who first were born here and bred up Still in her sight wouldst never look upon Amynt O Nerea I am not blind Ner. But at the least thou' rt purblind so is he And lookes on all a squint that can behold So rich a beauty and yet knows not how Or which way to conveigh it to his heart For thee Amyntas O against thy will Happy Amyntas yea for thee alone And yet thou know'st it not do'st not care for 't For thee the heavens sent fair Celia Do'st not beleeve me Look on her fair eyes Look on thine own love gave them to you both That both of you might still admire and gaze Upon your native beauties Those her fair curled locks these crisped hairs Seem onely fram'd that each of you might tye Each others soul in them eternally Her fair plump rising cheecks thy downy chin Were made that each on other might repose After the stormy blasts of loves sad woes Her rosie mouth and thy Vermillion lips Invite you both with mouth to mouth to taste Those purple Strawberries which there are plac't Seest thou not how in her white bosom rests Those tender swelling and well raised brests Which challenge thee into the lists of love And thou like a Coward dost refuse To answer to their call discurteous youth Canst thou invited thus refuse to try Their loving force and so in love withstand Eternal Fate which all things can command Amyn. Ah me most miserable Nerea What 's that thou saiest Amyn. Nothing Ah me I scarce can breath a sigh Nerea And dost thou sigh alas wherefore Thy heart devoyd of love deceiv'd perhaps Borrows those sighs that sighing thou maist seem To be in love why do I call them sighs Thine are no sighs he that sighs not for love Sighs not but Yawns such sighs no love can move Amyn. But if those sighs be too too truly sighs Which issue from the bottom of my heart And such as I need seek no other where They then perhaps break out onely to shew The secret grief enclos'd within my breast O Nerea Nerea Perhaps the very rocks perceive ere this That heart which thou deceived thus dost call A heart devided of Love so set on fire And burning in the lively flames it feels As without other help it may find out Cause in it self to spend these sighs about Nerea Behold a new Amyntas lately come Out of the bosom of his Silvia And from beyond th' Arcadian Hills ariv'd Newly in Scyros here How feelingly he can discourse of love A breast a heart love flames and burning fire Sighs and Ah me 's all these are proper words Taken from loves best language and thus all True lovers speak which are Inhabitants Of loves great Empire But when wer 't thou there Or where Amyntas didst thou learn so well To speak their mother Tongue Amyn. Even in the very Center of that blest And happy Kingdom where loves Septer rules There have I been and so that country ayre Pleaseth my sense as though it seems to me Still turbulent and cloudy yet no other skye Can ever be more welcome to my eye Nerea Thou speak'st in such a tone Amyntas and so well Dost mix thy sighs together with thy words A•d make sad looks accompany thy sighs As I could almost swear thou wert in love Amyn. True love cannot be feign'd 't is true that once I fled from love but since he overtook Me in my flight I follow him as fast Nerea Oh admirable power against whose will Nor flight nor pollicy can ought avail Now blest be lov'd great love that thus can give Unto thy stony heart a lively sence But wilt thou not then tell me who she is Whom love hath chosen for a worthy means To do so great a work Amyn. No I have told too much already but The tears which spring out of my heart do cause My tongue to glide so fast and now 't is time To teach it silence Nerea Silence to me well then be silent still But yet if I be she which can dispose Of loves great Empire as it pleaseth me Perhaps one day thou wilt entreat me hear The story of thy love and lend thee help When I will be as deaf unto thy prayers As thou art silent to me now Amyn. Good Nerea let us talk of somewhat else Let us discourse of Niso and for him Employ thy care for as for me I yet Nor seek nor hope nor can desire thy help Nerea What a rude rustick lover have we here If love be lodg'd in a rough savage heart Poor love himself becomes a savage too And so hath neither hope nor yet desire But be it as thou wilt for Niso then I will employ my cure and if or will Or Art have any power to win a love In his content thou shalt learn first to see And then repent thine error when thou shalt See that cold Celia that Mass of stone By my endeavours and but easie cure All burning in loves flame and in these fields In these same very fields wherein she now Like a unwearyed huntress beats the ground With her still erring foot when thou shalt see Her in the Arms of lovely Niso. Print Upon these flowry banks more tender steps And gentler signes of a more pleasing choice What then alas what will become of thee I know too well that then I shall thee see Crying Oh help me Nerea Oh help But all in vain for then I will not help But laughing scorn thee for thy foolery Amyn. And dost thou then Ah-me with Celia hope Dost thou with Celia hope to do so much And that for Niso too Nerea Hope Yes with Celia or with any else More out of love with love then she can be And that for Niso or for any else Unhappier in love then he can be This I can do and this I will doe too Make Niso to enjoy his Celia Amyn. Ah me I 'me dead Nerea And I will make her thine who ere she be Whom thou desirest so if thou wilt but Disclose thy love to me Amyn. That Niso my enjoy his Celia That 's all I ask Nerea But wherefore dost thou then lament in time Demand my help and thou shalt have it Nerea Hee 's much perplext and certainly this man Deceives me yet and wisheth somewhat else Then he seems to desire He found his thought Which very hardly can conceal it self Thou troubled soul what i' st that greeves thee now Celia shall be for Niso as thou dost desire Though it be true that with less pains I could Procure her for Amyntas if Amyntas would As Niso doth burn for fair Celias love I know well what I say but 't is not fit I should so easily discover yet The secret thoughts of a young virgin maid To him that cannot apprehend them Amyn. Dost hear me Nerea tempt me no more For Niso 't is I speak and 't is for him That I would have thee speak Nerea He shakes already and will quickly
what have I done I err'd For happily my Phillis is not dead But say she be not yet 't is too too sure That I have given her a mortal wound And what i' st I can hope for can I think To hide the foul injustice of my Crime Under a faint dismal No See then The just revenge of love that made me thus With mine own tongue and that before her face With thousand wicked sighs and faithless tears Accuse my self of infidelity But be it as it will alive or dead I wil go seek her out and so will dye Just at her foot that for my death at least If for nought else I may seem dear to her O Celia Celia love Amyntas now Faithful Amyntas live with him and leave Me to dye for my Phillis if I can Do nothing else yet I can dye for her I will dye for my Phillis lead the way Where art thou Fillino but he is gone Who now shall be my guide I le take my chance To him in whose vext heart despair resides Fury and rage are the most certain guides Act. 5. Scen. 1. PERINDO O Sacriledge the royal image of Our mighty Lord the King of mighty Kings Before whose throne so many knees doe bow His Image on the ground See thou divine Thou sacred Idol low to thee I bend And prostrate at thy foot thus lay my head But thou uuhappy wretch who ere thou art Out of whose hand the sacred image fell Who ere thou art thou dyest nor can he live 'Gainst whom high heaven is so far incens'd As to permit him cast his life away With his own proper hands But who was he Who was that impious wretch how shall we learn A way to find him out This Task must be Orontes care within whose power doth rest The law it self much more the punishment To him I flye and 't is enough for me If I make him acquainted with the fact But I may wander well out of my way Yet I was here if I mistake it not This very morning with Oronte yes This is the very place and this the path By which we came by this we did return And t is the shorter way Shepheard O ho The ready way unto the tents Act. 5. Scen. 2. Narete Cloris Nar. DIrectly forward Sir Though to such beasts Such barbarous beasts as thou the better way Were that which leads unto the horrid den Of an accursed death I did beleeve I should come short of finding Celia here But it imports not much since she was left In so good hands and now my care must be Imployed here Come on good daughter come Clo. Courteous Narete let me now return Alone unto my wonted solitude Nar. No no thy grief is such I will not trust Thy life in thine own hands I le see to that High heaven for thy safety more then hers Guided my steps to seek for wholsom hearbs There where I found thee dying in despair Clo. What a strange pitty's this Narete know I am already dead nor have I left Or heart or soul and whilst thou dost deny Me leave to dye thou onely dost restrain This body from a tomb not me from death And canst thou take delight then thus to drag About the fields unburied carkasses Nar. Thou shalt not have thy will unless at least Thou tell me first the cause of thy despair Clo. See where he comes ah me Nar. Who comes why dost thou hide thy self Act 5. Scen 3. Narete Niso Cloris LOok daughter it is Niso Niso ho Where hast thou left thy Celia what 's become Of young Amyntas that I see him not Niso. O my Narete in how short a space How great a change is wrought in me 't is strange That thou shouldst know me now I am no more That Niso that I was nor can I say That now I live fair Celia's no more mine Amyntas is with her and they are gone To seek out Cloris and 't is Cloris I Am seeking too canst thou then tell me where Alive or dead fair Cloris may be found Nar. She is alive and is not far from hence But what is this thou sayst and what 's the cause That thus doth trouble and perplex thy thoughts Niso. That thou shalt hear anon but tell me first Where Cloris is and is she then alive Is she not far from hence Clo. And yet I cannot but behold his face O with what sweetness under those fair locks Lyes maskt so false a heart Nar. See where she is Cloris come forth 't is Niso child come forth Niso. Ah me I me dead Nar. Thou heardst but even now that Celia he And young Amyntas ran from place to place To seek thee out and thou from thence mayst see How Nymphs and Shepheards are perplexed with The rumour of thy death Niso. And could I see the light of those fair eyes Blind that I am and yet not know them straight Clo. Thou dost not know this man Narete if The rumour of my death have troubled him It is delight not pitty doth disturb His fancy then 'T was he that caus'd my death And he but comes to glory in it now Nar. Caus'd he thy death Niso dost thou not hear What 't is she saith Niso. Alass what shall become of me can I Yet have the heart to speak to her can she With patience hearken unto what I say Nar. He answers not nor can I understand What 't is he mutters to himself apart Niso. Love at so great a need inspire my heart Grant me those looks are worthy of my grief Do thou direct my words Phillis ah my dear Phillis Ah me Nar. Phillis art thou or Cloris Niso. Ah me I cannot sighs will stop my words Narete Shee 's so besides her self she takes no care What 't is I say But tell me Niso then Niso. Phillis my dearest soul Narete My dearest soul this phrase too sounds of love But sure my voice decays and that 's the cause I am not understoop Niso. I was deceiv'd poor soul I was deceiv'd Narete I may be yet a silent looker on And see a wonder here Niso. O do not turn thy face another way Perhaps thou thinkest by denying thus That lovely visage to these eyes of mine To punish my misdeeds but think not so Look on me still and mark me what I say For if thou knowst it not I le tell thee then A more severe revenger of thy wrongs Thou canst not have then those fair eyes of thine Which by those shining beams that wound my heart Punish me more then all the world can do What greater pain can'st thou inflict on me Then still to keep as fire before my face That lovely beauty which I have betrayd That beauty I have lost I have done ill Wretch that I am I have done very ill And though I do complain beleeve not yet I hope to purchase pardon by my plaints I know too well that from this breast of mine And from these eyes which
