University of Virginia Library

Actus tertii

Scena prima.

Enter Aristippus solus in a melancholy humour.
Aristip.
How have I plai'd the foole and rob'd my selfe
In hastie passion of my onelie sonne;
Repentance when it comes too late doth argue
An inconsiderate iudgment; O my Cnemon
Would thou hadst kill'd me ere I banish'd thee,
For death is better sure then banishment;
Nere shall I see my boy, well for this fault
I will do penance, penance on my selfe;
Athens adiew and all the Citie pleasures
Forsake me quite; my solitarie manour
Farre in the countrey where no people comes
Shall be my habitation day and night
Where I will eate my heart out.
Exit Aristippus.

Enter Demeneta and Thisbe.
Demen.
Oh my Cnemon,
My prettie boy, more deere then my owne life,
How I lament thy chance and my mishap.

This.
Comfort your selfe deere mistris I beseech you.

Demen.
Peace foole, my griefe is more then can be cur'd
By any words of comfort, no man knowes
What a sharpe corsive it was to my heart,
More fervent is my love now he is absent.

This.
Fie, fie, forget him, thinke upon his pride
And high disdaine against you, thinke he doth
Deserve this punishment and greater too.



Demen.
How readie thou art Thisbe to doe mischiefe,
Thou art the fire brand that hast kindled this
Combustion in my heart, thou hast not beene
A helpe unto me, but a hinderance
In the fruition of my love, by thee
And by thy meanes I have lost my onely joy,
And yet for all this thou dost still incense me
To run on in this way; most wicked wretch.

This.
Well I perceive your mind, she thinkes to make me
Support the fury of her franticke fits,
But I shall overreach you sure in wit,
And lay the saddle on the right horse backe,
aside.
Why do you thus accuse your trusty servant?
You know I did but what I was commanded,
Nor ere did any thing without your warrant,
If this thing happen'd not as you would have it,
Ascribe it not to any fault in me,
But rather, as you justly may, to fortune;
If you will have me yet devise some way
To remedy your present griefe and sorrow,
You shall perceive how ready my good will
Shall be at your commands.

Demen.
What remedy
Can possibly be found, since he that can
Ease me, and none but he, is separated
At such a distance from me? and besides
Th'unhop'd for lenity of those which gave
Sentence against him hath destroyd my hopes.
I would he had suffered death, for then in me
Had quenched beene the flames of burning love.
Hope that is past removes griefe from the heart,
And when despaire possesseth troubled minds
They intermit all sorrow building on
Th'impossibility of their enjoying;
But as it is methinkes I see and heare
Cnemon complayning of my cruelty,
And how by unjust guiles I did ensnare him;
Sometimes me thinks he comes to me as if


I should enjoy him, othertimes I bend
My course to him where ere he lives remote;
These things enflame me, these things make me mad,
But O ye gods, I have as I deserve;
Why did I not with good will seeke to win him
Rather then by deceit and craft compell him?
Why did I not most humbly sue unto him
Rather then wrong him like an enemy?
It may be at the first he did deny me
For maiden modesty, and feare to foule
His fathers sheets, but had I persever'd
Unto the end, he might have beene allur'd
To condescend by faire meanes to my will;
But O my Thisbe tell me, tell me quickly
What remedy is that thou wouldst devise
For me and saist is easie?

This.
Mistris this:
All men suppose that Cnemon is departed
The towne of Athens and the territory
As he was judg'd to doe, but I know well
(Who have search'd all things meerely for your sake)
That he remaines here still in secret manner
With one Arsinoe whom I thinke you know,
Shee playes well on the Virginals with her
He lyeth every night, for this faire maid
Won with his love, and pitying his distresse
Receiv'd him in, and promiseth as soone
As all things are provided for her journey,
To goe away with him.

Demen.
O happy wench,
Happy Arsinoe is thy destiny,
Though banishment or death with such a partner;
But what doe these thinges ought aduantage me?

