University of Virginia Library

Actus quinti

Scena prima.

Enter Hydaspes and Sysimethres, with attendance.
Hydasp.
Thus farre have we march'd by the bankes of Nile,
And conquer'd Philæ, and the Smaragd mines,
Thus farre hath fortune favourd our attempts,
And sterne Bellona set our conquering feet
Deepe in the bosome of th'Egyptian Land;
Are we not now reveng'd Sysimethres
For thy uncivill barbarous entertainement,
When we imploy'd thee our Embassadour
To Oroondates Deputy of Egypt?
How thinke you, doe they not repent the wrongs
And disrespect they gave thee, contrary
Unto the lawes of Nations? doe they not
Wish that they had surrender'd to our Crowne
Those lands we justly challeng'd for our owne?

Sysim.
I thinke they doe, and curse their arrogance
That hath brought home the warres unto their dores;
It cannot choose but vex their very soules
To see so fruitfull and so faire a soyle,
Their native Country, over-runne and spoyl'd
By the incursions of a hostile army.

Hydasp.
Tis fit they suffer for their usurpation;
But where lurkes Oroondates since his flight
In our last battaile, no newes yet of him?

Sysim.
Fame gives it out, he is within this towne
Of Syene with the remnant of his army.

Hydasp.
Will not the Towne yet come to composition?
Will it hold out yet longer notwithstanding
Our water-workes to drowne them?

Sysim.
Royall sir,
As soone as we had cut the banks of Nile
And let the river in upon the towne,
Th'inhabitants began to see and feele
Their misery, for suddenly the water
Encompassed faire Syene round about
That it became an Iland, and by sinking
Into the earth below the walls foundation,
The weight above began to shake as if
It would have fallen downe in every place;
Then suddenly arose a piteous cry
Amongst the people of the towne, imploring
The gods assistance, and the Deputy
It seemes by this extreamity constrained
First caused letters tyed to a stone
As messengers to be shot to our campe
Out of a sling, and archers from their bowes
Sent their swift winged arrows to speak for them,
But both fell short and perish'd in the water;
At last when we by signes perceiv'd their mindes,
As holding up their hands in token of
Submission, and sometimes behinde their backes,
In token they were ready to receive
Bandes so they might finde mercie, we sent out
Some bootes to talke with them, who brought us word
They would surrender to your royall hands
The towne of Syene, if you would be pleas'd
To grant some poore conditions.

Hydasp.
What are they?

Sysim.
First Oroondates makes request that he
And all his souldiers without interruption
May march forth as best suiteth their profession,
With all their martiall habiliments
And armes about them, next to be convoy'd to
Elyphantina with your royall guard;
Else he would rather die then live to be
Condemned as a traitor to his king,
For yielding up the City and betraying
The armie, and besides be put to death
With rackes and tortures.

Hydasp.
What a foole is he
To make his owne conditions, or to argue
Of such a matter? doth he not conceive
He is not in his owne power, but in ours,
To live or die, why what a madnes is it
For conquered men to argue of conditions?
But tis not noble to destroy a number
For one mans folly, goe Sysimethres,
Take heere our seale and signe their articles,
For pitty workes upon a noble spirit.

Exit Sysimethres.
Hydasp.
If I could entertaine ambitious sparkes
Within my royall breast, or never enter
Into examination with my selfe
Of right or wrong, (as many politicians
And proud usurpers doe not) what should let me
From adding this large kingdome to my owne,
Stretching my Empire to the mouth of Nile;
But iustice sets downe limits to my thoughts,
Boundes my ambition in, so that I dare not
Advance one foote beyond it, sacred goddesse,
Divine Astrea, though all kings rebell
And pay no reverence to thy deitie,
Hydaspes shall adore thee, and his might
shall never be more potent then his right.

Exit.

Scena secunda.

Enter the Persian magistrates as judges with Arsace, then enters Caricles with Aura bound, they sit.
1 Magist.
Is this faire maid the prisoner?

Arsa.
Faire without, but foule within.