and when I have declar'd The mournful story of my ravishment Be thou content to leave me here alone Clo. Go on I prethee Celia That very day when thou about to take Thy journey to those Solemn Festivals Which in the Holy Isle they celebrate To the great Goddess camest to take thy leave Of me at my poor Cell I to restrain Those Tears which thy departure forct me to As if I had foreseen woes me that soon I should have have far more urgent cause to give Full scope to their impetuous Torrent I gave my self the liberty to sport And dally with that nimble frisking Kid Whose gentle Gamesomeness was wont to chear All my sad froward thoughts whilest they were such As could admit of any gamesomeness That harmless Beast or in his harmless shape My perverse fortune by a thousand trains• Of wanton sports entic't me to that Shore Where the proud Sea hath wrought it self so near Unto the Woods that shaddows seem to swim And flouds repose themselves under the shade There whilst I spent some time to gather up Such Cockle Shels as Nature had adorn'd With various pride that I might weave them streight Into a collor for my pretty Kid Behinde me I could hear the rushing noise Of a rude boisterous creature and ere scarce I well could turn mine eyes I might perceive Close at my back I know not which to say A man or beast Whose fury came so fast As flung the smaller Sands into my face And forc't me shut mine eyes Thus neither seeing how nor yet by whom I felt my self snatcht up and born away Fain would I have cryed out but my weak voice Not daring to put sorth it self retired And fled in silence to my throbbing Heart Whilest I as one half dead could not recall My straggling sences back till I was brought Into the inmost parts of those thick Woods And found my self become the wretched prey Of a most horrid Monster I found my self and tremble yet to think What then I found close graspt within the Arms Of that mishapen Cent aur that foul fiend Whom thou mayst yet if thou hast so much heart Lodg'd in thine eyes behold and wonder at Thy self within the Temple Clo. Alas my hair stands upright on an end To hear him but describ'd Celia There to a sturdy Oak he bound me fast And re-enforct his base inhumane bonds With the then danglinst Tresses of my hair Ingrateful hair ill-nurtur'd wicked Locks The cruel wretch then took up from the foot Both my loose tender garments and at once Rent them from end to end Imagine then Whether my crimson red through shame was chang'd Into a pale wan tincture yea or no I that was looking towards Heaven then And with my cries imploring ayd from thence Upon a suddain to the Earth let fall My shamefac't eyes and shut them close as if Under mine eye-lids I could cover all My naked Members but considering well His fell intent with a deep groaning sigh To him I said behold me ready now Fit for thy ravenous throat come quickly come And satiate thy beastly hunger Clo. And why his hunger say poor silly wretch Celia That being once devour'd I might at least Within his paunch conceal my nakedness Clo. And dost thou then beleeve that Centaurs use To feed upon young tender Maids Celia Nerea beleeves it not but laught aloud When first I told it her but prithee say Why should he so desire to have me bound And naked as I was but that he might Swallow me up alive and with more ease Conveigh me piece-meal gliding down his throat And even then he came with open Arms And snatcht to gripe me by the naked Brest When lo two Shepheads running fast for hast Came in unto my rescue Clo. Oh! how my heart 's reviv'd and who were those Whom Heaven in pitty chose out for thine ayde Celia Amyntas old Sirenos Son whose joy And whole delights in Hunting with his friend Niso a stranger whom thou dost not know Ay me poor soul Clo. What! art thou sighing still Celia I have good cause Clo. But how came it to pass that in a place So far remote two Shepherds should arrive Both at one instance Celia Amyntas was within the Valley where He stood to Watch his Toyls and Niso came From the Sea shore whither but then the Winds Had brought him from a Country far away And both brought thither by my shrieking cries They both arriv'd together where the one Lets fly his Dart the other shoots a Shaft And neither one nor other mist his aime The cruel Centaur thus but lightly hurt In his left shoulder and in his right arme Lost some small blood which was supply'd with rage And so betwixt them three there soon begun A fierce and bloody fight till that proud beast Scorning that two such Stripling should have power So to withstand his fury thought at once To strike a deadly blow by which he meant To speed them both and brandashing his Beam The Tree which happily some pitty felt Of my sad state did so involve it in The knotty intricacies of his boughs As it fell from his hand And he that found his Arme thus without armes And without heart his heart betook him streight To a most shameful slight and from the Woods Whilest he up towards the Mountains took his way It was his fortune to fall in those Toyls Which to catch other beasts Amyntas had Before plac't in the Yale Clo. And so the insolent proud villain was Himself made now their prey Celia The Shepherds followed him but yet not far Ere they fell to the Earth through loss of blood Which from their wounds did like a Torrent flow And ran even to my feet sad Messenger Of their approaching ends to crave mine ayd I shall now tell thee Cloris what will seem A wonder to thee yet it is most true Pitty to see their case made me to strain My self with so much force as I got free From all my bonds even from those self same bonds I freed my self to give another aide Which I a thousand times had tried before For mine own safety and could not unloose When I was free I had almost for hast Run to them naked but consider now A strange affection Clo. And what hast thou told yet that is not strange Celia When I was got where those two Shepherds lay Half dead half living and in reason should Have stopt their bleeding wounds up with my Vail I first beheld the one and then the other To this I went and afterwards to that Desiring still to help them both at once And yet gave help to neither as not well Resolv'd to whom I first should lend my help At last I did begin but knew not where And whilst my hand was busie about one My heart ran to the other so that I Could not well know to which I wisht more ease Clo. What didst thou do at last Celia All that I could
This did I never do but say I did Am I the first of Loves professed foes Whom he hath overcome Niso. I would thou wert so I might see thee once By Love in triumph brought into the troops Of his sworn servants then perhaps I might With confidence unfold the wound that now Lyes hid within and grates my bleeding heart Whereas I yet dare scarce let go a sigh Lest thou shouldst once take notice when it breaths Woes me how many have I forced back Even from my lips into my heart again And if at unawares one hath stoln out How have I fear'd lest while thou shouldst deride My feeling passion Love should in his rage Let sly his Dart at me for having spent His treasures so profusely before those Who do despise his power Amynt Niso thou art deceiv'd for even I Can pitty others sighs O that I could As soon give ease to him that sighs for love Perhaps I might a Shepheard then restore To life again who now lyes at deaths door But thou that long hast learn't to know Loves wiles Hear but his case and tell me then if yet In all Loves kingdom there may be found out A means to cure his ill Niso. I in loves Kingdom nothing know but how With art to drop Salt tears upon the flame That burns within my heart To weep and burn is all I know of love But is that Shepherd one whom I have seen Amyn. Yes thou hast seen him and dost love him too As dearly as thy life Niso. What 's she for whom he mourns Amyn. The fairest Nimph that ere these fruitful fields Of Scyros here have yet beheld display The dangling Tresses of her golden Hair That every gentle blast might therein weave A net to catch poor loving souls withal But more of her anone Thou first shalt hear The mournful story of her dying love Mournful indeed it is and yet but short Since one short hour brought him to misery Yet even he did once profess himself Loves open enemy till at the last His fate would have it so that by mis-chance He too was wounded in his Nimphs defence Niso. But for what cause Amyn. That thou shalt know hereafter now observe The Nimph thus far took pitty of his hurt That many a time and oft she bath'd his wounds In the distilled flouds of lukewarm tears And sweetly breathing on them with her sighs She seem'd to murmur out some powerful charme With which she hop't to mitigate his pain But whilst his tender hearted Surgeon thus Applyed her salves of pitty to his wounds She struck him to the heart when he poor soul Finding he had receiv'd a mortal blow Su'd for relief but in an instance she Turn'd all her pitty into cruelty And flying thence as from a Basilisque Could never since be drawn to see him more Niso. Oh my belov'd Amyntas I must needs Hug thee within these Armes and kiss thee for This pretty quaint disguise Amynt Canst thou imagine then who 't is I mean Niso. And canst thou think I can be ignorant Of him thou wouldst decipher though his name Be lock't up still in silence Amyn. Do thou pronounce it then for I confess I blush so for him that I dare not do 't Niso. I will and if thou do'st desire it in a voyce That 's audible to all the world 'T is Niso Niso do not blush for me For I shall bless my fates that it is so Go thou that livest free from loves command And from his amorous bonds lift up thy proud Untamed Crest to me this yoke is sweet And Niso doth profess himself to be The Shepheard thus subdu'd to loves behest She that with pitty wounded him at fi•st And kills him now with cruelty is cal'd The fairest C•lia for Celia alas For Celia I burn for her I sigh It cannot be deny'd Amyn. Though sigh for Celia sure it cannot be Nor can I yet beleeve it can be so It is another fuel feeds thy flame And all thy sighs sound out another name Niso. Wilt thou not then beleeve me or is this A gentle Artifice for my new love To tax my fault blame mine inconstancie If I have other fuel to my fire Or other heat to warme my fainting soul That fuel is to Ashes burnt by this And all that heat extinguisht by this flame If any other name sound in my sighes 'T is barely then a name a shaddow void Of any subject or a beauty spent And long agone extinct But now for Celia in lively flames I burn indeed and so shall burning die Unless Amyntas help me speedily Amyn. See see alas he seeks to me for help That gives me my deaths wound But I cannot beleeve thee yet say how And when did Love possess thee thus Niso. Whilst wounded there I lay almost extinct Within the arms of death the gentle gale Of her sweet breathing sighs under th' aspect Of two heart-killing Stars O fatal birth My love at first took life And Love becoming thus the Son of Death In imitation of his Mothers power Kils me and yet remains himself alive And thus I dye yet even after death My love must live and love eternally Amynt Thus Love hath in one strait and by one toyl Within in one instant gain'd a double spoyl Niso. As well then as thou feignest thou do'st know That under other shaddows thou hast now From point to point declar'd my malady Nor can I tell how long my silence should Thus blazon forth my wo Unless perhaps I told it in a dream Or talking idly at the point of death The Soul which then doth commonly reflect More truly on her self and so becomes Far wiser than she was hath publisht it Of purpose so to free her self from pain Or else perhaps to glory in the pride Of that fierce cruelty that vanquisht me Fair Celia her self hath made it known Wilt thou not answer me Amyntas is' t not so •myntas whither art thou gone out of thy self Thou seemest stupify'd do'st thou not hear What strong imagination thus transports Thy sences from their sence Amynt Doth Niso burn in love for Celia And is it true that he dissembles not But tell me then what if another should For love of Celia burn as well as he What saith thy heart could it then leave to love Niso. No rather leave to live ah me Thou strick'st my through and through if this be so There is no way but death Amynt No I 'll dye first my self clear up thy brow I spoke it but in jest Niso. I prithee good Amyntas leave to use Such bitter jests as these they come too near I 'll pardon thee this once because thou hast So little sense of Love Amynt What now is in my power shall be employ'd To work thee some relief but time goes on The Sun already from our Zenith bends His course to view the lowly Vales again And near the Temple old Narete staies Attending there to celebrate the pomp And solemn
