Act 5 — Scene III.[4230]

Cal. Our orisons are heard; the gods are merciful.— Now tell me, you whose loyalties pay tribute To us your lawful sovereign, how unskilful Your duties or obedience is to render Subjection to the sceptre of a virgin,5 Who have been ever fortunate in princes Of masculine and stirring composition. A woman has enough to govern wisely Her own demeanours, passions, and divisions. A nation warlike and inur’d to practice10 Of policy and labour cannot brook A feminate authority: we therefore Command your counsel, how you may advise us In choosing of a husband whose abilities Can better guide this kingdom. Near. Royal lady,15 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 proceed20 To an increasing height. Cal. Hold you the same mind? Bass. Alas, great mistress, reason is so clouded With the thick darkness of my infinite woes, That I forecast nor dangers, hopes, or safety. Give me some corner of the world to wear out25 The remnant of the minutes I must number, Where I may hear no sounds but sad complaints Of virgins who have lost contracting partners; Of husbands howling that their wives were ravisht By some untimely fate; of friends divided30 By churlish opposition; or of fathers Weeping upon their children’s slaughtered carcases; Or daughters groaning o’er their fathers’ hearses; And I can dwell there, and with these keep consort As musical as theirs. What can you look for35 From an old, foolish, peevish, doting man But craziness of age? Cal. Cousin of Argos,— Near. Madam? Cal. Were I presently To choose you for my lord, I ’ll open freely What articles I would propose to treat on40 Before our marriage. Near. Name them, virtuous lady. Cal. I would presume you would retain the royalty Of Sparta in her own bounds; then in Argos Armostes might be viceroy; in Messene Might Crotolon bear sway; and Bassanes—45 Bass. I, queen! alas, what I? Cal. Be Sparta’s marshal. The multitudes of high employments could not But set a peace to private griefs. These gentlemen, Groneas and Hemophil, with worthy pensions, Should wait upon your person in your chamber.—50 I would bestow Christalla on Amelus, She ’ll prove a constant wife; and Philema Should into Vesta’s Temple. Bass. This is a testament! It sounds not like conditions on a marriage. Near. All this should be perfom’d. Cal. Lastly, for Prophilus,55 He should be, cousin, solemnly invested In all those honours, titles, and preferments Which his dear friend and my neglected husband Too short a time enjoy’d. Pro. I am unworthy To live in your remembrance. Euph. Excellent lady!60 Near. Madam, what means that word, “neglected husband”? Cal. Forgive me:—now I turn to thee, thou shadow Of my contracted lord! Bear witness all, I put my mother’s wedding-ring upon Has finger; ’t was my father’s last bequest.65 [Places a ring on the finger of Ithocles.] Thus I new-marry him whose wife I am; Death shall not separate us. O, my lords, I but deceiv’d your eyes with antic gesture, When one news straight came huddling on another Of death! and death! and death! still I danced forward;70 But it struck home, and here, and in an instant. Be such mere women, who with shrieks and outcries Can vow a present end to all their sorrows, Yet live to [court][4231] new pleasures, and outlive them. They are the silent griefs which cut the heart-strings;75 Let me die smiling. Near. ’T is a truth too ominous. Cal. One kiss on these cold lips, my last! [Kisses Ithocles.]—Crack, crack!— Argos now ’s Sparta’s king.—Command the voices Which wait at th’ altar now to sing the song I fitted for my end. Near. Sirs, the song!80

All. Glories, pleasures, pomps, delights, and ease, Can but please Outward senses when the mind Is [or][4232] untroubled or by peace refin’d. 1 [Voice.] Crowns may flourish and decay,85 Beauties shine, but fade away. 2 [Voice.] Youth may revel, yet it must Lie down in a bed of dust. 3 [Voice.] Earthly honours flow and waste, Time alone doth change and last.90 All. Sorrows mingled with contents prepare Rest for care; Love only reigns in death; though art Can find no comfort for a broken heart.

Arm. Look to the queen! Bass. Her heart is broke, indeed.95 O, royal maid, would thou hadst mist this part! Yet ’t was a brave one. I must weep to see Her smile in death. Arm. Wise Tecnicus! thus said he; When youth is ripe, and age from time doth part, The Lifeless Trunk shall wed the Broken Heart Is here fulfill’d. Near. I am your king. All. Long live101 Nearchus, King of Sparta! Near. Her last will103 Shall never he digrest from: wait in order Upon these faithful lovers, as becomes us.— The counsels of the gods are never known105 Till men can call th’ effects of them their own. [Exeunt.]

Where noble judgments and clear eyes are fix’d To grace endeavour, there sits truth, not mix’d With ignorance; those censures may command Belief which talk not till they understand. Let some say, “This was flat;” some, “Here the scene5 Fell from its height;” another, that the mean Was “ill observ’d” in such a growing passion As it transcended either state or fashion: Some few may cry, “’T was pretty well,” or so, “But—” and there shrug in silence; yet we know10 Our writer’s aim was in the whole addrest Well to deserve of all, but please the best: Which granted, by th’ allowance of this strain The Broken Heart may be piec’d up again.