happy and thou art no lesse Since thy good fortune offereth it self Unto thy hand from whence thou mai'st expect All that thou canst desire without that jealous PARTHENIA to ISMENIA Come let us go the Nymph expecteth us ISMENIA softly to CLIDAMANT Having no opportunity at present To speak unto thee read J think 't will please thee CLIDAMANT Read it J think 't will please thee what i' th name Of wonder doth she mean MELINTUS Take but the pain To open and to read it thou shalt find CLIDAMANT J think J may make thine eys withnesses Of what it doth contain there 's nothing in it Secret of serious Ismenia loves To jest and to be talk'd of and this is Some new piece of her wonted merry wit MELINTUS J am impatient prethee open it CLIDAMANT Let me see what divertisement is here Which she expounds good fortune what is this He reads List of my Lovers by an exact order Of Alphabet 'T is very well put of But so far forth as J can see yet neither Obsetve J here Melintus or my self MELINTUS For my part J renounce there turn the leaf Go on CLIDAMANT reads Stanza's of Dorilas upon inconstancy 'T is true Ismenia thou are fair But more inconstant then the air And every Lover is a Mark Exposed to thy humourous dart As soon as he meets thy disdain He flies to death to cure his pain And makes but one large step in all From his bright glory to his fall With these defects yet thou canst charm But I 'l not love for fear of harm Yet J approve all things in thee Yea even to thy inconstancy And will not to incur thy hate Jealous Melintus imitate Whose humour every thing offends And nothing pleaseth but its ends CLIDAMANT Melintus what sai'st thou unto them MELINTUS J see for what design she put those Tables Into thy hand J call'd her cocket lately And that it seems provok'd her to return me The injury with one of the same nature CLIDAMANT continues to read Sonnet of Silvio my most faithfull Lover A Madrigal of Thirsis what 's this follows Unto the Shepheard Clidamant CLIDAMANT Melintus Am J not purblinde see if this name doth Strike thine eyes thus like mine Melintus looking into the writing Tables MELINTUS Nothing 's more certain It is address'd to thee thou art more happy Then thou imagin'st CLIDAMANT reads As soon as the dark shadows of the night Hang o'r the light At th' Eccho of the Garden let us meet But be discreet 'T is love invites thee more anon When w' 're alone Ismenia Melintus would take the writing Tables MELINTUS Prethee let me see them Grant me this favor not then J believe Thou do'st disguise the truth and read'st Ismenia When 't is subscrib'd Diana CLIDAMANT Oh fond jealous How long wilt thou thus be thy own tormenter MELINTUS Yet shew them me CLIDAMANT To cure thy troubled spirit J ' l first o'r come thy curiosity And since the discreet Lover what vain heat So ever presseth thee never shews thus His Mistress name MELINTUS But CLIDAMANT Quit those blind suspicions as soon As it is night I 'l go unto the Eccho Alone and with our noise I 'm all a fire To know what she will tell me in the mean time Let 's go unto the Nymph to seek Thersander MELINTUS sofly To be more sure and to inform my self Yet fuller of thy faith in this my doubt I 'l to the Eccho too and sind it out The end of the second Act. ACTUS III. SCENA I. MELISSA DIANA MELISSA I Say to thee again that J receive Much pleasute at this news that thou Diana Art sister to the generous Thersander He hath inform'd me with the strange misfortune Which separated on the churlish Sea The Brother from the Sister in what place Upon a plank escaped from the wrack The storm remov'd him from the anger of Th' inraged Sea what countries he hath seen What pains and troubles he hath undergone Lastly he nam'd the happy fortune which Conducted him to us here I thank Heaven That made thee know him I 'm as sensible Of this content as thou canst be thy self He is so highly qualified that he 's worthy The name of King ye both shal find with me A Sanctuary and what ever fortune Ye have I will partake it good or bad My fortunes ye shall bare too so that all things Between us shall be common I believe Diana towards me will be so well Dispos'd of her part and that whatsoever Concerns me will touch her DIANA Madam I should Be barbarously ingratefull otherwise I still remember that being on the Shore Cast as a wretched wrack there by the floods Expecting every minute deaths approach I met with you my port and sanctuary Oh that I have not power for all this goodness T' express how much acknowledgement I have MELISSA Thou hast DIANA How Madam MELISSA In expecting nothing But death as I do now thou canst be to me At thy turn both my port and sancturary Thou canst subdue the enemy that braves me That of a Soveraign will make a slave He 's in thy power thou canst abate his courage DIANA What is that enemy which troubles you MELISSA He 's one whose Magick can enchant the arms Of the most Valiant he can draw tears from The most Heroick nothing is so strong Which he can't compass and without respect To any place or person whatsoever He equally distributeth his flames DIANA I know him not yet by this Character MELISSA How know'st thou not that tyrant of great Monarcks That famons Conqueror of Conquerours Who notwithstanding is but a blind child DIANA If J durst to express me J believe I know him MELISSA Speak it freely DIANA I 'm mistaken Or I have seen love painted in such colours Blind and a child yet a great Conquerour MELISSA 'T is the same love whereof I speak unto thee DIANA Who is the happy Lover that procures Your martyrdome MELISSA Alas could'st thou not spare me The shame to speak him cover gentle night Immediately those places and my brow With the same colour so to please my heat I love but let us finish since I 've said I love Thersander is my object DIANA What My Brother MELISSA He. If his heart be a prize Not easie to be gain'd there 's nothing which I would spare for him I would arm to have him Nought should oppose me every obstacle J would o'rcome already by some words Which he observ'd not spoken by the bie My love was half expressed DIANA As he should not Dare to pretend unto so great an honour He would be criminal if he believed To understand you MELISSA Well then be thou here The mouth and true interpreter of my heart Express the kind heat of my timerous soul Tell him that I 'm a subject to his Laws That he may boldly fix his thoughts upon The person of Melissa and not fear To be condemn'd that his ambition May soar so high
