The Saints Sacrifice, Act 3

The Saints Sacrifice · Act 3

Actus tertii, Scena prima.

Enter Ariſtippus ſolus in a melancholy humour.

Ariſtip.

How have I plai'd the foole and rob'd my ſelf…

In haſtie paſſion of my onelie ſonne;

Repentance when it comes too late doth argue

An inconſiderate iudgment; O my Cnemon

Would thou hadſt kill'd me ere I baniſh'd thee,

For death is better ſure then baniſhment;

Nere ſhall I ſee my boy, well for this fault

I will do penance, penance on my ſelfe;

Athens adiew and all the Citie pleaſures

Forſake me quite; my ſolitarie manour

Farre in the countrey where no people comes

Shall be my habitation day and night

Where I will eate my heart out. Exit Ariſtippus.

Enter Demeneta and Thisbe.

Demen.

Oh my Cnemon,

My prettie boy, more deere then my owne life,

How I lament thy chance and my miſhap.

Thiſ.

Comfort your ſelfe deere miſtris I beſeech you.

Demen.

Peace foole, my griefe is more then can be cur'd

…y any words of comfort, no man knowes

What a ſharpe corſive it was to my heart,

…ore fervent is my love now he is abſent.

Thiſ.

Fie, fie, forget him, thinke upon his pride

And high diſdaine againſt you, thinke he doth

…eſerve this puniſhment and greater too.

Demen.

How readie thou art Thisbe to doe miſchiefe,

Thou art the fire brand that haſt kindled this

Combuſtion in my heart, thou haſt not beene

A helpe unto me▪ but a hinderance

In the fruition of my love, by thee

And by thy meanes I have loſt my onelyonly joy,

And yet for all this thou doſt ſtill incenſe me

To run on in this way; moſt wicked wretch.

Thiſ.

Well I perceive your mind, ſhe thinkes to make me

Support the fury of her franticke ſits,

But I ſhall overreach you ſure in wit,

And lay the ſaddle on the right horſe backe, aſide.

Why do you thus accuſe your truſty ſervant?

You know I did but what I was commanded,

Nor ere did any thing without your warrant,

If this thing happen'd not as you would have it.

Aſcribe it not to any fault in me,

But rather, as you juſtly may, to fortune;

If you will have me yet deviſe ſome way

To remedy your preſent griefe and ſorrow,

You ſhall perceive how ready my good will

Shall be at your commands.

Demen

What remedy

Can poſſibly be found, ſince he that can

Eaſe me and none but he, is ſeparated

At ſuch a diſtance from me? and beſides

Th'unhop'd for lenity of thoſe which gave

Sentence againſt him hath deſtroyd my hopes.

I would he had ſuffered death, for then in me

Had quenched beene the flames of burning love.

Hope that is paſt removes griefe from the heart,

And when deſpaire poſſeſſeth troubled minds

They intermit all ſorrow building on

Th'impoſſibility of their enjoying;

But as it is methinkes I ſee and heare

Cnemon complayning of my cruelty,

And how by unjuſt guiles I did enſnare him;

Sometimes me thinks he comes to me as if

I ſhould enjoy him, othertimes I bend

My courſe to him where ere he lives remote;

Theſe things enflame me, theſe things make me mad,

But O ye gods, I have as I deſerve;

Why did I not with good will ſeeke to win him

Rather then by deceit and craft compell him?

Why did I not moſt humbly ſue unto him

Rather then wrong him like an enemy?

It may be at the firſt he did deny me

For maiden modeſty, and feare to foule

His fathers ſheets, but had I perſever'd

Unto the end, he might have beene allur'd

To condeſcend by faire meanes to my will;

But O my Thisbe tell me, tell me quickly

What remedy is that thou wouldſt deviſe

For me and ſaiſt is eaſie?

Thiſ.

