beautifull that pleaseth not Cariclea Calasir. No more you make me angrie thus to doubt My skill by which she is entrap'd in love And longs to see you Theag. What is that you say Doth faire Cariclea wish to see me father Why doe you then detaine me here and not Conduct me to her Theagines offers to run forth Calasiris catcheth him by the cloake and holds him fast Calas. Nay sir stay a while Though you are very nimble of your feet You must not thinke this matter must be handled As if it were a prize for every man That list to get it take my counsell first Know you not that her father Caricles Is the chiefe man in Delphos that the lawes Give present death to such as steale a maid Without their friends consent be wise my sonne Theag. The matter were not great although I dy'd After I had enjoyed Cariclea Death for her sake is life but Calasiris If you thinke good let us demand her of Old Caricles her father for my wife I doe suppose my blood is high ynough To be commixt with his Calas. We shall not speed Not that he thinkes you any way unworthy But 'cause she 's promis'd to his sisters sonne By him in marriage Theag. O ye gods above It cannot be nor shall it by your leaves Theagenes and none but he shall wed Cariclea who ere presumes to touch My goddesse but my selfe shall sure repent it This hand is not benum'd nor this sword blunt But it can take revenge Calas. It shall not need Theagines be patient be but rul'd By me and we will bring all things to passe According to your wish now leave me here Alone to project on your good be carefull You be not seene oft-times to talke with me But when you come come private and alone To shun suspition Theag. Farewell reverend Father Exit Theagenes Enter Caricles So efficacious is your wisdome sir So forceable our friendship as it hath wrought That effect I wish'd upon my daughter Cariclea is in love and quite subdu'd By strong affection who before was stubborne Unto so sweet a yoake Calas. I knew my charmes Were of sufficient force to doe the feate But can you tell aswell what man she loves As that she is in love Caric. No by Apollo Would Alcamenes were the man she lov'd My sisters sonne I have indeavour'd it All that I can to make her fancy him Calas. T is best you bring him to her and so try The aime of her affection mutuall sight Of lovers kindleth sparkes which else would die Rak'd up in ashes of forgetfulnesse Caric. I le take your counsell Calas. And returne with newes How you have sped Caric. I le give you a relation Exit Caricles Calas. I must convey them hence this taske is laid Upon me by the gods but where I know not The Oracle is mysticall and darke I cannot well interpret what it meanes We must begin our voyage by sea it seemes As may be gathered by the Oracle Where it is said and sayling surging streames Shall come at length to countries scorch'd with Phoebus burning beames If I could by any meanes get the Fascia now which was laid out with Cariclea wherein Caricles said he heard all the maide estate was notified I should be instructed more particularly what I ought to doe and whether the Ladies of destiny would send us Enter Caricles Now brother what successe Caric. Oh wofull newes My daughter seemes distracted such a strange Infirmity doth seise her when I brought My nephew Alcamenes to her fight Freshly apparel'd as if Gorgons head Appear'd or some more fearefull thing she cri'd With a loud voice and turn'd her countenance From him and me withall she put her hand Unto her throat threatning to kill her selfe And bound it with an oth if we departed Not suddenlie the chamber which we did In Lesse time then she spake it least she should Put that in execution which she said Now Calasiris once againe I come Most humbly to beseech you that you will not Suffer the maid to perish nor her father Be frustrate of his purpose Calasiris Caricles T is true your daughter is distract in mind For she is moved wich the multitude Which I have burthen'd her of purpose with They are not of the least but such as should Force her to doe what she abhorred most Aswell by nature as decree of minde But I suppose some god doth take in hand To hinder this designe and strive to crosse My ministers therefore t is requisite And time you shew me that same Fascia You said was found with faire Cariclea Amongst her costlie iewells for I feare Least that it be enchaunted stuffe and wrought With such things as doe now exasperate Her minde by reason that some enemie Assoone as she was borne had this ordain'd To keepe her from all love and thought of marriage That she might die and leaue behind noe issue Caric. T is probable it may be so indeed Come goe with me and I will shew you all What in the Fascia is contain'd and written I understand it not character Is Aethiopian and the letters are Not common but such as the princes use Of Aegypt in their holie businesses Calas. I understand the Aethiopian tongue Which unto thee I must interpret wrong Exeunt Finis Actus tertii Actus quarti Scena prima Enter Calasiris Theagines and Cariclea Calas. Come let 's away my children let 's away Why do we linger here the gods commands Must be obeyd all things are ready for Our secret flight a ship for Memphis bound Waites us without the wind comes gently from Th' adjoyning shore and stayes to swell the sailes With pride till you imbarke see here the Fascia Which by a slie devise from Caricles I have obtain'd nothing doth hinder us To meet this long wish'd opportunity If you have got your jewels deerest jewell From your supposed father Caric. Calasiris I have them all but how gat you I pray The Fascia from old Caricles for when He had receiv'd me from Sysimethres Who brought me up he brought me here to Greece I know not how and tooke the Fascia from me Which in a chest he did preserve and keepe Calas. How I came by it you shall know hereafter But can you tell me what it doth containe Caric. How should I as being never told by any Besides although I oftentimes had seene it I could not understand the character Pray sir interpret what it doth containe Cala. It doth declare your parents and your Countrey And all your fortunes thus I read it to you Verbatim as it stands give your attentions The Fascia Persina Queene of the Aethiopians to her daughter onely in sorrow by what name soever she shall be called doth write in haste this lamentation contayned herein as her last gift My daughter the sunne being authour of our stocke is witnesse that for no mis-deed I have cast thee forth and concealed thee from thy father Hydaspes sight