will keep his constancy For thee whom he thinks dead but here 's my Lover SCENA III. THIMANTES DIANA ISMENIA ISMENIA to THIMANTES WHat busines brings thee hither THIMANTES Here I come A little to divert my thought DIANA What thought THIMANTES 'T is a disease which doth assault my sense ISMENIA What i st without more circumstance THIMANTES My plaint Without words would express it at the sports Too many Shepheards had unto my grief Too long thy free ear and perhaps thy heart A World of people pressed round about thee The Shepheard Dorilas me thought discours'd Too long with thee I saw so many others Prostrated at thy foot ISMENIA Without more words Thimantes is become a jealous fool Since thou wilt love me learn to know me well Thimantes I am free and will no Master I 'le ne'r depend on any but my self Tell me I pray thee did I ever promise To speak to none but thee dost thou imagine So vainly that thou art the only Lover That serves me have not I yet some which ought To be conserv'd and amongst all the Shepheards Whose faith I have receiv'd if I should open My mouth and eyes on none of them but thee And that one of those dayes thy mind should change And mine change too as all this well may happen Would all the others jealous of this kindness Express'd to thee thus in particular Be still my Lovers though I had lost thee And if my liberty were not expos'd For all which of them would commiserate My fortune in thy losse I think upon Th' event of things which thou canst not assure At least if one quits me another takes me Consider if this humour pleaseth thee If thou canst serve me all thy life time thus And not be jealous if thou canst hope one day Both mouth and hand and happily the heart May flatter thy affection THIMANTES This way Seems very strange unto me but almost Every fair evening some appointed place Of meeting seems t' assure me of thy love Sufficiently and not to flatter me With frivolous hope ISMENIA Yet hitherto it is But airy words THIMANTES I hope all things from time In waiting for that day our names engraven In every place will speak my love Ismenia I promise ISMENIA But no more here comes Thersander That Shepheard whose enflamed heart thine eyes Hath rendered as hes DIANA Well Ismenia I leave you ISMENIA This is too much rigour trust me At least afford the face if thou deny'st The heart SCENA IV. THERSANDER DIANA THIMANTES ISMENIA THERSANDER to DIANA OH stay dear object stay thou that art cause Of all my torments I have but one word To say before I dye the Nimph hath crown'd My valour with these prizes here I come To lay them at thy feet with them my heart If thou wilt triumph on this festival day Suffer at least thy conquest in thy sight That 's all th' ambition of this captive heart DIANA Captive to me if so make it change Master I freely do release it break its chain Thy self if thy design be not to have me Free it with my own hand THERSANDER Alas it is not Its liberty that I desire DIANA Then let it Live still a slave and sigh THERSANDER How Shepheardess Refuse a heart this precious present which Is alwayes worth a Temple and the Gods Think well upon it it becomes thy justice Not to despise this noble sacrifice Since I give but the same victime and incense Unto the powers above in my opinion Our Goddess in the Temple is less fair And thou dost bear the bright name of Diana As well as she DIANA Since this rich present is Of such high value as 't is worthy of A Temple and the Gods I believe Shepheard That it becomes my justice not t' accept This noble sarifice and I should wrong Our puissant Gods in daring to partake Their glory and to share their incense with them My name 's Diana to thy eyes I 'm fair But I am not a Goddess like to her THERSANDER Although thou hast no Temple nor no Altars Thou mak'st thy self adored 't is to day Thy festival which I have celebrated I have no other worship nor no other Diana the fire of my love is not A profane fire and if some spark thereof Warm not thy breast a little I must suffer The violent heat on 't DIANA Rather I advise thee Quench it with my contempts this remedy Will cure thee that thou shalt complain no more THERSANDER Good Gods what remedy is this which thou Offerest me here I must dye shepheardess If thou cur'st so flatter at least I pray thee With on sole word the love which thou hast rais'd If I'm not happy make me think I am so Alas I cannot hear a single syllable To succour me if thus thou curest Shepheardess I must dye there is no prevention for 't ISMENIA Why carriest thou a heart still so rebellious To love THIMANTES Why dost thou persecute with scorn This faithful Shepheard DIANA It is best be gone THERSANDER Yet thrust of thy disdain if thou wilt spare My hand my death finish the forming of The sword that kils me one word more of hate And I die presently before thine eys Speak answer me ISMENIA No more here comes the Nymph DIANA Happy arrival which hath freed me from So great at touble THERSANDER Well for my part then I 'le try the temper of the marble rocks My plaints may pierce them though they could not move A Virgins heart to pitty much lesse love SCENA V. MELISSA PARTHENIA DIANA ISMENIA THIMANTES CLIDAMANT MELINTUS MELISSA SInce a full year and more that I have govern'd This happy Island in the right and lawful Line and succession of my Ancestours By the death of my Sister and since first Diana's feasts were celebrated here Never so many Laurels crown'd your heads Nor ever any day ordain'd for pastime Hath entertain'd mine eyes with such delight Every one striving to bear hence the prize Propos'd to his contention shew'd his skill Both at the Course and Lute how hand somly Thersander did behave him at these exercises With what a grace he acted every thing How charming was his port and if I may Say what I think of him he must be sprung Either from Kings or Gods how happy is Thimantes in his friendship THIMANTES This happiness which I enjoy's not new It hath a longer date then from to day His name is precious to me 't was my fortune To have the benefit of his acquaintance At my last voyage I saw his arrival Form his own native country at the Court O' th King of Portugal the sympathy Of humors which one man hath with another Tied us together in so firm a friendship That having met him sad and full of thought I prevail'd with him as to bring him here In hope that in this quiet region where Melissa reigns he should lose all his grief MELISSA Indeed although that prosperous Shepheard hath Received
