home an Islet was of all the best For him and his diuided from the rest He thither brought with thanks commends their care And bids them come to morrow for their share They so dismist short supper but no feasts For him prepar'd is and his two young guests Whom after supper for they could not speake His language yet he gaue in charget'a Greeke That late was taken pris'ner faire and young And had by this time learn'd th' Aegyptian tongue So might interpret for them bids him cure The wounded Knight and keepe the Lady sure So wearie and carefull went to sleepe but she Now of the Greeke they also lodged be In bed full hard by straight command alone When all were husht time finding fit to mone With many a deepe-fet sigh and showre of teares Thus unto Heau'n her piteous plaint arreares Appollo whom so carefully we serue Thou vs afflictest more than we deserue Is 't not enough that we are diu'n from home Bereft of friends all ore the sea to rome By tempest tost with roaring billowes shaken And fearing worse than death by pyrats taken But now at land which most of all me greeues Are made a prey to first and second theeues What yet remaines if death so void of shame Content I am and thereto will me frame Ere any get that of me which I keepe For one deserues it he not yet asleepe Her heard and Sweet thou mayst bemoane thee said But not accuse the Gods they must be prayd You warne me well quoth she but pray what rest The more quoth he since this young man me drest And more you shall haue trust me quoth the Greeke To morrow morning such an herbe I seeke Where heretofore I often haue it found That after dressing thrice shall close your wound And maruell not that I should thus comply Your case is mine you Greekes are so am I. A Greeke quoth they and thereat much reioyce A Greeke quoth he both by my birth and voyce Thinke after sorrow hope there is of game Then quoth Theagenes but what 's your name He Cnemon said Of whence and how came here O aske no more quoth he too long it were To tell and matter sad the night is deepe And after trauell you haue need of sleepe They instant are and thinke it somewhat smothers Their owne mis-haps to heare the like of others Then he began My father Aristippe Athenian was and both by land and ship Of good estate and when my mother did Thought much for one sons sake in world so wide And full of change to lead a widdow life But sets his minde to marrie a second wife So did a handsome but a cunning Dame As euer liu'd Demenet was her name She wrought my father soone to what she list And in his presence me full often kist I thought and tooke it as a token kinde Of one that lou'd me with owne mothers minde But worse it was and when right well I konn'd it I hated it and turn'd away and shunn'd it Herewith enrag'd she turnes her loue to hate And one day when my father came home late She faines her sicke a bed and he bewailes her Good man and askes her often times what ailes her Your goodly sonne quoth she whom I protest I lou'd more than your selfe hath thus me drest For when some tokens were to him reueal'd That I was quicke with childe which I conceal'd From you till all were sure he watcht his time Of your out-lying and besides the crime I blush to tell so sore hath punched mee As makes me lye in this poore case you see This hearing spoke he not a word but all Thought true she said and when we met in hall He fiercely cufs me twice or thrice and then With rods me naked whips held by his men I knew not why although by humane lawes Should all that are corrected know the cause But when his heat was ouer Sir quoth I That thus you beat me pray now tell me why But more enrag'd O hypocrite quoth he That would his foule deed now haue told by me So turn'd his face away and in a fret Made all the haste he could to Demenet She not suffis'd inuents this other slight Makes faine her maid to loue me Thisbe hight Whom I before had woo'd and could not win Now woo's she me and I t' aduise begin She seekes I flye she flyes I seeke her still Will she I will not will she not I will At length she tels how Demenet abus'd me And was the cause why so my Father vs'd me Yet false to him saith if I would I might Her with th' Adulter take in bed this night Prouokes me to reuenge my selfe and I Beleeuing all as not vnlike apply My selfe thereto she came at night and said The time is come beleeue your faithfull Maid Your father 's forth th'Adulter new gone in Now if you be a man reuenge the sinne With weap'n in hand I force the chamber dore And finde my selfe deceiued by that whore My faâ—her there with Demenet alone I Thisbe looke-for but the queane was gone As thunder-strucke then all amas'd I stand Then fals my sword out of my quaking hand Which she tooke-vp that had contriu'd the plot And said O husband you beleeu'd me not When I you told that now so plaine appeares I pray deuise to rid vs of our feares No word he gaue but me in prison cast And when I thought to tell how all had past He would not heare me but next day betimes Accuses me of these so hainous crimes Before the people when I would haue spoke With question short thus doth a