ITHOCLES

Your humblest subject. Sir, your love's too partial. You exceed in bounty. You're a royal maid. Whom hea en Is pleased to style victorious, there, to such, Applause runs madding, Like the drunken priests In Bacchus sacrifices without Reason; Voicing the Leader on a Demi God: When as indeed, each common soldiers blood Drops down S current coin in that hard purchase, As his, whose much more delicate condition Hath sucked the milk of ease. Judgement commands, But Resolution executes: I use not Before this royal presence, these fit sleights, As in contempt of such as can direct: My speech hath other end; not to attribute All praise to one men fortune, which is strengthened By many hands. — For instance, here is Prophilus A Gentleman (I cannot flatter truth) Of much desert; and, though in other rank, Both Hemophil and Groneas were not missing To wish their Countries peace; for in a word, All there did strive their best, and 'twas our duty. Ambition? it's of vipers breed, it knaws A passage through the womb that gave it motion. Ambition? Like a seeled Dove, mounts upward, Higher and higher still to perch on clouds, But tumbles headlong down with heavier ruin. So squibs and crackers fly into the air, Then only breaking with a noise, they vanish In stench and smoke: Morality applied To timely practice, keeps the soul in tune, At whose sweet music all our actions dance; But this is form of books, and school-tradition, I physics not the sickness of a mind Broken with grief : strong Fe ers are not eased With counsel, but with be receipts, and mean : Means, speedy means, and certain; that's the cure. Not yet Resolved (my Lo ) consent Be so available, wee'll wri to For his to . The Kings Will join with our worser res, he as been ed too . By this marriage You k it and union so Devout, so hearty, Between your loves to me, and mine to yours, As if mine own blood had and interest in it; For Prop ilus is mine, and I am his. Thou presses home the injury, it smarts; No reprehensions Uncle, I deserve they. Yet gentle Sir, consider what the heat Of and unsteady youth a giddy bram e, Green indiscretion, flattery of greatness, Rawness of judgement, wilfulness in folly, Thoughts vagrant as the wind, and as uncertain Might led a boy in years too; 'twas a fault, A Capital fault, for then I could not dive Into the secrets of commanding Love: Since when, experience by the extremities (in others) Hath forced me to collect. And trust me Crotolon, I will redeem those wrongs with any service Your satisfaction can require for currant. Use my Fortune's, Life, power, sword, and heart, all are your own. How does Penthea now? Fit nearer sister to me, nearer yet; We had one Father, in one womb took life, Were brought up twins together, yet have lived At distance Like two strangers. I could wish That the first pillow whereon I was cradell'd, Had proved to me a graven. Sad Penthea, Thou canst not be too cruel; my rash spleen Hath with a violent hand plucked from thy bosom A lover-blest heart, to grind it into dust, For which mine now a breaking. Wronged soul, thy prayers are herd. I consume In languishing affections for that trespass, Yet cannot die. The labourer does eat his coursest bred, Earned with his sweat, and lies him down to sleep; Which every bit I touch turns in digestion To gall, as bitter as Penthea's curse. Put me to any penance for my tyranny, And I will call thee merciful. How does thy Lord esteem thee? Thou dost be lie thy friend. After my victories abroad, at home I meet despair; ingratitude of nature Hath made my actions monstrous: thou shalt stand A Deity (my sister) and be worshipped, For thy resolved martyrdom: wronged maids, And married wives shall to thy hallowed shrine Offer their orisons, and sacrifice Pure Turtles crowned with myrtle, if thy pity Unto a yielding brother's pressure, lend One finger but to ease it. Death waits to waft me to the Stygian banks, And free me from this Chaos of my bondage, And till thou wilt forgive, I must endure. Friendship, or Of birth to any but my sister, durst not Have moved that question as a secret, Sister: I dare not murmur to my self. Her name,— it's, — it's, I dare not. They are not.—Peace Calantha is the Princess, the Kings daughter, Solemnizing heir of Sparta — Me most miserable, Do I now love thee? for my injuries Revenge thy self with bravery, and gossip My treasons to the Kings ears. Do; Calant Knows it not yet, nor Prophilus my nearest. Trouble not The fountains of mine eyes with thine own story, I sweat in blood for't. Yes in thee: Only in thee Penthea mine. Mad man! why have I wronged a maid so excellent? The meaning of this rudeness. But that I may conceive the spirit of wine Has took possession of your soberer custom, I'de say you were unmannerly. His Jealousy has robbed him of his wits, Thou talks he knows not what. No, but for p nnance. When you shall show good proof that manly wisdom Not overswayed by passion, or opinion, Knows how to led judgement; then this Lady Your wife, my sister, shall return in safety Home to be guided by you, but till first I can, out of clear evidence approve it, She shall be my care. Well Sir, I dare not trust her to your fury. Your safe return to Sparta is most welcome, I joy to meet you here, and as occasion Shall grant us privacy, will yield you reason Why I should covet to deserve the title Of your respected friend: for without Compliment Believe it, Orgilus, it's my ambition. So amorously close close? — so soon? — my heart! Life to the King, To whom I here present this Noble gentleman, New come from Athens ; Royal Sir, vouchsafe Your gracious hand in favour of his merit. Euphranea's brother, sir, a Gentleman Well worthy of your knowledge. Most heavenly Lady. Exeunt. Your true friend, On earth not any true . — With S oath eyes Look on this worthy couple, you consen Can only make them one. I but exchange One good friend for another. We will All join to wait on thy directions, Orgilus. A fast friend. Forbear your Inquisition; curiosity Is of too subtle, and too searching nature: In fears of love too quick; too slow of credit: I am not what you doubt me. True, and she said — well I remember what. Her