University of Virginia Library

Scena Prima.

Enter Captain Hannibal, Cacala, and Caralinda, Floretta.
Hanni.
From Ostia, we have had a voyage hither,
So fraught with Storms, and Tempests that I wonder
The Sea-gods

Cacala.
The Sea-Monsters call them rather.

Han.
Were not all tired with using so much Rage
On us: And yet you (Beautious Caralinda)
Seem'd fearless of the Furies of the Ocean.
Dreadless of thunder and lightning; whil'st my man
This Rascall Cacala did nothing but shit,
And spew, and pray; when there was such a Noise,
Betwixt the Mariners voyces, and the Elements,)
That Neptune could not hear the timorous villain.

Caca.
Sir, I did love you well: you have been bountifull
On all Occasions to me, I else should never
Have left my Native Country pleasant Italy,
T'have undergon a voluntary Exile.
But had I ever dreamt on such a Passage,
Such Thunders, Whirlewinds, and such horrible Tempests,
I would have taken leave to stay in Rome.

Han.
Although Floretta sometimes wept for fear,
She did not baul, and whine like thee,

Cac.
No Matter.
She do's not know how pretious a Thing life is.

Flor.
Surely I do; but well enough imagin'd,
That such ungovern'd Out-cries might disturb
The Company, yet not encline the gods,
The sooner to deliver us from drowning.

Caral.
Intruth, Cacala, your fear was often times
So full of Noise, the Mariners could not hear
Their own voyces to attend their Necessaries
But, you perhaps are valianter at Land.

Han.
He's every where a Coward Caralinda!

Cac.
I would confute you (Sir,) with all my heart,
If you, and Mistriss Floretta would consent to't:
Were I in bed with her, Ide prove my self,
As valiant as the proudest Captain living.

Han.
How now you, saucy Rogue.

Flor.
He talkes most wickedly.

Cac.
I had rather do.

Flor.
You must go look a Mate then.

Caral.
Where do you mean to to lye in Tomos, Captain?
Good Lodgings, here, I think are somewhat rare.

Han.
As soon as we came to town I dispach'd Cacala,
T'enquire out one Madam Cypassis, A Gentlewoman,
Of my Acquaintance in my very youth, she was
servant once unto the Princess Julia.

Caral.
You rather should say, T'Ovid's fam'd Corinna.

Han.
By your fair leave, I know I speak a Truth,
And were not Ovid timerous hee'd confess,
He Julia veild under Corinna's Name.
Cacala hath taken me Lodgings at Cypassis;
Where you may hear of your humble servant Hannibal.

Caral.
And do's Floretta lye there also?

Han.
Yes marry,
Venus defend else.

Caral.
Then you do resolve.
It seems) to make a wedding on't.

Han.
By no means, Madam, Neither pritty Floretta.
For I, are yet such fools, to slight our Liberties,
Whilst we like one another wee'l keep together,
And when we grow a weary we may part.
The world hath other men and women enow
And we are both of us yet ignorant,
How soon we may affect variety.

Caca.
But, fear you not the gods? Are they well pleas'd,
Think you, with such a life?

Cacala.
My Captain never
Fear'd any thing. And for Mistriss Floretta
What Man could do to her, she never dreaded;
But how her Courage stands towards the gods
I cannot say.

Flor.
You say too much, Cacala: And must learn manners,
Or I must pray the Captain to bestow
A Cudgell on you.

Cacala.
Sure his valour scorns
Such mean employment: He disdains to touch
A weapon that's beneath a sword, or ponyard
My noble Captain ever was accustom'd,
To give me leave to jest.

Han.
But you must know,
Your distance to Floretta.

Caca.
I know it but too well;
And alwaies am more distant then I would be.

Caral,
But, Captain Ide advise you both to marry,
It is a life that is more honorable.

Cacala,
You are deceived, (Madam Caralinda
Oun Roman Captains think there is more honour
In keeping wenches, then in Marriage.

Han.
Out upon Wedlock: I had rather hear
alarums at Midnight then the Multitude
To baul Thalassis, at a Nuptials.

Caral.
Y'are a mad Captain, Hannibal.

Han.
I acknowledg it.
And ner'e had else been bannisht into Pontus.
But where abouts in this town (Caralinda).
Do you intend to make abode.

Caral.
At Publius Ovidius Naso's:
I writ to him from Rome, t'entreat that Courtesy,
And he return'd me thither word (by Letter)
I should be welcom; I have sent my servants
Thither to prepare for me, and to beg
His company here, that he may be my Guide
Unto his house.

Han.
Were Ovid in his Youth
He would be glad of such a Purchase (Lady.)
Y'are of a tempting Beauty. He had fam'd you
Equall unto his so renownd' Corinna,
And he been then acquainted with your Excellencies.

Caral.
You shame me Captain Hannibal. I am
So conscious of my own deformities,
That I shall (all I may) shun publick view.
Besides I know the Noble Poet hath
Subdued his Passions, and is now become,
As rigid in his behaviour, as the gravest
Of all the ancient Philosophers.