At her so flowring age O had my daughter I bare unto you liv'd she would have beene Almost as old as she I doe beseech you Spare her and let her serve me at my table For I am prompted strangely by my Genius Unto commiseration Hydas. So am I Beyond imagination but you know The Law requires the first fruits of the warre Should be the gods oblation to the Sunne Therefore we 'll offer him she to the Moone The gods must be obey'd the lawes fulfil'd They all offer to rise Cariclea fals at the feet of Sysimethres Caric. Wise grave and learned sir be pleas'd to stay A little longer for I have a cause Of consequence to plead before the King And Queene Persina which concernes them too Aswell as me this matter doth require A speedy judgment and I heare that you Give sentence on such noble personage Therefore judge you this plea of life and death And know it is not just to offer me Unto the gods Sysim. Vouchsafe to heare most gracious Soveraigne This strange appeale and what this maid requireth Hydasp. What judgement may this be or what have I To doe with her by what meanes should I come Into her danger Sysim. Please you to attend She will declare it Hydas. But take heed that this You doe be no true judgment but plaine wrong If I that am a King must stand to plead My cause with any prisoner whatsoever Sysim. Justice and equity ner'e lookes into The person but the cause and he speeds best That brings best reasons Hydasp. But the Law permits You onely to determine controversies Betweene the King and subjects not with strangers Sysim. Wise and discreet men doe not measure things By the appearance but by equity Hydasp. Well let her speake since good Sysimethres Will have it so but it is manifest She will say nothing to the purpose but Some forg'd devise to shun the stroke of death Caric. O Sunne thou founder of my ancestres High pedegree and all ye other gods Ye noble men that here are met together Assist me in this place and be a witnesse That what I say is true and by firme proofes It shall appeare doe you command O King Strangers or your owne subjects to be offer'd Hydasp. Strangers Caric. Then it is fit and necessary You seeke out such I am no stranger borne But of this countrey and your subject too Hydasp. Thou liest Caric. You seeme to wonder at small things But there are greater undiscover'd yet I am not onely of this Country borne But of the royall blood Hydasp. This woman's mad Away I 'le heare no more such lunacie Hydaspes turnes from her in anger Caric. My royall father I beseech you know Your onelie daughter and despise her not Hydasp. Sysimethres and grave Gymnosophists How long shall she abuse my patience This mayd 's distracted and the feare of death Makes her speake any thing how false soever How bould and impudent I know I had Sometimes a daughter but she dy'd assoone As she was borne this is a false impostor Wherefore away with her and let 's delay The sacrifice no longer Caric. none shall dare To take me hence unlesse the judges please So to command for you are not to judge In your owne cause although a King but must Be subject to the law aswell as others Which priviledgeth you perchance to kill Strangers but neither this law nor the law Of nature doth allow you to destroy Your naturall children for the gods to day Shall by a strange discoverie make you know I am your daughter though you now disclaime me All controversies in the law depend One these two pointes especiallie that is Firme proofe by writings and sure confirmation By witnesses both which I can produce To prove I am your child my witnesse shall not Be common neither but the judge himselfe And heer 's a writing shall declare both mine And your estate She gives the Fascia to the Queene she knowes it and is amazed Hydasp. What meaneth this Persina that thy blood Thus comes and goes and that thy countenance Weares such an alteration is there ought Contayned in this writing troubleth thee Pers. O King my Lord and husband I have nothing To say unto it but take heed and read it Your selfe the same shall teach you well and truelie Hydaspes reads it to the end then gives it to Sysimet and the rest Hydasp. Persina doe you owne this character As your owne hand and know the birth to be Legitimate and true Pers. By Sunne and Moone I sweare it Hydasp. Although you tould me that my daughter dy'd I yet believe she was exposed forth As heere is mention'd but who was the man That tooke her up and carryed her to Aegypt How shall I know that he was taken with her Or this is she or whether the exposed Be dead or no besides whether some man When he hap'd to finde this might his good luck Abuse and make her play this famed part Mocking the great desire we have of issue By the suborning of some changelinge and Colouring the truth with this devised Fascia All these doubts must be cleer'd ere I believe Sysim. I can resolve you in the first for I Was he that tooke her up and carried