This.
Much, i'le pretend I am in love with Cnemon,
And will desire for old acquaintance sake,
Arsinoe would be pleas'd to suffer me
In stead of her to lie with him one night,
Which if I can obtaine, it shall be yours,


You shall enjoy him in Ansinoes stead,
And ile provide before he go to bed
He shall have wine sufficient, least our plot
Should be discover'd; if you have your wish,
Rest then contented to give o're your love,
For in most natures it is easily seene
That such love whose beginning's violent
After the first experiment decayes
And waxeth cold, but graunt it burne a fresh
Within your bosome (which ye gods forbid)
Tis but to make a new voiage, & seeke out
A new way to atchieve it.

Demen.
I approve,
And praise thy rare inuention deerest Thisbe;
Faile not to put this plot in execution,
And I shall well reward thee.

This.
Feare it not,
I crave but three dayes to bring this about.

Demen.
Tis granted; if thy wit can worke my pleasure,
How I shall love my Thisbe beyond measure!

Exeunt.

Scena secunda.

Enter the banquet, after Theag. Caric. & Calasi. with attendance.
Theag.
Welcome my honoured friends, and holy fathers
To my poore Table here, please you to sit
And eate of what the gods have sent us.

Caric.
Sir,
Superabundant are your cates and dainties,
Faire Cleopatra that luxurious Queene
Might revell here, and be contented too,
We that are Priests use no such dainty fare
Whose lives are squar'd by rules of temperance.

Theag.
We will not cause you breake those rules, nor swerve
From your religious order, but sometimes
A little Wine will much enflame your zeale
To holy duties, reverend Caricles
I must begin to you.

drinkes to him.


Caric.
Theagines, I must returne you thanks.
Theagines on a sudden falls into musing, sighes, and changeth his countenance sometimes red, sometimes pale, and gapes withall, as if he were not well.
What meaneth this variety? I thinke
Some envious eye hath look'd upon him too,
Methinkes Cariclea and Theagenes
Haave one disease.—

softly to Calasires.
Calas.
By Isis that they have
One and the same disease, thus it appeares:
Since he next to your daughter was the fairest
Of all the shew at that brave sacrifice.

Theagenes begins to recollect himselfe.
Theag.
Sirs, pardon my stupidity and dulnesse,
A little fit of passion did possesse me,
But now tis past, here worthy Calasiris,
I drinke a health to the faire president
Of our late funerall pomp.

Calas.
Excuse me Sir,
I drinke no healths, yet thanke your courteous proffer.

Theag.
Refuse Caricleas health?

Caricles.
Sir, be not angry,
This man ne'r drinketh wine, nor eats the flesh
Of any living thing.

Theag.
That's strange, how comes it?

Caricles.
He's an Ægyptian, borne at holy Memphis,
And Isis Priest, whose custome is t'abstaine
From wine and flesh as things unlawfull.

Theag.
Then
Bring me some water, wise and reverend man,
Pardon my ignorance which knew it not;
Now Sir to you in your owne element,
And let this table make a lasting league
Of amity betweene us.

Calas.
Let it be so,
Worthy Theagenes for I doe much
Desire that combination.

Theag.
Ere you goe


Please you to see a dance in armour, call'd
Pyrricha, which we use in Thessalie.

Caricles.
What pleaseth you doth please us.

Theag.
Sound musicke then.

The Thessalian youth with Theagenes their Captaine, dance Pyrricha in armour, with a gracefull dexterity, which ended, the Priests take their leaves, and bid Theagenes adieu.
Caricles.
Thanks for our worthy entertainment Sir.

Theagenes embraceth Calasiris very often, and at parting whispereth him something in the eare.—Exeunt all.

Scena tertia.