all the prizes from my hand Wherewith he 's crown'd I find him notwithstanding Stil melancholy may not this be in him Some sad effect of love blest Shepheardess Who e'r thou art thrice happy is thy fortune In which this noble stranger bound his choice He is so far above the common merit That a Nymph should not much abase her self In loving him CLIDAMANT Indeed he merits much And we esteem him all we love his vertues Without being jealous of them PARTHENIA Clidamant Comes nothing short of him in my opinion ISMENIA Thimantes too will go as far as he DIANA Another time Melintus without doubt Will perform better MELINTVS Yes when you shal turn Your eys on that side MELISSA Shepheards once again Prepare I pray you for the Nuptials Of Thirsis with Parthenia Neece that Shepheard Is worthy of you and you are not ignorant That I intend as soon as he returns To make him as I hope your happy husband PARTHENIA aside Yes if my heart can suffer violence MELISSA In the mean time let 's go unto the Temple Our thanks and our devotions to pay Vnto the Gods on this so glorious day The end of the first Act. ACTUS II. SCENA I. ISMENIA THERSANDER THIMANTES ISMENIA 'T Is true Thersander I have done for thee Asmuch as possibly I could I made Thy sighs thy constancy thy faith appear For to perswade her but I lost my labour Diana is insensible her heart Which loves sweet applications cannot touch Among so many rocks is become rock THERSANDER What shall I doe Thimantes what a rude And rigorous fortune steers my destiny THIMANTES Quit that ingrateful and come forth of slavery THERSANDER How shall I come forth I 'm born miserable Under the frowning and the fatal aspect Of an ungentle Star Which in despight Of all my studies to defend me from it Pursues Cleagenor under the name Of poor Thersander ISMENIA Softly What is that I hear Good Gods THIMANTES Thersander what haft thou discover'd Hath thy own mouth betrayed thus thy secret See into what great danger thy imprudence Puts thee at present fearest thou no more Nearchus and his power THERSANDER No I fear nothing After this sentence but seek death for since It is resolv'd by fate that I must die What matter is it by what arm it be Whether Nearchus or Diana kill me ISMENIA Oh Gods how happy is he softly Hath not she For whom thou diest had some intelligence That thy heart loves elsewhere if it be so And that thy inconstancy procures thy torment Thou wrongfully accusest her of cruelty THERSANDER Quite contrary this love therewith thou seest My heart disturb'd is a sure testimony Of my fidelity 't is true alas I sometime lov'd an object of such beauty That the Gods never fram'd so fair a peece The Roses and the Lillies form'd the colour Which dy'd her cheeks and in hersparkling eys The Sun was painted to express unto thee Yet better her divine perfections Diana is her Portrait to the life Celia is seen in her she like Diana Had a Magestick carriage she had A mouth and eys like her she had an air Fierce too like hers but amiable lastly In every thing she seem'd Diana's self My heart is constant therefore as before Since still I love her in her living Portrait I thought at first then that her death was false And that Diana was that lovely object But when I few Diana entertain With such contempt the fervent love wherewith My heart was taken when I saw her rigours And infinite hatred I perceiv'd my errour And said this is not Celia so that I saw well by her cruelties indeed That I pursu'd her picture and had passion But for a Portrait ISMENIA What! is Celia dead then THERSANDER Alas that 's my affliction I saw her Stretch'd out upon her death-bed dead Ismenia And more dead yet then she I saw those places Shine with a certain rest of brightness which Her eyes had darted presently on this I had a Combat with Nearchus for This charming Beauty that proud favourite Unto the King by infamous desires Form'd him an object to his filthy pleasures This outrage was intended to her sweetness We fought on this occasion it was My fortune to disarm him but the death Of Celia and the anger of the King To save me from the rigor of the Law Enforc'd me to a flight and made me wander Seven year from Province unto Province lastly Wearied to see the Court of every Prince I thought to free me of all dangers here Under the feign'd name of Thersander and The habit of a Shepheard to disguise me Yet better the afflictions of my heart Have chang'd my Visage ISMENIA Hast thou nothing with thee That formerly was Celia's THERSANDER Yes one day I receiv'd from her hand this pretious pledge Of her unfeigned love behold this Portrait And judge I pray thee if I love Diana Or Celia ISMENIA Let me have this Portrait with it I 'l cure thy evil Diana seeing it Will become gentle I 'l go shew it her THERSANDER What wilt thou do Ismenia but I see Diana O Gods end my misery SCENA II. DIANA THERSANDER ISMENIA THIMANTES DIANA I Sought thee every where to Ismenia THERSANDER You will oblige me to Ismenia Ismenia to restore my Portrait to me ISMENIA Troublesome Shepheard I have much to say to Diana To thee in private therefore let us enter Into this Wood. Exit Ismenia and Diana THERSANDER Shew her that Portrait oh my martyrdom Traitrous Ismenia is this that faith For which Thimantes alwaies answered To me for thee yes it is by thy counsels Thimantes only that my seduc'd soul Left her the conduct of my faithfull love Nothing from thee or me can work upon her She jeers at all but let us find her out Exit Thersander and Thimantes Ismenia returns with Diana ISMENIA I see w' are private here we may speak freely A Mistress yet at last sighs for Thersander And one too in this Island far lesse cruel Then thee accept his service and embrace His faith this portrait which thou seest here He receiv'd from her as a faithfull witness Of their reciprocal and mutual fires DIANA What do I see ISMENIA That portrait as I take it Whereof Thersander is so proud DIANA I gave Such a one to Cleagenor Ismenia Who gave it thee ISMENIA Cleagenor himself DIANA O Gods what saiest thou to me thou art in An extream errour ISMINIA I tell thee again Cleagenor himself gave it to me DIANA This discourse holds no credit ISMENIA Every day Almost I see him and thou seest him also As well as I. DIANA I comprehend not these obscurities ISMENIA He loves thee and thou fliest him DIANA I fly None but Thersander ISMENIA Well henceforth accuse None but thy self of these disasters 't is The same Cleagenor that loveth thee And whom thou fli'st DIANA Cleagenor Ismenia That cannot be is' t possible that I Should have been two moneths without knowing
