prophilus, is from my heart, confirm'd:
May I liue hated, may I dye despis'd,
If I omit to further it in all
That can concerne me.

Crot.
I haue beene too rough,
My duty to my King made me so earnest;
Excuse it Orgilus.

Org.
Deare Sir.

Enter to them, Prophilus, Euphranea, Ithocles, Groneas, Hemophil.
Crot.
Here comes
Euphranea, with Prophilus and Ithocles.

Org.
Most honored—euer famous.

Itho.
Your true friend,
On earth not any truer.—With smooth eyes
Looke on this worthy couple, your consent
Can onely make them one.

Org.
They haue it.—Sister,
Thou pawn'dst to me an oath, of which ingagement
I neuer will release thee, if thou aym'st
At any other choyce then this.

Euphr.
Deare brother,
At him or none.

Crot.
To which my blessing's added.

Org.
Which till a greater ceremony perfect,
Euphranea lend thy hand; here take her Prophilus,
Liue long a happy man and wife; and further,
That these in presence may conclude an omen,
Thus for a Bridall song I close my wishes:

Proph.
You haue seal'd ioy close to my soule: Euphranea,
Now I may call thee mine.

Itho.
I but exchange
One good friend for another.

Org.
If these Gallants
Will please to grace a poore inuention,
By ioyning with me in some flight deuise,
I'le venture on a straine, my younger dayes
Haue studied for delight.

Hem.
With thankfull willingnesse
I offer my attendance.

Gron.
No endeuour
Of mine shall faile to shew it selfe.

Itho.
We will
All ioyne to wait on thy directions, Orgilus.

Org.
O my good Lord, your fauours flow towards
A too vnworthy worme; but as you please,
I am what you will shape me.

Itho.
A fast friend.

Crot.
I thanke thee sonne for this acknowledgement,
It is a sight of gladnesse.

Org.
But my duty.

Exeunt omnes.
Enter Calantha, Penthea, Christalla, Philema.
Calan.
Who e're would speake with vs, deny his entrance;
Be carefull of our charge.

Chri.
We shall madam.

Calan.
Except the King himselfe, giue none admittance,
Not any.

Phil.
Madam it shall be our care.

Exeunt.
Calantha, Penthea.
Calan.
Being alone, Penthea, you haue granted
The oportunity you sought, and might
At all times haue commanded.

Pen.
'Tis a benefit
Which I shall owe your goodnesse euen in death for;
My glasse of life (sweet Princesse hath few minutes
Remaining to runne downe; the sands are spent;
For by an inward messenger I feele
The summons of departure short and certaine.

Calan.
You feed too much your melancholly.

Pen.
Glories
Of humane greatnesse are but pleasing dreames,
And shadowes soone decaying: on the stage
Of my mortality, my youth hath acted
Some scenes of vanity, drawne out at length
By varied pleasures, sweetned in the mixture,
But Tragicall in issue; Beauty, pompe,
With euery sensuality our giddinesse
Doth frame an Idoll, are vnconstant friends
When any troubled passion make assault
On the vnguarded Castle of the mind.

Calan.
Contemne not your condition, for the proofe
Of bare opinion onely: to what end
Reach all these Morall texts?

Pen.
To place before 'ee
A perfect mirror, wherein you may see
How weary I am of a lingring life,
Who count the best a misery.

Calan.
Indeed
You haue no little cause; yet none so great
As to distrust a remedy.

Pen.
That remedy
Must be a winding sheet, a sold of lead,
And some vntrod-on corner in the earth.
Not to detaine your expectation, Princesse,
I haue an humble suit.

Calan.
Speake, I enioy it.
Vouchsafe then to be my Executriæ,
And take that trouble on 'ee, to dispose
Such Legacies, as I bequeath impartially:
I haue not much to giue, the paines are easie,
Heauen will reward your piety, and thanke it
When I am dead; for sure I must not liue,
I hope I cannot.

Calan.
Now beshrew thy sadnesse;
Thou turn'st me too much woman.

Pen.
Her faire eyes
Melt into passion; Then I haue assurance
Encouraging my boldnesse.—In this paper
My Will was Character'd; which you, with pardon,
Shall now know from mine owne mouth.

Calan.
Talke on, prethe,
It is a pretty earnest.

Pen.
I haue left me
But three poore Iewels to bequeath; The first is
My youth; for though I am much old in griefes,
In yeares I am a child.

Calan.
To whom that?

Pen.
To Virgin wiues, such as abuse not wedlocke
By freedome of desires, but couet chiefly
The pledges of chast beds, for tyes of loue,
Rather than ranging of their blood: And next
To married maids, such as preferre the number
Of honorable issue in their vertues,
Before the flattery of delights by marriage,
May those be euer young.

Calan.
A second Iewell
You meane to part with.

Pen.
'Tis my Fame, I trust,
By scandall yet vntouch'd; this I bequeath
To memory, and Times old daughter Truth:
If euer my vnhappy name find mention
When I am falne to dust, may it deserue
Beseeming charity without dishonour.

Calan.
How handsomely thou playst with harmlesse sport
Of meere imagination; speake the last,
I strangely like thy will.

Pen.
This Iewell, Madam,
Is dearely precious to me; you must vse
The best of your discretion to imploy
This gift as I entend it.

Calan.
Doe not doubt me.

Pen.
'Tis long agone since first I lost my heart,
Long I haue liu'd without it, else for certaine
I should haue giuen that too; but instead
Of it, to great Calantha, Sparta's heire,
By seruice bound, and by affection vow'd,
I doe bequeath in holiest rites of loue
Mine onely brother Ithocles.

Calan.
What saydst thou?

Pen.
Impute not, heauen-blest Lady, to ambition,
A faith as humbly perfect as the prayers
Of a deuoted suppliant can indow it:
Looke on him, Princesse, with an eye of pitty;
How like the ghost of what he late appear'd,
A' moues before you.

Calan.
Shall I answer here,
Or lend my eare too grossely?

Pen.
First, his heart
Shall fall in Cynders, scorch'd by your disdaine,
E're he will dare, poore man, to ope an eye
On these diuine lookes, but with low-bent thoughts
Accusing such presumption; as for words,
A' dares not vtter any but of seruice:
Yet this lost creature loues 'ee.—Be a Princesse
In sweetnesse as in blood; giue him his doome,
Or raise him vp to comfort.

Calan.
What new change
Appeares in my behauiour, that thou dar'st
Tempt my displeasure?

Pen.
I must leaue the world
To reuell Elizium, and 'tis iust
To wish my brother some aduantage here:
Yet by my best hopes, Ithocles is ignorant
Of this pursuit. But if you please to kill him,
Lend him one angry looke, or one harsh word,
And you shall soone conclude how strong a power
Your absolute authority holds ouer
His life and end.

Calan.
You haue forgot, Penthea,
How still I haue a father.

Pen.
But remember
I am a sister, though to me this brother
Hath beene you know vnkinde: ô most vnkinde:

Calan.
Christalla, Philema where are 'ee?—Lady,
Your checke lyes in my silence.

Enter Christalla and Philema
Both.
Madam, here.

Calan.

I thinke 'ee sleepe, see drones, wait on Penthea
Vnto her lodging.—Ithocles's wrong'd Lady!

Pen.
My reckonings are made euen, Death or Fate
Can now nor strike too soone, nor force too late.

Exeunt.