That I may dye a thousand times a day Corisc. How fares your Love Mirtillo since you came From your dear charming Ny mph Curse on the Name asidâ—… Mirt. As one who in a violent Feaver cast And is forbidden Liquor longs to tast Which got he greedily sets to his mouth And thâ—…s he quenches Life but cannot Drouth Corisc. Love over us no pow'r can e're receivâ—… But what our slavish selves Mirtillo give When by his fond desires mans soul is brought So poorly to be fetter'd to one thought Love quickly Tyrannizes in his Breast And straight grows up a Master from a Guest Mirt. Should not one Thought fill up Mirtilloes heart Is herâ—… a Beauty to deserve but part Corisc. How weak how ill a bargain foolish Swain You make to exchange kindness for disdain Mirt. The Cruelty of Beauty does refine A Lovers Faith as fire the golden Mine Where were the Sacred Loyalty of Love If charming Women did not Tyrants prove Corisc. Oh wretched and unhappy those in whom That foolish Idol Constancy finds room Come rouze Mirtillo know your nobler parts Look out you cannot want a thousand hearts Mirt. Though scorn'd and hated I had rather fall Her dying Victim than command 'em all Corisc. Oh horrour how he tortures me aside No doubt You are possest with some kind fâ—…attering thought That though an outward Scorn she 's pleas'd to show Like burning Mountains cover'd o're with Snow There 's heat within Enchanted Dreamer no. Mirt. These are but Trophies of my constant Love By which I 'le Tryumph o're the Gods above O're Men below my Torments and her Hate O're Fortune and the World o're Death and Fate Corisc. Wonder of Constancy If this Man knew How much he 's loved by her what would he do aside Mirtillo were you e're in Love before Mirt. Her and her only can my soul adore Corisc. Then it should seem your Heart was never laid But at the Feet of some disdainful Maid Oh that 't had been thy chance but once to be In Love with one that 's gentle curteous free Try that a little try it and thou 'lt find How sweet it is to meet with one that 's kind How pleasant 't is to have thy Mrs. twine About thy Neck and her sighs eccho thine And after say my Joy All that I have All that I am and thy desires can crave At thy Devotion is If I am fair For thee I 'm fair for thee I deck this hair This Face this Bosom from this Breast of mine I turn'd out my own heart to harbour thine Mirt. Happy 's the man that 's born under a Star So fortunate Corisc. Dull Swain a Nymph as fair As the proud'st she that curles and spreads to th'Ayr Her Beauteous Tresses worthy of thy Love As thou of hers The Honour of this Grove Love of all hearts by every worthier Swain In vain solicited adored in vain Does Love thee only and thee only prize More than her Life and for that Love she dyes Mirt. If such a Nymph there be conceal her Name To all my other Tortures add not shame Let me not know she suffers for my sake And blush to think I no return can make Corisc. How ever try what kindness is tast both Mirt. Distemper'd Pallats all sweet things do loath Corisc. Uncharitable Youth art not thou poor And cant'st thou beat a Beggar from thy door Mirt. What Alms can Beggars give Alas I 've Sworn Allegiance and a Traytor cannot turn Corisc. Blind Youth who is it thou art constant to I am unwilling to add Woe to Woe But can I see thee Cheated and Betray'd Her Honour sold thy Sighs her pass-time made And yet not speak No doubt but you suppose This Cruelty from her strict Vertue grows Thou art abused that tiresome Vanity Call'd Innocence she has long since laid by Mirt. And can your profanation swell so high Corisc. You 'l not believe Mirt. Believe thee Corisc. Then go on In wilfull Ignorance and be undone Mirt. Oh Torture I must dye if this be true Corisc. No live dull Man and thy Revenge pursue And though I know it will your heart-strings tear Her falsehood I must speak and you must hear Then to convince you see you yonder Cave That is your Mrs. Faith and Honours Grave In short there oft a base-born Shepheard