Scaena prima Enter Lucida Montenor like a Sheepherd Lucid A Little complaisance and Sheepherds habit Seeme to engage you in designes of Love But pray no more of this disguise with me Impose not this constraint upon your selfe And believe without speaking more of Love Your worth 's sufficient to gaine esteeme Monten Hath the mild violence of a love so pure So little power to perswade you then And since your faire eyes set me all a fire T' avow it is complacencie enough Lucid Thus credulous Spirits are too easy taken And though men are all Ice they 'l sweare they burne But this discourse of fire proves little heat The more you say the lesse I do believe Mon. Your humour 's contrary to Lovers hopes How can you know their flames if they keep silence And if they speake they are believ'd deceitfull Lucid Love hath an ideome to explaine it selfe I' th' midst of silence it speaks and perswades And its least motion 's fill'd with Eloquence One sigh oft in a moment utters much He must speake low whom th' heart not understands Mon. If th' heart so well Love's language apprehend Would yee have clearer evidence of mine My heart hath sigh't an hundred times near you My languishing as often hath declar'd it And daring not t' express the wounds you gave me I oft strove to interpret with mine eyes But their sad looks could not express their story And though some foolish hope may dare presume The cunning'st sighs have but dumb Eloquence If th' heart consent not to its own surprize Nor can their correspondence well consist If Love perswade them not to lend an eare Lucid Then that 's the cause I have not understood What you pretend your sighs have signified But two or three piping and dying groanes Have often prov'd false pleadings of true love And since you see I understand it not You happily do seek advantage by it Mon. Doubt not an Heart so subject to your Lawes Be witnesse all you Trees within these Groves How oft alas there seeking solitude I 've entertain'd them with my sighs and groanes How oft I 've boasted of that glorious power Your eyes in secret practice on my soule How oft rehearst the wounds their beames have given me Lucid When they tell me so I le believe my share Mon. Cruel is this then all that I can now Lucid Hircan's my Brother I depend on him Mon. Judge better of my flame and know though 't is Extreame 't will ow your heart to none but you And that 't will use in the pursuit none but Lucid Peace Montenor the company is coming SCENE II. Enter to them Angelica Anselme Charita Ang. Sheepherds believ 't my joy 's beyond compare To Mon. and Lucid. To see you so well act the Sheepherds part Blush not Lucida Phillis and Lycidas Were often wont to single out each other And great Diana nere refus'd to talk With Paris or Syliander from the rest Lucid You make a just construction yet I doubt Who ere accuses me may do the same If Polidor's discourse had pleas'd you lesse You would perhaps have sooner found us out Mont. Sister she hits you home with her reply To Angel Angel Sh 'as reason I confesse for what she sayes Our coming sooner might have more disturb'd ye Had he had nothing private to say to me Char. Thus may all four methinks live full content Mean while I have my share among ye too While sweets on sweets are heaped up for you I 'm fain to entertain my selfe with thoughts Angel Yet we are taught to understand thy worth Whose beauty has this day begot such Rivals Char. Build not so much upon anothers ruine My time perhaps may come as well as yours Angel I were an Infidel if I should doubt it Since Clarimond becomes a Sheepherd for thee Char. Knowing that for my sake our foole thus sighs He ought at least to swear 't for laughters sake Yet faith let him dissemble as he please Wee 'l see at last how well he will escape Angel Thou never speak'st to thine own disadvantage Char. I hate the foolish use of a false vertue Who from himselfe expects nought nought receives Methinks our Rival-Sheepherds tarry long Ansel 'T is here that Lysis leads his Flock to feed And we shall see him here ere it be long Angel He has a Language may be call'd his own Ans. His discourse heretofore was lesse unsmooth But since he Virgil read in Bumbast verse His Tongue is laden with Fantastique Words And thinks that all the Gods speak just the same And concludes that the best of Dialects Angel He has an empty skull Char. So dull a head That he could not discern me by my voice When I instead of Echo answered him Mon. Can he endure your jesting being mad But hist I heare him sing Lucid Pray hide your selves And be spectators of our raillery I le give him now his belly-full of Love Angel Nay hold pray first let 's heare his courtly Aire They all hide themselves behinde the Trees except Lucida who accosts him after he hath sung SCENE III. Lys. When Love to two united hearts sings The sweets of prudent flames imparts How pleasant 't is the Crook to beare How sweet of Sheep to have the care Thus sitting by a Chrystall brook A Sheepherd sung whom love had strook To love a Sheepherdesse how sweet How pleasant 't is when Loves do meet Lucid Faire object of my flames and my misfortune May this day prove more blest to Thee than Me Lys. In vain thy flame troublesome Sheepherdess Doth claime a compliment not meant to thee Lucid When wilt thou cease thus to make War upon me And lay aside these scornes that break my heart Lys. When Elmes shall the embrace of Ivy flie And rav'nous Wolves with Lambs live peacefully Lucid Though thy severity doth still encrease I le be the same that ever I profest Lys. Ixion heretofore embrac'd a Cloud And so Lucida may embrace the Wind. Lucid The raging Seas at last will leave their fury So may thy hatred have a time to cease Lys. As Rocks unshaken stand against those billows So is my heart unmoved by thy love Lucid For Pan's sake Sheepherd and the Hamadriads Refuse me not a civil entertainment Lys. If they the maladies of Love can cure Th' hadst best go offer up thy vowes to them Lucid 'Mong Scythians fierce at thy Nativity Thy heart was fill'd with Ice nothing can thaw it Lys. Derive me if thou wilt from Caucasus So thou no more disturb me with thy Love Lucid May thy best Sheep be left a prey to Wolves If thus to rigour thou expose my Soule Lys. I 'l suffer them to come within my folds When thou shalt have possession of my heart Lucid Thou Tyger nurst up by a Tygress fierce Thy proud disdaine will open me my grave Lis. So farre am I from a designe to kill thee I never had a thought to touch thy skin Lucid Thou dost
