University of Virginia Library

The Pythian games are past, and now begun
The day wherein the Gallants armed run.
And Cupid President of all the sport,
Will shew, by these two, greatest his effort.
All Greece lookt-on, with City-Iudges seauen;
A Heraulds voyce, that seem'd to rend the Heauen,
Was heard: Come forth, O yee that meane to pace
So swift in armes. At farre-end of the race
Appear'd Chariclia like a morning Star;
As loth her absence should the custome bar,
Or (as I thinke) because, more for her ease,
She thought she might there see Theagenes.
A torch in left, a Palme she held in right,
And her-vpon straight all men cast their sight:
But first Theagenes; for, Loue entire
Is quicke to spie that is his most desire;
And he had time to marke, that heard whilere
What should be done; then whisper'd me i'th'eare
(Of purpose next me set) 'tis shee, 'tis shee:
I bid him peace; then comming forth we see
A Gallant armed point-deuis, that high
Of spirit seem'd, and no man would him trie;
So known he was, and had so great a name,
For winning alwayes, when he ran, the game.
The Iudges send him backe; nor might they giue
The garland him, that had not for it strivve.
He then obtain'd it might proclaimed be,
And 'tis, come who so will: He calleth me,
Then saith Theagenes. How now, quoth I,
Will you aduenture such a icopardie?
It shall be so (quoth he) nor will I stand
To see another from Chariclia's hand
For running swift reward of conquest beare.
But losse (quoth I) and shame I wish you feare.
You say full well, quoth he; but this belieue;
Who nought will vndertake, shall nought achieue.
And, were this Challenger as swift as Larke,
He could not me out-run at such a marke.
With many men in this kinde had I strife,
But neuer was out-ran in all my life;
And loue hath wings: so said, and downe he leapt,
And forward on the Plaine full nimbly stept;
His name and countrey told, and tooke his place.
Was arm'd, and stood all ready for the race.
The people shout at th'vnexpected part,
And wish him well; So moueth eu'rse heart
The comely person: but the Ladies most.
I markt Chariclia how she clear'd the coast
With Sun-bright eye, the Cryer hearing name
What were the men that entred for the game:
To wit, the stout Ormene of Arcady,
And braue Theagenes of Thessaly:
Nor could she keepe her lookes with all her Art,
So mou'd she was: at trumpet sound they start,
And cheeke by cheeke on sudden passing-by
So swiftly ran, they seeme not run, but flie.
How did her panting heart then shake her feet!
How did she stirre by fits her hands and feet!
As if her spirit with his body ran
To helpe him run. And now did eu'rie man,
And most my selfe, with care expect th'euent;
With him as with a sonne my wishes went.

No maruell (Cnemon said) if so't affect
The lookers-on; for I with care expect
That doe but hear't; and quickly tell m'I pray,
If our Theagenes there got the day.
The day (quoth I) yes, and deseru'd the night:
For passing Ormen-by, as 'twere a flight,
And, faining at some stone his foot to clap,
Of purpose fell, but fell iust in her lap.
And when he tooke the Palme, I could perceiue
He closely kist her hand, and with her leaue.
But she went home now sicker than before;
This second enterview enflam'd her more;
As fuell twice at fire: and I that night
Could take no rest, for thinking on our flight.
I saw 'tas meant by sea (by sea and land,
Said th'Oracle) but whither, t'vnderstand,
I must goe learne of that embroydred silke,
Left with her when she left her mothers milke;
Which had, but vnderstood not, Charicles:
To him I goe; but finde him litl'at ease.
How fare you man, quoth I; he wept amaine,
And said (alas) my daught'r is more in paine.
Both you and all the rest (quoth I) depart;
And leaue m'alone with her, to proue mine Art.
A three-foot stoole me set, and bayes withall,
Perfume, and fire; and come not till I call.
'Tis done, and I, now hauing time to play
My Gypsie part, perfume and waue the Bay
Now here, now there, and o're her face and feet:
She wagg'd her head at me, and smil'd to see't;
And said (good father) doe not so deceiue
Your selfe in me: then (Lady) by your leaue,
(Quoth I, and left my tricks, and sat her neere)
I know't full well; but be you of good cheere;
A rife disease it is, and easly cur'd,
Some eye be witching hath your heart allur'd,
And put you to some paine two dayes before;
But, since you saw the race, a great deale more.
I ghesse the man, and saw him cast that eye,
The swift Theagenes of Thessaly.
Whe'r he me hurt, or not, I wish him good,
Quoth she, what is he? Of Achilles blood
They say, quoth I; and so may well be thought,
By face, and stature; beautie, and spirit haught.
But only that he seemes more gentl'and milde,
As if a friend might rule him like a childe.
