Fruit. And all the other are well known to you; Here is the deed.

Free. Let me peruse it, madam.
L. Cov. Good Mr Freeman, do.

[FREEMAN reads it to himself.

Euph. What plot is this? Fruit. One manor only they except from hence,

Which they suppose you did unjustly hold From the true heir: his name was Scudmore, madam.

L. Cov. I do confess I did unjustly hold it; And since have grieved me much, that while I might,

Scud. Excuse it, noble Euphues.

Art. Oh happiness! beyond what could be
hop'd!

My Eugeny is safe, and all his griefs
At quiet now.

Eug. Is this a vision,

A mere fantastick shew? or do I see
Scudmore himself alive? then let nie beg
Pardon from him.

Scud. Long ago 'twas granted;

Thy love I now shall seek: But though a while,
For these my ends, I have conceal'd myself,
I ever meant to secure thee from dauger.
Eug. What strange unlook'd-for happiness
this day

Has brought forth with it!

Scud. To tell you by what means

I was most strangely cur'd, and found a way
How to conceal my life, will be too long
Now to discourse of here; I will anon
Relate at large. But one thing much has
griev'd me,

That my too long concealment, has been cause
Of so much sorrow to my constant love,
The fair Matilda. Sir, she is your niece,
Let me intreat my pardon, next to her,
From you.

Earth. You have it: Go, good Theodore,
And bring her hither, but prepare her first :
Too sudden apprehension of a joy
Is sometimes fatal.

Theod. I'll about it gladly.

[Exit.

Sir Arg. Dear cousin, Eugeny, if I yet may be Thought worthy of that name, pardon my crime, And my whole life, how short soe'er it be, Shall testify my love to be unfeign'd.

Eug. I do forgive you freely. Now to you, Grave sir, in whose rich bounty it must lie, To make me happy, in conferring on me So bright a jewel as Artemia, 'Tis your consent I beg.

Free. You have it freely;

Her heart, I know, she gave you long ago,
And here I give her hand,

Eug. A richer gift

Than any monarch of the world can give : Bless'd happines! "Gently, my joys, distil, Lest you do break the vessel you should fill.

Enter BARNET, DOTTEREL, Lady WHIMSEY.

Euph. Here comes another couple, to make up The day's festivity. Joy to you, madam! L. Whim. Thanks, noble Euphues. Dot. We have ty'd the knot,

ness of it.

Bar. Yes, I saw it finish'd.

L. Whim. Mrs Artemia, as I suppose,

I may pronounce as much to you?

Art. You may, as much as I shall wish your ladyship.

Enter THEODORE and MATILDA.

Which now affinity hath blest me with.

Eug. His friendship, worthy Scudmore, is a

treasure.

Theod. I shall endeavour to deserve your loves. Earth. Come, leave your compliments, at all hands, now,

And hear an old man speak; I must intreat
This favour from all this noble company,

Although this be your daughter's wedding-day, That you would all be pleas'd to be my guests, And keep with me your marriage festivals. Grant my request.

Free. 'Tis granted, sir, from me.

Eug. And so, I think, from all the company. Earth. Then let's be merry, Earthworin's jovial now;

And that's as much as he desires from You. [To the Pit

VOL. III.

2 H

ОР

SCENE I.

Enter NICETES and ARAMNES.

Nice. I have observ'd it too;
But the cause is as unknown to me,
As actions done in countries

Not found out yet.

Aram. Some wench, my life to a brass farthing.
Nice. As like as may be:

We soldiers are all given that way; especially
When our blood boils high, and pulses beat
Alarms to Cupid's battles; we're apter
To sally on a young flaming girl,

Than on an enemy that braves it before our trenches.

Aram. I ask it not to know his privacies; For if his freedom doth not acquaint me with thein,

Let them be secret still-yet I could wish
An opportunity to tell him, a little circum-
spection

Would be handsome, and set a gloss upon all.
Times might be chosen of less public notice:
It looks so poorly in a prince to be thus careless
Of his own affairs: men do so talk on't-
Here comes Inophilus; if any body knows,
It must be he.

