The broken heart A tragedy. Acted by the Kings Majesties Seruants at the priuate House in the Black-Friers.

Actus Quintus:

Scaena prima.

Enter ••ass••nes alone.

Bass.

AThens, to Athens I haue sent, the Nursery Of Greec•• for lea••ning, and the Fount of knowledge:

For here in Sparta there's not left amongst vs One wise man to direct, we're all turn'd madcaps: 'Tis said, Apollo is the god of herbs; Then certainly he knowes the vertue of 'em: To Delphos I haue sent to; if there can be A helpe for nature, we are sure yet.

Enter Orgilus:

Org.

Honour Attend thy counsels euer.

Bass.

I beseech thee With all my heart let me goe from thee quietly, I will not ought to doe with thee of all men. The doublers of a Hare, or, in a morning, Salutes from a splay-footed witch, to drop Three drops of blood at th' nose iust, and no more, Croaking of Rauens, or the screech of Owles, Are not so boading mischiefe as thy crossing My priuate meditations: shun me, prethe; And if I cannot loue thee hartily, I'le loue thee as well as I can.

Org.

Noble Bassanes Mistake me not.

Bass.

Phew, then we shall be troubled; Thou wert ordain'd my plague, heauen make me thankfull, And giue me patience too, heauen I beseech thee.

Org.

Accept a league of amity; for henceforth I vow by my best Genius, in a sillable, Neuer to speake vexation; I will study Seruice and friendship with a zealous sorrow For my past inciuility towards 'ee.

Bass.

Heydey! good words, good words, I must beleeue 'em, And be a Coxcombe for my labor.

Org.

Vse not So hard a Language; your misdoubt is causelesse For instance; if you promise to put on A constancy of patience, such a patience As Chronicle, or history ne're mentioned, As followes not example, but shall stand A wonder, and a Theame for imitation, The first, the Index pointing to a second, I will acquaint'ee with an vnmatch'd secret,

Whose knowledge to your griefes shall set a period.

Bass.

Thou canst not (Orgilus) 'tis in the pow••r Of the gods onely; yet for satisfaction, Because I note an earnest in thine vtterance, Vnforc'd, and naturally free, be resolute The Virgin Bayes shall not withstand the lightning With a more carelesse danger, than my constancy The full of thy relation: could it moue Distraction in a senselesse marble statue, It should finde me a rocke: I doe expect now Some truth of vnheard moment.

Org.

To your patience You must adde priuacie, as strong in silence As mysteries look'd vp in Ioues owne bosome.

Bass.

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

Org.

Lastly, to such direction As the seuerity of a glorious Action Deserues to lead your wisdome and your iudgement, You ought to yeeld obedience.

Bass.

With assurance Of will and thankfulnesse.

Org.

With manly courage Please then to follow me.

Bass.

Where e're, I feare not.

Exeunt omnes.

Scaene 2. Lowd musicke.

Enter Groneas and Hemophil leading Euphranea, Christalla and Philema leading Propholus, Nearchins supporting Calantha; Crotolon, and Amelus; cease loud Musicke, all make a stand.

Cal.

We misse our seruant Ithocles and Orgilus, On whom attend they?

Crot.

My sonne, gracious Princesse, Whisper'd some new deuice, to which these; Reuels Should be but vsher: wherein I conceiue Lord Ithocles and he himselfe are Actors.

Cal.

A faire excuse for absence: as for Bassanes. Delights to him are troublesome; Armostes Is with the King.

Cr••t.

He is.

Cal.

On to the dance: Deare Cozen, hand you the Bride, the Bridegroome must be Intrusted to my Courtship: be not ica••o••••••

Euphranea, I shall scarcely proue a temptresse: Fall to our dance.

Musicke.

Nearchus dance with Euphranea, Prophilus with Calantha, Christalla with Homophil, Philema with Groneas. Dance the first change; during which, Enter Armostes.

Arm.

The King your father's dead. — in Calantha's eare••

Cal.

To the other change.

Arm.

Is't possible?

Dance againe. Enter Bassanes.

Bass.

O Madam! Penthea, poore Penthea's staru'd.

Cal.

Beshrew thee, Lead to the next.

Bass.

Amazement duls my senses.

Dance againe. Enter Orgisus.

Org.

