 | The Broken Heart |  |
Actus Quintus
Scæna prima.
Enter Bassanes alone.Bass.
Athens , to Athens I haue sent, the Nursery
Of Greece for learning, and the Fount of knowledge:
One wise man to direct, we're all turn'd madcaps:
'Tis said, Apollo is the god of herbs;
Then certainly he knowes the vertue of 'em:
To Delphos I haue sent to; if there can be
A helpe for nature, we are sure yet.
Enter Orgilus:
Org.
Honour
Attend thy counsels euer.
Bass.
I beseech thee
With all my heart let me goe from thee quietly,
I will not ought to doe with thee of all men.
The doublers of a Hare, or, in a morning,
Salutes from a splay-footed witch, to drop
Three drops of blood at th'nose iust, and no more,
Croaking of Rauens, or the screech of Owles,
Are not so boading mischiefe as thy crossing
My priuate meditations: shun me, prethe;
And if I cannot loue thee hartily,
I'le loue thee as well as I can.
Org.
Noble Bassanes
Mistake me not.
Bass.
Phew, then we shall be troubled;
Thou wert ordain'd my plague, heauen make me thankfull,
And giue me patience too, heauen I beseech thee.
Org.
Accept a league of amity; for henceforth,
I vow by my best Genius, in a sillable,
Neuer to speake vexation; I will study
Seruice and friendship with a zealous sorrow
For my past inciuility towards 'ee.
Bass.
Heydey! good words, good words, I must beleeue 'em,
And be a Coxcombe for my labor.
Org.
Vse not
So hard a Language; your misdoubt is causelesse:
For instance; if you promise to put on
A constancy of patience, such a patience
As Chronicle, or history ne're mentioned,
As followes not example, but shall stand
A wonder, and a Theame for imitation,
The first, the Index pointing to a second,
I will acquaint'ee with an vnmatch'd secret,
Bass.
Thou canst not (Orgilus) 'tis in the power
Of the gods onely; yet for satisfaction,
Because I note an earnest in thine vtterance,
Vnforc'd, and naturally free, be resolute
The Virgin Bayes shall not withstand the lightning
With a more carelesse danger, than my constancy
The full of thy relation: could it moue
Distraction in a senselesse marble statue,
It should finde me a rocke: I doe expect now
Some truth of vnheard moment.
Org.
To your patience
You must adde priuacie, as strong in silence
As mysteries look'd vp in Ioues owne bosome.
Bass.
A skull hid in the earth a treble age,
Shall sooner prate.
Org.
Lastly, to such direction
As the seuerity of a glorious Action
Deserues to lead your wisdome and your iudgement,
You ought to yeeld obedience.
Bass.
With assurance
Of will and thankfulnesse.
Org.
With manly courage
Please then to follow me.
Bass.
Where e're, I feare not.
Exeunt omnes.
Scæne 2. Lowd musicke.
Enter Groneas and Hemophil leading Euphranea, Christalla and Philema leading Prophilus, Nearchus supporting Calantha; Crotolon, and Amelus; cease loud Musicke, all make a stand.Cal.
We misse our seruant Ithocles and Orgilus,
On whom attend they?
Cret.
My sonne, gracious Princesse,
Whisper'd some new deuice, to which these Reuels
Should be but vsher: wherein I conceiue
Lord Ithocles and he himselfe are Actors.
Cal.
A faire excuse for absence: as for Bassanes,
Delights to him are troublesome; Armostes
Is with the King.
Crot.
He is.
Cal.
On to the dance:
Deare Cozen, hand you the Bride, the Bridegroome must be
Intrusted to my Courtship; be not iealous,
Fall to our dance.
Musicke. Nearchus dance with Euphranea, Prophilus with Calantha, Christalla with Hemophil, Philema with Groneas. Dance the first change; during which, Enter Armostes.
Arm.
The King your father's dead.—in Calantha's care,
Cal.
To the other change.
Arm.
Is't possible?
Dance againe. Enter Bassanes.
Bass.
O Madam!
Penthea, poore Penthea's staru'd.
Cal.
Beshrew thee,
Lead to the next.
Bass.
Amazement duls my senses.
Dance againe. Enter Orgilus.
Org.
Braue Ithocles is murther'd, murther'd cruelly.
Cal.