fall Well I will do 't but if she shall be found To him inexorable milt thou then Permit me try what I can do for thee All women are not cruel to all men Amyn. She moves my very soul nor can I tell How to withstand it But poor Niso then What will poor Niso say Nerea Amyntas did for me more then he would Do for himself and therefore I rejoyce His bliss can rise out of my misery This will he say But whereon dost thou think Why dost thou scratch thy head when all the itch Thou feel'st is in thy heart Amyn. Mercy Oh Mercy I am overcome And hear me Nerea Yet peace Peace tender lover but unfaithful friend But I were best be gone Nerea adieu Thou knowst what I desire I speak for Niso dost thou conceive me Act. 2. Scen. 4. NEREA. EIther I nothing understand in love Or else Amyntas loves fair Celia But wherefore speaks he then for Niso thus It is perhaps a lovers folly that Under a feigned affection seeks to prove The faithful heart of his beloved love Oh ill advised youth how darst thou tempt A womans faith by forging new loves still Darst thou trust fuel in a burning flame Or feathers to the winde full ill thou knowst How many I have seen these tryals cause Soon to repent them of their former love But it may be the pitty of a friend Perhaps it may be so and Niso doth Himself too burn for love of Celia And yet the simple soul Amyntas speaks Onely for him and doth not know that love Values no friend when once his force doth move But be it as it will I 'me glad to see Them both sad frequent lovers yet that so I may be double arm'd and with more force Give on a brave assault to that hard heart Of pittiless but lovely Celia For I will kindle in her Virgine brest Both these hot flames that one at legst may take And pittifully paint before her eyes Them both for love of her brought to deaths dore And both from love and from her father too I mean to tell her that in her own hands The power of choice doth lye Th' art but a fool my Celia if thou starve For want of love when to such lovers bring Such dishes to the feast Oh that I could But change change fortunes with thee cruel Nimph Change and take thou my hot inflamed brest Or send one thy soft golden glittering hair White snowy locks with an heart all on fire Soft golden hairs with an heard Iron heart Are Monsters too too cruel but I le go And seek her out sure I shall conquer her For I ner'e knew a fair young maid deny To love at last if su'd to constantly Act. 3. Scen. 1. Celia OH Nerea thou hast kil'd my woeful heart And from thy lips death shot his fatal dart Woes me 't was long ere I did burn but now I am all fire nor can there be Ah-me A way to quench the fury of my flame Love be my guide Amyntas To thee my dear Amyntas unto thee I do submit my self I will be thine And thou shalt be my love my life my all Ah-me what did I say And can I then without my Niso live No No but for Amyntas I can dye And dow behold me given over quite Unto my wonted fury Oh Celia Unhappy Celia still dost thou rave What dost thou think and whether dost thou tend In this estate depriv'd of all my bliss It cannot be I should continue long Enjoy but one Love will not give me leave To enjoy both both Heaven and Earth forbid Then I must dye for other remedy Then death this death cannot invent Must I then dye But lately born and must I dye so soon Sad mourning eyes the time is short which fate Allotted to you to behold this Sun And yet alas I have but seen too much Fool that I am what i' st I greeve for for thus Loss of my life and what can I expect To gain by living here nought else but woe Nothing but grief and doth it greeve thee then To part with grief Oh no let death kinde death Come then and with his hand close up mine eyes And dry up all my tears And yet alas Those tears nor all my sad despairs cannot Call out so loud for death in my poor foul As others torments do Oh Nerea Nerea For love of me then doth Amyntas burn And Niso too for me doth Niso dye Yea and Amyntas too and I who love you both Unhappy lovers is it I whom love Too cruel love hath set against you both And is it I that kill you then 't is I 'T is I must dye and fear not I will dye That so my death may either give you ease Or else revenge your cruel suff'rings Oh direful voice And yet base Coward heart Fear'st thou one death that dost not fear two loves No no vain pitty pitty pittyless Base trembling fear and you cold frozen thoughts You can no longer lodge within this breast Behold my hand full armed for the deed Oh vile and cowardly hand what trembling thus Dost thou discharge thy darts Woes me I want Force that will second this my just revenge Let then my feet do what my hands deny Oh my sad furies Oh despairing grief Be you my faithful guide lead on lead on Shew me another way to finde out death Conduct me to a Precipice where I Shall need no force to press me to my fall But if a bush or any stub should stop My fatal fall for so Amyntas was Sav'd when he would have dyed for Silvia That would be my misfortune then that was to him A happy blessing What then shall I do Oh you Celestial Gods and you sad powers That govern in the deep infernal Lake You that inspir'd me with desire to dye Shew one the way to do it speedily Act. 3. Scen. 2. Filino Celia FElino Oh me most miserable Oh my dear pretious and my lovely joy Oh my lost treasure Celia What mournful voice thus sounds within mine ears Is not this Filino Filino Oh Celia weep weep gentle Celia Do not so much as stay till I have told What cause thou hast to weep Celia And to what new misfortune can the Gods Preserve me yet in this smale hour of life What can there be that can disturb me more Speak quickly Filino for well I know The grief which hath already seiz'd my heart Can leave no place for any new supply Fil. Distressed Filino unhappy Celia Thy joy and all my wonted bliss The beauty of the Meades flower of the fields The love of all thy flock thy gentle kid O me my heart will break to tell it out Thy gentle Kid is dead Cel. O happy boy since all thy sorrows are Compriz'd within so poor a loss as this But say who was 't that kild him Fil. Beleeve 't was neither Shepheard nor wild beast For I would then have dyed in his defence Cel. What
not ere this At least in secret tell it to his heart Nerea Or else perhaps delighted with the fair Rich beauty of the gold as who can tell Perhaps she may desire it for her self For old in those that are the nicest can Both blear their eyes and dazle too their hearts Niso. What ere it be 't is more then time my soul Should be resolv'd at last Clo. But foolish I why do I thus retard My happiness too long too long alas My torments have endur'd Nerea Stand off a while I le put her out of doubt Clo. I will disclose my self Nerea Cloris Clo. Do not disturb me Nerea for my heart Cals me another way Nerea Yet stay a while thou art too squeamish now What i' st thou fear'st That in this ring some train of love is layd Against thy self be confident there 's none This gentle Shepherd here for Celia And not for thee for Celia I say And not for thee do'st thou conceive me For Celia he sighs and burns and dyes To Celia to whom he gives his heart To her this gift is sent but yet thou mayst In pitty be a means to give it her This is a smal request and more then this Is not desir'd of thee do thou but grant To be the Messenger and then let love Himself work out the rest Cloris Thersis Thersis for Celia Nerea Niso not Thersis Cloris Ah-me For Celia doth he sigh and burn and dye To Celia doth he send the Ring and I Must I conveigh his sacriligious gift Niso. Cloris is troubled and undoubtedly Will nocon sent Nerea Ah! though thou still be cruel to thy self At least to others yet be pittiful One gentle word to do another good Cannot it cannot sure impeach the height And Majesty of thy just rigor Niso. I hear Amyntas voice but see him not Amyntas Cloris Oh false perfidious love Oh faith betrayed Oh perjur'd Heaven Oh most wretched I Nerea Ah me and why so troubled wherefore thus Distracted do'st thou look and Cloris whether Whether away so fast at least restore The Ring again hark stay awhile Act. 3. Scen. 5. Niso. Amyntas Celia Niso. THou com'st in time in time Amyntas sure The Heavens did conduct thee to this place My life 's in question here Amyntas see But whether woes me whether are they gone Vanisht so soon What Cloris Nerea Cloris I say they have abus'd me both Follow Amyntas follow Amyn. Which way shall I follow Niso That And I will follow them about this Hill Celia Oh most delicious drink sweet to this taste Which thirsted after death Am•n. They do not keep the path and if they chance To take into the Wood I gaze in vain Celia I am here all alone now in the hands Of death why do not I then dye Niso. T•is way they are not gone is there left yet Another way to find Celia Ah me what do I see Niso. Amyntas look look there 's my Sun Amyn. Ah peace if she perceive us she will straight Vanish out of our sight and then those rays Will rather seem a flash of lightening then The chearful beams of this bright shining Sun Niso. Already she hath spyed us and it seems That even very now she looks this way But yet with high disdain And see'st thou not Me thinks she looks as she were full of woe I see in that fair face the Gilliflowers And Roses withered and look wonderous pale Celia They go not hence nor I cannot remove Nor yet doth death come to deliver Amyn. She reasons with her self and happily Shee 's angry that she findes us here Niso. But yet amidst those woes there may be seen A smiling beauty and a flour•shing Amidst those withered flowers Oh heavenly Oh thou diviner beauty can it be That other fair ones have the fairness of The richest coulours and the fairest flowers But she not as from them but from her self is fair Celia Unhappy eyes what ere the world hath fair May there be seen but not by you and then What more then death can you desire to see Niso. Ah me before so fair a fire I burn And fry in scorching heat and canst thou then Look on it and be mute and look again And yet not burn Ah! I cannot contain My self within this heat Amyn. Stay whether wilt thou go Niso. I must perforce I will speak to her straight And at the least I le tell her that I dye Amynt Speak to her man and do'st thou not then fear The force of her reproach hast thou forgot The cruel prohibition which she sent Did Nereas not tell it thee if then thou lov'st Beware thou do not move her to disdan Cel. But from a sight so pleasing wo is me Mine eyes doe drink new po yson and perhaps That may retard the operation of The drink I drunk before Niso. Shall I then dye in silence shall I dye Without a breathing fit no't shall not be The Plants at least shall hear the Plants shall hear The mournsull accents of my sad laments For they will be less deaf unto my moan Than Celia is to them hard hearted she Forbids me not to speak Celia What do'st thou death what darst thou not close up These eyes of mine which love keeps open thus Yet I must dye and though mine eyes delay My heart makes hast to goe that dismal way Shepheards doe you remove unto some other place Or I of force must flie from this Niso. Ah! thou most cruel Nymph Amynt Peace Niso peace do'st thou not see That with her foot already in the air She threatens to be gone le ts leave her then Le ts leave her here in peace and go our way The Woods doe not want trees to which thou mayst As well as to these Beeches here complain And in thy depth of sorrow sigh in vain Niso. Le ts goe O cruel Nymph Amynt Ah me most miserable Act. 3. Scen. 6. CELIA Cel. SOuls of my soul away from me you fly And 't is but reason since I needs must dye And now I dye but you dear lovely sights Which even now gave light unto mine eyes If ever you by chance on earth behold These most unhappy limbs here lye extinct Depriv'd of heat and motion not so much As one poor sigh no nor a tear I crave This only I entreat that your proud feet As just revengers of your injur'd hearts Would kick these bones unto the savage beasts And fling the dust thereof into the air But with that dust let then the air conveigh Into the den of deep forgetfulness All memory of my black sin O happy death If with my life my faults may vanish too But I still live and 't is perhaps because A few small hearbs cannot prevail with death He must have more and therefore I have here My lap full of them and I will renew Their poyson once again Ah me I dye Amyntas Niso Ah I dye O love Betrayed love O falsified faith Come now behold
and see the just revenge See and triumph behold the vengeance due Unto my fatal error see the end Of all my torturing pain Come gentle plant And stay the ruins of this falling bulk And since under thy shaddow I must dye Ah! with those leaves those withered leaves at least Which with the wind are tossed too and fro For pitty cover these unburied limbs But thou do'st fly me and so doth the earth The heavens hide themselves and wretched I Since neither earth nor heaven will receive This wofull soul where shall I then remain See see behold th' infernal deep there plac't You borrid furies whereon doe you gaze And thou black Cerberus why bark'st thou so Make room I come to bear a share in all The torments you endure or rather leave Leave all your pains to me begon and tell That I alone will here alone make hell Ah me ah me Act. 4. Scen. 1. SERPILLA CLORIS Serp. I Can no more stay here a while and give If not unto my legs yet to my heart A poor short breathing fit Clo. Stay where it like thee best for all vain Hither and thither I remove my steps But cannot find nor hill nor lowly plain Nor open air nor darksom shade that can Bring the least comfort to my wounding pain No place can give me ease but all alike Seems fitted to torment my wearied soul In this same very place my woes begun There first I view'd again my cruel foe And here I first discover'd it was he Here was I glad and here as suddainly With the short sound of one sad killing word Even in this very place unhappy I Slipt back again into my former pain And fell so swiftly down that precipice As death to me cannot but now appear Tardy and slow Serp. Phillis ah my dear daughter mitigate This fierce tormenting grief which thus infests Thy soul with fury for in fine if thou Consider well Thirsis is still thine own Nor lives she can deprive thee of thy hopes True faith betwixt your gentle hearts hath knit A lasting and indissoluble knot And love sometimes perhaps may be forgot But never a true faith that faith which once Iove with his thundring hand hath firmly writ And deep engrav'd in heaven Clo. But yet alass what can I gain thereby For faith depriv'd of love ties up our hands But fetters not our hearts and thus fast bound The bonds are too too hard For my part then Let them be loosed quite and let me live Free from that hand that