University of Virginia Library

Scena Prima.

Enter, Ovid, and Caralinda.
Ovid.
Trasullus is a great Astrologer,
I'th Mathematicks skilfull to perfection:
For his profounder knowledg, the Chaldæans
Submit all to him.

Caral.
Therefore I have reason,
More strictly to observe th'advice he gave me;
And wait for the Accomplishment of the Fortune,
Which he foretold me.

Ovid.
But fair, Caralinda!
I would not have you either be too scrupulous,
Or negligent. The skill which they pretend to
Hath but foundation upon Probabilities:
The glorious Planets may incline, but force not.
We have a Liberty within our selves;
Our wills are free, not slaves unto the Stars.

Caral.
Though I believe you; I am so superstitious.
I shall expect the Accomplishment of his Prophesy.
Further Discourse of it I shall forbear now,
And choose a worthier subject for our talke.
Tell me (dear Ovid) therefore how the Fair
Bride's fairer sister doth enjoy her health?
I left her (when I went to Travail) like
Illustrious Phœbus rising in the spring,
Without a Cloud about his Temples, promising
A bright day to the world. I left her in
Her early youth, but with so growing a Beauty,
That surely now tis able to work wonders.

Ovid.
Indeed she is a Miracle of Perfection;
Nature hath prodigally bestow'd upon her
All her rich gifts: she is so fine a Virgin,
That I should wrong her to describe her Farther.
Health dares not be so rude as to forsake her,
Nor sickness so uncivill to approach her.

Caral.
You have deliver'd her to my Amazement:
But I did alwaies look that she would prove,
The Glory of this Province for her Beauty.

Ovid.
But Armelina hath besides a Soul,
Replenish'd so with goodness, and all virtue,
That were it lodg'd in any other body,
It would be lock'd up in a Cabinet,
Too mean for such a precious Jewel.

Caral.
Ovid!
She is oblig'd to you for the rich Character
You have bestow'd upon her.

Ovid.
You mistake me,
I cannot speak her to her merit. You
Will think (when you shall see her) I have Injur'd her;
Her Merits do so much exceed all Language.

Caral.
We two have from our Childhood had a Friendship,
And she will grace me to continue it;
If she be such an one, as you have spoke her.

Ovid.
Ah! Caralinda I am grown too old,
To be a Flatterer.
Enter Armelina.
Here she comes; and I
Appeal to your own eyes, to be my witness.
You grace me (Armelina) by this visit.
You seem a Deity; And bring a Comfort
To any Place you honor with your Presence.

Armelina.
Duty obliges me to wait upon
A Person so Renowned as is Ovid,
One banish'd from his Friends, and native Country
And (in his Age) confin'd to our poor City.

Ovid.
You have a Charity equall to your Beauty,
This Lady is my Cosen born at Salmo;
The Place of my Nativity, you will honor me
To favour her with your Acquaintance, and
(As you hereafter shall approve of her)
With your fair Friendship too.

Armelina.
The generous Ovid,
New Obligations layes upon me daily.

Ovid.
My Kinswoman is your servant. Caralinda!
This Lady is the excellent Armelina
We were discoursing of, and I commending
(For who do's otherwise that speaks of her,
Doth sin against the greatest Truth on earth)
As she came in.

Armelina.
Madam! I kiss your hand; And am ambitious
Of your acquaintance, and Affection.
So excellent a Kinswoman of Ovids
Must find my best Respects, and truest Love.

Caralina.
Admirable Armelina! you are of
A Goodness so immense, that you may cast
Away of it on others an abundance,
And not impoverish your self at all.

Armelina.
I wish
Pontus had any Person in it worthy
To be a Suitor to you for your love;
That here you might be married, and fix.
We would not loose such Graces you are Mistris of
Now we have seen you once. Ovid me thinks
Would joy to have so great a Comfort near him,
And setled past the fear of Removall.