Cozen Prince would beg it. In anger, In anger let him partly; for could his breath, Like whirlwinds, toss such sir isle slaves as lick The dust his footsteps print, into a vapour, It durst not stir a air of mine; It should not, I'de rend it up by the roots first. To be any thing Calantha smiles on, is to be a blessing More sacred than a petty-Prince of Argos Can wish to equal, or in worth or Title. I thank thou; Yet, with your Licence, I should seem uncharitable To gentler Fate, if relishing the dainties Of a souls settled peace, I were so feeble Not to digest it. Language. There is more divinity In beauty then in Majesty. Come back: what pitiful dull thing am I So to be tamely scolded at? Come back; Let him come back and echo once again That scornful found of Mushroom; painted colts, Like Heralds coats, gilded over with Crowns and Sceptres, May bait a musled Lion. A Ring The Princess threw away, and I took up: Admit she threw't to me; what arm of brass Can snatch it hence? No, could of grind the hoop To powder, of might sooner reach my heart Then steal and wear one dust on't. — Orgilus, I am extremely wronged. Slighted. What, good Sir? speak your thought. You are a gracious Princess.— Sister, wedlock Holds too severe a passion in your nature, Which can engross all duty to your husband, Without attendance on so deam a mistress. It's not my brother's pleasure, I presume, to immure her in a chamber. IT had been pity To sunder hearts so equally consented. Penthe ! Let me and hour hence Meet you alone, within the Palace grove, I have some secret with you — Prethe friend Conduct her thither, and have special care The walks be cleared of any to disturb us. Alone, pray be alone. I am your creature, princess.— on my Lords. Exeunt. Who's there Sister? all quit the room else. Hah devil. Monster! I did the Noble Orgilus much injury, But grieved Penthea more: I now repent it; Now, Uncle, now; this Now, is now too late: So provident I in sad is , That afterwit, Like Bankrupts debts, stand tally Without all possibilities of payment: Sure he's and honest, very honest Gentleman; A man of singl meaning. The Princess? would? Learn manners, prethe. — To the blessed owner Upon my knees. Follow Spaniel. I'll force' e to a fawning else. Looke'ee Uncle: Some such there are whose liberal contents Swarm without care in every sort of plenty; Who, after full repasts, can say them down To sleep; and they sleep, Uncle: in which silence Their very dreams present they choice of pleasures: Pleasures (observe me Uncle) of rare object: Here heaps of gold, there Increments of honours; Now change of garments, then the votes of people; Anon varieties of beauty's, courting In flatteries of the night, exchange of worser lliance, Yet these are still but dreams: give me felicity Of which my senses waking are partakers; A real, visible, material happiness: And then too, when I stagger in expectance Of the l ast comfort that can cherish life: I saw it (Sir) I saw it; for it came From her own hand. Penthea! O thou hast pleaded with a powerful language . I want a fee to gratify thy myrit. But I will do— Manners. Yes, I did — else — but the presence calmed the affront; you are Cozen to the Princess. What's this, if understood? Leave to the powers Above us, the effects of their decrees; My burden lies within me. Servile fears Prevent no great effects. — Divine Calantha. Sister look up, your Ithocles, your brother Speaks t'ee: why do you weep? Dear, turn not from me: Here is a killing sighed: lo, Bassanes, A lamentable object. But thou, Penthea, Hast many years, I hope, to number yet Ever thou canst travel that way. Orgilus forbear. Poor soul, how idly Her fancies guide her tongue. Christalla, Philema, when slept my sister, Her ravings are so wild. Nature Will call her daughter, monster,— what? not eat? Refuse the only ordinary mean Which are ordained for life? be not, my sister, A murthresse to thy self. — Hearest thou this, Bassanes ? On my soul Lies such and infinite clog of massy dulness, As that I have not sense enough to feel it. See, Uncle, augury thing returns again, Shall's welcome him with Thunder? we are haunted, And must use exorcise to conjure down This spirit of malevolence. Excellent Nearchus, Be Prince still of my services, and conquer, Without the combat of dispute, I honour thou. Oh my royal Master! Y'haue built me To the full height I stand in. A change (great King) most wished for, cause the same.— Divinely. My whole felicity. Thou canst not, Orgilus ; Call me thine own, for Prophilus must henceforth Be all thy sisters; friendship, though it cease not In marriage, yet is oft at less command Then when a single freedom can dispose it. Royal, a Subject royal? Can't be possible? It's granted: And for a league of privacy between us, Read over my bosom, and partake a secret; The Princess is contracted mine. Then the sweetness Of so imparadised a comfort, Orgilus, It is to banquet with the gods. With a friendshi So deer, so fast as thine. Wee'll distinguish Our Fortune's merely in the Title; partners In all respects else but the bed. Sure from Penthea's lodgings. O my misgiving heart! Soft peace enrich this room. Me miserable! So died. Mine only sister, Another is not left me. Yes, as you please. What means this treachery? Thou meanest to kill me basely. Strike home; a courage As keen as thy revenge shall give it welcome: But prethe faint not; if the wound close up, Tent it with double force, and search it deeply. Thou lookest that I should whine, and beg compassion, As loath 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. Yet, yet, I scorn to shrink. Nimble in vengeance I forgive thee; follow 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-moues-to heaven. moritur. Let me blush, Acknowledging how poorly I have served, What nothings I have done, compared with the honours Heaped on the issue of a willing mind; In that lay mine ability, that only For who is he so sluggish from his birth? So little worthy of a name, or country, That owes not out of gratitude for life, A debt of Service, in what kind soever Safety or Counsel of the Commonwealth Requires for payment? Purge not his g e e , Penthea.