Enter Calasiris solus.
Calas.
'Twas not a dreame or such like fantasie,
As oftentimes invades and creepes into
The mindes of men, when Morpheus shuts their eyes,
That tooke me last night napping in my bed:
No, twas no dreame, but a true apparition.
I saw Apollo, and Diana both
Appeare before me, and with them they brought
Theagenes and faire Cariclea,
Apollo gave me him, Diana her,
With this command, goe take these young folkes with thee,
And haste thee home unto thy native countrey,
Tis time, for so the Destinies command,
Love them as if they were thy naturall children,
And when thou comst to Egypt, leade them further,
Where it shall please us gods to give direction;
With that they vanish'd, and a token gave
That it was not a dreame, or a false vision:
Immortall powers, your hests I will obey,
If you vouchsafe to point me out the way.
one knockes.
Who's there?

Theag.
'Tis I, Theagenes your friend.

Calas.
Theagenes, the brave Thessalian Captaine,
Most welcome Sir, what businesse was of force
To make you stirre so earely?



Theag.
Reverend Father,
A stirring one which keeps my thoughts awake,
And banisheth sweet slumber from mine eyes,
Hath made me breake your morning meditations,
And though I suffer beyond thought of man,
Yet blush I to reveale my griefe for shame.

Calas.
Come, come, I know your griefe, although you are
Asham'd to tell it me, I know it well,
For nothing from my wisedome can be hid,
And from the knowledge of the gods my son.
Calasiris casteth some account upon his finger, as if he would prophesie.
Young man, thou art in love, nay, start not backe,
Thou art in love with faire Cariclea.

Theagines embraceth him about the necke.
Theag.
Thy prophesie is true, I am in love
With faire Cariclea, save me learned man;
For without helpe I cannot live a day,
So much this mischiefe workes upon my heart;
I never till now knew the effects of love,
Nor ere saw woman that I thought deserv'd
To be beloved, before Caricleas beauty
Made me a slave to Cupids cruelty.

Calas.
Weepe not Theagines, be of good cheere;
For since you have recourse to me for helpe,
My wisedome shall prevaile above her strength,
Although shee be perverse, and easily
Will not be drawne to love, I'le try all meanes
For your sake whom I love, and use all art
I can to breake her nature, be but bold,
And doe as I shall shew you.

Theag.
With my soule,
And if you doe this, I am yours, and all
I have at your command.—

one knockes.
Calas.
Who's there, be gone
Theagines, to morrow morne I'le meet you
In great Apollos Temple and talke more.—
Exit Theagines.
Enter Nebulo.
O, is it you Sir Nebulo, what newes


Bringst thou I prethee?

Neb.

What dee take me for, a newes Carrier? I would you
should know it, I am none such, I have not to doe with other
mens businesse nor their wives, I would they had not to doe
with mine, but tis no mater for once, there is promised a reformation,
I hope all will be amended, let it passe; but to the
point now.


Calas.

I, to the point Nebulo by all meanes.


Neb.

And then to the businesse afterward.


Caricles.

Why, didst thou not meane the businesse when
thou mention'dst the point? is it not all one in the sense?
I conceive it so, else thou art more learned than I am.


Neb.

No, tis not all one the point is one thing, and the busines
another, we must first handle the point, before we come to the
businesse; for your better understanding, I will make it plainer.


Calas.

Thou art a very learned Doctor sure, in matters of
this nature.


Neb.

I hope so, yet my wife hath gone beyond me I'le besworne,
by many degrees.


Calas.

But Nebulo, prethee what wouldst thou have with
me? how doth thy Master, and my good friend Caricles?


Neb.

In health, but doggedly out of tune, hee will be with
you presently, so much he bid me tell you, and something else,
but I have forgotten it, so much businesse I have to thinke of.


Enter Caricles.
Calas.
My dearest friend and brother, welcome to me,
Why doe you looke with such a sullen cheere?
Methinks you're very sad and melancholy.

Caricles.
I am indeed, and I have reason for it.
I come to crave your counsell what to doe,
But first depart and leave us Nebulo.

