Love's Kingdom A Pastoral Trage-Comedy Not as it was Acted at the Theatre near Lincolns-Inn but as it was written and since corrected BY Richard Flecknoe With a short Treatise of the English Stage c by the same Author LONDON Printed by R. Wood for the Author 1664. Licensed April 22 1664. Roger L' Estrange To his Excellence William Lord Marquess of Newcastle My Noble Lord THe People who as one sayes well are Iudges without Iudgement and Authors without Authority had condemn'd this Play on the Stage for want of being rightly represented unto them at which many noble Persons were so much offended as I could not in any one Act do it more right or give them more satisfaction then by Printing it to shew its Innocence As it is it has had the honour to have been approv'd by most of the better and wiser Sort and if your Excellence but adde unto it your Approbation I desire no more It wants much of the Ornament of the Stage but thât by a lively imagination may easily be supplyed For my part unless it may be presented as I writ it and as I intended it I had rather it shu'd be read then acted and have the World for Theatre rather then the Stage Having said thus much by way of Prologue I leave you to the Play remaining alwayes Your Excellencies Most humble and most devoted Servant Richard Flecknoe To the noble Readers TO think to write without faults is to think to peel a Bulbus Root to the last Rinde or sweep an earthen Floor to the last grain of dust and 't is hêre as in the Mint where if the Dross exceed not the pure Or it passes for currant Coin The greatest fault in this kinde of writing is to erre agâinst Art and Decorum of which I hope this Play is free who findes fault with the mirth in it never consider how here with us mirth in Playes of this kinde is like Alloy in Coin which though it abases it yet makes it more passible For the Rhyme 't is more excusable in Pastorals then in other Playes and where I leave the Rhyme or numbers I imagin'd that as a good Actor was like a good Singer so a good Play was like a good Song where 't is not necessary all notes shu'd be of an equal length For the Plot 't is neat and handsome and the Language soft and gentle suitable to the persons who speak neither on the Ground nor in the Clouds but just like the Stage somewhat elevated above the common In neither no stifness and I hope no impertinence nor extravagance into which your young writers are apt to run who whilst they know not well what to do and are anxious to do enough most commonly overdo Those who think it so easie now to make a good Play will tell me some twenty years hence how hard it is when they will finde that 't is not a good Humor or two in a Comedy will do it which are good supports 't is true but to think they will make a Play is to think a Pillar or two sufficient to make a House nor the writing a fine Copy of Verses or two sufficient to make a Tragedy or Trage-Comedy but there must go a Genius as well as Ingenium to 't with long exercise and experience But to leave their Playes and return to ours if you like it for whom I writ it I have my end which was onely in an innocent and harmless way to divert my self and you The Persons represented THe Prologue spoken by Venus from the Clouds Theotimus Loves Arch-Flamin and Governour of Cyprus Polydor Loves Inquisitor Diophantes one of the Advocates of Loves Court Palemon A noble Cypriot in Love with Bellinda and lov'd by Filena Evander A stranger come to Loves Kingdom on devotion Pamphilus A vicious young fellow stranger to Love's Kingdom and imagining all as vicious as himself Philander a noble Cretian Bellinda's betroth'd Bellinda a noble Cretian Nymph stranger in Love's Kingdom Filena a noble Cyprian Nymph Amaranthe Governess of the Nymphs Cloria Mellissa Lydia with others Nymphs of Cyprus Chorus of Musicians and young Virgins 2 Aruspices Love's Sacrificators The Popa or sacred Executioner Guards c. The Scene Cyprus with all the Rules of Time and Place so exactly observ'd as whilst for Time 't is all compriz'd in as few hours as there are Acts for Place it never goes out of the view or prospect of Loves Temple The Prologue Spoken by Venus from the Clouds IF ever you have heard of Venus name Goddess of Beauty I that Venus am Who have to day descended from my sphere To welcome you unto Love's Kingdom here Or rather to my Sphere am come since I Am present no where more nor in the Sky Nor any Island in the world then this That wholly from the world divided is For Cupid you behold him here in me For there where Beauty is Love needs must be Or you may yet more easily descry Him 'mong the Ladies in each beauteous eye And 'mongst the Gallants may as easily trace Him to their bosoms from each beauteous face May then fair Ladies you Finde all your Servants true And Gallants may you finde The Ladies all as kinde As by your noble favours you declare How much you friends unto Love's Kingdom are Of which your selves compose so great a part In your fair Eyes and in your loving heart Love's Kingdom Actus primus Enter Evander and Pamphilus The Scene a delightful Landskip or Paisage Evander IS 't not a pleasant place Pamph. As e're I saw but I can see no Wenches yet and that I long for Ev. Why Pam. What a question 's that why do the hungry long for meat I pray Ev. Then I perceive you are an Epicure in Love and onely wo'd feed your body Pam. I am no Platonick Philosopher who while they feed their mindes do starve themselves give me a Love that ha's some substance in it Ev. Well this is no time for to convert you behold some coming here Enter a Troop of Nymphs and Shepherds singing and dancing hand in hand The Song Come and in this pleasant Grove Sacred to the Queen of Love Let our Voices and our Feet In harmonious number meet Thus we sing the year throughout And merrily merrily dance about â—xeunt Ev. O happy Land of all the sun surveys where thus perpetually they pass their dayes and if onely a living death it be or dying life to live in misery seeing their joyful lives we well may say in all the world there are none live but they Pa. They 're dainty wenches I le say that for them and I must needs follow them Ev. Nay prethee Pam. Never talk of it I can hold no more then a good Greyhound when he sees the Hare or Hawk the Quarry it is all my sport and inclination and by their mirth and jollity I know they 're right and of the Game Ev. There 's your errour and ignorance now
