The Saints Sacrifice, Act 1
Actus primi Scena prima.
Enter Caricles, ſometimes Apollos Prieſt at Delphos in the habit of a Pilgrim.
Caric.
WHat courſe ſhall aged Carcl…s now take
After his weary travells? ſhall I here
Reſolve to lay my bones, and Egypt make
The finall period of my pilgrimage▪
No, I muſt bid Catadupice adieu
So famous for theſe ſluces of faire Nile,
And ſince the ſurfeit which I tooke of ſorrow
For my deare daughters ſad untimely death,
Is well digeſted in this breaſt of mine,
And change of aire hath wrought a change of mind;
I am reſolv'd to ſtately Greece to wend
And breath my laſt breath where I breath'd my firſt,
'Tis ſo determin'd;— Enter Nebulo his man.
Honeſt Nebulo,
My man draw neare, I'm in a humour now
To change ſome words with thee;—ſo oftentimes— aſide.
Wee ſee wiſe men for recreations ſake,
Conſult with Fooles, and honeſt men with Knaves.— aſide
What courſe doth thy fond braine adviſe me to?
Neb.
To no other but to a home courſe Sir, I muſt tell you plainly, I like not theſe extravagant ones you take of travelling the world thus; I'm ſure I have paid deare for thoſe idle humours of yours, witneſſe my body, brought to a meere Anatomie by travell and faſting; me thinkes, a wiſe man, as you are, ſhould not have ſuch wa…ing thoughts in his mind: well Maſter, reſolve to leave this place, and returne to Delphos our native habitation, or I ſhall ſoone reſolve to leave you, and goe there without you. O the ſmoake of mine owne poore chimney at home, and the beloved ſmoke of my wife, would both ſmell to my noſe now ſo comfortable, as a perfume made of Arabia ſpices; adiew, I can ſtay no longer from pretty Nebulona without the laſh of her juſt diſpleaſure. I come my chickin, I come, be ready to receive me, I know thou languiſheſt all this while for want of my company.
Caric.
Nay prethee ſtay a little longer and heare me; wilt thou leave me now at laſt, and fruſtrate the good opinion I have alwaies had of thy ſimple plainneſſe and conſtant ſervice? have patience awhile, and I will accompany thee in thy journey; as for thy wife Nebulona (if that trouble thee) I ſhall rectifie her in the truth of al thy actions. Who knockes there? goe ſee, and bring me word before you grant entrance Nebulo.
Exit, & redit Nebulo.
Who is it now?
Nebul.
A very ſweet fac'd Gentleman, ſo ſooty as the Divell himſelfe, I believe ſome Embaſſadour ſent from Pluto and the fiends.
Caric.
What e'r he be ad…it him.
Enter Siſimethres, Legate of Aethiopia.
Siſimet.
God ſave you reverend Father.
Caric.
Welcome Sir,
Although I have not ſeene your face before
That I can well remember.
Siſimet.
May be ſo.
But I have ſeene you often in this towne
Walking the ſtreets, and read the characters
Of gravity and wiſdome ciphered in
Your aged face, wherein I thinke my judgement
Nothing deceives me; and I doe ſuppoſe
You are an aliene here as well as I,
No naturall Egyptian.
Caric.
I confeſſe
I am a ſtranger borne, and ſhould be glad
To know your name, your countrey and your buſineſſe.
Siſimet.
I ſhall obey you, for my countrey, firſt
'Tis Aethiopia underneath the line,
My name Siſimethres imployed now
As Legate from my ſoveraigne King Hydaſpes,
Unto the Deputy here, to forbid him
To meddle with the mines, out of whoſe bowell…
The Smaragds digged were, which appertaine
To none but to the crowne of Aethiopia:
Now Sir you know me, be not ſcrupulous
To let me underſtand ſo much of you,
Something doth prompt me ſtrangely, that you have
Some neer relation to the gods, or elſe
My Genius doth deceive me.
Carie.