And hath (I warrant) tooke more hurt than done,
By glance at you; and, if he were my sonne,
So could I wish: Alacke (quoth she) and why?
He hurt me not at all, good Sir; but my
Disease has other cause: Yet thanke I you
(Good father) for so suffring with me now.
If other cause (quoth I) my guirle, reueale it;
And from your father neuer long conceale it.
Disease like new-set plant is; quickly taken,
With ease plucke-vp; but rooted, hardly shaken.
A fathers loue I beare you, and your father
Hath put m'in trust; O therefore then the rather,
What ere it be impart, I vow and sweare
To keepe your cousaile, and effect what ere.

Hereat she paus'd a while, and in her face
Had many changes, all with prettie grace
Declaring doubtfull minde: then said, I pray,
(I cannot yet resolue) forbeare to day:
And after, what it is (if by your spell
You know it not before) I shall you tell.
I rose, and yeelded (as ought yeelded bee)
A time to bashfull Maidens modestee.
Yet take my leaue as men of women vse;
Soone after meet with Charicles: what newes?
Quoth he; all well, quoth I; and eu'n to morrow
She shall be rid of all her griefe and sorrow.
Nay more I tell you; she intends a deed
Will giue you great content, and that with speed.
And ne'rthelesse I wish you counsaile take
Of some Physitian, safer all to make.
If further cause be, call me to my taske,
So part to th'end he then no more should aske.
And walking homeward meet Theagenes
In Temple-close: it did his heart some ease
To see but where she dwelt; I passe beside,
As not perceiuing him, then oh he cri'de,
Good Calasire! the verie man I sought.
I sudden turn'd, as somewhat else I thought,
And said, O braue Theagenes! how braue,
Quoth he, that can of her no fauour haue?
Ah will you still (quoth I) mistrust mine Art,
Which haue so well already plaid my part;
Which haue her ouercome, and made her loue yee?
As, if you stand in doubt still, I shall proue yee.
Y'are th'only man whom she desir's to see.
Then he, what, what? why longer tarrie wee?
And going was a pace, till by the cloke
I pull'd him backe, and thus vnto him spoke.
Nay stay a while, good youth; though as a Son
Of great Achilles, verie swift you run;
The time in counsaile spent is neuer waste;
And this no worke is to be done in haste.
Her father chiefe man is of all the Delph:
Why, then (quoth he) let's goe vnto himselfe,
And for his daughter pray him giue consent;
I trust it shall be no disparagement.
But he (quoth I) her promis'd long agoe
T'his sisters sonne. It shall be for his woe,
His woe, quoth he, and little for his ease,
Who gets Chariclia from Theagenes.
Nor blunt my sword is, nor my hand so weake.
Good Sir, quoth I, what need you thus to speake?
'Tis better done another way: be wise,
And connsaile keeping, doe as I aduise.
Be little seene with me; our enteruiew
May breed suspect; so forc'd he bids m'adiew.

Then Charicles came, thankt, embrac'd, and said,
O th'only man to turne deuoted Maid!
This is your Art, and your great wisdome able:
My guirle is conquer'd, earst vnconquerable:
She's now in loue. Then I looke big, and strut;
And say, though little I gaue, I knew 'twold do't.
But how appeares it? you (quoth he) vs bid
Physitians counsaile aske; and so we did.
When they came in, she turning to the wall,
As if she minded not, or scorn'd them all,
That verse of Homer sung with dewie cheekes,
O great Achilles, chiefest of the Greekes.
The wise Acestin (sure you know the man)
Her caught by th'hand, the malady to scan,
And by the pulse her troubled heart bewray'd;
Then vnto me (good Charicles) he said,
In vaine you call vs; this is no disease,
Whereof our physicke can the fits appease.
O Gods, quoth I; and must I lose my deare
And only guirle! Peace you (quoth he) and heare:
So call'd m'aside, and softly told me thus,
The body, not the minde, is cure for vs:
She's sicke in minde; she loues, and only he,
That made her sicke, will best Physitian be.
So went his way: and I straight hither ran
To you my best Director for the man:
I would it were Alcamenes my lad,
Whom for her husband I appointed had.
'Twere good (quoth I) to try, and let him go
To visit her: he said it should be so,
And thankt me for th'aduice: and yet e're noone
The next day met m'and cry'd, I am vndone:
My daughter's mad; I sent as you aduis'd
Alcamenes, and him she so despis'd,
And turn'd away-from shreeking, as the sight
Of Gorgons head had put her in affright:
Nay, threat with cord to make her selfe away,
Except we left her suddenly that day.
'Twas time to goe: but now, good Calasire,
Proceed t'accomplish that which I require,
And make her leane to loue. I doubt (quoth I)
Lest some malignant counter-sorcerie
Be wrought vpon the silken scarffe you said
Was with her Iewels by that Infant laid.