comes another if I understand any thing in women will be more kinde Fair Nymph Enter 2 Nymph 2 Pray keep your way Sir and trouble me not Pam. This is worse then to'ther Did you but know how much I love you you 'd never refuse my courtesie 2 And did you but know how little I care for it you 'd never offer it Ham. Hei ho have ye the heart to hear me sigh thus and never pitty me 2 Yes indeed and to laugh at you for it too to hear you sigh thus like a broken-winded bellows or a dry pump and spend so much breath in vain as we shall never wonder hereafter at Lapland Witches selling winde so cheap Pam. But I shall alwayes wonder that hêre in Venus School the Nymphs shu'd learn no more compassion 2 Now ye talk of Schools I must to the Graces Grove where all the Nymphs are gone to learn their lessons Exit Pam. And I will follow them strange that all shu'd be honest I have heard of one or two in a Countrey or so but all âll was never heard of before I don't despair yet Well Exit Enter Amaranthe Filena Cloria Lydia Melissa The Scene the Graces Grove the Statues of the three Graces in the midst all hand in hand embrac'd Am. Now Nymphs here in the Graces Grove A place which Beauty most does love And gentle Love most highly prize Let 's fall unto our exercise Of studying all those gracious parts Which most do take and conquer hearts Enter Pamphilus Pam. Now will I stand here conceal'd and observe them they say all women when they are alone put off their modesties I shu'd be glad to see it Am. First Nymphs in honour of the Graces Let us compose our looks and faces To gentle smiles for no frowns here In any face shu'd e're appear Pam. If I thought they would not frown I shu'd soon be amongst them Am. And next as we our faces do We must compose our garments too With such a decency as best Becomes the modest to be drest Pam. Wo'd they 'd put off their garments once that 's it I look for Am. But since the graces of the minde Are those which most adorn our kinde It ought to be our chiefest care To render our interiours fair Counting th' exterior nothing else But outward garments of our selves Pam. Give me the out-side and take the inside who 's list Am. Other Graces there are beside Which Nymphs shu'd carefully provide As dancing singing and such arts Which through the Sences strike their hearts And give where ever they are found That dangerous yet gentle wound Which never can be cur'd again Till Hymen ease their amorous pain Pam. I co'd ease and cure it a great deal better if they would but let me alone with them Am. Then let us sing that Eccho may The sound unto the Woods conveigh And after raising it more high The Woods conveigh it to the Sky That heaven and earth may both partake The Harmony your Voices make Here the Nymphs sing Pam. I co'd make othergess musick with them if I were but master of the Quire amongst them Am. Now let 's have a dance to shew How that which does enchant men so Is not the Magick of the face The red and white nor bodies grace But 't is the Magick of the feet Where all harmonious numbers meet Here the Nymphs dance Pam. I think there 's witchcraft in 't indeed for I can as well be hang'd as hold now but I must have a frisk amongst them Hei for our Town He comes out dancing Fi. A man amongst us what insolence is this Exit Pam. Nay never look so strange on it there are those can dance too you shall see else he dances 'em about one after another Mel. Was ever seen the like Pam. Yes twenty times How say you Lyd. Away are you not asham'd Pa. No indeed I was never asham'd in my life nay you must have your turn too Clo. Let me go or I 'le cry out else Pam. 'T is yet too soon I 'le give you more cause presently Lyd. Away Melissa Exit Mel. Away Cloria Exit Clo. Away Lydia Exit Am. Away all of you this is a rudeness must be complained of Exeunt omnes manet Pamphilus Pam. Look ye is not this a lamentable case that all the Nymphs shu'd flye me as chickens do a Kite or birds some strange Owl yet I protest I mean them no more harm then their fathers did their mothers as they shu'd soon perceive if they wo'd but try me once I fear I shall never do any good on them yet I must follow them still For the devil 's in 't when once we begin to follow wenches we can never give over Exit Enter Philander solus The Scene the Cyprian Shore a waving Sea afar off discovered c. Phi. Hail happy Island Natures chiefest care Where all things love and all things fruitful are Where Spring-tide makes perpetual Residence And rigid Winter 's ever banisht hence In you O blest and happy Land in you I shall finde her if the Oracle be true Through all the Islands of th' Egean Main These three moneths I have sought and sought in vain Till here arriving now at last I see So vaste a solitude as amazes me Nor on the barren Mauritanean Shore Or Lybian Desart scarcely co'd be more Enter Palemon Pal. I 'le hide me no longer from my fears nor fly The danger 't is childish and cowardly And well considered rather does increase Our dangers and our fears then make them less For looking through that false optick fear Danger does still more terrible appear And terrors in the dark far more afright Th' imagination of 't then in the light I 'le then to the Temple and whate're befal By help of this I am prepar'd for all Pointing to his Sword Phi. Sir might a stranger here desire to know Why all your houses are deserted so As if some plague had swept 'um and the Land Depopulated as if some enemies hand Had mow'd it with the sword to me it does Appear to wonder strange that love shu'd thus Leave his own Land unpeopled whilst he Peoples all others so abundantly Pal. Know Sir 't is not for want of people here Loves Kingdom does so desolate appear But just as we perceive from every part The blood does all retire unto the heart In any great commotion or dismay So all the people in no less to day Are gone to th' Temple in expectancy O' th' issue of our great solemnity Phi. What 's that Pal. Why by the Laws of Cyprus here All strangers after three moneths are to swear They love some one i' th Island or be sent Away into perpetual banishment Now Sir this oath a Nymph to day must take Phi. And why shu'd that so great commotion make Pal. 'Cause she 's the joy or grief of every one Joy if she stay and grief if she be gone Phi. What is this Nymph so
this from me your Nymphs are bashful and so cautious too they will not seem to love although they do and 'twod appear a miracle to me she shu'd not feel love who makes so many feel it or that her heart shu'd resist that alone was never yet resisted by any one But there 's I fear some farther misery in 't and the gods are highly offended w' ye or they 'd ne're inflict on you as they do so heavy a punishment to love one who neglects you and the while to neglect one so dearly loves ye and see where she does come Enter Filena Fi. Where shu'd this Nymph be she 's not at home nor in the sacred Grove and 't is too soon to go to th' Temple yet Pol. Well I 'le leave you Pal. What will you go and leave me alone then Pol. How can I leave you better accompanied Pal. In company of one I hate Pol. In company of one who dearly loves you and for your hate to her in these pretty skirmishes there is no fear of danger for now y' are foes and then the peace is made and you are friends agen and so I leave you Exit Pal. What shall I do she has spy'd me and there 's no avoiding her I 'de best dissemble then and by one importunity avoid another Gentle Filena well met Fi. Kinde looks aside that guild the sun-shine as that guilds the day Kinde words whose ravishing sweetness melts into my heart at sun-shine of those looks of his how I 'me o'rejoyed with them Pal. I have a suit unto you Fi. And I another to you Pal. To me fye fye Nymphs sue to men Fi. Why not Palemon here where Love 's