 | The Strange Discovery |  |
Actus secundi
Scena prima.
Enter Calasiris Isis priest at Memphis.[Calas.]
Am I the goodesse Isis priest, and burne
In these unlawfull fires? shall Rhodopis
With her Uenerious charmes subdue my heart,
And make me breake that temperance of life
Which I have hitherto preserv'd unspotted?
What shall I doe? I cannot stand the push
Of these strong passions, yet I am resolv'd
Nere to commit the act, nor so to staine
My priesthood with dishonour; Isis temple
And secret places shall not be defil'd
By Calasiris, no i'le rather bannish
My selfe from sight of cursed Rodopis,
Least staying here I should be forc'd to doe
So vile a deed; I am resolv'd to leave
This statelie City Memphis suddenly,
I'le give it out, my iourney is for Thebes
To see my eldest sonne call'd Thiamis.
VVith this pretence I shall unquestion'd goe,
But there's a City sacred to Apollo
In Greece hight Delphos, there i'le bend my course
(For tis a Colledge where wise men resort
Free from the concourse of the common people)
To visit my old friend priest Caricles.
When whorish beautie and vaine pride display
Their gaudie colours, wise men shun the way.
Exit.
Scena secunda.
Enter Demeneta and Thisbe.Dem.
Thisbe my wench, thou must be secret unto all my
commands.
This.
As your owne heart could wish, as your trusty cabinet.
Dem.
I am confident of thee; thou know'st how I lov'd
that proud boy Cnemon, what proffers I made him, what favours
I bestow'd upon him, and all to winne him to my imbraces,
yet how scornfully and scurvily he refused me, with what
disdaine he left me; I am now resolv'd no longer to sollicite
my love but to execute my revenge; I have devis'd a dainty
plot against him, which will take according as I would wish,
follow thou my directions.
This.
I will not digresse a haires breadth mistris.
Dem.
Then thus I schoole thee, make a shew that thou lov'st
Cnemon exceedingly, entice him to thee with beckes and amorous
glances, he'll soone be caught with these baites, especially
having heretofore long nibled upon thy beauty; frequent his
bed often, be not asham'd, it shall be for thy great advancement,
and whereas thou art now a bondmaid, thou shalt be made free
forever.
This.
I am your creature in all things, especially in matters
of this nature.
Dem.
When thou hast done this which I command thee, I
will instruct thee farther.
Exit Demeneta. Manet Thisbe a little.
This.
I waite your pleasure. I must give Cnemon good countenance,
well, I must entice the young man, well, I must lie
with him too, very well; faith these are no harsh commands,
it shall never grieve me to be imployd in such worke, would
my mistris had no harder labour for me, this is a taske of
pleasure; I have a warrant now for what I shall doe; I durst not
yeild to Cnemon before when he attempted me; now let him
come with his stoutest artillery, I will stand the charge valiantly.
Enter Cnemon.
Cnem.
Faire Thisbe are you here? why now I like you,
Darts amorous glances which before cast frownes,
Now you appeare like Uenus.
This.
Courteous Cnemon,
Although at first I did deny your suit,
Impute it not to want of love, but place
And oportunity, besides the doubt
And danger which the action brings with it
If once discover'd, made me to commit
So grosse an errour.
Cnem.
Will you be reform'd
Upon mature counsell?
This.
You shall see
I will not be refractory to ought
You shall advise me, I doe know your mind,
Cnem.
Come with me then and learne to kisse and smile,
You know the backe way to my chamber sweet.
[This.]
I do, and will attend you, there wee'l meet.
Exeunt.
Scena tertia.
Enter Caricles and Calasiris.Caric.
Welcome to Greece my worthy friend and brother,
And in the fittest time, because I shall
Need your assistance in the perfecting
A businesse which concernes me, you are wise
And can perswade, when reason is your theame.
Cala.
What I can doe, our long acquaintance sir
And brotherhood in travell and vocation,
VVils me to render it unto your service;
VVherein can I be usefull to my friend?
Caric.