Underſtand then,
You doe not erre in your imagination,
I am a Grecian borne, and ſometimes Prieſt
Unto Apollo in that ſacred City
Of Delphos▪ which Parnaſſus lofty tops,
As with a wall, encompaſſeth about,
And ſweet Caſtalius pleaſant ſprings refreſh,
There was I borne and bred, and exercis'd
The office I was call'd to by the gods.
Siſimet.
Moſt venerable Prieſt, and holy Father,
Let me beſeech you tell me what miſchance
Drove you from thence to theſe remoter parts?
Caric.
The great misfortune that I had at home.
Siſim.
I wonder at it, pray relate the manner.
Caric.
When you have heard my ſtory to the end,
Your wonder will forſake you.
Siſimet.
Then reſolve me.
Caric.
Upon your better knowledge and acquaintance
I ſhall, till when excuſe me.
Siſim.
I'll not preſſe you
Beyond good manners; Sir, I ſaw you buy
Some herbs and roots that grow in India
And Aethiopia for your uſe laſt day;
If ſo you pleaſe, I can produce you ſuch
As ne'r were better.
Caric.
Pray Sir let me ſee them,
Syſimethres take from under his arme a little bagge, and ſhewes Caricles precious ſtones in ſtead of roots.
You muſt for theſe, good Sir, ſeeke other chapmen,
The Margarits, the Smaragds, Hiacinths,
Are for a Princes uſe, and not for mine:
Each one alone is ranſome for a King,
My whole eſtate cannot buy one of them.
Syſim.
But though you cannot buy them, you can take them
(I trow) if freely given you, can you not?
Caric.
'Tis true, I can receive them, but I marvell
Why you ſhould mocke me thus?
Syſim.
I mocke you not
By all the Gods, but meane uprightly in't,
I will not onelyonly give you there, but if
You will be plea…'d to take it at my hands
Beſtow a richer gift, to which compar'd,
Theſe are but droſſe and rubbiſh.
Caric.
Ha ha ha.
Syſim.
Why laugh you Sir?
Caric.
Is't not a matter which
Deſerveth laughter, when you promiſe things
Of ſuch a priſe, and yet aſſure me more;
You cannot meane uprightly.
Syſim.
Ttruſt me, but ſweare
That you will uſe this gift as I ſhall teach you,
And I'll performe my promiſe of the other.
Nebul.
Accept it Sir, if you be wiſe; 'tis not good, nor religious to refuſe any mans courteſie.
Caric.
You tempt me ſhrewdly Sir.
Syſim.
Let me prevaile,
(And bind me ſtill your ſervant.
Caric.
You have won me
To what you would.
Syſim.
Then take an oath, and ſweare
To follow my dire…tions, ſo confirme it.
Caric.
By great Apollo, then whoſe Miniſter
I was at Delphos, I ſhall not digreſſe
From what you ſhall inſtruct me touching this.
Syſim.
It is ſufficient, and I build upon
Your faith, your truſt and your religion;
Here fellow, take this bag, and keepe it for
Your honoured Maſter.
Nebul.
But more honoured bag,
Would I might keepe thee for my ſelfe, I then
Should make an Idoll of thee— aſide.
Caric.
What's your pleaſure,
That I ſhould doe in lieu of this reward?
Syſim.
I cannot now acquaint you, for ſome reaſons
Beſt knowne unto my ſelfe, give me your hand
To meet me without faile to morow morning
At Iſis Temple, thence I ſhall conduct you
Unto my lodging, and in ſecret tell
The ſumme of my requeſt.
Carie.
I ſhall not faile you.
Syſim.
Adieu, untill we meet— Exit Syſimethres.
Caric.
Apollo keepe thee
In his ſafe cuſtodie. I marvell much
Whence this unlook'd for kindneſſe ſhould proceed,
I'll ſee the iſſue on't, what e'r betide me,
It may be that the gods have pre-ordain'd
I ſhall once more be happy, and in lieu
Of all my paſſed ſorrowes, reape the fruit
Of long expected comfort, ſure my mind
Is much illuminated with the thought
Of ſome good fortune, and refreſh'd as if
The ſpirit of Pitho were infuſ'd into me
By heavenly inſpiration; I'll obey
My Genius, for oftentimes the gods by ſignes
Will have that mortalls underſtand their mindes. Exit.
