The Saints Sacrifice, Act 2
Actus ſecundi, Scena prima.
Enter Calaſiris Iſis prieſt at Memphis.
Am I the goodeſſe Iſis prieſt, and burne
In theſe unlawfull fires? ſhall Rhodopis
With her Ʋenerious charmes ſubdue my heart,
And make me breake that temperance of life
Which I have hitherto preſerv'd unſpotted?
What ſhall I doe? I cannot ſtand the puſh
Of theſe ſtrong paſſions, yet I am reſolv'd
Nere to commit the act, nor ſo to ſtaine
My prieſthood with diſhonour; Iſis temple
And ſecret places ſhall not be defil'd
By Calaſiris, no i'le rather banniſh
My ſelfe from ſight of curſed Rodopis,
Leaſt ſtaying here I ſhould beforc'd to doe
So vile a deed; I am reſolv'd to leave
This ſtatelie City Memphis ſuddenly,
I'le give it out, my iourney is for Thebes
To ſee my eldeſt ſonne call'd Thiamis.
VVith this pretence I ſhall unqueſtion'd goe,
But there's a City ſacred to Apollo
In Greece hight Delphos, there i'le bend my courſe
(For tis a Colledge where wiſe men reſort
Free from the concourſe of the common people)
To viſit my old friend prieſt Caricles.
When whoriſh beautie and vaine pride diſplay
Their gaudie colours, wiſe men ſhun the way. Exit.
Actus ſecundi, Scena ſecunda.
Enter Demeneta and Thisbe.
Dem.
Thisbe my wench, thou muſt be ſecret unto all my commands.
Thiſ.
As your owne heart could wiſh, as your truſty cabinet.
Dem.
I am confident of thee; thou know'ſt how I lov'd that proud boy Cnemon, what proffers I made him, what favours I beſtow'd upon him, and all to winne him to my imbraces, yet how ſcornfully and ſcurvily he refuſed me, with what diſdaine he left me; I am now reſolv'd no longer to ſollicite my love but to execute my revenge; I have devis'd a dainty plot againſt him, which will take according as I would wiſh, follow thou my directions.
Thiſ.
I will not digreſſe a haires breadth miſtris.
Dem.
Then thus I ſchoole thee, make a ſhew that thou lov'ſt Cnemon exceedingly, entice him to thee with beckes and amorous glances, he'll ſoone be caught with theſe baites, eſpecially having heretofore long nibled upon thy beauty; frequent his bed often, be not aſham'd, it ſhall be for thy great advancement, and whereas thou art now a bondmaid, thou ſhalt be made free forever.
Thiſ.
I am your creature in all things, eſpecially in matters of this nature.
Dem.
When thou haſt done this which I command thee, I will inſtruct thee farther.
Exit Demeneta. Manet Thisbe a little.
Thiſ.
I waite your pleaſure. I muſt give Cnemon good countenance, well, I muſt entice the young man, well, I muſt lie with him too, very well; faith theſe are no harſh commands, it ſhall never grieve me to be imployd in ſuch worke, would my miſtris had no harder labour for me, this is a taske of pleaſure; I have a warrant now for what I ſhall doe; I durſt not yeild to Cnemon before when he attempted me, now let him come with his ſtouteſt artillery, I will ſtand the charge valiantly. Enter Cnemon.
Cnem.
Faire Thisbe are you here? why now I like you,
You ſmile upon me, and your countenance
Darts amorous glances which before caſt frownes,
Now you appeare like Ʋenus.
Thiſ.
Courteous Cnemon,
Although at firſt I did deny your ſuit,
Impute it not to want of love, but place
And oportunity, beſides the doubt
And danger which the action brings with it
If once diſcover'd, made me to commit
So groſſe an errour.
Cnem.
Will you be reform'd
Upon mature counſell?
Thiſ.
You ſhall ſee
I will not be refractory to ought
You ſhall adviſe me, I doe know your mind,
Cnem.
Come with me then and learne to kiſſe and ſmile,
You know the backe way to my chamber ſweet.
Cnem.
I do, and will attend you, there wee'l meet. Exeunt.
Actus ſecundi, Scena tertia.
Enter Caricles and Calaſiris.
Caric.