warms Thy Virtuous Amaryllis in his Arms. There she her Bliss her Life her Heav'n does find The Ivy to the Oak's not half so kind Now go and sigh and whine and constant prove To that kind Nymph that thus rewards thy Love Mirt. Ah me Corisca dost thou tell me true And is it fit I should believe thee too Corisc. Truth is I did not see it but thou may'st And 〈◊〉 for she her word has past To 〈◊〉 there this very hour But hide Thy self beneath this shady Hedges side And thou shalt see her enter into th'Cave And after her her happy amorous Slave Mirt. So quickly must I dye Corisc. See I have spyed Her coming down already by the side O' th' Temple Mark how guiltily she moves Her stealing pace betraying their stolne Loves To mark the sequel do you here remain And afterwards we two will meet again Exit Mirt. Since the discovery of the Truth 's so near With my Belief I will my Death defer Enter Amaryllis Amar. I from the Temple come as light as Ayre How much Heav'n listens to a Virgins prayer I kneel'd and pray'd and strait I felt me-thought Another soul into my body shoâ—… Which whisper'd fear not Amaryllis go Securely on Yes and I will do so Heav'n guiding me Fair Queen of Love befriend Her who on thee for succour does depend Thou that as Queen in the third Orb doest shine If e're thou selt'st thy Sons flames pitty mine An humbler Votaress ne're kneelt before thy Shrine Securely Enter oh Mirtillo oh Goes into the Cave Mirtillo could'st thou dream for what I go Mirt. I wake and see what I could wish t' have been Born without Eyes that I might not have seen Or rather not to have been born curst Fate Why hast thou thus prolong'd my Lifes sad Date To bring me to this killing Spectacle Mirtillo more tormented than in Hell Dye then Mirtillo dye How dye and give The Traytor leave my Ruine to out-live You that enjoy my spoyls who e're you are Since I must fall shall my Destruction share Back to my Covert then I will repair And when the Villain shall approach he dyes But is 't not base to kill him by surprize What if her Wrongs I openly should right That would proclaim the cause for which we fight Dye basely then thou base Adulterer That hast slain me and hast dishonour'd her I but the blood may if I kill him here The Murder show and that the Murderer What need I care Yes but the Murther knowâ—… Betrays the cause for which the Murder 's done But her staind blood has not so quencht my flame I 'de kill
Cave's her Plot and laid Only to have her Rivals Life betray'd And yet by all the Oaths Art could design Or faithless Woman ever break she 's mine And mine by all her Conjurations nay To morrow was to be our Wedding day And all was but a trick to take me hence Least I should stay to prove her Innocence Never did such a monstrous spurious Race Of Nature Heav'n and Natures works disgrace Mont. Is all this Truth Sylvan Too true Mont. Just Heav'n forbid False Nymph did You Corisc. I know not what I did I Cheated Him wrong'd Him design'd Her Fall I have my Pardon and I Own it all Mont. Had ever blood been so unjustly spilt But though I have forgiven your savage guilt I can't permit your breach of Faith I must Not only pardon you but make you just Cor. I am all horrour Mirt. If this false-Fair ones Crimes you can forgive And take an humble penitent Fugitive She 's yours Corisc. Death and Confusion Mont. 'T was breach of Faith was the provoking guilt In all the sufferings Arcadia felt But it shall end Sylv. You could not please me more This Nymph is all the Blessings I implore I hate her worse Then Hell and of all other hopes bereft aside Marriage is all the dear Revenge that 's left Corisc. Is this your promis'd mercy Let me meet Wracks Death any thing but him Mont. Is this your Penitence for your pardon'd Crime Corisc. To Marry him is all the plagues of Hell Adders and Scorâ—…ions Sylvan No 't is wondrous well I shall Convert thee pretty Infidel Corisc. Have you no mercy left no pitty Sir Sylvan Have you no Justice leâ—…t Give me but her Corisc. Of all the