Forth with he ran and fetcht it me, and so
I lookt thereon, and told him, this to know
Requires some time; then to my hand he sped it,
And I went home and all at leisure readde it.
In letters Æthiopick (not the same
Of common sort, but that the Kings they name,
And verie like the sacred Characters,
That Priests of Ægypt use) thus it refers.

Persina, wofull Queene of Blackmore land,
This wrote her selfe in haste with trembling hand.
I know not how, except by pictures white,
Wherewith my King would haue his chamber dight,
I brought him forth this white-one: but affraid
Of that high crime would to my charge be laid,
Ne durst be known thereof, but said she di'de,
And by a trustie Groome her sent aside,
To saue both her and me from death and shame,
That hate th'Adultresse and the Bastards name.
And now, sweet Babe, in vaine so faire that art,
Whereby thy selfe and I were like to smart,
These jewells and this swath-band I thee giue,
To make thee known, if be thy hap to liue.
Which O! and then thinke on thy Pedegree,
And like a Princesse guard thy chastitee:
Of all thy jewells this Pantarbe stone
Haue care to keepe; 'tis worth all them alone.

And more there was in lamentable fashion
Set downe t'expresse a tender mothers passion,
Which here I skip: but (Cnemon) when I saw
The name Persina, strooke I was with awe:
And in my minde were griefe and ioy at strife;
The griefe, to note this faire young Ladies life,
And what she was indeed, and what suppos'd:
The ioy, to see the Prophecie disclos'd.
That now I thought was meet fit season watch,
And what I did intend with speed dispatch.
To her I goe, and finde her all alone,
Nigh ouercome with languishing and mone;
Yet somewhat cheer'd to see me. Then I said,
I now expect the promise of a Maid;
Which was to tell me what's you griefe: I pray
Make, if you will haue ease, no more delay.
You know my trust, and that I can it know
Though you conceale: But why should you doe so?
She tooke and kist my hand, and said, O father,
Then by your wisdome vnderstand it rather.
Well then (quoth I) you are not th'only she;
But many braue and vertuous Ladies be
That loue a man: and he that hath you heart
(If any worthy be) hath all desart.
This, if you marke, may set your minde at ease;
For what is wanting in Theagenes?
But Sir, quoth she, you speake as if 'twere sure
My father would consent, and th'other endure
To wooe a Maid. Quoth I, to tell you true,
The man is deeper strooke in loue than you.
Then, as for your supposed father, he
Wife vnt'Alcamenes would haue you be.
Alcamenes (quoth she)? first let me die:
For, but Theagenes will no man I.
But why my father call you so, suppos'd?
Then I that written on the silke disclos'd;
And shew'd it her, and askt her if she knew't.
She said such-one she had; but he with-drew't,
To lay-vp safe, lest it be worne or stain'd:
Yet neuer knew before what it contain'd.
Then vp she lookt with courage void of pride;
With count'nance well assur'd, and stedfast e'yd;
And askt, what's to be done? I tell her how
I was my selfe in Blackmoreland ere now,
To learne the tongue, and ioyne Gymnosophie
With Gypsie skill, and Greeke Philosophie.
And that her fathers Court, without obstacle,
Of learned men was chiefest Receptacle.
That there so grew I known to Queene Persine,
And was esteemed as an Arch-Diuine.
She, when she heard that home returne I ment,
Sent for m', and told me why she for me sent;
To wit (she durst but vnt'a stranger tell)
A childe she had, which fare it ill or well,
Dead, liuing, where, faine would she know, and pray'd,
That with my skill therein I would her aid.
And told your case, and said she could not finde
That any such now liu'd in land of Inde;
But made me first, to keepe her counsaile, sweare.
I learne of Isis that you liue, and where.
Your mother then me prayes in any wise,
I cast would how to finde you, and deuise
To bring you home: and if you come in heale,
To King Hydaspes she will all reueale,
Now time hath well approu'd her loyaltie;
And, for succession of his royaltie,
Glad will he be to finde vnhoped heire,
And doubt not you are his, although so faire.
This all I knew, though nothing said, before
I got the silke, that might confirme it more.
Then ere against your will Alcamenes
Begin to worke, or father Charicles,
With vs your Parents, and your countrey seeke,
And there be married to this noble Greeke;
Remembring what, of him and of your selfe,
Was prophesi'd by th'Oracles of Delph.
Then sith (quoth she) that we this shall acheiue,
The Gods declare, you say, and I beleiue;
Shew how I pray. I say, make you a show
To like Alcamenes. Alas you know
'Tis hard, quoth she, to seeme loue that I hate,
Or, but Theagenes, like any Mate.
Yet, sith I yeeld me to the Gods and you,
(Suppose I could so counterfeit) say how
I may come-out of danger, once got in.