Welcome to Greece my worthy friend and brother,
And in the fitteſt time, becauſe I ſhall
Need your aſſiſtance in the perfecting
A buſineſſe which concernes me, you are wiſe
And can perſwade, when reaſon is your theame.
Cala.
What I can doe, our long acquaintance ſir
And brotherhood in travell and vocation,
VVils me to render it unto your ſervice;
VVherein can I be uſefull to my friend?
Caric.
In this, you know laſt night I did relate
Cariclaes ſtory, how I did receive her
And brought her from your Egypt here to Greece,
where in a ſhort time ſhe hath learn'd our tongue,
And ſo farre paſſeth ſhe all other beauties
That ſhe attracteth all mens eyes to gaze
VVith admiration on her, as well ſtrangers
As Greekes, ſo thatwhere e'r ſhee be converſant,
Either at home, or in the Temples, or
At publique exerciſes, all mens eyes
Are fix'd upon her with as great devotion
As if ſhe were the image of ſome goddeſſe
Lately created; that which grieves me, is
She loathes to heare of marriage, and reſolves
To live a maiden ſtill, and ſo becomming
Dianas ſervant, for the moſt part doth
Apply her ſelfe to hunting and to ſhooting;
I had a great deſire to marry her
Unto my ſiſters ſonne, a fine young man,
Well manner'd, and faire ſpoken; but I cannot,
Either by prayer or promiſe, or by force
Of argument perſwade her thereunto:
In this I crave your helpe, deare Calaſiris,
Uſe ſome point of your wiſedome to perſwade her
To know her nature, that ſhe is a woman,
And that ſhe would not ſo degenerate
From all thoſe of her ſex; this I beſeech you
To doe for great Apollos ſake, and all
Your countrey gods.
Calaſ.
In this point, Caricles,
I'le doe my beſt indeavour. Enter Nebulo.
Nebul.
Maſter, come
Away for ſhame, the captaine of the Aenians
Embaſſage ſtayeth for you at the gate
For to begin the ſacrifice.
Calaſ.
Pray Sir,
What are thoſe Aenians? what their holy meſſage?
What ſacrifice make they?
Caric.
They are the nobleſt
Of all Theſſalia, this ſame ſacrifice
They ſend to 'Pirrhus, ſtout Achilles ſonne,
Every fovrth yeere (at ſuch time as the feaſt
Agon is kept unto Apollo here)
For here was P…rrbus maſſacred before
Apollos altars by enrag'd Oreſtes,
This meſſage is more honourably done
Than any of the reſt, becauſe they ſay
The Captaine is ſprung from Achilles line.
Indeed, ſuch is the beauty of his perſon
And brave majeſticke carriage, as confirmes
He is ſome goddeſſe ſonne.
Calaſ.
I faine would ſee him.
Caric.
You ſhall, and his brave order'd ſacrifice,
Cariclea too, my daughter, muſt be there
To day by cuſtome, at the funerall pompe
Of Neoptolemus, but you have ſeene her
Before.
Calaſ.
Yes, and done ſacrifice together.
Caricles.
Come, you muſt goe unto the Temple with us
To helpe me in this ceremonious worke.
Calaſ.
Lead on, I'le follow, if I'm prompted right,
Strange things will happen after this rare ſight Exeunt.
Actus ſecundi Scena quarta.
Enter Cnemon and Thisbe.
Cnem.
Thisbe my love, we muſt act cloſely, and with great circumſpection, leſt we be diſcovreed by the miſchievous Demeneta, who (as thou ſay'ſt) hates me more now than ſhe lov'd me before.
Thiſ.
You talke ſimply Cnemon, if you count it a dangerous matter for me being a bond-maid, bought with money, to be taken a bed with you; what puniſhment thinke you her worthy, who is a free-woman, and lawfully married to a husband, yet playeth falſe, and beareth a man too many.
Cnem.
I judge her worthy of death, but who is the perſon, prethee?
Thiſ.
Your vertuous ſtepmother, my Miſtreſſe Demeneta, now you may be reveng'd upon her by diſcovering it to your father 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 onelyonly 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,
Ile 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.
'Tis late 'ith 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 …he 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 thea 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.
'Tis 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; Ile 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 fee 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 ſorked order.
Nebulo.
Did Ʋulcan 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 Ʋulcan for being the publiſher of his owne diſgrace.
