take it at my hands Bestow a richer gift to which compar'd These are but drosse and rubbish Caric. Ha ha ha Sysim. Why laugh you Sir Caric. Is 't not a matter which Deserveth laughter when you promise things Of such a prise and yet assure me more You cannot meane uprightly Sysim. Trust me but sweare That you will use this gift as I shall teach you And I 'll performe my promise of the other Nebul. Accept it Sir if you be wise 't is not good nor religious to refuse any mans courtesie Caric. You tempt me shrewdly Sir Sysim. Let me prevaile And bind me still your servant Caric. You have won me To what you would Sysim. Then take an oath and sweare To follow my directions so confirme it Caric. By great Apollo then whose Minister I was at Delphos I shall not digresse From what you shall instruct me touching this Sysim. It is sufficient and I build upon Your faith your trust and your religion Here fellow take this bag and keepe it for Your honoured Master Nebul. But more honoured bag Would I might keepe thee for my selfe I then Should make an Idoll of thee aside Caric. What 's your pleasure That I should doe in lieu of this reward Sysim. I cannot now acquaint you for some reasons Best knowne unto my selfe give me your hand To meet me without faile tomorow morning At Isis Temple thence I shall conduct you Unto my lodging and in secret tell The summe of my request Carie. I shall not faile you Sysim. Adieu untill we meet Exit Sysimethres Caric. Apollo keepe thee In his safe custodie I marvell much Whence this unlook'd for kindnesse should proceed I 'll see the issue on 't what e'r betide me It may be that the gods have pre-ordain'd I shall once more be happy and in lieu Of all my passed sorrowes reape the fruit Of long expected comfort sure my mind Is much illuminated with the thought Of some good fortune and refresh'd as if The spirit of Pitho were infus'd into me By heavenly inspiration I 'll obey My Genius for oftentimes the gods by signes Will have that mortalls understand their mindes Exit Actus primi Scena secunda Enter Demeneta and young Cnemon her sonne in Law Demen. MY pretty boy how dost thou where hast thou beene so long absent from my imbraces come hither let mee solace my selfe a little with thee let mee kisse thee my sweet heart my heire my owne life Cnem: Had ever any one a kinder stepmother aside Mother you make too much of mee I am not able to deserve your love in so high a straine my duty cannot countervaile it Demen. How prettily hee speakes I cannot chuse but kisse thee for it Cnem. What a close and hot kisse was that I like not this behaviour would I were delivered hence please you give mee leave to goe about my exercises Dem. What exercises Cnem. My bookes and studies at the Schoole I shall be shent else by my Tutor Dem. Come thou shalt not leave me Cnem. Will you have me prove a truant then Dem. No but a student in a better art hast thou ever read Ovid de arte amandi or Ovids amorous Epistles Cnem. Never Dem. O I would have thee study that booke above all other there are very good rules and worth the observation truly if thou errest in any thing therein written I will be thy Mistresse to instruct thee follow my rudiments good sonne Cnem. But I have heard 't is a ribaldrous booke and corrupteth youth to all wantonnesse Dem. That is but a fantasie a mere untruth it was made by the Poet for youthfull recreation and pastime none but Stoicall old men will invey against them who envie that in others which they cannot enjoy in themselves Cnem. I understand not your Philosophie Dem. Would thou didst and wert well entred in my booke and science but where is thy father and my husband Aristippus Enter Aristippus O my deare husband where have you lingred so long you are too blame indeed to leave me so solitary I must chide you for it truly had you tarried never so little longer I should have died for sorrow Arist. My sweet wife Demeneta I have a jewell of thee thy extreme love to me is confirmed in thy affection to my sonne Cnemon vertuous woman Demen. I love him I must confesse as well as if he were mine owne sonne or better Arist. I know thou dost my love never was a man happier in his choice I thinke Demen. Cnemon sit on my lap pretty boy Cnem. No I know my duty better Demen. I will have it so the very picture of his father Cnem. Pray mother excuse me this is no fit place for me Demen. There is not a prettier or wittier boy in Athens but 't is no wonder that old men beget alwaies the finest children 't is most commonly seene Arist. I know your vertue and therefore will dispute with you a little upon this subject and aske you this question how could you a young woman affect me an old man Demen. How could I not Sir your wisdome stayednesse and understanding were such motives to my affection as I would not change my old man for the youthfull'st cavalere of all Greece I hope for all your age to have a hopefull off-spring from you such another as Cnemon you can doe it i'faith old Aristippus Arist. My girle how thou dost revive my decayed spirits to heare thee talke thus I will straine hard for this but I will answer thy expectation Demen. Thankes sweet husband let me hang upon your necke pretty gravity how well it becomes him who could chuse but love such a man intirely pox upon smooth faces and young lusty gallants there 's more trouble with them a bed when a gentlewoman would sleep and take her rest they are alwaies disturbing of her when by a man of some yeeres and experience we may lie as quiet as we will would all women were of my opinion we should cut the combes then of these lustie gamesters Arist. Indeed young men are very inconstant in their love and changing from one unto another whereas an old man perseveres to the end in his devotions Dem. True true my love your words are oracles Were I now as I seeme how should I wrong Youth beautie nature and rebell against them aside Arist. My dearest love though loth I am inforc'd To leave you for some houres the state of Athens Sent for me to repaire unto the Senate At ten a clocke about affaires of weight 'T is now about the time farewell my sweetest Dem. You shall not goe come come you doe not love me Else could you not be so unkind my deare To kill your loving wife with your departure I doubt I shall not live till your returne Arist. Come prethee leave this off and be assur'd I will not stay two houres Dem. On that assurance I doe dismisse you but if you exceed The time you 're like to find me turn'd a