How dull this musicke sounds? strike vp more sprightly;
Our footings are not actiue like our heart
Which treads the nimbler measure.
Org.
I am thunder-strooke.
Last change. Cease musicke.
Cal.
So, let us breath a while: hath not this motion
Rais'd fresher colour on your cheeks?
Near.
Sweet Princesse,
A perfect purity of blood enamels
The beauty of your white.
Cal.
We all looke cheerfully:
And Cozen, 'tis, me thinks, a rare presumption
In any, who prefess our lawfull pleasures
Before their owne sowre censure, to interrupt
The custome of this Ceremony bluntly.
Near.
None dares, Lady.
Cal.
Yes, yes; some hollow voyce deliuer'd to me
How that the King was dead.
Arm.
The King is dead:
That fatall newes was mine; for in mine armes
He breath'd his last, and with his Crowne bequeath'd 'ee
Your mothers wedding Ring, which here I tender.
Crot.
Most strange!
Cal.
Peace crown his ashes: we are queen then.
Near.
Long liue Calantha, Sparta's Soueraigne Queene.
Omnes.
Long liue the Queene.
Cal.
What whispered Bassanes?
Bass.
That my Penthea, miserable soule,
Was staru'd to death.
Cal.
Shee's happy; she hath finish'd
Pierc'd mine vnwilling eares.
Org.
That Ithocles
Was murther'd; rather butcher'd, had not brauery
Of an vndaunted spirit, conquering terror,
Proclaim'd his last Act triumph ouer ruine.
Arm.
How? murther'd?
Cal.
By whose hand?
Org.
By mine; this weapon
Was instrument to my reuenge: the reasons
Are iust and knowne: quit him of these, and then
Neuer liu'd Gentleman of greater merit,
Hope, or abiliment to steere a kingdome.
Crot.
Fye Orgilus.
Euph.
Fye brother.
Cal.
You haue done it.
Bass.
How it was done let him report, the forfeit
Of whose alleageance to our lawes doth couet
Rigour of Iustice; but that done it is,
Mine eyes haue beene an euidence of credit
Too sure to be conuinc'd: Armostes, rent not
Thine Arteries with hearing the bare circumstances
Of these calamities: thou'st lost a Nephew,
A Neece, and I a wife: continue man still,
Make me the patterne of digesting euils,
Who can out-liue my mighty ones, not shrinking
At such a pressure as would sinke a soule
Into what's most of death, the worst of horrors:
But I haue seal'd a couenant with sadnesse,
And enter'd into bonds without condition
To stand these tempests calmely; marke me, Nobles,
I doe not shed a teare, not for Penthea:
Excellent misery!
Cal.
We begin our reigne
With a first act of Iustice: thy confession,
Vnhappy Orgilus, doomes thee a sentence;
But yet thy fathers, or thy sisters presence
Shall be excus'd: giue, Crotolon, a blessing
To thy lost sonne: Euphranea, take a farewell,
And both be gone.
Crot.
Confirme thee, noble sorrow,
In worthy resolution.
Euph.
Could my teares speake,
My griefes were sleight.
Org.
All gooddesse dwell amongst yee:
Enioy my sister, Prophilus; my vengeance
Cal.
Now withdraw:
Exeunt Crotolon, Prophilus, & Euphranea,
Bloody relator of thy staines in blood;
For that thou hast reported him whose fortunes
And life by thee are both at once snatch'd from him,
With honourable mention; make thy choyce
Of what death likes thee best, there's all our bounty.
But to excuse delayes, let me (deare Cozen)
Intreat you and these Lords see execution
Instant before 'ee part.
Near.
Your will commands vs.
Org.
One suit, iust Queene, my last; vouchsafe your clemency
That by no common hand I be diuided
From this my humble frailty.
Cal.
To their wisdomes
Who are to be spectators of thine end,
I make the reference: those that are dead,
Are dead; had they not now dy'd, of necessity
They must haue payd the debt they ow'd to nature,
One time or other.—Vse dispatch, my Lords,
Wee'll suddenly prepare oui Coronation.
Exeunt Calantha, Philena, Christa.
Arm.
'Tis strange, these Tragedies should neuer touch on
Her female pitty.
Bass.
She has a masculine spirit:
And wherefore should I pule, and like a girle,
Put finger in the eye: let's be all toughnesse,
Without distinction betwixt sex and sex.