Art 's incapable of such a cure Hircan Yet 't is by that I make him tractable In our last Scene he so rely'd upon me That in a flying Chair I sent him home Ansel Yet more of Amaryllis Hircan Somewhat of Mysterie Made up the charm and spoil'd the Sheepherdess Then with a secret Spell's unerring power I was to force the Nymph to entertain him You know the entertainment what address He made to 's Mistriss in that interview Which mov'd her on the fiction of his death To speak and countenance his airy Fables Ansel He 's very full of them Hircan Th' are all his study But as I long to be alone again Charita who I see's arriv'd i' th' Park Is a faire obstacle to one would muse I therefore must avoid her fare ye well Ex. Ansel 'T is a dark solitory humour this SCENE II. Enter to him Charita Lucida Ansel What without Lysis beauteous Sheepherdess Char. The Nymph i' th' Hall at leisure entertains him Where Maugre all his love respect retaines him But why doth Hircan shun us with such cares Ansel Faith he 's injurious to Charita's beauty Char. But I le be satisfied since 't has no witness Lucid 'T is solitude that busies all his care And any pastime that 's without himself Is a great torment to his musing minde Ansel You will not find it in that kind consent to Lucid. Which he gives freely to an happy Lover Montenor Lucid Sister pray admire with me to Charita That Plain which gives us here so sweet a prospect Char. But Sister there is mystery in this language Does your mind wander with your eyes or no What you blush Lucid Pish away Char. Well I pardon The so secret disorder of your heart I fine to Anselm Lucid You credit then this Barber's talk Ansel No no give no belief to what I say Farewell I le seek one that in this affaire Shall have more Rhetorick to perswade you I At least am sure upon such pleasing terms Montenor rather will hear me than you Exit SCENE III. Manent Charita Lucida Char. But Sister is he gone without more words Lucid I endure all from you who onely seek To laugh Char. Indeed but let us speak in earnest Let 's call him back again t' explain himself Lucid Wherefore should I desire his explanation Char. Oh the sad Vertue that now stings thy mind Doth Montenor in all his service to you Shew mean effects of an indifferent zeal Lucid If I believe his sighs I reign in 's soul Char. Doubtless you are ingrateful to his flame Lucid And wherefore should his hopes by me be flatter'd Can he be ignorant of what 's my desires If he hath gain'd my Brother what needs more Char. Indeed this modest answer fits our times It 's worthy you and I my selfe esteem it But 'mong our selves let 's lay by all disguise Confess with me our mindes are easily Led thither whither we desire to go And that they need not struggle for obedience When as our Duty and our Love agree But when that Love which does command in chief Finds in that Duty that which would depress it It quickly cures us of that ancient errour Which would debarre us to dispose our hearts No no if Montenor could not have pleas'd you Ye would not in that choice believe a brother Your flames would finde a very weak support If they were fed but by another's order Lucid You do assault me with such cunning that At length you force me to confess my weakness I love him and my heart before possest With love's perplext Char. Is the great secret out And why should love in this our age in us Be weakness and a vertue in the men Why should we blush at our so faultless flames Do we want eyes to see or hearts to love I know that ancient modesty requir'd We should seem shie even at the name of Love And if a servant do pretend to court us We must cry out before we hear him speak But though w'impose a silence on these sweets We nothing lesse seek than obedience And any servant would court us but ill Who to talk Gazets should suppress his love Those kinde refusalls to hear no such language Are but faire invitations to say more In fine we all desire that they should love us And often run by secret plots to meet them Lucid Gods you know all Char. More happily than you But your desires contented make less shew Yet since that love is ready now to fix you I le gather flowers to compose your Garland Lucid If Love oblige you to compose a Garland He 'l give it by your hands to Clarimond And see how full of joy he comes to take it Char. And yet in love Lucida must know nothing Lucid No I know nothing but the common rule going out That to two Lovers any third 's a trouble Exit SCENE IV. Enter Clarimond Smiling as he approaches Charita 'T is she I see her gath'ring heaps of Flowers In this ennamell'd Park of divers colours Char. Th' approach is Past'rall but my new Filene I 've right to answer as your cruell Sylvia Take heed Clar. How carelesly you heare these lines Without a thought of him that lent 'em me He was unhappy but I hope I shall Once touch the heart of my fair Sheepherdesse Char. 'T is not of stone and your continuall cares Deserve esteem perhaps a little more But whither can the flames that rule us go Somtimes we wish a Lover would daign it That he may force our hearts and that his fires Surprized by a look may read the secrets Clar. Too happy Clarimond what canst pretend Char. Let not our want of understanding make us Mistake and if your freedome answers mine Let 's divide Philiris from Clarimond Clar. But what proceedings yours can equalize To make one happy and reject the other Char. You easily may guess the reason one 's A Courtier t'other is a simple Sheepherd For me if I may their defence assume I ever lov'd the freedome of the Sheepherds Those cheating outsides of your begging sighs Those so well studyed languishing aspects Those affectations of a wandring minde Are not the colours which their love appeares in They expresse themselves in a serener aire And when they vow they love they love indeed And in the sweet transports of guiltlesse flames They promise nothing which the heart denies And so when kindly Philiris assur'd me That ore his captiv'd heart I reign'd alone Not fearing to be sacrific'd to fraud I told him that I something did believe But farre from a resolve to flatter him In his desires If Clarimond spake thus With more reserve and more retention Clar. Oh pray pursue not a discourse that kils me And since his freedom answers for his faith Let Philiris now speak for Clarimond For he will keep his passion very secret If Philiris dares not to interpret it Under that borrowed name which he assumes He opens you his soule and
distract my soule and thy sharp talons Soon as I see thee teare it into pieces Lys. I know not how to patch up a torn soule And prithee what should I do with the pieces Lucid You may cement them but with one sweet word And from an Hell of woes raise me to Heaven Lys. If such a thing as that can cure thy folly Of Honey or of Sugar take thy choice Lucid Grant either of them to my constancy Of Hope the Sugar of thy Faith the Honey Ly. If thy fond constancy do Hony need Farewell you must seek other Bees than Me Lucid Stay thou bright Torch of my too am'rous life Suffer my flames at least to live in hope Ly. Thy life 's in danger to be wondrous dark If I 'm the Torch that must enlighten it Lucid If for thy high deserts that name 's too low Se thou Apollo and vouchsafe to cure me Ly. Thanks to thee Sylvia I must be gone If I 'm the Sun I must be ever running SCENE IV. Enter to them Angel Anselm Montenor Charita Angel Whither so fast good Sheepherd Ly. Prudent Nymph I 'm in Retreat before mine Enemy Char. Will not Lucida speak to us to day Lucida going aside as if unwilling to be surpris'd with Lysis Ly. No let her stay a while behind those bushes To Charit And give her time to recollect her Soule From th' trouble of her late rejected flame Angel She then persists to persecute you stil Ly. Any but Lysis would be tempted by her But though her love of me doth still afflict her Charita's still Charita she Lucida Char. And since my Sheepherd all contemnes for me He has most really my heart and faith Our soules are both possest with equall flames Lys. Truce to these sweets a while you