her With me to Aegypt when you sent me thither Embassadour you know we may not lye Who are Gymnosophists I know this Fascia Written with Aethiopias royall letters Therefore you need not doubt that it is forg'd Besides t is signed with Persinas hand But there are other tokens that I gave To him that did receive you at my hands Can you produce them Caric. Yes loe heere they are She shewes Sisimet and the queene her jewels Hydasp. What are they doe you know them Pers. Yes with wonder Caric. These jewells were my mothers but this ringe Was yours I thinke you know the Pantarbe well Hydasp. I doe and all the rest but whether you Came by them as my daughter that I know not You might have got them by some other meanes For to omit all other needles questions Your colour 's strange and the like never seene In Aethiopia Sysim. She was also white That I brought up and with this virgins age Doth correspond the terme of yeeres when she Was forth exposed being seuenteene yeeres So old seemes this faire mayd Hydasp. Sysimethres In my opinion you have show'd your selfe An advocate in this cause not a judge Beware least while you strive to cleere this doubt I may suspect Persina hath beene false For how i st possible that such a thing Sould be in nature we two being black To have an issue white this is against All humane sence and reason naturall Sysim. The Fascia tells you how this came to passe Persina in the act of generation Contemplatively eying the faire picture Of beautifull Andromeda and firing A strong imagination thereupon Conceived in her wombe the very figure Of Perseus Mistris when she was bound fast Unto the rocke and he
Aristippus Cnem. I can scarce believe it This. To confirme my report if you please I will deliver the adulterer unto you in the very act Cnem. You shall doe me a courtesie then This. VVith all my heart not onely for your sake who have been injured by her before but for mine owne also who for that she hath me in jealousie am used of her very extreamely wherefore if thou be a man apprehend him Cnem. Else let me die in scorne and infamie I le kill them both for ne're shall it be said That Cnemon knew his fathers bed defil'd And durst not be reveng'd assist my hand Infernall furies Thisbe lead the way That I may doe the deed ere see the day Exeunt Actus Secundi Scena quinta Enter Aristippus and Demeneta Demen. 'T is late 'i th night sweet husband let 's to bed I cannot have too much of your imbraces The envious day will interrupt our sport Me thinks we married were but yesterday Aristip. Conceiv'st thou so that doth proceed from love But I am old and thou a sprightly lasse Demen. You wrong your selfe you are a lusty man For were you old the dull effects of age Would then appeare but I have had experience Of your performance Cnemon I believe Your sonne is not so active in his trade Aristip. If it be so then sure the youthfull heat Of thy faire body hath infused life Into my withered vaines more powerfull then Medeas charmes when she stir'd up fresh blood In the decayed body of old Aeson Enter Cnemon with his sword drawne followed by Thisbe a candle carried before he comes hastily to the bed Cnem. Where is the villaine the most worthy lover Of this chaste dame his father leapes out of the bed and falls on his knees before him Aristip. My sonne have pitty on thy fathers age Spaire his white haires take not away his life That gave thee thine and brought thee up with care We doe confesse we wrong'd thee yet the fault Was not so great that it should merit death Asswage thy fury and put up thy sword Imbrue not in thy fathers blood thy hands Cnemon in amaze lookes round about him for Thisby who had conveyed her selfe away and being thus astonished his sword fell out of his hand which Demeneta straightwaies tooke up Dem. Did I not tell you this before sweet heart To looke unto this princoks pride and hate Who would no doubt if time had serv'd his turne Attempt some mischiefe to destroy us both Aristip. You told me so indeed but I believ'd not Now I do finde it true which to prevent I 'le raise my house and bind him fast to morrow I 'le carry him before the people to Be judg'd for his offence let nature goe In parents when sonnes prove unnaturall so Exeunt Actus secundi Scena sexta Enter Nebulo and Nebulona Nebulo Nebulona my pretty chickin how faires thy body didst thou not thinke me lost long agoe Nebulona I gave you for dead in good faith and was in the humour once to marry another man Nebulo Why sure thou wert not thou dost but jest I know Nebulona Truely I was nor could you blame me for it if I had is it not a torture thinke you for a woman to stay seven yeeres without her husbands company Nebulo Methinkes my browes begin Acteon-like to bud already they are very knotty I pray God thou hast not graft something there I begin to suspect it shrewdly by diverse signes and tokens how comes your belly so high wife Nebulona 'T is nothing but a timpany I am sometimes troubled with Nebulo I do believe thee how long is it since you perceiv'd it to grow upon you Nebulona About two moneths since the Doctor tells me I shal be free of it very speedily Nebulo He is a foole I am a better Doctor then he thou shalt goe with it this foureteene weekes yet or thereabouts come you are a whore and have abus'd my honest bed I le have you before the Justices to be punish'd for thy offence Nebulona Spare me prethee gentle Nebulo and hearken to my counsell a little since thou art a cuckold as I doe not deny it choose whether thou wilt weare the hornes in thy forehead and so all men see them or put them into thy pocket and no man see them I leave it to thy owne discretion Nebulo Why then I am a cuckold it seemes Nebulona I cannot say against