Clerke me choke Did you your fath'r assault with sword I said I did but heare you how then all so bray'd I was not heard nor worthy thought to plead Ought for my selfe Some iudge I should be flead Some cast in t ' Orcus-pit and some with stones To death would haue me batter'd flesh and bones As winter weather be some friends of mine That wont to freeze in shade and thaw in shine In all this hurly-burly still I crie O for my step-dame thus vnheard I die They heard my words and somewhat gan suspect Yet so their hearing preiudice had checkt I might not speake their voyces when they count T' a thousand and seu'n hundred full amount The numb'r of those who me condemne to dye But diffring how the rest vndiffringly In numb'r a thousand grant me banishment And they preuaile as most of one consent Thus was I cast from home and Demenet Not long enioy'd it Heau'n aright will set That men doe wry But long it is to tell And you haue need of sleepe that are not well The night is spent betake you to your rest So quoth Theagenes you more molest To leaue her wicked plot so practised And shew not how the wretch was punished Then Cnemon heare then sith it is your minde Soone after sentence there a ship I finde For Aegin bound where
in haste Her father chiefe man is of all the Delph Why then quoth he let 's goe vnto himselfe And for his daughter pray him giue consent I trust it shall be no disparagement But he quoth I her promis'd long agoe T' his sisters sonne It shall be for his woe His woe quoth he and little for his ease Who gets Chariclia from Theagenes Nor blunt my sword is nor my hand so weake Good Sir quoth I what need you thus to speake 'T is better done another way be wise And counsaile keeping doe as I aduise Be little seene with me our enteruiew May breed suspect so forc'd he bids m'adiew Then Charicles came thankt embrac'd and said O th' only man to turne deuoted Maid This is your Art and your great wisdome able My guirle is conquer'd earst vnconquerable She 's now in loue Then I looke big and strut And say though little I gaue I knew 't wold do 't But how appeares it you quoth he vs bid Physitians counsaile aske and so we did When they came in she turning to the wall As if she minded not or scorn'd them all That verse of Homer sung with dewie cheekes O great Achilles chiefest of the Greekes The wise Acestin sure you know the man Her caught by th' hand the malady to scan And by the pulse her troubled heart bewray'd Then vnto me good Charicles he said In vaine you call vs this is no disease Whereof our physicke can the fits appease O Gods quoth I and must I lose my deare And only guirle Peace you quoth he and heare So call'd m'aside and softly told me thus The body not the minde is cure for vs She 's sicke in minde she loues and only he That made her sicke will best Physitian be So went his way and I straight hither ran To you my best Director for the man I would it were Alcamenes my lad Whom for her husband I appointed had 'T were good quoth I to try and let him go To visit her he said it should be so And thankt me for th' aduice and yet e're noone The next day met m'and cry'd I am vndone My daughter 's mad I sent as you aduis'd Alcamenes and him she so despis'd And turn'd away-from shreeking as the sight Of Gorgons head had put her in affright Nay threat with cord to make her selfe away Except we left her suddenly that day 'T was time to goe but now good Calasire Proceed t' accomplish that which I require And make her leane to loue I doubt quoth I Lest some malignant counter-sorcerie Be wrought vpon the silken scarffe you said Was with her Iewels by that Infant laid Forthwith he ran and fetch it me and so I lookt thereon and told him this to know Requires some time then to my hand he sped it And I went home and all at leisure readde it In letters Aethiopick not the same Of common sort but that the Kings they name And verie like the sacred Characters That Priests of Aegypt use thus it refers Persina wofull Queene of Blackmoreland This wrote her selfe in haste with trembling hand I know not how except by pictures white Wherewith my King would haue his chamber dight I brought him forth this white-one but affraid Of that high crime would to my charge be laid Ne durst be known thereof but said she di'de And by a trustie Groome her sent aside To saue both her and me from death and shame That hate th'Adultresse and the Bastards name And now sweet Babe in vaine so faire that art Whereby thy selfe and I were like to smart These jewells and this swath-band I thee giue To make thee known if be thy hap to liue Which O! and then thinke on thy Pedegree And like a Princesse guard thy chastitee Of all thy jewells this Pantarbe stone Haue care to keepe 't is worth all them alone And more there was in lamentable fashion Set downe t' expresse a tender mothers passion Which here I skip but Cnemon when I saw The name Persina strooke I was with awe And in my minde were griefe and ioy at strife The griefe to note this faire young Ladies life And what she was indeed and what suppos'd The ioy to see the Prophecie disclos'd That now I thought was meet fit