with me and in the Temple said I saw you Sir buy many drugs to day Some Abissine and some of India What I shall shew you bee 't with your good leaue And buy of mee I will you not deceiue I will let 's see quoth I Nor doe you grutch Quothe he to giue Quoth I nor aske you much And so from vnder 's arme a casket drew With many precious stones greene red and blue And oyly-shining pearle as big as pease All perfit round of South-East Indies seas When I beheld them dazled were mine eyes And Sir I said in vaine should I them prize Goe seeke a fitter chapman if you please For all I haue will not buy one of these If you ne buy them can quoth he yet take them That can yee doe and I your owne will make them I cannot set quoth I so great a rest Nor take this gift but why so doe you iest I doe not iest beleeue me Sir quoth he But am in earnest hereby shall you see These all I giue you so be that you please Take one thing more more worth than are all these I laught he askt me why at iest you make To promise more quoth I if all I take I sweare the gift quoth he but sweare ye to To vse it well and for such hope I doe Then with his right hand by the left he takes me And leads me home t' his house and welcome makes me And shewes m'a faire one putting off her masket More worth than all the Iewels in his casket He said she was no more than seu'n yeere ould But I no lesse than twice seu'n ghesse her could And fit for husband beautie rare I deeme Makes little Ladies often taller seeme I stood amaz'd aswell at that was done As what I saw He thus againe begunne This daintie guirle her mother for some drift You shall hereafter know her left to shift With fickle Fortune wrapt in cradle-bands I chance to finde and take her in my hands And saue her life for our Gymnosophists When soule of man hath entred fleshie lists Hold that it ought in no wise be neglected But as the life of man by man protected Besides I saw as 't were a beame diuine When she beheld me shoot forth of her eyne About her lay this heape of precious stones And silke with letters wrought which for the nones I thinke were done to proue another day Whose th'Infant was and hidden truth bewray When I them read I saw well whose she was Yet vnto Shepherds nursing let her passe And kept the rest for feare that for the pray The childe might afterward be made away And while she was but verie small I count Her hidden safe but flours of beautie mount And such as this apace that vnder ground I thinke though hid would breake forth and befound Thus though a while I had it well conceal'd I feare it would by selfe light be reueal'd So hurt it selfe and me Then suit I make To be int'Aegypt sent and her I take Along with me and now in this Embassage I hope to finde for her some better passage And eu'n by you Sir whom this many a day I well obserue and take her you I pray With all her dowrie swearing first to me You will her keepe and marrie well as free But now no more my businesse cals me hence This King to day appoints me audience In Isis Fane to morrow will I tell you The rest of her and so with her farewell you I take her home and on the morrow went To know the rest but he away was sent With threats for haste because he came to claime A mine of Emrauds for the Melchusaim Hydaspes King of either Blackmoreland Then I because I could not vnderstand Who whence she was and of what parents borne That had thereafter listned so beforne With discontent retire I cannot blame Him then quoth Cnemon for I feele the same But what he further said quoth Calasire Now shall I tell and make you much admire When I came in thus said my Charicles At sight of her my heart had present ease In Catadup no longer dare I stay But homeward downe the Nile make haste away And here she now is with me counted mine And beares my name and doth in all encline T' obey me like her father so she takes me But of a husband will not heare that makes me Full full of care and yet in beautie exceeds All maids of Greece which emulation breeds For strangers here as well as Greekes admire her And many Suitors men of worth desire her She saith she will Diana follow she And hunting with her still a Maiden be With bow and shaft full well can hit the marke But vnto Cupids bow would neuer harke I thought bestow her on my sisters sonne A proper man but nothing can be done In vaine is all my care and labour spent So strongly she maintains her said intent And most with reasons sometime heard of mee In commendation of Virginitee Now I beseech you Sir helpe what you may To talke with her she will not you say nay Nor any worthy man she courteous is And opportunitie you cannot misse In Temple-close as 't were in house the same Now liuing both me helpe maintaine my name For husband worthy long she shall not tarrie Pray you perswade her what you can to marrie Lest wanting whom