it truely and speake the truth if I should this marke of thy fortune here deepely stamped would bewray me be not so foolish now as Vulcan was to make a proclamation of thy forked order Nebulo Did Vulcan do so Nebulo Yes but afterwards he repented it for he forg'd an artificiall net with which he caught his wife Venus and Mars a bed together in carnall copulation then called all the gods and goddesses to be spectators of his owne shame Nebul. But what said they when they saw it Nebulona They commended Mars but condemned Vulcan for being the publisher of his owne disgrace Nebul. But t was a shame for Mars to be caught so Nebulona The gods wish'd every one of them if that were a shame to be shamed in the same manner Nebulo but how did Venus take this Nebulona In scorne of the smith and in revenge of this trick hath made his head as hard as his anvile Nebulo Thou hast devis'd a pretty story in thy owne defence i' st best to follow thy counsell and say nothing or stirre this bad thing and make it stinke the more Nebulona You may do what you please but I have told you the best course Nebulo Let it be so then I have travelled well I trow and to good purpose at may returne home to father a child of which I did not beget so much as the least finger or the least toe if this be the fruits of travelling God keepe me from it hence forward and all good folkes besides come Nebulona we are friends do so no more and all is forgotten Nebulon. Not if you stay at home and warme my bed But if you leave me then have at your head Exeunt Actus secundi Scena septima Enter the sacrifice to the tombe of Pirrhus in the manner of a Hecatombe led in by the Thessalians who had each of them a white garment knit about them these were entertayned by so many virgins of Thessalia standing in a ring with their haire loose about their eares the maydes were divided into two companies those who were in the first carryed flowers and fruite the other carried in backets other fine knackes and perfumes at the sound of musicke and a song made fit and agreeable to the musicke they danced the song was made in praise of Thetis The Song O Nereus god in surging seas we praise thy daughter deare Whom Peleus at commandement of Jove did make his pheere Thou art the goddesse we adore in Sea a glimpsing starre Who stout Achilles didst bring forth a
wilt crop and wast the seed This. In time I may at night expect me sister Ars. I le waite you home This. If this my plot doe hit Nere was the like devis'd by womans wit Exeunt Enter Demeneta and Thisbe againe with a candle Thisbe Come mistris let me make you unreadie instantlie all that I promised you is done I will goe fetch young Cnemon unto you who is making merrie here by and returne suddenlie lye downe take your pleasure and say nothing Exit Thisbe Enter Thisbe followed by Aristippus This. Bind the adulterer fast master With that she ran to the doore and made it give so great a crash as she could crying out in this manner O wonderfull thing the villaine is fled take heed sir that you be not againe deceived Arist. Peace be of good cheere I have this wicked and mischievous woman which I most desired O thou much hated of the gods I have thee And all thy shame about thee come thou shalt With me unto the City to receive What punishment the lawes allot to such As live unchast and wrong their husbands bed Which is no lesse then death Aristippus dragges her along but she pulling herselfe out of the old mans hands fell suddenlie of purpose into a pit made in the stage and so ended her life Aristip. See Thisbe is she dead This. Oh yes her necke Is broaken sir Aristip. Then hath thy punishment Prevented what the law should have inflicted I le to the people and declare this matter And with my friends consult what meanes to use For to call home my sonne from banishment Whose truth and innocence doth open lie By this unheard of strange discovery Exeunt Actus tertii Scena sexta Enter Cariclea she lieth downe upon the bed indispos'd her kinsfolks weeping about her then enter Caricles and Calasiris Caric. My child my daughter deare tell me thy father The cause of thy disease have a good heart This wise man Calasiris is requested By me to finde some remedy to cure thee And he can well performe it as a man Of heavenly knowledge and a sacred priest My most endeered friend you shall doe well To suffer him to exercise his art And holy spels for your recovery For I perceive thou art ore-look'd my child Caric. Sir t is my duty to obey your will In all things you command me Calas. Then depart Deare Caricles and all the rest avoyd The roome we must be private here together Fetch me a little Laurell and a stoole Having three feet some fire and frankincense And let no man disturbe us till I call It shall be done forthwith heavens crowne your worke Exeunt all but Cariclea and Calasiris Calasiris begins to burne frankincense to mumble with his lips to lay lawrell upon her from top to toe to gape make strange gestures while Cariclea wagged her head oft and smiled Caric. Father you are deceived in my griefe You cannot ghesse at it for all your art Calas. Nay daughter say not so but cheere your selfe For what doth vex you is a malady Common and easie to be cur'd by me Thou wert o're-look'd not onely at the pompe Of Pirrhus funerall rites but at the race In armour too when you were overseer And gave the prize unto the conquerour Theagenes was he that overlook'd you Whose want on eye was alwaies fixt upon Your splendant beauty object of his sight Caric. Whether he daign'd to looke on me or no Apollo have him in his custody But whence is he and what 's his pedegree Calas. He 's a Thessalian borne and as you hear'd Descended from Achilles who although He have