University of Virginia Library

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 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,
And found them kissing with such ardency,
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.