to leaue-to mine estate I lead my latter dayes disconsolate So said he Cnemon shedding teares and I Him promise helpe and weepe for company While thus we talke a solemne Embasie Of Achillaeans came to him and I When he had told me what they were desire To see the principal he came t' enquire Of Charicles the Priest for furtherance And what so might their Sacrifice aduance Let call him in quoth he and then came in The goodli'st youth among them e're had bin Achilles-like in portlinesse and face And shew of courage with more louely grace Vs he saluted we him resalute And Sir quoth he to Charicles impute No fault to me for haste I must the Rite That all the pompe may well come in ere night Goe then quoth Charicles and to me said If not before now shall you see the Maid For she Diana's seruant must attend This Sacrifice from time it gin to th' end Now Cnemon I had seene the Maid before And with her ministred and of the lore Sh' hath askt me many points now held my peace To see the sequele here our talke we cease And goe to Templ ' as all things were before Made ready when the Chiefe came in at dore We come to th' Altar and with Priest his leaue Begins the young man orison conceiue By secret slight some cunning Priests will make Diana's Image and Apollo's shake And call it pious fraud but thus thinke I Truth has no need helpt-out to be with lye For when came forth Diana's gallant Maid With virgin traine thus Pythia plainly said The youngest he and she
men Was full of care and busie about it when Achaemenes came in yet said What winde Hath set you thus vnlookt for here the Hinde I le tell my Lord in priuate and when all The rest were gone declares the criminall What Grecian youth was sent by Mitranes To serue the King if so his Lordship please And how by Thyam intercept and how In loue with him was faln Arsace now Had brought him to the Palace entertain'd him And though he thought sh 'had not as yet constrain'd him Because the modest youth resists her still And will not condescend vnto her will Yet lest more hurt be done as may full well In tract of time he came his Lord to tell And doe the dutie longing to his trust This mou'd his anger th' other mou'd his lust When Grecian wench he prais'd and said she past The fairest now on earth from first to last Of her so spoke as hoping when his Lord Had done he might her get to bed and bord For iust reward of seruant diligent In this reuealing ere it further went The twice-enflamed Lord to lose no time An Eunuch sends forthwith of all the prime With fiftie horse to Memphis-ward that day To fetch the Grecian Captiues both away And letters by him vnt ' Arsace these This straightly thee commands Orondates The Grecian broth'r and sister send m'away By name Theagen and Chariclia To send the King for captiue his they bee And fit to serue th' Imperiall Maiestee If you them send not willingly they must Be tane by force thus Achaemen I trust And these to th'Eunuch chiefe at Memphis Court Euphrates call'd I heare of you report Which you shall answ'r another time to day Send vs Theagen and Chariclia By Bagoas and whether will or no Arsace send them or we let you know We giue command you selfe with all disgrace Be brought in bonds depriued of your place These vnder seale he gaue to bring them downe With more assurance by th'assisting Towne To Memphis th'Eunuch and Orondates To warre and takes with him Achaemenes On whom he sets a priute watch beside To keepe him safe vntill the truth be trt'de For wanting proofe he wisely thought not good Beleeue a tale defaming Royall Blood Meane-while at Memphis see what falne is out When Thyamis with all the Priests deuout Had ended Calasiris funerall And of the Priesthood had his full install That well he might now after weeke of pause Conuerse with strangers by their Cloyster-lawes The two young Greekes he quickly cals to minde And earnestly them casts-about to finde At length he learnes they in the Palace kept And for their sake straight vnt ' Arsace stept And askt her for them as his friends and such As to prouide for doth him neerly touch By fathers will and thankt her for the grace Sh'imparted them this mourning enterspace That barr'd him hitherto and now 't is ouer Praid that he might their company recouer But she replyes I maruell Thyamis Sith our estate so well prouided is And sith out entertainment you commend You seeme to doubt it will not hold to th' end Not so quoth he for well I know that heere Your Ladiship maintaines more daintie cheere Than is with vs and better may they liue Such royall entertainment wont you giue But they well-borne now ending pilgrimage Are homeward bound to see their parentage My selfe some reason haue and for my father Prouide them would of all things much the rather 'T is well quoth she that anger laid aside You will the point of equitie abide