bewitch'd you with an envious eye He suffers more than you by the reflex Of your Sun-burning eyes upon his heart Caric. Why do you wrongfully accuse the man Of witchcraft who hath done no harme at all There 's no such matter t is some other sicknesse Calas. Then tell me daughter and conceale it not If you desire to find a remedy I am no stranger to you but your friend and old acquaintance of your loving father I am of your profession too a priest I 'le keepe your counsell and be bound by oath To helpe you what I can all griefes are cur'd In the beginning but if left alone At length they grow incurable declare Your minde at full Caric. I love Theagines Calasiris I knew so much before he loves you too I 'le be your faithfull friend and true assistant Enter Caricles with Acestinus a skilfull physitian Caric. Deere friend what have you done what newes have You to tell me that is good Calasir. All shall be well Cariclea shall be heal'd to morrow morne Of her infirmitie I now will leave you To prosecute my busines for her health Caric. Adiew deere friend the gods reward thy paine Heere Acestinus lies the sicklie patient Exit Calasiris You are well read in physicke feele her pulse And give your wise opinion Acestin. fairest maid Where doth your paine lie most She turn'd her face from him and repeated with a loud voice this verse of Homer Achilles is the bravest man of all the Greekish rout Acest. Her state of heart I finde Priest Caricles My labour is in vaine no physicke can Restore her to her health Caric. The gods forbid Why say you so must my deare daughter die Without all hope of her recovery Acest. Peace make not such adoe but here me speake Our art sir doth extend no further then He drawes Caricles aside To cure distempered bodies if the mind Diseased be without the bodies sicknesse We have no helpe for that the maids disease Lies in the mind her bodie 's in good state No humours doe abound there no headach No fever burnes her all is free within Caric. What then should be the cause of these her fits Utter what you perceive doth trouble her I doe beseech you skilfull Acestinus Acestin. T is love doth trouble her which who knowes not Is an affection and griefe of the heart Doe you not see her eyes swolne in her head Rouling one every side her visage pale Her halfe distraction how she uttereth What ere comes in her minde and sleepes but little In briefe I doe perceive that she hath lost The moisture of her body and indeed Just amplitude thereof my counsell is You finde her out a man and that with speed Exit Acestinus Caric. A man heavens grant she be enclin'd that way Then Calasiris hath plaid well his part How fares my daughter now what sicknesse hast thou Shall I send for more Doctors yet Caric. T is needlesse Send none to me but Calasiris onely He hath the art to ease me and none else Caric. I le send him to thee sleepe Cariclea Untill he come if Alcamenes love Possesse her heart thanks to the gods above Exeunt Actus tertii Scena septima Enter at one doore Theagines at another Calasiris Theag. My worthy friend most opportunely met Calasi. What beautifull Theagines Theag. How can he Be
yet I would have my selfe excused to thee if thou happen to live and to him that shall finde thee if the gods procure any and therefore I declare the cause of thy exposition after king Hydaspes had beene married to me ten yeeres and we had never a child we happened one time to rest us after dinner in a gallerie where hung rare pictures and images amongst which were those of Perseus and Andromeda portrayed as when he first redeem'd her from the rocke at this time your father lay with me swearing that by a dreame he was commanded so to doe and I by and by perceived my selfe to be with child but thou wert borne white which colour is strange among the Aethiopians I knewe the reason because I looked sted fastlie upon the picture of Andromeda naked and by that meanes conceived a thing like to her yet I determined to rid my selfe of shamefull death counting it certaine that thy colour would procure me to be accused of adulterie and that none would believe me when I told them the cause and to commit thee to the unstablenes of fortune which is a great deale rather to be wished for then present death or to be called a bastard and telling my husband that thou wert straight dead I have privilie layd thee forth with the greatest riches that I had for a reward to him that shall find thee and take thee up above all thinges remember that thou seeke among thy jewels for a certaine ring which thy father gave me when we were first made sure in the hoope whereof is a princelie posie the stone is a Pantarbe of secret vertue consecrated in the place where it is set The gods preserve thee my deerest daughter and grant us a happy meeting Theag. A strange but blest discoverie hast thou made Of faire Caricleas royall pedegree Right reverend father which before lay buried Deepe in the obscure vault of ignorance Now princelie virgin raise thy glorious head Above the clouds and give thy conquering beautie Command to pull the thunderer from his seate To serve thee here on earth or in Olympus Where thou shalt please to dwell and rest not here Let Mars be fetter'd Mercurie a slave And bright Apollo dazled with the sight Of beames more splendant then his owne fall downe And worship thy appearance offering thee His throne to sit upon Calas. Theagenes Fie be not such a vaine Idolater The gods may plague you for it Theagines plague me for Adoring queene Caricles deity They are unjust then for themselves commit The same Idolatry aswell as I Calas. That 's but your superstitious jealousie Thinke you the gods will rivall you or love A mortall Virgin fie 't is blasphemy Theag. They