season watch And what I did intend with speed dispatch To her I goe and finde her all alone Nigh ouercome with languishing and mone Yet some what cheer'd to see me Then I said I now expect the promise of a Maid Which was to tell me what 's you griefe I pray Make if you will haue ease no more delay You know my trust and that I can it know Though you conceale But why should you doe so She tooke and kist my hand and said O father Then by your wisdome vnderstand it rather Well then quoth I you are not th' only she But many braue and vertuous Ladies be That loue a man and he that hath you heart If any worthy be hath all desart This if you marke may set your minde at ease For what is wanting in Theagenes But Sir quoth she you speake as if 't were sure My father would consent and th' other endure To wooe a Maid Quoth I to tell you true The man is deeper strooke in loue than you Then as for your supposed father he Wife vnt ' Alcamenes would haue you be Alcamenes quoth she first let me die For but Theagenes will no man I. But why my father call you so suppos'd Then I that written on the silke disclos'd And shew'd it her and askt her if she knew 't She said such-one she had but he with-drew't To lay-vp safe lest it be worne or stain'd Yet neuer knew before what it contain'd Then vp she lookt with courage void of pride With count'nance well assur'd and stedfast e'yd And askt what 's to be done I tell her how I was my selfe in Blackmoreland ere now To learne the tongue and ioyne Gymnosophie With Gypsie skill and Greeke Philosophie And that her fathers Court without obstacle Of learned men was chiefest Receptacle That there so grew I known to Queene Persine And was esteemed as an Arch-Diuine She when she heard that home returne I ment Sent form ' and told me why she for me sent To wit she durst but vnt'a stranger tell A childe she had which fare it ill or well Dead liuing where faine would she know and pray'd That with my skill therein I would her aid And told your case and said she could not finde That any such now liu'd in land of Inde But made me first to keepe her counsaile sweare I learne of Isis that you liue and where Your mother then me prayes in any wise I cast would how to finde you and denise To bring you home and if you come in heale To King Hydaspes she will all reueale Now time hath well approu'd her loyaltie And for succession of his royaltie Glad will he be to finde vnhoped heire And doubt not
On which for him doth still Arsace gaze They run the wals about once and againe And all this while is Petosire not taine For anger cannot swifter be than feare And Thyam armed ran yet now with speare Is like to pricke him charging him to stay Except he would be slaine vpon the way Then Calasiris knowing both his sonnes By that fore-told him was them after runnes And faster then might well endure his years And cries O Thyamis O Petosir's My sons what meane you what now are you mad Respect your father though as beggar clad They know him not vntill the cause he spi'de And cast his staffe and beggars cloke aside And grauely stood before them face to face With long white haire and old Arch-Bishops grace And said behold your father Calasire 'T is I my sonnes O put away your ire They fall downe at his knees and wistly view him From head to foot and so full quickly knew him And glad they were of his vnhoped life But sorrie that he found them so at strife At this the companies vpon the wall The lesse they knew the more they wondred all And chiefly for they saw Chariclin When Calasiris ran from her away Him after fast to run and when she spi'de Theagenes a far for loue quick-ey'd To see the loued had him soone descri'd By verie gesture now the more her hied Him ouertooke and hung about his necke In case she was vntill he gaue her checke And cast her off not knowing her but shee Comes-on againe as loth to lose her fee And for her boldnesse got a box o th' eare He little thinking who she was I sweare Then said she softly Pythius hath forgot And shew'd her taper then defers he not But strooke with beautie shining th'row a cloud Her tooke in armes and often kist aloud Arsace swells thereat and all admire To see the strange euent that Calasire Who ten yeares had beene absent came so pat To stay the Duell 'twixt his sonnes and that Two Louers should thus vnexpected meet They passe in order th'row the Temple-street Th' old Priest betweene his sons led and the Maid By her Theagenes the people staid Them gazing-on and all themselues delight The younger men to view the gallant Knight The Maids the Maid old men the Priest and childe That brothers had the brothers reconcil'de And Thyamis to those of Bessa sent With many thanks and noble complement An hundred oxen and a thousand sheepe And Crownes a peece before he went to sleepe T' encrease the pomp Arsace went in pride With all her traine and still that young man ey'd For whose sake only so far came she forth And t' Isis offred things of greatest worth But when she saw him lead Chariclia With one hand and with other make her way Forth with she leaues-off all solemnitie And goes to Palace sicke of iealousie