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ACT FIVEn9338
5.1
[Enter] PHILOCLES [and] PHILARGUS.

683PhiloclesBrother and friend, I’m deaf to all dissuasion.
        I charge you by Eudina’s love, our friendship,
        And (if there be) ought that you hold more sacred,
        Movegs1128 not to alter my fixed resolution.

684PhilargusThat resolution’s mine. And I conjure you
        By the self-same respects, and all that are
        Or may be hallowedgg5037, to let me depart.
        I will removegg5038 but for some few days journey
        Whencegg395 you shall duly hear from me. But rather
        I’ll traveln4979 to th’Antipodesn7630, than here
        Linger the vain impedimentgg5943 of your joys
        In your Eudina.

685PhiloclesTravel’s my design.
        Eudina must be yours. She is a bliss
        Which heaven created for you.

686PhilargusCan a bliss
        Be purchased with your absence? No: ’twill torture
        Equally in fruitiongg5039 as in wantgg491.
        Were it a kingdom only, we could part it
        Without the quarrel of the Thebann7631brothersn7632;
        Or, were it heaven itself, Castor and Polluxn7634
        Should have our imitation. But Eudina
        Is only indivisible.n7635

687PhiloclesAdd to it this:
        Their sentence is erroneous that deny
        Partitiongg5040 to the soul. For ours do witness,
        Friendship can give her a division,
        And make reciprocal community
        Of all her faculties. But still Eudina
        Is indivisible. Why name I her,
        Whom to forget must be my only task?
        Brother, adieu.

688Philargus’Tis I that must take leave.
Enter DISANIUS.

689DisaniusIs it evengs1142 so?

690PhiloclesI fear we are prevented.

691DisaniusNephews, why left you so the presencegg242? I
        May justly fear you were ill advised in it.
        The King expects your quick return, and will not
        Let pass this peremptorygg5041 day, set down
        For matching of his daughter, to preserve
        Life, state, or kingdom. Have you a purpose,
        First having begged that villain Stratocles’ pardon,
        To give him up your interest in the princess?
        The kingdom too, to bootgg915? Will you compel
        The King to give him all?

692PhilargusNot so, good uncle.

693DisaniusWhat do you less in flying from the presence,
        When that affair is now in agitationgg3463?

694PhiloclesUncle, you saw withal the great distraction
        We left the princess in. How when she looked
        Upon Philargus, she inclined to him;
        And when on me, to me; when on us both
        How ecstasiedgg5042 she fell!

695PhilargusA strong necessity
        There is that one of us absentgg5043.

696DisaniusTherefore
        You both fly off to travel severalgg798 ways!
        Come, let me tell you, your courtesy is foolish,
        And you unworthy to have such a fortune
        Hang like a pregnant cloud over your heads
        Ready to be dissolved in showers upon you,
        While your own madness conjures up a wind
        To blow’t away.

697PhilargusUncle, you are unjust.
        I would remove to let that golden showern7636
        Lightgs1143 upon Philocles.

698PhiloclesI upon Philargus.

699Disanius   [Aside]   I could evengs1144 swaddlegs1145 ’em both for a bracegg1269 of babies.
        Your folly makes me mad: will you return
        Yet to the presence, both of you?

700PhiloclesUncle, you know
        To be both there is neither to be there,
        But to breed more perplexitygg5920 in Eudina.
        Pray, take Philargus.

701DisaniusNephew, come, be wise:
        It is a crown that courts you, and the name
        Of friend or brother ought to stand aloof
        And know a distance where such dignity
        Is tendered. Take your opportunity;
        I find you coming; come.

702PhilargusI pray, take Philocles.

703DisaniusI’ll take him for the wiser man then.   [To PHILOCLES]   Nephew!
        Come, and embrace your fortune, and forget not
        To thank the gods your brother has no more wit.
        A kingdom and a beauteous bed-fellow
        (There, nephew, there!). Do not those bear a sound
        ’Bove friend and brother, ha?

704PhiloclesNot in mine ears.

705Disanius   [Aside]   What frost has seized their blood and brains, which
        Beauty nor dignity can thaw?   [Aloud]   Go, travel.
        What stay you for? Young gentlemen sometimes neither
        Wait for a gale of gold to blow ’em out
        O’th’ harbour; Stratocles will furnish you,
        And thank you more than for his forfeitgg2230 life.

706PhiloclesStratocles can gain nothing by my absence,
        While her Philargus stays.

707PhilargusNo, nor by mine,
        While Philocles remains.

708DisaniusShall I make a motiongs650?
        Will one of you remain?

709Both [Philargus and Philocles].One must and shall.

710DisaniusThen yield to take your lotsgg5044 for’t. I will make ’em:
        As you respect my love, your mother’s life,
        The kingdom’s good, Eudina’s love and life,
        Let it be so. Pause not upon’t, but do’t.
        See, here’s ink and paper. I am inspired,
        Apollo, with thy wisdom.   He writes two lots.   ‘Love’ – and ‘Friendship’.
        See, here’s a pass for one, and a plantation
        For tothergg1195.n7644 Love and friendship, gentlemen.
        Love shall abide at home, and Friendship walk,
        According to the custom of the world.
        Let it be so. Come, study notn7645, but draw;
        I’ll drawn7646 upon ye both else.   They drawn7643 the lots.n7648   

711PhilargusFriendship for me then.

712PhiloclesSee, here I have it, brother. And yours is Love.
        My loven7651 be prosperous to you. My horse, my horse!
Enter VARILLUS.

713VarillusAll’s ready, sir.

714PhiloclesIn the first place then bring
        A parting cup, that by the grapes’ elixirn8010,
        As Jove by Acheronn7650, I may protest
        My constancy and zeal unto my purpose.

715Varillus   [Aside]   And now’s my time to act thy purpose, Doris.[He] exit[s].n7649

716DisaniusKick not your heels against the godsn7652, Philargus.
        It is most evidently their decree
        That you abide and Philocles removegg5038.

717PhiloclesI do obey my lot. And, noblest brother,
        Be you as free in love, as I from envy.

718PhilargusBut how can you forgo that equal interest
        You have with me in Thessaly and Eudina?

719DisaniusWhy should that trouble you? You see he does
        Forgo’t, and is a-going. Wouldgs1102 he were gone oncegs1149.

720PhilargusCan love allow’t?

721PhiloclesVariety of objects,
        Like nails, abandon one another.n7653 So
        May I, by novelties of travel,n7500 lose
        The thought of love; and cheerfully return
        Both hers and yours in a more just relation.
Enter VARILLUS with a bowl of wine.
        Give me the bowl. Now, brother, to that love
        You owe the fair Eudina, unto which
        I give th’addition of mine own, and all
        The joys that e’ergg5238 I wished myself and her,
        And to that friendship, which norgg3457 time nor absence
        Shall ever end or alter.   He drinks and gives VARILLUS the bowl.   

722Varillus   [Aside]   Now the service that may redeem my faults
        Is to be done.

723PhilargusGive it me full, Varillus.

724Varillus   [Aside]   I’ll give you more than you expect by this.
He puts in a powder.

725PhilargusYou have the victory in friendship, brother,
        Who, by your resolute absence will enforce
        And drive me to a happiness; wherein
        I must not cease in all the strength of prayers
        Of sacrifice and vows; in all my goods
        Of fortune, mind and body to be yours:
        Which that you may return to repossess
        With the more speed, this health to auspicategg1011
        And expeditegs1150 your travelsn5238.

726Varillus   [Aside]   They are done
        Already if my ’pothecary’s skill fail not.

727PhiloclesWith this embrace, my brother, and my last
        Of present ceremony, I now wish you
        In th’arms of your Eudina –
        And may my better part of souln7668, which now
        I leave in trust with you, by you be breathed
        Into her breast, that she may lively find
        She has my love in yours, and that in you
        She has us both.