have done so or else the Poets lie Witnesse Europas bull and Laedas swans Faire Danaes shower and Daphnes transformation If their poore beauties had that operation To worke such strange effects in heavenly powers How much more force nay violence thinke you Hath hers to whose compard theirs are like glasse To sparkling diamonds Caric. My dearest friend Forbeare these candid raptures of your wit Not my desert and enter into thought Of what concernes us most Theag. Agreed my goddesse Calas. No more dispute then but forthwith to sea Delphos adiew the fates call us away Exeunt Actus quarti Scena secunda Enter Arsace and her old baud Cibile Arsa. So sweet a man as thy description makes him Cib. Nothing inferiour Madame but beyond it His body is a Temple stately built Where Venus comes and offers turtle doves To gaine his liking Arsa. Such a majesty Accompanying that sweetnesse too Cib. As if They wedded were together hand in hand Walking in so delectable a mansion Arsa. So active and broad shoulder'd as thou saist So tall and portly Cib. Every way provided To satisfie your pleasure Arsa. Thou hast kindled A fire within me but what Countrey ownes This wonder of a man when landed he At Memphis shore who brought him canst thou tell Cib. He came with Calasiris from some parts Of Greece as I am given to understand And landed here last night Arsa. Where doth he lodge Cib. In Calasiris house without the Temple Arsa. Thou must devise some way to bring him to me And lodge him in our palace for I have An itching humour to enjoy the man Cib. Let me alone I am your Ingineer To worke your pleasure Arsa. But who is the maid Thou saist did beare him company and was So neere his bosome Cib. I suppose she is His sister or his wife Arsa. Is she faire as he Cib. I never saw one fairer such a beauty As would have made Iove stoope and shaken off His Eagles borrowed shape to force a kisse From her Nectorious hand Arsa. Thou mak'st me jealous With praises of my rivall Cib. Let not that Trouble your thoughts he cannot be so foolish That when so great a happinesse shall be Offer'd unto him as the love and liking Of faire Arsace Oromdates wife Egypts great Deputy but reverently Kneele downe and worship such a change in love Arsa. If thou canst bring deare nurse this thing to passe Thou shalt at once cure two diseases in me Fell love and jealousie Cib. I doubt it not What mad man but will be content to change His Brasse for Gold his Copper for rich pearle Both which he shall enjoy enjoying you Arsa. O what a sugred time have I to use My sweet disports now that the Deputy My husband is imployed in the warre Against Hydaspes King of Aethiopia About the Smaragd mines pray heaven they end not Before my pleasures period Cib. Never feare it You shall have time ynough to bathe in blisse Arsa. See Cibile who knocks there one knocks Cib. Calasiris And the faire parties Arsa. Heavens conduct them in Enter Calasiris Theagines and Cariclea Calas. All haile unto the Palace of my Prince Madame it may seem strange unto your Highnesse That I presume to bring these strangers with me To kisse you Princely hands I make no doubt But when you shall be well informed of Their birth and breeding it wil plead my pardon Arsa. What need this complement you 'r welcome sir So are your friends when did you ever know me Unkind to strangers or inhospitable To such as these whose outward lookes declare Their inward minds and speake their noble parts So elegant a grace and stately beauty As shineth in their countenances cannot Proceed but from some Princely pedegree Pray â—r speake whence you are Theag. Most beautious Lady Please you to understand we are of Greece Descended of a Noble family Which ne're produced yet unworthy branches Let it suffice I doe beseech your Grace We open it no further we have beene Rob'd on the sea by pyrates but redeem'd By Noble Calasiris and brought here To Memphis stately City Arsa. Is this Lady Your sister or your wife Theag. My sister Madame Tost equally with me by fortunes blasts Arsa. but now those stormes are past and
repent the wrongs And disrespect they gave thee contrary Unto the lawes of Nations doe they not Wish that they had surrender'd to our Crowne Those lands we justly challeng'd for our owne Sysim. I thinke they doe and curse their arrogance That hath brought home the warres unto their dores It cannot choose but vex their very soules To see so fruitfull and so faire a soyle Their native Country over-runne and spoyl'd By the incursions of a hostile army Hydasp. T is fit they suffer for their usurpation But where lurkes Oroondates since his flight In our last battaile no newes yet of him Sysim. Fame gives it out he is within this towne Of Syene with the remnant of his army Hydasp. Will not the Towne yet come to composition Will it hold out yet longer notwithstanding Our water-workes to drowne them Sysim. Royall sir As soone as we had cut the banks of Nile And let the river in upon the towne Th' inhabitants began to see and feele Their misery for suddenly the water Encompassed faire Syene round about That it became an Iland and by sinking Into the earth below the walls foundation The weight above began to shake as if It would have fallen downe in every place Then suddenly arose a piteous cry Amongst the people of the towne imploring The gods assistance and the Deputy It seemes by this extreamity constrained First caused letters tyed to a stone As messengers to be shot to our campe Out of a sling and archers from their bowes Sent their swift winged arrows to speak for them But both fell short and perish'd in the water At last when we by signes perceiv'd their mindes As holding up their hands in token of Submission and sometimes behinde