SCENE II.[4156

_Enter_ ITHOCLES, _alone._

_Ith._ Ambition! ’t is of vipers’ breed: it gnaws A passage through the womb that gave it motion. Ambition, like a seeled[4157] 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, 6 Then, only breaking with a noise, they vanish In stench and smoke. Morality, appli’d To timely practice, keeps the soul in tune, At whose sweet music all our actions dance: 10 But this is form of books and school-tradition; It physics not the sickness of a mind Broken with griefs: strong fevers are not eas’d With counsel, but with best receipts and means; Means, speedy means and certain; that’s the cure. 15

_Enter_ ARMOSTES _and_ CROTOLON.

_Arm._ You stick, Lord Crotolon, upon a point Too nice and too unnecessary; Prophilus Is every way desertful. I am confident Your wisdom is too ripe to need instruction From your son’s tutelage.

_Crot._ Yet not so ripe, 20 My Lord Armostes, that it dares to dote Upon the painted meat[4158] of smooth persuasion, Which tempts me to a breach of faith.

_Ith._ Not yet Resolv’d, my lord? Why, if your son’s consent Be so available, we’ll write to Athens 25 For his repair to Sparta. The king’s hand Will join with our desires; he has been mov’d to’t.

_Arm._ Yes, and the king himself importun’d Crotolon For a dispatch.

_Crot._ Kings may command; their wills Are laws not to be questioned.

_Ith._ By this marriage 30 You knit an union so devout, so hearty, Between your loves to me and mine to yours, As if mine own blood had an interest in it; For Prophilus is mine, and I am his.

_Crot._ My lord, my lord!—

_Ith._ What, good sir? Speak your thought. 35

_Crot._ Had this sincerity been real once, My Orgilus had not been now unwiv’d, Nor your lost sister buried in a bride-bed. Your uncle here, Armostes, knows this truth; For had your father Thrasus liv’d,—but peace Dwell in his grave! I have done.

_Arm._ Y’ are bold and bitter. 41

_Ith._ [_Aside._] ’A presses home the injury; it smarts.— No reprehensions, uncle; I deserve ’em. Yet, gentle sir, consider what the heat Of an unsteady youth, a giddy brain, 45 Green indiscretion, flattery of greatness, Rawness of judgment, wilfulness in folly, Thoughts vagrant as the wind and as uncertain, Might lead a boy in years to:—’t was a fault, A capital fault; for then I could not dive 50 Into the secrets of commanding love; Since when, experience, by the extremes[4159] (in others), Hath forc’d me collect.[4160] And, trust me, Crotolon, I will redeem those wrongs with any service Your satisfaction can require for current. 55

_Arm._ The[4161] acknowledgment is satisfaction: What would you more?

_Crot._ I’m conquer’d: if Euphranea Herself admit the motion, let it be so; I doubt not my son’s liking.

_Ith._ Use my fortunes, Life, power, sword, and heart,—all are your own. 60

_Arm._ The princess, with your sister.

_Enter_ CALANTHA, PENTHEA, EUPHRANEA, CHRISTALLA, PHILEMA, GRAUSIS, BASSANES, _and_ PROPHILUS.

_Cal._ I present ye A stranger here in court, my lord; for did not Desire of seeing you draw her abroad, We had not been made happy in her company.

_Ith._ You are a gracious princess.—Sister, wedlock 65 Holds too severe a passion in your nature, Which can engross all duty to your husband, Without attendance on so dear a mistress.— [_To_ BASSANES.] ’T is not my brother’s pleasure, I presume, T’ immure her in a chamber.

_Bass._ ’T is her will; 70 She governs her own hours. Noble Ithocles, We thank the gods for your success and welfare: Our lady has of late been indispos’d, Else we had waited on you with the first.

_Ith._ How does Penthea now?

_Pen._ You best know, brother, 75 From whom my health and comforts are deriv’d.

_Bass._ [_Aside._] I like the answer well; ’t is sad and modest. There may be tricks yet, tricks.—Have an eye, Grausis!

_Cal._ Now, Crotolon, the suit we join’d in must not Fall by too long demur.

_Crot._ ’T is granted, princess, 80 For my part.

_Arm._ With condition, that his son Favour the contract.

_Cal._ Such delay is easy.— The joys of marriage make thee, Prophilus, A proud deserver of Euphranea’s love, And her of thy desert!

_Pro._ Most sweetly gracious! 85

_Bass._ The joys of marriage are the heaven on earth, Life’s paradise, great princess, the soul’s quiet, Sinews of concord, earthly immortality, Eternity of pleasures;—no restoratives Like to a constant woman!—[_Aside._] But where is she? 90 ’T would puzzle all the gods but to create Such a new monster.—I can speak by proof, For I rest in Elysium; ’t is my happiness.

_Crot._ Euphranea, how are you resolv’d, speak freely, In your affections to this gentleman? 95

_Euph._ Nor more nor less than as his love assures me; Which—if your liking with my brother’s warrants— I cannot but approve in all points worthy.

_Crot._ So, so!—[_To_ Prophilus.] I know your answer.

_Ith._ ’T had been pity To sunder hearts so equally consented. 100

_Enter_ HEMOPHIL.

_Hem._ The king, Lord Ithocles, commands your presence;— And, fairest princess, yours.

_Cal._ We will attend him.

_Enter_ GRONEAS.

_Gro._ Where are the lords? All must unto the king Without delay: the Prince of Argos—

_Cal._ Well, sir?

_Gro._ Is coming to the court, sweet lady.

_Cal._ How! 105 The Prince of Argos?

_Gro._ ’T was my fortune, madam, T’ enjoy the honour of these happy tidings.

_Ith._ Penthea!—

_Pen._ Brother?

_Ith._ Let me an hour hence Meet you alone within the palace-grove; 109 I have some secret with you.—Prithee, friend, Conduct her thither, and have special care The walks be clear’d of any to disturb us.

_Pro._ I shall.

_Bass._ [_Aside._] How ’s that?

_Ith._ Alone, pray be alone.— I am your creature, princess.—On, my lords!

_Exeunt all but_ BASSANES.

_Bass._ Alone! alone! What means that word “alone”? 115 Why might not I be there?—hum!—he ’s her brother. Brothers and sisters are but flesh and blood, And this same whoreson court-ease is temptation To a rebellion in the veins;—besides, 119 His fine friend Prophilus must be her guardian: Why may not he dispatch a business nimbly Before the other come?—or—pand’ring, pand’ring For one another,—be ’t to sister, mother, Wife, cousin, anything,—’mongst youths of mettle Is in request; it is so—stubborn fate! 125 But if I be a cuckold, and can know it, I will be fell, and fell.

_Re-enter_ GRONEAS.

_Gro._ My lord, y ’are call’d for.

_Bass._ Most heartily I thank ye. Where ’s my wife, pray?

_Gro._ Retir’d amongst the ladies.

_Bass._ Still I thank ye. There ’s an old waiter with her; saw you her too? 130

_Gro._ She sits i’ th’ presence-lobby fast asleep, sir.

_Bass._ Asleep! asleep, sir!

_Gro._ Is your lordship troubled? You will not to the king?

_Bass._ Your humblest vassal.

_Gro._ Your servant, my good lord.

_Bass._ I wait your footsteps. _Exeunt._