all these do Sylvia Nothing with a mind resolv'd Against their flatteries like mine Daphne Mistaken Main They 'll master every stubborn thought And force our hearts to think of Love I know it by my self for I have felt And must confess their power They tempted me to tear my Nets Neglect my Lime-twigs break my Bow And fling my Arrows in the Air. I cry'd there there Diana take These useless Weapons I renounce The Woods and all thy sports for Love Sylvia Renounce 'em by your self and as for me Daphne Who knows Amintas may in time Convert even thee to do as much Is he not handsom Can you see A comelier youth in all the plain If you 're related to the Gods Amintas is deriv'd from Pan You oft have Amarillis seen And in some Fountain may compare Her beauties with your own The difference Sylvia is not great Yet poor Amintas shuns her smiles To follow your contempt and you And for your hate despises Love But think it may not still be thus Think when her Beauties or her smiles Have toucht his heart they 'll laugh at yours And make a jest of thy disdain Sylv. Where e're he pleases let him love And Court what Maid he will but me I 'll ne're be trouble with his heart Nor give him any hopes of mine Daphne What makes you hate him thus Sylv His love Daphne ' Ah cruelty we might expect ' That Ravens would be born of Swans ' Of Tygers Lambs as well as thou ' From tender Parents be deriv'd Sylv. I hate his Love because he hates What I love most a Maiden life While friendship only warm'd his Soul None could esteem him more than I. Dap. You 'd have him then confine his wishes To as narrow bounds as yours He less deserves to be condemn'd For wishing much Than you do for not wishing more Syl. Daphue Peace or if you 'll talk Prithee talk of some thing else Dap. Suppose another Swain should court ye Would you Sylvia use him thus Syl. Thus every one that dares attempt To interrupt me in my sports And he that talks of Love to me I 'll use him as he is my Foe Dap. You may Sylvia then suppose Turtles to their Mates are foes When the Birds begin to sing You may think they hate the Spring You may if you please suppose Nature and the Spring are foes That its pregnant heats create Flowers Plants and Fruit in hate But if you observe you find Every thing to Love inclin'd Doves in gentle whispers woe Their tender Mates and bill and coe The Nightingale flies round the Grove And sings on every Bough I love Beasts by nature fierce and wild Become when Love commands 'em mild The Lyon Wolf the Tyger Bear Less cruel Sylvia than you are In Savage murmurs Love declare E'en Trees their amorous branches join The Ivy fondly clasps the Vine And her kind embraces shew What you to Love and Nature owe. Change foolish Creature change your thoughts And be not constant to a Crime Syl. If Beasts if Trees or Ivy shew What Love and Nature bid me do I 'll tarry till they tell me so Dap. You mock me Sylvia have a care How you make a jest of Love The time will come when you 'll repent For laughing at my Counsel now When wrinkles shrivel up your brow When the clear Fountains you will shun Where now you take too much delight To view your Beauties where you gaze Whole hours with pleasure on that face Which then you 'll be afraid to see Then Sylvia you 'll repent in vain You did not follow my advice Have you forgot or never heard What wise Elpinus told the fair The cruel Lycoris whose eyes Are not more charming than his voice Have you forgot it Sylvia Sylvia I know not what you mean Daph. 'T is strange 'T was in Aurora's awful Cave ' O're whose mouth are writ these words ' Hence hence O ye Profane Battus and Thyrsis being by He told her what he learnt from him Who sung so well of War and Love And left him when he dy'd his Pipe That there 's a place among the darm'd Where all ungrateful Beauties live Tormented with eternal fires The Gods being careful to revenge Their Lovers wrongs and 't is but just That pain should melt 'em into tears Since pity could not touch their hearts ' Think think on this and if you dare ' Persist O Fool in thy disdain ' Sylvia And what said Lycoris to this ' Daph. You 're fond to know anothers thoughts ' But will not change your own She seem'd ' Convinc'd and answer'd with her eyes ' Syl. What answer with her Eyes Pray tell me how ' Daph. She smil'd and turning to the Swain ' In her kind looks she seem'd to say ' I 'm conquer'd take the heart you begg'd ' You cannot wish for more ' She seem'd to say it and 't had been enough ' If men might venture to believe ' Or trust the Language of the eyes ' Syl. Why did he not believe it ' Daph. Have you not read what Thyrsis wrote ' In yonder Wood where sorrow led ' His wandering steps The Nymphs and Swains ' Laught at and pity'd him to see ' The foolish things he often did ' In many of his amorous fits ' Yet foolish as his actions seem'd ' His words were sensible and none ' Have cause to laugh at what he wrote ' Deceitful Glass where oft I see ' False glances to deceive me ' The Heart must with the Eyes agree ' Or they will ne're relieve me ' When dying Looks and smiles I meet ' I 'm still afraid of Treason ' But Love to help 'em in the Cheat ' Deprives me of my Reason ' He Grav'd 'em on a thousand Trees ' And Nature careful of his sense ' Preserves his Verses free from storms ' And makes 'em floorish in the Bark Syl. Daphne we fool away the day In idle talk 't is time for me To be provided for my Sport First then I 'll to the lonely Brook Which glides thro you delicious Wood And bath me in the Crystal stream There playing with the waves a while I grow refresh'd and with new life Rise from the Waters to the Chace Daph. 'T is early I must first go home I 'll meet you after at the Brook And bath me with you if you please But Sylvia think on what I 've said T is of more consequence than Brooks Or Dogs or Forests or your Game And if you know not yet what 't is To love ah learn of those that do Love of all pleasures is the best And none can be without it blest Exeunt SCENE II. Amintas Thyrsis Amin. I 'Ve often found that Rocks and Waves Have answer'd my complaint But oh I never found nor hope to find The Nymph whom I 've so long ador'd As gentle ev'n as Rocks and Waves Is she a Woman One may well suspect If she 's of humane race and yet I see Her
know More than Daphne bid me tell you Or how can you on t'other side Be sure me would not have you come Since then you may perhaps be thought As guilty should you stay Proceed For tho 't is faulty oft to dare 'T is always criminal to fear Your silence shews that you 're convinc'd And your conviction promises success Come follow me I 'll lead the way Amint. Ah stay a little Thyr. Stay You know Time flys us Amint. Prithee let us think A little more of what we have to do Thyr. We 'll think a little more then as we go Come you may alter if you tarry Things too much thought on frequently miscarry CHORUS Tell us Cupid in what Schools By what masters by what rules We must be taught to Love How thou dost inform the weak Teach the ignorant to speak So much like you above ' The Learn'd whom Athens breed ' And Phaebus oft inspire ' May solemn Lectures read ' On Love and want its fire 'T is thou alone dost warmth impart Our thoughts and words improve And only those who learn thy art Of thee should sing of Love Inspir'd by thee the rudest mind In softest notes complains Wit then in Savages we find And Eloquence in Swains ' Lovers by broken words and sighs ' Their meaning can express ' And by their carriage or their Eyes ' We may their wishes guess ' Others then may read the wise ' I 'll read only Celia's Eyes ' Gazing there with much delight ' I 'll take up my Pen and write ' And being thus inspir'd will try ' Who 's more elegant than I. ACT III. SCENE I. Thyrsis Chorus Thyr. O Cruelty extream ungrateful Maid Oh most ungrateful Sex and thou Oh Nature careless of thy Sons Why hast thou plac'd in Womens eyes All that is amiable and kind And hast forgot to mould their Hearts as soft Or make 'em with their Eyes agree Ah poor Amintas miserable Youth Where hast thou hid thy self from human sight I 've sought thee every where in vain I fear the transports of thy rage Have hurry'd thee to do thing For which we all must mourn But see Perhaps those Swains can tell me where Thou art Ah Shepherds have ye seen Amintas Chorus You seem concern'd What reason have ye for these tears Thyr. Amintas poor Amintas is the cause Have ye not seen him lately Chorus No We have not seen him since he went With you towards yonder Wood but why D' ye ask so earnestly Thyr. I fear H' has kill'd himself since that Chor. Amintas kill'd himself for what ' Thyr. Anothers hatred and his love ' Chorus When two such Enemies unite ' What can they not effect Explain ' Your self more clearly what d' ye mean ' Thyr. He lov'd a Nymph too much and she ' Too much despis'd him for his love Chorus Ah tell me all while you relate The story some may come this way And bring us news of him you seek Perhaps Amintas will himself Before you 've finish'd it arrive Thyr. Yes you shall know it for 't is but just That such ingratitude should be As infamous as 't is extream Amintas heard I told him where Alas and brought him to the place That Sylvia was with Daphne gone To bath 'em in a neighb'ring Brook Fearful and dubious there he went His heart still bidding him to stay As I perswaded him to go And thus as he inclin'd to stop I push'd him on and forc'd him to proceed As we approach'd the Brook we heard A womans lamentable cryes And Daphne presently appear'd Beating her Breasts and looking wild As if some horrid thing was done But when she spy'd us she cry'd out Help fly or Sylvia's ravish'd fly Swifter than Leopards on their prey The amorous Amintas slew I follow'd and behind the Boughs Saw the young Maid all naked bound Her hair which in bright tresses us'd to flow Now ty'd her to a Tree What once preserv'd Her Virgin Bosom from lascivious looks Was now the fatal Instrument To hurt her Modesty and bind Her arms about the rugged Bark Her tender feet were ty'd with twigs And o're against her I perceiv'd A wicked Satyr who had then Just fasten'd her for his design Sylvia as well she could strove To hinder his attempts Chorus But what Could she have done at last Thyr. Amintas like a Lyon fierce Rusht on the Satyr with his Dart I pick'd up Stones and was prepar'd To help him when the Monster fled Far from revenge and left our friend Behind who now had time to gaze On all the Beauties he ador'd He saw a thousand hidden Charms Which set afresh his heart on fire And easily one in his looks Might read his wonder and delight Who mingling with his Love Respect Thus in submissive accents spoke Forgive fair Maid forgive these hands If they with too much boldness touch Your heavenly body thus expos'd Oh! Sylvia murmur not at fate Who sent me here to set you free Chorus Such words would soften Rocks And melt the most obdurate heart What said she now Thyr. Nothing but lookt On him who sav'd her with disdain Asham'd to be thus found and loth To be by one she hated freed She strove with all her art to hide Her Breasts and keep 'em from his sight Amintas coming up with fear Unbound her Hair and as he touch'd Her Looks thus said Oh barbarous Tree Unworthy of these sacred knots With which we Lovers only should be bound Ah how couldst thou such Beauty wrong Then trembling he unty'd her arms Whiter than Ivory or Snow And bending to the ground began To break the twigs which bound her feet But Sylvia rudely push'd him off And spite of his respect commanded Him proudly not to touch her feet Hence Shepherd touch me not she cry'd For I 'm Diana's and can loose My feet without your help Chorus Oh! how Could she with so much pride reward Such services and such respect Thyr. Amintas modestly withdrew And durst not look on her again But what he long'd so much to see With pain deny'd himself afraid To be by her he lov'd deny'd I who behind the Covert stood And saw and heard what he had said and done Was oft by just resentment mov'd And hardly kept from crying out To see how haughtily she us'd The man to whom she ow'd her Life Or what is dearer than her Life Her Honour by his means preserv'd And yet oh strange ingratitude When with much trouble she had unty'd Her Feet away she ran and scorn'd To bid the Swain adieu She flew Fast as a Stag but had no cause To sear Amintas who had shewn Such proofs of wonderful respect Chorus What made her fly Thyr. She rather chose To owe her safety to her flight Than to Amintas love Chorus She shew'd in this That she delights to be ingrate Where went the Shepherd then Thyr. I know not Justly provok'd I ran to stop The Nymph but she was gone too far When to
the Fountain I return'd In hopes to find Amintas there I found him not and fear he 's gone To end his troubles with his Life Chorus Tho Lovers often talk of death Few of them practice what they talk Thyr. I wish he may be one of those Chorus He will you may be sure he will Thyr. I 'll go to Sage Elpinus Bow'r There if he lives perhaps he 's gone Elpinus Pipe has often sooth'd his griefs Compos'd his thoughts and gave him rest Rocks listen to the Shepherds heavenly Songs Ev'n Mountains by his Musick charm'd Have danc'd and Rivers flow'd with Milk Honey from Briars have distill'd And dying Lovers been with pleasure fill'd ACT III. SCENE II. Amintas Daphne Nerina Amin. OH Pityless pity cruel friend To snatch away my Dart with which I might have ended all my woes The longer I retard my death 'T will be the sharper when it comes Ah! Daphne why wouldst thou perswade A wretch to live in misery But all thy reasons are too weak The hopes that thou wouldst give me vain Why wouldst thou flatter me from death Since 't is my interest to dye Daph. Despair no more for if I know Sylvia's mind 't was more her shame Than fear or scorn that made her fly Amin. There 's safety in despair but hope Would quickly ruin me I fee You only would be specious hopes Prevent my death a while for what Ah! can there be a torment worse Than Life to such a wretch as me Daph. Live wretched as thou thinkst thy self And under all thy pains support Thy heart that after so much woe Thou mayst tho late o'recome 'em and be blest Let this encourage thee to hope Think on the Beauties thou hast seen And as thou justly mayst expect That all those treasures will be thine Amin. Fortune and Love did only shew Those Beauties to me that my Eyes Might see the riches I 'm deny'd Ner. Why like the Raven must I be The omen of bad news Ah poor Montano how wilt thou survive Thy Daughters loss thy Sylvia's death The death of one thou lov'dst so well No more a Father now at least Without a Child Daph. I hear the voice Of one that talks of death Amin. I hear My Sylvia nam'd it strikes my heart Who calls on Sylvia Daph. Ha Nerina ' So dear to Cynthia so fair ' Her face so white her hands ' Her mien so soft so full of grace ' That she 's the glory of our Woods Nerina 'T is necessary thou shouldst know thy loss Montano that thou mayst procure The miserable relicts of thy Child Oh Sylvia oh unhappy Maid Amint. Ha! what of Sylvia speak Nerina Oh Daphne Daph. What wouldst thou have of Daphne say Why dost thou mourn and call on Sylvia Nerina I 've cause to mourn the fatal