Bass. Hey-day! up and ride me, rascal! What is't?

Phu. Forsooth, they say, the king has mew'd' All his gray beard, instead of which is budded Another of a pure carnation colour, Speckled with green and russet.

Bass. Ignorant block!

Phu. Yes truly; and 'tis talk'd about the streets, That since lord Ithocles came home, the lions' Never left roaring, at which noise the bears Have danced their very hearts out.

Bass. Dance out thine too.

Phu. Besides, lord Orgilus is fled to Athens Upon a fiery dragon, and 'tis thought

He never can return.

Bass. Grant it, Apollo!

Phu. Moreover, please your lordship, 'tis reported

For certain, that whoever is found jealous
Without apparent proof that's wife is wanton,
Shall be divorced;-but this is but she-news,
I had it from a midwife. I have more yet.
Bass. Antick, no more! ideots and stupid fools

the king has mew'd

All his gray beard.] This is falconers language, and common to all our old writers. To mew, or rather mue, is to moult, to shed the feathers.

3

the lions

Never left roaring, at which noise the bears

Have danced, &c.] This must, indeed, have been " tickling news." The poet, however, was thinking of a spot much nearer home than Sparta.

T

Grate my calamities. Why to be fair,
Should yield presumption of a faulty soul-
Look to the doors.

Phu. The horn of plenty crest him!

[Aside, and exit.

Bass. Swarms of confusion huddle in my thoughts

In rare distemper.-Beauty! oh, it is

An unmatch'd blessing, or a horrid curse.

She comes, she comes! so shoots the morning

forth,

Spangled with pearls of transparent dew.—
The way to poverty is to be rich;

As I in her am wealthy; but for her,
In all contents, a bankrupt.

Enter PENTHEA and GRAUSIS.

Lov'd Penthea!

How fares my heart's best joy?

Grau. In sooth not well,

She is so over-sad.

Bass. Leave chattering, magpie.

Thy brother is return'd, sweet, safe, and honour'd
With a triumphant victory; thou shalt visit him;
We will to court, where, if it be thy pleasure,
Thou shalt appear in such a ravishing lustre
Of jewels above value, that the dames
Who brave it there, in rage to be outshined,
Shall hide them in their closets, and unseen

4
+ Spangled with pearls.] See p. 19.

Fret in their tears; whilst every wond'ring eye Shall crave none other brightness but thy pre

sence.

Choose thine own recreations; be a queen

Of what delights thou fanciest best, what com

pany,

What place, what times; do any thing, do all things Youth can command, so thou wilt chase these

clouds

From the pure firmament of thy fair looks.

lord. What,

Grau. Now, 'tis well said, my lord.

lady! laugh,

Be merry; time is precious.

Bass. Furies whip thee!

[Aside.

Pen. Alas, my lord! this language to your hand

maid

Sounds as would music to the deaf; I need

No braveries, nor cost of art, to draw

The whiteness of my name into offence:
Let such, if any such there are, who covet
A curiosity of admiration,

By laying out their plenty to full view,
Appear in gaudy outsides; my attires
Shall suit the inward fashion of my mind;
From which, if your opinion, nobly placed,
Change not the livery your words bestow,
My fortunes with my hopes are at the highest.
Bass. This house, methinks, stands somewhat
too much inward,

It is too melancholy; we'll remove
Nearer the court: or what thinks my

Penthea

Of the delightful island we command?
Rule me as thou canst wish.

Pen. I am no mistress:

Whither you please, I must attend; all ways
Are alike pleasant to me.

Grau. "Island!" prison;

A prison is as gaysome: we'll no islands;
Marry, out upon 'em! whom shall we see there?
Sea-gulls, and porpoises, and water-rats,

And crabs, and mews, and dog-fish; goodly gear
For a young lady's dealing,-or an old one's!
On no terms, islands; I'll be stew'd first.
Bass. (aside to GRAU.) Grausis,

You are a juggling bawd.--This sadness, sweetest, Becomes not youthful blood;-I'll have you pounded

For my sake put on a more cheerful mirth; Thou❜lt mar thy cheeks, and make me old in griefs. Damnable bitch-fox!

Grau. I am thick of hearing,

[To GRAU.

Still, when the wind blows southerly. What

think you,

If your fresh lady breed young bones, my lord! Would not a chopping boy do you good at heart? But, as you said—

Bass. I'll spit thee on a stake,

Or chop thee into collops!

Grau. Pray, speak louder.

[Aside to GRAU.

Sure, sure the wind blows south still.

Pen. Thou prat'st madly.

Bass. Tis very hot; I sweat extremely.--Now?

Enter PHULAS.

Phu. A herd of lords, sir.

Bass. Ha!

Phu. A flock of ladies.

Bass. Where?

Phu. Shoals of horses.

Bass. Peasant, how?

Phu. Caroches

In drifts-th' one enter, th' other stand without,

sir;

And now I vanish.

Enter PROPHILUS, HEMOPHIL, GRONEAS,

CHRISTALLA and PHILEMA.

Pro. Noble Bassanes!

[Exit.

Bass. Most welcome, Prophilus; ladies, gentle

men,

To all, my heart is open; you all honour me,—
(A tympany swells in my head already) [Aside.
Honour me bountifully.-How they flutter,
Wagtails and jays together!

Pro. From your brother,

By virtue of your love to him, I require
Your instant presence, fairest.

Pen. He is well, sir?

[Aside.

Pro. The gods preserve him ever! Yet, dear beauty,

I find some alteration in him lately,

Since his return to Sparta.-My good lord,
I pray, use no delay.