728DisaniusSo, so, enough. Ha’ ye done yet?

729PhiloclesHow is it with you, brother?n7654

730PhilargusAs it is
        With souls that leave the world in peace.   [He falls.]   

731DisaniusFor shame,
        Leave womanish ceremonyn7665. Will you part
        Before it be too late?

732PhiloclesToo soon, I fear.
        Philargus! Brother! Friend! Ye gods, how comes this?n7655

733DisaniusWhat, is he dead? I see then how it comes.
        You or your man, or both, ha’ poisoned him.

734PhilargusNo, ’twas myself.n7662

735DisaniusThou wilt not go out o’th’ world
        With a lie i’ thy mouth?n7666 Speak yet again.

736Varillus   [Aside]   He has said well for me already.

737PhiloclesGone, past recovery, but he shall not pass
        Without my company.
He offersgg4972 to kill himself. DISANIUS snatcheth his sword away.

738DisaniusWilt thou die mad too?n7657
        Come, sir, let go your whiblin.n9329 He has yet
        Some breath. Run for physicians –   [To VARILLUS]   No, sir, stay.
        I will not quitgs526 you so.   [Aside]   I can read guilty lines
        Palpably on this villain’s visnomygg5049.
           [Aloud]   Is there no more i’th’ house?n9246 Some help here! Ho!
PHILOCLES offers again to kill himself.n7656
        Nephew, forbear. As you will have me think
        You guiltless of your brother’s blood, forbear.
        How am I tortured! Ho! Philargus! Rub him,
        Rub him, he may live yet.

739PhiloclesOh that the world
        Might be so happy!

740DisaniusSo, well said. A box
        Or two in kindness will not do amiss.n7658
        Stir not you, sirrah.n7659
Enter TERSULUS.
           [To TERSULUS]   Oh, sir, you lay hold
        On that same traitor.   [Indicating VARILLUS.]   

741VarillusI’ll not stir, my lord.n7660

742DisaniusI’ll hold you to your word, sir.   [To TERSULUS]   Run, sir, you
        And fetch physicians.

743TersulusOh my lord, fallen dead!

744DisaniusStay butgs29 to look upon him and I’ll swear
        Thou art his murderer.Exit TERSULUS.
        Fetch the King’s physicians
        If not to cure him, yet to rip the cause
        Outn7661 of his sudden death.   [To VARILLUS]   I guess they’ll find
        Your handy-work in’s mawgs1151.

745VarillusYou heard him say
        It was himself that did it. I am cleared.
Enter EUPATHUS.

746EupathusMy lord, the King, impatient of your stay,
        Has sent –n7663

747DisaniusWhat has he sent? Has he sent means
        To call this man from death, or thatn7667 from falling
        After him into th’ grave?

748EupathusOh heavy spectacle!

749DisaniusBut come, I will not cry though. Pray, assist men7664
        In with this body. Charity commands,
        When grieved necessity entreats, your hands.[They all exit.]
5.2
[Enter] GERON [and] the four RUSTICS.

750GeronMy Rustici amicin7670, your counsel and
        Your virtue have restored me. And ’tis true
        As whilomgg3861 said the good Antisthenesn7902:
        Virtue is armour ’gainst the very fates.

7511. RusticWe told you for your good, good Master Geron;
        Fond love becamegg1809 you not.

7522. RusticIt sat upon your coat like burrs or briars
        Stuck in the hindlocksgg5052 of our fleecy sheep,
        Who shake their heads, figglegg3438, and writhe their tails,
        And bleat for woe; sprinklegg5051 the ground behind ’em
        Sometimes, iwisn4980gg3439. ’Twould make one laugh and pity ’em
        All at once, but all remediless;
        Till we with helping wit and hands release ’em.

753Geronn7625A wise man, then, in love is like a sheep
        I’th’ briars. As whilom said –

7543. RusticBut, by the way,
        What was that ‘Whilom’? Sir, you speak much of him,
        But what was he, pray?

755GeronAn ancient Britonn4981, whom I have affected
        As idly as my love. But I’ll forget it
        And use that word no more.   [Aside]   The clownsgg1009 have foundgg3186 me.

7564. RusticBut will you now proceed upon your plot
        For th’ honour of Tempe plains, and Tempe swainsgg2613.

757GeronYou can all dance?

7582. RusticAfter our country guisegg5053.

7593. RusticLike so many light horsesn7673.

7601. RusticSo can our wives,
        Who have followed us up to court, we thank ’em.
        Pray Juno we get them honestlygg5054 home again.

761GeronThere is no doubt. However, fear you nothing
        As whi – ’tis hard to leave off an old custom.

7622. RusticThe ‘whi’ was out, but ‘lom’n7674 stuck in your teeth.

763Geron’Tis well it did so. You can dance, you say.
        A dance I have projectedgg5055 for the princess;
        Whoever marries her it shall serve. As whi –

7641. RusticAgain, ’twas e’engg1926 a-coming.

765GeronYou are as quick as whi –

7662. RusticAnd there again.

7671. RusticNay, we are heads, I tell you, Master Geron,
        And should have wit; and show’t we can i’th’ country,
        In the head veinn7675, though heren4982 at court like courtiers
        We’ll show it in our heelsn7676. Pray, therefore, on.

768GeronOn, let us then to practice. King and court
        Shall see, to crown their joys, some country sport.[They all exit.]
5.3
[Enter] KING, JUSTINIUS, EUDINA, THYMELE [and] Attendants.

769KingNo answer, no return? Must I entreat,
        Yet have my undeservèd favours slightedgg1141?

770ThymeleYet, sir, your kingly patience.

771KingStupid folly
        ’Twere longer to attendgs996. My vow is past
        And registered in heaven; the minute is
        At hand that calls down thunder on me, which
        No tear or prayers can mollifygg823 or avertn7681 ,
        If I upon so long deliberation
        Shall falsify. So, call in Stratocles.Exit ATTENDANTS.

772EudinaO my dread father. Yet one hour’s patience
        Till Eupathus or Disanius return.
        One short, short hour: I may not live so long.
        His wife you named, though you may force me take him.

773KingI’ll leave that to the gods.

774EudinaThey will forgive. Give them your imitation
        In mercy, as in power on earth. I know Disanius
        Went not in vain to call ’em to your presence.
        And him that he brings first into this room
        Of Philocles or Philargus I will take,
        Though he precede the other but one foot;
        I have it by inspiration from the gods.

775KingYou are full of dreams.

776ThymeleThis cannot, sir, be long
        In trial.

777King.Yet I am not bound to wait
        On those ingratefulgg2337 men.
Enter STRATOCLES.
        Oh Stratocles,
        You have from your lategg162 errors, which your then
        Headstrong ambition hurried and cast you in,
        With that humility purged yourself, that I
        Conceive you now a temperategg5944 man; and am
        Instructed by the clemency of the gods
        To cherish and reward your virtue. Therefore
        From their divine appointment, at my hands –

778EudinaO mighty sirn4983 –

779KingDare not to disobey me.

780EudinaReceive Eudina.

781StratoclesRoyal King and master,
        Mistake not so the pleasure of the gods.
        My forfeit life you have forgiven me:
        Your kingly power and grace might do it. You
        Have given it freely, but I took’t with caution,
        By future service to make good your gift.
        But for my forfeitgg2230 love to fair Eudina,
        And my lost honour to the twin-born brothers,
        There can be no redemption if I add
        By acceptationgg5058 of your bounteous offer
        A second trespassgg1111, greater than the former.

782KingDo you refuse her then?

783StratoclesIn hope she’ll plead
        My pardon to your grace.