Miſtris this:

All men ſuppoſe that Cnemon is departed

The towne of Athens and the territory

As he was judg'd to doe, but I know well

(Who have ſearch'd all things meerely for your ſake)

That he remaines here ſtill in ſecret manner

With one Arſinoe whom I thinke you know,

Shee playes well on the Virginals, with her

He lyeth every night, for this faire maid

Won with his love, and pitying his diſtreſſe

Receiv'd him in, and promiſeth as ſoone

As all things are provided for her journey,

To goe away with him.

Demen.

O happy wench,

Happy Arſinoe is thy deſtiny,

Though baniſhment or death with ſuch a partner;

But what doe theſe thinges ought aduantage me?

Thiſ.

Much, i'le pretend I am in love with Cnemon,

And will deſire for old acquaintance ſake,

Arſinoe would be pleaſ'd to ſuffer me

In ſtead of her to lie with him one night,

Which if I can obtaine, it ſhall be yours,

You ſhall enjoy him in Arſinoes ſtead,

And ile provide before he go to bed

He ſhall have wine ſufficient, leaſt our plot

Should be diſcover'd; if you have your wiſh,

Reſt then contented to give o're your love,

For in moſt natures it is eaſily ſeene

That ſuch love whoſe beginning's violent

After the firſt experiment decayes

And waxeth cold, but graunt it burne a freſh

Within your boſome (which ye gods forbid)

Tis but to make a new voiage, & ſeeke out

A new way to atchieve it.

Demen.

I approve,

And praiſe thy rare inuention deereſt Thiſbe;

Farle not to put this plot in execution,

And I ſhall well reward thee.

Thiſ.

Feare it not.

I crave but three dayes to bring this about.

Demen.

Tis granted; if thy wit can worke my pleaſure,

How I ſhall love my Thiſbe beyond meaſure! Exeunt.

Actus tertii, Scena ſecunda.

Enter the banquet, after Theag. Caric. & Calaſi. with attendance.

Theag.

Welcome my honoured friends, and holy fathers

To my poore Table here, pleaſe you to ſit

And eate of what the gods have ſent us.

Caric.

Sir,

Super abundant are your cates and dainties,

F ire Cleopatra that luxuri…us Queene

Might revell here, and be contented too,

We that are Prieſts uſe no ſuch dainty fare

Whoſe lives are ſquar'd by rules of temperance.

Theag.

We will not cauſe you breake thoſe rules, nor ſwerve

From your religious order, but ſometimes

A little Wine will much enflame your zeale

To holy duties, reverend Caricles

I muſt begin to you. drinkes to him.

Caric.

Theagines, I muſt returne you thanks.

Theagines on a ſudden falls into muſing, ſigh…, and …angeth his countenance ſometimes red, ſometimes pa…e, and gapes withall, as if he were not well.

What meaneth this variety? I thinke

Some envious eye hath look'd upon him too,

Methinkes Cariclea and Theagenes

Haave one diſeaſe.—ſoftly to Calaſires.

Calaſ.

By Iſis that they have

One and the ſame diſeaſe, thus it appeares:

Since he next to your daughter was the faireſt

Of all the ſhew at that brave ſacrifice.

Theagenes begins to recollect himſelfe.

Theag.

Sirs, pardon my ſtupidity and dulneſſe,

A little fit of paſſion did poſſeſſe me,

But now tis paſt, here worthy Calaſiris,

I drinke a health to the faire preſident

Of our late funerall pomp.

Calaſ.

Excuſe me Sir,

I drinke no healths, yet thanke your courteous proffer.

Theag.

Refuſe Car cleas health?

Caricles.

Sir, be not angry,

This man ne'r drinketh wine, nor eats the fleſh

Of any living thing.

Theag.

That's ſtrange, how comes it?

Caricles.

He's an Aegyptian, borne at holy Memphis,

And Iſis Prieſt, whoſe cuſtome is t'abſtaine

From wine and fleſh as things unlawfull.

Theag.

Then

Bring me ſome water, wiſe and reverend man,

Pardon my ignorance which knew it not;

Now Sir to you in your owne element,

And let this table make a laſting league

Of amity betweene us.

Calaſ.