Nebul.
But twas a ſhame for Mars to be caught ſo.
Nebulona.
The gods wiſh'd every one of them if that were a …ame 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, 1'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 my 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 cares; 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 *Thetis.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 very Mars in warre,
And Captaine good unto the Greekes,
thy glory ſcales the skies;
To thee did thy red-headed wife
cauſe Pirrhus rough to riſe.
The Trojans utter overthrow,
but ſtay to Greekiſh hoſt,
Be thou good Pirrhus unto us
a favourable ghoſt,
Who here in grave intombed lieſt
in Phoebus ſacred ground,
Bow downe thy care to th' holy hymnes
that we to thee do ſound,
And this our City ſuffer not
in any feare to be,
Of thee and Thetis is our ſong,
Thetis all haile to thee.
The ſong ended, enters Theagines Captaine of the Theſſalians, very richly apparelled, followed by many gallants, who guarding him as he went, at laſt encompaſſed him round about; the maides overcome with the beauty of Theagines could not moderate their paſſions but began to caſt flowers and fruit upon him, with that enters Cariclea moſt ſumptuouſly adorned according to the manner, her haire was neither all bound up, nor all looſe, but the moſt part thereof that grew behind, hanged over her ſhoulders; that which grew from the crowne of her head downe to her forehead, being of a yellow colour, was crowned with a garland of young Laurell; in her left hand ſhee bare a guilded Bow and a Quiver of arrowes hanged on her right ſhoulder, and in her other hand ſhe bare a taper burning: after the young men had gone three times about Neoptolemus ſcpulture in their bravery, the women cryed out pittiouſly, & the men made a ſtrange noiſe, with that Theagines ſpeakes to Caricles.
Theag.
Moſt ſacred Prieſt of this high Deity
We make requeſt unto you to begin
This ſacrifice to Neoptolemus.
Caric.
The ſacrifice indeed belongs to me,
But you ſir, as the Captaine of this charge,
And ſacred meſſage, ought to take the taper
Of her there, who of all thoſe ceremonies
Is preſedent, and burne the alter of;
This is the order and our Countrey faſhion.
Theagnes takes the taper with a great deale of reverence from the hand of Cariclea, and ſets fire to the Alter, but firſt he was in a maze at the exceeding beauty of Cariclea, and ſhe as much taken with his, then they both ſmiled a little and bluſh'd and then became pale againe: in concluſion he falls in love with her, and ſhe with him.
Theag.
So burnes my heart as doth this Alter here,
The taper that did ſet my heart a fire
Was faire Caricleas beauty. aſide.
Cariclea.
How my ſoule
Could ſacrifice to faire Theagines. aſide.
Caricles.
Great god of Delphos in whoſe ſacred temple
We celebrate theſe funerall obſequies
Of great Achilles ſonne, vouchſafe to ſend
A happy ômen which may crowne this worke
Of our devotion offered at thy Altar.
The Oracle ſpeakes touching Theagines and Cariclea.
Ye men of Delphos ſing of her,
and her rare beauties praiſe,
Who now in grace begins to grow,
but fame ſhall and her daies,
Who leaving theſe my temples here,
and ſailing ſurging ſtreames
Shall come at length to contries ſcorch'd
with Phoebus burning beames,
Where they as recompences due
that vertues rare doe gaine
In time to come ere it be long
White miters ſhall obtaine.
After this anſwer of the god Apollo, the pompe is broken up, and Exeunt.
Actus ſecundi, Scena octava.
Enter the iudges and people of Athens, then Ariſtippus And Demeneta with Cnemon bound.
2 Iudg.
Cnemon ſtand forth, who doth accuſe him here?
Ariſtippus ſteps forth, and ſtrewing aſhes on his head, ſ…ith:
Ariſtip.