things Which have been to day will make You him and every body mourn Amin. What things Ah tell me all my heart Chills at thy words Speak does she live Daph. Tell us what fatal things are done Nerina Why have I liv'd oh Heaven to be The messenger of these sad tydings Sylvia came naked to our house You know perhaps the fatal cause Where being cloath'd she fain would go And forc'd me with he to the Chace We went and in the Forest found The Nymphs who by appointment met Were ready to begin the sport When from the Thicket I perceiv'd A Wolf of monstrous size rush forth Licking his bloody Lips whose foam Reeking and Crimson made us shake with fear But Sylvia from her Quiver took An Arrow put it to the Bow I gave her which she nimbly bent And taking at the Beast just aim She shot him near the Head the Wolf enrag'd Fled to the Thicket Sylvia drew And brandishing her Dart pursu'd Him in the Woods Amint. Oh doleful story Of which if 't is so sad to hear So much what must it be to know The rest Nerina I with another Dart Follow'd 'em by the blood the Wolf had spilt But could not reach 'em they were gone too far I lost her her in the Woods yet still Kept on alone and wander'd thro The frightful Thicket till I came To its most unfrequented tracts Where Sylvia's Dart lay on the ground And at a little distance thence Her veil and while I gaz'd on these I spy'd seven Wolves around a Corps Who tore it with their bloody Teeth So eager on their Prey I saw they woful sight unseen by them With fear and pity mov'd I turn'd My steps and got in safety home This this is all that I can tell Shews the Veil This all of Sylvia which remains Amin. Ah! thou hast told too much Oh! Dear Remains Oh! precious Blood Oh Sylvia now alas no more Daph. Ah! What Nerina hast thou said It strikes his Soul he swoons he dyes Nerina Perhaps 't is but a Lovers fit He breathes still see he comes to life Amint. Ah! Grief too mighty to be born And yet too weak to be my death This office for my hand 's reserv'd And by my hand shall be perform'd If my misfortunes are so sure If Sylvia's dead oh Daphne why Why didst thou renew my pain By bringing me to life again How good how pleasant had it been If â—n an extasie of woe Thou hadst permitted me to dye The Gods who knew I should by this Prevent the torments they 've prepar'd For me to feel inspir'd your hearts With pity that being forc'd to live I might endure 'em all and all I have endur'd for Sylvia's dead Nor is it possible for me To be more wretched than I am And now methinks 't is just that Heav'n and you And all should suffer me to dye Daph. At least defer it till you know the truth Amin. I know the truth I know too much And have deferr'd my death too long Nerina Oh heaven I wish I had been mute When I began the story Amin. Lend me Nerina lend the Veil All that is left me of my love That on it I may feast my Eyes The little way I have to go The little time I have to live That looking on her Blood I may Go boldly to my doom But oh What need such little helps To lead me to my end Nerina No Swain You must not have the Veil if this Is your design I 'll not promote Your death Amint. Ah! canst thou Nymph deny So small a favour to a man Who ne're will ask another The fates still persecute me still declare Against me and in little things Shew what I must expect in great Keep keep the Veil and live in peace Let misery with me forsake these Woods I go to other Shades and never shall return Daph. Stay stay Amintas oh I fear His fury Nerina But we can't prevent What he intends he flies Too fast for us we should in vain Pursue him and in vain attempt To stop him in his course In silence I 'll their fortune mourn Let others tell Montano if they please Few people
good opinion of the publick that whatever the should promote would infallibly succeed And it may not be improper to observe here what an influence Fame has on Certian Authors who having grown popular with their Fustian and Nonsence have in time deserv'd by writing well the Reputation their ill Verses acquird 'em ill usage has frequently the contrary effect and such as have done well when they have not met with the applause they deserv'd by endeavouring after to do better have made the first judgments that were made of 'em just Some think the measure of the Verse too short but Tasso drew me in to this Error if 't is one for since he thought the Italian which is the sweetest Language in the World wanted to be made yet more soft by the shortness of the measure I believ'd the English Heroick would be too Majestick and not so agreeable to the great simplicity which should every where appear in a Pastoral as Verse of seven or eight Syllables The management of the representation particularly that part on 't which I undertook was very ill contriv'd The small acquaintance I have had with such things did not qualify me to undertake what I did and the success was answerable to the contrivance I suppose every part of the Representation might have been orderd to more advantage tho the Actors performd theirs as well as could be expected and I question if any other Company would have done it better But be the Management or the Action what it will I am satisfy'd nothing could have drawn an audience to it when once they had heard what they were to be entertaind with and that their attention was required for three hours without one jest to divert ' em I saw this the first night and should have been much more discourag'd if some men of sense whose judgments I can safely depend on had not assur'd me that there was no reason for 't and that the could not without resentment see the partiality of several persons which might have been employ'd to more purpose against other who Court their applause and value their opinion more than I can SHEPHERDS Amintas Thyrsis Elpinus Ergastus Alfibeus SHEPHERDESSES Sylvia Daphne Nerina Chorus of Shepherds and Shepherdesses PROLOGUE Written by Mr. Dennis THis Play 's no English product but with toil Imported from a richer nobler Soil Then judge not rashly what in better times Great Tasso's Genius writ to warmer climes They who like Nature may suppose it good Tho Nature hut by few is understood She never is but by reflection seen And few are bold enough to look within As when a thoughtful man for sakes the Town And to some Country Solitude goes down With more than common pleasure he beholds The Woods the Lawns the Valleys and the Folds Natures bright Beauties every where he meets His Soul which long had been confin'd in streets With Rapture now her kindred objects greets These rural Scenes like pleasure may impart To those who value Nature more than Art And who have Souls to taste the Language of the Heart EPILOGUE OVr Author was afraid to have his Cause Come before Judges who dispence with Laws For those he sees are always kind to Fools But most severe to such as write by Rules They hate ev'n Nature too as much as Art And nothing but what 's monstrous will divert Those Plays alone that make 'em Laugh delight Where folly oft succeeds as well as Wit So merry in their humours we can scarce Engage 'em now with any thing but Farce What hopes then that our serious Scenes will do They 'll hardly spare 'em for their being new Their Novelty perhaps will give offence But above all we dread their Innocence Vnless the Fair in their defence appear From whom we hope we have the least to fear Love Pity Innocence of right belong To those to judge of who inspir'd the Song And if some persons fancy Farces best Because their own dear Pictures make the Jest The fair have much more reason to esteem The beauteous Images we draw