Which more is alwayes on Commanders side Than his that hath but barely to prouide Haue you command quoth he Quoth she I haue By Law of Armes that makes a Captiue slaue He saw she ment th'exploit of Mitranes Who tooke them both set-on by Nausicles At th'outlaw Fen and therefore meekly said No warre good Lady now but all 's a paid With peace on either side Peace setteth free All that in time of warre captiued bee This is the royall Law of Armes and all That this oppose are thought tyrannicall Besides Arsace let me tell you true 'T is no wayes honourabl ' or good for you Such youth so strange with so peruerse a will To say and meane you must imprison still This madded her as wantons of that age Concealed blush but manifested rage And thinking Thyamis conceiu'd the truth Of her enclining to the Grecian youth She said I care not for your Priesthood I Perhaps your selfe full deare yet shall abuy The death of Mitranes and as forthese I will reserue them for Orondates In spight of Rhet'ricke and your lawfull bands It shall be done that Maiestie commands The King shall haue them for his slaues they be And as for you be gone So parted he Imploring helpe diuine and thought to raise The Citie vpon her making known her wayes But she to chamber straight and must aduise With Gammer Cyb In these perplexities What shall I doe quoth she I cannot slake This siame of loue nor him more yeelding make But rather worse he seemes that heretofore With some hope fed me promising still more Hee flatly now denies as something heard Of Achaemen that I am much afeard But let him be beleeu'd or not beleeu'd If vnt ' Orondates I shew me greeu'd And flattring weepe all were he ne're so rough It makes him milde I shall doe well enough But here 's the mischiefe that before I see My minde fulfill'd preuented shall I bee With tale him could perhaps be made to die Before he heare me speake or see me crie Wherefore vse all your skill and cast about With what deuice you can to helpe me out Or if my selfe to kill I doe not care Assure thy selfe I will not others spare And thou art like be first for this good deed Of Achaemen thy sonne ill mote he speed And thou wert priuie to 't or I mistake Good Madam quoth she better reck'ning make Of both your seruants and take heart vnto you Or else this care will vtterly vndoe you Too milde you are and flatter not command Theagenes your slaue at former hand 'T was not amisse reputing him a boy But now he stands a tip-toe proudly coy Against his louing Lady let him know He shall be forc'd with many a stripe and blow And other torments to performe your will Then doe not flatter so and please him still 'T is right quoth she you say but how can I That loue him thus endure his miserie O Madam y' are too pitifull quoth shee And cannot speed while thus affect you bee Not weighing well how aft'r a little paine Both he and you shall haue a merrie vaine Nor need you see 't but let Euphrates lay Some small correction on him eu'rie day Till he relent she likes her suttletee To heare a thing so moues not as to see And loue when once it growes so desperate Can be content that loued was to hate And venge repulse Commandment then she
Iu'rie this when saw the King He was perswaded and Persina then Forgetting state among so many men Ran from her Throne as if sh 'had beene halfe wilde Embras'd and kist and hugg'd so fast her childe That through so sudden ioyes extremitie With mourning mixt she fell in t ' extasie Hydaspes pittied her yet like affect He felt in minde with manly courage checkt But when he saw them both together fall He rais'd them vp and kist them both withall And on his daughter wept to make amends For hard beleefe Yet thus said You my frends And loyall people see this strange euent And will I thinke if I desire consent To saue the life of this vnhoped Heire Apparent to my Crowne although so faire But for your sake and safetie for the Law I may not spare her so began to draw Her toward th' Altar All cry-out on high The Gods haue well declar'd she should not die This cruell death O saue the Royall Bloud And stept betwixt and crowding stiffly stood To stay his passage and yet further cry You fath'r of people fath'r a family I thanke you for your loue quoth he and staid And turn'd about and to the Princesse said That you so faire one yet my daughter are Howeuer call'd the Gods and these declare But what is he that was with you surpris'd And stands at th' Altar to be sacrifiz'd How hapt you call'd him brother heretofore For but your selfe I children had no more Chariclia bent her eyes downe to the ground And blushing said it was that fearfull stound Constrain'd me so but what he is indeed Please you him aske himselfe can best arreed I crie you mercie smiling quoth he than That blush I made you speaking of the man But stay and keepe your mother companie