I brought not up my ſonne, ye men of Athens
To ſee him come unto this end, but rather
To be a ſtaffe to ſtay my age upon;
As ſoone as he was borne his education
VVas good and civill, when he did attaine
To riper yeeres, I ſet him to our ſchooles
And Academies there to ſtudy arts,
And Mathematicke ſciences, beſides,
According to the lawes of this our City,
Made him free deniſon, yet notwithſtanding
He hath not onelyonly caſt behind his backe
Theſe favours of my love, but diverſely
Both injur'd me, and beaten this good woman,
Who by our lawes is now my ſecond wife;
And not content herewith, one night he came
Unto us with a drawne ſword in his hand
(When we in bed ſuſpected no ſuch thing)
In mind to kill us both, and was no farther
From being a paracide but that by chance
His ſword by ſudden feare fell out his hand,
Which 'Demeneta my good wife tooke up:
Therefore I flee to you moſt learned Judges,
And though I might by law of this our Senate
Slay him with my owne hands, yet I appeale
Unto your juſtice, and commit my cauſe
To your grave cenſures, counting it more ſit
To puniſh this my ſonne by publike lawe
Then private bloodſhed.
With that Ariſtippus weepes, Demeneta faining teares alſo.
Demen.
Cnemon, i'me ſorry for thee pretty boy,
In an ill hower wert thou brought to the world;
Unhappy creature.
Cnem.
Grave and learned ſenate
Vouchſafe to heare me ſpeake.
2 Iudg.
We will not heare thee,
But anſwer to this queſtion we propound,
Came you unto your father with a ſword
Drawne in your hand, or no?
Cnem.
I not deny
But I came with a drawne ſword in my hand,
But I will tell you how, pleaſe you to heare me.
3 Iudg.
He hath confeſſ'd ynough, he ought not ſpeake more for himſelfe.
1 Iudg.
Let us proceed to ſentence.
2 Iudg.
I judge him worthy to be ſton'd to death.
3 Iudg.
I to be hang'd.
4 Iudg.
This is my ſentence, fathers,
…hat he be caſt headlong into the dungeon.
Cnem.
O cruell ſtepmother, and moſt unkind,
…or thy curs'd ſake am I ſo ill intreated
…gainſt all equity and juſtice too,
…hou kil'ſt me contrary to courſe of Law.
1. Iudg.
Your ſentence is too hard and too ſevere,
…et him not die, but be for ever baniſh'd.
2 Iudg.
Let him be ſton'd.
3. Iudg.
Nay hang'd.
4. Iudg.
nay caſt into
…he dungeon.
1. Iudg.
ſince we differ conſcript fathers,
…n our opinions, I doe thinke it fit
… be referr'd unto the peoples voyces.
2. Iudg.
I doe aſſent unto it.
3 Iudg.
So do I.
4. Iudg.
And I.
1. Iudg.
Then people give your voices, ſhall young Cnemon …ie or be baniſh'd!
The people.
baniſh'd, baniſh'd, baniſh'd.
1. Iudg.
Then Cnemon, this muſt be thy puniſhment,
…erpetuall exile from thy native land
…ever to be revok'd, which if infring'd
…y thy preſumption, then expect to have
…o merciemercy from the ſenate, but a grave.
…eake up the Court. Exeunt,
Actus ſecundi, Scena nona.
Enter Caricles, and Calaſiris.
Caric.
Saw you my onelyonly joy, and the ſole honour
…f Delphos, faire Cariclea my daughter?
Calaſ.
This was not ſir the firſt time that I ſaw her
…s often as the people made reſort
Unto the temple I was preſent with her,
And more, we have done ſacrifice together,
And when ſhe doubted any point depending,
On divine matters, or on humane learning;
She would have me inſtruct her in the truth.
Caric.
How did you like her at the ſacrifice?
Did ſhe ſet forth that brave ſight any thing?
Calaſiris.
You aſke me a ſtrang queſtion Caricles,
As if you doubted, whether the bright moone.
Did paſſe the leſſer ſtarres.
Caric.
The people praiſ'd
Theagnes the young Theſſalian captaine,
Attributing the ſecond place to him.
Calaſires.
Yea, and the third too, but they all acknowledge your daughter carryed it away, and was The verie eye of the ſolemnitie.
Caric.
Come will you goe with me to viſite her
I doubt the concourſe of ſo great a troope
Hath preiudic'd her reſt.
Calaſir.
though my affaires
Call me another way, yet il'e diſpence
VVith them how great ſo ever and important
To waite on you and her exeunt
Actus ſecundi, Scena decima.
Enter Cariclea love ſicke, ſhe lyeth upon her bed
Cariclea.