their backes In token they were ready to receive Bandes so they might finde mercie we sent out Some bootes to talke with them who brought us word They would surrender to your royall hands The towne of Syene if you would be pleas'd To grant some poore conditions Hydasp. What are they Sysim. First Oroondates makes request that he And all his souldiers without interruption May march forth as best suiteth their profession With all their martiall habiliments And armes about them next to be convoy'd to Elyphantina with your royall guard Else he would rather die then live to be Condemned as a traitor to his king For yielding up the City and betraying The armie and besides be put to death With rackes and tortures Hydasp. What a foole is he To make his owne conditions or to argue Of such a matter doth he not conceive He is not in his owne power but in ours To live or die why what a madnes is it For conquered men to argue of conditions But t is not noble to destroy a number For one mans folly goe Sysimethres Take heere our seale and signe their articles For pitty workes upon a noble spirit Exit Sysimethres Hydasp. If I could entertaine ambitious sparkes Within my royall breast or never enter Into examination with my selfe Of right or wrong as many politicians And proud usurpers doe not what should let me From adding this large kingdome to my owne Stretching my Empire to the mouth of Nile But iustice sets downe limits to my thoughts Boundes my ambition in so that I dare not Advance one foote beyond it sacred goddesse Divine Astrea though all kings rebell And pay no reverence to thy deitie Hydaspes shall adore thee and his might shall never be more potent then his right Exit Actus quinti Scena secunda Enter the Persian magistrates as judges with Arsace then enters Caricles with Aura bound they sit 1 Magist. Is this faire maid the prisoner Arsa. Faire without but foule within 2 Magist. T is pitty vice should beare A semblance of faire vertue or be mask'd Under so sweet a vaile Sure by her lookes 3 Magist. I should not judge her guiltie Arsa. That 's a rule Deceives us for the choicest fruites of all Ofttimes have rotten cores and underneath The fairest Howers lurke most the foulest snakes That cannot hold Bring forth the prisoners You are accus'd for poysoning Cibile How doe you answer this Caric. Who 's my accuser Arsa. My selfe and these my servants who were present When the old woman dy'd and heard her name Thee and that other guilty of her death Canst thou deny the fact Caric. I le answer thee Proud dame if my Theagines live yet I say I am not guilty of this murther But if by thy most damnable attempts His purer soule hath left the earthly prison Of his faire body I declare my selfe Guilty of this and whatsoever else Thy malice can invent I was the woman That poison'd then thy nurse who train'd thee up To all those goodly vertues of thy mind I doe desire to suffer kill me straight That I may meet my lover who so stoutly Resisted thy foule lust and lewd enticements Choosing to die rather then condescend Arsa. Base queane how durst thou take unto thy selfe Such liberty of speech judicious sirs And magistrates of Persia understand That this she saith is false touching my honour I take the gods to witnesse that when first This woman and her friend came to the Palace I entertain'd them as became the state Of greater persons and so long continued My favours to them till by open proofe I found they came as spies to Memphis sent From King Hydaspes army then indeed I did begin to draw backe my affection Many more things inciting me to doe it Which I forbeare to speake of but in briefe Although I lov'd this maid so as to make her My bosom-friend and my most deare companion She hath repaid me as you see and poison'd My trusty woman is 't not to be doubted Her purpose stretch'd yet further even to me Caric. I doe confesse yet once againe I poison'd Thy nurse and would have done so much to thee Had I not beene prevented Aura O Cariclea Unhappy maid why dost thou wrongfully Accuse thy selfe and draw on death upon thee Heare me right grave and most impartiall Judges There is no fault in her I onely I Gave Cibile the poison by mistake Which was prepared for this vertuous mayd By that old beldame this is true or else Ye gods hurle downe your thunder on my head 2 Magi. But how came this mistake make it more plaine Aura Old Cibile my mistris did prepare This cup for faire Cariclea I was forc'd To have a hand in 't too when I should give The poison'd cup unto Cariclea And Cibile the other I know not Whither being troubled with so strange a deed Or hastily cal'd on by Cibile I chang'd the cups and poison'd the old woman Arsa. This is a forg'd devise believe it not This woman is a traitor and conspires With them in all their plots as privie to them 3. If she that cals herselfe Cariclea Be guiltlesse of this businesse what should make her To cast herselfe into the jawes of death By her so free
