Thi. What's that appears so sweetly? There's that face- Mart. Be moderate, lady! Thi. That angel's face- Thi. Martell, I cannot last long! See the soul (I see it perfectly) of my Ordella, The heav'nly figure of her sweetness, there! Mart. Yes, sir; and you shall know her. Sweet spirit, I am ready. She smiles on me! Mart. Go nearer, lady. Ord. I come to make you happy. Thi. Hear you that, sirs? She comes to crown my soul: Away, get sacrifice! Whilst I with holy honours Mart. She's alive, sir. Thi. In everlasting life; I know it, friend : Oh, happy, happy soul! Ord. Alas, I live, sir; A mortal woman still. Thi. Can spirits weep too? for ever. [Die both. 2 Doctor. They're gone Mart. She is no spirit, sir; pray kiss her. I am your king in sorrows. Lady, Be very gentle to him! Thi. Stay! She's warm; Omnes. We your subjects! Mart. De Vitry, for your services, be near us. Whip out these instruments of this mad mother And, by my life, the same lips! Tell me, bright- From court, and all good people; and, because ness, Are you the same Ordella still? Mart. The same, sir, She was born noble, let that title find her Whom heav'ns and my good angel stay'd from Shall find that virtue lives in good, not glory. ruin. [Exeunt omnes Enter DION, CLEREMONT, and THRASILINE. Cle. Here's nor lords nor ladies! Dion. Credit me, gentlemen, I wonder at it. They received strict charge from the king to attend here. Besides, it was boldly published, that no officer should forbid any gentlemen, that desire to attend and hear. Cle. Can you guess the cause? Dion. Sir, it is plain, about the Spanish prince, that's come to marry our kingdom's heir, and be our sovereign. Thra. Many, that will seem to know much, say, she looks not on him like a maid in love. Dion. Oh, sir, the multitude (that seldom know any thing but their own opinions) speak that, they would have; but the prince, before his own approach, received so many confident messages from the state, that I think she's resolved to be ruled. Cle. Sir, it is thought, with her he shall enjoy both these kingdoms of Sicily and Calabria. Dion. Sir, it is, without controversy, so meant. But 'twill be a troublesome labour for him to enjoy both these kingdoms with safety, the right heir to one of them living, and living so virtuously; especially, the people admiring the bravery of his mind, and lamenting his injuries. Cle. Who? Philaster? Dion. Yes; whose father, we all know, was by our late king of Calabria unrighteously deposed from his fruitful Sicily. Myself drew some blood in those wars, which I would give my hand to be washed from. Cle. Sir, my ignorance in state policy will not let me know, why, Philaster being heir to one of these kingdoms, the king should suffer him to walk abroad with such free liberty. Dion. Sir, it seems your nature is more constant than to enquire after state news. But the king, of late, made a hazard of both the kingdoms, of Sicily and his own, with offering but to imprison Philaster. At which the city was in arms, not to be charmed down by any state order or proclamation, till they saw Philaster ride through the streets pleased, and without a guard; at which they threw their hats, and their arms from them; some to make bonfires, some to drink, all for his deliverance. Which, wise men say, is the cause, the king labours to bring in the power of a foreign nation, to awe his own with. Enter GALATEA, MEGRA, and a Lady. Thra. See, the ladies. What's the first? Dion. A wise and modest gentlewoman that attends the princess. Cle. The second? Dion. She is one that may stand still discreetly enough, and ill-favour'dly dance her measure; simper when she is courted by her friend, and slight her husband. Cle. The last? Dion. Marry, I think she is one whom the state keeps for the agents of our confederate princes. She'll cog and lye with a whole army, before the league shall break: Her name is common through the kingdom, and the trophies of her dishonour advanced beyond Hercules' pillars. She loves to try the several constitutions of men's bodies; and indeed, has destroyed the worth of her own body, by making experiments upon it, for the good of the commonwealth. Cle. She is a profitable member. La. Peace, if you love me! You shall see these gentlemen stand their ground, and not court us. Gal. What if they should? Meg. What if they should? La. Nay, let her alone. What if they should? Why, if they should, I say they were never a broad. To plant you deeply, our immediate heir, In making no ill day, knows no ill dreams. A sweeter mistress than the offered language vants. Last, noble son (for so I now must call you), Thra. This will be hardly done. So brave a gentleman's wronged, and >Aside. Pha. Kissing your white hand, mistress, I take To thank your royal father; and thus far (For so deserving you have spoke me, sir, You in me have your wishes. Oh, this country! Dion. I wonder what's his price? For certainly He'll sell himself, he has so praised his shape.