Savages the World can find Let me but shun that Monster of the kind Sylv. Of all the happiness of humane Life I only beg that Jewel for a Wife Cor. Oh Sir you Stab me Kill me Mont. When you Swore You 'd Marry him were Oaths esteem'd no more Forsaken Piety where art thou fled Be just as you wou'd save your forfeit Head Corisc. I loath thy very sight Sylv. And I love thee my pretty Innocence As much as thy Hot blood loves Impotence Cor. Why then Inhumane will you Marry me Sylvan To torture every Vein of thy false heart Make thy checkt pride at my dear Vengeance start Thy torments will a secret Joy afford I was thy Slave and now shall be thy Lord. Nor hope I 'le shun thy hated Bed in spight I 'le Tyrannize all day and sport all night My Head I 'le on thy perjur'd Bosom lay Ransack thy spoyles and chace thy sleeps away Enter Sylvio and Dorinda who kneel to Montano Corisc. Yes Villain do and my Revenge shall be I will be kind to all thy Sex but thee I 'le make you a worse Monster than you are Oh I am Mad Sylvan A very hopefull pair Corisc. I 'le meet thy loath'd embrace in such a frightful shape That evâ—…ry Kiss you force shall be a Rape To Mirt. As I am doubly punisht for my Crime At once in losing you and meeting him In pitty to the Ruins which you make Those few stol'n minutes from her Arms you take Bestow on me You 'l find me strangely good I 'le banish all the Feavour from my blood And love you with desires so pure so chast Sylvna Stand off the Witchcrafts of those Eyes are past Dear Mine I 'le lay thy wandring Devils fast Corisc. You shall be welcome to my Soul my Arms. But iâ—… the force of her more pow'rful Charms Hold you too sure to make him Jealous be So kind as but to feign and flatter me Ayd the Revenge of an unhappy Wife And make him lead a wretched Husbands Life Sylvan Let him come near thee Syren if he can Thy Slavery shall have so short a chain I 'le keep my aking Fore-head from that pain Corisc. In all the Cheats I used the tricks I plaid And all the Credulous Fools I have betray'd Free from all hainous Crimes I safely slept My Virgin Chastity entire I kept Did I preserve my Innocence for this A Maid dull Slave I am too good for thee A Curse upon my Idle Honesty Sylvan Can she be honest then at last If this Be true ye Gods I ask no greater Bliss Sylvio Your Confirmation of our Loves has given Me all the joys I wish on this side Heav'n Dorind But Sylvio see you Love me as you shou'd And slight me not for want of Heav'nly blood But Sir if Love to Gods Allied can be I am as near of Kin to Heav'n as she Enter Titiro Tit. Welcome to Life and to thy Fathers Arms I am all joy My Youth ne're felt such Charms Here take her Sir and may you happy live to Mirt. This day has all the longest Life could give Dorin Gerana Ger. My dear Joy Dorind The happy Dart That Sylvio shot brought me my Sylvio's heart Through the dear Wound his Soul came fluttering in He 'l Love and Love and never Hate agen But you have been unkâ—…nd Ger. I Dor. Yes you said I should not think of Love Heav'n knows how long Till seaven years hence But you were in the wrong My Sylvio finds no fault that I 'm too Young Mont. Now my dear Children share your Fâ—…thers heart Love has this day play'd its Triumphant part But Cynthia all these Blessings spring from Thee Faith Innocence Truth Justice Constancy And every Grace that humane Breast inspires Is but a spark of the Celestial fires Mirt. All other Vertues may be taught a hove But ye great Gods look down and learn to Love Exeunt Omnes FINIS EPILOGUE VVHo would not Damn a silly Rhiming Fop When there is scarce a Fore man of a Shop With sense of Animal and face of Stoick But Courts poor Tawdry Sempstress in Heroick Will make ye Rhimes on Cakes and Ale Reherse A Holy days Treat at Islington in Verse Rhiming which once had got so much your passion When it became the Lumber of the Nation Like Vests your seaven years Love grew out of fashion Great Subjects and Grave Poets please no more Their high strains now to humble