University of Virginia Library

Scen. 4.

Melisso, Niso, Cloris, Narete.
Mel.
O Cloris ! how I tremble yet!)
Dost thou not know (my child) nor do not you
Kind Shepheards, know who is that wofull wight
That most unhappy wight that on the ground
Did cast the proud insulting image of
The Thracian Emperour?

Niso.
And why with so much fear dost thou desire
To know the man?

Mel.
Ah if thou know him, go and bid him fly,
Fly swift away, or he's but a dead man;
And shall we not be gone too daughter? for
Here come the Thracians hard at hand: And now
In greater rage than ever.

Clo.
Why should I fly away from Thracians now
When Thracians are to me my best beloved?

Niso.
But why should that man dye? and for what cause?

Mel.
Their barbarous Law condemns him, thats enough.
Cloris lets go; dost thou not know too well?
Hast thou forgot? lets go.

Nar.
I prethee stay and tell me what new wo
Their barbarous fury brings us, which is still
Fruitfull in bringing forth our miseries.

Mel.
Ile tel you then, but yet do you mean while
Look well about lest any of them come.
The Thracians have a Law, that wheresoere
The royal image of their tyrant Lord
Shall be by any seen, it shall be there
By him ador'd.
And 'tis no less than forfeit of his life,
Who shall by chance on set purpose shew
The least contempt to it whoere he be.

Nar.
Inhumane Law, see if proud man cannot
Exhalt his horns so high, till towring up
At last he doth confront even heaven it self.

Niso.
Shepheard proceed.

Mel.
The Captain with his troops was going up
Unto the Temple there to see brought in
The tribute of our children which we pay,
And I conceal'd within the bushes sate
To view them as they past, when one of them,
Who sure did come this way, addrest himself
Unto their Captain, and thus humbly said,
Behold, great Sir (and gave him in his hand
I know not what, but sure it was of Gold,
For in those bushes I could see no more,
And scarcely could perceive the gold to shine)
Behold (quoth) he the sacred image here
Which even now, I found upon the bank
Of a swift running stream, O sacriledg?
I found it there cast down upon the ground
Without respect to him whose shape it bears.
At which the rest foaming with rage and ire,
I know not whether out of custom, or
As an effect of fury, rent their clothes:
And then the Captain taking by the hand
Him that had brought the news of that misdeed
Withdrew aside, and talking with him there,
I by a secret path thence stole away:
And sure they cannot be far off; but see,
See where they come: ah daughter lets away.

Nar.
No, for by going thus, they may conceive
Thee guilty of the fact.