him For so long 't is since he arriv'd among us ISMENIA Thy grief hood-winck'd thine eys thou couldst not see him Think'st thou that since those seven years thou hast liv'd Upon those fair banks time that changeth all things Hath not yet chang'd a face there comes Thersander Take a full survey of him whilst I hold him In some discourse make shew as if thou'd stenter Into that Wood and have a care thou do not Discover thee till I have ordered Thy meeting with him DIANA Happy pledge of love Entring into the Wood. SCENA III. THERSANDER THIMANTES ISMENIA DIANA THERSANDER to THIMANTES THou seest what she hath done unto Diana Sh' ' as given the Portrait THIMANTES See she enters there Into that Wood. ISMENIA A word with thee Thersander THERSANDER Perfidious finish here thy crime and be My murtherer strike strike this heart I pray thee That hopes no more but by what interest Hast thou betrai'd me ISMENIA Why complainest thou THERSANDER O gross dissimulation dar'st thou yet To ask what is my plaint DIANA He hath his gate Softly looking on him where she was hidden ISMENIA Thy heat hears nothing give me leave to speak THERSANDER Yes to feign more and to lie at thy pleasure Am I oblig'd stil to thee for my life ISMENIA How soon love doth degenerate into folly THIMANTES Thersander hear her THERSANDER What is' t she can say ISMENIA Since th' art so obstinate let thy love go Which way it will I 'l have no more to do in 't THERSANDER Speak then what wilt thou ISMENIA I have nought to say now THIMANTES Thou would'st speak to him ISMENIA 'T was to laugh a little THIMANTES I pray thee speak unto him THERSANDER I conjure thee Ismenia in the name of all the Gods Jeer not my Passion ISMENIA It is now my turn To be perverse THERSANDER I hear thee speak what sai'st thou ISMENIA Since thou wilt have it know then that a Rival Hath caus'd thy grief and torments THERSANDER How a Rival At that Word I 'm all fire a Rival ISMENIA Yes A Rival good Thersander but a lov'd one THERSANDER What! loved of Diana ISMENIA Yes of her And more too of thy self THERSANDER That 's very strange How should I chuse but bear a mortal hatred To him my Mistress loves who e'r he be I must revenged die DIANA Softly If this should be Cleagenor O Gods how is he chang'd THERSANDER Where is that Rival ISMENIA With thee Thersander Thou would'st defend him if occasion were At the expence of all thy blood believe me Thou never leavest him THERSANDER Without dissembling to Thimantes Tell me Thimantes art not thou that Rival She means I think thou art my friend deal plainly And freely with me art not thou that cruel That false and traiterous Rival THIMANTES Answer him Ismenia THERSANDER Well what wilt thou say at last ISMENIA Thersander hath for Rival in his love THERSANDER Speak whom ISMENIA Cleagenor THERSANDER Cleagenor Ismenia ha my joy sure is extream True I confess I love this Rival equal Unto my self and if he may be loved Of th' object whom I serve I will adore My chains Without condemning her of rigour ISMENIA Thou hast lost nothing by this bout thy fortune May create envy fair Diana hath Yielded to Celia's portrait DIANA Softly Who to see Those decay'd features could have known that face But my love hath at last drawn them afresh Within my memory I must draw neer him And yield to my impatience THERSANDER to ISMENIA Pardon me I can't believe thee but here comes Diana See if her eys ha' n't the same cruelty Alwaies the same pride and the same disdain DIANA Ismenia I am come to tell thee something ISMENIA Me Celia THERSANDER How Celia ISMENIA Yes Celia THERSANDER Alas I 'm in an error 't is her eyes Her gate her countenance but not her heart ISMENIA 'T is she Thersander whom thou do'st behold It is very self THERSANDER How is' t a custome To call forth from the bosom of the Grave Departed souls and by what priviledge Hath that God who at the eternal sleep Presides ordain'd her waking DIANA to THERSANDER Though thy faith Finds this point strange is not love strong enough To make thee to believe a Miracle Cleagenor sees me and knows me not How comes it is my Portrait false have J No more artractions see if 't be thy Celia At least if 't be not she it is no more That beauty which was late so cruel to thee Cleagenor THERSANDER My Celia DIANA Is it possible O Gods that J should see again what J Best love i' th' World THERSANDER Is it you that J see ISMENIA Take heed be moderate one may die with joy THIMANTES Ismenia follow this example here Grant only at this instant but a kisse To my impatience see at last Diana Ceaseth to be unkind ISMENIA What! doth the object rouse thee and th' example Provoke thy spirits thou wilt have but one kiss THIMANTES I will be satisfied ISMENIA Give me then Some verses or at least a nose gay of The choicest flowers THIMANTES Ismenia I 'l not fail To bring them thee ISMENIA Then trouble not thy self The kisse is thine THIMANTES Wilt thou with hold from me So long what is my due ISMENIA It will be better When it is much expected and long'd for THERSANDER Behold my whole adventure in few words DIANA I 've made thee too a full description Of my misfortunes thou seest how I feign'd To give my grief full vent a Brothers death In weeping of my lovers THERSANDER What felicity Do I injoy now THIMANTES Use your utmost skil To make it lasting to you and beware of The fickleness of fortune and her wrongs THERSANDER What! have we yet any thing more to fear Is not that blind inconstant Goddess weary Of persecuting us THIMANTES Love is a child He must be govern'd well Diana's beauty Hath gain'd her lovers they may hurt Thersander Melintus hath a subtle wit and we Both know he loves Daina and besides Is jealous of her fear some foul play from him If thou appear his Rival he disposeth The spirit of Melissa at his pleasure When he shall see you serve as obstacle Unto his love he will take speedy order For your removal THERSANDER But to hinder him To hurt me I conceive Diana hath No lesse power on the spirit of the Nymph THIMANTES But if the Nymph loves thee as I observ'd Her heart expressed some such matter lately When at her last return home from the Games Her free confession to us all declar'd How much she did esteem thee but at last With such an esteem that love followed Close at the heels in plain terms and indeed Spoken by her of purpose if she loves thee I say as I 'm confirmed in that thought How wilt thou steer thy course ISMENIA 'T is very true Her discourse comes into my memory THERSANDER O Gods what 's this you utter DIANA For my part I begin