not onely Love but Vertue too it no wayes misbeseems a Nymph to wooe But what 's your suit you may be sure that I am too much yours Palemon to deny you any thing Pal. You know Filena how much I love Bellinda and how much I long to know if she loves me which you can tell me best are confident of all the secrets of her breast Fi. Some secrets she confides to me 't is true but of her Love I know no more then you for that 's a warfare where each one 's a spy and every rival is an enemy She 'd ne're trust me with 't then whom she does know am both a Lover and her Rival too Pal. Howe're Filena you do know at least those softer minuts when Nymphs minds are best dispos'd for the impressions of Love in one of those then prethee do but move my Suit unto her especially before she goes to th' Temple when she must needs be more dispos'd then ever and thou shu'dst infinitely oblige me by so dear a courtesie D' ye hear Fi. I do and will you hear me now Pal. If y 'ave any new thing to say I will but of old businesses I pray no more Fi. That can't be old that 's every day renew'd Pal. And how can that be new I pray that needs renovation every day But of this enough prethee Filena go and if you love me as you say you do know now 's best time to shew 't for Love's best shown by doing their wills we love before our own Fi. Well then to shew how much how dearly I love you I will go and though Love a burthen be which two hearts equally shu'd bear and then 't is sweet and light But when once all the weight lyes upon one alone a grievous and intollerable one my heart shall bear it yet and ne're repine or else I 'le not acknowledge it to be mine Pal. That 's bravely and nobly resolv'd Fi. But is there no hope no pitty for Filena Pal. To deal ingeniously w' ye and not abuse you with civility There 's pitty but no hope for Bellinda has all my stock of Love and consequently for loving any other has rendred me so poor as I can dye but I can love no more Fi. Since you are so resolv'd Palemon know Filena too can dye as well as you and be assur'd that the same messenger brings news Palemon does Bellinda wed shall carry back the news Filena's dead Pal. Soft soft Filena for I 'de have you know to th' thing call'd dying there goes more then so and every Coward is valiant enough to talk of death but when it comes to th' proof their hearts do fail as yours no doubt will too wherefore dear Filena I 'le be gone and shall not fear to leave you here alone spoken scornfully â—xit Fi. Cruel Palemon is 't not enough that thou refusest me but thou must scorn me too This is not to be endur'd one nobly born can better suffer injury then scorn but what do I say wretch as I am or how com these high thoughts in one that 's faln so low I 'me now engag'd what ever does befall and those who are slaves to Love must suffer all Exit Enter Pamphilus looking after her Pam. Hey whurr there boults another wench the Warren's all full of them and I like a good Tumbler am ready to throw my self after every one and see here coms another alone too Enter Amarantha this opportunity is the shell that Love is hatched of and the Nymphs here just like young Lapwings run away with 't on their heads you shall see how I 'le accoast her now Fair Nymph might I be so bold I pray to request the time o' th' day of you Am. Oh Sir with all my heart it shall be any time o th' day you please for me I 'le not stick w' ye for half an hour or so Pa. Lo ye there now there 's ne're a sextons wife in all Cyprus co'd answer ye more courteously a kinde Wench I 'le warrant her Let 's see what 's next now Pox on 't I better know what to do with wenches then what to say to them and we Complementers of the first head when w' are past our legs faces are past the greatest part of our discourse It shall be so and how have you done I faith since I saw you last Am. Right and methodical how d' ye and what 's a clock I 'le wager now next is what news or somewhat about the weather the ordinary discourse of those who can discourse of nothing and when was 't I pray you saw me last Pam. Why in Plato's great year don't you remember it I do as perfectly as if 't were but to day by the same token meeting you just as I do now I took you by the hand and kissing it led you just into such another Grove as this Am. Just no such matter pray stay a little sure you don't remember well Pam. Most perfectly by the same token I saluted you too She puts him by Am. I knew you were quite wide not me I 'le assure you Pam. You can't deny 't I 'me sure Am. Indeed Sir but I can Pam. And thereupon I told you that having so fair opportunity but lose it you 'd never have
and I must part And where I must resign my latest breath Then farewel life and welcome sweetest death To prisoners freedom to the weary rest Comfort to th' sad and ease to the opprest who 'd then indure such worlds of miseries When life 's but pain and death no more but this Now now I dye yet Love lives in me still Falls As if what Love does wound Death durst not kill Who doubt then whether thou immortal art O mighty Love could they but see my heart And bosom here where thou canst never dye It would assert thy immortality Enter Pamphilus Pam. Bless me amongst what a generation of Nymphs am I fallen here who are all so precise and pure as when they come but where men are they take the wind of 'um for fear of being got with child as Spanish Ginnets are and when they go away brush themselves carefully from the dust for fear of a spice of fornication ever since they understood that man 's but made of dust Ha! what have we here a Nymph a sleep ah pretty rogue have I caught you napping she sleeps as snug and soundly as a young sucking pig you can scarce perceive her breath what a great blessing is a sleeping woman for they 'l lie quietly yet methinks I shud know her Enter Lydia Lyd. No news of her yet 't is strange but who is here my goblin agen what 's that he looks so wistly at I wonder a Nymph asleep for modesties sake I 'le wake her out alas 't is she and dead help help the glory of Our Hamlets here the pride of all our plains Grace of the Nymphs delight of all the Swains Our Isles chief ornament Filena's dead The gentlest Nymph as Cyprus ever bread Exit Pam. How is she dead what a beast was I then to let her go for I 'me sure she was alive Enter Lydia agen with Polydor and Guards Pol. A Nymph dead in our wood it cannot be here are no Savage Beasts and much less men so barbarous and savage to kill and murther 'um where is she Lyd. There Pol. Alas 't is she indeed how came she dead d' ye know Lyd. Not I onely in this posture I found her and that stranger by her there Pol. Oh I know him and have cause to suspect considering his former misdemeanors here that he 's the likeliest man to have murther'd her seize on him and let him be examined Pam. So now am I finely serv'd for hunting after wenches to be catcht my self instead of catching them and like to be hang'd for it for ought I see well if I be my comfort is I 'm not the first man that wenching has brought unto the Gallows nor am like to be the last Enter Amaranthe with the other Nymphs