ravish me Oh Cha. Sigh yee Ly. Sheepherdess my care 'T is a precaution that I thus doe sigh Lest too much ardour should at once surprize me And I soone finde my heart reduc'd to ashes By the too active flames of my desires Did not the Air of these my sighs refresh it Lu. Why talk ye with the Honour of our plains returning to the Stage Ch We talk of Meddows pastures and of Flocks We must dissemble To Lysis softly Ly. And we likewise talk Pointing at Charita Of that faire shining eye that caus'd my griefe Yes of thine eye divine thou charming beauty Ang. Such language Sheepherd does affront your Mistris The brightnesse of her eyes you see's not common They both can charme and yet you praise but one What Rapsodie of love doth make you talk so Ly. Why I assume the language of the Poets This style to them was ever held peculiar I purposely like them spoke but of one But yet with no designe t' offend my fairest For either of those Suns afford me light And when I sweare her faire ey 's skill'd to charme I speake no more o' th' left than of the right Ans. What say you now Nymph To Angel Angel 'T is a prudent answer Ly. Silence I heare farre off a Bagpipe's sound Oh how melodious Enter Clarimond like a Sheepherd Mon. 'T is by a young Sheepherd Who not long since arriv'd from a strange Country Ly. 'T is true his habit 's different from ours Ansel To live amongst us he assum'd another He 's here SCENE V. Mon. You then desire gentle Sheepherd To Clarimond Henceforth to dwell with us in these faire Plaines Your change of Habit makes me so presume Clar. I 'm come for cure of my consuming flames Angel Sheepherd I then perceive you are in love Clar. Ah 't is too true I languish night and day But say I pray before I tell my story Doe I not talk with the Nymph Angelica Angel Yes if on her depends your Remedy She 's ready here to give you all assistance Clar. Great Drudge fam'd for thy mirac'lous art I here attend thy Oracles effects Love make thee now propitious to my fires Angel What charming object forc'd from you that sigh Clar. Alas that I dare not presume to tell you Angel Sheepherd you may nor feare to hurt All here partake already of your griefe Clar. I adore her in Idea though unknown Ly. Not know her Clar. Heare the story of my life My name is Philiris in Arcadia born Ly. That Country alwaies fruitfull was in Sheepherds But to heare 't better let us all sit round It is the Pastorall Order Angel Take your place Here 's green Turf They all sit down Lysis lying at Charita's feet Ly. Oh my dear Sun for Heaven's sake Mod'rate thy Rayes or thou wilt quite consume me Angel Come now Sir all are silent you may speak Clar. Know them great Nymph and you faire sheepherdesse You gentle Sheepherds such are my misfortunes In that blest Climate where I first took birth Pan is less fear'd than is the God of Love For that no Hearts no Sheepherds are so great Whom that fierce Tyran doth not make his Slave And would to the just Heavens that I could dobut Whether his yoak be easie to be born But yet admire by what strange prodigie My freedome's subject to his cruell lawes Sitting one day beneath a shady Elme Free from all care although I kept my Flock Surpriz'd with sleep congested beames of light Depriv'd my senses of their wonted vigour And then discover'd to my blinded eyes A precious treasure of unheard-of charms A Sheepherdess in whom the Graces seem'd To chuse their places as if there enthron'd A lovely Arrogance a noble State Seem'd sweetness there to joyn with Majesty Nere did the Gods in a more noble frame See forth the Image of their Deitie Oh Nymph I saw her judge then how I lov'd her How with those sudden flames my heart was fir'd And what strength the surprizall of my sense Could leave me to resist her charms assaults But sad Catastrophe when day was ended I found my Error so but not my Love My soule possest of so great rarities When I awak'd still kept their strong Idea But so confus'dly that I never could Retrive the Object where those Beauties shin'd Yet still I lov'd that imperfect Idea Here did my freedom finde its overthrow And from that instant I am so in love That I have no esteem for other objects Thus forc'd to love and without hope of comfort I am constrain'd to burn and yet be silent But though this sad constraint augments my pain I must detect the secrets of my heart A famous Drudge that when he is private Seemes daily to interpret Destiny Was th' Oracle Divine that by these words First gave my wav'ring spirit some repose Rejoyce sad Sheepherd the Decree Of Fate shall soon accomplisht be Within the Realm of Lillies neare The Banks of Marne a Nymph thou there Shalt finde Angelica by name Discover unto her thy flame Open unto her thy Heart The strange Originall impart Of this thy fire then to thine eyes The light of a new Day shall rise That soon the sacred
the fatall influence of your starres Lys. This Metamorphosis is very Past'rall So once Austraea did embrace Alcais Not knowing that 't was Celadon disguis'd But to appeare a Maid indeed how shall I Be rid of this excrescence of my beard How shall I this correct Hircan That 's a slight Scruple Oh let thy beard alone feare nothing I Can by my Art give thee the countenance Of a yong Sheepherdesse extremely faire Thy maine so modest and thy port so taking Charita scarce can be a minute from thee Then judge thy happiness shee 's sure thine own Lys. What priviledge shall I have thus disguis'd I am impatient till it be accomplisht Hircan Let 's to my Palace to begin the work The end of the second Act Actus tertius Scaena prima Enter Angelica Hircan Angel I See at length that Lysis company Hath power to draw you from your solitude Allowing us excuse for our disguises While you partake of our divertisement Hircan I must confesse his folly is so pleasant It much exceeds all that is spoken of him For my part I much wondred when I saw My Sister was a Sheepherdesse for him And certain pastimes which she then pursu'd Scarce could I yeild to such a low design But things unknown with injury are censur'd And Lysi humour is so pleasing to me That were not by 's error pre-engag'd I could resolve to take the Crook up too But yet I hope to make you all confesse There is some pleasure in a Druyd's part Angel You onely study then to come off well In Comedies variety is pleasant And I am confident this will be so Some Sheepherds I a Nymph you Conjurer Hircan But yet t is have made the best adventure Angel Yes doubtless it will be an excellent Scene When to appeare a Maid hee I thank't enough To imitate the Gestures and the Habit. Hircan Yet I did nothing but with Ceremony I pray'd to Tharamis invoakt his Genius Then casting round my eyes to ev'ry place Thrice to the East I fixt my countenance And thus with a grimme look without ought else Remov'd all obstacles to Transmutation The Sheepherd is disguis'd without suspition And th' better to assist me to delude him The Metamorphosis was finisht as Montenor with my Sister did arrive Who instantly perceiving my designe So well reserv'd their countenance they treat Him for a Maid without the last suspition And thus out enterprise succeeded rarely Angel Faith you provide us very excellent sport Hircon Il't ravish not at least 't will make ye laugh But now to personate the Sheepherdesse Faire Nymph