lives without a heart No no Serpilla no if he deny His love to me his faith I do defie Serp. But thou dispairest yet before 't is time Thirsis beleeves thee dead and justly may Within his youthfull breast then entertain New flames of love and yet therein be free From the least shew of doing injury To that rich beauty which he thinks extinct And happily hath mourn'd for long ago But when he shall perceive thee here alive His old lost love will then with the revive Clo. That love Serpilla which can be remov'd With the light breath of an imagin'd death Is but a faint weak love nor care I much Whether it live again or still lye dead Even I my self beleev'd him long ago Dead and enclosed within an earthen Urn And yet abhorring any other love I only lov'd that pale-fac'd beauty still And those dry bones dissolved into dust And underneath their ashes kept alive The lively flames of my still burning fire Thou knowst it well who oftentimes hast seen And griev'dst to see my miserable state My misbeleeved death then cannot make His fault or yet my sorrows seem the less Ah me it cannot no but he is false Alass hee s false and I most wretched am Nor can his faithless error be excus'd Or my sad grief admit the least relief What shall I do then who shall counsel me Shall love alass it cannot when love meets With infidelity it rests depriv'd Of all advice then I must now repair For counsel to my fury and despair Serp. Come with me daughter or at least consent That I may go and seek thy Thirsis out I le have him know thee once again I must Once see you both confronted face to face And thou shalt hear then what himself can say And thence wee 'l take advice Clo. That ever he shall look on me again No I have not the heart I know too well That whilst I look upon his once lov'd eyes Their beams will mitigate my just disdain That just disdain which I must keep entire For mine own safety therefore peace no more No more of that Serpilla Serp. Yes but I must and he must once again See thee my heart I will not be denied He shall come see thee I will have it so If not to ease thy sad perplexed thoughts At least to aggravate his biting wo And now I go but Thirsis sojourns yet At young Amyntat house and this the path That leadeth thither by the shortest way Stay then at home or for me there leave word Where I may come to thee Clo. Yes yes go on go on Serp. O! if I could now be so blest to free Phillis and Celia both from misery Clo. I will leave word where thou mayst come to me But thou must come then to deaths darksom Cell For thither I perceive my sorrows will Bring me e'r long Thirsis thou nere must see This face again for there remains no more Comfort for me nor do I wish thy pain For false and cruel though thou be to me Yet I must love thee still Ah me I love And if my love can for no other cause Be dear to thee yet cruel let it be Dear as it will be cause of death to me Oh my ingrateful Thirsis Ah false man Phillis for thee was born liv'd by thine eyes And now for thee forsaken Phillis dyes Act. 4. Scen. 2. NISO I Here the name of Phillis and but now Me thinks it eccho'd through the empty ayre Unto my lovesick soul but whence then comes This faigned voice which thus recals again The cold dead ashes of my dying heart Unto there wonted flames can it be thou Or i' st not rather the fair gentle shade Of my lost Phillis is it that which strays Depriv'd of rest about these fields to draw My erring heart unto her love again Alas what wouldst thou have of me thou know'st That since thy death no part of me remains But tears and sighs and if thou take delight To see me greeve thou mai'st when ere thou please Whilest I live here renew the funeral pomp Of my sad tears and heart consuming sighs Take then these brinish drops rest satisfied With these deep groans which here I consecrate Unto our love and to thy sweet repose And re•• Ah me poor soul now rest in peace Act. 4. Scen. 3. Amyntas Niso. Amyn. HEe 's all alone Niso whom speak'st thou to Niso. To empty shadows my Amyntas Ah! I
could both sigh and weep For others love No sigh no tear can fall Which can have power to purchase ought of thee And since that nothing but my death can please Let then my death beg pardon for my fault Such powerful Sutors should not be deny'd Deny not then the thing it onely craves For I will dye and do thou pardon me That 's all I beg both for my wandring soul And for this frame when it is turn'd to dust Cloris Shepherd the Heavens know and love can tell Whether thou hast done ill or no he can Punish thy fault and let him pardon thee I a mean Silly Shepherdess a poor Abused maid forsaken and forlorn Have no•disdain which he need to regard Who did so slenderly regard my love Niso. Ah me Clo. Ah Thirsis Thirsis Narete Phillis was she before now Thirsis he Clo. Thou falsifier of those amorous sighs Can it be thou that mournest can it be And thou that hast already kill'd me thus Can it be thou that with such fervent zeal Desirest now to dye and dye for me Cannot thy stony heart rest satisfied With my tormenting pain unless thou strive Even in thy pitty to be cruel too 'T is faigned pitty and those sighs are faign'd I know them too too well faign'd are thy tears Thy grief is feign'd and feigned thy desire Yet can I not endure to see thee greeve Thou I am sure thou dost but feign to greeve The very naming of thy death affrights My poor afflicted soul be quiet then And live since thou hast one will dye for thee Live and in peace enjoy thy new lov'd love In which if thou hadst freedom by the bruit Of my supposed and perhaps by thee Long wisht for death I do not now desire My life should be the accuser of thy faults Or interrupt thy joys No I will dye Take courage then I le dye and pray the Heavens They may not arm their fierce revengeful wrath Against thy faults for if thou didst offend This heart endures for thee such horrid pains That heaven may well accept my sufferings For all thy foul offence Why say I mine No they are thine I had them all from thee And I endure them all to set thee free Act 5. Scen. 4. Melisso Niso Cloris Narete Mel. O Cloris how I tremble yet Dost thou not know my child nor do not you Kind Shepheards know who is that wofull wight That most unhappy wight that on the ground Did cast the proud insulting image of The Thracian Emperour Niso. And why with so much fear dost thou desire To know the man Mel. Ah if thou know him go and bid him fly Fly swift away or he 's but a dead man And shall we not be gone too daughter for Here come the Thracians hard at hand And now In greater rage than ever Clo. Why should I fly away from Thracians now When Thracians are to me my best beloved Ni•o. But why should that man dye and for what cause Mel. Their barbarous Law condemns him that 's enough Clori• lets go dost thou not know too well Hast thou forgot le ts go Nar. I prethee stay and tell me what new wo Their barbarous fury brings us which is still Fruitfull in bringing forth our miseries Mel. I le tel you then but yet do you mean while Look well about lest any of them come The Thracians have a Law that wheresoere The royal image of their tyrant Lord Shall be by any seen it shall be there By him ador'd And 't is no less than forfeit of his life Who shall by chance on set purpose shew The least contempt to it whoere he be Nar. Inhumane Law see if proud man cannot Exhalt his horns so high till towring up At last he doth confront even heaven it self Niso. Shepheard proceed Mel. The Captain with his troops was going up Unto the Temple there to see brought in The tribute of our children which we pay And I conceal'd within the bushes sate To view them as they past when one of them Who sure did come this way addrest himself Unto their Captain and thus humbly said Behold great Sir and gave him in his hand I know not what but sure it was of Gold For in those bushes I could see no more And scarcely could perceive the gold to shine Behold quoth he the sacred image here Which even now I found upon the bank Of a swift running stream O sacriledg I found it there cast down upon the ground Without respect to him whose shape it bears At which the rest foaming with rage and ire I know not whether out of custom or As an effect of fury rent their clothes And then the Captain taking by the hand Him that had brought the news of that misdeed Withdrew aside and talking with him there I by a secret path thence stole away And sure they cannot be far off but see See where they come ah daughter le ts away Nar. No for by going thus they may conceive Thee guilty of the fact Act. 5. Scen. 5. Oronte Niso Cloris Melisso Narete Perindo Oront FOr ceatain this is it this is the Ring I know 't exceeding well but yet the Law The Law is plain against the faulty man And he without all hope must lose his head Who cast the royal image on the ground Niso. Now Phillis thou shalt see whether my grief And my desire be feigned yea or no Oront If I can find the wretch if I can find But who it was that did possess this Ring Niso. He 's found already Sir and comes to take At thy great hands deserved punishment The Ring is mine and I am he that threw The royal image here upon the ground This is the faulty hand and this the head Condemned for the fact to be cut off Send for the sword then that it may revenge So capital a crime Mel. O desperate attempt come let us flie Le ts fly my dearest Cloris hence from death Clo. Fly thou unto the place that likes thee best For I must seek my life by meeting death Sir this man labours but to find the means To dye for me The Ring is mine and this the neck which now It hath encompast many years for see It bears the fresh impressions of it still The Ring is mine and I Niso. Ah Cloris Nar. Ah me Perind Shepheards forbear keep silence and take he•d That no man dare to move his foot or tongue Oront Thou Nymph goe on Clo. The Ring is mine and I was she that threw The royal image here upon the ground And if by dying I may satisfie For such a foul offence let no man else Pay for the forfeit I have made for I Even I too have a head which once cut off And separated from this liveless trunk Can find a way to fall and drench in blood The fatal sword which shall revenge the wrong Offer'd unto this sacred image here Niso. O peace a while great Sir she raves for love And
ceremonies of our Vow Come let 's away perhaps already he Blames us for this delay Niso. Go on I 'll follow thee But if thou do'st Desire indeed here to prolong my daies Defer not then a speedy remedy He that already hath shakt hands with death Hath little time to draw an idle breath Act. 2. Scen. 1. Oronte Perindo Sireno Ormino Oront LEt all the rest stay there And thou Perindo follow me and see Those two old Shepheards come along with thee Siren Quickly Ormino come do'st thou not hear Orm. Where fear of danger wounds a trembling soul The foot goes slowly on Perin Great Sir we all are ready but will you Without attendance or without your Guard Thus wander here alone Cronte In such sweet fields amidst a sort of men So harmless as these are we have no need With armed Squadrons to secure our Guard I left my Tents that here I might enjoy The fresh delightful air which in these fields Breaths with a gentle gale and so allayes The horrour of the rough tempestuous blasts Which did infest the Sea And he that will enjoy the pleasure of Such pleasant fields must not be troubled with The State and Pomp with which we use to grace Our City Train O blessed Meddow O delightful Grove See with what pleasing shadows it doth shield The flowers from withering in the scorching heat Of the Suns burning beams Behold a true A perfect Pastoral Scene wherein we see The Sea on this hand and the Hills on that And round about us Flowers and springing Plants Fresh Rivers Shades and the bright Heavens above Have fram'd a glorious Theater Come forward friends and whil'st the gentle Ayr Thus sweetly breaths I will pursue at length The sad relation of your Childrens Fate Orm. For pitties sake great Sir tell me doth yet My Thirsis live tell me but that and then T•e rest tell at your leisure Oron. Give ear I say When I within the spacious Hall had plac't Those Troops of little Infants so to be Presented there to the grand Signiors view As if the World had then grown young again Whilst he beheld them all attentively And view'd them severally one by one Amongst the rest who seem'd more rudely bred Saucie and bold Your children gave themselves With such a comely wantonness to play The little momes and with such activeness To beautifie their harmless innocence That his great spirit mollifide therewith Seem'd with a smile somwhat to qualifie The terrour of his more severe aspect And reaching forth his hand that hand which us'd Onely to manage Scepters and rude Arms Gently he stroakt them underneath the chin And though he kist them not yet men might see Upon his lips th' affection of his heart And that to me he said Mark me Oronte Me-thinks I see in these two little Imps The signs of two such admirable souls As that it seems if in the outward shape Of humane visage heaven use to write The marks of Fate or I ought understand And more than he doth no man understand That these two children are by destiny Design'd to more than ordinary ends And to some great atchivements therefore see They be not with the rest conducted to The Grand Serraglo but be it thy care