Cynthia. 
What strange news!

Nisida. 
                    There ’s not a beauty
But for victory will endeavour
When among Rome’s fairest daughters
Such a prize shall be contested.

Cynthia. 
Thus by showing us the value
Thou upon the victory settest,
We may understand that thou
Meanest in the lists to enter.

Nisida. 
Yes, so far as heaven through music
Its most magic cures effecteth,
Since no witchcraft is so potent
But sweet music may dispel it. 
It doth tame the raging wild beast,
Lulls to sleep the poisonous serpent,
And makes evil genii, who
Are revolted spirits—­rebels—­
Fly in fear, and in this art
I have always been most perfect: 
Wrongly would I act to-day,
In not striving for the splendid
Prize which will be mine, when I
See myself the loved and wedded
Wife of the great senator’s son,
And the mistress of such treasures.

Cynthia. 
Although music is an art
Which so many arts excelleth,
Still in truth ’t is but a sound
Which the wanton air disperses. 
It the sweet child of the air
In the air itself must perish. 
I, who in my studious reading
Have such learn`ed lore collected,
Who in poetry, that art
Which both teacheth and diverteth,
May precedence claim o’er many
Geniuses so prized at present,
Can a surer victory hope for
In the great fight that impendeth,
Since the music of the soul
Is what keeps the mind suspended. 
In one item, Nisida,
We two differ:  thy incentive
Thy chief motive, is but interest: 
Mine is vanity, a determined
Will no other woman shall
Triumph o’er me in this effort,
Since I wish that Rome should see
That the glory, the perfection
Of a woman is her mind,
All her other charms excelling.

Daria. 
Interest and vanity
Are the two things, as you tell me,
That, O Cynthia! can oblige thee,
That, O Nisida, can compel thee
To attempt this undertaking
By so many risks attended. 
But I think you both are wrong,
Since in this case, having heard that
The affliction this man suffers
Christian sorcery hath effected
Through abhorrence of our gods,
By that atheist sect detested,
Neither of these feelings should
Be your motive to attempt it. 
I then, who, for this time only
Will believe these waves that tell me—­
These bright fountains—­that the beauty
Which so oft they have reflected
Is unequalled, mean to lay it
As an offering in the temple
Of the gods, to show what little
Strength in Christian sorcery dwelleth.

Nisida. 
Then ’t is openly admitted
That we three the list will enter
For the prize.

Cynthia. 
                And from this moment
That the rivalry commences.

Nisida. 
Voice of song, thy sweet enchantment
On this great occasion lend me,
That through thy soft influence
Rank and riches I may merit. [Exit.