--But here comes one, more worthy those large speeches, Than the large speaker of them. Let me be swallowed quick, if I can find, By this sun, he'll never make king King. Rise; you have it, sir. Dion. Mark but the king, how pale he looks with fear! Oh! this same whorson conscience, how it jades us! King. Speak your intents, sir. Be still my royal sovereign.- We give you freedom. Phi. Then thus I turn And makes nothing. King. I do not fancy this. Call our physicians: Sure he is somewhat tainted. Thra. I do not think 'twill prove so. Dion. He has given him a general purge already, for all the right he has; and now he means to let him blood. Be constant, gentlemen: By these hilts, I'll run his hazard, although I run my name out of the kingdom. Cle. Peace, we are all one soul. Pha. What you have seen in me, to stir offence, To mutiny within you; without disputing me; And I dare make it mine. You have your answer. And ringed among the choicest of his friends King. Sir, you wrong the prince : I gave you not this freedom to brave our best friends. You deserve our frown. pered. Go to; be better tem Phi. It must be, sir, when I am nobler used. Gal. Ladies, This would have been a pattern of succession, Had he ne'er met this mischief. By my life, He is the worthiest the true name of man This day within my knowledge. Meg. I cannot tell what you may call your knowledge; But th' other is the man set in my eye. Gal. A dog it is. King. Philaster, tell me Phi. If you had my eyes, sir, and sufferance, My griefs upon you, and my broken fortunes, My wants great, and now nought but hopes and fears, My wrongs would make ill riddles to be laugh'd at. Dare you be still my king, and right me not? King. Give me your wrongs in private. [They whisper. Phi. Take them, And ease me of a load would bow strong Atlas. Cle. He dares not stand the shock. Dion. I cannot blame him: there's danger in't. Every man in this age has not a soul of crystal, for all men to read their actions through: Men's hearts and faces are so far asunder, that they hold no intelligence. Do but view yon stranger well, and you shall see a fever through all his bravery, and feel him shake like a true recreant. If he give not back his crown again, upon the report of an elder gun, I have no augury. King. Go to! Be more yourself, as you respect our favour; You'll stir us else. Sir, I must have you know, That you are, and shall be, at our pleasure, what fashion we Will put upon you. Smooth your brow, or by the gods Phi. I am dead, sir; you are my fate. It was Said, I was wrong'd: I carry all about me, King. Sure, he's possessed. Phi. Yes, with my father's spirit: It is here, A dangerous spirit. Now he tells me, king, King. Away, I do not like this: [Ex. King, PHA. and ARE. Dion. I thank you, sir; you dare not for the people. Gal. Ladies, what think you now of this brave fellow? Meg. A pretty talking fellow; hot at hand. But eye yon stranger: Is he not a fine complete gentleman? Oh, these strangers, I do affect them strangely: They do the rarest home things, and please the fullest! As I live, I could love all the nation over and over for his sake. Gal. Pride comfort your poor head-piece, lady! 'Tis a weak one, and had need of a night-cap. Dion. See, how his fancy labours! Has he not Spoke home, and bravely? What a dangerous train, Did he give fire to! How he shook the king, | Made his soul melt within him, and his blood Run into whey! It stood upon his brow, Like a cold winter dew. Phi. Gentlemen, You have no suit to me? I am no minion: If you could well be flattered at a price Phi. Well, very well; And so well, that, if the king please, I find Dion. The king must please, Whilst we know what you are, and who you are, Phi. Friends, no more; Our ears may be corrupted: 'Tis an age You had a virtuous gentlewoman called you father; Is she yet alive? Dion. Most honoured sir, she is: And, for the penance but of an idle dream, Has undertook a tedious pilgrimage. Enter a Lady. Phi. Is it to me, or any of these gentlemen, you come? Lady. To you, brave lord: The princess would entreat your present company. Phi. The princess send for me! You are mistaken. Lady. If you be called Philaster, 'tis to you. Phi. Kiss her fair hand, and say I will attend her. Dion. Do you know what you do? Phi. Yes; go to see a woman. Cle. But do you weigh the danger you are in? By Jupiter, I must not fear a woman. Thra. But are you sure it was the princess sent? It may be some foul train to catch your life. Phi. I do not think it, gentlemen; she's noble; Her eye may shoot me dead, or those true red And white friends in her face may steal my soul out: There's all the danger in it. But, be what may, Her single name hath armed me. [Exit PHI. Dion. Go on: And be as truly happy as thou art fearless. Come, gentlemen, let's make our friends ac quainted, |