2 Magist.
Tis pitty vice should beare
A semblance of faire vertue, or be mask'd
Under so sweet a vaile,
Sure by her lookes

3 Magist.
I should not judge her guiltie.

Arsa.
That's a rule
Deceives us, for the choicest fruites of all
Ofttimes have rotten cores, and underneath
The fairest flowers lurke most the foulest snakes.
That cannot hold,
Bring forth the prisoners;
You are accus'd for poysoning Cibile,
How doe you answer this?

Caric.
Who's my accuser?

Arsa.
My selfe, and these my servants, who were present
When the old woman dy'd, and heard her name
Thee, and that other guilty of her death;
Canst thou deny the fact?

Caric.
Ile answer thee
Proud dame, if my Theagines live yet,
I say, I am not guilty of this murther,
But if by thy most damnable attempts
His purer soule hath left the earthly prison
Of his faire body, I declare my selfe
Guilty of this and whatsoever else
Thy malice can invent, I was the woman
That poison'd then thy nurse, who train'd thee up
To all those goodly vertues of thy mind;
I doe desire to suffer, kill me straight
That I may meet my lover, who so stoutly
Resisted thy foule lust, and lewd enticements,
Choosing to die rather then condescend.

Arsa.
Base queane, how durst thou take unto thy selfe
Such liberty of speech? judicious sirs,
And magistrates of Persia, understand
That this she saith is false touching my honour;
I take the gods to witnesse that when first
This woman and her friend came to the Palace,
I entertain'd them as became the state
Of greater persons, and so long continued
My favours to them till by open proofe
I found they came as spies to Memphis sent
From King Hydaspes army, then indeed
I did begin to draw backe my affection,
Many more things inciting me to doe it
Which I forbeare to speake of, but in briefe
Although I lov'd this maid so as to make her
My bosom-friend, and my most deare companion,
She hath repaid me as you see, and poison'd
My trusty woman, is't not to be doubted
Her purpose stretch'd yet further, even to me?

Caric.
I doe confesse yet once againe, I poison'd
Thy nurse, and would have done so much to thee
Had I not beene prevented.

Aura.
O Cariclea,
Unhappy maid, why dost thou wrongfully
Accuse thy selfe, and draw on death upon thee?
Heare me right grave and most impartiall Judges,
There is no fault in her, I onely, I
Gave Cibile the poison by mistake,
Which was prepared for this vertuous mayd
By that old beldame, this is true, or else
Ye gods hurle downe your thunder on my head.

2 Magi.
But how came this mistake? make it more plaine.

Aura.
Old Cibile my mistris did prepare
This cup for faire Cariclea, I was forc'd
To have a hand in't too; when I should give
The poison'd cup unto Cariclea,
And Cibile the other, I know not
Whither being troubled with so strange a deed
Or hastily cal'd on by Cibile,
I chang'd the cups, and poison'd the old woman.

Arsa.
This is a forg'd devise, believe it not,
This woman is a traitor, and conspires
With them in all their plots, as privie to them.

3.
If she that cals herselfe Cariclea,
Be guiltlesse of this businesse, what should make her
To cast herselfe into the jawes of death
By her so free confession of the fact?

Aura.
Sir I believe she's weary of her life,
And being in desperation e're to see
Much lesse t'enjoy her husband, without whom
Life seemes a burthen, hastens on her death.

1.
Madame you must produce some witnesses,
Or we shall cleere the prisoners.

Arsa.
Here are five
Will be depos'd they heard Cibile charge
These two here with her death.

2.
What say you friends.
Dare you sweare this?

All 5.
We dare and will, by Isis,
And all the gods tis so.

3.
Then we must passe
Sentence according to the law, which most
Depends on witnesses, your doome is death,
Carry these two forthwith unto the fire,

Caric.
O sunne, and earth, and all you blessed creatures
That are above or underneath this round
Terrestriall ball, you that doe take revenge
On such as worke impiety, beare witnesse
I die an innocent, and willingly
Submit my selfe to death, for to avoyd
Th'intollerable griefes that burthen me;
Vouchsafe to take me gently to your hands,
And speedily inflict your punishments
Upon this whore Arsace, who hath plotted
This mischiefe to no other end and purpose
But to take from me my Theagines.