In this, you know last night I did relate
Cariclaes story, how I did receive her
And brought her from your Egypt here to Greece,
where in a short time she hath learn'd our tongue,
And so farre passeth she all other beauties
That she attracteth all mens eyes to gaze
VVith admiration on her, as well strangers
Either at home, or in the Temples, or
At publique exercises, all mens eyes
Are fix'd upon her with as great devotion
As if she were the image of some goddesse
Lately created; that which grieves me, is
She loathes to heare of marriage, and resolves
To live a maiden still, and so becomming
Dianas servant, for the most part doth
Apply her selfe to hunting and to shooting;
I had a great desire to marry her
Unto my sisters sonne, a fine young man,
Well manner'd, and faire spoken; but I cannot,
Either by prayer or promise, or by force
Of argument perswade her thereunto:
In this I crave your helpe, deare Calasiris,
Use some point of your wisedome to perswade her
To know her nature, that she is a woman,
And that she would not so degenerate
From all those of her sex; this I beseech you
To doe for great Apollos sake, and all
Your countrey gods.
Calas.
In this point, Caricles,
I'le doe my best indeavour.
Enter Nebulo.
Nebul.
Master, come
Away for shame, the captaine of the Ænians
Embassage stayeth for you at the gate
For to begin the sacrifice.
Calas.
Pray Sir,
What are those Ænians? what their holy message?
What sacrifice make they?
Caric.
They are the noblest
Of all Thessalia, this same sacrifice
They send to Pirrhus, stout Achilles sonne,
Every fourth yeere (at such time as the feast
Agen is kept unto Apollo here)
For here was Pirrhus massacred before
Apollos altars by enrag'd Orestes,
Than any of the rest, because they say
The Captaine is sprung from Achilles line.
Indeed, such is the beauty of his person
And brave majesticke carriage, as confirmes
He is some goddesse sonne.
Calas.
I faine would see him.
Caric.
You shall, and his brave order'd sacrifice,
Cariclea too, my daughter, must be there
To day by custome, at the funerall pompe
Of Neoptolemus, but you have seene her
Before.
Calas.
Yes, and done sacrifice together.
Caricles.
Come, you must goe unto the Temple with us
To helpe me in this ceremonious worke.
Calas.
Lead on, I'le follow, if I'm prompted right,
Strange things will happen after this rare sight
Exeunt.
Scena quarta.
Enter Cnemon and Thisbe.Cnem.
Thisbe my love, we must act closely, and with great
circumspection, lest we be discovered by the mischievous Demeneta,
who (as thou say'st) hates me more now than she lov'd
me before.
This.
You talke simply Cnemon, if you count it a dangerous
matter for me being a bond-maid, bought with money, to be
taken a bed with you; what punishment thinke you her worthy,
who is a free-woman, and lawfully married to a husband,
yet playeth false, and beareth a man too many.
Cnem.
I judge her worthy of death, but who is the person,
prethee?
This.
Your vertuous stepmother, my Mistresse Demeneta,
now you may be reveng'd upon her by discovering it to your
father Aristippus.
Cnem.
I can scarce believe it.
This.
To confirme my report (if you please) I will deliver
the adulterer unto you in the very act.
Cnem.
You shall doe me a courtesie then.
VVith all my heart, not onely for your sake who have
been injured by her before, but for mine owne also, who, for
that she hath me in jealousie, am used of her very extreamely,
wherefore if thou be a man apprehend him.
Cnem.
Else let me die in scorne and infamie,
Ile kill them both, for ne're shall it be said,
That Cnemon knew his fathers bed defil'd
And durst not be reveng'd, assist my hand
Infernall furies, Thisbe lead the way
That I may doe the deed ere see the day.
Exeunt
Scena quinta.
Enter Aristippus and Demeneta.Demen.
'Tis late 'ith night, sweet husband, let's to bed,
I cannot have too much of your imbraces,
The envious day will interrupt our sport,
Me thinks we married were but yesterday.
Aristip.
Conceiv'st thou so, that doth proceed from love;
But I am old, and thou a sprightly lasse.
Demen.