Am Where is she where is she stand from about her there Pam. So wou'd I with all my heart if I cu'd get away Am. She is not dead but onely intranc't Pam. Marry and I 'm but little better Am. You 'l see with this cool water she 'l strait revive again Pam. And hot water will scarce bring me to my self again Mel. Take my tears too if water can only do 't Lyd. And mine Clo. And mine Mel. And all of ours to boot Enter Palemon Pol. O Palemon welcome I sent for you by order of Theotimus to let you know strange news of Bellinda Pal. I fear I am but too familiar with it already they whisper Am. See she begins to stir And opens her eyes I told you their fair light Was but ecclipst and not extinguisht quite Pol. Then you may let him go Pam. Marry and I 'le be gone then as fast as I can and flye the land too before I 'le be put in such a fright again Exit Fil. Where am I in what Region of the dead not in hell sure for there are far more horrid visions then are here nor yet in heaven for there agen are far more glorious ones where am I then An. She thinks she 's dead still Fil. Ha Palemon here nay then I see Love takes delight still in tormenting me And there 's some middle place 'twixt Heaven and Hell Where wretched Lovers such as I do dwell Where sh'ud I go to flye the sight of men And where to flye Loves fires and arrows when Where e're I go just like the wounded Dear I flye in vain that which I carry here Exit Am. Go follow her and look carefully unto her Her wandring minde you 'l see will come anon unto its self when her amazement 's gone Pal. Whate're it be methinks there 's somewhat here Whispers remorse and chides me as it were For my unkindness and stern cruelty Unto this Nymph who thus wo'd dye for me But as loud windes won't let us hear the soft And gentle voice of others so the thought Of dying for Bellinda will not let Me hear its voice nor hearken to it yet Enter Diophantes Dio. O noble youth whose famous memory Shall never be forgot or ever be remembred without praise Pal. What news brings Diophantes he 's so transported with it Dio. Thât which had I a thousand tongues to tell Or you a thousand ears to hear wou'd well Deserve them all Soon as 't was rumored Bellinda must dye for having falsified The sacred Oath but this stranger instantly Offered himself with such alacrity to dye for her as Love ne're gain'd so glorious a victory nor ever so triumpht over death before Pal. Oh me if this be so I shall become th' derision and the scorn of every one and was his offer accepted Dio. That you know by th' Laws here co'd not be refus'd him Pal. How Ha's he prevented me but do I stand Senseless and stupid as I were dead here and Had not a life to lose as well as he No generous stranger whosoe're thou be Since thou wert born my Rival thou shalt prove I 'le rival thee in Death as well as Love Exit Pol. I fear the event of this Am. And so do I But wherefore is Bellinda doom'd to dye Pol. For perjury and falshood whilst she swore She lov'd one here being betroath'd before unto that stranger there Am. All thât may be Without forswearing yet and perjury For what if he she swore she lov'd be he she was betroath'd unto Pol. That cannot be For she was in the sacred Cell 't is clear Long time before he e're arrived here In Sequestration separated from Society of all mean time her tongue Charm'd silent and eyes blinded as they were How co'd she see or know that he was here Dio. Are you convinced yet Am. No not alwayes they Convinced are who know not what to say For my part until farther proof shall shew Her guilty I shall ne're believe her so For just as Images in Tapestry Do all appear distorted and awry Until they 're fully explicate and then We see they appear all right and streight agen So shê we now think guilty we may finde Innocent
her you took from her before For all the Isle knows 't was Filena who Enkindled the first sparks of Love in you Till haplesly for both Bellinda came And after rais'd those sparks unto a flame And holy Vestals ne're with greater care Preserve their fires then we Loves fire's air Enkindling one straight in anothers room Pal. In tepid hearths fires kindle not so soon The. Call not that tepid where late such a fire Did burn ne're any in Cyprus flamed higher Pal. But Loves fires once extinguisht leave hearts more Tepid and cold then e're they were before The. Come don't dispute for I 'm to be obey'd And now but look upon this gentle maid And tell me truly did you ever see A fairer or a sweeter Nymph then she One for whose love there 's not a gentle Swain In all the Land but sighs and sighs in vain And she to love you and to love you so She willingly would dye for love of you What cleansing water or what purging flame Can expiate your not loving her again Fi. Fall all the fault on this devoted head Rather then blame him for 't wou'd I were dead 'T is my unworthiness and no fault of his He does not love if any fault there is The. Yet obstinate as you are are you not mov'd To love again where y' are so dearly lov'd Pal. These vaults and walls built for eternity Love's Temple shall be sooner mov'd then I The. Nay then 't is needful we apply I see Our utmost and extreamest remedy Lest the contagion o' th' example shu'd Nourish bad humors and corrupt the good Let him to th' desart Island straight be led Whither all Loves Rebels are banished Pal. Unto what place so e're I am confin'd I may change place but cannot change my mind But stay what sudden earthquakes this I feel Makes the walls totter and foundations reel o' th' Temple here The. 'T is well 't is a good sign Love who moves stones will move that heart of thine More hard then they and see O wondrous sight The Temples fill'd with unaccustom'd light And love with flaming brand amidst it flyes Illuminating with it all the skies Now rebel as thou art thou soon shalt know Whether Love's God have any power or no. Pal. Just as some gentle gale does fan the fire There 's somewhat here within that does inspire My breast and now't increases more and more Till that which onely was a spark before Does by degrees so mighty a flame become As I am all but one incendium O Love to whom all bosoms must submit I feel thy mighty hand and reverence it The. Just so Phaebus the Delphick God inspires The Pythonesses breast with sacred fires Onely the God of Love more mildly burns And ' stead of raging unto sweetness turns Chorus sings So gentle Love does all command In fire and water air and land And all with his commands inspire In Land and water aire and fire Pal. And can you pardon me Fi. I can pardon any thing in my Palemon but onely his doubting whether I can or no. And for the rest Account my self by Love most highly blest Who payes debts best the longer he forbears T' have all my morning sighs and evening tears My daily griefs and nightly sorrows past Rewarded thus abundantly at last They embrace Pal. My dear Filena Fi. My dearest dearest Palemon The. Enough enough leave your embraces till At fitter season you may take your fill Of such delicious pleasures and contents Such sweet delights such joyes and ravishments No heart