from them To them the Soveraign Arbiters of Wit Our Author only would his Cause submit Whate're their censures are he 'll not presume To think 'em hard nor murmur at his doom As for the Criticks tho he cannot trust That they 'll be either merciful or just Yet if this Play is by the Ladies lik'd He thinks they 're too well bred to contradict ACT I. SCENE I. Daphne Sylvia Daphne SYlvia will you still persist In this strange disgust of Love Will you still refuse to hear Our Shepherds sighs and scorn their tears But if sighs end tears in vain Attempt to move your cruel heart Methinks the hopes that you might have To see a lovely Infant smile And call you Mother should succeed Change foolish Creature change your thoughts And be not constant to a Crime Sylvia Let others if they please be mov'd With sighs and tears and take delight To play with Love I 'll never quit The Forests never leave the Chace Whilst Beasts of prey are to be found I 'll range the Woods I 'll scour the Plains And with my Bow and Quiver find A better way to nobler sport Daphne Dull sport and an insipid life You Sylvia stubborn as thou art Will think so too when you begin To taste the sweets of Love ' So the first people who possest ' In Innocence the Infant World ' Fed on Acorns and when dry ' Drank the Waters of the Brook ' Beasts only now on Acorns seed ' And drink the Waters of the Brook ' And thus when you at last shall feel ' How pleasant 't is beneath a shade 'To sit and talk with one you love Then Sylvia you 'll repent and cry Ah fool I never lov'd till now You 'll throw away your Arrows break your Bow And curse the minutes you have lost Change foolish Creature change your thought And be not constant to a Crime Sylvia When I sit and task of Love Dogs shall be afraid of Hares Wolves of Lambs and Streams return To the Fountains whence they rose Bears shall then the Forests leave And Dolphins dance about the Plains Daphne I know your pride for I was once Wild and obstinate like you ' I was then as fair my Locks ' As white as yours my Lips as red ' Such Roses and such Lillies grac'd ' My Cheeks as flourish now on yours 'T was then so stupid was my taste ' The darling pleasure of my life 'To set my Lime-twigs lay my Nets ' And laugh as often as I saw ' The Birds entangled in my Snares I then delighted in the Chace And scorn'd with savage modesty The Shepherds whom my Charms had conquer'd I was then so far unjust As once to think it cause enough To hate 'em for their loving me And pleasing them displeas'd my self But oh what will not time effect What will not services and sighs Desert entreaties truth and tears What Sylvia will not
beautiful and young her form Of such a mould so soft so sweet That 't were impossible to think It lodg'd a Soul averse to Love If to my cost I had not found That things inanimate are less Insensible of pity than her heart Thyrsis Lambs feed on Grass and Wolves on Lambs They 're fatisfy'd in time but Love Who feeds on Tears is never satisfy'd Amin. If Tears cou'd glut his appetite He had been surfeited e're this Or if the Virgin cou'd be mov'd With Seas of Tears I had been blest No they both hunger after Blood And I resolve to give 'em mine ' Thyr. ' Ah! why Amintas will you talk ' Of Blood If she is so severe ' Are there not other Maids as young ' As fair as she Look out and try ' Another Beauty may be kind ' Amint. Where shall I look or how expect to find 'A Maid to please me when I 've lost my self Thyr. Don't flatter your despair but hope This cruel fair may yield at last Lyons and Tygers may be tam'd And she you Love with Love be overcome Amin. But who so wretched who so near To death as I am can be pleas'd With Life or bear the torment long Thyr. The torment will not be so long As you suspect for Womens minds Are movable like Aspin leaves And what they may this minute hate They 'll love the next But say my friend Where lives and who 's this haughty Maid That treats Amintas with such scorn You 've told me often that you love But never told me whom be free And open all your heart without reserve Amin. Well you shall hear what every Wood What all our Hills and Streams have heard But no Man ever knew before 'T is fit now I 'm so near the Grave Some friend should know the fatal cause And write my sorrows on the Tomb Where my pale body shall be laid That every passenger may read My fate and she for whom I dye Be pleas'd to triumph o're my dust It may be when she sees how far Despair has carry'd me the thought And yet I fear I hope too much Will fetch a sigh or force a tear And make her pity me and wish That poor Amintas were alive Hear then Thyr. I hearken and perhaps For better ends than you suppose Amin. While I was yet a little Boy Scarce tall enough to reach a Bough Or pluck an Apple from a Tree I felt my heart engag'd to love The fairest Creature ever liv'd Sylvia the glory of the Woods Montano's and Cydippe's Daughter Sylvia whose beauty mien and youth Charm every heart as well as mine Our Houses joyn'd but were not half So close united as our Hearts Two Friends ne're lov'd as we did then Two Turtles ne're so fondly sought Each others company as we did Our pleasures with our years agreed The same diversions suited both We sometimes Hunted sometimes Fish'd Sometimes we laid our Nets for Birds And always shar'd the Game we caught But while we pleasantly pursu'd Our mutual sports alas I felt Strange wishes growing in my heart Like Flow'rs that on a sudden spring From beds where they were never set Whene're we parted now I wept For grief and when we met for joy I suckt in poison from her eyes Which seem'd delicious to the taste But left a bitter smart behind I saw her now with new delight I found new Graces in her face I often sigh'd but knew not why I lov'd but did not know 't was love Till chance discover'd it Thyr. Pray how Amin. Sylvia Phillis and my self Sitting underneath a Shade Saw a Bee fly round the bank Gathering Honey from the Flow'rs Which adorn'd our happy seat Weary'd there he fled to us Pitcht on Phillis who has Cheeks Fairer sweeter than the Rose Fancying every Grace a Flow'r There he hung a while and suckt Sweets much richer than his own Phillis wept to feel the smart Sylvia bid her weep no more I she crys can say a Charm That will quickly give you ease 'T is a Secret which I learnt Of wise Aricia to whom For her Art I gave my Horn Tipt with Ivory and Gold Then she put her fragrant Lips To the Cheek the Bee had stung Said some Verses o're the Wound And as soon as Sylvia spoke Phillis felt the pain no more See the wonderful effects See the force of Magic words Or what I would rather think See what Sylvia's Lips can do Every thing they touch they heal Thyr. How Amintas could you find Love had wounded you by this Amin. I till this desir'd no more Than to see her radiant Eyes Or to listen to her Voice Soft as Rivulets that glide Murmuring thro our smiling Vales Soft as Zephr's evening breath Playing with the Leaves of Trees But as soon as I observ'd What her Lips had lately done Then I wish'd 'em close to mine And I know not how contriv'd Ways to taste of what I wish'd Thyr. None want artifice to gain What they covet to possess All are cunning when in love Amin. I to touch her rosy mouth Feign'd a Bee had stung me too And complain'd with such an air That it seem'd to beg the Cure Which my tongue cou'd ne'r have askt Sylvia kindly did to me What she had to Phillis done And her Lips thus fix'd to mine Cur'd the counterfeited smart But encreast my real pain Bees sure never from their Flow'rs Drew such Honey as I suckt From my Sylvia's humid kisses Sure no Roses