You wrong your selfe, you are a lusty man,
For were you old the dull effects of age
Would then appeare, but I have had experience
Of your performance, Cnemon, I believe,
Your sonne is not so active in his trade.
Aristip.
If it be so, then sure the youthfull heat
Of thy faire body hath infused life
Into my withered vaines, more powerfull then
Medeas charmes, when she stir'd up fresh blood
In the decayed body of old Æson.
Enter Cnemon with his sword drawne followed by Thisbe, a candle carried before, he comes hastily to the bed.
Cnem.
Where is the villaine, the most worthy lover
Of this chaste dame?
his father leapes out of the bed, and falls on his knees before him.
Aristip.
My sonne, have pitty on thy fathers age,
Spaire his white haires, take not away his life
That gave thee thine, and brought thee up with care,
Was not so great that it should merit death;
Asswage thy fury, and put up thy sword,
Imbrue not in thy fathers blood thy hands.
Cnemon in amaze lookes round about him for Thisby, who had conveyed her selfe away, and being thus astonished, his sword fell out of his hand, which Demeneta straightwaies tooke up.
Dem.
Did I not tell you this before, sweet heart,
To looke unto this princoks pride and hate
Who would no doubt, if time had serv'd his turne,
Attempt some mischiefe to destroy us both.
Aristip.
You told me so indeed, but I believ'd not;
Now I do finde it true, which to prevent
I'le raise my house and bind him fast, to morrow
I'le carry him before the people to
Be judg'd for his offence; let nature goe
In parents, when sonnes prove unnaturall so.
Exeunt.
Scena sexta.
Enter Nebulo and Nebulona.Nebulo.
Nebulona my pretty chickin, how faires thy body?
didst thou not thinke me lost long agoe?
Nebulona.
I gave you for dead in good faith, and was in the
humour once to marry another man?
Nebulo.
Why sure thou wert not, thou dost but jest I know.
Nebulona.
Truely I was, nor could you blame me for it if I
had; is it not a torture, thinke you, for a woman, to stay seven
yeeres without her husbands company?
Nebulo.
Methinkes my browes begin Acteon-like to bud
already, they are very knotty, I pray God thou hast not graft
something there, I begin to suspect it shrewdly by diverse
signes and tokens, how comes your belly so high wife?
Nebulona.
'Tis nothing but a timpany I am sometimes troubled
with.
Nebulo.
I do believe thee, how long is it since you perceiv'd
it to grow upon you?
Nebulona.
About two moneths since, the Doctor tells me I
Nebulo.
He is a foole, I am a better Doctor then he, thou shalt
goe with it this foureteene weekes yet or thereabouts; come
you are a whore, and have abus'd my honest bed; Ile have you
before the Justices to be punish'd for thy offence.
Nebulona.
Spare me prethee gentle Nebulo, and hearken to
my counsell a little, since thou art a cuckold (as I doe not deny
it) choose whether thou wilt weare the hornes in thy forehead,
and so all men see them, or put them into thy pocket, and
no man see them, I leave it to thy owne discretion.
Nebulo.
Why then I am a cuckold it seemes?
Nebulona.
I cannot say against it truely, and speake the truth,
if I should, this marke of thy fortune here deepely stamped
would bewray me, be not so foolish now as Vulcan was, to
make a proclamation of thy forked order.
Nebulo.
Did Uulcan do so?
[Nebulona.]
Yes, but afterwards he repented it for he forg'd an
artificiall net, with which he caught his wife Venus and Mars
a bed together in carnall copulation, then called all the gods
and goddesses to be spectators of his owne shame.
Nebul.
But what said they when they saw it?
Nebulona.
They commended Mars, but condemned Uulcan
for being the publisher of his owne disgrace.
Nebul.
But twas a shame for Mars to be caught so.
Nebulona.
The gods wish'd every one of them if that were a
shame, to be shamed in the same manner.
Nebulo.
but how did Venus take this?
Nebulona.
In scorne of the smith, and in revenge of this trick
hath made his head as hard as his anvile.
Nebulo.
