Actus quintus, Scæna quarta. Alexander, Hephestion, Page, Diogenes, Apelles, Campaspe. Alex-.Me thinketh Hephestion you are more melancholy than you are accustomed, but I perceive it is all for Alexander. You can neither brook this peace nor my pleasure; be of good cheer; though I wink, I sleep not. Heph.-Melancholy I am not, nor well content: for I know not how there is such a rust crept into my bones with this long ease, that I fear I shall not scour it out with infinite labours. of Alex.-Yes, yes, if all the travails of conquering the world will set either thy body or mine in tune, we will undertake them. But what think you Apelles? Did ye ever see any so perplexed? He neither answered directly to any question, nor looked stedfastly upon any thing. I hold my life the painter is in love. : Heph.-It may be for commonly we see it incident in artificers, to be enamoured of their own works, as Archidamus of his wooden dove, Pygmalion of his ivory image, Arachne of his wooden swan; especially painters, who playing with their own conceits, now coveting to draw a glancing eye, then a rolling, now a winking, still mending it, never ending it, and then, poor souls, they kiss the colours with their lips, with which before they were loath to taint their fingers. Alex.-I will find it out. Page go speedily to Apelles, will him to come hither, and when you see us earnestly in talk, suddenly cry out, "Apelles' shop is on fire." Page.--It shall be done. Alex.-Forget not your lesson. Heph.-I marvel what your device shall be. Alex. The event shall prove. Heph.-I pity the poor painter, if he be in love. Alex.-Pity him not: I pray thee, that severe gravity set aside: what do you think of love? Heph.-As the Macedonians do of their herb beet, which looketh yellow in the ground, and black in the hand; think it better seen than touched. Alex.-But what do you imagine it to be? use turned into a humour; by self-will made a Alex. You are too hard-hearted to think so of love. Let us go to Diogenes :-Diogenes thou may'st think it somewhat that Alexander cometh to thee again so soon. Diog.-If you come to learn, you could not come soon enough; if to laugh, you be come too soon. Heph.—It would better become thee to be more cour teous, and frame thyself to please. Diog. And you better to be less, if you durst displease. Alex.-What dost thou think of the time we have here? Diog. That we have little and lose much. Alex.-If one be sick, what would'st thou have him do? Diog. Be sure that he make not his physician his heir. Alex.-If thou mightest have thy will, how much ground would content thee. Diog.-As much as you in the end must be contented withal. Alex.-What, a world? Diog.-No, the length of my body. Alex.-Hephestion, shall I be a little pleasant with him? Heph.-You may, but he will be very perverse with you. Alex.-I skills not, 1 cannot be angry with him. Diogenes, I pray thee what dost thou think of love? Diog.-A little worser than I can of hate. Alex. And why? Diog. Because it is better to hate the things which make to love, than to love the things which give occasion to hate. Alex.-Why be not women the best creatures in the world? Diog.-Next men and be es.. Alex. What dost thou dislike chiefly in woman? Alex.-What? Diog. That she is a woman. Alex.-In mine opinion thou wert never born of wo man, that thou thinkest so hardly of women. But now cometh Apelles, who I am sure is as far from thy thoughts as thou art from his cunning. Diogenes, I will have thy cabin removed nearer to my court because I will be a philosopher. Diog. And when you have done so, I pray you remove your court further from my cabin, because I will not be a courtier. Alex. But here comes Apelles.-Apelles, what piece of work have you now in hand? Apel.-None in hand, if it like your majesty; but I am devising a platform in my head. Alex. I think your hand put it in your head. Is it nothing about Venus? Apel.-No, but something about Vulcan. Page-Apelles, Apelles, look above you, your shop is on fire. Apel.—Aye me, if the picture of Campaspe be burnt I am undone. Alex.-Stay Ape les, no haste, it is your heart is on fire, not your shop, and if Campaspe hang there, I would she were burnt. But have you the picture of Campaspe? belike you love her well, you care not though all be lost, so she be that safe. Apel. Not love her; but your majesty knows that painters in their last works are said to excel themselves, and in this I have so much pleased myself, that the shadow as much delighteth me, being an artificer, as the substance doth others that are amorous. Alex. You lay on your colours grossly though I could not paint in your shop, I can spy into your excuse. Be not ashamed Apelles, it is a gentleman's sport to be in love. Call hither Campaspe. Methinks I might have been made privy to your affections; though my council had not been necessary, yet my countenance might have been thought requisite. But Apelles forsooth loveth under-hand, yea, and under Alexander's nose; and-but I say no more. Apel.-Apelles loveth not so, but he liveth to do as Alexander will. Alex.-Campaspe, here is news,-Apelles is in love with you. Camp.-It pleaseth your majesty to say so. for the good qualities I know in Apelles, and Camp. Your handmaid must obey if you command. Alex.-Think you not Hephestion, that she would fain be commanded? Heph.-I am no thought catcher, but I guess un happily. Alex.-I will not enforce marriage where I cannot compel love. Heph. But your majesty may move a question where you be willing to have a match. Alex. Believe me Hephestion, these parties are agreed, they would have me both priest and witness. Apelles take Campaspe, why move ye not? Campaspe, take Apelles,-will it not be? If you be ashamed one of the other, by my consent you shall never come together. But dissemble not. Campaspe do you love Apelles? Camp.-Pardon me, my lord, I love Apelles. Alex.-Apelles it were a shame for you being loved so openly, of so fair a virgin, to say the contrary. Do you love Campaspe? Apel.-Only Campaspe. Alex.-Two loving worms Hephestion. I perceive Alexander cannot subdue the affections of men, |