but what grow On her Lips can yield such sweets Tho my pleasure was disturb'd By my shame and guilty fears Yet I counterfeited still And by this deceit prevail'd O're her to repeat the Charm Something sweet from ev'ry kiss Mixt with poyson struck my heart Which at last grew so inflam'd That when once we met to play With some other Nymphs and Swains I just dying with my fears Softly whisper'd her I Love Thyr. How did Sylvia take the news That you seem so much concern'd Amin. Soon her fiery blushes shew'd Both her anger and her shame She stood silent but I read By her silence what she meant That she never wou'd forgive me Now she flies me and will since Not so much as hear me speak Thrice our Golden Fields have bent Under their rich loads and thrice Winter has with nipping frosts Made our Groves and Forests bare Since I 've try'd a thousand ways To appease her but I find Death can only calm her rage Death shall calm her then my blood Shall appease her for my fault I cou'd dye methinks with joy Were I sure my Death would make her Either sorrowful or glad and I know not which to wish Yes her Pity would reward All my sufferings and shew What my Constancy deserv'd Yet ah why should I desire That her beauteous Eyes should weep Or her Rest be lost for me Thyr. Oh! could she hear such killing words Such just complaints 't would melt her heart And make her pity ye Amin. I
thank us for such tales as these CHORUS Ye Nymphs no more take pains to hide Your Love but own your passion For Virtue if too nice is pride And Coyness Affectation Cupid make our Virgins tender Maké 'em easie to be won Let 'em presently surrender When the Treaty's once begun Such as like a tedious wooing Let 'em cruel Damsels find But for such as would be doing Prithee Cupid make 'em kind By a Shepherdess The fair in the City Don't understand pity Yet vainly pretend they are wiser than we are But the Nymph of the plain Should make much of her Swain And think that the wiser Maids are they 're the freer B◠a Shepherd When we go to our Lasses To ask their good graces They ought to receive us and each take her man And when we meet first Since both know the worst Let 's agree to be happy as fast as we can ACT IV. SCENE I. Daphne Sylvia Chorus Daph. THanks to the Gods that all our tears Were needless all our plaints and fears In vain since she for whom we mourn'd Is living and in health return'd Long mayst thou live and Heaven protect The Life which you too much neglect Nerina in confusion said Such things as made us think you dead I wish t o've sav'd us so much grief She had been dumb or others deaf Sylvia The risque was great and had you seen The mighty danger I was in You would your self have said so too Daph. Not if I had n't known it true Tell me the risque you ran and how You scap't the danger Sylvia You shall know Too day I at the Chase pursu'd A Wolf so far into the Wood I lost my Game I lost the track And turn'd on purpose to come back When with seven other Wolves I found The Beast and knew him by his wound Round some dead Animal they stood And tore its flesh and lickt its blood The Wolf I shot soon spy'd me out And left his prey to meet his foe I with my Dart oppos'd his way Tho mistress of my art you know I very seldom miss my blow Yet by bad luck I mist it now And my Dart rested in a Bough The Wolf at this more furious grew And got so near me that I knew My Bow would stand in little stead So to preserve my self I fled And as I fled I was me thought By something which oppos'd me caught The Veil I wore hitcht in a Tree And with my hair entangled me I pull'd my Veil I tore my hair And yet was forc'd to leave it there Wing'd by my fright away I flew Like air and so got safe to you Why Daphne are you now so sad What can't my safety make you glad Dap. You live I 'm glad to find it true And wish another was as safe as you Sylv. Perhaps you hate me you appear No more concern'd to see me here Daph. I hate you not I joy in your return But for anothers death must mourn Sylv. Whose Daph. Poor Amintas Sylvia Tell me how He dy'd Daph. Ah! that I want to know We are not certain yet he 's dead But we believe 't Sylvia What hast thou said Ah Daphne say to what alas Do people attribute the cause Daph. Thy death Sylvia Explain your self Daph. The news He heard will certainly produce Some dreadful deed Despair will lend Him arms to help him to his end Sylvia It may be your suspicions are in vain And he as well as I may rise again From Death besides 't is very rare For men to let their troubles go so far Daph. Sylvia little dost thou know What some men in Love will do Thou dost little think how much Every accident will touch Hearts of Flesh and not of Stone Not so cruel as thy own Hadst thou known the man that dyes Lov'd thee better than his Eyes Thou wouldst have been lest severe And prevented his despair Had you seen him but to day After you were ran away Sylvia you 'd with reason fear Your disdain has gone too far Such ingratitude you show'd To the man to whom you ow'd Life and Honour all that 's dear I can tell for I was there I can witness what was done Saw him save you and you run VVhen sure after that had past He deferv'd to be embrac'd Then I saw him rake his Dart Turn the point against his heart Strike his breast and from the wound Saw the blood flow on the ground I came in and much ado Hinder'd him a second blow Sylvia thus you see how far Some are hurry'd by despair So much may by this be guest We have cause to dread the rest Sylvia What have I heard Daph. Things indeed Enough alas to make thee dread What thou art yet to hear Thence as we were coming back We met the Nymph who by mistake Inform'd us you were slain the youth Without examining the truth Believ'd despair'd and in the heat Of grief fell breathless at our seet We took him up he breath'd again We strove to comfort him in vain For all the reasons we could give Could not prevail on him to live But rushing forth away he fled To death and I believe is dead Syl. D' ye really believe it Daph. Yes Syl. Ah! why Did you not follow him and fly Fast as his fury to prevent The consequence of his intent Ah let us seek him out and strive To make him yet consent to live Since he that for my Death would dye Should for my Life revive Daph. We follow'd but he flew like wind He left us panting far behind And long e're this has done what he design'd Whither then Sylvia would you run And who shall tell us where the wretch is gone Syl. Ah let us go where grief and pity lead Haste Daphne haste or he 'll be dead By himself murder'd Daph. You would save The unhappy Lover from the Grave To murder him your self To you You think the Glory 's only due But you 've no reason to repine For let the blow be his or thine T will be his death and thou mayst see With comfort that he dy'd for thee Syl. Daph. It torments my mind When I consider how unkind How cruel I have been Pride I call'd Honour once perhaps 'T was Honour but 't was too severe And such as will if he is dead Sharpen my grief my cruelty reprove And force me to repent I wrong'd his Love Daph. Oh Heaven She 's pitiful repents Her heart grows tender she relents She weeps Is thy pride humbled then O strange Whence Sylvia comes this mighty change Whence all these tears from Pity or from Love Syl. Pity not Love attracts my tears Daph. Pity 's Love 's Messenger and shews As Lightning before Thunder goes Love is not far Chorus When he 'd surprize a Maid Who of his Empire is afraid Who by false honour would defend her heart And be secure against his Dart He takes his Servant Pity 's shape And in that figure few escape