Thou hast devis'd a pretty story in thy owne defence,
i'st best to follow thy counsell, and say nothing, or stirre
this bad thing and make it stinke the more?
Nebulona.
You may do what you please, but I have told you
the best course.
Nebulo.
Let it be so then; I have travelled well I trow, and
to good purpose, at my returne home to father a child, of
which I did not beget so much as the least finger or the least
toe; if this be the fruits of travelling, God keepe me from it
are friends, do so no more, and all is forgotten.
Nebulona.
Not, if you stay at home and warme my bed,
But if you leave me, then have at your head.
Exeunt.
Scena septima.
Enter the sacrifice to the tombe of Pirrhus in the manner of a Hecatombe led in by the Thessalians, who had each of them a white garment knit about them, these were entertayned by so many virgins of Thessalia standing in a ring with their haire loose about their eares; the maydes were divided into two companies, those who were in the first carryed flowers and fruite, the other carried in backets other fine knackes and perfumes, at the sound of musicke and a song made fit and agreeable to the musicke, they danced, the song was made in praise of Thetis.The Song.
O Nereus god in surging seas,
we praise thy daughter deare,
Whom Peleus at commandement
of Jove did make his pheere:
Thou art the goddesse we adore
in Sea a glimpsing starre,
Who stout Achilles didst bring forth
a very Mars in warre,
And Captaine good unto the Greekes,
thy glory scales the skies;
To thee did thy red-headed wife
cause Pirrhus rough to rise,
The Trojans utter overthrow,
but stay to Greekish host,
Be thou good Pirrhus unto us
a favourable ghost,
Who here in grave intombed liest
in Phœbus sacred ground,
Bow downe thy eare to th'holy hymnes
that we to thee do sound,
in any feare to be,
Of thee and Thetis is our song,
Thetis all haile to thee.
The song ended, Theagines Captaine of the Thessalians, very richly apparelled, followed by many gallants, who guarding him as he went, at last encompassed him round about; the maides overcome with the beauty of Theagines could not moderate their passions but began to cast flowers and fruit upon him, with that enters Cariclea most sumptuously adorned according to the manner, her haire was neither all bound up, nor all loose, but the most part thereof that grew behind, hanged over her shoulders; that which grew from the crowne of her head downe to her forehead, being of a yellow colour, was crowned with a garland of young Laurell; in her left hand shee bare a guilded Bow and a Quiver of arrowes hanged on her right shoulder, and in her other hand she bare a taper burning: after the young men had gone three times about Neoptolem is sepulture in their bravery, the women cryed out pittiously, & the men made a strange noise, with that Theagines speakes to Caricles.
Theag.
Most sacred Priest of this high Deity
We make request unto you to begin
This sacrifice to Neoptolemus.
Caric.
The sacrifice indeed belongs to me,
But you sir, as the Captaine of this charge,
And sacred message, ought to take the taper
Of her there, who of all those ceremonies
Is presedent, and burne the alter of;
This is the order and our Countrey fashion.
Theagnes takes the taper with a great deale of reverence from the hand of Cariclea, and sets fire to the Alter, but first he was in a maze at the exceeding beauty of Cariclea, and she as much taken with his, then they both smiled a little and blush'd and then became pale againe: in conclusion he falls in love with her, and she with him.
Theag.
So burnes my hearts as doth this Alter here,
Was faire Caricleas beauty.
aside.
Cariclea.
How my soule
Could sacrifice to faire Theagines.
aside.
Caricles.
Great god of Delphos in whose sacred temple
We celebrate these funerall obsequies
Of great Achilles sonne, vouchsafe to send
A happy ômen which may crowne this worke
Of our devotion offered at thy Altar.
The Oracle speakes touching Theagines and Cariclea.
Ye men of Delphos sing of her,
and her rare beauties praise,
Who now in grace begins to grow,
but fame shall end her daies,
Who leaving these my temples here,
and sailing surging streames
Shall come at length to contries scorch'd
with Phœbus burning beames,
Where they as recompences due
that vertues rare doe gaine
In time to come ere it be long
White miters shall obtaine.