Command from her to speak to thee again In her behalf THERSANDER Advise me what to do DIANA Since the Nymph loves thee with such passion As I perceive she doth 't is ft thou flatter Her grief a little otherwise I fear That I shall lose thee after having found thee What mischief can she not do when provoked THERSANDER Since there needs but to feign all will succeed DIANA In the mean time Ismenia will be carefull To inquire for us when the Merchant-ship That 's bound for Sevill will be fully ready To set sail from the harbour we shall hire him To land us where we will till when our care Must be not to offend the Nymph for fear She ruine us she 'l presently be here She 's come already act the Lover well Dissemble handsomly therein consists All that we can expect SCENA V. MELISSA DIANA THERSANDER MELISSA A Word Diana Hast thou remov'd that fatal obstacle Which came to intetrupt the pleasant course Of my affections hast thou setled My lifes content and razed Celia Out of thy Brothers spirit DIANA His heart follows Where my voice and his glory calleth him And cheerfully yieldeth obedience To such sweet Laws MELISSA Blessed Interpreter Of a most ardent love hast thou advis'd him To keep it secret DIANA Only that point Madam J have forgotten but J will redeem it And tell him on 't before you if you please That I go for him MELISSA Go and bring him hither DIANA softly Feign handsomely unto her THERSANDER softly to Diana Fear it not I 'l speak before her but of you and to you And yet not make her jealous Then he saith to Melissa by whose side is Diana whom he looks upon THERSANDER aloud Could you doubt My heart should be so stupid and insensible Of my felicity how happy is My fortune and how gentle was the storm That gave me this bless'd port whereof great Kings Are jealous What proud Conqueror would not Submit and lay his arms down with himself At the fair feet of such a charming object A rude obdurate rock would be consum'd The coldest Marble would be kindled by it Yes Madam a fair eye but openeth Its lid here 't is day the nights black shadows Fly only from the Sun of those bright eyes Her fires too at the sight of them grow pale I must confess then Madam that J love them And that J live more in this beauteous object Then in my self my spirit is charmed with A happiness unparallell'd when J Think that J love them and am lov'd again MELISSA Come thou but feignest love do not abuse me THERSANDER O Gods what do you say Madam J love Or rather J adore MELISSA How hast thou then Dispos'd of Celia that reign'd o'r thy heart THERSANDER That affair's ordered well I 've put her interests Into my Sisters hands sh' 'ath promis'd me To make all fair of that side and will answer To me for her MELISSA Hast thou not boasted to me That her eyes were the object of thy love That for thy sake she cherished the light Of the alternate day and that they would Cover themselves with an eternal night If thou shouldst cease to live or to be faithfull Think well of thy part what th' ast promised Be firm be constant fail not in that point Consider not at all this supream greatness Stick to thine object love it for it self And have no interest for thy ambition Flatter thee with the honour to possess her Look only if she loves thee not if she Enricheth thee the beauty whom thou serv'st Should be thy crown all greatness whatsoever Should be esteem'd in thy accompt beneath it THERSANDER Ne'r doubt it Madam J shall have those thoughts Greatness shall never blind me so far forth As to oblige me to forget my love Which alwaies shall pure as the day star burn Base interest shall never sully me DIANA I 'l tell my Brother now what I forgate To THERSANDER If thou know'st well to love know thou as wel To hold thy peace love like the other Gods Is not without his secrets he is serv'd Sometimes by hearts that can't express themselves Take heed how thou provoke his jealous power Adore his Altars but adore in silence For silence is a part of his Religion And oftentimes this fierce God is offended At his own name if any thing hereof Should be known in the Isle thou art undone Love without speaking of it that 's the law Which is imposed on thee she for her part Will love thee likewise use the secret well Melissa otherwise would die with grief J know th' excess of love wherewith thy soul Is filled but for thy own interest Put a seal on thy mouth MELISSA Yes have a care That none suspect our love I 'l take my time To publish it in the mean time I 'l study Thy setrlement and they repose which makes That of my life this free confession now Would call up envy from her Cell and make Our greatest Hero's to dispute with thee What J have promis'd thee thine enemies Judge then how precious thy obedience is Since all thy good and happiness depends Upon thy silence THERSANDER Sure J should be strucken With a strange blindness if J observ'd not This your command J will obey so well That Madam even you your self shal doubt Whether J love or whether you J love MELISSA In the mean time thy sister shall assist me And have the ordering of our Amours Believe what she shall say since I will make her My only bosom friend unto whose trust J will commit the secrets of my heart THERSANDER J will make use of her in the same manner Enter Melintus he speaks to Melissa MELINTUS Madam a Jeweller that useth still To come unto the Games desires accesse Unto your presence MELISSA Cause him to come in This Sevil Merchant cometh every year To sell and traffick in the Island with us SCENA VI. MELISSA MERCATOR THERSANDER DIANA MELINTUS MELISSA SHall you remain sometime yet on our shore MERCATOR I stay but for your Passport to depart Every year Madam by your Highness bounty My trassick thrives so well that whatsoever Commodities I bring unto you Isle J carry nothing back you empty still My casket now I 'l shew you if you please such rarities as can be had no where But in my hands MELISSA Let 's see them MERCATOR Here 's a Diamond Darts flame of all sides MELISSA 'T is a sparkling stone I like his lustre MERCATOR Will you have it Madam MELISSA I 'l tell you presently shew all at once Then I shall soon chuse let me see that Coral MERCATOR The piece is very fair till now your Isle Hath never seen the like MELISSA And what 's that other MERCATOR A piece of Amber-greece Madam 't is rare And of great price I have pass'd divers Seas To purchase it alone 't is worth as much As all my casket DIANA For my part J cannot See any thing