you but you must not think Of dying after we 've perform'd Our duty to our friend Sylv. Hitherto l 've only liv'd For my self the little time That 's now left me I 'll devote To Amintas if I can't Live for him I 'll live at least For his pale unhappy Body I must put off death a while Till I 've seen it and then end With his Funeral my Life Shepherd lead us to the Vale To the fatal Precipice Ergast Keep this path you cannot miss the way Daph. Come I 'll conduct ye follow me I know the place 't is not far off Sylv. Farewel Shepherds farewel Plains Woods and Streams and all farewel Ergast She heartily repents her scorn And talks as if she never would return CHORUS Death in vain opposes Love Who conquers every Foe To his Empire all above Submit and all below What Love unites Death seldom parts And what he parts Love often joyns Triumphs o're Death resists his Darts And will himself alone command our minds ' Maids comply with Love in time ' E're your Error grows a Crime ' E're he makes you yield by force ' Ah consider 't will be worse 'To rebel and be subdu'd ' Than obey him as you shou'd ' When he summons you at first ' Tield or else expect the worst ' Late Repentance will be too ' Vseless to your Friend and you Death in vain c. ACT V. SCENE I. Elpinus Chorus Elpin OH Love how rigid are thy Laws How much must all that once subject Themselves to thee endure before They taste the promis'd joy Who who would not have curst thy power Rebell'd against thy sway and sought Some other way to bliss if poor Amintas had not scap'd the deaths Thy usage tempted him to seek Ev'n we who have ador'd thee long With much fidelity and zeal We who have rais'd thy name above All other Gods to whom we make Our own Apollo yield should then Have taught our Children to forget Thy worship and forsake thy Temples But now that our Amintas lives We 'll if 't is possible forget Thy Cruelty to bless thy Care Chorus The Sage Elpinus comes and talks As if Amintas were alive Ah Shepherd didst thou know the things Which we have heard to day the ills That Love has brought on all thou wouldst Have little reason to forget His Cruelty or bless his Care Elpin Rejoyce my friends rejoice the news You heard is false Amintas lives Chor. Ah! what Eipinus dost thou say How dost thou comfort us Is' t false Did he not fling himself but now From yonder Hill among the Rocks Ah! tell us how he was preserv'd what pow'r What God was by to save him at his fall Elpin Hear then what I shall say no more Than I have with these eyes beheld I 've in the Desart Vale a Cave Where Thyrsis came to mc to day Where while we talkt of that proud Nymph Whose Fetters formerly he wore And I at present wear we heard A voice and lookt up tow'rds the hill Whence down the Precipice we saw A Body tumble on a Bush Just by my Cave and near the Mount A few tall Bushes rise from Box And other Trees which all unite In one on these we saw him fall But carry'd by the Body's weight He rowl'd off thence and at our feet Fell next the Bushes sav'd the blow So much we took him up alive He was yet speechless and 't was long E're we had any other signs Of Life besides his sighs and groans which shew'd Us that he breath'd But oh When we perceiv'd who 't was what tongue Can tell the fright which we were in Pity and wonder struck us dumb Yet thinking by his breath he might Still live we were a little calm'd Chor. Oh wonderful Escape Oh thou Hadst cause Elpinus to applaud The Care and Providence of Love Elp. Thyrsis then told me what had past The secret of his Love and how Despair had hurry'd him to this We fetch'd the Remedies we had At hand and for Alfibeus sent Who by Apollo has been taught The Art of Physick when he came He told us quickly there were hopes And as we wept to see him still Lye speechless in his arms he said We should not be surpriz'd at that For having searcht him well he found No wounds nor any thing which might With reason make us fear 'T is true He said he might be some time in a Trance But after would recover soon And having then perform'd his Art He order'd men to bear him home Who at a little distance hence Are coming with our Friend Chorus What Fools are men in Love how apt To be deceiv'd how ready oft To joyn with those they love to cheat themselves What mischiefs have their false despairs And groundless hopes begot How near Was poor Amintas rash mistake Depriving us of what we all Expected in our time to see The grace and pleasure of these woods Elp. Alfibeus with his charge appears And in his Looks we may discern How much Amintas safely glads His soul as well as ours ACT V. SCENE II. Elpinus Chorus Thyrsis Alfibeus and Amintas born on a Couch Alfib. OH Swains Oh Nymphs Oh all that ever lov'd This youth and who of ye that heard Him sing Or saw him at our sports But heard and saw him with delight To Phaebus and to Love address Your vows that once more you may hope To hear and look on him with pleasure ACT V. SCENE III. Elpinus Thyrsis Alfibeus Chorus Daphne Sylvia Amimtas lying on a Couch Daphne AH Shepherds join your pray'rs with mine Use all the Arguments which Grief And Pity can inspire to save This Maid from ruine Stay Sylvia stay till you 've perform'd What you resolv'd and what you owe Amintas Spirit till the hands Which you your self confess'd would please His Ghost to see 'em gather up His bones have laid 'em in a Grave Sylv. Some God alas has done what I Resolv'd to do and to revenge Amintas wrongs deny'd my hands The glory of so just a deed Tell me ye Powers ah tell me where You have convey'd my Love and laid His mangled Limbs Direct me where That I may see 'em e're I dye That I may feast my cruel eyes With objects equally severe And if I can instruct my heart To be more barbarous to my self Than e're it was to him Daph. Cease prithee Sylvia cease your tears And don 't torment thy self too much For ills thy sorrows can't retrieve Sylv. See Daphne how these Shepherds smile At my Despair how unconcern'd They hearken to my griefs ev'n I As savage as I was scarce saw Amintas mourn with so much ease Daph. Hence Shepherds hence and don 't disturb The wretched with untimely joy Sylv. Not that I court your pity or Expect compassion but methinks Amintas death should touch your hearts And you should still consider me As one Amintas lov'd But oh You look on me as one that hated him You see his murderer in
me and set Your souls against the cause of so much woe Oh! that you ail could in this minute lose Your native tenderness and that your rage Were equal to your hate that I might soon Be sent to meet him in those blissful plains Where he himself will treat me with more love Alfib. Sylvia forbear these sad complaints And don 't afflict your self for things Which heaven has wonderfully made The subject of our joy Amintas lives Syl. Ha Daphne whither are we got I heard a voice which said Amintas lives And in the midst of grief invites to joy Ha! see what heavenly vision strikes my eyes Behold it well my Friend and tell me then If any thing but my Amintas self Could look more lovely 'T is Amintas self I know him now I feel him at my heart It dances in my breast and bids me do What Love commands and you must all excuse Falls on Amin. Chorus How can Sylvia do all this She who is so proud and nice One would think should be asham'd Elpin Shame sometimes where Love is weak Keeps some Maids from being free But when it grows strong like hers Love 's too powerful for shame Syl. Where where is he who said Amintas lives Let him come here and tell me if he can Why his eyes languish why he looks so pale Why lifeless when his Sylvia clasps him thus And deaf to all she