Let it be ſo,

Worthy Theagenes, for I doe much

Deſire that combination.

Theag.

Ere you goe

Pleaſe you to ſee a dance in armour, call'd

Pyrricha, which we uſe in Theſſalie.

Caricles.

What pleaſeth you doth pleaſe us.

Theag.

Sound muſicke then.

The Theſſalian youths with Theagenes their Captaine, dance Pyrricha in armour, with a gracefull dexterity, which ended, the Prieſts take their leaves, and bid Theagenes adieu.

Caricles.

Thanks for our worthy entertainment Sir.

Theagenes embraceth Calaſiris very often, and at parting whiſpereth him ſomething in the eare.—Exeunt all.

Actus tertii Scena tertia.

Enter Calaſiris ſolus.

Calaſ.

'Twas not a dreame or ſuch like fantaſie,

As oftentimes invades and creepes into

The mindes of men, when Morpheus ſhuts their eyes,

That tooke me laſt night napping in my bed:

No, twas no dreame, but a true apparition.

I ſaw Apollo, and Diana both

Appeare before me, and with them they brought

Theagenes and faire Cariclea,

Apollo gave me him, Diana her,

With this command, goe take theſe young folkes with thee,

And haſte thee home unto thy native countrey,

Tis time, for ſo the Deſtinies command,

Love them as if they were thy naturall children,

And when thou comſt to Egypt, leade them further,

Where it ſhall pleaſe us gods to give direction;

With that they vaniſh'd, and a token gave

That it was not a dreame, or a falſe viſion:

Immortall powers, your heſts I will obey,

If you vouchſafe to point me out the way. one knockes.

Who's there?

Theag.

'Tis I, Theagenes your friend.

Calaſ.

Theagenes, the brave Theſſalian Captaine,

Moſt welcome Sir, what buſineſſe was of force

To make you ſtirre ſo earely?

Theag.

Reverend Father,

A ſtirring one which keeps my thoughts awake,

And baniſheth ſweet ſlumber from mine eyes,

Hath made me breake your morning meditations,

And though I ſuffer beyond thought of man,

Yet bluſh I to reveale my griefe for ſhame.

Calaſ.

Come, come, I know your griefe, although you are

Aſham'd to tell it me, I know it well,

For nothing from my wiſedome can be hid,

And from the knowledge of the gods my ſon.

Calaſiris caſteth ſome account upon his finger, as if he would propheſie.

Young man, thou art in love, nay, ſtart not backe,

Thou art in love with faire Cariclea.

Theagines embraceth him about the necke.

Theag.

Thy propheſie is true, I am in love

With faire Cariclea, ſave me learned man;

For without helpe I cannot live a day,

So much this miſchiefe workes upon my heart;

I never till now knew the effects of love,

Nor ere ſaw woman that I thought deſerv'd

To be beloved, before Caricleas beauty

Made me a ſlave to Cupids cruelty.

Calaſ.

Weepe not Theagines, be of good cheere;

For ſince you have recourſe to me for helpe,

My wiſedome ſhall prevaile above her ſtrength,

Although ſhee be perverſe, and eaſily

Will not be drawne to love, I'le try all meanes

For your ſake whom I love, and uſe all art

I can to breake her nature, be but bold,

And doe as I ſhall ſhew you.

Theag.

With my ſoule,

And if you doe this, I am yours, and all

I have at your command.— one knockes.

Calaſ.

Who's there, be gone

Theagines, to morrow morne I'le meet you

In great Apollos Temple and talke more.— Exit Theagines.

Enter Nebulo.

O, is it you Sir Nebulo, what newes

Bringſt thou I prethee?

Neb.

What dee take me for, a newes Carrier? I would you ſhould know it, I am none ſuch, I have not to doe with other mens buſineſſe nor their wives, I would they had not to doe with mine, but tis no mater for once, there is promiſed a reformation, I hope all will be amended, let it paſſe; but to the point now.

Calaſ.

I, to the point Nebulo by all meanes.

Neb.