784EudinaThe gods have wroughtgg1029
        Effectually for me.
Enter PLACILLA with a petition, kneels.

785KingStrangely unexpected.
        Are you become a suppliantgg5059, Placilla?

786PlacillaIn the behalf, sir, of your loyal subjects,
        The swains of Tempe.

787KingI expected, rather,
        News from your unkindgg5060 brothers.   [Reads petition.]   See, Justinius,
        The Commonsgg3460, rather than I shall bestow
        My daughter upon Stratocles, do beseech me
        To take a further time.

788JustiniusYou’ren4961 happy, sir,
        In his refusal and in their request.
        They are fair predictions of ensuing joys
        To you, your daughter, and the kingdom, if
        I may be worthy to divine so much.

789KingHowe’er thy divination proves, thy wish
        Is worth our thanks.
Enter EUPATHUS [with a paper].
        And we may have
        Glad tidings presently. Now, Eupathus,
        Where is Disanius, Philocles, and Philargus?
        Why come they not?

790EupathusThey are all at hand, my liege.
        This paper may excuse their stay.
[Handing the KING a paper.]

791KingOh, do
        They plead excuse then?
The KING reads the paper.

792ThymeleI am full of fears.

793EudinaAnd I of sudden joy.

794PlacillaPray all be well.
        The King has struck his breast, and seems perplexed.

795KingJustinius, Stratocles, read here this paper.
        Go, Eupathus, and let them enter. Stay.
        Yet go, bring them in their prescribedgg5061 manner. [Exit EUPATHUS]
        I’ll send the woman off, whose sudden grief
        May be a bar to our proceedings.   [To THYMELE]   Madam –

796Thymele   [Aside]   I fear that Garrula has detectedgg5062 me.

797KingI must entreat a while your absence, lady.

798ThymeleMay I presume to ask your reason, sir?

799KingMy will has been above your question. Pray,
        Let me request you go.

800ThymeleI know obedience.

801KingAnd go, Placilla, send old Garrula to me.

802Thymele   [Aside]   Now ’tis most evident.   [Aloud]   O mighty sir,
        Conceive not worse of me than Garrula.
        Let us appear together.

803KingWhat means this?

804ThymeleYou may be pleased to hear me first.

805KingPray pull not
        More weight upon your breast than you can bear,
        By your impertinent stay. Go, I command you.

806ThymeleI must obey. However, ’tis too late
        To change the resolution of my fate.Exit THYMELE [and] PLACILLA.

807KingI have not known her thus. I fear distractiongg5247
        Fore-runs the voice of grief, as to prevent it.
        Heaven knows I called for Garrula but to send her
        With best directions to prepare and arm
        Her tender soul against the sting of sorrow
        Before it should approach her. But, Eudina,
        You must be valiant, and not let the sight
        Of death in others shake your confidence.

808EudinaHow means your majesty?

809KingSuppose that both
        Your fatal lovers, Philocles and Philargus,
        Slept in the caves of death.

810EudinaI should not live then.

811KingSuppose his destiny had cut off one,
        And, in him, all the impediments, that crossedgg613
        You in th’enjoying of the other, say
        Which could you wish survivor? But you have
        Declared your constant purpose to possess
        The first Disanius brings into this presencegg242.
        Come, one is dead. There is a strict necessity
        You know it. Now collect your reason. For ’tis not
        Your passion for the dead, nor your dislike
        Of Stratocles; no, though my subjects yield you
        A longer time, shall make me tempt the gods
        By breaking of my vow. Be steadfast then,
        As you respect a father, and take courage.
Recorders.n7687 Enter DISANIUS before a hearse, PHILOCLES after [with Attendants]. VARILLUS manacled, and led by TERSULUS. EUPATHUS supports PHILOCLES, as ready to sink with grief.
        See, Philocles lives.

812EudinaPhilargus, then,
        Is brought in dead before him by Disanius;
        And unto him the first to be brought in
        My faith was vowed; and he is now my choice.

813KingWhat, being dead? Could you affectgg2587 ’em so
        Equally, both alive, that you forbore
        To choose, because you could not have ’em both;
        And now seek only him cannot be had?
The hearse set down, EUDINA kneels to it. PHILOCLES kneels on the other side.
        What love, what madness call you this? Good gods,
        Throw not your wrath upon me in destruction.

814JustiniusNor let your passion master you, greatn7626 sir,
        As sudden grief does her. But give a little
        Scope to her sorrow. She will soon return
        And meet her reason in obedience
        To your desires.

815KingI thank thee, good Justinius.
A songn7689, during which DISANIUS etc. discourse with the KING.n7688 DISANIUS seems to acquaint the KING with the manner of PHILARGUS’ death, pointing at VARILLUS. The KING seems much troubled; but at the end of the song, (as by the KING’S appointment) DISANIUS raiseth PHILOCLES, and JUSTINIUS raiseth EUDINA, and bring them to the KING while EUPATHUS with the ATTENDANTS go forth with the hearse, the recorders playing, which done:

816KingYour virgin tears and vows o’er your lost love
        I did attendgs1155 with pardon, my Eudina;
        In hope you are now compliant to my will.

817DisaniusGrievegg4670 not your father, madam.

818EudinaI ha’ done;
        And as the gods direct him to command me,
        I must and will obey.

819DisaniusSo that’s well said.

820KingThe gods have pleased, Eudina, to determine
        Your doubtful choice, reserving Philocles
        Unto your love without competitor.
        Therefore it now remains that he be taken
        Into your liking whom I have decreed
        My successor.

821EudinaHis merits are above
        Me and this land, in which what interest
        My birth hath given me, I resign to him.
        Only let me beseech a further respite.

822KingFor what? The celebration? I consent.
        But for the contractgg5064, this immediate hour
        Shall see it knit beyond all dissolution.

823DisaniusAyen4978, that I thirst to see.

824KingGive me your hands.   EUDINA gives her hand.   
        Yours, Philocles.

825Disanius   [To PHILOCLES]   Why give you not your hand?
        Dare you not trust the King with’t?   [Aside]   Should he now
        Show a jade’s trickn7690 and fly back?

826PhiloclesI beseech,
        Under your highness’ pardon, yet, a respite.

827Disanius   [Aside]   More respites yet? Was ever hopeful match
        Driven so round about?n7691

828KingWhy this delay?

829PhiloclesMy brother’s blood cries in me for your justice
        Which must be executed on his murderer
        Before I safely can, or dare, possess
        His interest in the faith of fair Eudina.

830DisaniusOh, is that all? That may be soon dispatched.
        Come forwards, poisoner.
[VARILLUS moves forward.]
        Good your majesty,
        For expeditiongs633, make me his judge
        And hangman too (I care not)n7692 rather than
        Suffer this match hang o’ the tentersgg5065 thus.

831KingHas he confessed the fact?

832DisaniusYes, yes, to me.
        I beat it out of him. Quickly, good King.

833KingYour patience, good Disanius. Sirrah, speak.

834VarillusIt was my act. But may your mercy look
        Upon my love in it unto my lord.

835King.Your lord shall be your judge then.

836PhiloclesI adjudgegg2884 him
        To sharp but ling’ring tortures (for his death
        Alone can yield no satisfaction);
        Tortures that may draw in, by his confession,
        As accessories with him, all the homicidesgg5066
        That are i’th’ kingdom.

837DisaniusA hard matter, that.

838PhiloclesNor can I think his onlyn7693 brain and hands
        Composed the poison.

839DisaniusHang him, he’s a barber
        And uses aquafortisgg5067, oil of vitriolgg5068,
        Mercury, and suchlike, to cleanse his razors.

840Justinius’Tis good that you, Varillus, clear your conscience
        And, if you had confederates in the fact,
        Give up their names.

