Stands seated in your will, secure and settled, I dare pronounce you will be a just monarch; Greece must admire and tremble. Ith. Then the sweetness Of so imparadised a comfort, Orgilus ! Of numerous children, potency of nobles, Ith. We'll distinguish Our fortunes merely in the title; partners Org. The bed? Forefend it, Jove's own jealousy, till lastly ment To shew this was the king, and this the subject.[Soft sad music. List, what sad sounds are these extremely sad ones. Ith. Sure from Penthea's lodgings. A SONG.-Sung behind the Scene, Pure as are unwritten papers, Love's martyrs must be ever, ever dying. Ith. Oh, my misgiving heart! Org. A horrid stilness Succeeds this deathful air. Let's know the rea Phil. Dead. Christ. Dead. Phil. Starv'd. Christ. Stary'd. Ith. Me miserable! Org. Tell us, How parted she from life? Phil. She called for music, And begg'd some gentle voice to tune a farewell To life and griefs: Christalla touched the lute; I wept the funeral song. Christ. Which scarce was ended, But her last breath sealed up these hollow sounds: Org. Up! you are messengers of death: go from us; [CHRIST. and PHIL. 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.-My lord! [To ITHOCLES. [Exeunt CHRIST. and PHIL. Ith. Mine only sister! I'll seat me here in this: between us sits Ith. Yes, as you please. [Sits down, and is caught in the engine. What means this treachery? Org. Caught; you are caught, Ith. Thou mean'st to kill me basely. The last act of her life, and trained thee hither You dreamt of kingdoms, did ye? how to bosom Her agonies, her miseries, afflictions, Safety, with best success: oh may it prosper! [Dies. Org. Farewell, fair spring of manhood; henceforth welcome Best expectation of a noble sufferance! In vain they build their hopes, whose life is shame; ACT V. For here in Sparta, there's not left amongst us SCENE I.—A Room in the House of BASSANES. One wise man to direct; we're all turn'd mad caps. 'Tis said Apollo is the god of herbs; Enter ORGILUS. Org. Honour Bass. I beseech thee, With all my heart, let me go from thee quietly; I'll love thee as well as I can. Org. Noble Bassanes, Mislike me not.. Bass. Phew! then we shall be troubled: Thou wert ordain'd my plague; Heaven make me thankful! And give me patience too, Heaven, I beseech thee! Bass. Heyday! good words, good words?-I must believe 'em, And be a coxcomb for my labour. So hard a language: your misdoubt is causeless: Intrusted to my courtship. Be not jealous, Euphranea; I shall scarcely prove a temptress.Fall to our dance! [Music. NEARCHUS dances with EUPHRANEA, PROPHILUS with CALANTHA, CHRISTALLA with HEMOPHIL, PHILEMA with GRONEAS. They dance the first change. During which enter ARMOSTES. Arm. [In a whisper to CALANTHA.] The king your father's dead. Cal. To the other change! Another Dance. Enter Bassanes. Bass. [In a whisper to CALANTHA.] Oh, madam, Penthea, poor Penthea's starved. Lead to the next! Bass. Amazement dulls my senses. Another Dance. Enter ORGILUS. Org. Brave Ithocles is murder'd, murder'd cruelly. [Aside to CALANTHA. Cal. How dull this music sounds! Strike up more sprightly: Our footings are not active like our heart, The last Change. Music ceases. Cal. So let us breathe awhile.-Hath not this : motion Rais'd fresher colours on our cheeks? Near. Sweet princess, A perfect purity of blood enamels Cal. We all look cheerfully: [Exeunt. And, cousin, 'tis, methinks, a rare presumption In any who prefers our lawful pleasures Before their own sour censure, to interrupt The custom of this ceremony bluntly. Cal. Yes, yes; some hollow voice deliver❜d to me How that the king was dead. Arm. The king is dead: That fatal news was mine; for in mine arms He breath'd his last, and, with his crown, bequeath'd ye Your mother's wedding-ring, which here I tender. Crot. Most strange! Cal. Peace crown his ashes! We are queen then. Near. Long live Calantha, Sparta's sovereign queen! All. Long live the queen! Cal. What whispered Bassanes? Bass. That my Penthea, miserable soul, Was starved to death. Cal. She's happy: she hath finish'd A long and painful progress.-A third murmur Pierced mine unwilling ears. Org. That Ithocles Was murthered, rather butchered, had not bra very Of an undaunted spirit, conquering terror, Cal. By whose hand? Org. By mine; this weapon Was instrument to my revenge: the reasons Are just and known: quit him of these, and then Hope or abiliment to steer a kingdom. Euph. Fye, brother! Bass. How it was done, let him report, the for- Of whose allegiance to our laws doth covet Cal. We begin our reign Crot. [To ORGILUS.] Confirm thee, noble [Exeunt CROTOLON, PROPHILUS, and Bloody relater of thy stains in blood, With honourable mention, make thy choice But, to excuse delays, let me, dear cousin, Near. Your will commands us. Org. One suit, just queen, my last: vouchsafe your clemency, That by no common hand I be divided Cal. To their wisdoms, Who are to be spectators of thine end, I make the reference: those that are dead, [Exeunt CALANTHA, PHILEMA, and Arm. 'Tis strange these tragedies should never touch on Her female pity. Bass. She has a masculine spirit: Near. Now, Orgilus, thy choice. I am well skill'd in letting blood: bind fast Convey a full stream: here's a skilful instrument, By lending th' other prick to th' other arm, Bass. I am for ye. It most concerns my art, my care, my credit. [The arms of ORGILUS are bared, and Org. Gramercy, friendship Such courtesies are real, which flow chearfully they place him on the one side of the altar. After him enter CALANTHA, in a white robe, and crowned; EUPHRANEA, PHILEMA and CHRISTALLA, in white; NEARCHUS, ARMOSTES, CROTOLON, Prophilus, Amelus, BasSANES, HEMOPHIL, and Groneas. Calantha goes and kneels before the altar, the women kneeling behind her; the rest stand off. The Recorders cease during her devotions. Soft music-CALANTHA and the rest rise, doing obeisance to the altur. Cal. Our orisons are heard; the gods are merciful. Now tell me, you, whose loyalties pay tribute A feminate authority: we therefore Near. Royal lady, Your law is in your will. Arm. We have seen tokens Of constancy too lately to mistrust it. Crot. Yet, if your highness settle on a choice, By your own judgment both allow'd and lik'd of,Sparta may grow in power, and proceed To an increasing height. Cal. Hold you the same mind? Bass. Alas, great mistress, reason is so clouded By some untimely fate; of friends divided cases; |