And then to the buſineſſe afterward.

Caricles.

Why, didſt thou not meane the buſineſſe when thou mention'dſt the point? is it not all one in the ſenſe? I conceive it ſo, elſe thou art more learned than I am.

Neb.

No tis not all one, the point is one thing, and the buſines another, we muſt firſt handle the point, before we come to the buſineſſe; for your better underſtanding, I will make it plainer.

Calaſ.

Thou art a very learned Doctor ſure, in matters of this nature.

Neb.

I hope ſo, yet my wife hath gone beyond me I'le beſworne, by many degrees.

Calaſ.

But Nebulo▪ prethee what wouldſt thou have with me? how doth thy Maſter, and my good friend Caricles?

Neb.

In health, but doggedly out of tune, hee will be with you preſently, ſo much he bid me tell you, and ſomething elſe, but I have forgotten it, ſo much buſineſſe I have to thinke of.

Enter Caricles.

Calaſ.

My deareſt friend and brother, welcome to me,

Why doe you looke with ſuch a ſullen cheere?

Methinks you're very ſad and melancholy.

Caricles.

I am indeed, and I have reaſon for it.

I come to crave your counſell what to doe,

But firſt depart and leave us Nebulo.

Neb.

Wherefore I pray? well, there will be a ſweet counſell now I am excluded, I ſhould be loth to change heads with either of them for all my hornes.— Exit Nebulo.

Caricles.

My daughter, Sir, ſince yeſterday, the race

Was run in armour tweene Theagenes

And ſtout Ormenes, hath beene wondrous ſicke,

And the laſt night did never ſleepe one winke.

Calaſiris.

Who won the garland Sir?

Caric.

Theagines,

Cariclea as the cuſtome is did hold

The prize, and he receiv'd it at her hand,

She ſtill growes worſe and worſe, deere Calaſiris,

Imploy your ſkill and wiſedome to reſtore her,

I know tis eaſie for you if you pleaſe

To heale her, who, you ſay, is but bewitch'd,

For I believe tis not impoſſible

For holie Prieſtes to bring to paſſe ſtrange things.

Calaſ.

Let's goe then if you pleaſe unto the maid.

And by recommendation ſtrive to make

Me more familiarlie acquainted with her,

That ſhe the bolder may ſuſtaine my cure.

Caric.

Content, Apollo graunt a good ſucceſſe

Unto thy worke, and Aeſculapius. Exeunt.

Actus tertii, Scena quarta.

Enter Ariſtippus and Thisbe.

Thiſ.

Maſter I doubt not but my ſudden comming

Appeareth ſtrange as being unexpected,

The cauſe whereof I will relate unto you

Without more circumſtance, or vaine preambles;

I come here to accuſe my ſelfe unto you;

And to receive ſuch puniſhment as your

Diſcretion ſhall thinke ſit for my offence;

By me ſir you have partly loſt your ſonne,

I doe confeſſe I was an acceſſary,

Though much againſt my will; when I perceiv'd

My miſtris liv'd not well, but wrong'd your bed,

Not onelyonly provident to ſhun the danger

Might light upon my ſelfe for keeping counſell

(If it ſhould come to light by any other)

But chiefly ſorrowfull for your miſ-hap,

Who ſhould in recompence of all your kindneſſe

VntoUnto your wife, reape ſuch diſgrace from her,

I came one night to my yong maſter Cnemon,

(My ſelfe not daring to acquaint you with it)

And told him there was one who us'd to play

The lecher with my miſtris, he enrag'd,

Thinking that then they were in bed together,

Tooke ſuddenly his ſword into his hand,

And notwithſtanding that I told them then

They were not at their ſport, he would not heare me.

But thinking that I had repented of

Bewraying it, ran like a mad man forth

Unto your bed-ſide with intent to kill

Th'adulterer, what followed ſir you know:

Now to confirme that this I ſay is true,

If ſo you pleaſe, this night ile ſhew your wife

My miſtris Demeneta with her friend

A bed together in a neighbours houſe

Without the City.