To both his sons now Calasire commends Th' affaires of those his two young Grecian frends And when th' old man had done his whole deuotion Vnto the people neere he makes a motion And saith h 'is old and well foresees his death And to his sonne that first receiued breath A man not wanting parts for worke diuine Of body or minde the Priesthood doth resigne Then set the Mitr ' vpon Sir Thyamis head And in the morning found was fairly dead His time was come Which him did more oppresse I cannot tell or ioy or wearinesse Arsace knowes it not for when she came To Court her minde was all put out of frame To chamber went she and on her bed she cast her For loue was wholly now become her master She turn'd from side to side and deeply sigh'd And now along she lay then sate vpright Then downe againe halfe naked tumbled shee And wisht Theagenes were there to see As wanting something then she cals her Maid And sends her backe againe with nothing said And likely was 't that were she long alone In such distraction all her wits had gone But Cybel came her ancient houshold Bawd And thus in word her loue-sicke Lady claw'd What aile you Madam Who hath hurt my deere And fairest Nursling haue good heart and cheere He liues not that your fauour shall refuse If please my Sweet-one so my service vse As oft-to-fore then tell me what 's the man But I by suttl ' enticing conquer can So said this Hag and pidling kist her feet And swore as siluer white as Amber sweet The praised Peacocke spreds abroad his traine That else would hide it now is hit the vaine And gusheth-out Good mother then quoth she The peace that made was yesterday to me Began a warre wherein not from a part But ouer all I wounded was to th' heart The faire young stranger when I first espi'de That in the Duell ran by Thyams side You cannot choose but note the man that are Herein so skill'd he past them all so farre I did forsooth quoth she and be it spoken Vnto your Ladiship by certaine token That impudently fast about him clung A ragged Trull though somewhat faire and young Tush faire repli'd Arsace then she paints But can a man abide so bold constraines More happie she than I am at this houre That hath her got so braue a Paramour The Bawd then smoyling said Ah Dearling mine I le make him cast-off her I le make him thine Sweet mother Cybling quoth the Lady then And will you doe 't indeed I pray but when Leaue that to me quoth she and take your rest So tooke the candl ' away and to her nest By peep-aday she rose and well aray'd A Groome before her and behinde a Maid Vnt ' Isis Temple went and there she spoke As oft Deuotion's made of sinne a cloke With one that kept the doore as if she ment Come offer something that Arsace sent Who as she said was troubled sore last night With verie fearfull dreame and grisly sight He said as yet he could not serue her turne Now all that keepe within the Temple mourne For Calasiris death and none let in Till after this another weeke begin What shall your strangers then the while quoth she Our new Arch-Bishop Thyamis quoth he Hath order giu'n and well content they are T'another house without the Close to fare This Hag layes hold on th' opportunitie As on the chiefest point of Faulconrie And said good master Sextain well you know My Lady loues to talke with such as the And many noble Greekes hath entertain'd Her hospitalitie was neuer stain'd Then well of both you may deserue as thus To say that Thyamis them sends vnt ' vs. The Sextain little knew the Bawds intent But as for good vnto the strangers went And found them both as full great cause they had For losse of Calasiris weeping-sad He cheeres them vp and tels them Thyamis As was his fath'r of them right carefull is And hath prepar'd them lodgings fairly dight Which this good Lady pointing at the spright Will bring them to and
put her out of hope Then present mischiefe must vpon vs fall Prepare you for 't quoth she and therewithall Comes Cybel in late hauing comforted The loue-sicke Lady left yet on her bed This Gammar Bawd this all-enticing spright Yet lets Theagenes alone to night And labours what she can Chariclia To helpe her suit as they together lay But in the morning sets on him againe And prayes him put her Mistris out of paine If yet he be resolu'd he flat denies her And she againe vnto Arsace hies her With sad report The Lady gaue her checke In such a sort as neere had broke her necke Thrown down the staires her selfe both heart and head Now like to burst with griefe rowles on her bed And all to teares her cloths her haire her brest Nor all that day could take a minutes rest The Bawd no sooner left the Nurserie But meets her sonne who saw her sadly crie And askt the cause thus of her sudden damp What ailes Arsace What newes from the camp Hath Lord Orondates receiu'd a blow Or lost the field good mother let me know And instant is to learne the reason why Nor will her leaue though she would put him by Then him she conjur'd and by hand him tooke And led him forth aside t' a secret nooke And said My sonne this vnto none I would But vnto thee mine only childe haue tould Our Lady loues the Grecian