confession of the fact Aura Sir I believe she 's weary of her life And being in desperation e're to see Much lesse t' enjoy her husband without whom Life seemes a burthen hastens on her death 1. Madame you must produce some witnesses Or we shall cleere the prisoners Arsa. Here are five Will be depos'd they heard Cibile charge These two here with her death 2. What say you friends Dare you sweare this All 5. We dare and will by Isis And all the gods t is so 3. Then we must passe Sentence according to the law which most Depends on witnesses your doome is death Carry these two forthwith unto the fire Caric. O sunne and earth and all you blessed creatures That are above or underneath this round Terrestriall ball you that doe take revenge On such as worke impiety beare witnesse I die an innocent and willingly Submit my selfe to death for to avoyd Th' intollerable griefes that burthen me Vouchsafe to take me gently to your hands And speedily inflict your punishments Upon this whore Arsace who hath plotted This mischiefe to no other end and purpose But to take from me my Theagines Exeunt Actus quinti Scena tertia Enter Caricles solus Nebulo listning Caric. Cariclea rap'd O gods how can it be Where is your justice then where our reward For serving at your altars when you suffer Your sacred temples to be rob'd and spoyld Of its chiefe jewell and my life Cariclea O sacriledge unheard of can you sleepe And winke at this or is your anger to me Implacable and therefore to torment My heart the more you seeme not to regard it Was 't not ynough O cruell powers to kill My daughter at her Nuptiall and my wife For griefe thereof but to augment my sorrow Beyond the bounds of reason give consent Unto Caricleas rape who was my joy My onely comfort heart yea life and all Well I will once more put on pilgrimes weedes Nebu. Ha what was that a dreadfull sound me thought More pilgrimages stay but listen yet Caric. And goe in quest of thee throughout the world First to Thessalia where that thiefe was borne That stole thee hence then unto Memphis City Where Calasiris that false priest remaines Nebu. I am confirm'd in horror t is too true He 'll travell once againe but soft attend Caric. And if I finde thee not I le travell further Even to the utmost bounds of Aethiopia Where I suppose thy parents live and raigne Nebu. To Aethiopia what strange land is that I marvell oh oh now I doe remember Sysimethres was borne there as he said Nebulo discovers himselfe We shall be blacke a divels if we goe there Caric. What Nebulo my trusty friend and servant Prepare thy selfe to accompany thy master Nebu. Where sir unto the temple of Apollo Caric. Beyond the seas I meane Nebu. Beyond the seas He 's mad I thinke or hath some worse disease aside Caric. I heare you sir it seemes your growne a Poet You rime so well Nebu. I care not who doth know it Caric. Raptures still flow upon thee more and more Nebu. But this bad newes of yours doth vex me sore That you will crosse the seas the bare conceit Will keepe me seven daies without taste of meat Caric. Why that is profitable saves thy purse Nebu. But hurts my body sir and that is worse Caric. Why th' art a second Ovid all he saies Doth flow in verse Nebu. Then I shall weare the Bayes Caric. But Nebulo no more of this you are content to accompany me this journey are you not Nebu. Good sir do not urge me to it you know how willing I should be to wait upon ye did not one thing crosse it Caric. What 's that thy wife Nebu. You have hit the marke t is dangerous I can tell yee for me to goe abroad and leave her at home I had woefull experience on 't after our last peregrination Caric. What did she make thee a cuckould in thy absence Neb. I know not but she dub'd me knight of the forked order Caric. Why that honour is for terme of thy Life man thy staying at home cannot take it away nor thy going abroad adde unto it Nebu. No doe they not rise by degrees I suppose yes as in this manner from Knight to Lord from Lord to Earle from Earle to Duke of the forked order and so forward but my ambition is not to climbe so high therefore I 'le stay at home and prevent that promotion Caric. fie prevent thy honour Nebu My Nebulona will heape ynough such honours on my head If I follow your counsell but I tell you againe I am not ambitious so to be promoted yet notwithstanding so well I love you that rather then you shall goe alone I 'le once more adventure my fortune Caric. Spoken like a right honest man come let 's away then withall expedition Delphos and Greece farewell your priests hard fate Denyes him still t' enjoy a setled state Exeunt Actus quinti Scena quarta Enter Theagines Cariclea and Aura Theag. And hast thou scap'd the fire my deerest love Miraculous deliverance let me heare The manner on 't related Caric. Thus it was After we were condemned to be burnt By foule Arsaces slanderous report For poisoning Cibile a blazing fire Was made and we two cast into the same And whereas it was thought by everie one The fiercenesse of the flame would soone consume us It prov'd cleane contrarie for we stood in The middst of it untouch'd for everie side It gave us way and never sing'd our cloaths Although Arsace with a threatning voice Commanded the tormentors to lay on More wood and reed yet all prevailed not For no hurt would approach us which the whore Arsace seeing presently declar'd Before the people with an open voice That we were witches though good Calasiris Did what he could to free us from her hands We by her guard were apprehended and Brought here againe to thee my deare for which I 'm glad that we may suffer both together Theag. I have not heard a stranger miracle This doth proceed from favour of the gods And their unbounded justice Caric. It should seeme so But still to be tost on the angry seas Of rigid fortune and ne're see an end Of our sad miseries should rather argue Their hate and fierce displeasure if there be not Some secret and more hidden mystery We mortals understand not which restores us After our sufferings when all hope is fled Unto a happier state and peacefull being Theag. Oh sweet let not the sence of misery Make you offend the gods thus but be patient Caric. T was a rashly spoken and I doe repent it My deare Theagines now I remember A dreame I had last night but had forgotten Till now to tell it you this was the verse By vertue of Pantarbe let feare of fire removed be An easie thing to Persaetis though else right strange to see Theag. The gods are good to us for I likewise