Near.
Now Orgilus thy choyce.
Org.
To bleed to death.
Arm.
The Executioner.
Org.
My selfe, no Surgeon.
I am well skill'd in letting blood: bind fast
This arme, that so the pipes may from their conduits
Conuey a full streame: here's a skilfull Instrument:
Onely I am a beggar to some charity
To speed me in this Execution,
By lending th'other pricke to th'tother arme,
When this is bubling life out.
Bass.
I am for 'ee.
It most concernes my art, my care, my credit;
Quicke, fillet both this armes.
Org.
Gramercy friendship:
Such curtesies are reall, which flow cheerefully
Reach me a staffe in this hand: if a pronenesse,
Or custome in my nature, from my cradle,
Had beene inclin'd to fierce and eager bloodshed;
A coward guilt, hid in a coward quaking,
Would haue betray'd fame to ignoble flight,
And vagabond pursuit of dreadfull safety:
But looke vpon my steddinesse, and scorne not
The sicknesse of my fortune, which since Bassanes
Was husband to Penthea, had laine bed-rid:
We trifle time in words: thus I shew cunning
In opening of a veine too full, too liuely.
Arm.
Desperate courage.
Org.
Honourable infamy.
Lem.
I tremble at the sight.
Gron.
Would I were loose.
Bass.
It sparkles like a lusty wine new broacht;
The vessell must be sound from which it issues;
Graspe hard this other sticke: I'le be as nimble.
But prethe looke not pale; haue at 'ee stretch out
Thine arme with vigor, and vnshooke vertue.
Good; ô I enuy not a Riuall fitted
To conquer in extremities; this pastime
Appeares maiesticall: some high tun'd poem
Hereafter shall deliuer to posterity
The writers glory, and his subiects triumph:
How is't man, droope not yet.
Org.
I feele no palsies:
On a paire royall doe I wait in death;
My Soueraigne, as his Liegeman; on my Mistresse,
As a deuoted seruant; and on Ithocles,
As if no braue, yet no vnworthy enemy:
Nor did I vse an engine to intrap
His life, out of a slauish feare to combate
Youth, strength, or cunning, but for that I durst not
Ingage the goodnesse of a cause on fortune,
By which his name might haue out-fac'd my vengeance:
Won Tecnicus, inspir'd with Phæbus fire,
I call to mind thy Augury, 'twas perfect;
Reuenge proues its owne Executioner.
The dust 'a was first fram'd on, thus he totters.
Bass.
Life's fountaine is dry'd vp.
Org.
So falls the Standards
Of my prerogatiue in being a creature:
A mist hangs o're mine eyes; the Sun's bright splendor
Is clouded in an euerlasting shadow:
Welcome thou yee that sit'st about my heart,
No heat can euer thaw thee.
Near.
Speech hath left him.
dyes.
Bass.
A' has shooke hands with time: his funerall vrne
Shall be my charge: remoue the bloodlesse bodie;
The Coronation must require attendance:
That past, my few dayes can be but one mourning.
Exeunt.
An Altar couered with white.
Two lights of Virgin wax, during which musicke of Recorders, enter foure bearing Ithocles on a hease, or in a chaire, in a rich robe, and a Crowne on his head; place him on one side of the Altar, after him enter Calantha in a white robe, and crown'd Euphranea; Philema, Christalla in white, Nearchus, Armostes, Crotolon, Prophilus, Amelus, Bassanes, Lemophil, and Groneas. Calantha goes and kneeles before the Altar, the rest stand off, the women kneeling behind; cease Recorders during her deuotions. Soft musicke. Calantha and the rest rise doing obeysance to the Altar.
Cal.
Our Orisons are heard, the gods are mercifull:
Now tell me, you whose loyalties payes tribute
To vs your lawfull Soueraigne, how vnskilfull
Your duties or obedience is, to render
Subiection to the Scepter of a Virgin,
Who haue beene euer fortunate in Princes
Of masculine and stirring composition?
A woman has enough to gouerne wisely
Her owne demeanours, passions, and diuisions.
A Nation warlike and inur'd to practice
Of policy and labour, cannot brooke
A feminate authority: we therefore
Command your counsaile, how you may aduise vs
In choosing of a husband whose abilities
Near.
Royall Lady,
Your law is in your will.
Arm.