Braue Ithocles is murther'd, murther'd cruelly.

Cal.

How dull this musicke sounds? strike vp more sprightly? Our footings are not actiue like our heart Which treads the nimbler measure.

Org.

I am thunder-strooke.

Last change. Cease musicke.

Cal.

So, let us breath a while: hath not this motion Rais'd fresher colour on your cheeks?

Near.

Sweet Princesse. A perfect purity of blood enamels The beauty of your white.

Cal.

We all looke cheerfully: And Cozen, 'tis, me thinks, a rare presumption In any, who prefe••s our lawfull pleasures Before their owne sowre censure, to interrupt The custome of this Ceremony bluntly.

Near.

None dares, Lady.

Cal.

Yes, yes; some hollow voyce deliuer'd to me How that the King was dead.

Arm.

The King is dead: That fatall newes was mine; for in mine armes He breath'd his last, and with his Crowne bequeath'd 'ee Your mothers wedding Ring, which here I tender.

Crot.

Most strange!

Cal.

Peace crown his ashes: we are queen then.

Near.

Long li••e Calan••ha, Sparta's Soueraigne Queene.

Omnes.

Long liue the Queene.

Cal.

What whispered Bass••••••••?

Bass.

That my Penthea, miserable soule, Was starn'd to death.

Cal.

Shee's happy; she hath finish'd

A long and painefull progresse.— A third murmure Pierc'd mine vnwilling eares.

Org.

That Ithocles Was murther'd; rather butcher'd, had not brauery Of an vndaunted spirit, conquering terror, Proclaim'd his last Act triumph ouer mine.

Arm

How? murther'd?

Cal.

By whose hand?

Org.

By mine; this weapon Was instrument to my reuenge: the reasons Are iust and knowne: quit him of these, and then Neuer liu'd Gentleman of greater merit, Hope, or abiliment to steere a kingdome.

Crot.

Fye Orgilus.

Euph.

Fye brother.

Cal.

You haue done it.

Bass.

How it was done let him report, the forfeit Of whose alleageance to our lawes doth couet Rigour of Iustice; but that done it is, Mine eyes haue beene an euidence of credit Too sure to be conuinc'd: Armostes, rent not Thine Arteries with hearing the bare circumstances Of these calamities: thou'st lost a Nephew, A Neece, and I a wife: continue man still, Make me the patterne of digesting euils, Who can out-liue my mighty ones, not shrinking At such a pressure as would sinke a soule Into what's most of death, the worst of horrors: But I haue seal'd a couenant with sadnesse, And enter'd into bonds without condition To stand these tempests calmely; marke m••, Nobles, I doe not shed a teare, not for Penth••a: Excellent misery!

Cal.

We begin our reigne With a first act of Iustice: thy confession, Vnhappy Orgilus, doomes thee a sentence; But yet thy fathers, or thy sisters presence Shall be excus'd: giue, Crotolon, a blessing To thy lost sonne•• Euphranea, take a farewell, And both be gone.

Crot.

Confirme thee, noble sorrow, In worthy resolution.

Euph.

Could my teares speake, My griefes were sleight.

Org.

All gooddesse dwell amongst yee•• Enioy my sister, Prophilus; my vengeance

Aym'd neuer at thy preiudice.

Cal.

Now withdraw:

Exeunt Crotolon, Prophilus, & Euphran••a••

Bloody relator of thy staines in blood; For that thou hast reported him whose fortunes And life by thee are both at once snatch'd from him, With honourable mention; make thy choyce Of what death likes thee best, there's all our bounty. But to excuse delayes, let me (deare Cozen) Intreat you and these Lords see execution Instant before 'ee part.

Near.

Your will commands vs.

Org.

One suit, iust Queene, my last; vouchsafe your clemency That by no common hand I be diuided From this my humble frailty.

Cal.

To their wisdomes Who are to be spectators of thine end, I make the reference: those that are dead, Are dead; had they not now dy'd, of necessity They must haue payd the debt they ow'd to nature, One time or other. — Vse dispatch, my Lords, Wee'll suddenly prepare our Coronation.

Exeunt Calantha, Phile••a, Christa••

Arm.

'Tis strange, these Tragedies should neuer touch on Her female pitty.

Bass.