Wisdom, should on the sudden fall off from the
Care of his own fame! I am his friend, and so
I know are you; but to speak plainly to you,
He's grown my wonder now, as much as other

mens.

I, that have found a sweetness in his company.
Beyond whatever lovers dream of in a mistress,
That as he spoke, methought have smell'd the air
Perfum'd; nor could have wish'd a joy greater
Than living with him, next those of heav'n;
And those preferr'd the more, because I knew
Plangus would be there.

I say, even I, of late, am grown out of love
With any thing that's mortal; since I have found
Plangus so far beneath (I will not say
My expectations) but the assurances
All good men had of future gallantry.
He's melancholy now, and hath thrown off
The spirit which so well became him; and all

that

Sweetness which bewitch'd men's hearts,

Is grown so rugged, so incomposed to all commerce,

Men fear he'll shortly quarrel with himself.
Nay more, he doth not answer the fondness
Of his father's love with half that joy
He us'd to do.

Aram. 'Tis now about a week I have observ'd
This alteration; it shakes him like an ague
Once in two days; but holds him longer
Than a fit o' th' gout. They whisper about the

court

As if the king had chid him for it, And now at length found his haunts.

Ino. A poor discovery! Who might not find 'em out,

That would be so uncivil? I was about
To follow him, but thought it an ignoble way,
Beneath the name of friendship, and so desisted.
About four days ago, meeting him i' th' long
gallery,

I ask'd him how he did? Taking ine by the hand,
He wrung it, and after a sigh or two, told me,
"Not very well—” But he had business,
and so we parted.

I saw him not again in twenty hours after;
And then I ask'd him where he'd been so long?
He told me (as if he was ashamed

To deny me such a poor request) I must not know:

And when I told him, his often absence was observ'd;

Is it? (saith he) I cannot help it; but it shall No more be so; and at the last he stole away: Since when I saw him not.

Nice. O this wicked peace! Inophilus,
Is there no hopes of war?

To lye at home to see our armours rust;
We could keep the prince sober and merry too,
If he would but exchange his court for a camp.
Ino. The king is old, and doats upon his son;
Is loth to venture him to danger :
Yet at this time there is occasion.
The Argives have refus'd to pay their tribute,
And are, for certain, preparing for invasion:
Some say they have got into Iberia already.
Aram. Nay, then there's hopes;

If we could but find the prince with a buff coat again,

I should be once more merry.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

Or those who are pen'd up in darkness
Love the sun.

Eph. I speak not as if I thought he did not; For thou know'st I humour him, afford him Liberty enough; I never chide him, nor express The least dislike of any action. Am not I a gentle father?

Methinks were I a son again to such a father, I should not think he liv'd too long; should'st thou, Rinatus?

Rin. No more doth he, upon my soul: One command of yours would make him venture upon

Light'ning, nay almost make him act a sin;
A thing he fears to name.

Eph. I do believe thee:

But yet, methinks, should he be grown so impious, There might be found excuses.

A crown is a temptation; especially so near one: 'Tis not with princes as with other sons; And I am told too

Hath not my hand the palsy?

Doth a crown become grey hairs? To be a king Might make some men forswear all conscience. But I know Plangus hath far nobler thoughts— And yet an empire might excuse a parricide.

Rin. Sir! sure you are a stranger to your son; For, give me leave to say, your fears are vain: So great a virtue as the prince's,

Cannot anticipate his hopes by any sin. Honour and duty have been acquainted with him Now too long to be divorc'd.

Some sycophants there are

(Such creatures still will haunt the court) I know
Love not the prince, because he loves not them.
Sir, shut your ears to them, they will betray you
To your ruin. Jealousy's a disease

Should be below a king, as that which seizeth
On the basest spirits. Oh, shut it from your soul!
One may read in story what dire effects
The fury hath brought forth. Kings make away
Their only sons, and princes their fathers;
And when they have done, they may despair at
leisure.

Eph. I do not think Plangus
Hath plots, or on my crown, or me;
He was virtuous always, and is still, I hope:
But why is he so much from court then, and
alone too?

I do but ask the question.

Rin. It can be no design, believe me, sir; For crowns are won by other courses. Aspirers must grow popular, be hedg'd about With their confederates; then would he flatter