To that I answer'd, care not you a pin:
That leaue me. Something, ere woman knowes,
She boldly doth; but knowing it fore slowes.
Comply with Charicles, and be not nice:
He will doe nothing without my aduice
She wept, I left her, met wit Charicles,
So sad, as if his heart had no whit ease;
How now! quoth I; you cause haue to be glad;
Your daught'rs well, and why are you so sad?
I dreampt (quoth he) that from Apollo's hand
An Eagle came and snatcht my guirle t'a land
I know not how farre hence; where shadowes were
Me thought in stead of men. When this I heare,
I knew the meaning; but him tell it thus;
(T'auoid suspect of that was meant by vs)
Apollo's Eagle signifies that ho,
The God, whose Priest you are, will mindfull be
To send her that you wish; and, in few words,
A man excelling men, as Eagle birds.
Now marri'd once, she must your bosome leaue,
And, till she giue vp ghost, vnt' husband cleaue.
For that is meant I know by shadow of men,
Whereto she goes at length. To blame you then,
To blame you are, yet are you not the first,
That of the Gods good meaning make the worst.
Wherefore apply we to the better sense,
And make her willing with our conference.
My part is done, and now must you doe yours.
How, how, I pray? (quoth he) for yet she loures
(As much as can that face, quoth I) to heare
Alcamenes is her intended Feere:
If they (quoth I) be faln-out, what attones
A woman more than pearle and precious stones?
Such tokens carrie you her in his name;
And if it please her not, be mine the blame.
He did as I aduisd, and brought hereft
The jewels all that Queene Persina left
Laid-out with her, and said Alcamenes
In token of his loue had sent her these.
She plaid her part well, and when this I knew,
'Twas time to giue Theagenes his Q.
So did, and while I went to sacrifice;
Thus me preuenting Phœbus did aduise:
Away now strangers call. And some I saw,
But knew not, there according to their Law,
When some what they had offred, merrie making,
Carouses filling, emptying, giuing, taking.
And these enuite me. There I sate a while,
And ate, and dranke: then said I with a smile,
Sith your enuitement doth me thus embolden,
Pray let me know to whom I am beholden.
We Tyrians are, saith one, for Carthage bound,
With wares of Blackmore, and of Indy ground:
To morrow meane we plow the bracky Maine,
If winde thus hold, and all together sayen
To that effect. Then I, yet if you may,
And are content to tarrie but a day,
(No more I craue to sottle things at Delph,
And for the way) Ile be your Fare my selfe.
We will, say they; for with so graue Diuine,
We more securely shall passe ore the Brine.
I left them set then all on merrie pin,
And each with other dancing Matakin;
(Of some call'd Anticke, as it well may bee,
It so presents old inciuilitee,
With rudely making faces, body wrying;
Now vp, now downe, on this and that side prying)
And bid my younglings ready make to go
Next day at eu'n. This night it fell out so,
That, ere the second Cocke was heard to crow,
A band of Thessall youths, whereof now know
Theagenes was chiefe, gan so to rore,
That all the Citie wak'd out of the snore
Of soundest sleepe: yet no man durst arise,
Affrighted were they so with hideous cries,
And clattring armour, such as shooke the ground;
And made Pernassus hill returne the sound
With doubled eccho: but amid the noyse,
There comes a troope of these vnruly boyes,
Breakes-ope Chariclia's doore with many a stroke,
(Of purpose left so, that it might be broke)
And takes the Ladie, litle saying nay,
And with her packet carries her away.
The rest the countrey flie; but he and she,
The louing paire, come hand in hand to me,
Where was appointed: Saue vs father crie;
And on her cheekes ran sudden blushing die,
As for a fault. I comfort them, and will
They keepe them there, vnseene of others, till
I come againe, and going was; but she
Fast held my cloke, and said, what! leaue you me
With him to keepe? O father, doe not so;
'Tis treason-like: I will not let you go
Before you make him solemnly to sweare,
That now and euermore he will forbeare
To touch me wantonly, till we be wedde,
And may enioy a lawfull marriage-bed:
Agreed and done. Then I to Charicles;
His house in tumult finde without appease,
For daughters losse. And what should now be done
They cannot tell, though all vnto him runne.
For all the beauteous virgin held so deare,
They would reuenge the fact, but know not where.
My masters then (quoth I) this sudden sit,
(What?) hath it quite bereft you of your wit?
Before the rape of Hellen, or Europe,
A beauteous Ladie was of war the scope.
Take armes, and follow this vnruly Crew
Of Thessall youths; 'tis they haue wronged you:
And specially that one (friend Charicles)
With whom you made m'acquaint, Theagenes.
So made them bend their force another way,
While we to ship, and on the surges play,
From Delphi safe-conuey'd by this complot:
But what was after done there know I not.