University of Virginia Library

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
As Greekes, so that where e'r shee be conversant,
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,
This message is more honourably done
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.