can e're conceive no tongue express The thousandth part of their deliciousness To Phi. and Bel. Now see and wonder these are Lovers too This is the least of miracles Love can do Phi. Noble Palemon I congratulate Your and the fair Filena's happy fate Pal. And I noble Philander rejoyce no less At your and fair Bellinda's happiness The. Never was more abundant joy and now To th' paradice of happy Lovers go Where with redoubled flames Love's God does prove Whose hearts are most capacious of love And then with all becoming rites and state When once your marriages are celebrate Philander you and fair Bellinda may At your best pleasure either go or stay Exeunt Manet Evander to whom Pamphilus enters Pam. And what shall we do Evan. I for my part since there 's so much joy and happiness in marriage resolve first to go home and dispose of all I have and after come and marry here Pam. Promise you so won't I if there be no wenches nor wenching businesses here it is no place for me wherefore my word is Come here no more Ev. And mine is Come agen Pam. I 'm sure I shall have the greatest part of my opinion Ev. And I all the nobler and the better And now let 's see which number is the greater FINIS Filena's Song of the commutation of Love's and Death's Darts In the narrative Style LOve and Death o' th' way once meeting Having past a friendly greeting Sleep their weary Eye-lids closing Lay them down themselves reposing Love whom divers cares molested Could not sleep but while Death rested All in haste away he postes him But his haste full dearly costs him For it chanc't that going to sleeping Both did give their darts in keeping Unto Night who Errors mother Blindly knowing not one from t'other Gave Love Death 's and ne're perceiv'd it Whilst as blindely Love receiv'd it Since which time their Darts confounding Love now kills instead of wounding Death our hearts with sweetness filling Gently wounds instead of killing Another Song CElia weeps and those fair eyes Which sparkling Diamonds were before Whose precious brightness none could prize Dissolves into a pearly showre Celia smiles and straight does render Her fair Eyes Diamonds again Which after shine with greater splendor As the Sun does after rain Now if the reason you would know Why Pearls and Diamonds fall and rise Their prices just go high or low As they are worn in Celia's Eyes FINIS A Short DISCOURSE OF THE English Stage A SHORT DISCOURSE OF THE English Stage To his Excellency the Lord Marquess of NEW CASTLE My Noble Lord I Send your Excellency here a short Discourse of the English Stage which if you pleas'd you could far better treat of then my self but before I begin it I will speak a word or two of thôse of other Countreys About the midst of the last Century Playes after a long discontinuance and civil death in a manner began to be reviv'd again first in Italy by Guarino Tasso de Porta and others and afterwards in Spain by Lopes de Vega the French beginning later by reason of their Civil Wars Cardinal Richlieu being the first that brought them into that Vouge and Esteem as now they are well knowing how much the Acting noble and heroick Playes conferr'd to the instilling a noble and heroick Spirit into the Nation For ûs we began before them and if since they seem to have
who do not know how true vertue is a chearful thing rendring its favourites and followers far more chearful too more vertuous they are Pam. Hang Vertue I know no chearfulness but laughing and I 'me sure all the Nymphs here are as supple and pliant as Kids-leather gloves a gentle pluck or two will easily draw them on Ev. How know you that who came but yesternight a stranger hither Pam. And how know you the contrary who came but hither yesternight along with me let it suffice I know all women by instinct and is not this Love's Kingdom answer me to that Ev. Well what then Pam. Why then I am in mine for I 'me the loving'st creature thou doest not know me yet I tell thee I was such a forward Childe I fell in Love with my Nurse in the very Cradle and they were forc't to wean me for fear of spoiling her milk Ev. A great deflowrer of nurses it seems you are but had you not better tarry till Diophantes comes who ha's promis'd to be our guide and instruct us in their manners and customs here Pam. Tarry you for him if you please my busines can best be dispatcht alone and I need no tutors nor conductors for 't I thank you Ev. Well thank your self if any harm come of it Pam. No harm I 'le warrant you but rather good the good of posterity whose business I am going about and methinks I hear the Children yet unborn crying out unto me to make haste and so I will my little pretty sweet Babes Exit Ev. what a wild fellow 's this I 'm sorry asham'd now I know him better that I came along with him to Cyprus here who knows no more of Love then beasts do and 's so bravely impudent and vicious he puts vice impudence to the extreamest proof and shames not to be impudent enough but here comes Diophantes Enter Diophantes Dio. Noble Evander I must demand your pardon if I instead of waiting on you have made you wait for me but I am Advocate in Love's Court you know where so many petty quarrels of Lovers are daily to be reconcil'd W ave scarcely any vacancy at all nor had we dispatcht so soon to day but for the grand Solemnity i' th' Temple Ev. What 's that I pray Dio. Why 't is the anniversary Feast of Venus our Sea-born Goddesses first arrival here upon the Cyprian shore Ev. And with good reason you Celebrate that with all Solemnity that renders you so famous through all the world Di. And to add to th' general Solemnity o th' day there 's a particular Ceremony too renders it more solemn Ev. What Dio. Why you must know that all strangers by th' Laws of Cyprus here are after three moneths residence to swear they love some one i th' Isle or else be banisht now Sir three moneths to day are just expir'd since there arriv'd a Nymph the most admir'd and most deserving admiration as ever in Love's Kingdom yet was known and whether she 'l take the solemn Oath or no onely her self and the Deity do know for to all else 't is doubtful Ev. Can it be doubted that any here sho'd love where they are all born and bred Lovers the very air inspires it and 't is as natural for them to love as 't is to live and breath Dio. True Sir but for our admiration the gods work miracles sometimes and she is one but where 's your friend Pamphilus Ev. Rambled somewhere abroad I know not whither Dio. Of what humour I pray and disposition is he Ev. Why harmless and merry only a little wilde Dio. He thinks perhaps our Nymphs are wanton here but Sir I can assure you they are all so chaste and pure as Christal you wo'd say is not more pure nor Ice more clear then they And for the Land know Sir in all the spacious world there 's not a more religious place where Love with greater purity is profest nor serv'd and honour'd with more pious breast Ev. I 've understood so much and therefore come expresly hither on devotion to render my vows off'rings at his sacred shrine Dio. I applaud you for 't and may the powers divine for every