you know what t is we have to doe Angel Yes I know well of what me must accuse him Hir. Sure hee 'l be very desparate in 's defence When I to aid him shall employ my engine The Hall is most convenient for the purpose 〈◊〉 troubles represented here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pretty lights to my invention SCENE II. Enter to them Clarimond Charita Angel I thought I 'd lost ye and was much perplext Clar. We took the Aire upon the Fountain's side While you and Hircan have resolved how Extravagant Lysis must be entertain'd Angel And did the breath of Zephyrus delight ye Clar. My Sheepherdess did make it pleasant to me Angel Your cares are constant Char. D' ye wonder at it Did ever any see me and forsake me Angel Clarimond gives good evidence of that Char. To whom more justly could he render homage I dare engage with less baits heretofore Fauns were from Woods by Sheepherdesses drawn I have a quick sweet look Angel And a vain humour Char. Not without reason I come from the Fountaine Whose moving Christall since I have consulted A little vanity may be allow'd me Angel Sure it flatter'd Char. Not so much as you think But guesse whom I am like in our Romances What 's rare there by a Past'rall pencill drawn Is all but Copy I 'm th' Originall In this disguise I 'm nothing but is lovely I surpasse Philis if not equall Astrea Angel You highly prize your selfe in my opinion Hircan Charita is too faire to speak otherwise The best of Beauties may commend it selfe Char. So wise a Druyde Who would not believe Clar. I credit but my heart in this great Truth But as y 'ave no defects so be not cruell And to my perfect love vouchsafe to grant A favour to adorne my Crook this shall Suffice He snatches at a Ribbon and Charita stops his hand Angel What doth this Sheepherd from Arcadia Expresly come to honour you in Brie And you refuse him that Y' are strangely cruell Char. Can he complain I give when he demands giving him a knock Clar. Willingly Char. Yes frankly Philiris without disguise Provided Clarimond have no share in it Clar. Why that Reserve so contrary to my vowes Explaine your selfe for Love-sake Char. It needs not Clar. But in fine Char. No more here 's Montenor SCENE III. Enter to them Montenor Hircan Well gentle Sheepherd Mon. Sister do you think To Angelic Lysis the Sheepherdesse is come to see you Lucida brings her and you faire Charita I pray prepare your selfe to entertain her Char. Be confident I will doe what I can He is confirm'd then of his Transformation Mon. He relies wholly upon Hircan's skill Angel We then shall see th' effects Where left ye him Mon. Some thirty paces hence I came before Hircan I le go then and prepare what 's to be done It 's very necessary I withdraw Lest if he finde me here he should suspect My art that hitherto has hit so well I must appeare like a Magician here Ex. Angel That you may then avoid him go this way I heare Lucida's tongue th' are in the court What do you ow to this excess of Love To Charita Char. In Pastorals I shall be very famous Mon. Anselm knowes nothing of this Raillery Angel He 'll be surpriz'd then with the more delight Let 's here our Sheepherdess's complement See there she is SCENE IV. Enter to them Lucid. and Lysis like a Sheepherdesse Char. A very comely person Angel Fie laugh no more in faith you 'l spoile the Scene All contain your selves Lucid Fair Nymph to whom the Gods To Angel The most mysterious Secrets doe impart In this unhappy Maid you see the Signes Of griefs which they have destin'd you to heale Thus saith great Hircan and I took the care Following his order to conduct her hither Ang. She is most welcom from so great a Druyde embracing Lysis Ly. You much oblige a distress'd Sheepherdess imitating the voice and gesture of a maid Who will conclude her cruel fate most mild If she may have that blessing to be with you And that is all she begs Char. Grant her desire To live among us Nymph she is prepar'd If you love our content refuse her not Most taking person Angel She has excellent features Char. What you say nothing To Clarimond Clar. I know what I think My debt to you impos'd this silence on me
speaks his heart And his pure flame aspiring to extreams When he does say he loves he loves you truly Char. This satisfies not what I ow my self To dare to credit Clarimond on his Faith No no 't is for his honour he sweares to me That nothing's comparable to what he suffers But all that I can do mine not engag'd Is to endure complaint and not believe Clar. Are you then doubtfull of so true a flame Char. To wish it so I am too just for know I Clarimond do understand at Court 'T is Vertue quaintly to dissemble Love That it is gallant to declare to all You are a friend to th' Brown as well as Faire And without giving bounds to your desires Your sighs can menage as you see occasion Clar. Oh cease to injure the sincerest flame That purest love ere kindled in a soule Do I insensible of constant love On all occasions divide my heart And sigh in every place at any object Char. I know that nothing s easier than to say so And flatter thus our foolish vanity That breeds in us too much credulity Clar. Thus to persist so long in vain alarms Is to distrust the power of your Beauty 'T is true to please an hundred sev'rall objects Men may dissemble wounds they never had That it is easie still to say I love you But you may know 't is not the same with you And 't is impossible to see your face And say I love you and not love you truly Char. And would you have me to believe you now But see our Foole Clar. Base hindrance to my Joy Char. To vex him for the mischief he hath done you I will abuse him with pretended sleep Farewell leave me alone I think 't is best That you and I be not surpriz'd together Clar. But Char. Leave me I say or I shall break with you She lies down upon the grasse pretending to sleep Clar. And must this foole disturb such pleasing minutes But to please my Charita I le avoid him And let her sport with his extravagance Exit SCENE V. Enter Lysis Charita Ly. Sweet places where my Sun beneath your shade Having scorch'd me repairs to take the aire Though to be lightned be your great advantage Yet suffer a poore Sheepherd to share with you Hide not Charita from th' most ardent but Gods I 'm deluded or I see her sleeping 'T is she oh happiness hush gentle Zephyrs Breath without noise my Goddess is asleep I must advance but slowly lest I wake her Trees let your leaves be silent for a while Ye Brooks stand still and you ye foolish Bees That buzze so busily about her eares Fly hence touch not the Roses which I see My fairest hath no flowers but for me kneeles by her How happy 's Morpheus O transcendent beauty In the worlds fairest eyes to have his Palace How he tasts Nectar sweet and most delicious And how his happinesse thy Sheepherd envies Oh if 't were lawful but thou insolent Fly Which on that fairest Nose presum'st to sit I le make thee know what 't is beating away the Flie he strikes her on the face which she pretends wakes her Char. Gods how you use me Why did you not awake me gentlier Ly. Oh! Pardon an act of justice to my Flame Which thought it duty so to sacrifice Ch. What have you caus'd me suffer by that blow Ly. Love seldom gives a wound he cannot cure But though you feel some little pain by