Actus primi Scena ſecunda.
Enter Demeneta, and young Cnemon her ſonne in Law.
Demen.
MY pretty boy, how doſt thou? where haſt thou beene ſo long abſent from my imbraces; come hither, let mee ſolace my ſelfe a little with thee, let mee kiſſe thee my ſweet heart, my heire, my owne life.
Cnem.
Had ever any one a kinder ſtepmother— aſide. Mother, you make too much of mee, I am not able to deſerve your love in ſo high a ſtraine, my duty cannot countervaile it.
Demen.
How prettily hee ſpeakes, I cannot chuſe but kiſſe thee for it.
Cnem.
What a cloſe and hot kiſſe was that? I like not this behaviour, would I were delivered hence, pleaſe you give mee leave to goe about my exerciſes?
Dem.
What exerciſes?
Cnem.
My bookes and ſtudies at the Schoole, I ſhall be ſhent elſe by my Tutor.
Dem.
Come, thou ſhalt not leave me.
Cnem.
Will you have me prove a truant then?
Dem.
No, but a ſtudent in a better art; haſt thou ever read Ovidde arte amandi, or Ovids amorous Epiſtles?
Cnem.
Never.
Dem.
O, I would have thee ſtudy that booke above all other, there are very good rules, and worth the obſervation truly, if thou erreſt in any thing therein written, I will be thy Miſtreſſe to inſtruct thee, follow my rudiments good ſonne.
Cnem.
But I have heard 'tis a ribaldrous booke, and corrupteth youth to all wantonneſſe.
Dem.
That is but a fantaſie, a mere untruth; it was made by the Poet for youthfull recreation and paſtime, none but Stoicall old men will invey againſt them, who envio that in others which they cannot enjoy in themſelves.
Cnem.
I underſtand not your Philoſophie.
Dem.
Would thou didſt, and wert well entred in my books and ſcience; but where is thy father and my husband Ariſtippus?
Enter Ariſtippus.
O, my deare husband, where have you lingred ſo long; you are too blame indeed to leave me ſo ſolitary, I muſt chide you for it, truly, had you tarried never ſo little longer, I ſhould have died for ſorrow.
Ariſt.
My ſweet wife Demeneta, I have a jewell of thee, thy extreme love to me is confirmed in thy affection to my ſonne Cnemon, vertuous woman.
Demen.
I love him I muſt confeſſe, as well as if he were mine owne ſonne, or better.
Ariſt.
I know thou doſt my love; never was a man happier in his choice, I thinke.
Demen.
Cnemon, ſit on my lap pretty boy.
Cnem.
No, I know my duty better.
Demen.
I will have it ſo; the very picture of his father.
Cnem.
Pray mother excuſe me, this is no fit place for me.
Demen.
There is not a prettier or wittier boy in Athens, but 'tis no wonder, that old men beget alwaies the fineſt children, 'tis moſt commonly ſeene.
Ariſt.
I know your vertue, and therefore will diſpute with you a little upon this ſubject, and aske you this queſtion: how could you, a young woman, affect me an old man?
Demen.
How could I not Sir; your wiſdome, ſtayedneſſe and underſtanding were ſuch motives to my affection, as I would not change my old man for the youthfull'ſt cavalere of all Gr e…; I hope for all your age, to have a hopefull off-ſpring from you, ſuch another as Cnemon, you can doe it i'faith, old Ariſtippus.
Ariſt.
My girle, how thou doſt revive my decayed ſpirits to heare thee talke thus! I will ſtraine hard for this, but I will anſwer thy expectation.
Demen.