She has a masculine spirit: And wherefore should I pule, and like a girle, Put finger in the eye: let's be all toughnesse, Without distinction betwixt sex and sex.

Near.

Now Orgilus thy choyce.

Org.

To bleed to death.

Arm.

The Executioner.

Org.

My selfe, no Surgeon. I am well skill'd in letting blood: bind fast This arme, that so the pipes may from their conduits Conuey a full streame: here's a skilfull Instrument: Onely I am a beggar to some charity To speed me in this Execution, By lending th'other pricke to th' tother arme, When this is bubling life ou••.

Bass.

I am for 'ee. It most concernes my art, my care, my credit; Quicke, fillet both this armes.

Org.

Gramercy friendship•• Such curtesies are reall, which flow cheerefully

Without an expection of requitall. Reach me a staffe in this hand: if a pronenesse, Or custome in my nature, from my cradle, Had beene inclin'd to fierce and eager bloodshed; A coward guilt, hid in a coward quaking, Would haue betray'd fame to ignoble flight, And vagabond pursuit of dreadfull safety: But looke vpon my steddinesse, and scorne not The sicknesse of my fortune, which since Bassanes Was husband to Penthea, had laine bed-rid: We trifle time in words: thus I shew cunning In opening of a veine too full, too liuely.

Arm.

Desperate courage.

Org.

Honourable infan••y.

Lem.

I tremble at the sight.

Gron.

Would I were loose.

Bass.

It sparkles like a lusty wine new broacht; The vessell must be sound from which it issues; Graspe hard this other sticke•• I'le be as nimble. But prethe looke not pale; haue at 'ee stretch out Thine arme with vigor, and vnshooke vertue. Good; ô I enuy not •• Riuall fit••ed To conquer in extremities; this pastime Appeares maiesticall: some high tun'd poem Hereafter shall deliuer to posterity The writers glory, and his subiects triumph: How is't man, droope not yet.

Org.

I feele no palsies: On a paire royall doe I wait in death; My Soueraigne, as his Liegeman; on my Mistresse, As a deuoted seruant; and on Ithocles, As if no braue, yet no vnworthy enemy: Nor did I vse an engine to intrap His life, out of a slauish feare to combate Youth, strength, or cunning, but for that I durst not Ingage the goodnesse of a cause on fortune, By which his name might haue out-fac'd my vengeance: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tecnicus, inspir'd with Phaebus fire, I call to mind thy Augury, 'twas perfect; Reuenge proues its owne Executioner••

When feeble man is bending to his mother, The dust 'a was first fram'd on, thus he totters.

Bass.

Life's fountaine is dry'd vp.

Org.

So falls the Standards Of my prerogatiue in being a creature: A mist hangs o're mine eyes; the Sun's bright splendor Is clouded in an euerlasting shadow: Welcome thou yce that sit'st about my heart, No heat can euer thaw thee.

Near.

Speech hath left him.

dyes.

Bass.

A' has shooke hands with time: his funerall vrne Shall be my charge: remoue the bloodlesse bodie; The Coronation must require attendance: That past, my few dayes can be but one mourning.

Exeunt.

An altar couered with white.

Two lights of Virgin wax, during which musicke of Recorders, enter foure bearing Ithocles on a ••ease, or in a chaire, in a rich robe, and a Crowne on his bead; place him on one side of the Altar, after him enter Calantha in a white robe, and crown'd Euphran••a; Philema, Christalla in white, Nearchus, Armostes, Crotolon, Prophilus, Amelus, Bassanes, Lemophil, and Groneas. Calan∣tha goes and kneeles before the Altar, the rest stand off, the wo∣men kneeling behind; cease Recorders during her de••otions: So••a musicke. Calantha and the rest rise doing obeysance to the Altar.

Cal.

Our Orisons are heard, the gods are mercifull: Now tell me, you whose loyalties payes tribute To vs your lawfull Soueraigne, how vnskilfull Your duties or obedience is, to render Subiection to the Scepter of a Virgin, Who haue beene euer fortunate in Princes Of masculine and stirring composition? A woman has enough to gouerne wisely Her owne demeanours, passions, and diuisions. A Nation warlike and inu••'d to practice Of policy and labour, cannot brooke A feminate authority: we therefore Command your counsaile, how you may aduise vs In choosing of a husband whose abilities

Can better guide this kingdome.

