 | The Strange Discovery |  |
Scena prima.
Enter Caricles, sometimes Apollos Priest at Delphos in the habit of a Pilgrim.Caric.
What course shall aged Carcles now take
After his weary travells? shall I here
Resolve to lay my bones, and Egypt make
The finall period of my pilgrimage?
No, I must bid Catadupice adieu
So famous for these sluces of faire Nile,
And since the surfeit which I tooke of sorrow
For my deare daughters sad untimely death,
Is well digested in this breast of mine,
And change of aire hath wrought a change of mind;
I am resolv'd to stately Greece to wend
And breath my last breath where I breath'd my first,
'Tis so determin'd;—
Enter Nebulo his man.
Honest Nebulo,
My man draw neare, I'm in a humour now
To change some words with thee;—so oftentimes—
aside.
Wee see wise men for recreations sake,
aside
What course doth thy fond braine advise me to?
Neb.
To no other but to a home course Sir, I must tell you
plainly, I like not these extravagant ones you take of travelling
the world thus; I'm sure I have paid deare for those idle humours
of yours, witnesse my body, brought to a meere Anatomie
by travell and fasting; me thinkes, a wise man, as you are,
should not have such wandring thoughts in his mind: well
Master, resolve to leave this place, and returne to Delphos our
native habitation, or I shall soone resolve to leave you, and goe
there without you. O the smoake of mine owne poore chimney
at home, and the beloved smoke of my wife, would both
smell to my nose now so comfortable, as a perfume made of
Arabia spices; adiew, I can stay no longer from pretty Nebulona
without the lash of her just displeasure; I come my chickin,
I come, be ready to receive me, I know thou languishest all this
while for want of my company.
Caric.
Nay prethee stay a little longer and heare me; wilt
thou leave me now at last, and frustrate the good opinion I have
alwaies had of thy simple plainnesse and constant service? have
patience awhile, and I will accompany thee in thy journey; as
for thy wife Nebulona (if that trouble thee) I shall rectifie her
in the truth of al thy actions. Who knockes there? goe see,
and bring me word before you grant entrance Nebulo.
Who is it now?
Nebul.
A very sweet fac'd Gentleman, so sooty as the Divell
himselfe, I believe some Embassadour sent from Pluto and
the fiends.
Caric.
What e'r he be admit him.
Enter Sisimethres, Legate of Æthiopia.
Sisimet.
God save you reverend Father.
Caric.
Welcome Sir,
Although I have not seene your face before
That I can well remember.
Sisimet.
May be so.
But I have seene you often in this towne
Walking the streets, and read the characters
Your aged face, wherein I thinke my judgement
Nothing deceives me; and I doe suppose
You are an aliene here as well as I,
No naturall Egyptian.
Caric.
I confesse
I am a stranger borne, and should be glad
To know your name, your countrey and your businesse.
Sisimet.
I shall obey you, for my countrey, first
'Tis Æthiopia underneath the line,
My name Sisimethres imployed now
As Legate from my soveraigne King Hydaspes,
Unto the Deputy here, to forbid him
To meddle with the mines, out of whose bowells
The Smaragds digged were, which appertaine
To none but to the crowne of Æthiopia:
Now Sir you know me, be not scrupulous
To let me understand so much of you,
Something doth prompt me strangely, that you have
Some neer relation to the gods, or else
My Genius doth deceive me.
Caric.
Understand then,
You doe not erre in your imagination,
I am a Grecian borne, and sometimes Priest
Unto Apollo in that sacred City
Of Delphos, which Parnassus lofty tops,
As with a wall, encompasseth about,
And sweet Castalius pleasant springs refresh,
There was I borne and bred, and exercis'd
The office I was call'd to by the gods.
Sisimet.
Most venerable Priest, and holy Father,
Let me beseech you tell me what mischance
Drove you from thence to these remoter parts?
Caric.
The great misfortune that I had at home.
Sisim.
I wonder at it, pray relate the manner.
Caric.
When you have heard my story to the end,
Your wonder will forsake you.
Sisimet.
Then resolve me.
Upon your better knowledge and acquaintance
I shall, till when excuse me.
Sisim.
I'll not presse you
Beyond good manners; Sir, I saw you buy
Some herbs and roots that grow in India
And Æthiopia for your use last day;
If so you please, I can produce you such
As ne'r were better.
Caric.
Pray Sir let me see them,
Sysimethres take from under his arme a little bagge, and shewes Caricles precious stones in stead of roots.
You must for these, good Sir, seeke other chapmen,
The Margarits, the Smaragds, Hiacinths,
Are for a Princes use, and not for mine:
Each one alone is ransome for a King,
My whole estate cannot buy one of them.
Sysim.
But though you cannot buy them, you can take them
(I trow) if freely given you, can you not?
Caric.
'Tis true, I can receive them, but I marvell
Why you should mocke me thus?
Sysim.
I mocke you not
By all the Gods, but meane uprightly in't,
I will not onely give you these, but if
You will be pleas'd to take it at my hands
Bestow a richer gift, to which compar'd,
These are but drosse and rubbish.
Caric.
Ha ha ha.
Sysim.
Why laugh you Sir?
Caric.
Is't not a matter which
Deserveth laughter, when you promise things
Of such a prise, and yet assure me more;
You cannot meane uprightly.
Sysim.
Ttrust me, but sweare
That you will use this gift as I shall teach you,
And I'll performe my promise of the other.
Nebul.
Accept it Sir, if you be wise; 'tis not good, nor religious
to refuse any mans courtesie.
You tempt me shrewdly Sir.
Sysim.
Let me prevaile,
And bind me still your servant.
Caric.
You have won me
To what you would.
Sysim.
Then take an oath, and sweare
To follow my directions, so confirme it.
Caric.
By great Apollo, then whose Minister
I was at Delphos, I shall not disgresse
From what you shall instruct me touching this.
Sysim.
It is sufficient, and I build upon
Your faith, your trust and your religion;
Here fellow, take this bag, and keepe it for
Your honoured Master.
Nebul.
But more honoured bag,
Would I might keepe thee for my selfe, I then
Should make an Idoll of thee—
aside.
Caric.
What's your pleasure,
That I should doe in lieu of this reward?
Sysim.
I cannot now acquaint you, for some reasons
Best knowne unto my selfe, give me your hand
To meet me without faile to morow morning
At Isis Temple, thence I shall conduct you
Unto my lodging, and in secret tell
The summe of my request.
Carie.
I shall not faile you.
Sysim.
Adieu, untill we meet—
Exit Sysimethres.
Caric.
Apollo keepe thee
In his safe custodie. I marvell much
Whence this unlook'd for kindnesse should proceed,
I'll see the issue on't, what e'r betide me,
It may be that the gods have pre-ordain'd
I shall once more be happy, and in lieu
Of all my passed sorrowes, reape the fruit
Of long expected comfort, sure my mind
Is much illuminated with the thought
Of some good fortune, and refresh'd as if
The spirit of Pitho were infus'd into me
My Genius, for oftentimes the gods by signes
Will have that mortalls understand their mindes.
Exit.
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