Thankes ſweet husband, let me hang upon your necke, pretty gravity, how well it becomes him, who could chuſe but love ſuch a man intirely; pox upon ſmooth faces, and young luſty gallants, there's more trouble with them a be… when a gentlewoman would ſleep and take her reſt; they are alwaies diſturbing of her, when by a man of ſome yeeres and experience we may lie as quiet as we will; would all wome… were of my opinion, we ſhould cut the combes then of theſ… luſtie gameſters.
Ariſt.
Indeed young men are very inconſtant in their love, and changing from one unto another, whereas an old man perſeveres to the end in his devotions.
Dem.
True, true, my love, your words are oracles,
Were I now as I ſeeme, how ſhould I wrong
Youth, beautie, nature, and rebell againſt them— aſide.
Ariſt.
My deareſt love, though loth, I am inforc'd
To leave you for ſome houres, the ſtate of Athens
Sent for me, to repaire unto the Senate
At ten a clocke about affaires of weight,
'Tis now about the time; farewell my ſweeteſt.
Dem.
You ſhall not goe, come, come, you doe not love me,
Elſe could you not be ſo unkind my deare,
To kill your loving wife with your departure.
I doubt I ſhall not live till your returne.
Ariſt.
Come prethee, leave this off, and be aſſur'd
I will not ſtay two houres.
Dem.
On that aſſurance
I doe diſmiſſe you, but if you exceed
The time, you're like to find me turn'd a coarſe;
ſticke to your promiſe.
Ariſt.
I'll not faile you ſweet.— Exit Ariſtippus.
Dem.
Where goe you Cnemon?
Cnem.
No where, but to waite
Upon my Father to the Senate-houſe,
And inſtantly returne.
Dem.
See that you doe,
And you ſhall not repent it, Exit Cnemon.
I muſt gaine him
Unto my will by faire and gentle meanes,
By promiſes and gifts, by ſweet allurements
And ſtrong inticing words, by pleaſing him
With what he likes beſt, this will take his youth
(I make no doubt) and bring me to his bed.
I burne for love of him and muſt be quench'd,
Old Ariſtippus I have fool'd and made
Believe I love him, but it is not ſo.
I have brought him to my owne lure ſo th…
He ſtoops unto my beauty; now if I
Can but enjoy my Cnemon, I am then
Miſtris of my deſigne, and a chiefe Artiſt
In this ſweet trade; let fooles burne in their fire
Of modeſt love, i'le on to my deſire. Exit.
Actus primi, Scena tertia.
Enter Caricles, Syſimethres and Nebulo.
Syſim.
Prethee honeſt friend
Shall I intreat thee to go forth and bid
The pretty girle without in the next roome
To come here to me.
Nebul.
Yes ſir that I ſhall,
I love to be imploy'd a meſſenger
To pretty mayds, is ſhe ſo beautifull?
Syſim.
O wondrous faire and beautifull.
Nebul.
I'le then
Uſher her ſafely in, and kiſſe her too.
Exit Nebulo, enters againe with Cariclea.
Syſim.
See here the ſecond gift I meane to give you▪
More pretious then the firſt, you told me ſir
You had a daughter once, but rap'd by death.
Here is another for you, uſe her well.
Caric.
I am amaz'd to ſee ſo rare a beauty.
Such an Angel-like creature.
Syſim.
Ceaſe your wonder;
The mother of this beautious girle which here
Standeth before us for a certaine cauſe
Which you ſhall learne hereafter, laid her forth
Clad in ſuch weeds as commonly is us'd
For ſuch a purpoſe, ſo committing her
To fortunes doubtfull chance, but I by hap
Finding her tooke her up, for tis not lawfull
That we neglect a ſoule when once it hath
Entred a humane body, (being a precept
Amongſt the wiſe men with us, to be whoſe
Unlearned ſcholler I was once judg'd worthy)
Beades even in the infants eyes appear'd,
Something which bred both wonder and delight.
