 | The Strange Discovery |  |
Actus quarti
Scena prima.
Enter Calasiris, Theagines, and Cariclea.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 stayes 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.
Cala.
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.
And all your fortunes, thus I read it to you
Verbatim as it stands, give your attentions.
The Fascia.
Persina Queene of the Æthiopians to her daughter, onely in sorrow
by what name soever she shall be called, doth write in haste this
lamentation contayned herein, as her last gift.
My daughter, the sunne being authour of our stocke, is witnesse
that for no mis-deed, I have cast thee forth, and concealed thee from
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 dreame 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 Æthiopians. I knewe 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 told 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 a reward 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,
And bright Apollo dazled with the sight
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 Lædas 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.
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 Uenus comes and offers turtle doves
To gaine his liking.
Arsa.
Such a majesty
Accompanying that sweetnesse too?
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 shore? who brought him, canst thou tell?
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 to me,
And lodge him in our palace, for I have
An 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 Iove 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 Oroondates wife,
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 sugred time have I to use
My sweet disports now that the Deputy
My husband is imployed in the warre
Against Hydaspes King of Æthiopia
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 birth 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,
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.
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
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, Clitemnestra, 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 it.
Dying Thisbe.
she dies.
Arist.
Sonne tis ynough to cleare thee of all things
This matter to the people, and produce
Thisbes confession, strengthned with her hand,
Come with me Cnemon.
Cnem.
See the wretched state
Or false accusers, and their poisonous fate.
Exeunt.
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 Grecian too, and borne in Lesbos:
Most beautifull yong man cheere up thy selfe,
I bring thee joyfull newes, Arsace loves thee,
Arsace she whose favour kings have kneel'd for,
Doth kneele to thee petitioning thy love
With rich oblations both of pearle and gold.
Caric.
O heavens, my prophesie is too too true,
My iealousie 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 husband 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
Desire is onely this, that she would please
To send us backe againe to Calasiris,
And never 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,
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.
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,
Arsa.
Thou mak'st my hot blood cold within my vaines
As if an ague ceaz'd me; how depart,
Ere he get out my 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 once more you sollicit him
By faire intreaty and perswasive meanes
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 and yield.
Arsa.
Tis well advis'd, but how can I endure
To see that body bleed?
Cib.
Madam you are
Too pityfull, if that an eye-sore be
To see him scourg'd, you may refraine the sight,
I know twill mollifie 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 Hydaspes 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,
As if they faine would have their soules to meet,
And at their mouths salute.
Arsa.
O strange discovery!
If this be true, hence may proceed the cause
Of my repulse and his unkind deniall;
Sift out 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.
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?
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
Strucke 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;
So now dismisse the people, it is done.
Arist.
Thus innocence shines cleerer then the sun.
Exeunt.
Scena septima.
Enter Arsace and Cibile.Ars.
Now will he bend or breake, yeeld or endure
More punishment? how doe his fetters 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 onely name
Makes me despise my torments, and in thee
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 rid her of her life,
For when he knows she's dead, tis very likely
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 orderlie 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 cuppe of deadlie poison,
The plot is layd alreadie, and the potion
Prepar'd, I stay but onely 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
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 dare
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 refrayning 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
If't be before Arsace, though I die
I care not so Theagenes be by.
Exeunt.
| The Strange Discovery | |