841Tersulus   [Aside]   Varillus, I suspect
        Doris joined hand with you in my lord’s death.

842DisaniusWhat’s that you mutter?

843TersulusIt shall out, my lord;
        The handmaid Doris, put him on’t; I know’t
        By what she said to us both, we being her lovers.

844DisaniusThe tailor proves an honest man: because
        He cannot have the wench himself, he’ll hang her.

845VarillusOf her I had the poison, ’tis confessed.

846DisaniusOh, that whore!

847KingFind her and drag her hither.Exit TERSULUS.n7627
Enter THYMELE [and PLACILLA].

848ThymeleWhere’s my Philargus? Give me yet his body,
        That with a mother’s tears I may embalm it.

849DisaniusYou have heard the woeful news then; but, my sister,
        Could grief recall Philargus, we would weep
        A second delugen7697 for his reparationgs1158;
        Renew his breath by sighing, and awake him
        With groans out of his sepulchre.

850ThymeleAlready
        Have you interred him then? You made strange haste.
           [To KING]   Was it your subtletygg5072 to send me hence,
        Fearing my cries might have revived him, King?
        And so again delayed your daughter’s marriage?
        I have enough to cross itn7699 yet, Philargus.

851DisaniusWhat’s that?

852StratoclesDistraction, sure.

853KingMy fear foresaw’t.

854ThymeleYou are deceived, for from my depth of sorrow,
        Through this thick film of tears, I can perceive
        You are about to join the hands and faiths
        Of Philocles and Eudina.

855KingIs not that
        Enough to dry your tears, and show you that
        The gods were rather merciful in leaving
        This son, than rigorous in taking tother?

856DisaniusOr would you now, ’cause you have lost Philargus,
        Kill Philocles too by crossing of this contract?

857ThymeleIt is the pleasure of the gods I cross it.
Enter GARRULA.

858DisaniusOf devils it is. What can she mean? Go, sleep.

859GarrulaKing, by your leave.

860DisaniusWhat says old Suck-bottlegs1160 now?

861ThymeleNay, I am here before you, Garrula,
        And now will tell the long-hid secret for you.
        And if I errgg1776 in it, disprove me.

862GarrulaTell’t then.
        My falt’ring tongue will fail me. I can hear though.   Drinks.   

863ThymeleThis contract must not be.

864KingYou then must yield
        More reason than I find you have.

865ThymeleYourself
        Can never make it. You will sooner join
        The wolf and lambn7702, falcon and dove together.

866KingNo trifling, I command you, Thymele.

867PhiloclesIf you be serious, mother, hold us not
        In this suspense.

868ThymeleLet not the royal blood
        Of Thessaly be stained with an incestuous match.n9501

869KingHow!

870GarrulaShe says right. They are both your lawful children
        By your own virtuous queen now in — Elysiumgg3293n7703.

871KingWhat dreams are these of your distemperedgg5076 heads?

872ThymeleThis is no dream or fable. But unfeignedn7704gg5077   [GARRULA] sip[s].   
        As truth itself: which with your gracious leave
        I shall demonstrate, humbly craving pardon
        For my so long concealment, as I’ll yield
        Due reason for it.

873King.Freely speak, you have it.

874ThymeleYou may remember in your civil wars,
        (Those cruel wars, as I may justly stylegg287 ’em)
        In which my husband fell –

875DisaniusO my brave brother!

876ThymeleWhen open rebels and domestic traitorsn7705
        Pursued your crown and life, your gracious queen
        To have been brought to bed, and was believed
        To have miscarried by an abortive birth.

877KingTrue. In her flight she was constrainedgg688 to take
        A neighbouring cottage, and use the help
        Of the swain’s wife.

878GarrulaThat swainessgg5078 was myself,
        Though my deserts have glorified me since.
        And by my help (and somewhat of the gods)
        She then made you the father of that prince.

879Disanius   [To GARRULA]   Take up thy bottle.   [To THYMELE]   Sister, speak you on.

880ThymeleTh’affrighted queen (yet wise in that extremity)
        Suspecting that the innocence of her babe,
        Born to a kingdom could not be secured
        In those combustionsgs1162 from apparent danger,
        Sent him to me in private – then in travailn4984
        Of my Philargus – charging me to feignn7707gg5079
        A second labour, with the midwife’s aid,
        For Philocles: I did, and was reputed
        Mother of both.

881KingI cannot think our queen
        Would keep us ignorant of so good a fortune.

882ThymeleI movedgs1163 her oftgg5081 to tell you. But she answered,
        ‘All is not soundgs1164; there’s danger, yet’. And when,
        After Eudina’s birth, she felt herself
        At point of death, she strictly did enjoingg5083
        Me and this woman only conscious with her
        By oath of which she had prepared this copy    [She produces] a paper.   
        In her own handgg2040, to keep it silent, till
        Philocles should be able to secure
        Himself from treachery; or that your term
        Of life expiring, or some accident
        Of no less consequence, required detectiongg5945 .
        For further proof –

883KingMy joy forbids more questioning;
        Give me my flesh and blood into my bosom.
        Thricegs1165 happy fathers if your children were
        Born to you thus of perfect agen7708. But where
        Is now a match for my Eudina, I
        Have here a successor.
A shout within and crying ‘PHILARGUS! PHILARGUS!’ etc.

884KingHah! Voices i’th’ air that cry ‘Philargus’?

885EudinaVoices that do tell me I must follow him
        Up to the heavens, and there be married to him.

886DisaniusHere’s the she-devil now.n7709
Enter TERSULUSn7628 with DORIS.

887DorisYou need not pull me.n7629
        For that man’s love, I laid thy lord to sleep.
        Had I loved thee best, then his lord had slept.

888DisaniusHow does he sleep? Speak, impudent baggage; how?

889DorisHow? With a powder, sir, which my own father,
        A skilful ’pothecary, prepared; who, if
        Philargus die, shall hang with us for company.

890DisaniusYour father?

891DorisYes, but now the peril’s passed.
Enter PHILARGUS [and] EUPATHUS.
        See, if he sleep, ’tis walkingn7711.

892PhiloclesHa! Philargus.
        Or but the shadegg5085, the spirit of my friend.

893PhilargusBe not amazed, as at an apparition.

894ThymeleDoth my son live? Oh, then I have enough.

895DisaniusCome hithergg1268, come hither, you threen7712. I will discharge
        The scene of you.n7713   [To VARILLUS]   Thy love unto thy lord
        (Though somewhat unadvisedly employed)
        Deserves reward; I’ll see it given thee,
        Thy lord and King shall thank thee. Take thy wench;
        She has love in her wit, and wit in her anger.
        I like the luck of things that illgs1167 intents
        Should bring forth good events.   [To TERSULUS]   Thy faithfulness
        To thy lord too was happy. Go, I’ll see you
        All royally rewarded.Exit. VARILLUS, TERSULUS [and] DORIS.
Enter GERON.
        How now, Geron?

896GeronMy lord, I see here’s joy towards, as whi –

897Disanius’Slifegg1915, stand not whiloming now man, but be brief.

898GeronCry mercy. I had leftgs1168 it. But, my lord,
        To celebrate the flowing joys in court,
        I and my country heads have framed a masquegg5086,
        Rather an anticgg5087 dance, rather a country toygs1169,
        Rather a rustic roundgs1170, rather a –

899DisaniusHoyday!gg3015
        Thy ‘rather’s’ worse than thy ‘whilom’. Dost know
        What time o’ day ’tis?

900Geron’Tis a rural thing
        To be presented at the princess’ wedding
        And, if you think it meetgg5088, I will inducegs1171
        The practice of it presently. As whi –

901DisaniusGo fetch the heads and heelsn7714; I’ll staygs1104 the King
        To see and laugh at ’em. That’s grace enough.Exit GERON.