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 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. T is best you bring him to her and so try The aime of her affection mutuall sight Of lovers kindleth sparkes which else would die Rak'd up in ashes of forgetfulnesse Caric. I le take your counsell Calas. And returne with newes How you have sped Caric. I le 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 Phoebus 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 maide 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 fight 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 T is true your daughter is distract in mind For she is moved wich 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 t is 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. T is 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 Aethiopian and the letters are Not common but such as the princes use Of Aegypt in their holie businesses Calas. I understand the Aethiopian tongue Which unto thee I must interpret wrong Exeunt Finis Actus tertii Actus quarti Scena prima Enter Calasiris Theagines and Cariclea Calas. Come let 's away my children let 's away Why do we linger here the gods commands Must be obeyd all things are ready for Our secret flight a ship for Memphis bound Waites us without the wind comes gently from Th' adjoyning shore and stayes to swell the sailes With pride till you imbarke see here the Fascia Which by a slie devise from Caricles I have obtain'd nothing doth hinder us To meet this long wish'd opportunity If you have got your jewels deerest jewell From your supposed father Caric. Calasiris I have them all but how gat you I pray The Fascia from old Caricles for when He had receiv'd me from Sysimethres Who brought me up he brought me here to Greece I know not how and tooke the Fascia from me Which in a chest he did preserve and keepe Calas. How I came by it you shall know hereafter But can you tell me what it doth containe Caric. How should I as being never told by any Besides although I oftentimes had seene it I could not understand the character Pray sir interpret what it doth containe Cala. It doth declare your parents and your Countrey And all your fortunes thus I read it to you Verbatim as it stands give your attentions The Fascia Persina Queene of the Aethiopians to her daughter onely in sorrow by what name soever she shall be called doth write in haste this lamentation contayned herein as her last gift My daughter the sunne being authour of our stocke is witnesse that for no mis-deed I have cast thee forth and concealed thee from thy father Hydaspes sight
you are in A quiet harbour pleasant calmes appeare Sir I must rob you of your ghests Calas. I durst not Deny you Madame though I must confesse I should to any other Arsa. Cibile Prepare their lodging neere our owne and let No costly furniture be wanting there Cib. It shall be done with speed Arsa. My noble ghests I know not if you would retire alone Into your private chambers travell doth Require repose please you to follow me I le be your glad conductor Caric. O I feare This kindnesse is some love plot on my deare Exeunt Actus quarti Scena tertia Enter Thisbe sola This. What sly evasion to put off thy guilt Is left thee now poore Thisbe what device To shun the severe justice of the Law All will be now discover'd and my plots Returne upon my selfe the heavens are just In sending Cnemon home from banishment To punish me in cheering of himselfe Canst thou behold his face or speake one word In thy defence when he stands forth t' accuse thee Before the people O what shame what curses Breath'd from a generall mouth will weigh thee downe Even to Avernus gulph I feele the weight Of my offences poised in the scale Of sad despaire O thou incendiary Of all this mischiefe saith my guilty thoughts Thou murtheresse of thy mistris hie thee hence To the infernall shades where never light Appeares but gloomy darknesse covers all Under her sable mantle there finde out Medea Clitemnestra Pasiphe Long since condemn'd for murther to this place Companions of thy shame why lingrest thou Upon the earth is not thy sinne compleat And ripe for hell yes yes I know it is I know it is my sad despairing thoughts I le follow your suggestions gentle violl Reserv'd for such a use this kisse from thee Shall crosse the sentence of the Lawes decree She drinks poyson Enter Aristippus and Cnemon Arist. Hold hold thy hand drinke not the poison downe Thou desperate woman This. Not to gaine a crowne T is done and past prevention Arist. Thisbe yet Make thy confession and subscribe thy hand That innocent Cnemon die not This. Write it then Cnemon writes I Thisbe doe confesse yong Cnemon was Unjustly banish'd I and Demeneta Did forge that plot against him for the which We have our condigne