 | The Strange Discovery |  |
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 steale a maid
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.
[Caric.]
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 stubborne
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
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 fight
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 Phœbus 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.
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
In Lesse time then she spake it, least she should
Put that in execution which she said;
Now Calasiris once againe I come
Most humbly to beseech you that you will not
Suffer the maid to perish, nor her father
Be frustrate of his purpose.
Calasiris.
Caricles,
Tis true your daughter is distract in mind,
For she is moved with the multitude,
Which I have burthen'd her of purpose with,
They are not of the least but such as should
Force her to doe what she abhorred most
Aswell by nature as decree of minde,
But I suppose some god doth take in hand
To hinder this designe and strive to crosse
My ministers, therefore tis requisite
And time you shew me that same Fascia
You said was found with faire Cariclea
Amongst her costlie iewells, for I feare
Least that it be enchaunted stuffe and wrought
With such things as doe now exasperate
Her minde, by reason that some enemie
Assoone as she was borne had this ordain'd
To keepe her from all love and thought of marriage
That she might die and leaue behind noe issue.
Caric.
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 understand it not, character
Is Æthiopian, and the letters are
Not common, but such as the princes use
Of Ægypt in their holie businesses.
Calas.
I understand the Æthiopian tongue,
Which unto thee I must interpret wrong.
Exeunt.
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