Farce must lower So strutting Gallant in his burly Vest And in his loose full-bodyed Tunick drest All on a sudden to Thin gutted Paunch A slim French Jerkin Breeches close to Haunch Was grown so changed you 'd swear the slender Imp Was dwindled from a Lobster to a Shrimp Aâ—…d as with Habits so 't is with the Stage Fashion is all the Beauty of the Age. Anâ—… yet though thanks be to our happy Stars We'vâ—… Fools enough good Comedies are scarce And Faith 't is very strange Fops being so plenty There 's not one hits your Pictures right in twenty And gad the Reason I have thought upon To that Pariety of Fop you run Your Features change e're half your Picture 's done Be but more Constant Fool but on one way And sit but â—…ut the finishing a Play 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my honest word I 'le pawn You may be better pâ—…as'd and better drawn
Swain So proud but sighs for her and sighs in vain To have this matchless bright Divinity By Destiny and Gods reserved for Thee Nay thrown into thy Arms without one sigh or tear And thou unworthy not to value her Silv. Love the dull Fetter of all slavish souls No such weak power my free-born mind controuls Lync Oh Silvio hadst thou tryed Love once found In Mutual Lovers what true Joys abound I know thou'dst say Oh Love the sweetest Guest Why hast thou been a stranger to this Breast Leave leave the Woods leave following Beasts fond Boy And follow Love Silv. Love an unmanly Joy Keep they those Pleasures to themselves alone Who find a Soul in 'em for I find none Lync No Soul in Love the Worlds great Soul Dull Youth Too soon beleiv't thou'lt find this pow'rful Truth Perchance too late for he 'l be sure before We dye to make us all once feel his pow'r And be assur'd worse torment none can prove Than in old Limbs the Youthful Itch of Love Old Men In Love are doubly wrackt both with the sense Of their Youths Pride and Ages Impotence Silv. Must then my Youth for glorious actions lent Be on dull Woman prodigally spent For those Chimeras in a Lovers head Those strange Elysiums by Mens Feavours bred Lync Tell me if in this pleasing month of May When Earth is drest in all her rich array Instead of bladed Fields Brooks uncontrol'd Green Woods and painted Meads thou should'st behold Bald Fields and Meads Brooks bound with Ice the Pine The Beech the Ash the Oak the Elme the Vine And Poplar-like inverted Sceletons Stand desolate ratling their naked bones Wouldst thou not say Nature is out of Tune The World is sick and like to dye in June Now turn thy Eyes into thy self and see How ill thy Passions with thy Youth agree Behold a much more monstrous Novelty Then this would seem in Nature Courteous Heaven To every Age has proper humours given And as in Old Men Love absurdly shews So Young Men Enemies to Love oppose Nature and Heaven Look Silvio round about Examine this whole Universe throughout All that is fair or good here or above Is either Lover or the work of Love Sylv. How canst thou with such trecherous Arts perswade And thus the freedom of my Soul invade Was it for this I had my tender years Committed to the care of thy grey hairs That thou shouldst thus Effeminâ—…te my heart With Love Know'st who I am or who thou arâ—… Lynco Thou art a Man or should'st be one and I Another what I teach Humanity And if thou scornest that name which is thy Pride Take heed instead of being Deified Thou turn not Beast Silv. That Monster-taming King From whom my lofty Pedigree I bring Had never been thus Valiant nor thus Famed If first the Monster Love he had not tamed And his great deeds by Glorys Standart framed Lync See foolish Youth how weak thy Reasons prove Had great Alcides never been in Love How then had'st thou been born If he o're came Monsters and Men to Love impute his Fame To Love his Conquests Souls like his untamed In their own Nature rough when once inflamed With generous Love and with its Sweets allayd Are clearer apter for great actions made If thouâ—…t Ambitious then to imitate Great