punishment Cnem. T is done now put your hand to 't she signes it Dying Thisbe she dies Arist. Sonne t is ynough to cleare thee of all things Can be objected I 'le forthwith declare This matter to the people and produce Thisbes confession strengthned with her hand Come with me Cnemon Cnem. See the wretched state Of false accusers and their poisonous fate Exeunt Actus quarti Scena quarta Enter Theagines and Cariclea to them presentlie Cibile Cibile My children great Arsace recommends Her love unto you who hath seat me here To serve you in all things that you command I 'm proud to be imployed in your service Who am a Grecian too and borne in Lesbos Most beautiful yong man cheere up thy selfe I bring thee joyfull newes Arsace loves thee Arsace she whose favour kings have kneel'd for Doth kneele to thee petitioning thy love With rich oblations both of pearle and gold Caric. O heavens my prophesie is too too true My iealousie foresaw this Theag. Tell Arsace My sister and my selfe both kisse her hands And doe returne her humble thanks for all Her noble fauours but that she doth love me I thinke it strange whose husband is a man So farre beyond my ranke as put in ballance With worthles me it would not brooke the triall We know you are her hands her eyes her eares Her minde her all for countries sake perswade her I doe beseech you to remove her thoughts Upon some worthier person all that we Desire is onely this that she would please To send us backe againe to Calasiris And never bring strange banish'd restlesse lives Unto so high and excellent a fortune Cib. My sonne be rul'd by me be not so foolish To shun this happinesse that courts thee now Imbrace it least hereafter thou repent Thy over-sight thou shalt have rule and riches Dalliance and all the fruits of flourishing youth If thou but condescend unto her will But if thou dost deny know that she hath A high and Princely stomack which nere brooks Affronts of such a nature Theag. Tempt me not But tell your mistris I despise her lust As much as prize her love you shall obligue us Unto you in a bond of love and kindnesse To get us leave from her hence to depart To seeke our fortunes Cib. Obstinate young man That wilt not see thy good Lady perswade Your brother to some reason you may hap To worke upon his nature and prevaile I leave you to your selves Exit Cibile Caric. Theagines This is no honest dealing I perceive Was it for this she sent us from her table Such curious viands and such costly cates Was it for this she did adorne our chambers With stately hangings wrought with sundry colours Which came from Sidon and faire Lidia Was this her wicked end would that we were A hundred leagues from this accursed place Or that we never had beheld her face Exeunt Actus quarti Scena quinta Enter Arsace and Cibile Ars. But will he not be wonne Cib. Not all the art I have can worke him to it Ars. Doe my favours Make no impression in him Cib. Yes of thankes No otherwise he craves leave to depart A signe he doth not like his entertainment Arsa. Thou mak'st my hot blood cold within my vaines As if an ague ceaz'd me how depart Ere he get out my power I am resolv'd T' enjoy him or destroy him Cib. A right course Your wit hath found out mistris my advise Is this that once more you sollicit him By faire intreaty and perswasive meanes To win him that way but if he stand out And stubbornly refuse to grant your suit Let him be ti'd unto cold fare hard lodging And give him up unto your Eunuches hands To be scourg'd and tormented for yong men Regard not when they are intreated faire But when enforced then they stoope and yield Arsa. T is well advis'd but how can I endure To see that body bleed Cib. Madame you are Too pityfull if that an eye-sore be To see him scourg'd you may refraine the sight I know t will mollifie his haughty stomacke To your desire Arsa. First try all meanes before You put this last devise in execution But Cibile what cause or colour have we To hold them prisoners or detaine them here Against their wills Cib. We 'l give it out they came As spies from King Hydaspes army hither To view the strength of Memphis Arsa. Excellent How shall we handle faire Cariclea His beautious sister Cib. Sister I believe Shee is his mistris rather for such dalliance As I have seene betweene them argueth love Of a more fervent nature I have come And found them kissing with such ardency
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 d ee 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 t is 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 t is 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 be sworne 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 t is easie for you if you please To heale her who you say is but bewitch'd For I believe t is 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 Aesculapius Exeunt Actus tertii 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 I le 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 I le 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 Actus tertii 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