that Yet might that cursed Fly have stung you for You know that once Eudoxa Char. She did well But if it were her fault it is not mine Ly. At least for pity-sake leaning towards her Char. What Sheepherd Ly. Cruel Thou daily dost permit the Sun to kiss thee And will not suffer that this amorous heart Should by thy snow seek to refesh his heat Char. The sad condition that your heart is in Ly. Thy hand of milk congeal'd may make the proof kissing her hand Char. Good Gods Ly. Absolve a Lover from that error I know the love of Sheepherds should be chast But yet their soules sometimes may be transported And Nature of her self is vitious Char. Oh how the impure flames I finde in you Constraine me to regrate my Amaryllis Ly. Amaryllis Char. Oh! Ly. Did you love her Char. I love her More though she 's absent than I do my self That I might see her Ly. That you may easily Remove what hides her from thy abused eyes See here thy Sheepherd Char. What is' t you would say Ly. That Amaryllis onely breaths in me And my excessive love that could not be Prevented made me change my sex to see thee Char. You would have chang'd to force the obstacles Ly. That 's nothing Love works many other wonders Char. Was it you then that in so neat a way Under a Womans habit did deceive us You that sage Hircan rescued from the fire Ly. 'T was I 't was Lysis thou light of my soule How ought'st thou then to prize such rare attempts Char. Go guilty Sheepherd go approach me not After an act so shamefull and so base Ly Oh you would try me Char. No do not believe it I hate a Sheepherd whose besotted love Shall dare to borrow aid from magick arts Heaven shall revenge me on thy injuries Fly then from hence fly far from these our coasts And thus polluted with the greatest crimes Ne're shew thy self to my incensed eyes T is my last order Ex. Ly. Lestrigonian Beauty More fierce than is the Asp or Dragon come Feast if my death can satisfie thy rage Thy flesh-devouring eyes with that sweet sight SCENE VI Enter to him Montenor Mon. Wherefore doth Lysis mourn Ly. Oh Sheepherd tremble For all the Gods confederate against us Thou ne're shalt see the Sun to set again The Woods shall be afire the Rivers dry Meddowes shall lose their flowers Echo be silent In fine all is destroy'd Charita's angry Mon. Gods Ly. Didst not see her violent transport It was a Tygresse with her sparkling eye Yet Montenor I must confesse that I Never did yet behold so faire a Tygresse And that her fiercenesse something had of grace Even when she did pronounce my banishment Mon. Ah could she banish thee Ly. With great injustice Mon. Why dost afflict thy self Be crosse as she Thou sure canst change thy vowes if she be chang'd Ly. No I le attend th' afflicted Lovers Fate Whom when the Gods to such rude storms expose Toucht with their miseries they oft transform them Mon. That once was good Ly. And so continues still For wherefore should the Arm o' th' Gods be shortned No Mercurie this night came with his wand To let me understand their pleasure towards me And I must change my form Mon. On that great Hope Thou scorn'st Charita and no more wilt see her Ly. Would you that I provoke her with my presence Yet I may see the place where she inhabits And here at distance mounted on this Tree With my
The Extravagant SHEEPHERD A Pastorall Comedie VVritten in French by T. Corneille Englished by T. R. 1654. HORAT. Aut prodesse solent aut delectare Poëtae LONDON Printed by I. G. for Tho Heath dwelling in Russel street in Covent-Garden near the Piazza 1654. To the most Vertuous LADY Mrs. JOANNA THORNHILL VVife to the Honourable Col RICH: THORNHILL of Ollantigh in KENT MADAM AS my many Obligations to your Name in both your Relations of Husband and Brother have long since claim'd from me a Publique Acknowledgement so those to your Person have created in me a Confidence not only to obtain Pardon for this Presumption but a Protection of this Innocent Stranger who durst not venture abroad without it Such is his Innocency that in this habit he might without Gaule to the Spectators have enter'd the Theater had not the Guilty Ones of this Age broken that Mirrour lest they should there behold their own horrible Shapes represented but now he is faine to seeke Sanctuary which cannot be found but at the Altar of an Immaculate Vertue which Madam all that are so happy as to know you confesse to be raised in your Name under whose shadow as under Laurell poore Lysis will not onely be secured from the Thunder of the Times but I shall be absolved from my Errors and confirm'd with all Devotion to continue in all Gratitude Madam Your most humble Servant T. R. Drammatis Personae LYSIS the Extravagant Sheepherd ANGELICA a Nymph Sister to Montenor HIKCAN Brother to Lucida MONTENOR a Sheepherd in love with Lucida ANSELM a Sheepherd in love with Angelica CLARIMOND in love with Charita LUCIDA a Sheepherdesse sister to Hircan CHARITA a Sheepherdesse Cousin to Angelica ADRIAN Cousin to Lysis SYNOPE CLORISE Damosels Neighbours to Angelica The Scene in BRIE The Extravagant SHEEPHERD Actus primus Scaena prima Enter Lysis in the Equipage of a Sheepherd driving his Flock before him FEed my dear Sheep faithful Companions feed Through all those verdant plaines from danger freed Thanks to my Shepherdess we now behold An Age as glorious as that Age of Gold But on the Gilliflowers and Roses feed That spring in ev'ry place where Shee doth tread Taste without feare no food so sweet will prove 'Gainst Wolves your Centinel 's the God of Love He loves what She affects and kindely looks Upon her faithfull Sheepherd and his Flocks Flocks which long since being marked for his owne Feel no diseases that in Sheep are known Charita thou faire Sheepherdesse whom we Adore the flower and choice of all in Brie How powerfull thine eyes how bright how faire By which thus to keep Sheep thy Lovers are Constrain'd compar'd to their bright sparkling rayes The Sun it selfe a gloomy light displayes Whose weaker Beames are but Reflexions vaine When those of thy bright eyes begin to raigne Therefore poore Sun thy fault 's beyond compare That still presum'st t' illuminate the aire Quit quit that care to th' Object I adore Thy shame unto the world expose no more Lie close within the Seas nor day nor night Thy Chrystall Palace quit nor Amphitrite But since thou wilt goe on 't is best for me To feast my selfe with this frugalitie Feed feed my pretty Lambs while I like you Thus sitting on the grasse the same will doe Ent. Clarimond He sits down and taking fruits out of his pouch looking back he spies Clarimond who surprized to see a man clad like an ancient Roman Shepherd stood still to view him SCENE II. Lysis Clarimond Lysis Pan guard thee Sheepherd whither art thou going Art thou dispos'd to taste our Sheepherds fare I have some other fruits within my pouch And those wee 'l share and feast the best we can And if we thirst the River is not far Pray take your place Clar. I thank ye I le not eate I have no stomach but good Sir resolve me What great important businesse brings you hither Lys. I like thy freedome and I love thee for 't To be inquisitive doth argue Wit And Curiosities when th' are discreet Cl. O no more complement what art thou prethee Lys. What am I Sure thou canst not but discerne Sheepherd I thank God Pan I am a Sheepherd But what remote Country dost thou inhabit That art thus ignorant of th' affaires of Brie For though thy garments differ much from mine I guesse thou art a Shepherd too Cl 'T is true I am indeed so and perhaps to morrow I shall more plainly shew you what I am In the meane time may I know your condition Lys. I 'me too good Natur'd to deny thee that Sit downe Sitting down by him Cl Who e're saw such extravagance Lys. For thy sake I 'le put up my fruits againe To me the Hour's indifferent and you know A good Discourse is better than a Feast Besides the brizes that refresh these plaines Make the place very proper for our Story Know then that Love that Son of Chaos who So often doth disturbe his mothers rest And were it not for whom we Sheepherds might Scorne the felicity of greatest Kings This blinde cleare-sighted God this peevish Boy Endeavour'd to enslave me from my youth But knowing how he us'd to treat his Captives I still avoided that mischievous God And I had fool'd him yet a thousand times If to subdue this heart so long assail'd Finding that all his Forces were too weake He had not call'd Charita to his aide Charita oh how that faire name doth ravish Cl. Shee 's faire then Lys. Fair faire with Hyperbole Heap up a thousand fairest things together Thinke of the Lillies beauties and of Roses And borrow for her eyes the Sun's bright rayes Plant on each cheek the best Vermilian Dye Then with a faithful Pensil vively paint Scratches Wel Sheepherd to be brief conclude her fair his head Cl. Wonderfull piece Lys. It was at Paris where Before I was a Sheepherd I was taken Cl. And as shee then took you so you took her Lys. Could she hold out against so great deserts I shall not tell thee what sweet Trances then I felt and with what Extasies transported Nor how to make her yeilding to my sighs I dy'd a thousand times as oft reviv'd I 'le onely tell thee that my greatest blisse Proceeded from a project which Love taught her Perswading her to come and live in Brie Here to revive the antient Sheepherds Life Some five or sixe dayes since she hither came And made my blisse that of the Gods exceed For truly I know none so perfect as To live a Sheepherd and to sway the Crook Ther 's neither Tree nor Rock in all these parts Wherein we have not Character'd our Loves And were it not for one thing that I feare Cl. Dost thou feare ought Lys. Yes left some ugly Satyre Lest some Goat-footed God enamour'd of her Finde her alone and maugre all her cries Cl. Fie no your Love 's too apprehensive here 's No Satyre but o're whom I doe command Rest satisfied Lysis rising Doe you
then give them Lawes Clar. They know me well and tremble under me Ly. kneels Great Deity of these our sacred Groves Accept the homage of thy prostrate Sheepherd For 't is to Pan I speak who in my love T' assist me is thus purposely disguis'd Thy more than humane looks makes that too cleare Pardon me that I knew thee not before Henceforth upon thy Sacred Altars I Will daily offer-store of Milk and Wine And every Month will choose the fattest Lamb Of all my Flocks to be thy Sacrifice Clar. What meane you Sheepherd Lys. Suffer me this day Cl. You injure Pan to worship Me for him Observe Mee well for such a Festivall I doe both want his Hornes and cloven-feet Lys. Your mortall habit hides Divinity SCENE III. Enter to them Adrian Adr. Ah Foole art there Lys. turning about Couz Adrian Is' t you Adr. Yes it is I 'me tormented with thy follies Art thou come hither then to play thy pranks Would thou wer 't safe i' th' Hospitall of Fooles Lys. rising Peace give me leave my reasons to alledg For that should be the refuge of us all This gracious Sheepherd here shall be our Judge Deciv'd with his perfections I e'en now Took him for Pan disguised like a mortall Nay look you to 't he hath the countenance If not of Pan of Mercury or Cupid Adr. Oh Heaven what Folly what Extravagance Lys. You blame the Sheepherds but alas too blindly Is any life more full of sweets than this Is not their Name as antient as the World And when Deucalion would mankinde restore Out of the first Stone he a Sheepherd made And Kings of old whom I am proud to follow Made their Sons Sheepherds as the way to live The Gods on Earth have often ta'ne that habit And great Apollo kept Admetus Sheep And even those wandring Starrs we see above Are Beasts that feed within those shining plaines And who are fit to keep them but the Gods Then for our Sheep what is of greater worth We feed upon them sheare them and receive The yearly tribute of their wealthy fleeces And as they say the more to be ador'd Iove once transform'd himselfe into a Ram And Greece ne're knew a nobler enterprize Then when the Argonauts fetch't home the fleece 'T is the first Sacrifice was made to Pan. This is to let you know Couz Adrian That though the World revile it yet to lead Our Flocks to feed 's a noble exercise And to what serves your tedious noyse of Cities Of Merchants Officers or Advocates Read Iulietta and then tell me if Arcadia ever knew such names as these They all were Sheepherds and liv'd free from care And I would have them here to be so govern'd Beleeve me Cousin leave your City trades Let us together dresse our Pastures bring Your Wife your Children here you 'l live at ease Shee shall a Sheepherdesse they Sheepherds be And we will all in perfect pleasures live And to the Bag-pipe under Elmes wee 'le dance Adr. Ah Sir you see to what a strange excesse This poore Phrenetick Spirit is transported How much extravagance Lys. turning from them My deare Charita If thou dost kill me give me life againe He retires to a corner of the Stage where he lies downe Cl. While he talkes to himselfe be pleas'd to tell me The hidden cause of that which troubles him I finde his frantick fits of a strange nature Adr. It 's the issue of a vaine and cursed reading His Father was a Merchant and Citizen Of Paris and being rich look't on him onely And thinking to provide for him an Office T' adorne his innocent and harmlesse minde Caus'd him to Study where all that he learn't Was to o'rethrow that little wit he had He read Romances onely and believ'd them Admir'd all the Sheepherds fain'd adventures And his weake braine by those vaine fables did So soon descend in th' Aire of Love and Beauty That in a year or two he thus besotted Would wilfully assume this present habit 'T was labour'd with much reason to convince him But he still talkt of Sheep and of his Crook Yet studied more but thought lesse of his office And though he still persisted in his frenzy Yet was it worse when his good Father dy'd The Romance of Astraea was then publish't Where reading Hylas and Sylvander's jarres His braine being very soft in such a case He needs would be their judge and heare them plead And so resolv'd to goe into the Forrests And had not I still caus'd him to be follow'd He doubtlesse more had credited his booke Than our advice His Frenzy still continuing He oft would lock himselfe into his Chamber Where without let pursuing his wilde fancies I 've heard him act the Sheepherds part alone In fine the Mode of these Romances ceasing His minde a long time seemed lesse distracted And certainly that Heat began to coole Had he not haunted Comedies last Winter When earnest oft to see their Amaryllis H' againe reviv'd his thoughts of Flocks and Crooks He drew me too to see that cursed Play And cry'd at ev'ry line O wonderfull Scarce could he keep himselfe within his skin All seem'd so ravishing so rarely new Never was Man there more intent than He 'T was Acted and he there an hundred times So that imbark'd againe by their leud babling And finding time to make his bundle ready And all trust up he early in a morning Came hither thus to act his foolish part But I shall put such Fetters on him that He shall no longer thus dishonour us Cl. His humour 's troublesome but yet take heed Lest your confining him should breake his quiet A Prison's terrible to soundest mindes And the diseas'd it oft exasperates Adr. 'T is true but what amendment can I hope Cl. If you 'l advise with me let him alone What do'st concerne you here Y' are farre from Paris Let him accomplish what he has design'd Let him pursue this Sally of his thoughts Perhaps a week or so may cure his folly And he not finding in a Sheepherd's life The fancied pleasures that entic'd him to it It may more easie prove to make him see The errour which his books did first create Adr. Well for a day or too I 'le leave him then Although I came by chance into this place And have gone very farre to finde him out M' affaires engage me to a quick returne Th' are pressing and of great importance to me Ex. Cl. Farewell I 'le have a care he shall not wander SCENE IV. Enter to them Anselme in the habit of a Sheepherd Lysis lying still talking to himselfe Cl. H' as left us here inestimable treasure Was ever fool of a more pleasant humour But what illusion 's this surprizeth me What i' st is all the world turn'd foole like him Ans. What! Clarimond it seems does hardly know me Cl. Oh Heavens in what a shape dost thou appear I' st Anselme Ans. Yes I 'me Anselme still for you But my
last homage may adore her beauty He ascends the Tree and falls into the Trunk of it being hollow I see 't what hid that Palace from my sight But O miraculous issue of my hopes At length I finde the Gods have not abus'd me And Lysis now in earnest is transform'd I am become a Tree O divine wonders My feet I feele already stretch'd to roots And my flesh chang'd to wood with sudden shoots Produceth branches at my fingers ends Monten Strange madnesse this Ly. But O thou ocular witnesse Of this my change to Lovers Ordinary Go and disperse the fame of my new fate And if thou er'e didst love me guard my flock SCENE VII Enter to them Clarimond Adrian Lysis in the tree Clar. No to reduce him feare no obstacle to Adrian We leave him to ye but what pleasant sight Sheepherd what dost thou there Ly. 'T was but ill judg'd I am I thank the Gods no more a Sheepherd Clar. What then Ly. I am a Tree Adrian Ah foole dost still Persist to credit thy ridiculous dreames Ly. Adrian I should abuse my self too much To call thee Cousin you assume a freedom Such trees as I of an immortall nature Adrian And who made thee a Tree Ly. A rare adventure But I don't wonder that prophaner eyes Can dive into the secrets of the Gods Mon. But wilt thou dwel within that rotten Trunk Ly. Ah my Wood's sacred pray speak better of it Clar. I do believe it but see night comes on Do you intend to lie in this faire Trunk Ly. How brave 't will be to see my spatious Arms Extend within a bed their earthly roots Know that a Tree is fixt and if sometimes Its Country Deity forsake his Wood 'T is but to go by night to revel with The Demi-Gods and ye faire Hamadryades For they by Moon-shine alwayes use to meet Ad. Then thy fool-Demi-gods thy Nymphs and Loves Ly. Take heed lest to revenge their injuries I throw down some one of my branches on thee Clar. Pardon his fault at least this once but since Thou needs wilt be a Tree it must be so But what 's thy hope Ly. All that I hope for is My love at length may touch my Sheepherdesse And that about my Trunk to recompence me Shee with her company will come to dance Then will I use for pressing speeches sad Complaining murmures of my trembling leaves And to declare to her my excessive paines I le use th' assistance of a gentle groan Then bidding her farewell prodigiously In token of respect I le bow my Trunk Adrian Thou foole if this be all the good thou look'st for Think'st thou to seeme a Tree Ly. Yes for I am so Adrian And do Trees speak Ly. Oh then is that your wonder Thou hast read nothing of Dodona's Grove There by the will o' th' Gods the Trees did speak Know that my Fate 's as glorious I like them A Prophet am and my fore-telling Wood Shall make as great a noise as Delphian Tripos Adrian Make triall then drawing his sword gives two or three blowes on the Trunk Thou greatest of all fooles Th' hast felt these blowes hadst thou been what thou saist Ly. Villain what dost thou do where tends thy rage Never till now hath iron injured me I was a Virgin now my Trunk is open Oh stop at least my sap that flowing 's lost And know what ever strength their verdure shewes Trees without radicall moisture cannot live Adrian 'T is tedious to heare thee come come out here Ly. I must obey the Destinies decrees Hold sacrilegious oh use violence Let a poor Sheepherd live in that weak barque What has he done to thee Clar. Do not provoke him to Adrian No violence will ere do good upon him Let 's grant he is a Tree and I have thought on The means to hinder that he take no root I le tell you what 's my project at the Castle Adrian Alas he 's now a greater foole than ever Mon. Farewell faire Tree Clar. Farewell Heaven make thee grow Ex. Manet Lys. Th' are gone now I may know my self again O silver-horn'd Moon if thou know'st where The Demi-gods my Brothers meet this night Refuse me not a Boon which I demand Lend me thy rayes to finde them where they are I am not mortall now and in their sports The Nymphs may me receive without suspition Dear Trunk permit me leave thee since 't is night For my first visit now is due to them He comes out of the tree Farewel to share their pleasant sports I le goe Into the woods to seek their Rendezvouz Ex. The end of the fourth Act Actus quintus Scaena prima Enter Anselm Angelica Ansel At length since Heav'n propitious to my prayer Doth not oppose the vowes of Montenor But seems to have a care that they be crown'd I may give up my selfe to th'sweets of Hope If without crime and a too great presumption A Sheepherd may pretend to love a Nymph Angel 'T is very quaintly pleaded to engage Me To praise the Sheepherd and reject the Nymph But let this satisfie your pressing Heart That now my brother takes your interest And as love once did flatter you so his Consent 's sufficient to confirme your wishes Ansel How this reply affronts a lovers will And if you limit there his best advantage How ill when he explain'd his vowes he told you How scrupulous love is in his designes He look's with scorne on fairest victories When they may cast a shaddow on his glory By his owne merit hee 'd be absolute He loves no Triumph by anothers will Nor can indure what ever 's the attempt That forraigne succours should secure his conquest Angel T is so a Lover's never satisfied He doubts his happinesse when he enjoys it And his unquiet flame resolv'd to feare In the most faire successe will still complaine Ansel Oh refuse not to this enflamed heart The sweet to see it selfe entirely charm'd And if it move your soule when it doth sigh Deny me not the bliss to understand it 'T is not enough that Montenor's content Assures me of like happinesse with that Must make him perfect to fulfill my joy 'T is needfull you unfold your heart with me That loving passions may your thoughts detect That a kind qualme may answer to my sighs And that by your consent my flame confirm'd May be the glorious prize of loving you SCENE II. Enter to them Clarimond Adrian Clar. Why surely here the shaddowes of the night Have made you quite forget what we design'd You still go on and never have regard That happily our Foole sees you farre off And if he know you he will strait conjecture Seeing our Demi-gods what 's our design Adrian Alas t' allow of what they do propose He has too strong opinion of his change And 't is but vain to think your feign'd Deities Can draw him from a Tree he holds so dear Angel Though he was tractable with Hircan yet This his last