To see them Educated by themselves And here in Court instructed in more free And generous Arts and taught to spend their time In studies fitter for their Genius I undertook the charge and they became So dear to me as though I never saw Child of mine own nor had the joy to know A fathers happiness yet did I feel My heart possessed with a fathers care And fraught with as much love to your young babes As they had been mine own And whilst your children thus encreast in years Above their years in them did still increase Beauty and judgement but beyond all this I le tell you now a wonder That quaint boy The little God of love as it should seem And as I verily beleeve it true Playing with them as children use to play By chance did hurt them both and with his darts Made large wide wounds in their small tender hearts Oh what a dear delight it was to see Two little pretty loving souls express Their pretty childish loves with tongues which yet Could hardly mutter either Pap or Mam For scarcely could they draw their vital breath Before they both had learned to breath out Deep sighes of love and scarcely were their eyes Open to see the Suns bright shining beams Before they knew with sweet delight to gaze And dart forth amorous looks Sometimes you might behold those tender hands Which scarcely yet knew how to smooth the Tears Of their beloved Nurse already grown So pompt and nimble in loves gentle art As they had Learnt to strooke each others cheekes And frame unto themselves Rings quaintly wreath'd Within their curled Locks And if at any time that native grace Which deck't their lovely faces did appear More beautiful then other they would then As if it were by stealth run to embrace And hug each other with delightful kisses So that whilst they thus wantonly did woe Love seem'd himself to play the wanton too And hence the King enamoured with their wiles One day cal'd to me and bespake me thus So ripe a love as this cannot be held The meer effect of such young tender years It must proceed from Heaven and Heavens power Doth never work in vain It is decreed These two must one day be made man and wife And I am pleas'd with what the Heavens will But ah the Heavens are too far esloign'd Above our reach nor can our humane sence Attain to see what is decreed above For long it was not ere a sickness seas'd The bold grand Signor and possest him so As he already thought his fatal hour Approaching neer already he dispos'd Himself to take his last farewel on Earth And yet among his greater cares and when His heart was thus encumbred with thoughts He could not then forget to think upon His two beloved lovers whom he caus'd To be conducted to his Royal view And placed there where he thus unto them spake My little children I must shortly pay The debt I owe to nature nor shall I Live here to see you both enjoyn'd in one I am too old and you of too young years Yet I will see you both betroth'd this knot Doth neither pass your judgement nor your age Reach each your hand to other and let Heaven Prosper the plighting of so pure a faith Confirm'd with hands of so much innocence •hus they t'wixt joy and grief joyn'd both their hands And weeping seal'd their promise with a kiss Whilst that great King drew forth a Hoop of Gold Which underneath his Pillow he had plac't In whose round Circle were engrav'd by art Certain Egyptian Characters and to confirm What there was writ with more authority His Sacred Image was cut out thereon The Hoop was double so that either part When
so dear Daughter that thou see'st Young tender loves breeding in youthful hearts Like to young harmless Doves whilst one hath wings And dares to fly anothers downy plain But even then buds forth Whilst one swoln up with pride bears out his Brest And in a murmuring tone breaths out his love Expressing by the circles which he makes The endless Labyrinths of loves great maze Another with his belly on the ground Goes creeping on and by his whining noyse Sets out the passions of a childish love One peeps but even now out of the shell Whilst others sit to hatch their tender Chicks Do not then do not cruel maid conceal Thy passion still though late yet at the last Heaven showrs down vengeance on a faithless love Knowst thou not what Pelorus that Pelore Then whom yet never Nimph in Scyros knew A faithfuller true lover us'd to say Faith is a Deity by which true love At first possest a place in Heaven above Love voyd of faith quoth he is neither love Nor yet a God but an infernal spirit Which having in the foul sulphureous Lake Of burning Phlegeton kindled black flames Doth counterfeit therewith loves glorious light And so goes breathing forth his feigned fries For whose most horrible and wicked sin Oh just and most deserved punishment Which in the bottomless infernal Pit Disloyal lovers are tormented still By those infernal Monsters in the shape Of their betrayed loves Do not then still delay to tell thy woe And if from grief I cannot set thee free Pitty at least shall bear thee company Celia What 's that to me that neither hope for help Nor wish for pitty in my misery Serp. At least yet let me know thine enemie And I will never leave thee till he leave Either his life or else that faithless love Wherewith he thus torments thee Celia Life if thou wilt but love must ne'r be left Serp. Would'st thou then have him dye Celia By all means possible and if I find No other hand to execute my just And lawful vengeance reason then perswades That mine own hand should take the due revenge Of mine oppressed soul Serp. Oh cruel jealousie can then thy fierce And poysonous bait possess a Maidens heart But if I mean to mollifie her rage I then must sooth her in her own desires Take courage Celia for if there be need Even I my self will with these hands pull out That faithless heart of his But tell me then Who is that false disloyal man and how Hath he disturbed thus thy quiet thoughts Celia Now that I finde thee bent to my desires I le tell thee all but see thou doe not change Serp. Thou sooner shalt observe me change my soul Then any thing that I have now profest Celia And whosoe'r it be see that thou take No pitty to thy heart Serp. I would be cruel to my very self Were I my selfe unfaithfull to my Love Celia Heare then and I will tel thee now What rests conceal'd from all the world besides How shall I find a tongue to utter it But yet it bootes not to refrain my tongue When I want power still to restrain my heart Look here Serpilla look here is that foul That impious wretch even here within me rests My horrid enemy Loe I am she Even I am she that carry in my brest A faithless love a foul infernal spirit Burnt in a two-fold flame Ser. As sure as can be this unhappy Nimph Carries two youthful loves within her brest 'T was long ere she conceiv'd and now brings Twins Oh just revenge of love and could he not Make one shaft serve as able to subdue Unto his Laws thy stiff rebllious heart But tell me then who are those fatal loves Celia To what end should I now conceal their names Know'st thou not Niso and Amyntas yet Serp. Who they that lay for thy delivery Wounded almost to death Celia Those very men Serp. But how could love inflict a double wound Just in an instant in thy stubborn heart Celia I le tell thee now a wounder Love that before had ever found me arm'd Against his shafts and all his subtile trains By others wounds and through anothers heart Found passage into mine And whilst that they Wounded to death lay breathing forth their souls Love all besmeared with their goary blood Usurpt the shape of pitty and then arm'd Under this quaint disguise the traiterous boy Found means to wound my heart and after that Neglecting both mine Arrows and my Bow Despising Earth the Sea and Heaven it self I found no rest to my tormented soul Longer then I stood languishing besides Those wounded Shepherds and with weeping eyes Mixing my plaints with theirs There from their fainting foreheads I did wipe The cold distilled sweat there with these hands Did I still dress their wounds Oh cruel wounds That whilst I drest them could thus wound my soul Yet had I then some Truce with sorrow when I said within my self unhappy Maid What new found sighs are these whence can proceed This unaccustomed heat which boyleth thus In thine inflamed heart Ah silly fool Said then my heart to me this is nought elese But pitty well deserved pitty canst thou be So ignorant as not to know it then Or dost thou grudg them pitty who to save Thee from a fearful death lye dying now Thus whilst I thought it pitty and not love Flatring my passion I still nourisht it And still encreased my unknown desire But when I after came to know it well Oh too too late discovery when once I found them lovers then too late I found I was my self a woful lover too And by the light of their bright burning flame I saw mine own heart burning in the same Serp. And art thou then with equal love belov'd By both of them again this may abate The wounding sorrows of thy troubled soul But how did'st thou discover their desires Celia By many many tokens for me thought I heard within my self a murmuring sound Which eccho'd out their love and then my heart Answer'd that sound again and yet deceipt I know not how did so obscure my sence As I could not at first beleeve it true Till one day it fell out that whilst the poor Amy•tas lying in tormenting pain Which day and night afflicted him so sore That he could hardly finde an hour to rest Pitty so wrought as I obtained Truce Sometime with sorrow that I might invite With the soft accents of my slender voice His heavy eyes to sleep When he with a sad sigh sent from his heart Darted a look at me and to me said Ah my dear Celia when I see thee not I am but as one dead and canst thou think That when I see thee then 't is possible For me to sleep before those glorious beams Which shine out of thine eyes I thus surpris'd Straight fled feom him and ran unto the place Where wounded Niso lay opprest with pain And calling for mine ayd Where whilst
was it then Fil. The noysom feeding of a poysonous hearb Ah me was the cause of all Cel. What of a poysonous hearb then this way sure The heavens have shew'd me now a means to dye O all ye gracious Gods can it be true That any pitty to my lasting woes Should then ascend to heaven Fil. The Kid ascend to heaven what butting then Will there be seen 'twixt him and Capricorn Cel. But let me yet beware lest the mistake Of a poor siily boy should bring my thoughts Of death into a by-word and a scorn Tell me my boy how do'st thou know the Kid Dyed by a poysonous hearb Fil. I le tell thee When the Suns hot burning beams About the mid time of the day gan rage I led thy flocks unto those shady Meades Not far from hence do'st thou not know them those Which 'twixt the Rivers and the Woods are fraught With such fresh springing grass and ever green Where being once arriv'd observe me Celia And whilst the bellowing of the heards apply'd Unto the sound of my small Oaten-pipe Seem'd to salute the fresh green pasture there Thy pretty Kid Ah my dear pretious joy Thy pretty little Kid all full of play Running and Skipping with such wanton frisks Playd with the grass in such a pleasing way As that I do not say my self no no But to say true even all thy gentle flock Left off their feeding and stood gazing on The pretty sport he made Celia Be brief be brief my Filino I have no time To tattle now tell quickly what I ask Filino Softly give ear Within the twinkling of an eye he ran Quite cross the Meadow till at the last he came Unto that little streaming Brook which runs Next to the Hill and there began to feed Upon an Hearb which yet I never saw Grow any other where and there did graze With such an Appetite and eat so fast As it did fatten me to see him taste And relish it so well But on a suddain Oh sad heavy chance I saw him trembling fall and think you not That in an Instant I flew to him straight I look't upon him cal'd him prest his Limbs He look't on me again and seem'd to moan His sad estate and trembling seem'd to say Ah Filino I dye Thus did I see his eyes grow dark and dim Those pretty eyes of his I saw retire Into his head his eye-lids closed up And thus alas I saw him dye Celia But yet I am not satisfied perhaps He did but saint and onely seem'd to dye Perhaps it came too by some other means Then by the hearb he fed on Th' art a child Poor Filino as yet and little knowst What doth belong to cattle or their food Filino Well! but Nerete that grave hoary Beard That reverend peece of age is he a child And knows he nothing too what doth belong To hearbs and beasts Celia What did Nerete say Filino He at my cryes came running in and found Me standing by the Kid with weeping eyes To whom when I related had the cause Of all my moan Oh wicked hearb quoth he Drive Felino go drive thy flock from hence Unto some other place which said he straight Ran to the Kid and drew him from the place Where then he lay unto the Rivers side But I had not the heart to see him thrown Into the water so But wailing ran To find thee out Celia Nerete doth deserve to be beleev'd The death then of my Kid is certain now And so 's the cause thereof come Filino Come le ts away Filino And whether Celia To find out that same Hearb Filino And what to do Celia Let not that trouble thee Filino Ah! with what eyes shall ever I behold That Meade