As if they faine would have their soules to meet And at their mouths salute Arsa. O strange discovery If this be true hence may proceed the cause Of my repulse and his unkind deniall Sift out this businesse further and observe Their lookes their gestures give an eare unto Their privatest discourse for this concernes My businesse mainely if Cariclea prove A barre to my desires we must remove her Goe presently and know the young mans mind If he will yield yet but if he refuse Let Euphrates the Eunuch punish him With yrons to pull downe his lofty heart So farre I 'm gone pursuing my desire Hell shall not make me now backe to retire Exeunt Actus quarti Scena sexta Enter two Iudges then Aristippus and Cnemon Arist. Although I doe not doubt most learned Judges That your grave judgements would acquit my sonne Without more proofes then by the sequele of This businesse doth appeare yet to the end To make his innocence the more perspicuous Which hath so long striv'd to breake through this cloud Of falshood and deceit I here have brought you Thisbes confession and her hand subscrib'd For confirmation of it please you see What it containes the Iudges read it 1 Iudg. When did she write this Arist. Presently upon Her poisonous draught her conscience prompting her Unto so good an action 2 Iudg. Was 't voluntarily done without constraint Arist. Yes for what force hath power to worke upon The setled resolution of a person Whom death is ready for to seise upon It came free from her the confession was Her owne invention and the hand her owne 1 Iudg. But will you sweare to this Aristip. I will and safely By all the gods t is true else let me be Strucke with their thunder for my perjury 2 Iudg. It is ynough we doe acquit your sonne Long may he live the comfort of your age So now dismisse the people it is done Arist. Thus innocence shines cleerer then the sun Exeunt Actus quarti Scena septima Enter Arsace and Cibile Ars. Now will he bend or breake yeeld or endure More punishment how doe his fetters please him How doth he beare his stripes Cib. With patience And manly fortitude beyond beliefe Takes glory in his sufferings and becomes More unrelenting now then heretofore Ars. What a strange nature hath this savage man Will nothing worke upon it cannot love Perswade him nor the force of punishment Compell him to humanity some Tigresse Or she Wolfe in the forest was his nurse Is there no hope he will relent in time Cib. Our labour 's lost in the attempting it He hath Cariclea still before his eyes Lodgeth her in his heart his mouth express'd it I heard him to exclaime thus deare Cariclea My love my life my heart thy onely name Makes me despise my torments and in thee I 'm comforted what ever fall to me Whereby I 'm confident she is his wife Or secret mistris wherefore if you please Le ts as the proverbe saith cast our last anckor And seeke some meanes to rid her of her life For when he knows she 's dead t is very likely He 'll change his minde when hope of love is gone Arsace Thy counsell pleaseth me and I 'le command This stoppe to be removed presentlie Cibile How will you doe it without course of Law Or orderlie proceeding who will doe In this pointe your commandment for although All things are subject to you yet the laws Are free and will not let you kill without The judgment of the Persian magistrates Besides we should be carefull how we did Accuse the maid least we should not be able To proue what we doe lay unto her charge Ars. How then shall we contrive it Cib. Daintily By a more sure and farre more safe a way By a strong subtle cuppe of deadlie poison The plot is layd alreadie and the potion Prepar'd I stay but onely for the patient T' administer it Ars. Is any gone to call her Cib. Yes Aura madame Ars. Well I 'le leave you then Strong physick 's best for stubborn natur'd men Exit Arsace Enter Cariclea with Aura weeping and servants Cib. Why doe you weep sweet heart 't will mar your beauty Your brother shall not long be kept in prison Be not so foolish to consume and pine Away for sorrow know Theagines This night shall be releas'd and come unto thee Therefore be merry 't was his foolish fault And disobedience to my mistris service Made him to be committed nicety Is naught in yong folkes but all is forgotten Partly at my request and liberty Granted unto him this was the occasion I sent for you that you might be partaker Of this glad newes therefore rouse up your selfe And now at length eate something Aura lay The table I have made some meate I hope Will comfort your weake stomacke sure you are Too blame to fast so long Caric. But is this true That you have told me you so often have Deceiv'd me with untruths as I scarce dare To credit any thing you say unto me Cib. By all the gods t is true which if it be not Let me be poison'd at this table heere And be a sad example more this day Your busines all shall be dispatch'd so that You shall not need to take more care heereafter If by refrayning from your meate you doe not Destroy your health and die pray eate a little Caric. On confidence that this is true I will they sit downe and eate Cib. Aura give me some wine Cariclea health Remember good Theagines Aura mistaks and gives the poison'd cupp to Cibile she drinks but powres halfe of it on the ground when she tasted what it was looking cruellie upon Aura the poison suddenlie workes and she begins to fall Cariclea supportes her Cib. I will not have thy helpe false wretch I will not th' ast poison'd me beare witnesse all heere present That see me die I lay my death on none But her and this queane Aura so informe Arsace that she may revenge my death she dies Caric. See heere the iustice of the heavens displaid To mortall view in this strange accident This cup this poisonous cup was meant to me By wicked Cibile but yet it fell By some mistake to her owne lot to drinke it Arsaces servants binde Cariclea and Aura What doe you meane to binde me a weake maid I 'le goe without constraint where you will lead me If 't be before Arsace though I die I care not so Theagenes be by Exeunt 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 Philae 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