Ariſtip.

If thou canſt doe this,

Ile make thee free, and pardon all thy faults,

For I ſuppoſe I ſhould revive againe

So I reveng'd were on my enemy;

I had ſuch a ſuſpition in my head

That ſhe was falſe, but kept it to my ſelfe,

Becauſe I wanted cleere proofes to convince her,

But what muſt I doe Thisbe, tell me wench?

Thiſ.

You know the garden where the monument

Of Epicures doth ſtand, there come a little

Before the night▪ and ſtay for me; adiew. Exeunt.

Actus tertii, Scena quinta.

Enter Arſinoe and Thisbe.

Arſ.

My old acquaintance welcome, welcome Thisbe.

Thiſ.

Thanks good Arſinoe, will you teach me now A leſſon on the Virginals?

Arſ.

You jeere me,

I faine would learne of your but prethee tell me

What buſineſſe brought thee hither?

Thiſ.

I will tell thee,

You know Feledemus the dauncer▪

Arſ.

Yes.

Thiſ.

We too muſt daunce la velta here to night,

Let's have a chamber and a bed made ready

Sweet ſiſter, for I've premis'd him this night

He ſhall come firſt, and I will follow after,

Aſſoone as I to bed have brought my miſtris.

Arſ.

All things ſhall be according to thy wiſh,

My better halfe.

Thiſ.

But when he comes I pray you

Be out the way, for he is very ſhame-fac'd

As being a novice in this art.

Arſ.

Is he

Not entred yet?

Thiſ.

Not yet I can aſſure yee,

His flower is yet to ſpend and ſtrength of youth.

Arſ.

That flower thou ſoone wilt crop, and waſt the ſeed.

Thiſ.

In time I may, at night expect me ſiſter.

Arſ.

Ile 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 th…e, 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.

A…i…t…pp…s dragges her along, but ſhe pulling herſelfe out of … m…s hands, ſell ſuddenlie of purpoſe into a pit made … 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;

Ile 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 …ndeered 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 tis 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 weſt ore-look'd not onelyonly 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.

… you wrongfully accuſe the man

Of witchcraft, …ho hath done no harme at all,

There's no ſuch matter, tis 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

Caricles

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 to 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 … 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

…es 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.

Tis 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.

Tis needleſſe,

Send none to me but Calaſiris onelyonly,

He hath the art to eaſe me, and none elſe.

Caric.

Ile 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 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 ſt…ale 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 ſtubborn…

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.

Tis 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.

Ile take your counſell.

Calaſ.

And returne with newes

How you have ſped.

Caric.

Ile 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 maids 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 ſight

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 Cala…i…is once againe I come

Moſt humbly to beſeech you that you will not

Suffer the maid to p…ith, nor her father

Be fr…ſtr…te of his purpoſe.

Calaſiris.

Caricles,

Tis true your daughter is diſtreſt in mind,

For ſhe is moved with the multitude.

Which I have burthen'd her of purpoſe with,

They are not of the le…ſt but ſuch as ſhould

Force he…to doe what ſhe abhorred moſt

Aſwell by nature as decre… of minde,

But I ſuppoſe ſome god doth take in hand

To hinder this … and ſtrive to croſſe

My m…ni…ters, therefore …

And time you they me that ſame Faſcia

You ſaid was … with faire …

Amongſt her coſtlie ie…lls, …

Leaſt that it be ench…nted … and wrought

With ſuch things as doe now exaſpe…ate

Her mind…, by reaſon that ſome enemie

Aſſoone As … was borne had this ordain'd

To keepe her from all love and thought of marriage

That the might die … behind noc iſſue.

Cari….

Tis 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 unde…ſt…nd it not▪ character

Is Ae…h…opi…n, and the letters a…

N…t comm…n, but ſuch as the prin…es uſe

O… Aegy…t in th…ir holi… buſineſſes.

C…ſ.

underſtand th… Aethiopian tongue,

Which unto th… … muſt interpre… wrong.

Ex…unt. ….