Cacala.
These women such Discourse affect as if
They were pure Vesta-Nuns. But they that do
Give credit to them, are of a Belief
That is not in my Creed,

Caral.
You must have leave
To talk: know likewise Captain!
Enjoy'd the generous Ovid his prime youth,
And Flourished again in his own house,
(Adjoyning unto our triumphant Capitol)
I should choose to live with him. I do prize him
As the supreme wit of the Empire.
Whose Conversation ever was admired.
Besides, I dare presume on my own Temper,
I fear not the Temptations of all man-kind;
And such Aversness have to all that Sex;
That here (in presence of the Immortall gods)
I vow (in that kind) never man shall touch me

Cacala.
For all your Confidence in your own Chastity,
(I speak it with a reverence to your merit.)
Beware of the old Game, and of the consequence,
Known commonly by the name, of a Great-Belly.

Caral.
My Life (through all my Actions) shall vindicate
My Reputation spotless.

Han.
Your Beauties, and unequald Qualities are
Too potent charms for frail mankind to know,
And not be conquer'd by so many wonders.

Caca.
Besides her Cloathes would set ones teeth on edge.

Flor.
On Shipbord she went in an homelier habit.

Caral.
The meanest Cloathes will serve at Sea for women:
Captains in Tyrian dy'd Habiliments.
And with their divers-coloured Plumes should flourish,
At all times in all Places to beget
Awe, and Respect, from those they do converse with.

Han.
Fair Caralinda, you speak Oracles:
The Hearts of all the Getes here, must do Homage
To your unparallel'd Perfections;
They will not only own you for most beautifull,
But the chief femal Gallant of the Province.

Enter Ovid.
Caral.
Your Prayses so transcend, they make me blush.

Ovid.
Welcome my sweetest Cosen Caralinda.
May all the gods of Seas and winds be prays'd
For your Arrivall in this Country safely.

Caral.
Thanks, generous Ovid, I rejoyce to see
The wonder of the Roman Empire living.

Ovid.
Oh spare to overvalue so your servant
A serious Adorer of your virtues:
Admire only you have found me breathing,
After so many years here in Exilement.

Han.
Madam, because we see you in that Company
We know you have an honor for, and who will
Conduct you to your Lodgings, we will press
No further on your Privacies; But take
Our leave for this Time. May both gods, and men
Bear Hatred to Tiberius, untill he
Repeal the gentle Ovid. When we next
Do meet, we will converse at large. May Jove
Juno, Pallas, and the whole Court of Deities,
Be evermore auspicious to you both.

Caral.
Also to me, Master; and to Floretta:
What ere we do, I'de have the gods be merciful!

Exeunt, Han, Flor. Caca
Caral.
I need not hope I shall be safe, but be
Secure I shall be so, while I continue in
Your house.

Ovid.
You (Madam) to your self shall promise
All privacy you can desire: you are
As secret as you were not in the world,
Although your Native City you inhabite,
Your name shall not escape my lips. But why
(if without an offence I may demand it)
Affect you such concealment, now especially
When all your friends would be so proud to see you,
And in this time of publick joy?

Caral.
Hereafter,
At better leasure il'e acquaint you with
My very soul, in all Particulars.

Ovid.
I will await your time. But when you left,
The world's great Head, happy and flourishing Rome,
How was Tiberius mov'd by the Intreaties
Of my dear wife, and some few reall friends,
That my Repeal sollicited?

Caral.
Your virtuous wife and many constant friends,
Have not evaded any opportunity
In your behalf. And (though they have not yet,
Affected their desires in that Concern)
They do not dispaire of prosperous success.

Ovid.
I have two powerfull enemies I believe,
And such who block up (with their imputations)
All waies of Mercy. And yet they are men,
I cannot accuse my self for ever injuring.

Caral.
You alwaies was too noble to do wrongs

Ovid.
Even he that hath that cruelty of heart,
To tempt the wife of a poor banisht-Man,
(Amidst her sighs and tears for my misfortunes)
Makes use of all the mighty Interest
He hath with Cæsar, still to fix me here.
Pardon my passion, ye Just gods, if I
Do wish one day you will requite the Mischiefs
Of Cornificius.

Caral.
Your wife could make good Mirth with his Affection,
Were not her heart so sad for your long Banishment.

Ovid.
Some of my Griefes I have flung on him under
The counterfeit Name of Ibis.

Caral.
Those Curses he richly deserves. On sacred
Empress the sweet condition'd Julia,
Hath from the Island Trimerus, (where she
Hath liv'd confin'd about these twenty years)
Writ to him oft in your Behalf. But she
Although she brought to him the world in Dowry)
Could not prevaile.

Ovid.
She grac'd too much an Exile.

Caral.
But had much reason to solicite throughly,
She being believ'd to be the fair Corinna,
Whom in your Poems you have celebrated.

Ovid.
I pray you think not so: you wrong her virtues,
Of which I only was a true Adorer.

Cara.
Though you deny it ne're so much, a Many,
And of the nobler sort, believe it otherwise
Droop not best Poet; but Courage.

Ovid.
Alas.
My hopes sunk with Augustus to the Grave,
And here my aged bones must find an Urne,
Will you not see the Bridall house, although
In this disguise, and sure to be unknown?

Caral.
I all those Inclinations must suppress:
It is the will of Heaven, and not mine own,
Tis time we walk.

Ovid.
I'm ready to attend you.

Exeunt.