Hercules and not degenerate From thy high blood since Woods thou dost affect Follow the Woods but do not Love neglect Not that I 'de have thee thy mean thoughts debase To poor Dorindas Love of low-born race Thy Amaryllis is of race Divine Besides by Contract she 's already thine Thy Wife already Silv. Heav'n defend me Lync How Silv. My Wife Lync Can Silvio forget his Vow Your mutual promiâ—…es received and given Take heed bold Youth how you dare sport with Heav'n Silv. Mans freedom is Heav'ns gift which does not take Us at our words when a forc'd Vow we make Lync I but unless our Hopes and Judgments fail Heav'n made this Match and promis'd to Entayl A thousand blessings on 't Silv. 'T is like that there Is nothing else to do A proper care To vex the calm rest of the Gods above Lynco I scorn both Lovers Oaths and Love Exit Lynco Thou sprung from Heav'n harsh Boy nor of Divine Can I say suppose thee nor of humane line Alectoes Poyson thy cold Limbs did fashion Fair Venus had no hand in thy Creation Exit SCENE the Second Enter Mirtillo and Ergasto. Mirt. Fair Amaryllis if by speaking I Offend thee I will hold my peace and dye Erg. Mirtillo Love is a great pain at best But so much more the more it is supprest Why do you inward burn and find no tongue Mirt. My fear and my respect to her thus long Have silenc'd me Alas too well I know Nor has Love struck me blind that in my low And slender Fortunes it were idle pride To hope a Nymph so shaped so qualified So rais'd in Birth in Spirit and in Blood Above all these so gentle and so good Can e're be mine No I have took the height Of my unhappy Star and dread my Fate But Amaryllis Weds say does she not Erg. 'T is so resolved Mirt. Oh my uâ—…happy Lot Now Destiny has done its cruellest part Despair till now but hover'd round my heart Till now amid'st the greatest of my fear Some glimmering hope at distance did appear My wishing Love did the kind Flatterer play And though 't was Night me-thoughts I dreamt of Day But now my Horrour runs through all my Veins Despair fills up my heart and absolute Tyrant reigns Past all recovery she 's gone she 's gone I see the Prize by a blest Favourite won From my weak arms for ever ever torne I see the Mirtle Wreath my Rivals brows adorn And now Ergasto e're my heart quite break Though 't is too late I am resolv'd I 'le speak Erg. Woe be to her should her stern Father hear That to stoln prayers she ever lent an Ear. Mirt. Alas my Looks and Language shall be far Both from offending him and injuring her I 'le only say to her I owe my Death And beg when I sigh out my latest breath She 'd cast her fair Eyes on me and say Dye This favourable Boon she can't deny That e're she goes to make another Blest My Sighs may reach her Ear though not her Breast Silvio the Rich the Gallant and the Fair The Priest Montanoes only Son and Heir 'T is he oh envied Youth whose joy appears So ripe for Harvest in his Spring of years Erg. Indeed you 've little cause to envy him Rather to pitty him Mirt. To pitty him Can pitty such a happy State befit Ergast Because he Loves her not Mirt. And has he Wit Has he a heart Is he not blind And yet When I consider with what full Aspect Her Starry Eyes their influence direct Into my Breast she cannot have a Dart Left in her Quiver for another heart But why do
they a Jem so precious throw To one that knows it not and scorns it so Erg. Because from Silvios Marriage Heav'n of old T' Arcadia has deliverance fore-told You though a Stranger here have understood That of an offer'd Virgins guiltless blood A Tribute by Dianas dire command Is yearly paid by this unhappy Land Mirt. But what strange Crime deserved so sharp a Doom How could such monstrous cruelty find room In a Celestial mind Erg. The cause of all This storm was one of Cynthias Favourites fall Her best-lov'd Priest a Youth of Noble blood By an inconstant Nymphs fair Eyes subdu'd And by her Vows and broken Oaths betray'd In desperation sor this Perjur'd Maid Himself before her Feet a bloody