THE ENCHANTED LOVERS A PASTORAL By Sr. WILLIAM LOWER Knight Amico Rosa Inimco Spina HAGE Printed by ADRIAN VLACK 1658. ACTORS Thersander A Cavalier disguised in the habit of a Shepheard in love with Diana Thimantes Disguised also in the habit of a Shepheard in love with Ismenia Clidamant Disguised also in the habit of a Shepheard in love with Parthenia Melnitus A Shepheard of the Iland in love with Diana Mercator A Merchant of Sevil. Diana A young Lady disguised in the habit of a Shepheardesse Parthenia Neece to the Princess in love with Clidamant Ismenia A young Lady disguised in the habit of a Shepheardess Molissa The Princess of the Island and Inchantress in love with Thersander The Goddess Diana The Scene is in the Iland of Erithrea in Portugal THE ENCHANTED LOVERS A PASTORAL ACTUS I. SCENE I. MERCATOR MELINTUS MERCATOR IF you have any service to command me At Sevil honour me with your Commission To morrow I embarke and leave the I le Until you Mart returns and games renue MELINTUS But first you 'l kisse the fair hands of the Nimph And take her pasport with you MERCATOR That 's a duty I dare not fail in though my interest Were not concern'd in 't I intend this day To carry her my casket of my richest And choicest merchandise when she hath bought What best pleaseth her fancy I shall be Dismist having no more commodities To sell unto the Shepheards of her Court MELINTUS Have you sold well MERCATOR To what end should I feign The trade goes well enough I complain not Rich Rubies Pearls of price bright Diamonds Store of fair Coral costly Amber-greece Portraits and other such dainty devises Have passed through my fingers at good rates Diana's festival is still kept solemn And as the games which fail not every year To be renu'd invite unto those woods The neighbouring Shepheards to dispute the prizes Proposed on those dayes I saw among them Some noble strangers clad in pastoral weeds That for the honour of this Island chose it Their sanctuary and repose MELINTUS You need not Wonder at this the place which they have chosen Denotes their judgments here ambition Hath no imployment if at any time We sigh here 't is for love no other passion Is seen among us though this Island be A part of Portugal we have our laws And Empire to our selves she that rules here Hath not the name of Queen we subjects are Our Soveraigns companions and her vertue Makes us to taste so much repose that she Hath put the Sheephook into the hands of A hundred Hero's who wearied with Lawrels And the noise of the war are here retir'd From the four corners of the World She rules So sweetly that crime onely feels her anger And as she is descended from the blood Of Zoroastres she knows well the vertue Of Herbs and th' influence of every star She understands the secret misteries Of Magick and sometimes makes use of it To serve her interests there is no Prince Nor Monarch that stands not in fear of her And suffereth her not to raign in peace For his own safety MERCATOR I know this Asyle And charming residence looks not with envy Upon the Court o' th' King of Portugal Besides I am not ignorant that the fair Ismenia drawn here by the sweet report Of these inchanting pleasures to enjoy them In quiet left the favour of her Queen And that this beauty by a sudden change Adds no small lustre to this Paradise MELINTUS See where she comes Diana too with her I must in private speak unto this fair one An interest of love obligeth me Continually to make her my devotions MERCATOR Go Sir and prosper may your Saint prove sweet And gentle as those South-gales I expect In my embarkment Exit Mercator SCENA II. DIANA MELINTUS IS MENIA DIANA not seeing MELINTUS DIANA TRue I hate that horrid noise Now my free thought releas'd from such a trouble Enjoyes it self MELINTUS to DIANA So soon to quit the sports What was your fancy DIANA To avoid discourse That troubled me and here I meet with new MELINTUS Can such a subject as brings homage to you Produce th' effect you speak DIANA What doth not please me Both troubles and offends me MELINTUS You will one day Quit those disdainful rigours DIANA Yes when you Have neither hope nor love MELINTUS D' ye entertain Every one thus that loves you DIANA If he be such As you I use him just in the same manner MELINTUS Surely the Shepheard Clidamant speeds better DIANA 'T is then assuredly because he doth not Resemble you MELINTUS He entertain'd discourse With you in gentle whispers at the Sports DIANA I do confess it We talk'd of you and of your little skill MELINTUS Your subject was more serious without doubt DIANA What e'r it was yours I am sure offends me Remove this hated object from mine eyes Your presence will at last provoke my anger MELINTUS Can one displease you speaking of your Loves Thou Husband'st for him that so sweet discourse ISMENIA Every one knows that who but speaks Melintus Speaks jealous MELINTUS It is no secret what men think of thee Every one knows that who speaks but Ismenia Speaks cocket ISMENIA Really thou hast much reason To be afflicted at that late discourse Clidamant merits much and I 'le oblige him DIANA Leave us MELINTUS He doth expect you and I trouble you But wee 'l find out a way to cross his fortune DIANA to ISMENIA He thinks that Clidamant enjoys my love ISMENIA Thou hast no reason Shepheardess to draw him Out of his errour in the mean time wilt thou Not yield thee to the faithful services The prayers and tears of the devout Thersander Wilt thou not love him yet he that encourag'd By thy fair presence only to please thee Hath gain'd so many prizes who to give Thy anger no pretence thought he loves much Can more be silent since the ardent flame Where with he burns for thee is only known To me unto Thimantes and thy self DIANA Ne'r speak unto me of it ISMENIA What! still cruel But hearken I will give thee an advise Shall touch thee whilst we may we should lay hold of The flying time he only maketh beauties And he destroys them in the lovely season That thine lasts use the gifts which nature gives thee Thou wilt one day lose this fair lustre which So charmeth hearts and be an object of Comtempt as now thou art of adoration DIANA Rather that love whose Orator thou art Yet know'st his use so little doth times office 'T is he that withereth a face the cares The troubles and the griefs which by his means Possess a heart deface the lovely features And mow the flowers he is like time the Tyrant Of all things he in a few dayes dryes up Our Roses and our Lillies ISMENIA Shepheardess Such fear hath smal foundation quit this thought For thy own interest when love is once Lodg'd in the