With her I found this bag of precious ſtones
Which I gave you of late, and a like cloth
Wrought full with letters in her mother tongue,
Wherein contayned was her whole eſtate;
Her mother as I gheſſe procur'd the ſame,
Which after I had read, I knew from whence
and what ſhee was, and therefore carryed her
Into the Land farre diſtant from the City
Delivering her to certaine honeſt ſhepheards
To bring her up, with charge that they ſhould not
Reveale her unto any; for thoſe things
That were found with her I detain'd with me,
Leaſt for them ſhe might ſuffer any danger,
And thus at firſt this matter was kept cloſe.
Caric.
But what befell her after pray goe one.
In proceſſe then of time this princelie maid
Growing and as ſhe grew encreaſing ſtill
More faire then any women elſe beſides
(For beautie ſur…lie cannot be conceald
Though under ground but would from thence appeare)
I fearing leaſt her fortune ſhould be knowne
And I brought unto danger, ſu'd to be
Sent in embaſſage to the Deputie
Of Egipt and abtained it, therefore come I
And bring her with me, full of zealous care
To ſet her buſines right and in good order.
Caric.
Leave that to me.
Nebul.
But chiefly unto me,
I'le be her guardion too.
Caric.
What will you have me doe concerning her?
Direct me, and i'le punctualle obſerve it.
Syſim.
As touching her, firſt I commend her to you,
(And to the gods who hitherto have kept her,)
On ſuch conditions as by oath you'r bound
To ſee perform'd, that is that you will uſe her
As a free woman ought to be, and give her
In marriage to a free man, as you doe
Recevie her at my hand, or rather of
Her mother who hath left her to your charge:
I hope you will performe all things according
Unto your oath, and anſwer the opinion
I have of your good manners, which I finde
By ſome few dayes experience to be
Greekiſh indead; this much I had to ſay
Before I executed my commiſſion
Concerning my embaſſage, other ſecrēts
Belonging to the maid, I'le tell you them
To morrow in more ample manner, if
Yon pleaſe to meet me about Iſis temple.
Caric.
Expect me there then; but I cannot brooke
So long a time to ſee the Virgin ma…k'd
In ſo obſcure a manner.
Syſim.
Now I cannot
Stay to diſcover what I know of her;
The Deputie of Egypt hath appointed
This day for hearing of me: farewell both. Exit Syſim.
Caric.
Can you ſpeake Greeke my pretty ſweet heart, can you?
ſhe ſmiles upon him but ſaies nothing.
No, can you ſpeake Egyptian? neither ſweet?
Nebul.
I'le undertake to teach her both the tongues
So I may be her tutor. ſhe frownes upon him.
Caric.
Nebulo
Thou ſeeſt I have another daughter now,
She ſhall be called faire Cariclea
Deriv'd from Caricles which is my name.
Nebul.
Would I had ſuch a daughter too, ſhe ſhould not
Have then ſo courſe a name, all men ſhould call her.
The pretty Nebuletta; Nebulo,
Then Nebulona, then neate Nebuletta,
A ſumptuous pedegree, how ſweet it runnes!
Caric.
Thy houſe would flouriſh then, were ſhe thy daughter.
Nebul.
Above the clouds, the gods would lodge themſelves
Beneath my roofe, and powre downe plenty on me
In golden ſhowers to reſt in Danaes lap.
Caric.
What growne ſo high conceited Nebulo?
Nebul.
Something inſpir'd my braine, I know not what ſir,
But now i'm come unto my ſelfe againe,
'Twas but a toy that tooke me.
Caric.
I believe it,
Many ſuch toyes doe take thee in the head:
Get me a maske, I muſt convey this damzell
Muffled home to my houſe.
Nebul.
She need not be
Aſham'd to ſhew her face, it may procure her,
A husband by the way for ought you know;
You ſhall but wrong her much in doing ſo.
Caric.
Sirrah away, diſpute no more, but doe it,
Exit & redit with a maske, they muffle her.
Nebul.
'Tis pitty faith methinkes to uſe her thus,
'Tis ſuch a pretty thing.
Caric.
Come you muſt goe
With me my daughter deare where you ſhall be
Uſ▪d and reſpected as my native child:
When I have underſtood (harke Nebulo
Her's newes for thee) by good Syſim…thres
My daughters further ſtate, we'll hye forthwith
To Greece and Delphos, and put on againe
My firſt religious habit; to your ſhrines
Ye gods we'll offer ſanctified minds. Exeunt.
Actus primi, Scena quarta.
Enter Demeneta and Thisbe her mayd.
Demen.
When ſaweſt thou Cnemon, Thisbe?
Thiſ.
Know you not
That Pallas high feaſt call'd Quinquat…ia
This day was celebrated here in Athens,
One with a ſhip by land, (as is the manner)
Was conſecrated, Cnemon was imployd,
Clad in his robes, and on his head a crowne,
To ſing the uſuall hymne due to her praiſe
I ſaw him buſie in the ceremonies.
Dem.
Is this the day? by Iove I knew it not,
Elſe had I beene ſpectator of the ſight,
Chiefly to ſee my Cnemon in his office,
Could I be angry with him, I ſhould chide him
For not acquainting me.
Thiſ.
He did it neatly;
I would not for my maiden-head have miſs'd
So rare a ſight, not for ten maiden-heads.
Dem.
Are all the rites and ceremonies done?
I faine would ſee yet the concluſion.
Thiſ.
Miſtreſſe, tis to late; ſee Cnemon there return'd in all his robes.
Enter Cnemon in his robes crowned, Demeneta runnes to him and takes him in her armes.
Dem.
My young Hippolitus, and my deare Theſeus,
Welcome, O welcome to me.
Cnem.
Heavens defend me
From this lewd Phadra— aſide. Mother what dee meane
To burne me thus with kiſſes?
Dem.
Burthen thee
With bliſſes too I can, my pretty boy,
If thou wilt love thy mother.
Cnem.
In what nature
Require you that? if as it ought to be,
That children love their Parents, I agree.
Dem.
As Ʋenus with Anchiſes ſported once
In Ida grove, ſo let mee ſport with thee;
Doſt underſtand me now?
Cnem.
You are too bold,
Too impudent.
Dem.
Nay, prethee doe not frowne,
This night I muſt enjoy thee, and thou me,
Thy fathers abſence doth invite us to it;
I will maintaine thee like a Princes ſonne,
Glittering in gold, and our ſweet furtive ſports
Keepe from the ſunne and knowledge of the gods,
No one ſhall know it.
Cnem.
Hence inceſtuous woman,
Think'ſt thou to make me wrong my fathers bed,
And to commit an act ſo foule as inceſt?
Tempt me no more; by heaven, by earth and all
Th'immortall gods, I'le die a thouſand deaths
Ere thinke a thought on't, much leſſe yeeld unto it,
Your damned wit, nor quaint inticing words
Shall not prevaile, my hate exceeds my love.
Exit Cnemon in a rage.
Demen.
Am I deſpiſed thus, and my hot love
Requited with diſdaine, as cold as ice,
By ſuch a youngling? he ſhall know the difference
Betweene a womans favours and her frownes,
And curſe too late his fooliſh modeſty:
Goe Thisbe to the Caſtle, tell my husband
I am not well, intreat him to come to me
With all the ſpeed he can.
Thiſ.
I ſhall ſweet Miſtreſſe.— Exit Thisbe.
Demeneta lies down upon the bed, faining her ſelfe ſicke.
Dem.
What raging fires ſtill burne me? how I am
Divided in my ſelfe tweene love and hate,
two mighty paſſions combatting together?
Love would prevaile, if reaſon might be judge,
But love is too unreaſonably harſh:
Hate therefore execute thy proper function,
Enflame my breaſt with rage and high diſdaine
Againſt this brat that gave me the repulſe,
Inſpire my ſtudy in his Tragedie.
Enter Ariſtippus and Thisbe.
Ariſt.
How fares my ſweet heart, that ſhe keepes her bed?
Dem.
Deare husband, very ſicke and in ill caſe.
Ariſt.
The gods forbid, that ſound doth ſtrike me dead;
What ailes my deareſt wife? tell me the cauſe
Of this your ſudden ſickneſſe.
Dem.
Nothing Sir,
I know no cauſe at all.
Ariſt.
Come, come, you muſt not
Conceale your griefe, but lay it ope unto me,
I doe beſeech my love.
Dem.
Since you are ſo
Importunate to know it, underſtand
The goodly young man, ſonne unto us both
(To you by nature, but to me by love)
Whom I (the gods know) held as deare unto me
As you, when he perceiv'd by certaine tokens
I was with child by you (which thing I kept
Hid from your knowledge till I knew my ſelfe
The certainty) and waiting for your abſence,
When I in wonted manner councell'd him
To leave his whores, and to avoid his cups
(Which things I knew he lov'd, but would not tell you,
Leſt I ſhould run into the ill ſuſpition
Of ſtepmother) whileſt I in gentle manner
Told him theſe things, I will not ſpeake the worſt,
Nor in what ſort he did revile us both,
But laſt of all, he ſpurn'd me on the belly,
Which hath procur'd this my diſeaſe and paine.
Ariſt.
O villaine, I will ſcurge him even to death;
Thisbe, goe call him hither. Exit Thisbe.
Then preſently enters Cnemon, Ariſtippus falls preſently a buffetting of him without ſpeaking a word, then calls his ſervants and ſcurgeth him with rods.
Cnem.
Deare father, I beſeech you let me know
The cauſe of this your anger and my ſtripes
So cruelly laid on mee.
Ariſt.
Oh cleanly diſſembler,
Thou wouldſt indeed know thy owne fault from me.
Hee beats him afreſh.
Cnem.
Yet now at length, Sir, let me underſtand
What I have done, that thus provokes your wrath,
The gods doe know my innocence.
Ariſt.
Baſe wretch,
Thy innocence; would ſhe belie thee thinkſt thou,
That lov'd thee better than her ſelfe? away.
Get out of my ſight, I will not heare thee ſpeak. Exit Cnemon.
My deareſt Demeneta, cheere your ſelfe,
Strive to forget the paine.
Dem.
I'm in bad plight,
So that I doe not onelyonly feare the life
O… that I go… with, but mine owne, beſides,
Theſe accidents are dangerous to women;
Yet, Sir, it griev'd me that you tooke ſo ſharpe
A puniſhment of Cnemon, for all this
I cannot chuſe but love him.
Ariſt.
That's thy vertue,
But baniſh him thy thoughts as I will doe,
Hence forth as moſt unworthy of our love;
Come ſweet, you ſhall remove from hence into
A fitter roome, I'le ſend a Doctor to you. Exit Ariſtippus.
Dem.
You doe miſtake my pulſe, whoſe veines doe ſwell
With rage and furie, and ſhall live in paine,
Untill I be reveng'd.
Thiſ.
My Miſtreſſe knowes
How to deceive old Dotards with falſe ſhewes. Exeunt.
Actus primi Scena quinta.
Enter Nebulo ſolus, frisking for joy.
Nebul.
WEe ſhall fall downe the river Nile to night, and hoiſe ſaile for Greece, brave newes, comfortable newes, my heart capers within me for joy, that I ſhall ſee my countrey againe; my Maſter is ſore troubled for blacke … his conſtrained flight, which hath defeited their appointed meeting and conference touching Caricleas fortunes, but haſte our journey the ſooner, there's my comfort. I left him curſing the Deputy, and invoking the god Apollos wrath to plague him for diſmiſſing the Embaſſadour ſo ſuddenly, with ſuch deadly threatenings to depart the Kingdome. Alas, poore maid, I pity thee, that by this meanes thou ſhalt not be able to knowe who begot thee nor who brought thee forth, but all's one, thou wilt ſoone learne to be begotten, and to bring forth by inſtinct of nature and thy owne experience. Catadupice adiew adiew, adiew gentlemen; when you ſee us next, twill be in Delphos; away, away, away, merrylie, merrily.
Exit. Finis actus primi.