Near.

Royall Lady, Your law is in your will.

Arm.

We haue seene tokens Of constancy too lately to mistrust it.

Crot.

Yet if your highnesse se••tle on a choice By your owne iudgement both allow'd and lik'd of, Sparta may grow in power, and proceed To an increasing height.

Cal.

Hold you the same minde.

Bass.

Alas great mistris, reason is so clouded With the thicke darkenesse of my infinites woes That I forecast, nor dangers, hopes, or safety: Give me some corner of the world to weare out The remnant of the minutes I must number, Where I may heare no sounds, but sad complaints Of Virgins who have lost contracted partners; Of husbands howling that their wives were ravisht By some untimely fate; of friends divided By churlish opposition, or of fathers Weeping upon their childrens slaughtered carcasses; Or daughters groaning ore their fathers hearses, And I can dwell there•• and with these keepe consort As musicall a•• their•••• what can you looke ••••r From an old foolish peevish doting man, But crasinesse of age?

Cal.

Cozen of Argos.

Near.

Madam.

Cal.

Were I presently To choose you for my Lord, Ile open freely What articles I would propose to treat on Before our marriage.

Near••

Name them vertuous Lady.

Cal.

I would presume you would retaine the royalty Of Sparta in her owne bounds: then in Argos Armostes might be Viceroy; in Mess••ne Might Crotolon beare sway, and Bassanes —

Bass.

I, Queene? alas! what I?

Cal.

Be Sparta's Marshall: The multitudes of high imployments could not But set a peace to priuate griefes: these Gentlemen, Gron••as and Lemophil, with worthy pensions Should wait vpon your person in your Chamber: I would bestow Christall•• on Amelus,

Shee'll proue a constant wife, and Phil••m. Should into Vesta's Temple.

Bass.

This is a Testament, It sounds not like conditions on a marriage.

Near.

All this should be perform'd,

Cal.

Lastly, for Prophilus•• He should be (Cozen) solemnly inuested In all those honors, titles, and preferments Which his deare friend, and my neglected husband Too short a time enioy'd.

Proph.

I am vnworthy To liue in your remembrance.

Euph.

Excellent Lady!

Near.

Madam, what meanes that word neglected husband?

Cal.

Forgiue me: now I turne to thee thou shadow Of my contracted Lord: beare witnesse all, I put my mother wedding Ring vpon His finger, 'twas my fathers last bequest: Thus I new marry him whose wife I am; Death shall not separate vs: ô my Lords, I but deceiu'd your eyes with Anticke gesture, When one newes straight came hudling on another, Of death, and death, and death, still I danc'd forward, But it strooke home, and here, and in an instant, Be such meere women, who with shreeks and out-crie•• Can vow a present end to all their sorrowes, Yet liue to vow new pleasures, and out-liue them: They are the silent griefes which cut the hart-strings; Let me dye smiling.

Near.

'Tis a truth too ominous.

Cal.

One kisse on these cold lips, my last; cracke, cr••cke. Argos now's Sparta's King: command the voyces Which wait at th' Altar, now to sing the song I fitted for my end.

Near.

Sirs, the ••ong••

A Song.

Glories, pleasures, pomps, deligh••s, and ease, Can but please outward senses, when the mind Is not vntroubled, or by peace refin'd. Crownes may flourish and decay, Beauties shine, but fade away. Youth may reuell, yet it must Lye downe in a bed of dust: Earthly honors flow and wast, Time alone doth change and last. Sorrowes mingled with contents, prepare Rest for care; Loue onely reignes in death: though Art Can find no comfort for a broken heart.

Arm.

Looke to the Queene.

Bass.

Her heart is 〈…〉〈…〉 O royall ma••d, would thou hadst mis•• this part: Yet 'twas a braue one: I must weepe to see Her smile in death.

Arm.

Wise Tecnicus, thus said ••e••

When youth is ripe, and age from time doth part, The liuelesse Trunke shall wed the broken hearts

'Tis here fulfill'd.

Near.

I am your King.

O••••••••.

Long liue Nearchus King of Sparta.

Near.

Her last will Shall neuer be digrest from; wait in order Vpon these faithfull louers as becomes vs. The Counsels of the gods are neuer knowne, Till men can call th' effects of them their owne••

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