Neb.

Wherefore I pray? well, there will be a sweet counsell
now I am excluded, I should be loth to change heads with
either of them for all my hornes.—

Exit Nebulo.

Caricles.
My daughter, Sir, since yesterday, the race
Was run in armour tweene Theagenes
And stout Ormenes, hath beene wondrous sicke,
And the last night did never sleepe one winke.



Calasiris.
Who won the garland Sir?

Caric.
Theagines,
Cariclea as the custome is did hold
The prize, and he receiv'd it at her hand,
She still growes worse and worse, deere Calasiris,
Imploy your skill and wisedome to restore her,
I know tis easie for you if you please
To heale her, who, you say, is but bewitch'd,
For I believe tis not impossible
For holie Priestes to bring to passe strange things.

Calas.
Let's goe then if you please unto the maid,
And by recommendation strive to make
Me more familiarlie acquainted with her,
That she the bolder may sustaine my cure.

Caric.
Content, Apollo graunt a good successe
Unto thy worke, and Æsculapius.

Exeunt.

Scena quarta.

Enter Aristippus and Thisbe.
This.
Master I doubt not but my sudden comming
Appeareth strange as being unexpected,
The cause whereof I will relate unto you
Without more circumstance, or vaine preambles;
I come here to accuse my selfe unto you;
And to receive such punishment as your
Discretion shall thinke fit for my offence;
By me sir you have partly lost your sonne,
I doe confesse I was an accessary,
Though much against my will; when I perceiv'd
My mistris liv'd not well, but wrong'd your bed,
Not onely provident to shun the danger
Might light upon my selfe for keeping counsell
(If it should come to light by any other)
But chiefly sorrowfull for your mis-hap,
Who should in recompence of all your kindnesse
Vnto your wife, reape such disgrace from her,
I came one night to my yong master Cnemon,
(My selfe not daring to acquaint you with it)


And told him there was one who us'd to play
The lecher with my mistris, he enrag'd,
Thinking that then they were in bed together,
Tooke suddenly his sword into his hand,
And notwithstanding that I told them then
They were not at their sport, he would not heare me,
But thinking that I had repented of
Bewraying it, ran like a mad man forth
Unto your bed-side with intent to kill
Th'adulterer, what followed sir you know:
Now to confirme that this I say is true,
If so you please, this night ile shew your wife
My mistris Demeneta with her friend
A bed together in a neighbours house
Without the City.

Aristip.
If thou canst doe this,
Ile make thee free, and pardon all thy faults
For I suppose I should revive againe
So I reveng'd were on my enemy;
I had such a suspition in my head
That she was false, but kept it to my selfe,
Because I wanted cleere proofes to convince her,
But what must I doe Thisbe, tell me wench?

This.
You know the garden where the monument
Of Epicures doth stand, there come a little
Before the night and stay for me; adiew.

Exeunt.

Scena quinta.

Enter Arsinoe and Thisbe.
Ars.
My old acquaintance welcome, welcome Thisbe.

This.
Thanks good Arsinoe, will you teach me now
A lesson on the Virginals?

Ars.
You jeere me,
I faine would learne of you: but prethee tell me
What businesse brought thee hither?

This.
I will tell thee,
You know Feledemus the dauncer

Ars.
Yes.



This.
We too must daunce la volta here to night,
Let's have a chamber and a bed made ready
Sweet sister, for I've promis'd him this night
He shall come first, and I will follow after,
Assoone as I to bed have brought my mistris.

Ars.
All things shall be according to thy wish,
My better halfe.

This.
But when he comes I pray you
Be out the way, for he is very shame-fac'd
As being a novice in this art.

Ars.
Is he
Not entred yet?

This.
Not yet I can assure yee,
His flower is yet to spend and strength of youth.

Ars.
That flower thou soone wilt crop, and wast the seed.