Exeunt.

Scena tertia.

Enter Caricles solus, Nebulo listning.
Caric.
Cariclea rap'd, O gods how can it be;
Where is your justice then? where our reward
For serving at your altars, when you suffer
Your sacred temples to be rob'd and spoyld
Of its chiefe jewell, and my life, Cariclea?
O sacriledge unheard of! can you sleepe
And winke at this? or is your anger to me
Implacable, and therefore to torment
My heart the more, you seeme not to regard it?
Was't not ynough, O cruell powers, to kill
My daughter at her Nuptiall, and my wife
For griefe thereof, but to augment my sorrow
Beyond the bounds of reason, give consent
Unto Caricleas rape, who was my joy,
My onely comfort, heart, yea life and all?
Well I will once more put on pilgrimes weedes.

Nebu.
Ha, what was that? a dreadfull sound me thought
More pilgrimages? stay but listen yet.

Caric.
And goe in quest of thee throughout the world,
First to Thessalia, where that thiefe was borne
That stole thee hence, then unto Memphis City
Where Calasiris that false priest remaines.

Nebu.
I am confirm'd in horror, tis too true
He'll travell once againe, but soft attend.

Caric.
And if I finde thee not, ile travell further,
Even to the utmost bounds of Æthiopia,
Where I suppose thy parents live and raigne.

Nebu.
To Æthiopia, what strange land is that
(I marvell) oh, oh now I doe remember
Sysimethres was borne there as he said;
Nebulo discovers himselfe.
We shall be blacke as divels if we goe there.

Caric.
What Nebulo, my trusty friend and servant,
Prepare thy selfe to accompany thy master.

Nebu.
Where sir, unto the temple of Apollo?

Caric.
Beyond the seas I meane.

Nebu.
Beyond the seas;
He's mad I thinke, or hath some worse disease.

aside.
Caric.
I heare you sir, it seemes your growne a Poet
You rime so well.

Nebu.
I care not who doth know it.

Caric.
Raptures still flow upon thee more and more,

Nebu.
But this bad newes of yours doth vex me sore,
That you will crosse the seas, the bare conceit,
Will keepe me seven daies without taste of meat.

Caric.
Why that is profitable, saves thy purse.

Nebu.
But hurts my body sir, and that is worse.

Caric.
Why th'art a second Ovid, all he saies
Doth flow in verse.

Nebu.
Then I shall weare the Bayes.

Caric.

But Nebulo no more of this, you are content to accompany
me this journey, are you not?

Nebu.

Good sir, do not urge me to it; you know how willing
I should be to wait upon ye, did not one thing crosse it.

Caric.

What's that thy wife?

Nebu.

You have hit the marke, tis dangerous (I can tell
yee) for me to goe abroad and leave her at home, I had woefull
experience on't after our last peregrination.

Caric.

What did she make thee a cuckould in thy absence?

Neb.

I know not, but she dub'd me knight of the forked order.

Caric.

Why that honour is for terme of thy Life man; thy
staying at home cannot take it away, nor thy going abroad
adde unto it.

Nebu.

No, doe they not rise by degrees? I suppose yes, as
in this manner, from Knight to Lord, from Lord to Earle,
from Earle to Duke of the forked order, and so forward: but
my ambition is not to climbe so high, therefore i'le stay at
home and prevent that promotion.

Caric.

fie, prevent thy honour?

Nebu.

My Nebulona will heape ynough such honours on
my head, If I follow your counsell, but I tell you againe I am
not ambitious so to be promoted, yet notwithstanding, so well
I love you, that rather then you shall goe alone, i'le once more
adventure my fortune.

Caric.

Spoken like a right honest man, come let's away then
withall expedition.

Delphos and Greece farewell, your priests hard fate
Denyes him still t'enjoy a setled state.

Exeunt.

Scena quarta.

Enter Theagines, Cariclea, and Aura.
Theag.
And hast thou scap'd the fire my deerest love?
Miraculous deliverance! let me heare
The manner on't related.