902KingPhilargus, you have much to know, the which
        We willgg5089 Eudina tell you, now she’s yours.
        Receive her and our blessing.

903PhilargusWere I dead
        (As I was thought to be) your name pronounced
        Over my grave, beyond all necromancygg5090,
        Would call fresh blood into my veins again,
        Strengthen my nerves to break the iron gatesn9508
        Of death, and force my joyful spirit from
        Th’ Elysian paradisen9327 to live with you.

904KingYou shall not be a loser, Thymele:
        Philocles shall be yours, and, in exchange,
        Placilla mine.

905Philocles   [To PLACILLA]   To me, my beauteous spouse,
        Thou art as Junon7715 to her Jupiter,
        Sister and wife.

906ThymeleYour highness may be pleased
        Now at so happy leisure to perpendgg5091
        The oracle, which truly hath effected
        Each word of the prediction.

907KingWho can repeat the answer? I ha’ lost it.

908DisaniusI have it.
        Contend not for the jewel, which
        Ere long shall both of you enrich.

909PhiloclesEudina does so: me in a dear sister.

910PhilargusMe in a peerless wife.

911DisaniusPursue your fortune: for ’tis she
        Shall make ye what you seem to be.

912PhiloclesShe has done that too, for now indeed we’ren4985 brothers.
        King Apollo, thou hast filled us all with joy.
Loud music is here.n7716
        But has our joy already filled our court
        With music?

913DisaniusWill your Majesty yet sit
        And see the practice of a presentation
        Againstgs1080 the marriages by your swains of Tempe
        With thanks, and give it all the grace we may?
Enter GERON and the Swains [RUSTICS] and Nymphs for the dance.

914GeronFrom Tempe plains, the Tempe swains
        With mirth and melody,
        With dance and song do hither throng
        To greet your Majesty.

915GarrulaOh there, look there, madam, my son, and all
        My old Temperian neighbours.

916GeronWe cannot hope in all our scope,
        To gain much praise for skill,
        But it shall be enough, if ye
        Accept of our good will.
The dance.

917KingMy thanks to all.

918All [Rustics]Heaven bless your Majesty.[RUSTICS] exit.

919KingThanks to Apollo. Let his temple be
        The place of our solemnity. His altars
        Let them be laden with Arabian spices;
        Let his priests lead, in a devout procession,
        The horned sacrifice, mantledgg5950 with garlandsn4986
        And we (our temples crowned with laureln11288) follow
        With music, soundinggg5092 Hymenn11289 and Apollon7717.[They all exit.]

EPILOGUE.n9625


Epilogue’Tis not the poet’s art, nor all that we
        By life of action can present unt’ye
        Can justly make us to presume a play
        Is good till you approv’t: which that you may
        It cannot misbecomegg5093 us, since our gains
        Come by your favour more than all our pains.
        Thus to submit us unto your commands
        And humbly ask that favour at your handsn7718.

Edited by Eleanor Lowe


n9338   ACT FIVE Act Five is comprised of three scenes, the middle one extremely short. The act opens with Philargus and Philocles deciding upon the next best course of action now that the duel has failed. One offers to leave if the other stays, but they can’t decide which should do what, since both want the other to marry Eudina. Disanius suggests they solve the dispute by drawing lots for it, but even this process is not protected against their attempts to rig it on the others’ behalf. In the end, Philocles loses the lottery and calls for his horse; however Varillus, acting on behalf of Doris (who he thinks has instructed him to act decisively), poisons the bowl of wine before passing it to Philargus. The latter collapses in Philocles' arms as he attempts to leave. Once again, Brome subverts the apparently tragic nature of this scene by leaving Disanius onstage to dash between the poisoned Philargus, Philocles (intent on suicide), securing the guilty Varillus and the desire to run for help. Eupathus finally enters to help Disanius remove the body, suggesting finality to the debate which has occupied the greater part of the play to this point.
To delay the denouement and add a little light relief, Brome inserts a brief scene here which involves Geron being asked to join in the Rustics' country dance rehearsals for performance before the King.
Scene Three sees the King finally running out of patience with his daughter, and calling for Stratocles (a known abducted and attempted murderer) to be brought in for her. The King is brought two papers: one from the Rustics urging the King not to marry his daughter to Stratocles; the other causing the King to send for Garrula (and prompting Thymele’s fear that Garrula has betrayed their secret). Philocles returns with Disanius, with Philargus dead and Varillus manacled. Eudina instantly pledges her allegiance to Philargus, now dead, much to the King’s exasperation. The King is about to give Eudina’s hand to Philocles, but is delayed by Philocles' request for his brother’s killer to be punished first.
Thymele, already thinking her secret had been uncovered, is now pushed to the point at which she must unburden herself. She reveals that the late Queen gave birth during the civil wars and sent the baby (Philocles) to her for safe keeping (a secret only she and Garrula knew). Thymele pretended she had given birth to twins, although only Philargus was her own son. Thymele has had to reveal her secret since Eudina was about to be married to her true brother.
Fortunately, Doris’s poisonous potion was harmless, so Philargus recovers from his sleep-like death in time to marry Eudina. Philocles marries Placilla (who can now cease punishing herself for supposed incestuous thoughts) while Doris presumably marries Varillus. The play ends with the succession determined, the kingdom secured, the people contented, and a rustic dance in celebration. [go to text]

gs1128   Move petition [go to text]

gg5037   hallowed sacred, treated as holy [go to text]

gg5038   remove relocate [go to text]

gg395   Whence from where [go to text]

n4979   travel ] travail [go to text]

n7630   th’Antipodes the other side of the world. Both The Love-Sick Court and Brome's play named The Antipodes were performed in the same year (1638) at the Salisbury Court theatre, despite being published nearly twenty years apart (in 1659 and 1640 respectively). [go to text]

gg5943   impediment hindrance, obstruction [go to text]

gg5039   fruition enjoyment, possession [go to text]

gg491   want lack [go to text]

n7632   Thebanbrothers The most famous Theban brothers were Oedipus' sons, Eteocles and Polynices, who agreed to share the government of Thebes in alternate years; however, Eteocles refused to give up his reign after the first year, causing Polynices to attack Thebes, along with his father-in-law, Adrastus (the name shared by Philargus and Philocles' supposed father, an heroic general), and five others (dramatised in Aeschylus' play Seven Against Thebes). Because they disrespected their father, Eteocles and Polynices were cursed by him, each to die at the other's hands. Philargus suggests that he and Philocles could divide anything, including a kingdom, peacefully (unlike Oedipus' fated sons), but that Eudina cannot be divided like a parcel of land or the sharing of power. The reference also harks back to King Lear's fateful division of his kingdom between his three daughters (Shakespeare's King Lear, 1.1.37-41). [go to text]

n7631   Theban ] Thebean [go to text]

n7634   Castor and Pollux In some versions of the myth surrounding these brothers, Castor is the mortal son of Tyndareus and Leda, while Pollux (the Latin form; Polydeuces in Greek) shares their mother but is fathered by Zeus and is therefore immortal. The brothers' abduction of two women resulted in a fight during which Castor was killed, but Pollux shared his immortality with his brother, so that they spent half their time in the Underworld and half on Mount Olympus with the gods. It is to this which Philargus refers: the sharing of (time in) heaven between two brothers. [go to text]

n7635   But Eudina Is only indivisible. Philargus' reference is reminiscent of the Judgement of Solomon from 1 Kings 3:16-28, in which two women are arguing over custody of a baby boy. In his wisdom, Solomon orders that the child must be split in two with a sword, so that each may receive half the baby. The real mother relinquishes her claim, her maternal instinct preventing acceptance that her baby be divided and thus die, while the deceitful woman is prepared for the division to go ahead. Philargus recognises that, unlike land or power, Eudina cannot be shared between the brothers. [go to text]