again Celia Come quickly Felino what i' st thou dost Filino I look at Nerea that 's coming here Ah let me stay a while for she is wont For every kiss I give her to bestow An Apple on me Celia Nerea follow me quickly and take heed Thou dost not anger me Filino I come I come see if she fly not hence Like to an arrow from a Bow Act. 3. Scen. 3. NISO NEREA. Niso. AH were but now Amyntas here That he might know the story of my death And of her cruelty Ner. He hath already heard and griev'd to hear it I met with him when Celia went from me And told him all the sute that I had made To her and how unkindly she refus'd To give an ear thereto and him I left Close by the River mourning like a friend For thy misfortune Niso. Go on then tell me what didst thou reply Ner. Ah cruel Nymph said I then to her straight And wilt thou not admit a loving soul Unhappy in his love at least to tell The nature of his grief Niso. And she Ner. There 's not a Shepheard she made answer then Whether a strange or a native born There 's not a Shepheard that dares be so bold As to importune Celia for her love Each man flies from me every man that 's wise Locks up his words in silence and if yet There be a man that suffers for my sake Let him relate his sorrows to the trees And be assur'd that trees and plants will prove Less deaf than Celia and more apt to love Niso. O cruel and most savage heart Ner. Tush this was nothing her fierce angry looks Spake more than did her tongue for all her speech Was full of such obscurity as I Could hardly understand her what she meant But then I saw her cheeks grow pale as death Her ruby lips too lost their colour quite I did not see her weep but yet I saw Her eyes full fraught with grief though free from tears And then as if she had disdain'd her self And such fond looks as those she shakt her head And suddainly her eyes grew red with rage And shot out flames of anger till at last I could perceive her in a threatning wise Brandish her dart I know not well at whom Niso. At me without all doubt and I my self Even I my self will straight present her with This naked breast and with this hand tear up This wound again which is but newly clos'd That so her Shaft may find a shorter way Yea and a wider passage to my heart And since that cruel she denies to hear The story of my woes she yet shall hear The sad relation of my fatal death And so perhaps in that same point of time When her fair hand shall fling her dart at me In that same happy point of time I may At least before I dye say that I dye Ner. Unhappy Shepheard ah alass those eyes Those lovely eyes of thine must not alone Drop brimsh tears but even I must needs My self weep with thee too for company But Niso my sweet youth 't is fit I should Give him some comfort I will not deny But it is true that Celia shew'd her self Beyond all measure cruel yet who knows But that
way If the bright glistering of her scattered hair With too much beauty dazle not mine eyes 'T is Cl•ris or 't is rather she because Mine eyes do dazle and from thence I know 'T is she indeed for there is none that can Display such golden locks before the Sun It must be Cloris who alone is she That hath fair Celia's heart Cloris it is Than whom in Scyros Celia never knew A true friend Oh happy thou if she Will but conveigh thy gift Niso. But I am no way known to her do thou Do thou speak for me and entreat her help Act. 3. Scen. 4. CLORIS NISO NEREA. HE comes not yet and I must here attend The old mans leisure Niso. Why do'st thou stay Ner. For loves sake peace Clor. But what shall I do here alone the while Sigh out my love then let us turn again Unhappy love unto our wonted pains And sighing still breath out my luckless wo Into this amourous air Niso. Go yet at last what do'st thou fear Ner. She plaies the wilie wench I know her well By many proofs be stil a while Clo. But where alass O where are you lost sighs And whether do you wander through the air If yet you know not where to find the heart To which love sends you erring messengers Of most unhappy news Niso. Woes me go on and try her though my case Be ne'r so desperate for whatsoe'r befall I can but dye Clo. Ah! shall I never live to see the day When once before I dye I may behold My beauteous Sun again 'T is but a look I beg and then I le dye And dye concent for one look and no more I would give up my life and its worth that Niso. Ah Nerea Ner. Have patience now I go Clo. O heavens Ner. The gracious heavens satisfie Clo. Ah me Ner. Thy just desires my gentle Cloris Clo. Thy unexpected voice made me afraid Ner. But pitty then anothers just desires Use thou that pitty which thou do'st implore Thy self from heaven Clo. What should I say I doubt she hath heard all Thou seest me Nerea here all alone Sighing for that blest day when I shall once Behold again in heaven above that Sun Which I in Smyrna saw But what do'st thou desire of me what is' t Ner. The life of a poor Shepheard Clo. Farewel I 'm gon Thou knowst I never lend an ear to those That speak to me of Love Ner. O spightful soul do'st hear fly not away The thing whereof I speak 't is true is love But such as thou wilt not denie to hear Beleev 't it is and by this hand I swear This fair th is tender hand which now I grasp Clo. What 's that for loves sake give it me Ner. Sh' hath snatcht it from my hand Cloris look on 't Is' t not a fair one but thou shalt have time Hereafter to look on it long enough Now hear what I would say Clo. 'T is none of mine for that 's about my neck It must be that of Thirsis O ye Gods What 's this I see Ner. Bear up my Niso and resume again Thy late lost courage see shee 's pleas'd beyond All measure with thy gift and she will bring Fair Celia to like it too If she but take in hand to give it her See how she looks upon 't Niso. Follow it then Nerea O follow it Thou onely canst revive my hope again If yet my hope can ere revive again Clo. But if my Thirsis should be dead and so The Ring be faln into some others hands Who gave thee Nerea this golden ring Ner. A gentle Shepheard gave it me Clo. A Shepheard here of Scyros Ner. No but a stranger born Clo. And to what end then did he give it thee Ner. He gave it as a token of his love And his eternal faith Clo. Of love to thee Ner. To me Look I like one ' whose love is to be bought With others gifts O no I am too old 'T is not for me to sell my Merchandise She that is rich in years must buy not sell If she intend to please her self in love But thou dost know this and dissemble it His love is of a higher nature fram'd Unhappy he loves a despairing hope Saving that fortune in this hooped ring But mark in what a narrow space still moves And turns his fainting hopes to her he loves Clo I prithee ease my pain and let me know What name that Shepheard bears where he abides Or let me see or let me speak with him Ner. 'T is that which he desires Niso stand forth Behold the Shepheard here for whom I plead It cannot be but he is known to thee As one of those whom if thou didst attend The solemn pomp which was this morning held In payment of his vow thou needs must see Triumphing in the Temple Niso. Yes I am he fair Nymph who did triumph This morning and this very night must dye If love be not my help Clo. Both name and voice and look all different But yet what doth not time and fortune change And still me-thinks he doth resemble him But yet my heart goes faster than mine eyes And therefore I am fearfull least desire Too much desire should mock my fawning hopes Say gentle Shepheard is this ring thine own Niso. It is mine own save onely in as much As I am vow'd unto anothers will Clo. When where or how didst thou come by it or Who gave it to thee excuse my bold demand The thing it self deserves it as a rare And unseen jewel in this Isle before Niso. For loves sake doe not press me to rela•e So long a story now when I have left So short a time to live I had it when I was a child and when My better fates made me live happily I had it from a hand that swaies the rule Of somthing else than beasts or horned heards I had it nor will I deny it to be true I had it as a pledge of love Of faithfull love which I long since have lost And now within these fields Ah me fond hope Go still pursuing the recovery Of my old wonted pains Clo. 'T is Thirsis it is he 'T is Thirsis without doubt and to this hour Lamenting still my loss he rangeth thus These fields to find me out O faithfull heart O me above all else Most happy lover This is that blest day Which I have sigh'd for long and this the bliss The want whereof I have lamented so Now sighs and tears adieu here ends my wo Niso. Seest thou not Nerea how she woes me At every pause still turns her self about And reasons all alone And now if I mistake her not she seems Strangly confounded and I know not why Cl•ris. As yet he knows me not is not assur'd And therefore takes advice of Nerea Nerea Perhaps she yet suspects and is in fear The gift is meant to her thou never law'st A more reserved Wench Clor. How can it be that love doth
know not how the mournful memory Of my first earnest but unhappy love Is even now in mid'st of my new flames When it should least have troubled my sad thoughts Renew'd within my soul and whilst now this Now that and each within an instant prefs Sighs from my heart and tears out from mine eyes Tears overflow and sighs confound me so As my poor heart doth faint Amyn. And so thy heart amid'st such ardent flames Such fervent heats serves onely now to be The hot consuming furnace of true love Oh miserable soul when Celia darts One flashing beam hath it not power enough To burn one silly heart Unless love force New flames out of a beauty now extinct Is she not dead if I remember well What thou hast said who now revives thy heart Niso. O yes she died a child and in the East My rising Sun declined to the West She died a child and if a beauty since And such a beauty as perhaps did not Seem coy to me such as thou seest me here Offer'd me love I in an instant turn'd Mine eyes another way or dull'd their sight With the full flowing streams of showring tears Onely the unkind beauty of my Celia Had force to work that strange effect in me Which the most loving beauty else could not Nor can I tell how it was brought to pass That I could neither flye nor yet withstand Her all commanding power and thus new flames Without confounding of my former heat Incense my heart afresh whence I am forc'd St•ll to bewail my Phillis still to sigh For Celia's love she is already lost And her I cannot hope ere to enjoy This then is all I can expect to gain To lose my sighs and spend my tears in vain Amynt Whilst thou do'st thus bemoan thy sad mishaps Grief grows into excess Let us discourse Upon some other subject I can learn No news of Cloris nor of Nerea From that young Goatheard with whom for that end I stayd behind thee talking in the wood Niso. Which way shall we pursue them then depriv'd Of all the helps that may direct our course Amynt Why should we follow thus their steps in vain I am already weary and 't were best To rest us here in this large open plain From whence we may discover round about What passeth too and fro and underneath These spreading Beech es here we may attend In hope to meet them and refresh our selves In this cool breathing shade where we may dry The trickling sweat from off our me ting brows And take a sweet repose Niso. Agreed Amynt But what is' t I behold there in the skirts And entrance of the wood betwixt those twigs And the round body of that tree Niso. It seems a Nymph sure by her cloaths Amynt Oh! 