Victim laid Whose Death Diana did so much incense That by a long and violent Pestilence A suffering Nation in her fall was crusht In Purple dye her killing fury blusht Nor could the dying Criminals blood alone Wash off her stain and for her sins atone Mirt. But how did you at last the Goddess rage appease Erg. Our Cure's almost as ill as our Disease For going to consult Heav'ns Will we from The Oracle received this fatal Doom That yearly we to Nights offended Queen A Maid or Wife should offer past fiâ—…teen And under twenty by which means the rage That â—…wallow'd thousands one death should asswage Mirt. And was this Barbrous Tribute by her will Doom'd to be paid for ever Erg. The Oracle Being askt agen what end our Woe should have To our demand this punctual answer gave Your Woe shall end when two of Race Divine Love shall Combine And for a faithless Nymphs Apostate State A faithful Shepherd supererrogate Now there is left in all Arcadia Of Heav'nly stock no other branch but they Young Silvio and fair Amarillis She From Pan descended from Alcides He And to our grief till now there never yet Of Heav'nly Race a Male and Female met On this a Nations hope depends the rest Is still reserv'd in Fates own secret breast And with this Marriage one day will ensue Mirt. And all this poor Mirtillo to undo What a long reach is here what Armys Band Against one heart half murder'd to their hand Is 't not enough that cruel Love 's my Foe Unless Fate too contrives my over-throw Erg. Alas Mirtillo grieving does no good Tears quench not Love but are its Milk and Food T shall scape me hard but e're the Sun descend This Cruel One shall hear thee Courage Friend Mirt. That word has shot life through me do but this And to repay you for so vast a Bliss When I am Dead and her fair Hand has given The killing-wound I 'le send you thanks from Heav'n Exeunt SCENE the Third Enter Corisca and Celia Corisca. Yonder he goes oh that bewitching Face When I behold Mirtilloes every grace His unaffected Carriage all his Charms What pleasing heat my panting Bosom warms But when I think anothers Chains he wears And will be deaf to all my Sighs and Pray'rs That dismal thought my bleeding heart-strings tears Shall I the flame of thousand hearts the wrack Of thousand Souls languish and burn and lack That pitty I denyed to others I Who kill by Cruelty by fondness dye Celia Talk not of dying Death 's an end of pain To those that Love but once and never Love again But thanks to Heav'n you 've no such danger nigh You have that pleasing Charm Variety Let those that starve in Love complain they dye Corisc. Yes Girl had I no other Love but this In Love there would be very little Bliss How extream poor must that ill House-VVise prove Who in all the World keeps but one only Love What 's Faith What 's Constancy Tales which the Jealous feign To awe fond Girls 〈◊〉 as absurd as vain Faith in a Woman if at least there be Faith in a Woman unreveal'd to me Is not a Virtue nor a Heav'nly Grace But the sad Penance of a ruind Face That 's pleas'd with one 'cause it can please no more A thousand fetter'd Slaves should all besore A Beauteous Face fall prostrate and adore What 's Beauty tell me If not pursued where Lovers numerous are It is a sign the peâ—…son Lov'd is rare A Creaâ—…ure Charming excellently fair Celia You Beauties then like Majesty in State Keep a large Train One Officer to wait Another to pâ—…esent a third to pâ—…ate A fourth for somewhat else Corisc. Well Celia when thy opening Beauty blows Grown up to Love take my advice and use Thy Lovers like thy Garments put on one Have many often shift and wear out none For daily Conversation breeds distast Distast Contempt and Loathing at the last Then get the start let not the Servant say He has turn'd his Mrs but she him away These are the rules I take I 've choyce and strive To please 'em all to this my hand I give And wink on him the handsom'st I admit Into my Bosom but not one shall get Into my Heart and yet I know not how Ay me