gg5040   Partition division into parts, portions [go to text]

gs1142   even just [go to text]

gg242   presence place or space surrounding the king (OED 2a); ceremonial attendance (OED 2b); presence-chamber (OED 2c) [go to text]

gg5041   peremptory conclusive, decisive [go to text]

gg915   to boot also [go to text]

gg3463   agitation motion, discussion [go to text]

gg5042   ecstasied exalted, enraptured [go to text]

gg5043   absent (v) to remove, withdraw (oneself) [go to text]

gg798   several various [go to text]

n7636   golden shower i.e. fortune, here referenced in meterological terms to continue Disanius' simile. There is a sense of beneficence from the gods here too, since Zeus once visited Danae as a shower of gold whilst she was imprisoned, after which she gave birth to Perseus. [go to text]

gs1143   Light fall [go to text]

gs1144   even equally [go to text]

gs1145   swaddle beat soundly (OED v. 3) [go to text]

gg1269   brace pair, two [go to text]

gg5920   perplexity confusion, uncertainty, distress [go to text]

gg2230   forfeit (a) forfeit to law, lost by misconduct [go to text]

gs650   motion plan of action [go to text]

gg5044   lots specially marked object, one for each participant, to decide a dispute, presided over by a disinterested party [go to text]

n7644   here’s a pass for one, and a plantation For tother. The lot called 'Love' gives a pass for love, marriage to Eudina and remaining in Thessaly; the lot called 'Friendship' requires the recipient to leave for a plantation, suggestive of the colonies. [go to text]

gg1195   tother other (of two) [go to text]

n7645   study not don't think too hard about the choice [go to text]

n7646   draw Disanius puns on the drawing of the lots and his drawing his sword on them if they continue to delay. [go to text]

n7648   They draw the lots. Video In the workshop, this section of the scene prompted a long and involved discussion concerning the drawing of the lots. Two possible staging options were explored: one in which the brothers draw their lots, but then swap them over, only to be chastised by Disanius who swaps the lots once again . One problem with this method was in keeping track of the lots and who had what. Alan Morrissey astutely pointed out that he (as Philocles) had to end up with 'Friendship' as he is the brother who offers to leave on his horse. If Philargus initially draws 'Friendship', has it swapped by Philocles and returned by Disanius, Philocles has 'Love' which does not work, particularly since Disanius urges the brothers to obey the lots; therefore another swap is required so that Philocles has 'Friendship'.
In the second version, Philargus pretends he has 'Friendship' but Philocles corrects him, and Disanius' advice to obey the gods is a response to what is spoken rather than the action of swapping the lots . In both of these video clips, Philargus and Philocles are seen to delay choosing their lots from Disanius' hand, each offering first choice to the other; this makes visual what the text conveys. [go to text]

n7643   draw ] drew [go to text]

n7651   My love The emphasis should be placed on 'My' since Philocles is making a distinction between the lot called 'Love' and his own love. [go to text]

n8010   elixir ] Elizar. This edition follows MacLeod in emending to 'elixir' since no explanation to 'Elizar' can be found; however, the elixir of grapes is, of course, wine. The choice of 'elixir' is particularly prophetic since it can refer to a drug or essence which is believed to prolong life, exactly what Philargus will need upon ingesting Varillus' concoction (see OED n. 2a). [go to text]

n7650   Jove by Acheron Jove, the highest of the classical gods, is referred to as swearing by Acheron, the river of the Underworld, which was also known as a 'stream of woe'. This oath in part prophesies the fateful events which are about to occur, and immediately precedes Varillus' exit to fetch the wine (and poison). [go to text]

n7649   [He] exit[s]. As Hannah Watkins (playing Varillus) pointed out in the workshop, Varillus exits at this point thinking that his master, Philocles, is leaving. He fetches the poison in answer to Doris's statement in 4.1 that she will marry the servant of the lord who is not dead [LS 4.1.speech515]. [go to text]

n7652   Kick not your heels against the gods Video In the two video versions provided, Disanius is either chastising the brothers for swapping their lots or advising them not to lie about their lot . In the first example, Disanius redistributes the lots at this point. [go to text]

gg5038   remove relocate [go to text]

gs1102   Would I wish that [go to text]

gs1149   once at once [go to text]

n7653   Variety of objects, Like nails, abandon one another. One nail is driven in to knock out another. Philocles hopes that travel will replace his thoughts of love and Eudina. [go to text]

n7500   travel, ] Travail [go to text]

gg5238   e’er contraction of 'ever' (Onions) [go to text]

gg3457   nor neither [go to text]

gg1011   auspicate to give a fortunate [auspicious] start to (OED auspicate v. 3) [go to text]

gs1150   expedite hasten, help forward [go to text]

n5238   travels ] travails. This edition chooses the journeying aspect as the primary meaning, however, exertion and toil (travails) is an obvious secondary meaning. [go to text]

n7668   my better part of soul Here, the soul is figured as breath which can leave the body and enter another. Some medieval paintings feature images of dying men's souls leaving their bodies like a white cloud. This is in keeping with two classical concepts of breath as the soul or spirit, both of which were current in the seventeenth century: 'psyche' (a Greek word, the equivalent of the Roman concept of 'anima'), both an 'animating principle of the universe' (OED n. 1a) and as part of the dualisitic division into mental and physical, i.e. the mind, soul or spirit (as separate from the body, OED 1b); 'pneuma' is also of Greek etymology, meaning 'spirit, soul or life force' (OED n. 2), theologically speaking, the spirit of God. [go to text]

n7654   How is it with you, brother? Video In the workshop, the actors playing the brothers discovered an easy transition from their embrace to Philargus' collapse as he begins to react to Varillus' poison. The embrace also masks the collapse, so that Disanius believes Philargus' reaction is caused by unmanly emotion. This moment is captured in the following clip, where the embrace continues a little too long before it is discovered that Philargus is dying . It is difficult to know where to place the direction 'He falls'; in rehearsal and performance these events are flexible, however, some physical manifestation of the poison's effect must prompt Philocles' question 'How is it with you, brother?'. The fall could occur a few lines later and trigger Philocles' response: 'Too soon, I fear'. [go to text]

n7665   womanish ceremony Disanius sees Philargus' reaction to the poisoned wine and misinterprets it as an abundant display of emotion. Although Philargus does sink to the ground, it might be that the brothers appear to weep at their parting. [go to text]

n7655   Philargus! Brother! Friend! Ye gods, how comes this? There are echoes of Romeo and Juliet here, whereby one character is holding the seemingly dead body of another (for whom he professes his love). But as in Shakespeare's play, Philargus is not dead, only unconscious after ingesting some form of sleeping potion, and he will be magically resurrected, as is Juliet; however, Brome's play results in a happier ending. [go to text]

n7662   No, ’twas myself. This very short line is apt from a dying man, but also points to the jarring nature of Philargus' lie. [go to text]

n7666   Thou wilt not go out o’th’ world With a lie i’ thy mouth? Like Hamlet's father, Philargus will enter purgatory to pay penance for his sins because he dies without absolution. Othello is similarly concerned that Desdemona has prayed and confessed her sins before he smothers her (see Othello, 5.2). [go to text]

gg4972   offers attempts (to do harm or injury) [go to text]

n7657   Wilt thou die mad too? Video The fast-paced energy of this scene is illustrated with a small example of its exploration in the workshop . Robert Lister, playing Disanius, identified the enormous challenge this scene presents to an actor in trying to control and respond to several different actions and persons successfully, as well as delivering lines to other characters and to the audience as asides. Disanius' need for assistance with Philargus' body was patently obvious in one take, when Robert ended the scene with three swords in his hand (plus script), all confiscated from Philocles (Alan Morrissey), who had successively attempted to kill himself with his own, Philargus', and Disanius' swords. Robert had no free hands with which to remove the body of Philargus, and the moment pointed to the potential comedy of the scene. [go to text]