Caric.
Thus it was,
After we were condemned to be burnt
By foule Arsaces slanderous report
For poisoning Cibile, a blazing fire
Was made, and we two cast into the same,
And whereas it was thought by everie one
The fiercenesse of the flame would soone consume us,
It prov'd cleane contrarie, for we stood in
The middst of it untouch'd, for everie side
It gave us way, and never sing'd our cloaths,
Although Arsace with a threatning voice
Commanded the tormentors to lay on
More wood and reed, yet all prevailed not,
For no hurt would approach us, which the whore
Arsace seeing, presently declar'd
Before the people with an open voice
That we were witches; though good Calasiris
Did what he could to free us from her hands,
We by her guard were apprehended, and
Brought here againe to thee my deare, for which
I'm glad that we may suffer both together.

Theag.
I have not heard a stranger miracle,
This doth proceed from favour of the gods,
And their unbounded justice.

Caric.
It should seeme so,
But still to be tost on the angry seas
Of rigid fortune and ne're see an end
Of our sad miseries, should rather argue
Their hate and fierce displeasure, if there be not
Some secret and more hidden mystery,
We mortals understand not, which restores us,
After our sufferings when all hope is fled,
Unto a happier state and peacefull being.

Theag.
Oh sweet, let not the sence of misery,
Make you offend the gods thus, but be patient.

Caric.

Theag.

Caric.
That Oracle hath but a sad construction,
Which thus I dare interpret, Æthiopia
Is meant that land that is beneath the ground,
That with the maid is meant with Proserpine,
And the escaping of Arsaces band
Doth signifie the soule and bodies parting.

Theag.
Still how you erre! calamity hath made you
Forget your selfe, and alwaies doubt the worst,
Turning all things to a sinister sense,
The Oracle is plaine, you are the maid
The gods do point at, whom I shall convey
Out of Arsaces power into your Land
Of Æthiopia, but how this shall be
Effected, unto us doth not appeare,
Yet it is credible the gods can doe it;
We must leave that unto their secret workings.
Now what your verse should meane I cannot ghesse,
Which doth containe so many contrarieties,
For Pantarbe, in its true signification,
Is taken for all fearefull, yet it would not
Have you to feare the fire.

Caric.
I doe believe
This ring preserv'd us both from force of fire,
Wherein is set a pretious stone calld Pantarbe,
And round about some holy letters written;
My Fascia, if you doe remember well,
Did mention such a one among my jewels;
And to be briefe, I thinke that stone containes
Some heavenly vertue which withstandeth fire.

Theag.
But then, how was't that Aura perish'd not?
She had no Pantarbe to defend her.

Caric.
No
But I still held her alwaies in my hand
Whereon my ring was.

Theag.
This is probable;
But now what other Pantarbe have we left
To shun the next daies danger, for Arsace
Will not end here, but practise still new mischiefe.

Aura.
Despaire not, but rely upon the promise
The gods made you last night.

Caric.
Distressed Aura,
What wilt thou doe?

Aur.
Run on, in the same fortune
That you doe, be it life or be it death.

With that enters an Officer from the Campe of Oroondates, to fetch Theagenes and Cariclea.
Officer.
Be not afraid, I come not to destroy you
As you suppose, but to deliver you
From hence; my Lord and Generall Oroondates
Hath sent me hither from the campe, to bring you
Unto him, for the fame of your rare beauty
And vertue in resisting his wifes lewdnesse,
Hath wrought so much upon his disposition
As he desires your presence, come with me,
Delay breeds danger, I have fifty horse
Shall safe convoy us to the camp, the way
Is cleere.

Theag.
Lead on then, we are bound to obey.

Exeunt.

Scena quinta.