Caralina.
Madam! my stay may prove much longer then
You do imagine. But let my occasions
Prove how they can (you with your Curtesy,
Have won so on me) that without your leave
I'le not return.

Armelina.
You are too gracious, and have so engag'd me,
I know not what to speak or think.

Ovid.
You saw,
I will believe (in Rome) one Phœbianus.
A Gentleman of this Country, and this City.

Caralina.
I saw him oft, and know him very well,
For he was pleas'd t'afford his friendship to me.

Ovid.
When thinks he of returning? He stayes long,

Armelina.
I can imagine he is so discreet,
That he had rather live in the Metropolis
Of all the world, then in a solitude
Retir'd (in a manner) from the world,
Upon the Confines of the Empire here:
And to that purpose he hath mighty reason
To choose himself (among the Roman Ladies)
A wife whose matchless-Beauty shall have power,
To fix him there for ever.

Caral.
By your fair leave,
Dear Armelina, I with confidence
Dare say he shortly will be here.

Armel.
Why pray you?
Can he escape the Roman killing Beauties,
And slight so much his own full happiness,
As to return a Batcheler to Tomos,
And here take up with an inferiour woman
To be his wife. He hath too much discretion,
To be found guilty of so great a weakness.

Caral.
You are a stranger it seems to his affection:
For he hath left his heart here, Divers times
He hath told me, he hath such a Mistris here,
That Rome, and all the World, doth want her equall:
That there is neither Cæsar, King, or Tetrarch,
But would elect her rather for his wife,
Then be an Emperour of the Universe,
And have all Mankind Loyall Subjects to him.

Ovid.
Who should that Beauty be?

Armel.
This Province, sure,
Hath none of so supream an Excellency,
As he to you hath intimated. Poets
Report that Love is blind: And if he choose
A wife in Pontus (after he hath seen,
Those glorious Ladies in Tiberius Court)
He will too late (by his Experience) find
That he in his own Choice was also blind.

Ovid.
Do you not know her name he so affects?

Armel.
He is an hansome Gentleman, and if
He comes not back debauched with the Luxuries.
Of that proud City, nor infected with
The vices of it, He is a Personage
Of eminent virtues. Such he went from us;
And I shall hope he will come back untainted,
And be an honour to his native Country.

Ovid.
But still my Curiosity is unsatisfi'd,
What might her name be, he doth celebrate
With such Encomiums?

Caral.
Perhaps it might offend him if I should
Reveal that secret.

Ovid.
Do not think it, I
Believe (if he were here and I requir'd it)
He it from me would not conceale: And I
Dare pass my word the Lady Armelina
Will be as private in't, as you can wish.

Caral.
Madam! I easily will believe, that you
Care not at all to hear it.

Armel.
I dare not (in modesty) be so inquisitive,
Ladies would have their Loves conceal'd.

Ovid.
Sweet Cosen!
Dear Caralinda, tell us who it is.

Caral.
Sweet Armelina! I must needs obey,
Tis you that he affects.

Armelina.
You jest with me, and he abuses me,
To make me the subject of his mirth.

Caralina.
I'm sure
You are mistaken much: He hath exprest
Too great a Love for you, to be in jest.

Armelina.
There may be other women of my Name,
For ought I know in Tomos or in Pontus.

Caralina.
If you Clorina's Sister are, tis you.

Armelina.
You make me blush. A better choice I wish him.

Caralina.
Were all the Beautifull Ladies in the world
Together, and among them, he might select
Freely which he should please, I know the vehemency
Of his Passion such, he would take you:
And you are of an Excellency so unparallel'd
That he would wrong his Judgment, if he should
Erre into any other Choice.

Armelina.
You complement too much: you Flatter me.

Ovid.
You do an Injury to your mighty merits
Deserve the Praise of all the world.

Armelina.
Pray let us
Discourse of something else.

Ovid.
Since you will have it so,
Let us withdraw; And taste a Glass
Of Cretane wine.

Caral.
Dedicate one health
To Phœbianus, and his speedy Return.

Exeunt Omnes.