This.
In time I may, at night expect me sister.

Ars.
Ile waite you home.

This.
If this my plot doe hit
Nere was the like devis'd by womans wit.

Exeunt.
Enter Demeneta, and Thisbe againe with a candle.
Thisbe.

Come mistris, let me make you unreadie instantlie, all
that I promised you is done, I will goe fetch young Cnemon
unto you who is making merrie here by, and returne suddenlie,
lye downe, take your pleasure and say nothing.

Exit Thisbe.

Enter Thisbe followed by Aristippus.
This.
Bind the adulterer fast master.
With that she ran to the doore and made it give so great a crash as she could, crying out in this manner:

O wonderfull thing, the villaine is fled, take heed sir that you
be not againe deceived.


Arist.

Peace be of good cheere, I have this wicked and mischievous
woman which I most desired.

O thou much hated of the gods, I have thee
And all thy shame about thee, come thou shalt
With me unto the City, to receive
What punishment the lawes allot to such
As live unchast, and wrong their husbands bed,
Which is no lesse then death.



Aristippus dragges her along, but she pulling herselfe out of the old mans hands, fell suddenlie of purpose into a pit made in the stage, and so ended her life.
Aristip.
See Thisbe, is she dead?

This.
Oh yes, her necke
Is broaken sir.

Aristip.
Then hath thy punishment
Prevented what the law should have inflicted;
Ile to the people and declare this matter,
And with my friends consult what meanes to use
For to call home my sonne from banishment,
Whose truth and innocence doth open lie
By this unheard of strange discovery.

Exeunt.

Scena sexta.

Enter Cariclea, she lieth downe upon the bed indispos'd, her kinsfolk's weeping about her, then enter Caricles and Calasiris.
Caric.
My child, my daughter deare, tell me thy father
The cause of thy disease, have a good heart,
This wise man Calasiris is requested
By me to finde some remedy to cure thee,
And he can well performe it as a man
Of heavenly knowledge, and a sacred priest.
My most endeered friend, you shall doe well
To suffer him to exercise his art
And holy spels for your recovery,
For I perceive thou art ore-look'd my child.

Caric.
Sir tis my duty to obey your will
In all things you command me.

Calas.
Then depart
Deare Caricles, and all the rest avoyd
The roome, we must be private here together,
Fetch me a little Laurell and a stoole
Having three feet, some fire and frankincense,
And let no man disturbe us till I call.
It shall be done forthwith, heavens crowne your worke.

Exeunt all but Cariclea, and Calasiris.


Calasiris begins to burne frankincense, to mumble with his lips, to lay lawrell upon her from top to toe, to gape & make strange gestures, while Cariclea, wagged her head oft and smiled.
Caric.
Father you are deceived in my griefe,
You cannot ghesse at it for all your art.

Calas.
Nay daughter say not so, but cheere your selfe,
For what doth vex you is a malady
Common, and easie to be cur'd by me;
Thou wert o're-look'd not onely at the pompe
Of Pirrhus funerall rites, but at the race
In armour too when you were overseer,
And gave the prize unto the conquerour;
Theagenes was he that overlook'd you,
Whose wanton eye was alwaies fixt upon
Your splendant beauty object of his sight.

Caric.
Whether he daign'd to looke on me or no
Apollo have him in his custody;
But whence is he, and what's his pedegree?

Calas.
He's a Thessalian borne, and as you hear'd
Descended from Achilles, who although
He have bewitch'd you with an envious eye,
He suffers more than you by the reflex
Of your Sun-burning eyes upon his heart.

Caric.
Why do you wrongfully accuse the man
Of witchcraft, who hath done no harme at all,
There's no such matter, tis some other sicknesse.

Calas.
Then tell me daughter, and conceale it not
If you desire to find a remedy,
I am no stranger to you but your friend,
and old acquaintance of your loving father,
I am of your profession too, a priest,
I'le keepe your counsell, and be bound by oath
To helpe you what I can; all griefes are cur'd
In the beginning, but if left alone
At length they grow incurable; declare
Your minde at full.

