[44] ----_I'll tell you a_ short tale, &c.] I once thought that I had read this _short tale_ in Arnobius, from whom, and from Augustin, much of the preceding speech is taken; but, upon looking him over again, I can scarcely find a trace of it. Herodotus has, indeed, a story of a king of Egypt (Amasis), which bears a distant resemblance to it; but the application is altogether different:--there is a _bason of gold_ in which he and his guests were accustomed to spit, _wash their feet_, &c. which is formed _into a god_; but whether this furnished the poet with any hints I cannot undertake to say.--GIFFORD. SCENE II. _The_ GOVERNOR'S _Palace_. _Enter_ ARTEMIA, SAPRITIUS, THEOPHILUS, _and_ HARPAX. _Artem._ Sapritius, though your son deserve no pity, We grieve his sickness: his contempt of us We cast behind us, and look back upon His service done to Cæsar, that weighs down Our just displeasure. If his malady Have growth from his restraint, or that you think His liberty can cure him, let him have it: Say, we forgive him freely. _Sap._ Your grace binds us Ever your humblest vassals. _Artem._ Use all means For his recovery; though yet I love him, I will not force affection. If the Christian, Whose beauty hath out-rivall'd me, be won To be of our belief, then let him wed her; That all may know, when the cause wills, I can Command my own affections. _Theoph._ Be happy then, My lord Sapritius: I am confident, Such eloquence and sweet persuasion dwell Upon my daughters' tongues, that they will work her To any thing they please. _Sap._ I wish they may! Yet 'tis no easy task to undertake, To alter a perverse and obstinate woman. [_A shout within: loud music._ _Artem._ What means this shout? _Sap._ It is seconded with music, Triumphant music.--Ha! _Enter_ SEMPRONIUS. _Semp._ My lord, your daughters, The pillars of our faith[45], having converted, For so report gives out, the Christian lady, The image of great Jupiter born before them, Sue for access. _Theoph._ My soul divined as much. Blest be the time when first they saw this light! Their mother, when she bore them to support My feeble age, fill'd not my longing heart With so much joy, as they in this good work Have thrown upon me. _Enter priest with the Image of Jupiter, incense and censers: followed by_ CALISTA _and_ CHRISTETA, _leading_ DOROTHEA. Welcome, oh, thrice welcome, Daughters, both of my body and my mind! Let me embrace in you my bliss, my comfort; And, Dorothea, now more welcome too, Than if you never had fallen off! I am ravish'd With the excess of joy:--speak, happy daughters, The blest event. _Cal._ We never gain'd so much By any undertaking. _Theoph._ O my dear girl, Our gods reward thee! _Dor._ Nor was ever time, On my part, better spent.