prayer that you send up to them send you as many blessings down agen Ev. Soft who are those come here Dio. Oh now you 'l see A noble Ceremony and Solemnity Enter Theotimus with Assistants of Loves Sacrifiâ—ators with Asperges and Thuribles besprinkling and incensing the place The. Far hence be all profane whilst here With Solemn Rites thus every year To render all our Lovers true We element Love's Kingdom new That no heart may too strongly beat We give its fires a temperate heat We give its waters vertuous force To swage them taken in their Source Fogs of perjur'd vows and oaths Which spotless truth and candour loaths We purge the Air from and the Earth From every strange and monstrous birth For as some Lands their monsters fear Lust onely is our monster here As others pois'nous beasts molest So avarice is our pois'nous beast From which when once a Land is freed Then thên Love's Kingdom 't is indeed Exeunt Manent Evander Diophontes Ev. A Ceremony as religious as great Di. Y'admire too soon have seen nothing yet if but compar'd to what you 'l see anon worthy your sight and admiration Exeunt Enter Palemon in desperate action withheld by Polydor. Pol. You wo'nt be mad Pal. I will be nothing but for Love and for Love I will be any thing pray unhand me Shall Bellinda the divine Bellinda be banisht hence to day and shall Palemon see it and shall he live Pol. And shall the gallant and the brave Palemon dye onely for fear of death how low and poorly wo'd it shew and that 's the worst but I hope better still Venus the Goddess of this Isle has oft done greater miracles then this to make one young and fair to love Pal. O Polydor who has miracles for hopes has hopes too nigh despair Pol. I grant you but yours are far from that for ha's she not promis'd if any i' th' Isle she loves it shall be you And is this no hope no comfort Pal. Just as much as 'mong the numerous and unhappy throng of her excluded Lovers to stand next the door first expos'd to the affront and nighest concern'd in the disgrace Pol. Nay if you give your self despair 't is in vain to give you hope suppose the worst If you love fair Bellinda as you say and she perchance be banisht hence today what hinders you from following her vainly and ridiculously does he complain of Winter who by following the sun might still enjoy the Spring Pal. I but following an ecclipsed Sun what shu'd he gain by it but onely by that fatal light to have every thing appear more sad and dismal then if it absent were Pol. Well though it seem more to be wisht then hop'd that she shu'd love you yet take
the like agen Am. Opportunity for what Pam. Nay if you know not that we shal never have done com leave dissembling I know you Nymphs here are all so learned as your husbands can teach you nothing on the marriage-night but what you knew before Am. Bless me I never heard man talk thus wildely Pam. And how first time you went abroad after fifteen when you return'd agen you found y 'ad left your gloves handkercher and maidenhead with some such odd toyes behinde you Am. Wilder and wilder still I begin to be afraid of him pray let me go is this discourse for Maids Pam. I as good a Milkmaid as my Nurse I 'le warrant you but stay she may be one perhaps and that 't is makes her so shie and timerous for maids apprehend the loss of a maidenhead as fearfully as the loss of an arm or leg and imagine they shall be maim'd forever after Come come ne're fear I perswade you to nothing but what I will do w' ye my self for company Am. I 'me more and more afeard of him I wo'd some body wo'd come to rid me of him and see in happy time here 's some and yonder 's more now I may be Some pass over the Stage as merry with him as he ha's been with me Cry mercy Sir now I remember this Plato's great year you talk of as perfectly Pam. Oh do you so I knew you could not forget it Am. By the same token Theotimus chief Governour of the Isle past by with a numerous train just as we were alone together Pam. Yonder I think he comes indeed Am. When I made bold to ask you one question Sir Pam. What was that Am. Why whether you lov'd dancing or no Ham. Oh exceedingly Am. Right so you told me and thereupon I said he 'd help you then to a certain spritely instrument to dance after call'd a whip a whip d' ye hear Sir worth a hundred of your Kits and Violins to make such gallants as your self to frisk and caper Pam. Umh I remember nothing of all this now but be shrew me next Plato's great year I fear I shall indeed ' less I get me gone the sooner Am. Nay hark ye hark ye Sir Pray don't go yet now I remember me I can tell ye what time o' th' day 't is too Pam. As for that I know it now I thank you it is time for me to get me gone as I take it Exit Am. Why then farewel my Platonick Philosopher and Anteplatonick Lover Enter Theotimus Chorus of Musicians and young Virgins Polydor Evander Diophantes Palemon c. The Song sung by a Bass Tenor and Treble Chorus sings Prais'd be the Deities above Ten. We love Bass. We lov'd Treb. And we shall love Cho. O ye blest immortal Powers Grant this happy Land of ours 1. Pure fires 2. Pure fewel Cho. All things pure And that our flames may ever dure The. Now Children in a word to tell what noble Love is mark me well it is the counterpoise that mindes to fair and vertuous things inclines it is the gust we have and sence of every noble excellence it is the pulse by which we know whether our souls have life or no and such a soft and gentle fire as kindles and inflames desire until it all like Incense burns and unto melting sweetness turns Ev. Whose heart melts not within his breast at hearing this The. Who 's that Dio. A noble stranger come hither on devotion unto Love's sacred Shrine The. He 's welcome Evan. kisses his hands Pal. Somewhat more then this to boo't by experience I can adde unto 't Love is a union of all we happy and unhappy call a mixture where together meet both pleasing pain and bitter sweet the greatest joy and greatest woe a mortal breast can ever know to shew its great disparity in fair Bellinda and in me in her face 't is a paradice where all delicious pleasure lies and in my heart it is a hell where all your worst of torments dwell Th. Once more y' are welcom now set forwards and with all the pomp and ceremony you may proceed to Celebration of the day Exeunt Manent Theotimus and Polydor. The. Polydor stay you you 're Loves Inquisitor look well unto your charge we hear there are besides Atheists who impious deny Love's sacred Power and Authority and Libertines whose vicious lives are such as they profane the Deity as much new Heresies in Love sprung up of late Platonicks Scepticks dangerous to the State e're they take deeper root and farther spread be it your care to see 'um extirpated Pol. It shall most reverend Sir The. Other abuses there are beside 'gainst which we must most carefully provide as talking of Cupid so familiarly as if he were some vulgar Deity and making Love the business and employ of every idle Girle and wanton Boy taking of every fond desire for it whilst difference 'twixt them is as infinite as 'twixt folly and wisdom vertue and vice or deep abyss and highest Paradice This must be lookt unto Pol. As 't is most fit The. Is the Nymph summon'd to the temple yet Pol. 