Enter Arsace sola.
Arsa.
Ye sterne Eumenides, and direfull powers
Of the infernall kingdomes, muster all
Your troops together by a generall summon,
For I doe cite you to the court of hell,
My grievances beget this invocation;
Have I so long serv'd you, and bent my thoughts
To your low centre? have my actions beene
As lewd as you would wish them, and as blacke
As you your selves, and could you suffer me
To faile in this atchievement of my lust?
So much your instigation? is this justice?
Justice that is a word not knowne in hell;
Is this injustice? no, then are you rebels
To your owne lawes, I doe insist on this:
What other doctrine preach your ministers
But foule injustice, rapes, impieties,
Adulteries, murthers, slaunders, ignominies,
False accusations and the like, all which
My life hath practis'd? yet ye punish me
With justice ne're till now heard in your courts:
You thought it just Cariclea should escape
The poison'd cup, and afterward the fire,
You thought it just Theagines and she
Should scape my hands, and Oroondates know
All my proceedings; cursed fates of mine!
Wretched Arsace, wilt thou live and feele
Thy punishment augmented by thy shame?
Shall the lawes triumph o're Arsaces will?
Or Oroondates say he was reveng'd
Upon the high and royall blood of Persia
For wrong I did him? no, since I have fail'd
In my desire, these fates I will withstand,
And die by none but by this Persian hand.

She fals upon a sword, and kils her selfe.
Scena ultima.
Enter Hydaspes, Persina his Queene, Sysimethres with attendance.
Hydasp.
Persina welcome to our campe, how durst
Our fairest Queene adventure forth to see
The angry face of Mars? this is no object
For Ladies eyes, dame Uenus sport's more proper.

Pers.
Where you are sir, there is my object fixt,
Whether at home or here, all's one to me,
Besides, where Mars is, there will Venus be.

Hydasp.
This was a favour we expected not;
I must imbrace thee; O Sysimethres,
What is there wanting in the curious modell
Of this rare Architecture, built by nature,
That mortall or immortall eye can see
To adde more beautie to it then it hath?
Nothing, I know you'll grant it, then what pitty
Thinke you it is, so beautifull a frame
And building should containe within it's wombe
No living creature, no inhabitant
That might support it's ruines, but stand rather
For prospect then for benefit?

Pers.
this pointes
At my unfruitfull wombe.

aside.
Sysim.
I graunt it sir,
But if the gods have order'd that this house
So statelie built by them, this temple rather
Shall be reserv'd for their immortall uses,
And have forbid that any mortall seed
Shall dwell therein: it argueth in you
Sinne and impietie so to repine
At their decrees and secret operations.

Enter a gentleman attendant.
Gent.
Sir the fore-riders of your royall army
Have tane two prisoners the most beautifull'st
That ere were seene, a young man and a maid,
They waite without attending what's your pleasure.

Hydasp.
Let them be brought forthwith into our presence,
They may be found a fitting sacrifice
And an oblation to be offered
Unto our gods for this our victorie,
Being the first fruites of the warres.
Enter Theagines, Cariclea, Aura and Bogoas the officer of Oroondates lead in prisoners.
Yee gods
The king raiseth himselfe from his throne, And sits downe againe in a studie.
Be mercifull unto me!

Sysim.
What doth aile
Your royall majestie, that you remayne
In such a studious meditation?

Hydasp.
I had a dreame last night Sysimethres,
That did present unto my fantasie
A beautious virgin, such as is this maid
Telling me that she was my naturall daughter:
But whence are you, and of what countrey borne?

Theag.
Great King, I am her brother, she my sister,
Both borne in Greece.

Hydas.
O noble Greece, that still
Producest what is good, and at this time
Hast given us such faire offerings to present
Unto our gods; but O thou beautious maid,
Why dost thou hold thy peace, and answerest not
Unto my question?

Caric.
At the sacred altars
Of the immortall gods (to whom we are
Reserv'd for sacrifices) you shall know
Me and my parents.

Pers.
O sir, what a mayd
Have you appointed to be sacrific'd?
Ne're have mine eyes beheld a fairer creature;
With what a stout and an undaunted courage
Beares she her fortune? I am mov'd with pity
At her so flowring age, O had my daughter
I bare unto you liv'd, she would have beene
Almost as old as she, I doe beseech you
Spare her, and let her serve me at my table,
For I am prompted strangely by my Genius
Unto commiseration.