says Ah speak my Love Inform me if my glances hurt thy eyes And drive away thy Soul from what it loaths Whoe're thou art that said Amintas lives 'T was falsely said and with a vile intent To shew me hope and leave me in despair He lives indeed but in a better world Whence now methinks I hear him call on me And Sylvia's name is in Elysium sung Amin. Where am I on what happy Region thrown What Musick wakes me from the arms of death And charms me with the name of my belov'd Oh! all ye Glorious Spirits who in peace And perfect bliss possess these sacred Groves Direct me to the Bow'r where Sylvia waits For me whom now she can no longer hate Since all Paradice are friends Sylv. He speaks he lives and injur'd as he was Talks kindly of me still Look up Amintas Look on thy Sylvia with thy usual joy And let thy Eyes speak kindly like thy Tongue Amin. Who breathes new life into me with her kisses And quickens me with her embraces Ha! my Love My Sylvia winding in my arms I can scarce Spare time to ask the meaning of these things Have not I seen you all and been your friend And is not this the darling of my Soul Yes yes 't is she her Beauty shews 't is she Nor could I feel such Transports with another Alfib. His Love prevents my Art and he revives Faster than I expected Elpin But I fear The violence of such excessive bliss Will prejudice his health Chorus I rather think Its violence will help to cure him Alfibeus you must tell him what 's Most proper for his safety Alfib. I believe His safety is secur'd in Sylvia's Love How fares Amintas Amin Oh all is well and I begin to think Love has for me done Miracles to day Thyr. Love has indeed done Miracles to save Thy life and soften Sylvia's heart Syl. Tell us no more 't will interrupt our bliss Let him not know what dangers he has scap'd When he reflects how barb'rous I have been He 'll loath me for my Cruelty and hate A Maid who so unjustly hated him Amin. Oh Sylvia we 'll not think of what is past I 'll not enquire how I became so blest But thank the Gods and thee for what I know As for the rest thou could'st not but bâ— jâ—â—… And love decreed the troubles we have known To shew his Pow'r and make our bliss the greater Elp. There 's nothing wanting but Mantanâ—'s word To make 'em both as happy as they with Cho. They need not question his consent He longs to see his Daughters Sons To sport about him and revive His Age and soon will grant what they desire Alfib. Then let us to her Fathers house repair And see him join their hands and share his joy Amint. You all may by my fate perceive The Laws which Love prescribes Mankind By which Eternally he rules His Empire here Are not fantastastical and hard As sometimes we suppose his works Tho they 're mysterious are wise And such as we should ne're condemn With how much art thro' hidden ways And paths unknown he leads to bliss And when we think him ready to destroy He opens Paradice and leaves our Souls in joy FINIS
are arm'd with death Commits new Murders every hour And kills when she has no design to wound Thyr. Where Daphne can you find a Maid So weak so innocent so young As to be ign'rant of her Charms They early deck themselves with smiles They know the wounds their Eyes have made They know to what will cure those wounds And raise their Slaves from misery to bliss Daphne Who teaches 'em all this Thyr. The same That teaches Nightingales to sing The Peacock how to spread his Plumes That teaches Bulls to use their Horns The Ram to push and Fish to swim Nature instructs em what to do Without the Mother or the Nurses help Daphne Nay Thyrsis now I plainly see Thou' rt both malicious and a fool But to speak truth I don't believe That Sylvia is as ignorant As she pretends for t'other day I found her in the little Isle That stands in yonder spacious Meads Encompast with a Crystal Lake In whose clear Waters she beheld Her Beauties ravish'd with the sight She seem'd to ask 'em how to place Her hair and put her Garland on She often with her Cheeks compar'd A Rose and Lillies with her Neck On Rose and Lilly then she look'd With scorn as if she said O Flow'rs Yield yield to me I wear ye now That you may blush to be outdone And not for ornament for see I 've better Graces of my own While thus she with the Waters play'd She look'd around and spy'd me out She drest herself in haste and dropt Her Flow'rs asham'd to be perceiv'd I laugh'd aloud and she I saw Was more asham'd to see me laugh Yet did not dress her in such haste But to the Fountain once or twice She ran to fee her hair was set In order and with pleasure saw Those locks in sweet confusion flow Which haste had forc'd her to neglect I look'd and laugh'd and said no more Thyr. I ever did believe as much Tho I could never prove it true Daph. I 've heard that once the Nymphs and Swains Scorn'd to adorn themselves by art Nor was it thus when I was young But now alas the world grows old And older as it grows decays Thyr. The Citizens then seldom came To us the Shepherds seldom went To them but all things now are chang'd We learn their manners and forget Our Customs by observing theirs This Daphne is not our concern D' ye think that Sylvia ne're will let Amintas talk with her alone Or when you only shall be by Daph. I can't tell She 's extremely proud Thyr. And he respectful to extreams Daph. Respect in Lovers is a Vice You who are his friend should tell him That to succeed he must be told Sollicit sue entreat demand And if this method may not take Seize on the blessing he desires Don't you know Thyrsis womens tricks They only fly to be pursu'd Refuse what they would have ye take And fight that you may overcome I tell you freely all our faults And beg they may not be expos'd Thyrsis You need not fear that I will speak More than you would have me say But I conjure thee by the thoughts The pleasing thoughts of thy past youth That you 'll assist Amintas in his Love And save the wretch from death Daph. By my part youth the only thing Which if I could I would forget Yet this you now conjure me by Well what is' t you would have me do Thyr. You want no counsel you can tell As well as I what must be done To save him if you 're so dispos'd Daph. Sylvia and my self anon Are to bath us in the Brook Which is from Diana call'd Where the Nymphs that love the Chace Play beneath the Plantain shade In the fiercest heats of noon There I tell you Sylvia baths And leaves naked all her Charms Thyr. What then Daph. What then Why thou' rt a fool Can't you guess my meaning then Thyr. I guess your meaning tho I fear Amintas will not dare to do 't Daph. Not dare then truly he may stay Till me seeks him Thyr. 'T will be no more Than he deserves ' Daph. Enough of this ' Let 's now talk something of your self ' D' ye never Thyrsis think of Love ' If I remember well your age ' You 're not much older yet than he ' This is the season of desire ' Methinks you should not waste your youth ' In idleness but long to taste ' What 't is to Love ' For that 's the only comfort of our lives ' Thyr. The man who hates to be in Love ' May be as fond of its delights ' As one that languishes in tears ' He shuns the bitter and enjoys the sweet ' Daph. The bitter relishes the sweet ' The pleasure you come at with ease ' Soon cloys and is not half so great ' As that which you must get by pain ' Thyr. And I had rather soon be cloy'd ' Than always hunger after food ' Daph. But when the food is once possest ' 'T is then you taste it with delight ' And fain would taste again ' Thyr. Who can be when he will possest ' Of such rich food ' And taste it when his hunger calls ' Daph. He that ne're seeks can never find ' Thyr. 