After this answer of the god Apollo, the pompe is broken up, and Exeunt.
Scena octava.
Enter the iudges and people of Athens, then Aristippus And Demeneta with Cnemon bound.1 Iudg.
Cnemon stand forth, who doth accuse him here?
Aristippus steps forth, and strewing ashes on his head, saith:
Aristip.
I brought not up my sonne ye men of Athens
To see him come unto this end, but rather
To be a staffe to stay my age upon;
As soone as he was borne his education
VVas good and civill, when he did attaine
And Academies there to study arts,
And Mathematicke sciences, besides,
According to the lawes of this our City,
Made him free denison, yet notwithstanding
He hath not onely cast behind his backe
These favours of my love, but diversely
Both injur'd me, and beaten this good woman,
Who by our lawes is now my second wife;
And not content herewith, one night he came
Unto us with a drawne sword in his hand
(When we in bed suspected no such thing)
In mind to kill us both, and was no farther
From being a paracide but that by chance
His sword by sudden feare fell out his hand,
Which Demeneta my good wife tooke up:
Therefore I flee to you most learned Judges,
And though I might by law of this our Senate
Slay him with my owne hands, yet I appeale
Unto your justice, and commit my cause
To your grave censures, counting it more fit
To punish this my sonne by publike lawe
Then private bloodshed.
With that Aristippus weepes, Demeneta faining teares also.
Demen.
Cnemon, I'me sorry for thee pretty boy,
In an ill hower wert thou brought to the world;
Unhappy creature.
Cnem.
Grave and learned senate
Vouchsafe to heare me speake.
2 Iudg.
We will not heare thee,
But answer to this question we propound,
Came you unto your father with a sword
Drawne in your hand, or no?
Cnem.
I not deny
But I came with a drawne sword in my hand,
But I will tell you how, please you to heare me.
3 Iudg.
He hath confess'd ynough, he ought not speake
more for himselfe.
Let us proceed to sentence.
2 Iudg.
I judge him worthy to be ston'd to death.
3 Iudg.
I to be hang'd.
4 Iudg.
This is my sentence, fathers,
That he be cast headlong into the dungeon.
Cnem.
O cruell stepmother, and most unkind,
For thy curs'd sake am I so ill intreated
Against all equity and justice too,
Thou kil'st me contrary to course of Law.
1. Iudg.
Your sentence is too hard and too severe,
Let him not die, but be for ever banish'd.
2 Iudg.
Let him be ston'd.
3. Iudg.
Nay hang'd.
4. Iudg.
nay cast into
The dungeon.
1. Iudg.
since we differ conscript fathers,
In our opinions, I doe thinke it fit
It be referr'd unto the peoples voyces.
2. Iudg.
I doe assent unto it.
3 Iudg.
So do I.
4. Iudg.
And I.
1. Iudg.
Then people give your voices, shall young Cnemon
Die or be banish'd!
The people.
banish'd, banish'd, banish'd.
1. Iudg.
Then Cnemon, this must be thy punishment,
Perpetuall exile from thy native land
Never to be revok'd, which if infring'd
By thy presumption, then expect to have
No mercie from the senate, but a grave.
Breake up the Court.
Exeunt,
Scena nona.
Enter Caricles, and Calasiris.Carie.
Saw you my onely joy, and the sole honour
Of Delphos, faire Cariclea my daughter?
Calas.
This was not sir the first time that I saw her
As often as the people made resort
And more, we have done sacrifice together,
And when she doubted any point depending,
On divine matters, or on humane learning;
She would have me instruct her in the truth.
Caric.
How did you like her at the sacrifice?
Did she set forth that brave sight any thing?
Calasiris.
You aske me a strang question Caricles,
As if you doubted, whether the bright moone
Did passe the lesser starres.
Caric.
The people prais'd
Theagines the young Thessalian captaine,
Attributing the second place to him.
Calasires.
Yea, and the third too, but they all acknowledge
Your daughter carryed it away, and was
The verie eye of the solemnitie.
Caric.