n9329   let go your whiblin. OED quotes this citation from The Love-Sick Court for 'whiblin', being slang for 'what-d'ye-call-it', of unknown origin, and here taken to refer to the sword Disanius has recently snatched from Philocles. However the OED entry also invites comparison with 'whibble' (equivocation; in context referring to Philocles' argumentative disposition) and 'quiblin' (pun or trick; in context, a possible allusion to Philocles' repeated attempts to kill himself, thus disobeying Disanius' orders). [go to text]

gs526   quit free, release [go to text]

gg5049   visnomy (physiognomy) face; appearance [go to text]

n9246   Is there no more i’th’ house? The scene is set outside in the Vale of Tempe, so Disanius question is a metatheatrical one relating to the interior of the theatre as the 'house'. [go to text]

n7656   PHILOCLES offers again to kill himself. Since Disanius has taken his sword, Philocles must find alternate means to attempt suicide. Possible suggestions include snatching the bowl of poison, or removing Philargus' sword from its sheath. [go to text]

n7658   A box Or two in kindness will not do amiss. In the workshop, Robert Lister (playing Disanius) suggested that boxing Philargus ears might come in response to Philocles' rather delicate rubbing of Philargus; i.e. stop stroking him and smack his face to wake him. [go to text]

n7659   Stir not you, sirrah. This edition preserves the original text's presentation of this line as an order, rather than as a question. Disanius appears to address Varillus, perhaps prompted by the latter's attempt to sneak away. This is made clear by Varillus' echoing of Disanius' 'stir' in his next line. Alternatively, Disanius could be addressing Philargus, to see whether he is awaking from his supposed faint (in which case the full stop should be replaced by a question mark). [go to text]

n7660   I’ll not stir, my lord. Varillus is kept there by Philocles' (his master's) desire to kill himself. [go to text]

gs29   but only [go to text]

n7661   rip the cause Out discover the cause (rip out the cause) [go to text]

gs1151   maw throat or stomach [go to text]

n7663   Has sent – Eupathus breaks off at the sight of Philargus' body on the ground, but also because Disanius interrupts his message (without disrupting the metre). [go to text]

n7667   that that man, i.e. Philocles [go to text]

n7664   Pray, assist me Presumably Disanius addresses this instruction to Eupathus, since Philocles is overcome with grief and Varillus must be returned to court as a prisoner (perhaps restrained in some way). [go to text]

n7670   Rustici amici country friends (Latin) [go to text]

gg3861   whilom in times past [go to text]

n7902   Antisthenes A Greek philosopher and founder of the Cynic school. Diogenes Laertius recorded details of his life and sayings in Lives of the Philosophers, and mentioned his thoughts on virtue. [go to text]

gg1809   became befitted, suited [go to text]

gg5052   hindlocks hair growing on the rear limbs (example from The Love-Sick Court cited in OED a. (n3) C.a) [go to text]

gg3438   figgle fidget (only citation included in OED is from The Love-Sick Court, 5.2) [go to text]

gg5051   sprinkle scatter, distribute (droppings, in distress) [go to text]

gg3439   iwis certainly, indeed [go to text]

n4980   iwis ] I wisse [go to text]

n7625   Geron ] Gar. [go to text]

n4981   Briton ] Britain [go to text]

gg1009   clowns countryfolk [go to text]

gg3186   found discovered, hit upon (a weakness) [go to text]

gg2613   swains young men [go to text]

gg5053   guise fashion, manner [go to text]

n7673   light horses Some period dances require performers to imitate horses by lifting up the feet (to leap) and scraping the ground, such as the Horse's Brawl. [go to text]

gg5054   honestly in a respectable manner; chastely [go to text]

n7674   ‘lom’ A pun on 'loam' or soil. [go to text]

gg5055   projected planned, designed [go to text]

gg1926   e’en (adv) even now (OED 6a), just now [go to text]

n7675   head vein i.e. the type of wit which originates in the brain [go to text]

n4982   here ] hear [go to text]

n7676   show it in our heels i.e. by dancing [go to text]

gg1141   slighted treated contemptuously, with indifference [go to text]

gs996   attend wait [go to text]

gg823   mollify appease, soften [go to text]

n7681   avert ] aver't. The verb 'to avert' (turn away) makes better contextual sense; perhaps the compositor mistakenly added the apostrophe or misread his copy text. [go to text]

gg2337   ingrateful ungrateful [go to text]

gg162   late recent [go to text]

gg5944   temperate restrained, moderate [go to text]

n4983   O mighty sir This is a complex sequence of speeches in the original text, in which Eudina's and the King's appear on the same line, enclosed in parentheses, with 'Receive Eudina' below. [go to text]

gg2230   forfeit (a) forfeit to law, lost by misconduct [go to text]

gg5058   acceptation acceptance [go to text]

gg1111   trespass an infringement of the law or one’s duty [go to text]

gg1029   wrought (literally) moulded, shaped; (in context) persuaded [go to text]

gg5059   suppliant humble petitioner [go to text]

gg5060   unkind undutiful, ungrateful [go to text]

gg3460   Commons common people, community; also those who represent them (in England, the Lower House of Parliament) [go to text]

n4961   You’re ] Y'are [go to text]

gg5061   prescribed laid down, fixed (in writing beforehand) [go to text]

gg5062   detected exposed, discovered, revealed (secret) [go to text]

gg5247   distraction disorder or confusion, caused by internal conflict or dissension; disturbance of mind or feelings [go to text]

gg613   crossed frustrated, jinxed; (literally) run across (one's path) [go to text]

gg242   presence place or space surrounding the king (OED 2a); ceremonial attendance (OED 2b); presence-chamber (OED 2c) [go to text]

n7687   Recorders. In annotating a similar stage direction in The Queen and Concubine, Lucy Munro notes: 'Recorders are often linked with 'sad' or 'solemn' music in play-texts' and references The Second Maiden's Tragedy and Davenant’s The Cruel Brother [NOTE n3210]. [go to text]

gg2587   affect love, like (OED v1. 2); also means ‘to show ostentatiously a liking for' (OED v1. 5) [go to text]

n7626   you, great ] you^ great, [go to text]

n7689   A song This is the second song (the first occurring during Eudina's dream vision), serving as music which accompanies mimed action. [go to text]

n7688   DISANIUS etc. discourse with the KING. The 'etc.' perhaps includes Justinius and Disanius. [go to text]

gs1155   attend listen to [go to text]

gg4670   Grieve harass, trouble, vex, hurt (OED v. 2) [go to text]

gg5064   contract marriage contract, engagement [go to text]

n4978   Aye ] I [go to text]

n7690   jade’s trick impetuous action of a vicious or badly-behaved horse; see also Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, who ends her first onstage verbal battle with Benedick: 'You always end with a jade's trick. I know you of old' (1.1.138-39.) [go to text]

n7691   Driven so round about? i.e. delayed [go to text]

gs633   expedition haste in getting business settled [go to text]

n7692   And hangman too (I care not) Disanius has to justify his offer to become Varillus' hangman since this was the lowest kind of (honest) work and not in keeping with his status as the King's advisor. [go to text]

gg5065   tenters (literally) hooks (tenterhooks) or bent nails set into a frame (tenter) on which cloth is stretched to ensure that it dries evenly; something causing anxious suspense or suffering [go to text]

gg2884   adjudge to award by judicial sentence [go to text]

gg5066   homicides murderers, man-killers (see OED n1. a) [go to text]