heart the ey hath then more light The face receiveth thence its full perfection Then we esteem us then we please our selves And know out utmost value we correct By art even to the least defect we call Our Glass to counsel in the ordering Our gate our carriage and our countenance There our eye cheers with smiles or kills with frowns Or faintly darts its glances or with strength Either to wound neer hand or further of Therefore once more for thy own interest I say unto thee love at least a little Thersander that adores thee DIANA Really Thou dost surprise me to speak thus unto me Thou that hast never yet had love nor thought Tending to that sick passion thou that mak'st So many Lovers only for thy glory Without remembring one of them thou that Pleasest thy self by turns in their discourse Thou that wilt gain all conserve thee nothing Thou sufferest Thimantes to adore thee To day but tell me wilt thou entertain His love to morrow ISMENIA I love but I have alwayes had my method In love the Lover that is troublesome Unto me is my Lover for a day I burn not yet for love not do I sigh for 't I make a sport on 't still but ne'r a torment In thrusting no one of I 'm every day Attended by a multitude of servants That present courtship to me and all strive Who shall be formost on whom I command And raign as Princess they suppose they please me In putting up my praises when I go Unto the Temple they fail not to follow And carefully to tread in all my steps I am not pleas'd to see in such brave Shepheards A troop of slaves attending on my train I please them all in flattering their desires I 'm much delighted when I make them jealous Provided that their jealousy extend not So far as to betake themselves to arms For th' honour of my beautyl this high point Of evidences might perhaps enrage Even all my other lovers DIANA Ha! how ill Thou know'st love and his maximes I behold Thy changes as so many crimes for my part If my heart were ta'ne with an object once I could not pass from love unto contempt I should be fix'd unto my first Idea And that God wholly should possess my thoughts ISMENIA Well then Diana love if thou think'st fit Beyond the grave and make so fait a fire Arise beneath thy ashes DIANA Oh alas ISMENIA What signify those sighs DIANA They signify The sorrow of the heart ISMENIA But whence proceeds That sorrow is it from thy brothers death Or from some lovers come deal plainly with me Dost thou not love Thersander yet at last DIANA No I assure thee ISMENIA Speak I 'm very secret DIANA I 'le tell thee then in Sevil I receiv'd Both life and love Cleagenor Ismenia Is the name of the Conquerour whose image Is graven in my heart ISMENIA O Gods how this discourse Hath cosened my thought I was about To give instructions but pursue DIANA Our parents Approv'd our love and the day for our marriage Already was appointed when Nearchus Provoked by an infamous desire Came to solicit me unlawfully In favour of his flame this favourite Unto the King after a passion painted And coloured with sighs called his presents To the assistance of his faith but this Proving effectless he resolv'd my ruin He came with open force to satisfy His beastly and unruly appetite And to that end would carry me away My Mother having notice at that instant Of his design made me to take a drink To frustrate it and then her subt'le policy Spread through the Town the rumour of my death Indeed the vertue of this drink procur'd me So long a sleep that it appear'd to be The sleep of death Nearchus terrified With this sad news came to behold it painted Upon my face remorse of conscience Within his heart then quarrel'd with his love His sad despair arm'd him to kill himself But whilst his soul was troubled herewith I was conveyed secretly into A Bark scarce had I yet finish'd my sleep But at my first waking I saw my self Upon the Sea My Mother then related The whole adventure to me and the secret Imposture of my feigned death when suddenly A storm brake the discourse horrour and death March'd on the floods alas what shall I say Our vessel being carried by the fury O' th' winds and waves was split upon a rock The several pieces floated on the waters I know not which o' th' Gods took care of me In putting one under my trembling hand Which making me pass on those moving graves Through the disturbed empire of the winds Carried me to the shore in all apparence Devoid of life here in this quiet Island Of Erithrea where Melissa raigns My body found a receptacle she Returning at that instant from the chase Perceiv'd it lying which th' enraged Sea Yet threatened on its banks and that same God Which would compleat his miracle inclin'd Her heart to pitty at this spectacle She caus'd me to be carried to her Court It is unto her succour that I owe The remnant of my dayes here I first chang'd My name the better to assure my flight And so to disappoint Nearchus pursuit ISMENIA How Shepheardess is not thy Name Diana DIANNA No Celia was my true and only name But for my safety I made to Metissa A feign'd relation of the miseries Of my sad life since she receiv'd me Into her palace where I live with her And am now of her Court Seven times the Sun Hath finish'd his Carier since I have seen Or heard news of my mother ISMENIA Was Cleagenor Inform'd of all this DIANA Oh alas this is One of the point that causeth my affliction Cleagener surprised by the same Imposture came to see me in my bed As in my grave I wonder that the noise Of his redoubled cryes brake not my sleep The heat to revenge me dry'd all his tears He found his rival and assaulted him They fought on equal terms Nearchus fell Under his arms for dead Cleagenor was forc'd to fly t' avoid the fury of Th' offended King his sudden flight gave not My Mother oportunity t' inform him As she intended with the fiction Of my pretended death since his departure 'T is now seven years compleat in all which time I 've heard no news of him so that I know not Whether I mourn the living or the dead In the mean time to weep my fate more freely And to conceal my miserable fortune I feign'd a Brothers death ISMENIA I 'm sensible Of thy misfortune and will bear a part In thy sad grief if that will make it lesse I no more now condemne thy sighs nor tears But yet at last preserve thy beauty from Those murthering sorrows in this doubtfull case Fix thy fair thoughts upon some other object If death hath seiz'd thy Servant sure thou losest Too many tears and sighs or grant he live I st probable that he