Hydas.
So am I,
Beyond imagination, but you know
The Law requires the first fruits of the warre
Should be the gods oblation, to the Sunne
Therefore we'll offer him, she to the Moone,
The gods must be obey'd, the lawes fulfil'd.

They all offer to rise, Cariclea fals at the feet of Sysimethres.
Caric.
Wise, grave, and learned sir, be pleas'd to stay
A little longer, for I have a cause
Of consequence to plead before the King
And Queene Persina, which concernes them too
As well as me, this matter doth require
A speedy judgment, and I heare that you
Give sentence on such noble personager;
Therefore judge you this plea of life and death,
And know it is not just to offer me
Unto the gods.

Sysim.
Vouchsafe to heare, most gracious Soveraigne,
This strange appeale, and what this maid requireth.

Hydasp.
What judgement may this be? or what have I
To doe with her? by what meanes should I come
Into her danger?

Sysim.
Please you to attend,
She will declare it.

Hydas.
But take heed that this
You doe, be no true judgment, but plaine wrong,
If I that am a King must stand to plead
My cause with any prisoner whatsoever.

Sysim.
Justice and equity ner'e lookes into
The person, but the cause, and he speeds best
That brings best reasons.

Hydasp.
But the Law permits
You onely to determine controversies
Betweene the King and subjects, not with strangers.

Sysim.
Wise and discreet men doe not measure things
By the appearance but by equity.

Hydasp.
Well let her speake, since good Sysimethres
Will have it so, but it is manifest,
She will say nothing to the purpose, but
Some forg'd devise to shun the stroke of death.

Caric.
O Sunne, thou founder of my ancestros
High pedegree, and all ye other gods.
Ye noble men that here are met together
Assist me in this place, and be a witnesse
That what I say is true, and by firme proofes
It shall appeare: doe you command, O King,
Strangers or your owne subjects to be offer'd?

Hydasp.
Strangers.

Caric.
Then it is fit and necessary,
You seeke out such, I am no stranger borne,
But of this countrey, and your subject too.

Hydasp.
Thou liest.

Caric.
You seeme to wonder at small things,
But there are greater undiscover'd yet,
I am not onely of this Country borne,
But of the royall blood.

Hydasp.
This woman's mad,
Away I'le heare no more such lunacie.

Hydaspes turnes from her in anger.
Caric.
My royall father, I beseech you know
Your onelie daughter and despise her not.

Hydasp.
Sysimethres and grave Gymnosophists,
How long shall she abuse my patience?
This mayd's distracted, and the feare of death
Makes her speake any thing how false soever,
How bould and impudent; I know I had
Sometimes a daughter, but she dy'd assoone
As she was borne, this is a false impostor,
Wherefore away with her, and let's delay
The sacrifice no longer.

Caric.
none shall dare
To take me hence, unlesse the judges please
So to command, for you are not to judge
In your owne cause although a King, but must
Be subject to the law aswell as others
Which priviledgeth you perchance to kill
Strangers, but neither this law, nor the law
Of nature doth allow you to destroy
Your naturall children, for the gods to day
Shall by a strange discoverie make you know
I am your daughter, though you now disclaime me.
All controversies in the law depend
One these two pointes especiallie, that is
Firme proofe by writings, and sure confirmation
By witnesses, both which I can produce
To prove I am your child, my witnesse shall not
Be common neither, but the judge himselfe,
And heer's a writing shall declare both mine
And your estate.

She gives the Fascia to the Queene, she knowes it and is amazed.
Hydasp.
What meaneth this Persina, that thy blood
Thus comes and goes, and that thy countenance
Weares such an alteration? is there ought
Contayned in this writing troubleth thee?

Pers.
O King, my Lord and husband, I have nothing
To say unto it; but take heed, and read it
Your selfe, the same shall teach you well and truelie.

Hydaspes reads it to the end, then gives it to Sysimet: and the rest.
Hydasp.
Persina doe you owne this character
As your owne hand, and know the birth to be
Legitimate and true?

Pers.
By Sunne and Moone I sweare it.