O cruell power of love! why doſt thou triumph
In lovers rectles paines? what glorie can
Be added to thy deitie in ſeeking
The overthrow of thy poore libertie?
Take here this tribute of my teares, theſe ſighes,
Sent from a gentle heart, convaye them hence
That they may meet Theagnies, and flow
With his as from one fountaine, from one head.
To her enters Caricles and Calaſiris, Caricles embraceth her
Caric.
What ailes my ſweet, my deare Carcilea,
Tell me my daughter.
Carcilea.
Nothing but my head
Doth ake a little, and I faine would ſleepe.
Cariclea faines her ſelfe aſleepe.
Caric.
What ſhould this meane good Calaſiris thinke you,
VVhat diſeaſe hath ſhe tane?
Calaſir.
You need not marvell
At this, for I believe ſome enuious eye
Hath over look'd her.
Caric.
I muſt laugh at this,
Then you beleive as commonlie men doe,
That there is witch craft
Calaſiris.
Yes as I beleive
That any thing is true, and for this cauſe,
The emptie aire that is about us round
On everie ſide, entring in by our eyes,
Our mouth, our eares our noſtrills, all our pores,
Carrying ſuch outward qualities with it
As tis indew'd with, doth ingraffe a like
Infection in the man who hath receiv'd it;
As when a man hath enviouſly beheld
Something that's excellen▪ forthwith the aire
Is filled with that poiſonous qualitie,
VVhichWhich entreth into that is neere at hand,
This ſame aire being a ſlender ſuble thing
Pierceth even to the bones and very marrow,
And by that cauſe hath envie beene the meanes
Of that diſeaſe, which by a propter name
VVe call bewitching.
Caric.
Your wiſe reaſons beare
Some probility I muſt confeſſe.
Cala.
Conſider Caricles how many have
Gotten the plague, although they never touch'd
Nor ſaw, nor eate, nor lay with the deſe…'d,
But being with them in the ſelf…ſame aire,
Let love be argument and proofe of thi…,
VVho taketh its beginning from the object
Of what it ſees, and ſo as if it were
Some privy paſſage by the eyes hath entrance
Into the heart, and this is probable,
For ſeeing of all other pores and ſences
The ſight is capable of moſt mutations,
And ſo the hotteſt, it muſt needs receive
Such like infections as are round about it,
And with a hot ſpirit entertaine loves changes,
As for examples ſake, I will produce
Out of the holie bookes ſome reaſons for it
Gathered from natures ſole conſideration;
You know the bird Charadrius doth heale
Thoſe perſons whoſe diſeaſe is the kings evill,
Which bird doth flie away aſſoone as any
Diſeaſed with this griefe hath ſpied her,
And turnes her taile to him, and ſhuttes her eyes
Not (as ſome ſay) becauſe ſhe would not help them
But that by looking on them ſhe by nature
Drawes that diſeaſe unto her, therefore wiſelie
Declineth ſuch a ſight as preſent perill,
Caric.
You have diſcuſs'd this doubt right ſagelie Sir,
I would my daughter once might feele and finde
What love doth meane, I would not then conceive
That ſhe were ſick, but in her perfect health,
But nothing leſſe then this is to be thought
Hath happened to her, who contemnes all love,
But rather ſeemes to be bewitch'd indeed;
Deere Calaſiris for our friendſhips ſake
Shew ſome point of your wiſedome to diſſolve
This witchchraft, and if poſſible to bring her
Into a good opinion of my nephew.
Enter Nebulo with a baſtinado in his hand.
Nebulo.
Sirs what dee meane to make ſuch tarriance? Theagines hath made ſuch a feaſt, and all the good cheere will be eaten before you come, for ſhame come away, there are none of the gheſtes wanting but you who are the principall, if you will be ſuch fooles to miſſe it, you may, but i'le not follow your fooliſh example.
Calaſiris.
This fellow cals us rather to a battle
Then to a banket.
Caric.
Tis his ruſti…ke manner;
O what a lofty fellow Bacchus is
When he is well waſh'd! but come let us goe
Leaſt with his cudgell honeſt Nebulo
Doe drive us forward.
Nebulo.
Well ſirs you may jeſt,
But I meane earneſt if I miſſe the feaſt.
Exeunt. Finis actus ſecundi: