The Saints Sacrifice, Act 4
Actus quarti, Scena prima.
Enter Calaſiris, Theagines, and Car…cle….
Calaſ.
Come let's away my children, let's away,
Why do we linger here… the gods commands
Muſt be obeyd, all things are ready for
Our ſecret flight, a ſhip for Memphis bound
Waites us without, the wind comes gently from
Th'adjoyning ſhore, and ſtaye… to ſwell the ſailes
With pride till you imbarke, ſee here the Faſcia,
Which by a ſlie deviſe from Caricles
I have obtain'd, nothing doth hinder us
To meet this long wiſh'd opportunity,
If you have got your jewels, deereſt jewell,
From your ſuppoſed father.
Caric.
Calaſiris
I have them all, but how gat you I pray
The Faſcia from old Caricles, for when
He had receiv'd me from Syſimethres,
Who brought me up, he brought me here to Greece
I know not how, and tooke the Faſcia from me,
Which▪in a cheſt he did preſerve and keepe.
Calaſ.
How I came by it you ſhall know hereafter,
But can you tell me what it doth containe?
Caric.
How ſhould I as being never told by any?
Beſides although I oftentimes had ſeene it,
I could not underſtand the character,
Pray ſir, interpret what it doth containe.
Calaſ.
It doth declare your parents and your Countrey,
And all your fortunes, thus I read it to you
Verbatim as it ſtands, give your attentions.
The Faſcia.
Perſina Queene of the Aethiopians to her daughter, onelyonly in ſorrow by what name▪ ſoever ſhe ſhall be called, … wri… in haſte this la…en…ation conta…ned …rein, as her luſt gift.
My daughter, the ſunne being authour of our ſtorke, is …neſſe that for no miſ-deed, I have caſt thee forth, and concealed thee from thy father Hydaſpes ſight, yet I would have my ſelfe excuſed to thee, if thou happen to live, and to him that ſhall finde thee if the gods procure any, and therefore I declare the cauſe of thy expoſition, after king Hydaſpes had beene married to me ten yeeres, and we had never a child, we happened one time to reſt us after dinner in a gallerie where hung rare pictures and images, amongſt which were thoſe of Perſeus and Andromeda portrayed as when he firſt redeem'd her from the rocke, at this time your father lay with me, ſwearing that by a dream… he was commanded ſo to doe, and I by and by perceived my ſelfe to be with child: but thou wert borne white which colour is ſtrange among the Aethiopians. I k…ewe the reaſon, becauſe I looked ſtedfaſtlie upon the picture of Andromeda naked, and by that meanes, conceived a thing like to her, yet I determined to rid my ſelfe of ſhamefull death (counting it certaine that thy colour would procure me to be accuſed of adulterie, and that none would believe me when I tol… them the cauſe) and to commit thee to the unſtablenes of fortune, which is a great deale rather to be wiſhed for then preſent death, or to be called a baſtard: and telling my huſband that thou wert ſtraight dead, I have privilie layd thee forth with the greateſt riches that I had for areward to him that ſhall find thee and take thee up: above all thinges remember that thou ſeeke among thy jewels for a certaine ring, which thy father gave me when we were firſt made ſure, in the hoope whereof is a princelie poſie, the ſtone is a Pantarbe of ſecret vertue, conſecrated in the place where it is ſet. The gods preſerve thee my deereſt daughter, and grant us a happy meeting.
Theag.
A ſtrange but bleſt diſcoverie haſt thou made
Of faire Caricleas royall pedegree
(Right reverend father) which before lay buried
Deepe in the obſcure vault of ignorance.
Now princelie virgin raiſe thy glorious head
Above the clouds, and give thy conquering beautie
Command to pull the thunderer from his ſeate
To ſerve thee here on earth or in Olympus
Where thou ſhalt pleaſe to dwell, and reſt not here,
Let Mars be fetter'd, Mercurie a ſlave,
Andbright Apollo dazled with the ſight
Of beames more ſplendant then his owne, fall downe
And worſhip thy appearance, offering thee
His throne to ſit upon.
Calaſ.
Theagenes,
Fie, be not ſuch a vaine Idolater
The gods may plague you for it.
Theagines.
plague me for
Adoring queene Caricles deity?
They are unjuſt then, for themſelves commit
The ſame Idolatry aſwell as I.
Calaſ.
That's but your ſuperſtitious jealouſie.
Thinke you the gods will rivall you, or love
A mortall Virgin? fie 'tis blaſphemy.
Theag.
They have done ſo, or elſe the Poets lie,
Witneſſe Europas bull, and Laedas ſwans
Faire Danaes ſhower, and Daphnes transformation;
If their poore beauties had that operation
To worke ſuch ſtrange effects in heavenly powers,
How much more force, nay violence thinke you
Hath hers, to whoſe compard, theirs are like glaſſe
To ſparkling diamonds.
Caric.
My deareſt friend,
Forbeare theſe candid raptures of your wit,
Not my deſert, and enter into thought
Of what concernes us moſt.
Theag.
Agreed my goddeſſe.
Calaſ.
No more diſpute then, but forthwith to ſea.
Delphos adiew, the fates call us away. Exeunt.
Actus quarti, Scena ſecunda.
Enter Arſace and her old baud Cibile.
Arſa.
So ſweet a man as thy deſcription makes him?
Cib.
Nothing inferiour Madame, but beyond it;
His body is a Temple ſtately built,
Where Ʋenus comes and offers turtle doves
To gaine his liking.
Arſa.
Such a majeſty
Accompanying that ſweetneſſe too?
Cib.
As if
They wedded were together, hand in hand
Walking in ſo delectable a manſion.
Arſa
So active and broad ſhoulder'd as thou ſaiſt,
So tall and portly?
Cib.
Every way provided
To ſatisfie your pleaſure.
Arſa.
Thou haſt kindled
A fire within me; but what Countrey ownes
This wonder of a man? when landed he
At Memphis thore? who brought him, canſt thou toll?
Cib.
He came with Calaſiris from ſome parts
Of Greece, as I am given to underſtand,
And landed here laſt night.
Arſa.
Where doth he lodge?
Cib.
In Calaſiris houſe without the Temple.
Arſa.
Thou muſt deviſe ſome way to bring him tome,
And lodge him in our palace, for I have
A… itching humour to enjoy the man.
Cib.
Let me alone, I am your Ingineer
To worke your pleaſure.
Arſa.
But who is the maid
Thou ſaiſt did beare him company, and was
So neere his boſome?
Cib.
I ſuppoſe ſhe is
His ſiſter or his wife.
Arſa.
Is ſhe faire as he?
Cib.
I never ſaw one fairer, ſuch a beauty
As would have made love ſtoope, and ſhaken off
His Eagles borrowed ſhape, to force a kiſſe
From her Nectorious hand.
Arſa.
Thou mak'ſt me jealous
With praiſes of my rivall.
Cib.
Let not that
Trouble your thoughts, he cannot be ſo fooliſh,
That when ſo great a happineſſe ſhall be
Offer'd unto him as the love and liking
Of faire Arſace O…omdates wife,
Fgypts great Deputy, but reverently
Kneele downe, and worſhip ſuch a change in love.
Arſa.
If thou canſt bring, deare nurſe, this thing to paſſe▪
Thou ſhalt at once cure two diſeaſes in me,
Fell love and jealouſie.
Cib.
I doubt it not;
What mad man but will be content to change
His Braſſe for Gold, his Copper for rich pearle?
Both which he ſhall enjoy, enjoying you.
Arſa.
O what a ſug…ed time have I to uſe
My ſweet diſports now that the Deputy
My husband is imployed in the warre
Againſt Hydaſpes King of Aethiopia
About the Smaragd mines, pray heaven they end not
Before my pleaſures period.
Cib.
Never feare it.
You ſhall have time ynough to bathe in bliſſe.
Arſa.
See Cibile who knocks there. one knocks.
Cib.
Calaſiris
And the faire parties.
Arſa.
Heavens! conduct them in.
Enter Calaſiris, Theagines and Cariclea.
Calaſ.
All haile unto the Palace of my Prince,
Madame it may ſeem ſtrange unto your Highneſſe,
That I preſume to bring theſe ſtrangers with me
To kiſſe your Princely hands; I make no doubt
But when you ſhall be well informed of
Their bi…h and breeding, it wil plead my pardon.
Arſa.
What need this complement? you'r welcome ſir,
So are your friends, when did you ever know me
Unkind to ſtrangers, or inhoſpitable
To ſuch as theſe, whoſe outward lookes declare
Their inward minds, and ſpeake their noble parts?
So elegant a grace and ſtately beauty,
As ſhineth in their countenances cannot
Proceed but from ſome Princely pedegree,
Pray ſir ſpeake whence you are?
Theag.
Moſt beautious Lady.
Pleaſe you to underſtand, we are of Greece,
Deſcended of a Noble family,
Which ne're produced yet unworthy branches,
Let it ſuffice (I doe beſeech your Grace)
We open it no further; we have beene
Rob'd on the ſea by pyrates, but redeem'd
By Noble Calaſiris, and brought here
To Memphis ſtately City.
Arſa.
Is this Lady
Your ſiſter, or your wife?
Theag.
My ſiſter Madame,
Toſt equally with me by fortunes blaſts.
Arſa.
but now thoſe ſtormes are paſt, and you are in
A quiet harbour: pleaſant calmes appeare.
Sir, I muſt rob you of your gheſts.
Calaſ.
I durſt not
Deny you Madame, though I muſt confeſſe
I ſhould to any other.
Arſa.
Cibile,
Prepare their lodging neere our owne, and let
No coſtly furniture be wanting there,
Cib.
It ſhall be done with ſpeed.
Arſa.
My noble gheſts,
I know not if you would retire alone
Into your private chambers, travell doth
Require repoſe, pleaſe you to follow me,
Ile be your glad conductor.
Caric.
O I feare
This kindneſſe is ſome love plot on my deare. Exeunt
Actus quarti, Scena tertia.
Enter Thisbe ſola.
Thiſ.
What ſly evaſion to put off thy guilt
Is left thee now poore Thisbe? what device
To ſhun the ſevere juſtice of the Law?
All will be now diſcover'd, and my plots
Returne upon my ſelfe, the heavens are juſt
In ſending Cnemon home from baniſhment
To puniſh me in cheering of himſelfe,
Canſt thou behold his face, or ſpeake one word
In thy defence, when he ſtands forth t'accuſe thee
Before the people? O what ſhame, what curſes
Breath'd from a generall mouth will weigh thee downe
Even to Avernus gulph; I feele the weight
Of my offences poiſed in the ſcale
Of ſad deſpaire; O thou incendiary
Of all this miſchiefe, ſaith my guilty thoughts,
Thou murthereſſe of thy miſtris, hie thee hence
To the infernall ſhades, where never light
Appeares, but gloomy darkneſſe covers all
Under her ſable mantle, there finde out
Medea, Clit…mneſtra, Paſiphe,
Long ſince condemn'd for murther to this place,
Companions of thy ſhame; why lingreſt thou
Upon the earth? is not thy ſinne compleat.
And ripe for hell? yes, yes, I know it is,
I know it is, my ſad deſpairing thoughts,
Ile follow your ſuggeſtions, gentle violl
Reſerv'd for ſuch a uſe, this kiſſe from thee
Shall croſſe the ſentence of the Lawes decree. She drinks poyſon.
Enter Ariſtippus and Cnemon.
Ariſt.
Hold, hold thy hand, drinke not the poiſon downe,
Thou deſperate woman.
Thiſ.
Not to gaine a crowne,
Tis done, and paſt prevention.
Ariſt.
Thiſbe yet
Make thy confeſſion, and ſubſcribe thy hand,
That innocent Cnemon die not.
Thiſ.
Write it then. Cnemon writes.
I Thiſbe doe confeſſe yong Cnemon was
Unjuſtly baniſh'd, I and Demeneta
Did forge that plot againſt him, for the which
We have our condigne puniſhment.
Cnem.
Tis done, now put your hand to't ſhe ſignes i….
Dying Thisbe. ſhe dies.
Ariſt.
Sonne tis ynough to cleare thee of all things
Can be objected; i'le forthwith declare
This matter to the people, and produce
Thiſbes confeſſion, ſtrengthned with her hand,
Come with me Cnemon.
Cnem.
See the wretched ſtate
Of … accuſers, and their poiſonous fate. Exeunt.
Actus quarti, Scena quarta.
Enter Theagines and Cariclea to them preſentlie Cibile.
Cibile.
My children great Arſace recommends
Her love unto you, who hath ſent me here
To ſerve you in all things that you command,
I'm proud to be imployed in your ſervice
Who am a … too, and borne in Leſbos:
Moſt beautifull yong man cheere up thy ſelfe,
I bring th… joyfull newes, Arſace loves thee,
Arſace the who… …avour kings have kneel'd for,
Doth kn…el… to th…e petitioning thy love
With … oblatio a both of pearle and gold.
Theag.
O heavens, my propheſie is too too true,
My …eal…u…ie foreſaw this.
Theag.
Tell Arſace
My ſiſter and my ſelfe both kiſſe her hands
And doe returne her humble thanks for all
Her noble fauours, but that ſhe doth love me
I thinke it ſtrange, whoſe …ſo…nd is a man
So farre beyond my ranke as put in ballance
With worthles me, it would not brooke the triall.
We know you are her hands, her eyes, her eares,
Her minde, her all, for countries ſake perſwade her
(I doe beſeech you) to remove her thoughts
Upon ſome worthier perſon; all that we
De…re is onelyonly this, that ſhe would pleaſe
To ſend us backe againe to …
And …e…er bring ſtrange baniſh'd, reſtleſſe lives
Unto ſo high and excellent a fortune.
Cib.
My ſonne be rul'd by me, be not ſo fooliſh
To ſhun this happineſſe that courts thee now,
Imbrace it, leaſt hereafter thou repent
Thy over-ſight▪ thou ſhalt have rule and riches,
Dalliance, and all the fruits of flouriſhing youth,
If thou but condeſcend unto her will;
But if thou doſt deny, know that ſhe hath
A high and Princely ſtomack, which nere brooks,
Affronts of ſuch a nature.
Theag.
Tempt me not,
But tell your miſtris I deſpiſe her luſt
As much as prize her love, you ſhall oblige us
Unto you in a bond of love and kindneſſe
To get us leave from her hence to depart
To ſeeke our fortunes.
Cib.
Obſtinate young man,
That wilt not ſee thy good, Lady perſwade
Your brother to ſome reaſon, you may hap
To worke upon his nature, and prevaile;
I leave you to your ſelves. Exit Cibile.
Caric.
Theagines.
This is no honeſt dealing, I perceive;
Was it for this ſhe ſent us from her table
Such curious viands, and ſuch coſtly cates?
Was it for this ſhe did adorne our chambers
With ſtately hangings wrought with ſundry colours,
Which came from Sidon and faire Lidia?
Was this her wicked end? would that we were
A hundred leagues from this accurſed place,
Or that we never had beheld her face. Exeunt.
Actus quarti, Scena quinta.
Enter Arſace and Cibile.
Arſ.
But will he not be wonne?
Cib.
Not all the art
I have can worke him to it.
Arſ.
Doe my favours
Make no impreſſion in him?
Cib.
Yes of thankes,
No otherwiſe, he craves leave to depart,
A ſigne he doth not like his entertainment.
Arſa.
Thou mak'ſt my hot blood cold within my vaines
As if an ague ce…z'd me; how depart,
E … he get … power, I am reſolv'd
T'enjoy him, or deſtroy him.
Cib.
A right courſe
Your wit hath found out miſtris, my adviſe
Is this, that on…e more you ſollicit him
By faire intreaty and perſwaſive memes
To win him that way, but if he ſtand out
And ſtubbornly refuſe to grant your ſuit,
Let him be ti'd unto cold fare hard lodging,
And give him up unto your Eunuches hands
To be ſcourg'd and tormented, for yong men
Regard not when they are intreated faire,
But when enforced, then they ſtoope and yield.
Arſa.
Tis well advis'd, but how can I endure
To ſee that body bleed?
Cib.
Madame you are
Too pityfull, if that an eye-ſore be
To ſee him ſcourg'd, you may refraine the ſight,
I know twill molli…ie his haughty ſtomacke
To your deſire.
Arſa.
Firſt try all meanes, before
You put this laſt deviſe in execution;
But Cibile what cauſe or colour have we
To hold them priſoners, or detaine them here
Againſt their wills?
Cib.
We'l give it out, they came
As ſpies from King … army hither,
To view the ſtrength of Memphis.
Arſa.
Excellent.
How ſhall we handle faire Cariclea
His beautious ſiſter?
Cib.
Siſter, I believe
Shee is his miſtris rather, for ſuch dalliance
As I have ſeene betweene them argueth love
Of a more fervent nature; I have come,
And found them kiſſing with ſuch ardency,
As iſ they faine would have their ſoules to meet,
And at their mouths ſalute.
Arſe
O ſtrange diſcovery!
If this be true, hence may proceed the cauſe
Of my repulſe and his unkind deniall;
Si tout this buſineſſe further, and obſerve
Their lookes, their geſtures▪ give an eare unto
Their privateſt diſcourſe, for this concernes
My buſineſſe mainely; if Cariclea prove
A barre to my deſires, we muſt remove her.
Goe preſently and know the young mans mind,
If he will yield yet, but if he refuſe,
Let Euphrates the Eunuch puniſh him
With yrons to pull downe his lofty heart.
So farre I'm gone, purſuing my deſire,
Hell ſhall not make me now backe to retire. Exeunt.
Actus quarti, Scena ſexta.
Enter two Iudges, then Ariſtippus and Cnemon.
Ariſt.
Although I doe not doubt moſt learned Judges,
That your grave judgements would acquit my ſonne
Without more proofes then by the ſequele of
This buſineſſe doth appeare, yet to the end
To make his innocence the more perſpicuous
Which hath ſo long ſtriv'd to breake through this cloud
Of falſhood and deceit, I here have brought you
Thisbes confeſſion, and her hand ſubſcrib'd
For confirmation of it, pleaſe you ſee
What it containes. the Iudges read it.
1 Iudg.
When did ſhe write this?
Ariſt.
Preſently upon
Her poiſonous draught, her conſcience prompting her
Unto ſo good an action.
2 Iudg.
Was't voluntarily done without conſtraint?
Ariſt.
Yes, for what force hath power to worke upon
The ſetled reſolution of a perſon
Whom death is ready for to ſeiſe upon?
It came free from her, the confeſſion was
Her owne invention, and the hand her owne.
1 Iudg.
But will you ſweare to this?
Ariſtip.
I will▪ and ſafely.
By all the gods tis true, elſe let me be
St…ac…e with their thunder for my perjury.
2 Iudg.
It is ynough, we doe acquit your ſonne,
Long may he live the comfort of your age;
… di…m…ſſe the people, it is done.
Ariſt.
Thus innocence ſhines cleerer then the ſun. Exeunt.
Actus quarti, Scena ſeptima.
Enter Arſace and Cibil.
Arſ.
Now will he bend or breake, yeeld or endure
More puniſhment? how doe his ſetters pleaſe him?
How doth he beare his ſtripes?
Cib.
With patience
And manly fortitude beyond beliefe,
Takes glory in his ſufferings, and becomes
More unrelenting now then heretofore.
Arſ.
What a ſtrange nature hath this ſavage man,
Will nothing worke upon it? cannot love
Perſwade him, nor the force of puniſhment
Compell him to humanity? ſome Tigreſſe
Or ſhe Wolfe in the foreſt was his nurſe.
Is there no hope he will relent in time?
Cib.
Our labour's loſt in the attempting it,
He hath Cariclea ſtill before his eyes,
Lodgeth her in his heart, his mouth expreſs'd it;
I heard him to exclaime thus, deare Cariclea,
My love, my life, my heart, thy onelyonly name
Makes me deſpiſe my torments, and in …
I'm comforted what ever fall to me;
Whereby I'm confident ſhe is his wife,
Or ſecret miſtris, wherefore if you pleaſe,
Lets (as the proverbe ſaith) caſt our laſt anckor,
And ſeeke ſome meanes to …id her of her life,
For when he knows ſhe's dead, tis very likely
He'll change his minde, when hope of love is gone.
Arſace.
Thy counſell pleaſeth me, and i'le command
This ſtoppe to be removed preſentlie.
Cibile.
How, will you doe it without courſe of Law
Or order lie proceeding, who will doe
In this pointe your commandment? for although
All things are ſubject to you, yet the laws
Are free, and will not let you kill without
The judgment of the Perſian magiſtrates;
Beſides we ſhould be carefull how we did
Accuſe the maid, leaſt we ſhould not be able
To prove what we doe lay unto her charge.
Arſ.
How then ſhall we contrive it?
Cib.
Daintily,
By a more ſure and farre more ſafe a way,
By a ſtrong ſubtle c…ppe of deadlie poiſon,
The plot is layd alreadie, and the potion
Prepar'd, I ſtay but onelyonly for the patient
T'adminiſter it.
Arſ.
Is any gone to call her?
Cib.
Yes, Aura madame.
Arſ.
Well i'le leave you then,
Strong phyſick's beſt for ſtubborn natur'd men. Exit Arſace.
Enter Cariclea, with Aura weeping, and ſervants.
Cib.
Why doe you weep, ſweet heart? 'twill mar your beauty,
Your brother ſhall not long be kept in priſon;
Be not ſo fooliſh to conſume and pine
Away for ſorrow, know Theagines
This night ſhall be releas'd, and come unto thee,
Therefore be merry; 'twas his fooliſh fault
And diſobedience to my miſtris ſervice
Made him to be committed; nicety
Is naught in yong folkes, but all is forgotten.
(Partly at my requeſt) and liberty
Granted unto him, this was the occaſion
I ſent for you, that you might be partaker
Of this glad newes, therefore rouſe up your ſelfe,
And now at length eate ſomething; Aura lay
The table, I have made ſome meate, I hope
Will comfort your weake ſtomacke, ſure you are
Too blame to faſt ſo long.
Caric.
But is this true
That you have told me? you ſo often have
Deceiv'd me with untruths as I ſcarce date
To credit any thing you ſay unto me.
Cib.
By all the gods tis true, which if it be not,
Let me be poiſon'd at this table heere
And be a ſad example; more this day
Your buſines all ſhall be diſpatch'd, ſo that
You ſhall not need to take more care heereafter,
If by refray…ing from your meate you doe not
Deſtroy your health and die, pray eate a little.
Caric.
On confidence that this is true I will.
they ſit downe and eate.
Cib.
Aura give me ſome wine, Cariclea health
Remember good Theagines.
Aura miſtaks and gives the poiſon'd cupp to Cibile, ſhe drinks, but powres halfe of it on the ground when ſhe taſted what it was, looking cruellie upon Aura, the poiſon ſuddenlie workes and ſhe begins to fall, Cariclea ſupportes her.
Cib.
I will not have thy helpe, falſe wretch, I will not
th'aſt poiſon'd me, beare witneſſe all heere preſent
That ſee me die, I lay my death on none
But her and this queane Aura, ſo informe
Arſace that ſhe may revenge my death. ſhe dies.
Caric.
See heere the iuſtice of the heavens diſplaid
To mortall view in this ſtrange accident;
This cup, this poiſonous cup was meant to me
By wicked Cibile, but yet it fell
By ſome miſtake to her owne lot to drinke it.
Arſaces ſervants binde Cariclea and Aura.
What doe you meane to binde me a weake maid,
I'le goe without conſtraint where you will lead me
… be before Arſace, though I die
I care not ſo Theagenes be by. Exeunt.