a pitch and not be check'd That he may sigh the same sighs with a King Husband thar heart for me to which mine aims But let him not think that it comes from me My honour would receive a prejudice By such a thought thou only shalt acquaint him With this as from thy self DIANA J understand you He must needs yield to this I 'l do your will MELISSA As soon as he appears I will retire me And from one of these places I shall hear Every word that you speak one to another In reference to my flame DIANA I should methinks Act with more freeness if J were to treat With him alone MELISSA No J will hear my self What he thinks of me J can best of all Trust mine own ears and eyes in this affair DIANA But Madam after all MELISSA Shepheardess The thing 's resolv'd thou need'st not say no more Untill he come J pray thee entertain These woods here with some air and let us see If the Eccho will answer to thy discourse DIANA Your prayer is a command some plaints of love Shall make the subject of it MELISSA What thou wilt DIANAS Song Ye Trees ye Rocks perfumed Valleys sweet And charming Zephirs murmuring fountains keep My griefs close in your bosome you alone Are witnesses unto my fires and mone Tell me if my sad heart not daring to Delare it it self at least may sigh its woe May sigh its woe Eccho Well then my sighs make no noise as pe passe The airy Regions only breath alas Vnto the heart that sent you forth since I Can't speak to thee dear object of my cry Let th' Ecco that 's attentive say for me That if I love as sure I do 't is thee 't is thee Eccho SCENA II. THERSANDER MELISSA DIANA THERSANDER DIana's here about her voice assures me MELISSA to DIANA softly Thy Brother comes here take this opportunity Be sure thou speak unto him loud enough Thou art my only hope I go from hence To hear and to observe thee DIANA softly We are undone Thersander will discover all in speaking THERSANDER 'T is now no longer time to utter sighs Let us resume our joy and dry our tears Crown our sad spirits with flowers and think no more of Our pass'd misfortunes let 's form our discourse Of the most pleasant thoughts and let us chat Of love DIANA Let me alone I 'l entertain thee Upon that subject THEERSANDER It belongs to me To speak of that and when I do consider With what darts in my heart DIANA I know it well 'T is of a longer date then from to day That I have read thy heart and I believe That never any one hath seen a Brother To love his sister so THERSANDER The love wherewith I am assaulted and would make thee see Exceeds that of a brother it begets Complaints and Sighs it driveth to despair And kills the love we bear unto a Sister Makes not so many sufferings but J love DIANA J divine whom thou burnest with desire To speak unto me here of Celiaes love THERSANDER Thou do'st divine right J take a great pleasure To speak of it with thee methinks I see her Still when J look on thee how sit I find thee To be the faithfull guardian of my love Assur'd of thy fidelity and that Thy heart is alwaies mine DIANA Thou need'st not doubt it THERSANDER O my dear DIANA Brother I 'm not ignorant How dear I am unto thee THIMANTES Thy fair eyes DIANA How flatter and court thy sister By thy discourse THERSANDER I cannot speak unto thee Thou interrupt'st me still DIANA Th' advice is worth it and I 'l give thee notice That from esteem they pass to love for thee That scarce arrivedst thou unto this place But thy good fortune without any trouble Gain'd thee the conquest of a heart for which Great Kings will envie thee it is Melissa's THERSANDER O Gods what dost thou say DIANA What doth astonish thee I see how thou art troubled to believe it This great heart finds no place yet in thy faith To make thee happy in 't I must imbrace thee She speaks softly to him in imbracing him The Nymph hears our discourse 't is fit thou feign She speaks loud again Wilt thou not yield to this excess of honour Think that thy Celia in this conjuncture Hath no resentment in her heart against thee Nor murmurs at it THERSANDER In this extasie Wherein I am through this excess of honour I 'm seeking of my self but cannot find me How dare to love the Nymph t' aspire to her No my ambition 's not so criminal DIANA Under those high respects J see thy love THERSANDER How can I otherwise express it Sister It the Nymph tempts me and will make a crime on 't It shall then have the name but of a lawfull Respect and if I see occasion T' express me further on this point this lawfull Respect shall bear the bolder name of love DIANA Brotherm it hath that name and J am ready To boast unto her her illustrious conquest But the Sun J perceive plungeth himself I' th' waters and the shadows seise the tops O' th' Mountains it is time now to betake me Unto Melissa but behold she comes Melissa comes forth from the place where she was hidden MELISSA What serious discourse have you together DIANA Our subject is of Love of Mistresses Of Servants and of Sighs MELISSA What! hath Thersander Already gotten him a Mistress THERSANDER Madam I have too little merit and address Besides to serve to honour and obey you I have no other thought our discourse was Your goodness for us which my heart shall ever Record as in a Register of Brass Where my acknowledgements shall never pass SCENA III. MELINTUS MELISSA DIANA THERSANDER MELINTVS calling HO Clidamant MELISSA It is enough let 's go I hear some noise and would not be seen here I' rh ' night Exeunt Melissa Diana Thersander MELINTUS continuing to call Ismenia Clidamant they hear But flie me and the night robs my sight of them But this is not Ismenia and I am Deceived much if I saw not the gate The stature and the gesture of Diana Yes Clidamant abus'd me with a lie Diana builds his fortune at my cost And that note which he would conceal from me Without doubt was subscrib'd with her fair hand Yes 't was Dianaes though he read Ismenia To spare my grief a little and my trouble How simple was J that J followed Not close upon his steps but soft methinks J hear a noise perhaps it may be he SCENA IV. CLIDAMANT MELINTUS CLIDAMANT O Night lend me thy silence make these woods To hold their peace in th' absence of the day And let no sound be heard here but my love At last I 'm happily delivered from A troublesome companion that would Obstruct my fortune that same jealous Shepheard Without respect and faith MELINTUS I 'm much oblig'd Unto thee for this noble character Thou giv'st me in