Hydasp.
Although you tould me that my daughter dy'd,
I yet believe she was exposed forth
As heere is mention'd but who was the man
That tooke her up and carryed her to Ægypt,
How shall I know that he was taken with her,
Or this is she, or whether the exposed
Be dead or no, besides whether some man
When he hap'd to finde this might his good luck
Abuse, and make her play this famed part,
Mocking the great desire we have of issue
By the suborning of some changelinge and
Colouring the truth with this devised Fascia.
All these doubts must be cleer'd ere I believe.

Sysim.
I can resolve you in the first, for I
Was he that tooke her up, and carried her
With me to Ægypt, when you sent me thither
Embassadour (you know we may not lye
Who are Gymnosophists) I know this Fascia,
Written with Æthiopias royall letters.
Therefore you need not doubt that it is forg'd.
Besides tis signed with Persinas hand;
But there are other tokens that I gave
To him that did receive you at my hands
Can you produce them?

Caric.
Yes, loe heere they are

She showes Sisimet: and the queene her jewels.
Hydasp.
What are they? doe you know them?

Pers.
Yes with wonder.

Caric.
These jewells were my mothers, but this ringe
Was yours, I thinke you know the Pantarbe well.

Hydasp.
I doe and all the rest, but whether you
Came by them as my daughter, that I know not,
You might have got them by some other meanes,
For to omit all other needles questions,
Your colour's strange and the like never seene
In Æthiopia.

Sysim.
She was also white
That I brought up, and with this virgins age
Doth correspond the terme of yeeres when she
Was forth exposed being seuenteene yeeres,
So old seemes this faire mayd.

Hydasp.
Sysimethres
In my opinion you have show'd your selfe
An advocate in this cause, not a judge,
Beware least while you strive to cleere this doubt,
I may suspect Persina hath beene false,
For how ist possible that such a thing
Sould be in nature, we two being black
To have an issue white? this is against
All humane sence, and reason naturall.

Sysim.
The Fascia tells you how this came to passe,
Persina in the act of generation
Contemplatively eying the faire picture
Of beautifull Andromeda, and firing
A strong imagination thereupon,
Conceived in her wombe the very figure
Of Perseus Mistris when she was bound fast
Unto the rocke, and he redeem'd her thence,
For proofe let that same picture be presented,
And then compare them, you shall finde the substance
And shadow nothing different but in life.

Enter a Gentleman attendant.
Gent.
Sir there's a strange priest newlie come from Greece
Desires he may be heard touching this matter,
Who can informe you of the truth of thinges.

Hydasp.
admit him streight.
Enter Caricles with the gentleman.
Grave Sir can you declare
Ought of this matter, doe you know this mayd
And that young man?

Caric.
I know them both great King;
That maid which shall be found to be your daughter
I nourish'd from a child; one of this countrey
Gave her to me in Ægypt, and with her
Rich costlie jewells, and a Fascia,
Wherein was written her high pedegree;
With her I went to Greece my native countrey,
And being priest unto Apollo there,
When I was busie in the rites and customes
Belonging to my office, This Thessalian,
Who vaunts himselfe borne of Achilles line,
Stole her from Delphos, and I understand
Pass'd many daungers with her; I forgive him
And crave you would be pleas'd to doe so too;
For since the gods by diverse signes and tokens
Have unto us reveild their sacred willes,
And made it plaine by strange discoveries,
Strive not to crosse their workings.

Cariclea fals at Caricles feete.
Caric.
O my Father,
As deare unto me as those that begat me,
Take what revenge you please, lo here I stand
T'abide your sentence.

Caric.
O how largely am I
Embraceth her and weepes for joy.
Rewarded for my travell! tis ynough.
I have beheld thy face yet once againe.

Sysim.
What Caricles, doe you not know your friend?
Have you forgot the Æthiopian Legat?

salutes him.
Caric.
No, no, I have not good Sysimethres,
But doe congratulate our happy meeting.

Hydasp.
We have heard and seene ynough, I'm yet unmov'd;
Bring in the picture of Andromeda.