'T is dangerous to seek the Joys ' Which pleas'd perhaps when they are found ' But plague us more if mist ' When sighs and tears are not requir'd ' Thyrsis may be in love again ' I 've wept and sigh'd my share and now ' Let others take their turn ' Daph. You could not stay for your reward ' Thyr. Rewards may be too dearly bought ' And such I 'm not ambitious of ' Daph. You 'd better be inclin'd than forc'd to Love Thyr. ' I who from the reach of Love ' Live so far despise his power ' By my distance I 'm secure ' Daph. Who lives beyond the reach of Love ' Thyr. Such as fear and fly his snares ' Daph. Such as fear him fly in vain ' Love has Wings as well as Fear ' Thyr. When young his Feathers are so short ' He hardly can extend his Wings ' And has not strength enough to fly ' Daph. None perceive him when he 's young ' E're you 're certain of his birth ' His Wings grow large are fit to spread ' And he has strength enough to fly ' Thyr. Those who have been never caught May be tempted by his Baits ' Daph. Well let 's see if you can still ' All his baits and snares escape ' Do your best for if at last ' You should be surpriz'd again ' If I ever hear you sigh ' See you languish weep and mourn ' If you mould be griev'd to death ' And a touch a step or word ' Would assist thee in thy Love ' Thou shouldst want such little helps ' And dye unpity'd with despair ' Thyr. Could ye Daphne see me dye ' That indeed would be severe ' If you long to see me Love ' Love
me then and I am thine ' Daph. You mock me Youth but you may know ' I 'm too young to be despis'd ' Thyr. You 're so fair you may be sure ' All was real that I said ' But as Women use to do ' You refuse me I must bear it ' And will strive to be content ' Daph. Be content and live in peace ' Live in Idleness and Rest ' Rest and Idleness beget ' Tender Wishes Wishes Love Thyr While in this calm repose we live ' And fear for nothing but our Lambs ' The fields abroad are spread with Tents ' The Swains there change their Crooks for Spears ' Their harmless Virgins are expos'd 'To all the insolence of Lust ' While we enjoy celestial ease ' And dread no Enemies but Wolves ' Shall I in Loves soft bosom sleep ' No Daphne I 'll extend my voice ' And sing the wonders of the Man ' The Godlike Man who drove the foe ' Far from these Woods and gave us rest ' But lest my rustick Muse should wrong ' His fame by her inferiour praise ' Like some whom Phoebus ne're inspir'd ' Who with vile Songs his name abus'd ' When they 'd have rais'd it to the Skies ' With awful silence let me wait 'Till Heaven the Hero shall restore ' Triumphant to us from the War ' Then with fresh Roses strew his way ' And lay new Garlands at his feet ' Daph. You soar aloft pray if you please ' Descend and think of our affairs ' Thyr. You say you have agreed to meet ' Sylvia at the Fountain where ' You intend to do your best ' For our miserable friend ' I 'll go seek Amintas out ' Send him to you but I fear ' He will be as loth to come ' As she would be to have him ' Dap. I 'll go before and should you follow ' Make as if you came by chance ' Thyr. I will see Yon Amintas comes ACT II. SCENE II. Amintas Thyrsis Amin. I Fain methinks before I dye Would know how Thyrsis has succeeded If he can do more than I Have done and Sylvia will not hear With patience any one that speaks for me Here on this spot of Earth I 'll end my pains And in her presence finish with my breath The tortures of my Soul The wounds which in my breast my hands shall make Will certainly transport her since With so much pleasure she beholds The wounds which in my heart her eyes have made Thyr. Courage Amintas I have news To tell thee that will bring thee hope Amin. Ah Thyrsis is it Life or Death Thyr. 'T is Life and Joy if thou art bold enough To meet 'em where they 're to be sound But then Amintas 't is requir'd That thou shouldst shew thy self a Man A Man that dares do any thing for Love Amin. What must I dare and whom encounter Thyr. Suppose your Mistress in a Wood Encompast with high Rocks where Wolves Where Lyons Bears and Tygers lurk Would you to get her venture there Amin. I 'd run as joyfully as e're I went To Dance and Revel at our rural Feasts Thyr. Suppose her in the hands of Thieves Amidst arm'd Robbers would you venture there Amin. Swift as parcht Stags to cooling Waters run Thyr. Something more daring something yet more bold Than this is to be done to make thee blest Amin. I 'd leap into the Ocean when the Waves By ruffling Winds are mingled with the Clouds I 'd walk thro Fire or else as I 've been told Orpheus once did descend to Hell To find my Sylv'a our but sure 'T would not be Hell if she were there Tell me then where I am to go And what I am to do Thyr Sylvia naked and alone Attends thee at Diana's Brook Amintas durst thou venture there Amin. What dost thou tell me Sylvia wait Naked and alone for me Thyr. Alone if Daphne is not there And if she is you 're safe in her Amin. Wait for me and naked Thyr. Naked But Amin. But what Speak out thy silence kills me Thyr But 't is not certain that she waits for thee Amin This ruins what you said before Ah! if you were not sure of that Why Thyrsis did you say so much Why did you shew me joy so near And fling me from my hopes so soon Sure 't is not friendly to insult O're one in misery like me Did you believe my griefs too light That you encrease their weight Thyr. Be rul'd By me you shall be happy still Amin. What would ye have me do Thyr. Go seize The Maid while Fortune is your Friend Anin Ah! Heaven forbid that I should think Of any thing that would displease her Whom I will ne're offend but by my Love And if my Love offends her 'T is her Beauty's fault not mine In all my actions I resolve More to consult her pleasure than my own Thyr. If not to Love her were in your powr Would you cease loving her to please her Amin. Love will not suffer me to think Of loving her no more But if 'T were in my pow'r 't would ne're be in my will Thyr. If you could cease your Love you 'd still Continue it in spite Amin. No not in spite Yet I would Love her still Thyr. Tho it were against her will Amin. Rather than not Love at all Thyr. Why won't you then against her will Go take the blessing me denies Because she knows not yet how good 'T would be to grant the favour you desire If she at first may be a little vext She 'll soon be well contented with the fault Amin. Love answers thus to what you say You have by long experience learnt To reason of those things with art But tho your argument's too strong For mine yet I 'm convinc'd that 't is not right Love with my tongue confines my wishes And will not suffer 'em to stray Where Sylvia would not let 'em rove Thyr. Then you resolve you will not go Amin. Yes I will go but not where you Advise Thyr. Where then Amin. To Death if you Can tell me of no other way To life if this is all the good That you can do me by your help Thyr. Is this so little then And canst Thou fancy foolish as thou art That Daphne would have bid us come If she who knows what Sylvia thinks Believ'd 't would give her such offence She thought perhaps that 't was not fit For you and me to know as much As she of Sylvia's Soul Besides Enquiring farther in so nice a case Instead of pleasing will displease You often wisht that you knew how To please her you may do it now No matter if you take by theft The joys you covet or by gift When once they 're tasted she 'll forget The Crime the sin will be so sweet Amin. But how can I be sure that I may go Thyr. You can't be surer than you are She would as decency requires Be angry if you sought to