Caric.
I love Theagines.

Calasiris.
I knew so much before, he loves you too,


I'le be your faithfull friend and true assistant.

Enter Caricles, with Acestinus a skilfull physitian.
Caric.
Deere friend what have you done? what newes have
You to tell me that is good?

Calasir.
All shall be well
Cariclea shall be heal'd to morrow morne
Of her infirmitie, I now will leave you
To prosecute my busines for her health.

Caric.
Adiew deere friend, the gods reward thy paine.
Heere Acestinus, lies the sicklie patient
Exit Calasiris.
You are well read in physicke, feele her pulse
And give your wise opinion.

Acestin.
fairest maid
Where doth your paine lie most?

She turn'd her face from him, and repeated with a loud voice this verse of Homer,
Achilles is the bravest man of all the Greekish rout.

Acest.
Her state of heart I finde Priest Caricles,
My labour is in vaine, no physicke can
Restore her to her health.

Caric.
The gods forbid,
Why say you so, must my deare daughter die
Without all hope of her recovery?

Acest.
Peace make not such adoe, but here me speake.
Our art sir, doth extend no further then
He drawes Caricles aside.
To cure distempered bodies, if the mind
Diseased be without the bodies sicknesse,
We have no helpe for that, the maids disease
Lies in the mind, her bodie's in good state,
No humours doe abound there, no headach,
No fever burnes her, all is free within.

Caric.
What then should be the cause of these her fits,
Utter what you perceive doth trouble her,
I doe beseech you, skilfull Acestinus.

Acestin.
Tis love doth trouble her, which who knowes not
Is an affection and griefe of the heart,
Doe you not see her eyes swolne in her head
Rouling one every side, her visage pale,


Her halfe distraction, how she uttereth
What ere comes in her minde, and sleepes but little;
In briefe I doe perceive that she hath lost
The moisture of her body, and indeed
Just amplitude thereof, my counsell is
You finde her out a man and that with speed.
Exit Acestinus.

Caric.
A man, heavens grant she be enclin'd that way,
Then Calasiris hath plaid well his part;
How fares my daughter now, what sicknesse hast thou?
Shall I send for more Doctors yet?

Caric.
Tis needlesse,
Send none to me but Calasiris onely,
He hath the art to ease me, and none else.

Caric.
Ile send him to thee, sleepe Cariclea,
Untill he come: if Alcamenes love
Possesse her heart, thanks to the gods above.

Exeunt.

Scena septima.

Enter at one doore Theagines, at another Calasiris.
Theag.
My worthy friend most opportunely met.

Calasi.
What, beautifull Theagines!

Theag.
How can he
Be beautifull that pleaseth not Cariclea?

Calasir.
No more, you make me angrie thus to doubt
My skill by which she is entrap'd in love,
And longs to see you.

Theag.
What is that you say?
Doth faire Cariclea wish to see me father?
Why doe you then detaine me here, and not.
Conduct me to her?

Theagines offers to run forth, Calasiris catcheth him by the cloake, and holds him fast.
Calas.
Nay sir stay a while,
Though you are very nimble of your feet,
You must not thinke this matter must be handled
As if it were a prize for every man
That list to get it, take my counsell first;
Know you not that her father Caricles
Is the chiefe man in Delphos? that the lawes
Give present death to such as steale a maid


Without their friends consent? be wise my sonne.

Theag.
The matter were not great although I dy'd
After I had enjoyed Cariclea,
Death for her sake is life, but Calasiris
If you thinke good, let us demand her of
Old Caricles her father for my wife,
I doe suppose my blood is high ynough
To be commixt with his.

Calas.
We shall not speed,
Not that he thinkes you any way unworthy,
But 'cause she's promis'd to his sisters sonne
By him in marriage.