And of your fortunes tell her th'historie So may you bring her now more ioy and mirth Than at the day of your admired birth Of solemne Sacrifice I must haue care And in your stead another Maid prepare To die with him The Princesse at that word Was like to skreame yet held and said my Lord And royall father sith the peoples minde Is for my sake to spare the femall kinde They looke not for another or if need Require a paire must on your Altar bleed 'T were good you had another man for he Cannot be sacrificed but with me The Gods forbid quoth he why say you so Because with him quoth she I stay or goe I liue or die as Destin hath defin'd I like quoth he your charitable minde To saue your fellow-pris'ner but in truth It cannot be to th' Altar must this Youth And that the people were content to spare Mine only thee was heau'nly Powers care O King quoth she the Gods that had the care This body of mine so little worth to spare Will spare my soule and what that is they know That haue ordain'd before it should be so If otherwise and that this man must dye This one thing grant m'I pray that none but I Him sacrifise to shew these all about Your daughters heart like true bloud-royall stout The King was vext and said of this your minde So contrarie no reason can I finde At first this stranger sought you to defend And now as if he neuer were your frend But vtter foe you would your selfe him kill I see no good can thence arise but ill Nor can it with our reputation stand For you to take that office now in hand For none weilds here the sacrificing knife But Priest of Sun and Moone the man and wife That hinders not quoth she at mothers eare For I haue one that may that title beare You shall repli'd the Queene in softly voyce When for your good and ours we make the choyce There need no choosing one already had Quoth she Alas quoth he my daughter's mad Or ouerjoy'd with sudden change in chat As in a dreame she speakes she knowes not what Him brother cals that is not saue him would At first and kill him now She thinkes she could Be maid and wife at once Deere wife her take Into your Tent and see what you can make Of these her words or labour to recall Her wits againe before she lose them all I must send-out to seeke some other Maid For her to die and meane time shall be staid To giue Embassadours their audience That late are come I know not yet from whence I thinke our conquest to congratulate Soone after set himselfe in chaire of State And orderly them call'd Harmonias That for the time thereto appointed was Meroebus first the Kings owne brothers son Comes-in and with his present thus begun My Sou'raigne Lord and Father for entail'd The Crowne was on him if Kings Issue fail'd For safe returne of your high Maiestie And for our gladnesse of your victorie We all bring presents and my selfe this man That oft hath plaid his prize and euer wan At running wrestling cudgelling and cuffes Can none come neere him Then the fellow-puffes And makes a present challenge Come who dare And naked gan there round about him stare The King makes proclamation Come who would But not a man in all his Camp so bould So great his bulke was post-like his vpholders And taller he than all by head and shoulders I thanke you sonne Meroebu◠quoth the King And I will giue him such another thing So did and Elephant so growne with yeares That all the rest about him seem'd but Steares The beast was brought and like the man did stare And all the people laught at that compare Now next to these came in the men of Sere Who brought the King two silken robes to weare Of daintie sleaue drawne from their wormie trees And aske a boone vpon their naked knees And what it was is vtter'd be their Prime A pard'n of all their pris'ners for the time The King it grants then came-in th'Embassie Of such as dwelt in Happie Arabie Vnhappie since for bringing forth the sword Of Prophet false that fights against the Word They brought a present did such odours yeeld As sweetly soone perfumed all the field With Aloës Amomum Cassia Canella Stacte Nardus Pistica Mirrh Ambergris Mahaca Labdanum Keranna Stor and eu'rie precious gum Worth many tallents Then brought they that haue None other house but eu'rie man his Caue The Troglodytes of Countrey no where cold A yoke of Gryphons chain'd with that fine gold Which Emmots nigh as big as Norfolke sheepe At sand-hill-side are said to gath'r and keepe Then came that wore for Turban straw in net With arrowes round about the brim beset Point vpward feathers downe a radiant show They made and stucke still ready for the bow And bow with shafts of hurtfull Dragons bone These men of Blemmy brought and thus saith one In all our Countrey high and mightie King We haue no better present now to bring Than these but hope your Maiestie will say They did good seruice on the battaile-day They did indeed repli'd