Enter the picture of Andromeda, the King for joy and admiration could not speake, the people give a great shout.
Sysim.
One point is wanting yet, strip up your sleeve
Faire maid, there was a blacke spot 'boue your elbow.
It is no shame to shew a naked arme
Before your parents for to prove your birth.

She showes there a mole, the Queene runs and embraceth her.
Hydasp.
You strive to wash me white an Æthiopian
In hindering this sacrifice, you shall
Doe one aswell as tother, for although
I now believe she is my naturall daughter
Sprung from my loynes (as I have seene it prov'd
By many arguments) yet I so much
Feare justice and the gods, and owe such love
Unto my country, as i'le lay aside
All naturall respects, and all regard
To the succession of my blood, and offer
My daughter to the gods for your behoofe,
(As Agamemnon did his Iphigene)
Regarding more the publique benefit
Then my owne private profit and respect.

All the people.
Save the blood-royall, save her whom the gods
Will have preserv'd, appease the Sunne and Moone
With a more lawfull sacrifice.

Hydasp.
Well since
You'l have it so, though loath I am content;
And now I turne to thee my daughter deere
With armefuls of my love; but what is he
That was tane with thee, whom you cal'd your brother?
I trow he shall not too be prov'd my sonne.

Caric.
In that sir pardon me, I did abuse you,
He's not my brother, but necessity
Compell'd me to dissemble, what he is
Himselfe can boldly tell you.

Hydasp.
Whatsoe're
He be, he's destin'd to be sacrificed,
Some women too must beare him company.
This mayd that waites on you shall serve the turn.

Caric.
If he be sacrific'd, Ile be that woman,
Death must not part us two.

Hydasp.
The gods forbid,
Why say you so?

Caric.
Because tis fore-decreed
I must both live and die with that yong man.

Hydas.
I praise your courtesie and gentle nature
Unto this Grecian stranger, who hath beene
Companion of your journey, but we cannot
Breake so the custome of our Country, as
To save his life.

Caric.
Then I must perish with him,
For know, O king, (perchance I may not dare
To call you father) it is cruelty
To spare my body, and destroy my heart,
He is my heart, my love, my life, and all,
My husband by the destinies appointed,
And it is sinne t'oppose the gods decrees.

Hydas.
What will you counsell me to doe herein,
Sysimethres and thou most reverend Priest,
I will be guided by your wisdomes wholly
In this affaire,

Sysim.
Through the exercise of joy
The wisest men, oft-times we see are blinded.
For at the first, great King you might perceive
The gods lik'd not this sacrifice which was
Ordained, who have every way declar'd
Cariclea your daughter, and brought hither
Out of the midst of Greece this reverend man,
Who brought her up, to fortifie your faith.
Moreover it is plaine by many signes
And secret revelations that the gods
Have fore-decreed this couple man and wife,
And to that end have freed them from so many
And imminent dangers, therefore let us suffer
These divine miracles to sinke into
Our understandings, and from this time forward
Doe sacrifices more acceptable
Unto the gods, who are not pleased with
Humane oblations, but the blood of beasts.

Hydas.
Since things are thus appointed by the will
And pleasure of the gods, since this faire couple
Have beene preserv'd by fate from many dangers
By Land and Sea, and as should seeme reserv'd
For Hymens instigation, ile no longer
Resist the will of heaven, heavens send you joy,
puts their hands together.
And a most plenteous off-spring to succeed you,
This is our firme decree, which we'll confirme
By sacrifice, and worshipping the gods.
O Sunne and Moone, whose sacred deities
We most adore, since it is falne out thus
By your decrees, that young Theagines
And faire Cariclea are made man and wife,
Accept their offerings, and vouchsafe to take them
Into the order of your holy Priesthood.
Theagines, I doe resigne unto thee
My office, be thou Priest unto the Sunne,
Weare this white Miter.

Takes his Miter and puts it on Theagines his head.
Pers.
And Cariclea thou
Weare this of mine, which consecrateth thee
Priest of the Moone, adore her Deity.

Caric.
Now is the god Apollos Oracle
Of Delphos verified, which said of them
That leaving Greece, and sailing surging streames
They should arrive at Countries 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 should obtaine.

Exeunt omnes.