act seems to exceed my faith For since he speaks yet how can he presume That Heaven would shut him up within a Tree Adrian By that I strove to make him understand That he is not what he believes himselfe But 'gainst all reason hee 's a Tree his Gods Ought that rare Destiny to his deservings A curse on Ovid and his Sectaries Clar. If the Moon lend us but a constant light I 'm of opinion you 'l be satisfi'd And vainly fear he should be long a Tree He 's out of 's Trunk looks into a Tree Adrian Good Gods I cannot believ 't Clar. You well may doubt it in a darker night Adri I thank the Gods that of his own accord H' has left a Trunk to which he was so charm'd And that to draw him out your Nymphs o'th'woods And forraign Demi-gods are of no use They far from curing him would have a fresh O'return'd his mind and troubled his sick brain Clar. Well he 's now out of it but you may feare The rising morning may replant him there You believe him too soon demetamorphoz'd Angel While he is absent now the cure is easie Let us cut down the Tree I le labour all I can to stop the progresse of his folly And I le renounce my pastimes that I may Facilitate the means of your departure Adrian I le hast to borrow succours to defeat him Exit SCENE III. Ansel Lysis at his return will play the Devil Angel And your designs being spoyl'd through his departure Make Clar. I am sorry for those two young Beautie Who mad to play upon this simple fellow Have in vain drest themselves like Nymphs o' th' Woods Troth 't is an ill adventure for the first Angel Which of us did foresee he 'd quit his Trunk But yet we want Charita Where is she Clar. I left her with our Demi-Gods perhaps She does expect the signall to advance Angel A little absence is a pain to Lovers Clar. T is true I suffer and when far from her Soon find a certain trouble in my soule But yet this trouble though 't be nothing gentle Is not the greatest torment I endure That which afflicts and makes me to complaine Is that I hope much and see more to feare That is I have a heart enflam'd with love And yet I doubt whether I 'm lov'd again Angel You understand too well your own deserts To think you have nothing gain'd upon Charita But if you will persist thus to alarm Your selfe in vain know I le assume your cause Then love and hope Clar. It is a charming promise Angel Since Love with me has interest for you The victory is easie Clar. Would 't were so SCENE IV. Enter to them Charita Lucida Char. Room for our Tree for he is coming hither Angel Where did you finde him Lucid In that little Grove Which joyning to the Park makes up the Lantskip There hearing him to hallow Angel But what could he do there at midnight Char. There Making Orations to an Oak he labour'd T' induce the Nymph to render her self visible Our Deities that follow'd at a distance Played their parts handsomly upon occasion He takes their word but when he did propose To shew them where he was transform'd our care To give you notice made us come before Clar. Since the occasion 's offer'd le ts embrace it Though honest Adrian has cause to curse it But since we can let us make up the jest Char. Then we must hide our selves I hear 'em there Anselm Ans. No take no care of me Charita Lest he should seize again upon his Trunk I le be a Tree and act the Demi-god Clar. But he perceives you Char. Oh good Gods speak low Ans. The hole is so profound he cannot see me Anselm gets into the Tree and the rest hide themselves SCENE V. Enter to them Lysis Synope Clorise drest like Nymphs of the Woods with branches of trees in their hands at the ends whereof were fastned drie Comfits Ly. At length dear Sisters for I am perswaded I ow that title to all Hamadryades Behold that famous Trunk which in that place By Fate 's decree enclos'd a Demi-god Syn. Scarce had the Sun given place unto the Moon When we had tydings of your happy fortune Neither had we this night our barques forsaken But to perform our homage and to see you Ly. As I 'm a jucie-tree I am o'rejoy'd To have so fair and so good company I 'm sure my leaves to morrow will assume A far more fertile and more lively green But you fair Nymphs ever by me ador'd Where are those pleasant places you are planted Clor. We dwell by day in a Wood far remote Syn. That we may there behold our fruits in safety They are not common and 't had been injurious If Heaven had left us to be pillag'd by Passengers Ly. You are Fruit-trees I perceive Syn. Fruit-trees most excellent as you shall finde Ly. I shall be ravished to hear your story Syn. Know then when mortall we were Comfit-makers And gave them such an high exalted taste That ev'n Diana could not but commend 'em At her return from chase she oft would eat 'em But when we foolishly divulg'd this favour She was so angry that with sudden rage She chang'd us both to trees as you are now Ly. What trees Syn. My Sister is a Cherry-tree And Destiny made me bear Apricocks pointing to the fruits Ly. But tell me Nymphs are these the fruits ye bare Clor. Yes that 's a favour granted to our Deities They all grow Comfits Ly. They taste ne're the worse Syn. You cannot say so if you do not try 'em Gather 'em Ly. I gather 'em Syn. They are very pleasant Th' are serv'd in at the table of the Gods And you may eat'em Ly. Think 't not strange that I Excuse my selfe a tree nor eats nor drinks Syn. Who is so foolish but must know your tree Can neither eat nor drink But you that are As 't were the soule unto its feeble nature Are not exempt to take your nourishment Thus to subsist Trees that are Demi-gods Come almost every night to pull our fruits Their sap without it would be very barren Ly. 'T is true my trunk I finde is somewhat weak And by these instances I do conclude That Tree cannot live long that does not eat Clor. Then follow our example eat apace eating Comfits Ly. What you devour your own substance ha Clor. That 's to invite you to be led by us Ly. Sweeter than is thy Nectar Ganimede eating How happy are wee Trees Syn. Well our dear Brother Ly. Troth Sister Apricock your frutis are rare Such Saturn in the golden age did eat But is our Sister Myrrha still alive Her Trunk is very old Syn. I never saw her Is she of your acquaintance Sister Speak Clor. Myrrha was never seen in these our parts Ly. Her Tree lives onely in Arabia And to say truth that Country's far from yours But do ye never visite one