'T is not time yet till the sixth hour be past The. When 't is be it your care to summon her and see that all be ready for the Solemnity This day peculiarly Love is thine work miracles and shew thy self divine Finis Actus primi ACTUS 2. Bellinda sola The Scene a Wood or Boscage Bellinda YE aged Oaks the semi-gods abodes and who your selves in ancient times were Gods and solitary Woods whose walks and shade Lovers so oft their confidents have made whilst never did your walks nor shades disclose either a Lovers joyes or Lovers woes You I dare trust with secrets which I ne're durst trust with any since my coming here I love but Oh! if any list'ning ear shu'd have o'reheard me now as 't is my fear And see where this inquisitive Nymph do's come Wo'd she were deaf or else that I 'de been dumb Enter Filena Fi. I faith I faith I 'me glad I 've found you Bell. Why Fi. For now 't is clear you love Bell. How so 't is as I fear'd she has o'reheard me Aside Fi. These very trees and woods declare it aside Bel. Ay me this 't is to trust ones minde with trees whose leaves whisper with every wind with woods whose very walks shades have ears and babbling Eccho that tells all it hears Fi. She fears 't is a good sign I le urge her further your solitude and retirement too confirms it for no Nymph here retir'd from company ever walks alone but Love is still gentle companion of her solitary thoughts Bell. If that be all 't is well Aside Fi. And why shu'd you with so much caution now conceal this from me as I did not know how Love did all things out of chaos make and all to chaos wo'd agen turn back If all things did not love from Gods and men to senseless
and inanimate things agen and what a monster shu'd Bellinda prove if onely she of all things did not love Bel. Of all the Nymphs that ever spoke with tongue this Nymph has Magick I must bless me from Fi. Where is the friendship y've so long profest to make me such a stranger to your breast Bel. Trust me dear friend if what you say be true I am more stranger to my breast then you Fi. See how you blush now when you tell me so Bel. Ay me mine own blushes betray me too What is it can be secret in a Lover when even their blushes do their Loves discover Fi. What and sigh too nay then you love 't is clear for but for Love none ever sighed here Bel. my sighs betray me too how many traytors have Lovers about them Aside Fi. But why shu'd yôu sigh you live happily and sighs are for the miserable such as I Palemon loves yôu and so loves you too as he even pines away for Love of you consumes with grief languishes with despair melts into tears and sighs himself to air faith give him some comfort e're you go unto the Temple sweet Bellinda do poor Youth he 's in so desperate estate I fear lest after it may come too late Bel. What greater comfort can he expect of me then that if any i' th' Isle I love 't is he Fi. Poor comfort that it shall be him alone if any i' th' Isle you love if you love none this is to mock his hopes and they deny rather then grant who promise doubtfully Bell. More Filena I neither will nor can give him until I go to th' Temple anon and there consult the Gods what I shu'd do Fi. Consult your own thoughts rather and your minde Bell. 'T is not easie as you think to finde the source and origin of our thoughts and minde of which t'one is so deep t'other so high as there are Opticks made to pierce the sky plummets to sound the bottom o' th' ocean but for to pierce and sound a heart there 's none Within Bellinda Bellinda Enter Polydor. Bell. Here who calls Pol. 'T is I. Fi. Gentle Polydor what news from th' Temple w' ye Pol. Nothing but onely all 's prepared there for th' grand solemnity and onely fair Bellinda's presence expected Bell. If 't be so let us away Pol. Soft 't is not time to go this hour yet Bell. And that a day will seem to be a moneth a year a very age to me Exit joyfully Pol. D' ye think she knows Fi. I know not let 's divine and joyn your observations to mine D' ye mark with how great joy away she went none goes so chearfully to banishment Pol. But if her body 's here and mind elsewhere 't is she does banish us and not we her Fi. Well if she love I wonder at her art can carry fire so smother'd in her heart as none nor by the flame nor smoak can know whether sh'ave any in her breast or no. Pol. And if she do not love agen then she of all the Nymphs I yet did ever see the most my admiration does move t' have so much beauty and so little love Fi. I 'le follow and observe her better Pol. Do and I 'le but stay awhile and follow you Exit Filena Enter Pamphilus Pam. That Wench that wench wo'd I give a limb for now though I halted to an Hospital for it and there are many have ventur'd as far for wenches as that comes to I must needs have her and hê here shall be my Agent in the business D' ye hear d' ye hear Sir a word with you I pray Pol. With me your pleasure Sir Pam. D' ye know that Nymph there Pol. Very well what then Pam. Why then I shu'd desire your better acquaintance for look ye suppose a man shu'd have a minde unto her Pol. A minde what minde Pam. Why a moneths minde or so Pol. Why then after a moneth you may be rid of 't Pam. I hope Sir you do not mock me Pol. Indeed Sir but I do you must pardon me Pam. 'T is well you confess it and ask my pardon I shu'd be very angry else I can tell you Pol. This is some simple stranger ignorant of our manners and customs rather meriting pitty then anger Aside aside Pam. He understands nothing but plain down-right language I see that calls every thing by its right name Well Sir since I perceive you are a little dull in plainer terms I 'de fain you understood me Whispers Pol. How Sir Pam. Even so Sir Pol. D' ye know where you are Pam. Why in Love's Kingdom where shu'd I be Pol. But not in Lusts remember that Pam. Pox a these nice distinctions that onely serve to break Dunces heads and keep Maidenheads so long till they are quite marr'd Come come I know no other love but what I 've told you Pol. Then you must be taught and learn other language too or else this Isle I can tell you will prove too hot for you Pam. Wo'd the Nymphs were not so cold and let the Isle be what it will Aside Pol. And now to instruct you a little better know that for all lewd and lascivious speeches we have a gentle punishment here called whipping Pam. Gentle d'ye call it Pol. And for fowl libidinousness an other excellent remedy call'd castrating that takes it clear away Pam. Clear with a witness bless me and all mine from it why this is cruel sir have you no regard then to peoples infirmities Pol. O yes a special one for your wild and unruly heats of youth w 'ave an admirable way of cooling 'um by marrying 'um unto old women of fourscore there 's a cooler for you Pam. A cooler with a vengeance ah ha it makes my teeth chatter in my head to think of it but sure sir y' are not in earnest all this while Pol. It seems sir you love to jest but look to 't and say y 'ad fair warning and so farewel Exit Pa◠Farewel quoth ye marry 't is time to bid farewel indeed if this be so whipping castrating and marrying to old women of fourscore a great consolation for a man that loves a wench but he said all this sure onely to fright me yet let him say what he will woo'd I had that wench say I. Enter Amaranthe Cloria Lydia Melissa c. Whow here comes a whole ocean of them now am I in my element and I shall wallow like a Porposs amongst them Am. What my Platonick Philosopher and Anteplatonick Lover agen Pam. 'Slid is she there I 'd best be gon then I 'm as feard of her as a dog is of a whip Am. What is he going I must needs have some sport with him before he goes Hark ye hark ye sir pray stay a little Pam. Now will she trappan me into a whipping I 'm sure yet I am such a fool I must needs tarry Am. These nymphs here wo'd be glad of your better