Theag.
O ye gods above,
It cannot be, nor shall it by your leaves,
Theagenes, and none but he shall wed
Cariclea, who ere presumes to touch
My goddesse but my selfe, shall sure repent it,
This hand is not benum'd, nor this sword blunt
But it can take revenge.

Calas.
It shall not need,
Theagines be patient, be but rul'd
By me, and we will bring all things to passe
According to your wish; now leave me here
Alone to project on your good, be carefull
You be not seene oft-times to talke with me,
But when you come, come private and alone
To shun suspition.

Theag.
Farewell reverend Father.
Exit Theagenes.

Enter Caricles.
[Caric.]
So efficacious is your wisdome sir,
So forceable our friendship, as it hath wrought
That effect I wish'd upon my daughter,
Cariclea is in love and quite subdu'd
By strong affection, who before was stubborne
Unto so sweet a yoake.

Calas.
I knew my charmes
Were of sufficient force to doe the feate,
But can you tell aswell what man she loves


As that she is in love?

Caric.
No by Apollo,
Would Alcamenes were the man she lov'd
My sisters sonne, I have indeavour'd it
All that I can to make her fancy him.

Calas.
Tis best you bring him to her, and so try
The aime of her affection, mutuall fight
Of lovers kindleth sparkes which else would die
Rak'd up in ashes of forgetfulnesse.

Caric.
Ile take your counsell.

Calas.
And returne with newes
How you have sped.

Caric.
Ile give you a relation.
Exit Caricles.

Calas.
I must convey them hence, this taske is laid
Upon me by the gods, but where I know not.
The Oracle is mysticall and darke,
I cannot well interpret what it meanes,
We must begin our voyage by sea it seemes,
As may be gathered by the Oracle
Where it is said, and sayling surging streames
Shall come at length to countries scorch'd with Phœbus burning beames.

If I could by any meanes get the Fascia now, which was laid
out with Cariclea, wherein Caricles said he heard all the maids
estate was notified, I should be instructed more particularly
what I ought to doe, and whether the Ladies of destiny would
send us.

Enter Caricles.
Now brother what successe?

Caric.
Oh wofull newes,
My daughter seemes distracted, such a strange
Infirmity doth seise her, when I brought
My nephew Alcamenes to her sight
Freshly apparel'd, as if Gorgons head
Appear'd, or some more fearefull thing, she cri'd
With a loud voice, and turn'd her countenance
From him and me, withall she put her hand
Unto her throat, threatning to kill her selfe
And bound it with an oth, if we departed


Not suddenlie the chamber, which we did
In Lesse time then she spake it, least she should
Put that in execution which she said;
Now Calasiris once againe I come
Most humbly to beseech you that you will not
Suffer the maid to perish, nor her father
Be frustrate of his purpose.

Calasiris.
Caricles,
Tis true your daughter is distract in mind,
For she is moved with the multitude,
Which I have burthen'd her of purpose with,
They are not of the least but such as should
Force her to doe what she abhorred most
Aswell by nature as decree of minde,
But I suppose some god doth take in hand
To hinder this designe and strive to crosse
My ministers, therefore tis requisite
And time you shew me that same Fascia
You said was found with faire Cariclea
Amongst her costlie iewells, for I feare
Least that it be enchaunted stuffe and wrought
With such things as doe now exasperate
Her minde, by reason that some enemie
Assoone as she was borne had this ordain'd
To keepe her from all love and thought of marriage
That she might die and leaue behind noe issue.

Caric.
Tis probable; it may be so indeed.
Come goe with me, and I will shew you all
What in the Fascia is contain'd and written,
I understand it not, character
Is Æthiopian, and the letters are
Not common, but such as the princes use
Of Ægypt in their holie businesses.

Calas.
I understand the Æthiopian tongue,
Which unto thee I must interpret wrong.

Exeunt.
Finis Actus tertii.