Meroebus anger'd gaue a stamp Though greatly pleas'd therewith was all the Camp Chariclia's colour went and came the while But at the fall she laught beyong a smile This Queene of Di'monds fairest of the packe Was she that holpe the red suit win the blacke But soone was dampt her victorie for loe The King arising from his Throne said O What pittie 't is that such a man should die Vntimely death but helpe it cannot I. Come young man now remaines that you be crown'd For Sacrifice and yet this deed renown'd Deserues no lesse then set a golden stem Vpon his head beset with pearle and Gem And weeping said triumph though by our Lay The ioy thereof will haue an end to day But sith I cannot free you though I strivve Aske what I may doe for you whilst you liue And I shall grant it Then Theagenes If sacrific'd I must be let it please Your Maiestie that your so new-found heire May vse the sword vpon me and I le obey her The King was strook remembring how that clause Agreed with hers yet would not search the cause But said I promis'd what I might but this I may not doe against the Law it is That saith the Sacrifice still out be laid By one that is a wife not by a Maid She hath an husband quoth the Knight To that Repli'd the King you speake you know not what And like a man to die the fire hath cleane Refuted that conceit except you meane Meroebus here whom I intend t' aduance By marrying her as you haue heard perchance You neuer shall effect it quoth the Knight If I conceiue Chariclia's minde a right And you may trust me as a Sacrifice That of the truth diuinely prophesies To that Meroebus Sacrifices slaine Doe prophesie not while they liue remaine And father well you said and hit himpat At point of death he speakes he knowes not what 'T were good you sent him vnto th'Alt'r againe And at your leisure put him out of paine So sent he was The Princesse that before Had some small ioy receiu'd with hope of more For game at wrestling won now gan to droope When vnto death againe she saw him stoope Her mother comforts her and saith full well He might be sau'd if she would further tell What was betwixt them When she saw no way But plainly must a Maidens loue bewray And sith it was but to the Queene that bore her She pluckt-vp heart and laid the case before her Meanewhile the King Embassadours if moe Yet were to come a Sergeant sent to know The same brings word againe that from Sieen Are letters come with gifts to King and Queene A graue old man comes in as one elect To bring the letters and to this effect T' Hydaspes King of Indies West and East Orondates of all his Traine the least By Deeds of Armes your valour all men see And bounteousnesse by fauour shew'd to mee And sith your all-admired Maiestie Me gaue so soone th' Aegyptian Satrapie It makes me thinke this little suit that I Haue now to make you will me not deny A certaine Maid to me from Memphis sent As I am told by some that with her went And are escapt is by your high command With others captiue brought to Meroland I pray me send her this I vndertake Both for her owne and for her fathers sake Who seeking her was tooke by some of mine Before the peace and left at Elpentine Now prayest ' appeare before your Maiestie In hope to taste herein your clemencie O King returne him not with heauie thought But glad to finde the grace we both haue sought When this was read the King said where is he That seekes a daughter captiue let me see Th' old man who brought the letters said 't is I. Then said the King I will you not deny A fathers suit and well it shall me please To grant this first request t' Orondates There are but ten and one hath Parents knowne Goe view the rest and finding take your owne The man for verie ioy began to greet And fell before the King and kist his feet Then view'd them all but his there could not finde And told the King you se quoth he my minde Th' old man hung downe his head and sorely wept Yet looking vp againe to th' Altar stept And as in sudden furie fast he goes And on Theagenes as'twere a noose His twisted tippet casts The Knight gaue way And let th' old man alone to doe or say What ere he list for though by such a swing Content he was to come before the King And looke againe vpon Chariclia Deiected since he last was sent away The Dotard puls and cries I haue I haue That false Aeacide maiden-stealing Slaue And drawes him willing to be drawne before The King and State and thus begins to rore O King behold this is that wicked wight Who stole my daught'r and now like hypocrite At Altar kneeles they could not well arreed What 't was he meant but wonder'd at the deed And some it pittied some it mou'd to laughter To heare him cry My daughter O my daughter My daughter thus far haue I sought in vaine O Templ ' at Delph O Phoebus O Diane The King commands him tell his case more