much exacts your care Pal. One who some three moneths since arrived here Wrack't on the Coast the rest all drown'd but she In whom appear'd so great divinity It was another Venus you 'd have swore Born of the Sea and landing on the shore Phi. Just so long 't is since she was stoln away from Crete to barbarous pyrates made a prey and her name Sir Pal. Bellinda Sir they call this admirable Nymph Phi. Her name and all and where is she Pal. I' th sacred Cell inclos'd ready to take the oath Phi. And is 't suppos'd she 'l take it Pal. That as yet there 's none can tell But this unto my grief I can full well That less she does you here behold in me The wretchedst Lover ever eye did see Or ever liv'd in memory of men Phi. Heavens what do I hear are you her Lover then Pal. Shu'd I deny it these Trees wou'd tell you I am Upon whose Barks so oft I 've carv'd her name This shore so oft my lamentations hears And Sea that I 've augmented with my tears As with my sighs the air these Sir all these Will tell you I am though I shu'd hold my peace Phi. O Heaven in vain why did you valor give If I can hear this now and let him live But stay if seeing and loving her be a crime I must kill all mankinde as well as him For all wo'd guilty be and you shou'd finde None innocent but the senseless and the blinde I 'le then suspend my anger till I know Whether Bellinda does love him or no For there thêre onely the offence does lie Else hê's the person offended and not I For never Tyrant invented greater pain Then 't is to love and not be lov'd again It shall be so and pray Sir mayn't one see This Nymph you speak of Pal. Please you go with me Unto the Temple Sir there you may both See her and hear her take the sacred Oath Phi. So confident Pal. I 've a promise Sir from her makes me hope so Phi. Then I may well despair Aside yet will I not be jealous for that Though it begins in love does end in hate And I hêr love to mine so far prefer As I may hate my self but never her Yet it is strange if what he sayes be true Pal. But has she any relation unto you you seem so much concern'd for her Sir Phi. No other But what a Sister has unto a Brother If she be th' same as I imagine her Pal. Then I beseech you Sir till some more near relation and bond may binde me t' ye you wo'd be pleas'd for to accept of me for your most humble Servant Phi. That Sir I may not but please you do me the courtesie to shew me th' way unto the Temple and you shou'd much oblige me Pal. That Sir I shall do to shew my obedience or any thing I may Exit Pal. Phi. I 'le follow you then please you to lead the way Now dearest Love in this thy kingdom be As kinde and as propitious unto me As through thy grace and favour I hope to finde Ease for my wearied limbs and troubled minde And a calm port and sure retreat at last After so many storms and dangers past Ex. Phil. Finis Actus tertii ACTUS 4. Enter Palemon and Philander The Scene Loves Temple as before two Aruspiece with burning Censors c. Palemon NOw hêre Love at thy sacred shine I offer up these vows of mine Father of dear and tender thoughts Thou who the hardest bosom softs Soften Bellinda's heart and make Her but thy dear impressions take So shall I burn Arabian Gums And offer up whole Hecatombs Upon thy Altar whilst thy fires Shall shine as bright as my desires 1. Arus Whilst he the Deity does invoke The flame ascends in troubled smoke Phi. What sort of offering mine shall be Divinest Love's best known to thee Nor spices nor Arabian Gums Nor yet of beasts whole Hecatombs These are too low and earthly mine Are far more heavenly and divine An Adamantine faith and such As jealousie can never touch A constant heart and loyal breast These are the offerings thou lov'st best 2. Arus Loves fires ne're brighter yet appear'd Who e're thou art thy vows are heard Enter Theotimus Chorus of Musicians one way Bellinda 'tother with all the Nymphs Polydor Evander Diophantes Pamphilus c. Pal. Now see here where she comes Phi. Her noble frame habit and stature tells me 't is the same The. Why comes she not away Pol. What ails she there Am. Help help she swounds Lyd. Give her give her more air The. Hold hold I charge you and let none presume to touch the consecrated veil Pol. Behold she 's come to her self again The. Let the Solemnity go on then Phi. Now I clearly see 't is she The. Now on this Book here lay your hands Cover'd with skins of Doves and Swans And Love so help you as you swear Unfeignedly you love one here Phi. Now Philander thou shalt know whether she be true or no Pal And I know my destiny Whether I 'me to live or dye The. Thus I uncharm your tongue now speak And to our joyes your silence break Bel. Then by Loves sacred deity I swear I love one in the Isle Phi. What do I hear The. Enough the charm agen I thus apply Pal. O me most happy Phi. And most unhappy I The. Now bear her to the Cell again Where yet an hour she 's to remain Suffer'd to see nor speak with none Untill the hour be past and gone Chor. sings Praised be Love does all command In fire and water air and land And all with his commands inspire In land and water air and fire Exeunt Manet Filena Fi. Bellinda Love nay then my fears I see Were not in vain and nothing's left for me But onely death when nothing else prevails That 's the last remedy and never fails Enter Palemon and seeing her returns Stay stay Palemon This is the last time we shall ever meet Stay then and hear me it is nobler yet To kill me like the basilisk with your sight Then like the Parthians kill me with your flight But he is gone alas and does deny Me the last office of humanity Of closing of my dying eyes in death And when I expire receive my latest breath The many wayes that lead to death do make Me yet irresolute which way to take But some way I must take and speedily Resolve upon it too what e're it be Exit Enter Pamphilus The Scene The precints of the Temple Pam. Strange that I can finde no way to fasten on these Nymphs here comes one now Enter first Nymph and I 'le try a way with her that seldom fails they say Fair Nymph please you to accept these Jewels here 1 Nym. Wherefore Sir Pam. Onely to buy your love nothing else 1. Nym. Bless me Throws them away and exit Simony in love Pam. This is the first wench