SCENE I.[4220

_Enter_ BASSANES, _alone_.

_Bass._ Athens—to Athens I have sent, the nursery Of Greece for learning and the fount of knowledge: For here in Sparta there ’s not left amongst us One wise man to direct; we ’re all turn’d madcaps. ’T is said Apollo is the god of herbs, 5 Then certainly he knows the virtue of ’em: To Delphos I have sent too. If there can be A help for nature, we are sure yet.

_Enter_ ORGILUS.

_Org._ Honour Attend thy counsels ever!

_Bass._ I beseech thee With all my heart, let me go from thee quietly; I will not aught to do with thee, of all men. 11 The doubles[4221] of a hare,—or, in a morning, Salutes from a splay-footed witch,—to drop Three drops of blood at th’ nose just and no more,— Croaking of ravens, or the screech of owls, 15 Are not so boding mischief as thy crossing My private meditations. Shun me, prithee; And if I cannot love thee heartily, I ’ll love thee as well as I can.

_Org._ Noble Bassanes, Mistake me not.

_Bass._ Phew! then we shall be troubled. 20 Thou wert ordain’d my plague—heaven make me thankful, And give me patience too, heaven, I beseech thee.

_Org._ Accept a league of amity; for henceforth, I vow, by my best genius, in a syllable, Never to speak vexation. I will study 25 Service and friendship, with a zealous sorrow For my past incivility towards ye.

_Bass._ Hey-day, good words, good words! I must believe ’em, And be a coxcomb for my labour.

_Org._ Use not So hard a language; your misdoubt is causeless. 30 For instance, if you promise to put on A constancy of patience, such a patience As chronicle or history ne’er mentioned, As follows not example, but shall stand A wonder and a theme for imitation, 35 The first, the index[4222] pointing to a second, I will acquaint ye with an unmatch’d secret, Whose knowledge to your griefs shall get a period.

_Bass._ Thou canst not, Orgilus; ’t is in the power Of the gods only: yet, for satisfaction, 40 Because I note an earnest in thine utterance, Unforc’d and naturally free, be resolute[4223] The virgin-bays shall not withstand the lightning With a more careless danger than my constancy The full of thy relation. Could it move 45 Distraction in a senseless marble statue, It should find me a rock: I do expect now Some truth of unheard moment.

_Org._ To your patience You must add privacy, as strong in silence As mysteries lock’d-up in Jove’s own bosom. 50

_Bass._ A skull hid in the earth a treble age Shall sooner prate.

_Org._ Lastly, to such direction As the severity of a glorious action Deserves to lead your wisdom and your judgment, You ought to yield obedience.

_Bass._ With assurance 55 Of will and thankfulness.

_Org._ With manly courage Please, then, to follow me.

_Bass._ Where’er, I fear not. _Exeunt omnes._