plaine 'T was Charicles who thus began againe The maine truth hiding Sire I had a childe A guirle although I say 't both faire and milde As any could be seene of flesh and blood Who seru'd Diana vowing maiden-hood In famous Templ ' at Delph this Thessalite Himselfe pretending Achillaean Knight From Phoebus Templ ' and from within the gate Her stole a way and left me desolate Wrong is't to you that place if one profane Your Sun is Phoebus and your Moone Diane When I had sought all ouer Thessalie Pelasgiot Estaetin Phthiotie And found them not I had intelligence The Priest of Memphis had them guided thence And him then seeke I but I found him dead A sonne of his then priesting in his stead Who told me all how that my guirle was sent T' Orondates then to Siene I went And taken was and staid at Elpentine Vntill the Satrap hither sent m'in fine And here I finde yet her I cannot say But this the man that tooke her first a way So held his peace and many brackish teares Fell downe his cheekes vpon his siluer haires Then King to Knight to this Sir what say you Theagenes repli'd Sir all is true Me thiefe and rauisher confesse I must As vnto him but vnto you am just Restore him then the Damsell quoth the King Not he that stole but he that hath the thing Repli'd the Knight restore it ought your selfe The Damsell haue the Priestesse was at Delph 'T is eu'n your daughter faire Chariclia And if he see her so the man will say They all are mou'd and then Sisimithres Who knew it true embraced Charicles And said your nursling whom I once you gaue Is well and her now her right parents haue With that Chariclia this old man to meet Ran from the Queene and fell downe at his feet And said O father deere to me as they Who me begot because I went away So rudely leauing you and holy Delph Take what reuenge you will I yeeld my selfe With that Persina kist the King and said Beleeue my Lord of this our daughter maid This all is true and no man else but he That noble Grecian must her husband be And now by many signes all vnderstood The Gods would haue no more of humane blood The King agreed and glad was of such heires To beare with him the burd'n of Kings affaires Then on their head he set in full renowne The white silke Turban with the Blackmore Crowne And two by two to Mâ—roë they ride Persina with her new-come daughter Bride Hydaspes with his sonne Theagenes And Priest of Delphos with Sisimithres There many dayes together and many nights They celebrate with ioy the nuptiall rites And as they sate at boord with royall cheere What ere was daintie were it ne're so deere A curle-head blacke-boy taught by Zanzibar Who th' Art to learne had trauelled as far As th' Isle of Britain sung to th' Irish harp How Sun and Moone about the Center warp And passing thr'ow the signes of heauenly Ring Make Summer first then Autumne Winter Spring How Greeke Achilles Troian Hector slew And thrice about the Citie wall him drew How mightie Memnon faire Aurora's son Before he fell had many a battell won How Perseus came in t ' Aethiopia And from Sea-monster freed Andromeda Whose picture faire in black Kings chamber seene That Faire-one made be borne of Blackmore Queene This haue I wrought with day-and-nightly swinke To file our tongue so rough let no man thinke It was for wealth or any vaine desire As of a minde that aimes at nothing higher T' enable me to till or let more land T' haue men and women-seruants at command To stretch my selfe on costly bed of state In faire-hung chamber furnished with plate Or in Caroch to whirle the Towne about With humble suitors follow'd home and out To quaffe in chrystall glasse the deerest grapes And make my guests therewith as merrie as Apes To weare the linnen fine and white as milke And purpl ' engrain'd of softest wooll and silke With mule in street to see my foot-cloth fould In field on horse to stamp the grassie mould At wilde-goose chase or after hawke or hound Or run for siluer bell and hundred pound For none of these what rhen that abl ' I bee Without debt or restraint of libertee At land and sea peace and war booke and sword With more effect to serue my Sou'raigne Lord To write road giue keepe hospitalitee As heretofore haue done mine Ancestree That after-câ—mmers know when I am dead I somâ— goo◠〈…〉 life endevoured 〈◊〉 I cannot muâ—◠〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 vse 〈◊〉 Make causey draiâ—â— bridge â—â—â—mon 〈…〉 Poore boyes binde Prentice marrie 〈…〉 When Common-wealth requires such kinde of aids Nor purchase and restore vnto the Church Th'improued Tythes that Auarice did lurch Nor yet build wall fort hospitall or schoole To keepe my name vndrown'd in Lethe poole Yet will I labour what I can with pen To profit my succeeding Countrey-men In vaine may seeme is wealth or learning lent To man that leaues thereof no monument FINIS