n7693   his only i.e. only his [go to text]

gg5067   aquafortis nitric acid, a solvent and corrosive [go to text]

gg5068   oil of vitriol concentrated sulphuric acid [go to text]

n7627   Exit TERSULUS. ] This exit direction originally appears at the end of Varillus' speech, "Of her I had the poyſon, tis confeſt" [LS 5.3.line2535], two lines above its current placement, "Find her and drag her hither"; however, Tersulus' exit is in response to the King's command. [go to text]

n7697   second deluge The first deluge was the Flood of the Bible (Genesis 6-9), in preparation for which Noah assembled the animals in the ark. Disanius' metaphor suggests that they would shed a great quantity of water in tears in return for Philargus' life. [go to text]

gs1158   reparation restoration (of a person to life); OED cites this example (2c) [go to text]

gg5072   subtlety craftiness, cunning [go to text]

n7699   it i.e. the marriage (between Philocles and Eudina) [go to text]

gs1160   Suck-bottle tippler (OED 2 cites this example as a quasi-proper name) [go to text]

gg1776   err make a mistake, fail, go astray [go to text]

n7702   wolf and lamb In the Bible's book of Isaiah, the wolf dwelling with the lamb is seen metaphorically as an harmonious consequence of peace reigning on earth (Isaiah 11:6 and 65:25). Although no similar reference to the falcon and dove has been found in the Bible, their pairing functions similarly to the wolf and lamb, one being the natural predator of the other. Away from the biblical world, this is seen as an impossible feat, comparable to King's request of Thymele. [go to text]

n9501   Let not the royal blood Of Thessaly be stained with an incestuous match. Hamlet articulates a similar concern about the marriage of his mother to his father's brother, now King of Denmark, in Shakespeare's play, pointing out that his mother's recent marriage makes Gertrude 'the Queen, your husband's brother's wife' (and is therefore incestuous; 3.4.14). Hamlet's references to his uncle, Claudius, as a 'mildew'd ear' (line 64) lead Gertrude to acknowledge 'black and grained spots' within her soul (line 90), i.e. dye or staining, such as Thymele warns against. [go to text]

n7703   in — Elysium Garrula's pause (signified by two short dashes in the original text) could be caused either by her forgetfulness or by catching Thymele's angry eye. [go to text]

gg3293   Elysium 'The supposed state or abode of the blessed after death in Greek mythology' (OED). [go to text]

gg5076   distempered disordered, ill, deluded [go to text]

gg5077   unfeigned not pretended, genuine, true [go to text]

n7704   unfeigned ] unfain'd [go to text]

gg287   style (v) call, term [go to text]

n7705   domestic traitors i.e. those committing treason against their own country and its government [go to text]

gg688   constrained forced, compelled [go to text]

gg5078   swainess female country person; female lover (OED cites this example from The Love-Sick Court) [go to text]

gs1162   combustions disorders, commotions (OED 5b) [go to text]

n4984   travail ] travel [go to text]

gg5079   feign invent, fake [go to text]

n7707   feign ] fain [go to text]

gs1163   moved urged, asked [go to text]

gg5081   oft often [go to text]

gs1164   sound safe, stable [go to text]

gg5083   enjoin bind together by order [go to text]

gg2040   hand handwriting (OED n. 16) [go to text]

gg5945   detection discovery, the finding out of what had been concealed [go to text]

gs1165   Thrice three times [go to text]

n7708   perfect age i.e. already grown up and matured into adults [go to text]

n7709   Here’s the she-devil now. Doris must either be visible or audible to Disanius before her formal entrance point. [go to text]

n7628   TERSULUS ] Turs. [go to text]

n7629   me. ] me^ [go to text]

n7711   walking i.e. sleep-walking [go to text]

gg5085   shade 'The visible but impalpable form of a dead person, a ghost' (OED n. 6a) [go to text]

gg1268   hither here (to this place) [go to text]

n7712   come hither, you three i.e. Varillus, Tersulus and Doris [go to text]

n7713   I will discharge The scene of you. i.e. Disanius will dismiss them from the stage, and from their accusations (since Philargus lives). [go to text]

gs1167   ill harmful, immoral [go to text]

gg1915   ’Slife abbreviation for 'God's life' used as an oath or exclamation [go to text]

gs1168   left stopped, left off (saying) [go to text]

gg5086   masque symbolic courtly entertainment, usually involving elaborate music, dancing, costumes and scenery [go to text]

gg5087   antic grotesque, comic [go to text]

gs1169   toy (trivial) entertainment [go to text]

gs1170   round circular dance [go to text]

gg3015   Hoyday! an exclamation of annoyance, anger and exasperation (akin to 'Heyday!', which is more expressive of surprise or delight) [go to text]

gg5088   meet suitable, fitting, proper [go to text]

gs1171   induce bring about, instruct [go to text]

n7714   the heads and heels Disanius is quoting, but also mocking, the Rustics in 5.2 [LS 5.2.speech767]. Given that he is not present in this scene, perhaps the quotation is unwitting. [go to text]

gs1104   stay delay [go to text]

gg5089   will order, wish, desire [go to text]

gg5090   necromancy 'The art of predicting the future by supposed communication with the dead; (more generally) divination, sorcery, witchcraft, enchantment (OED n. 1a) [go to text]

n9508   iron gates In 'To His Coy Mistress', the persona of Andrew Marvell's poem urges his mistress to challenge the constant movement of the sun (and thus, time) by tearing 'through the iron gates of life'. See also Matthew 7: 13-14: 'strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it' (King James Bible). Philargus' speech suggests that the reverse of the gates of life are the gates of death, which he would gladly burst through from the afterlife in order to join Eudina (were he dead). It is a surprisingly energetic expression of desire to be with the Princess, after the neoplatonic statements made by both him and Philocles in the previous acts. [go to text]

n9327   Th’ Elysian paradise pertaining to Elysium, 'the supposed state or abode of the blessed after death in Greek mythology' (OED, Elysium, 1). [go to text]

n7715   Juno Queen of the gods in classical mythology, Juno was both sister and wife to Jupiter; also goddess of marriage. Philocles' wife, Placilla, is also his sister (in law) because she and Philargus are siblings, and he is to marry Philocles' sister, Eudina. [go to text]

gg5091   perpend ponder, reflect upon, investigate [go to text]

n4985   we’re ] w'are [go to text]

n7716   Loud music is here. In annotating The Queen and Concubine, Lucy Munro cites Julia Wood's argument that 'evidence from Caroline plays suggests that 'loud music' may have been 'theatrical shorthand' for 'powerful-voiced' instruments such as the hoboy, trumpet or cornet and that it may have been expected to be produced by more than one instrument'. See Music in Caroline Plays, pp. 103-4, and [NOTE n1258] [go to text]

gs1080   Against in anticipation of, in preparation for, in time for (OED 19) [go to text]

gg5950   mantled covered, dressed [go to text]

n4986   garlands ] Ghirlonds [go to text]

n11288   laurel laurel crowns or wreaths were traditionally as a symbol of distinction, especially in poetry [go to text]

gg5092   sounding declaring, proclaiming, praising (see OED, sound, v1. 10) [go to text]

n11289   Hymen In classical mythology and lore, Hymen was the god of marriage, usually represented as a young man carrying a torch and veil. [go to text]

n7717   Apollo In classical mythology, god of the sun, arts, poetry, music and health. It was Apollo's oracle which predicted the true course of events. [go to text]

n9625   EPILOGUE. There are startling similarities between this Epilogue to The Love-Sick Court and to the next play in the collection of Five New Playes (1658-59), Covent Garden Weeded. [go to text]

gg5093   misbecome be unsuitable for [go to text]

n7718   at your hands i.e. in clapping [go to text]

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