Come will you goe with me to visite her
I doubt the concourse of so great a troope
Hath preiudic'd her rest.
Calasir.
though my affaires
Call me another way, yet il'e dispence
VVith them how great so ever and important
To waite on you and her
exeunt
Scena decima.
Enter Cariclea love sicke, she lyeth upon her bedCariclea.
O cruell power of love! why dost thou triumph
In lovers restles paines? what glorie can
Be added to thy deitie in seeking
The overthrow of my poore libertie?
Take here this tribute of my teares, these sighes,
Sent from a gentle heart, convaey them hence
That they may meet Theagnies, and flow
With his as from one fountaine, from one head.
To her enters Caricles and Calasiris, Caricles embraceth her.
Caric.
What ailes my sweet, my deare Carcilea,
Tell me my daughter.
Nothing but my head
Doth ake a little, and I faine would sleepe.
Cariclea faines her selfe asleepe.
Caric.
What should this meane good Calasiris thinke you,
VVhat disease hath she tane?
Calasir.
You need not marvell
At this, for I believe some enuious eye
Hath over look'd her.
Caric.
I must laugh at this,
Then you beleive as commonlie men doe,
That there is witch craft
Calasiris.
Yes as I beleive
That any thing is true, and for this cause,
The emptie aire that is about us round
On everie side, entring in by our eyes,
Our mouth, our eares our nostrills, all our pores,
Carrying such outward qualities with it
As tis indew'd with, doth ingraffe a like
Infection in the man who hath receiv'd it;
As when a man hath enviously beheld
Something that's excellent forthwith the aire
Is filled with that poisonous qualitie,
VVhich entreth into that is neere at hand,
This same aire being a slender suble thing
Pierceth even to the bones and very marrow,
And by that cause hath envie beene the meanes
Of that disease, which by a propper name
VVe call bewitching.
Caric.
Your wise reasons beare
Some probility I must confesse.
Cala.
Consider Caricles how many have
Gotten the plague, although they never touch'd
Nor saw, nor eate, nor lay with the deseas'd,
But being with them in the selfesame aire,
Let love be argument and proofe of this,
VVho taketh its beginning from the object
Of what it sees, and so as if it were
Some privy passage by the eyes hath entrance
For seeing of all other pores and sences
The sight is capable of most mutations,
And so the hottest, it must needs receive
Such like infections as are round about it,
And with a hot spirit entertaine loves changes,
As for examples sake, I will produce
Out of the holie bookes some reasons for it
Gathered from natures sole consideration;
You know the bird Charadrius doth heale
Those persons whose disease is the kings evill,
Which bird doth flie away assoone as any
Diseased with this griefe hath spied her,
And turnes her taile to him, and shuttes her eyes
Not (as some say) because she would not help them
But that by looking on them she by nature
Drawes that disease unto her, therefore wiselie
Declineth such a sight as present perill,
Caric.
You have discuss'd this doubt right sagelie Sir,
I would my daughter once might feele and finde
What love doth meane, I would not then conceive
That she were sick, but in her perfect health,
But nothing lesse then this is to be thought
Hath happened to her, who contemnes all love,
But rather seemes to be bewitch'd indeed;
Deere Calasiris for our friendships sake
Shew some point of your wisedome to dissolve
This witchchraft, and if possible to bring her
Into a good opinion of my nephew.
Enter Nebulo with a bastinado in his hand.
Nebulo.
Sirs what dee meane to make such tarriance? Theagines
hath made such a feast, and all the good cheere will be
eaten before you come, for shame come away, there are none of
the ghestes wanting but you who are the principall, if you will
be such fooles to misse it, you may, but i'le not follow your
foolish example.
Calasiris.
This fellow cals us rather to a battle
Then to a banket.
'Tis his rusticke manner;
O what a lofty fellow Bacchus is
When he is well wash'd! but come let us goe
Least with his cudgell honest Nebulo
Doe drive us forward.
Nebulo.
Well sirs you may jest,
But I meane earnest if I misse the feast.
Exeunt.
| The Strange Discovery | |