'T is fair Celia see her Azure gown Those silver buskins and that golden Bow Shew it is Celia which lyes here retir'd Under this gentle shade 'T is she Niso. Lies Celia in the shade behold then you That wish to see the Sun conceal his beams Under a shadow here enjoy your wish Amynt Speak softly for I think she sleeps Niso. Sleeps she O if some pittifull I will not say Or God or man but some kind gentle dream Some wandring spirit would but whilst she sleep Securely thus present before that soul That cruel soul the lively image of The poor tormented Niso with his cheeks Bedew'd with tears his grisly pale-fac'd looks Brought to the very point of death and beg Some spark of pitty for me Who can tell What hope it might produce for sure I am That whilst I sleep I feel love waking still Even in the very shaddow of my dreams But wretched man to what pass am I brought When dreams and fancies must sustain my hopes Yet now at least I may for once behold That lovely visage unsurpris'd with fear To see her flye me straight Amynt And I alass must every moment hear Anothers woes and yet conceal mine own But I am silent still because I dye Each minute that I breath and no man cries At that same very instant when he dies Niso. I look on every side yet cannot come To view her beauteous face Amyntas see Me thinks that Bramble-bush still craving seems With too much love to stretch his thorny twigs Too near as if he meant to kiss The sweet vermilion Roses of her lips O impudent bold rival thy base briers Though arm'd with spiny prickles shall not thus Prevent me in my happiness Amynt Softly dear Niso that thou wake her not Niso. Ah me so near to my beloved fire I am all Ice and in a shaking fit Wonder of men Yet thus we ought to fear The beauty we adore I dare not move Me•thinks great love from thence darts forth at me Invisible strong powerful shafts do thou Do thou Amyntas who art out of fear Of all his Darts with freer boldness try To let me see her face Amyn. I will But yet alas to me 't is not a task So easie as he deems Niso. Amyntas Ah! Amyntas do'st not feel Thy trembling foot march an uncertain pace Stay stay awhile me thinks thy pale-fac't looks Tell me thy fears yet thou art not in love From whence then come these frights Amyn. I cannot tell perhaps some god-head sent From Heaven to gard these sleeping members may Strike terror to my soul Niso. No no the beauty of that face can work Awe in the boldest heart Act. 4. Scen. 4. Narete Amyntas Niso. BUt go Silvanus go and take a care The Kid escape not from thee if thou meanst To keep poor Filino alive Amyn. It is Narete Narete See then from him thou fly to Celia And tell the happy tidings of her love Niso. Ah me do'st thou not hear Amyntas Ha! Amyn. Narete welcome but what happy news Hast thou for Celia that concerns her love Narete That her beloved Kid is yet alive Niso. Thanks be to Heaven I am restor'd again Amyn. What that young Kid which Filino ere while Went all about Lamenting with such tears Narete The simple boy beleev'd him surely dead And he had surely dyed had I not come Led thither by his cryes for he had fed Upon a poysonous herb whose mortal juyce First casts into a sleep then sleeping kills If ere the venome seize upon the heart The visage be not bath'd or sprinkled with Some moystening drops which may recall again From depth of sleep the cold benummed soul And therefore I to whom the hearb is known Straight ran unto the Brook and therein bath'd The dying Kid and drew him forth alive But what my sons were you beholding there Some beast within his den Niso. O my Narete 't is a savage beast I dare tell thee no will I keep it hid For thou art old yet with those snow white locks Know'st how to pitty simple youthful love Here lyes a savage beast more savage far Then is the Basilisk more deadly too For he doth onely poyson with his looks
But she doth kill whether she looks or no For see Narete see she sleeps secure Yet I stand dying here Narete I see And now both know the beast and understand The poyson that she brings and my kinde son Would I were as well able to give help To thy disease as I can pitty thee 'T is true I 'me old but I remember yet Mine own young wanton joys and envy not Anothers youthful love Niso. If thou canst do nought else yet prove at least If with thy hand though trembling thus for age Thou hast the courage to remove those twigs And let the beauty of her face appear We both have tryed in vain so sweet a task For thence I know not how there still breaths forth A secret vertue which when once the foot But tends that way doth stupifie the hand And nums with cold the vigour of the soul Even in the very Center of the heart Narete Hear a bewitching beauty and a work Done by enchantments Womens beauty is If yet you know it not the Magick power Of Heaven above by which it works on Earth Those stranger wonders which weak men admire And that same heat and cold that courage and That trembling fear with which when Heaven is pleas'd To bridle and restrain a lovesick soul Are bare effects of her great Magick art 'Gainst which nor charm nor hearb nor pretious stone Hath power to help for scarce can it avail To bear a rugged visage cover'd with A wrinkled skin which many years agon Was partch't with heat of the Suns burning beams Yet I that am thus armed may perhaps More boldly venture on this enterprise Then you can do and bring to happy end What you see unsuccesfully begun Niso. Go on and prosper then Narete And stay you there Niso. But hark Narete hark take heed thy noise Do not awake her for thou then shalt see Her like a flash of lightning vanish straight And after her my silly heart will run So hastily as I shall not have time To say poor heart adieu Narete Stand you concealed then for if she wake And see not you she will not fly for me Amyn. Do'st hear do'st hear Narete Good Heavens guard me Amyn. Take heed least whilst thou do'st remove those thornes No prick do race her gentle tender skin Narete Thou seem'st more tender far then she Go back and look but yet be silent still Niso. Now he is there and now he goes to work But ah me thinks that hand whilst thus it moves Afflicts my jealous heart Narete Alas dear Shepherds Oh! dear Shepherds run Run quick Ah me for Celias either dead Or will be by and by Amyn. Ah me Niso. O fates fair Celia dead Narete Here is no shadow which can darken thus Her clearer colour'd face Niso. Oh Celia life of my life Amyn. But I have not the courage to behold Her dying looks Niso. Wilt thou not answer us Ah me sweet Celia Nar. Niso break thou those boughs from off that bramble Bush And I will draw her forth upon the grass Amyn. Say good Narete doth she live or no Narete For all this motion I cannot perceive That yet she breaths again But let us lay her here Act. 4. Scen. 5. Niso. Narete Amyntas Celia OH my sweet Celia Oh my dearest soul Nar. Give way that I may let her Bodice loose And give ease to her breast Amyn. Lives she Narete say Narete Now I may feel her heart What leaves are these which in her bosome thus Lye here conceal'd as if they had of late Been gather'd by her hand Amyn. Comes she not yet unto her self Niso. Oh sad discouler'd Roses mixed with This perfect snowy white loe here the shape Which death should take if death could then be made Subject to love Narete O miserable strange unheard of case O most unhappy Maid unusual death O most cruel homicide Amyn. Ah me then is she dead Niso. And who was he that was the Homicide Where is the wretch Amyn. •n what foul den or in what horrid Cave May the most hateful Tigre be found out Niso. Let us pursue him straight Amyn. Le ts go Already I have kil'd him in my thoughts And now me thinks I tear him with my teeth Down to the very heart Narete Fond frantick men what fury thus transports Your erring minds or whither will you go Niso. To seek revenge Narete Ah turn again blinde men the murderer The Homicide is here Niso. Come back Amyntas her 's our enemy Amyn. And where Niso. Where good Narete where Narete See here at once both she that did the deed And she that suffers under it extinct Observe what here with her own proper hands The unhappy maid hath written in these leaves For Niso and Amyntas I did burn But I was cruel and a faithless love And that I might not still be false to them And cruel to my self Lo thus I dye O thousand thousand times most wofull chance Amyn. Ah me Niso. Ah me so loud that Heaven it self may hear Amyntas ah Amyntas was this fair Amyn. Niso for loves-sake peace by all the Gods Thou do'st me wrong thus to complain of me I lov'd by force yet never made it known Niso. And this thy silence now brings death to me Amyn. Ah me no more Niso. But since fair Celia's dead 't is fit I dye And yet alas my death 's not worthy hers Amyn. Ah me Narete Yet I would see at least how 't was she dy'd Niso. Amyntas ah since thou did'st help to make Me thus unhappy help me now to mourn Narete Her fair white neck carries no guilty signe Of any strangling cord Amyn. Ah me poor soul my grief is all shut up Within my broken heart and there it feeds Onely on tears and will not suffer one To spring out of mine eyes Narete Nor is this place neer any precipice Amyn. But cruel Wo insatiable griefe Do thou devour my heart and let my tears Distil out of mine eyes give way at last To pitty that it may break up The deep abyssus of my sad laments Narete Her dart is innocent of this offence Niso. Sweet Celia wilt thou not hear me yet Poor naked soul to what place art thou fled Could'st thou endure to leave this comely frame Here all alone benum'd and frozen thus Narete Her garments are untouch't Niso. Come back return and look but once again Upon this lovely feature and then fly From it the second time if thou hast power Narete What hearb is this wherewith her lap is fild Niso Amyntas run run quickly run Unto the nearest fountain Niso. What neerer Fountain can there be found out Then the fresh springing current of mine eyes Let us lament our office is to mourn Let bathes and funeral piles be others care Narete Alas 't is now no time to weep in vain Go go I say fetch me some water straight To bath her face withal leave off begon Amyn. What other water needs there here to bath Her face
it will not become you to give ear Unto the dreams and fancies of a Soul Grown frantick in her Passion it is true And I will not deny but that she hath Her part in that same fatal ring but yet No share at all in the offence for when Or where was it she threw it or who can Bear witnesse of the fact I threw it there Just there before you on that craggy cliffe Which to the River lends a rugged Path I know the place full well Per. 'T is true and there close by the River side I took it up Niso. Fillino saw me when I threw it there Poor simple Fillino who wants the wit To frame a Lie and he will witnesse it Clo. Cruel though thou hast rob'd me of Both life and soul permit me yet at least The liberty to die Oro. What do'st thou say Perindo me thinks now In these their riper looks I do perceive The lively semblance of that sweet aspect Their younger age did bear Niso. Do'st thou my Phillis haply grieve to see That I that am thus guilty of thy death Should die for any other cause but thine Per. See what a strife love works sure these are they These are those pretty little Lovers mark How love himself is grown up with their age And he that like a Child in Thracia seem'd To play the little wanton in affection now Shews forth a perfect love which draws them thus Do you observe it to contend and strive How death in one may th' other keep alive Oron. Tel me young maid thy name where wer 't thou born• Who was thy father tell me that Mel. Her name is Cloris and Melisso mine She is my daughter and we both were born Within the fruitful fields of Smyrna Cloris Cloris of Smyrna and the daughter of Melisso I was cal'd whilst I desir'd Under these feigned names to fly from death But now I am no more that Cloris no I now am Phillis and in Thracia Some time I liv'd that Phillis I am now Whose death thy cruel Lord so much desires More of my self I know not this may serve If onely now thou aymest at my death Oron. Cheating old dotard darst thou then to me With such an impudent and shameless face Vent thy pernitious lies Mel. Mercy great Sir mercy I crave my life Lies now within your power Arban of Smyr•a tursted to my care The charge of this young maid and to avoyd Both hers and his and mine own danger thus I labour'd to conceal the truth Oron. Thou speak'st confusedly still nor am I yet Well satisfied in what I did demand Tell me in plainer terms how first she came To live within thy power Mel. Sir I will tell you but restrain a while Your just incensed rage Ah me Oron. Leave off those sighs and answer me with speed Mel. Then when the King of Smyrna did assault The Thracians confines with his armed Troops One of his men that Arban whom but now I named to you took as prisoners This Nimph then but a child and with her too A Boy about her age Niso. And lo Oron. Peace not a word but thou go on Mel. Their looks their cloaths and their behaviour Seem'd to declare their fortune was not mean And therefore Arban much delighted with So rare a booty fearing least the King Might afterwards deprive him of his joy Keeps them conceal'd Nor cares he to obey A strict decree that every souldier should Deposite in his Royal hands such spoyls And all such prisoners as he had got Mean while the King of Thracia full of rage With threatening terms demands his children back Nor can I tell whether that strict demand Proceeded from desire to see them dead Clo. Oh? did not Arban tell thee that it did Hast thou not told me so a thousand times From whence then on a suddain rise these doubts Mel. Arban 't is true did tell me so but yet Perhaps with art he feign'd it purposely You Sir are like to know Oro. I know full well proceed Mel. The King of Thracia urgeth his demand The King of Smyrna hears no news of them And yet desires to send them back to Thrace So to appease the high displeasure of His now incensed enemy and to obtain A speedy wisht for peace And therefore straight proclames just punishment To him that should conceal and large reward To him that should discove• what he sought Arban that fear'd his yet conceal'd theft At last might come to light conveighs them both By night unto the neighbouring mountains where He oft times us'd to hunt and there •e chang'd Their habit and their names fully resolv'd They should unknown lead a rude ru••ick life In country base attire and that the •ne Might not be by the other sooner known To me he gave this maiden and the boy Unto Dametas an inhabitant Of a remoter tract Besides as one that knew 't was ill to tr•st Two loving souls in two such tender breasts He made the two young lovers each beleeve The other surely dead Oron. And how from Smyrna then art thou become A dweller here in Scyros Mel. The fury of the War increased still And as if it intended to assault High heaven it self it first ascended up Into those towring hills and I Poor I alas when I beheld with grief An inundation of fierce armed men To break in round about when I beheld Troops of proud furious horsemen swarm below And fill the neighbouring Vales when I did hear The shril mouth'd Trumpets eccho from the hills With fearfull Birds and harmlesse heards of Beasts I took me to my flight and hither came Where my Progenitors at first did live I flying came to Scyros but Ay me Where can we flie from that which Heaven wills Since the great power of Heaven all places fills Oro. And of the youth Mel. I can tell nothing more of him Niso. If for his death thou askest after him Great sir he is not far behold me here I am that Thirsis whom Arbano gave Unto Dametas and with him I liv'd Untill last April when the warmer Sun Return'd again to melt the Icy snow Then I alone within a steerlesse Bark By an impetuous torrent far from help Was driven off to sea where onely fate Provided me of Sails and in short space I know not how but I was safe convey'd And cast upon this Shore Clo. Sir I begin to faint grief breaks my heart And if thou make not hast it will deprive Thee of the honour of my death Niso. Give ear to me Sir and let her alone At least till I be dead Oro. I do both hear and understand enough I see that both of you desire to die And I will give you both content Per. Alas what wil you do Sir Oro. Perindo peace Mel. Ay me I go for 't is not possible That living I should here behold my death Oro. But let us go unto the Temple straight That in a place of greater eminence And with more