We haue seene tokens
Of constancy too lately to mistrust it.
Crot.
Yet if your highnesse settle on a choice
By your owne iudgement both allow'd and lik'd of,
Sparta may grow in power, and proceed
To an increasing height.
Cal.
Hold you the same minde.
Bass.
Alas great mistris, reason is so clouded
With the thicke darkenesse of my infinites woes
That I forecast, nor dangers, hopes, or safety:
Give me some corner of the world to weare out
The remnant of the minutes I must number,
Where I may heare no sounds, but sad complaints
Of Virgins who have lost contracted partners;
Of husbands howling that their wives were ravisht
By some untimely fate; of friends divided
By churlish opposition, or of fathers
Weeping upon their childrens slaughtered carcasses;
Or daughters groaning ore their fathers hearses,
And I can dwell there, and with these keepe consort
As musicall as theirs: what can you looke for
From an old foolish peevish doting man,
But crasinesse of age?
Cal.
Cozen of Argos.
Near.
Madam.
Cal.
Were I presently
To choose you for my Lord, Ile open freely
What articles I would propose to treat on
Before our marriage.
Near.
Name them vertuous Lady.
Cal.
I would presume you would retaine the royalty
Of Sparta in her owne bounds: then in Argos
Armostes might be Viceroy; in Messene
Might Crotolon beare sway, and Bassanes—
Bass.
I, Queene? alas! what I?
Cal.
Be Sparta's Marshall:
The multitudes of high imployments could not
But set a peace to priuate griefes: these Gentlemen,
Groneas and Lemophil, with worthy pensions
Should wait vpon your person in your Chamber:
I would bestow Christalla on Amelus,
Should into Vesta's Temple.
Bass.
This is a Testament,
It sounds not like conditions on a marriage.
Near.
All this should be perform'd,
Cal.
Lastly, for Prophilus,
He should be (Cozen) solemnly inuested
In all those honors, titles, and preferments
Which his deare friend, and my neglected husband
Too short a time enioy'd.
Proph.
I am vnworthy
To liue in your remembrance.
Euph.
Excellent Lady!
Near.
Madam, what meanes that word neglected husband?
Cal.
Forgiue me: now I turne to thee thou shadow
Of my contracted Lord: beare witnesse all,
I put my mother wedding Ring vpon
His finger, 'twas my fathers last bequest:
Thus I new marry him whose wife I am;
Death shall not separate vs: ô my Lords,
I but deceiu'd your eyes with Anticke gesture,
When one newes straight came hudling on another,
Of death, and death, and death, still I danc'd forward,
But it shooke home, and here, and in an instant,
Be such meere women, who with shreeks and out-cries
Can vow a present end to all their sorrowes,
Yet liue to vow new pleasures, and out-liue them:
They are the silent griefes which cut the hart-strings;
Let me dye smiling.
Near.
'Tis a truth too ominous.
Cal.
One kisse on these cold lips, my last; cracke, cracke.
Argos now's Sparta's King: command the voyces
Which wait at th'Altar, now to sing the song
I fitted for my end.
Near.
Sirs, the song:
All.
Glories, pleasures, pomps, delights, and ease,
Can but please
outward senses, when the mind
Is not vntroubled, or by peace refin'd.
1.
Crownes may flourish and decay,
Beauties shine, but fade away.
2.
Youth may reuell, yet it must
Lye downe in a bed of dust:
3.
Earthly honors flow and wast,
Time alone doth change and last.
All,
Sorrowes mingled with contents, prepare
Rest for care;
Loue onely reignes in death: though Art
Can find no comfort for a broken heart.
Arm.
Looke to the Queene.
Bass.
Her heart is broke indeed:
O royall maid, would thou hadst mist this part;
Yet 'twas a braue one: I must weepe to see
Her smile in death.
Arm.
Wise Tecnicus, thus said he:
When youth is ripe, and ape from time doth part,
The liuelesse Trunke shall wed the broken heart;
'Tis here fulfill'd.
Near.
I am your King.
Omnes.
Long liue
Nearchus King of Sparta.
Near.
Her last will
Shall neuer be digrest from; wait in order
Vpon these faithfull louers as becomes vs.
The Counsels of the gods are neuer knowne,
Till men can call th'effects of them their owne;
FINIS.
| The Broken Heart | |