here and thence Come all her fauours and beneuolence The vaine and foolish youth will not comply Doe what we can her minde to satisfie Which her distracteth in so high degree I thinke 't will make her kill her selfe and mee Then helpe vs sonne if thou know wherewithall Or else prepare for mothers funerall What shall the man haue quoth he that procures To be fulfill'd my Ladies minde and yours Aske what thou wilt quoth she Cup-bearer late I made thee and daily can encrease thy state Then he I thought at first it would be so But held my peace to see how game would goe I le worke my Ladies will or lose my life If I may haue that Greeke wench to my wife And aske no more for mother I so loue her That liue I cannot long except I proue her Away with honour and away with pelfe And let Arsace iudge me by her selfe Why sonne quoth she of this make you no doubt I thinke my selfe can well nigh bring 't about Bed-fellowes are we by some tricke or gin Not now to seeke I quickly shall her win But how can you so bring about this geare A word not I quoth he vntill she sweare And mother deale not you in Greeke nor French Nor any language with my daintie wench Lest hurt you doe for I already finde She lookes aloft and beares a haughtie minde But let my Lady assure her selfe I will On that condition all her minde fulfill With this Dame Cybel vnt ' Arsace runs And tells her this faire promise of her sons Let call him in quoth she except you faine And as before will me delude againe Achaemenes comes-in and him t' assure The Lady sweates if he her loue procure He shall Theagens sister take to wife Then here quoth he shall ended be the strife The man your slaue is and he must obay How so quoth she I had him th' other day In charge quoth he as sent from Mitranes Vnto your husband Lord Orondates And tooke he was from me by strong impresse Of Thyamis and Malecontents of Besse Whom if you aske he can it not deny And yet a much more pregnant proofe haue I My Captaines letters firme and vnder seale Which here behold will all the case reueale And how he should to Babylon be sent This rude relation gaue her great content She makes no more adoe but straight bids call Her learned Councell to the Iudgement hall And there on loftie Throne she stately bore her And will'd Theagenes be brought before her He comes and Achaemen him standing by Know you that man quoth he she answer'd I. And were you captiue left vnto his charge Confest it too Then how quoth she at large By Thyamis quoth he Then she my slaue You are and please me or no mercie craue And of your sister thus I doe dispose She shall be wife to him that did disclose This first to me my seruant Achamen So well deseruing eu'rie where and when As for solemnities and marriage-day When things be fit no longer shall we stay It strook Theagenes to th' heart yet he Made answer thus Althovgh our fortune be To serue free-borne and of no parent base Yet herein may we bett'r account our case And frownig fortunes bad intent conuince To serue so braue and gracious a Prince That will be pleas'd doe justice which we craue My sister yet nor captiue is nor slaue Well quoth Arsace let him be brought vp Among the slaues that wait vpon our Cup And Achaemen him teach in cu'rie thing That may him fit to serue the mightie King So forth they went Theagenes distrest In minde and thinking what to doe were best Achaemenes to haue him at his becke Insultingly and thus began him checke Ah ha Sir youth you thought your selfe so free As no man else now must you wait on mee I le make you bend that beare your head so high Or knocke y'about the sconce Authoritie In base mens hands is neuer well employ'd Arsace then commands the rest auoyd And thus to Cybel saith now all excuse Is tane away this proud boy for th' abuse Me done to-fore shall well and surely pay You tell him so except he soone obay Which if he doe then will I set him free And honour adde and wealth to libertee She tels Theagenes the Ladies minde And of her owne some reasons more doth finde Him to perswade he craues to pause that day And talks alone first with Chariclia Then saith my Deere now are we cleane vndone I must obey before the morrow Sunne Hath ran his course or suffer seruitude Yea both of vs among this people rude With all disgrace that on the kept-in strict May scorne inuent or barbarisme inflict This could I beare but that far worse than this I neuer shall though past her promise is That Achaemen forsooth should marrie thee While I haue life and sword it shall not be Necessities are suttle Councellers I haue a tricke Then thus with Cyb conferr's I am resolu'd goe tell her now you Krone Alone-I wish to talke with her-alone She glad he was so bold with her as signe Of yeelding minde her Lady told in fine That night he sent-for was and softly led In darke by Cyb when all were gone to bed But Lady her selfe and these and when they came Within the chamber doore the little flame That there was left she takes and would away Nay Madame quoth he let kinde Cybel stay For she 's no blab Then Lady tooke by th' hand And said thus long fore-slow'd I your command Deere Lady and