the temple and you there shall see Amyntas and his Celia both of them Your children too and enemies before Profest to love who yet were even now For love both hasting to a wilful death Why do I hold you thus and one by one Declare your joyes go to the temple straight And there behold this Isle this little Isle Fill'd with as great a joy as much content As such a little Isle can comprehend The sad despairing lovers are espous'd This Island from an horrid tribute freed The day is come O thousand thousand times Most happy day the day is come when once This little Isle is set at liberty Sir O you supernal powers Orm. Serpilla Ser. But Why doe you still delay the time the hours The flitting hours of mans quick fading life Are too too short and too too long the woes That doe attend it still doe not retard your bliss Go to the temple straight go you your selves And their behold your joyes Sir Le ts go Ormino lets go that once Yet ere we dye these eyes of ours may be Blest with this unexpected happiness Orm. Le ts go but whither thou Sireno guide My fainting steps for I know not which way To move my trembling foot Act 5 Scen 9. Narete S•rpi•la Nar. HEre me Serpilla stay I held my peace With pain 't is true but yet I held my peace Nor would I let my doubts disturb the joyes O• t•ese two good old Shepheards here but yet I understand them not thou do'st let loose With too too large a stream the torrent of So many comforts on a narrow heart Infuse it gently therefore drop by drop And tel me first that Thirsis and that Phillis which Before were Niso and fair Cloris call'd Those whom but now the Thr•cian Captain led To a most certain death shall they now live Serp. They both shall live and are become withall The most contented happy lovers that Ere yet did sigh for love Nar. And was it not then true that for desire Cruel desire of their long wisht for death The Thra•ian Emperour did with such rage Demand them of the King of S•irna Serp. That I cannot tell but sure I am that Thrace Is th' onely authour of their happiness Nar. Yet Cloris did affirm it here but she Was certainly deceiv'd by the fraud Of him in Smirna that conceal'd them both And with good cause Melisso did suspect That he did but dissemble what he said That so they both of them for fear of death Might labour with the greater art to keep Themselves from being known Serp. 'T is true Oronte saith it too Nar. O then how vain is humane providence He sought to cover that by fear of death Which now desire of death hath brought to light But for the fault about the hoop of gold Which here was carelesly thrown on the ground For the contempt against the image shewn How could Oronte find a means to save The guilty person thus against the Law Serp. Their case was dangerous and for my part I gave them both for dead and mourned for Their hard mishap but see how it fell out Wearied with following Niso whom I fought I sate me down close by the temple side Where straight a rumour was disperst abroad I know not well from whence that all in hast Oronte then was coming and did bring Unto the temple two unhappy wights Before condemn'd to dye for their contempt Unto the royal image of his Lord At whose sad coming the proud Thracians seem'd To laugh for joy and so from thousand tongues Sent forth one cry that reacht to heaven it self Exclaming let him dye O let him dye But presently Oronte darts about A fierce imperious look at which they all Amaz'd in silence mutter'd not a word When he reply'd Hear O you Thracians hear The supream Laws of Thrace have onely force Within the Thracian Empire and against Those that do serve the Thracian Emperour But Scyros is not as you now beleeve Subject unto that Empire hear your selves Th' Imperial decree which in this Ring This very Ring it self in which engrav'd The royal Image stands is written here In fair Egyptian Charracters and then I le read it with a voyce so audible And I with that attention heard it read And have it fixed so within my heart As I dare confidently swear I can Repeat it word for word Nar. O then repeat it as thou hop'st for bliss Serp. Phillis and Thirsis two descended from Sireno and Ormino when they come Where ever Heaven shines there let men know Love made them lovers faith combin'd them so That they were both contracted Destiny Had made them slaves the King hath set them free And for their sakes Scyros is from this day Free'd from the tribute which it us'd to pay Thus he and casting then a look that way These he replied these are those happy two Whom their more gracious stars could make so dear To Heaven and to their King these same are they I know them very well let that suffice To you O Thracians And do you two live Quoth he then turning with a gentle smile To those two happy lovers live you still And live still to enjoy your constant love By free possession of your spousal rites Let these sad Mothers take into their Arms Again their little children and let all With chearful acclamations sound aloud The liberty of Scyros Nar. O amongst all whom the blest sun doth warm With his reviving heat and when the Sea Bathes with his quiet waves dearly belov'd And by Celestial providence now made Most happy Isle the winds shall now no more Conveigh thy mournful sighs above the waves After thy dear lost children but the babes Whom thou do'st generate shall bless their birth And be by thee sustained whilest they live And when they dye rest in thy graves in peace That so thou mayst to thy dear issue be A fruitful Mother and a careful Nurse And left a Tombe to free them from the curse Of wandring souls that find no sepulchres But Phillis then and Thirsis what said they Or how did they behave themselves Serp. Their first encounter was like such as seem'd Retir'd for fear and much perplexed with The suddain tremblings of a doubtful heart Bashful and nice and being thereto drawn Even by Orontes self who joyn'd their hands They seemed to embrace unwillingly And kiss as 't were by force But having fuel thus put to their fire It quickly then encreased to a flame And each hug'd other so as you may see The twining Ivy when it seeks to clasp A full grown Elme as if it seem'd to say It could not well subsist without that stay Then might you see from one to others mouth A thousand kisses in an instant sent And whilst their amorous lips as overcharg'd Stood sucking here and there loves Nectar thus That sweetness followed and that Rubie Die So grac't those lips as that they seem'd to me Flowers that did bear
both honey and the Bee So that at last you might perceive the cleer And lively beams of their quick piercing eyes Grow faint and dul as overcome with sence Of too much pleasure and extream delight And I that saw it sayd within my self Ah me 't were to be fear'd these two would dye But that ther 's hope that in a skirmish of So many kisses neithers soul can find A way to vanish and leave them behinde Narete And could poor Phillis then so soon put off The thought of her disdain could she so soon Forget the injury of that new flame Wherein her Thirsis burnt for Celia Serp. It seems that yet thou do'st not understan The laws of loves kind duels thou must know A venie of sweet kisses one to one is able to give satisfaction For any injury love can sustain But if thou dost consider all things well Tirsis did her no wrong he was deceiv'd And did beleeve her dead and t is well known That loves great empire though 't be vast and larg Doth not extend beyond the bounds of life Love hath no jurisdiction ore the dead Nor can his fire raise any kindly heat Amongst those frozen reliques those cold bones Besides all this if any mark can rest Of fault in Thirsis he hath shed those tears That may suffice to wash away the stain And what can she have more poor soul in deep Repentance for his errour he did here Submit himself to death and happy was That Errour that could find a way to make So generous amends Or rather happy was that errour which By erring thus could find a way to make So many blest whom it did not offend His love to Celia was the happy cause Of all our happiness for thence it came That Thirsis was first known to Phillis then Phillis to him and last of all that both Were to the Thracians known Nar. Thou saist exceeding true and now behold How full of windings and obscurity Those secret wayes are which the Gods do use Who would have thought them so in sum 't is true That heaven is a labyrinth in which Who seeks to spy out what th' eternal fates Have there decreed may easily lose himself But then I fear least Celia's fervent love Which yet is fuming hot should still disturb If not young Thirsis with his late quencht heat Yet Phillis with a jealous freezing cold 'T is not a task of easie labour thus Within an instant to extinguish quite Both love and jealousie Serp. What is it thou do'st dream if Thirsis be Son to Ormino must he not then be Brother to Celia too Nar. Forgetfull that I am these many strange And unexpected changes have almost Depriv'd me of my sence Thirsis it is true A brother unto Celia and their love Must now be at an end But what becomes Of C•lia and of A•yntas the• I cannot yet conceive a way to find A wisht for end to their de•pairing greef Serp. In that same very point of time behold A fatal point of time they came unto The Temple Where fair Celia sees fast tied Within the arms of Phi••is her belov'd And yet beleeved Niso guess you then What posture she was in She straight grew pale With jealous rage and cold as any stone And that she died not then I think the cause Was onely that her grief pend up her soul Within her froze• heart Thirsis that saw it quickly freed himself From those imbraces wherewithall he held His Phillis in his Arms And running straight Unto her said O my dear C•lia My dearest Sister but no more my love I am Ormino's son Thirsi• and so Become thy brother our affections er'd For nature should have guided them not love Let us submit then to a lawfull love And spend our erring flames where they may find Fit objects for their heat She whom I did beleeve dead long ago Is sister to Amyntas and my spou•e Espoused to me in her infancy Thou that art now my Sister shalt enjoy Amyn•as for thy husband both your loves Deserve it well and I am well content All that did hear him smil'd and she that yet Amaz'd perhaps at such a sudden change Well understood it not when more at large And more distinctly she had been inform'd Her fancy freed her heart inlightened with The sence of truth made her clear up her looks And give a cheerfull smile Nar. But then what said she Serp. Nothing but half asham'd she did cast down Her eyes unto the ground when yet her heart Sent through her eyes two gentle tears that fell Like tears of joy and gladnesse to declare The sweet content she found Nar. O thou most blest Amyntas who hath kept The laws of love and friendship so intire As that 'mongst friends and lovers thou may'st raise Statues of joy and of eternal praise O thou most blessed Celia see the Hervens Have hitherto been pious lookers on And pittifull beholders of thy woes O heaven O earth O sea O we most happy all But you dear lovers above all the rest Phillis and Thirsis O for ever blest Serp. Since thou art satisfied I now will go And tell these joyfull news in other parts Nar. See how the heavens in an instant have Dissolv'd the most intricate hard knots That ever turning fortune yet did knit And that when unto humane reason they Appear'd indissolable such the strange Eternal power is of high providence And now may future ages fill their Scenes With stories of our unexpected joy Such is the Will of heaven in disport And in th' Abissus of his secret power Thus to confound poor silly mortal men You therefore that with high presumption think By humane wisdom to discover all The secret workings of eternal fate Learn from this wonderfull successe to know That he alone can see these sacred things Who shuts his eyes and trusts what heaven brings FINIS