ARE. Nay, forward, for I delegate my power. And will that at thy mercy they do stand, Whom they so oft, so plainly scorn'd before. 'Tis virtue which they want, and wanting it, Honour no garment to their backs can fit. Then, Crites, practise thy discretion. CRI. Adored Cynthia, and bright Arete, Another might seem fitter for this task, Than Crites far, but that you judge not so: For I (not to appear vindicative, Or mindful of contempts, which I contemn'd, As done of impotence) must be remiss: Who, as I was the author, in some sort, To work their knowledge into Cynthia's sight, So should be much severer to revenge The indignity hence issuing to her name: But there's not one of these who are unpain'd, Or by themselves unpunished; for vice Is like a fury to the vicious mind, And turns delight itself to punishment. But we must forward, to define their doom. You are offenders, that must be confess'd; Do you confess it? ALL. We do. CRI. And that you merit sharp correction? ALL. Yes. CRI. Then we (reserving unto Delia's grace Her farther pleasure, and to Arete What Delia granteth) thus do sentence you: That from this place (for penance known of all, Since you have drunk so deeply of Self-love) You, two and two, singing a Palinode, March to your several homes by Niobe's stone, And offer up two tears a-piece thereon, That it may change the name, as you must change, And of a stone be called Weeping-cross: Because it standeth cross of Cynthia's way, One of whose names is sacred Trivia. And after penance thus perform'd you pass In like set order, not as Midas did, To wash his gold off into Tagus' stream; But to the Well of knowledge, Helicon; Where, purged of your present maladies, Which are not few, nor slender, you become Such as you fain would seem, and then return, Offering your service to great Cynthia. This is your sentence, if the goddess please To ratify it with her high consent; The scope of wise mirth unto fruit is bent. CYN. We do approve thy censure belov'd Crites; Which Mercury, thy true propitious friend, (A deity next Jove beloved of us,) Will undertake to see exactly done. And for this service of discovery, Perform'd by thee, in honour of our name, We vow to guerdon it with such due grace As shall become our bounty, and thy place. Princes that would their people should do well, Must at themselves begin, as at the head; For men, by their example, pattern out Their imitations, and regard of laws: A virtuous court, a world to virtue draws. [EXEUNT CYNTHIA AND HER NYMPHS, FOLLOWED BY ARETE AND CRITES:-- AMORPHUS, PHANTASTE, ETC., GO OFF THE STAGE IN PAIRS, SINGING THE FOLLOWING] PALINODE. AMO. From Spanish shrugs, French faces, smirks, irpes, and all affected humours, CHORUS. Good Mercury defend us.