Mirtillo's crept too near it now Celia For shame leave sighing Sister have more Pride You that have got so many Loves beside Cure this fond Thirst by some more pleasing tast In half your plenty none but Fools would fast Corisc. I never sigh'd but to deceive before Such pains as these till now I never bore What shall I do Leave him I cant Court him I must not Yes Love forbids that and Honour hinders this First then I 'le try Allurements and discover The Love to him but will conceal the Lover If after this he does my flame despise Nought but Revenge shall my hot Rage suffice And my Proud Rival Amaryllis Dyes My Persecuâ—…or here Spying Sylvano Enter she runs away Enter Sylvano and Dorco Sylva Corisca stay Confusion seize her how she hasts away Why by Heav'ns Curse and Malice was I Born To be a Vassal to such Pride and Scorn As Frosts to Plants to ripend Ears a Storm To Flowers the Mid-day-Sun to Seed the Worm To Stags the Toyles to Birds the Lime-twiggs so Is Love to man an everlasting Foe And he that call'd it fire pierced well into Its Treacherous Nature for if fire you view How bright and beautiful it is Approacht How warm and comfortable but when toucht Oh how it burns the Monster-bearing Earth Did never Teem such a Prodigious Birth Where e're Love fixes its Imperial Seat Cottage and Pallace to its Rage submit So absolute is its too large Command Nothing can its Tyrannick pow'r withstand So Love if you behold it in a pair Of Starry-eyes in a bright tress of hair How temptingly it looks what kindly flames It breaths what Peace what Pardons it proclaims But if thou dost it in thy bosom keep So that it gather strength and can but creep No Tygress in Hircanian Mountains Nurst No Lybian-Lyoness is half so curst Nor â—…rozen Snake â—…osterd with humane breath His Flames are hot as Hell Bonds strong as Death
mere sragments of the sight Or thoughts of the past day reviv'd at night Man's Doom and the great Oracles of Heav'n Are never by such feeble voyces given In short how Heav'n has destined to dispose Of our two Children neither of us knows But this is clear to both of us thine flyes And against Natures Laws does Love despise Mont. Take courage Titiro do not debase Your thoughts with mortal fears but nobly place Your hopes above Heav'n favours a strong Faith And a faint Prayer ne're climbs that Arduous Path. Our Childrens Pedegree you know's Divine And Heav'n that smiles on all will surely shâ—…ne On its own Progeny Come Titiro Together to the Temple let us go And humbly bow to the Eternal Throne Victims and Prayers have pow'r if Dreams have none And thou high mover of the Oâ—…bs that ridest The Starry Region with thy Wisdom guidest Their Course look down upon our tottering state And reconcile Disdain and Love with Fate Exeunt SCENE the Second Enter Amaâ—…yllis Amar. Riches what are they but our freedoms snares What boots it in the Spring-time of ones years To have the Attributes of fair and good In mortall Veins to lock Celestial blood If with all these our hearts Contâ—…ment lose And what we most desire want pow'r to choose Happy that Shepherdess whom â—…ome course stuff Obscurely Cloaths yet clean and just enough Rich only in her self and in the best And noblest Ornaments of Nature drest Whose narrow state no forreign Cares distress Her Bosom and her little World at peace Who in sweet Poverty no want does know Nor the Distractions which from Riches grow Yet whatsoever may suffice the mind In that Estate abundantly does-find One Fountain is her Looking-glass her Drink And Bath and if she 's pleas'd what others think It matters not She heeds not blazing Stars That threaten mighty Ones Wars or no Wars It is all one to her Her Battlement And Shield is that she 's Poor Poor but content Enter Corisca. Cor. Beyond my wish I'm favourd by my Fate Heav'ns must I be Mirtillos Advocate Oh kind Ergasto a more pleasing task Thou could'st not grant nor could Corisca ask aside Under the Name of Amaryllis Friend I have fit means and safe to work my end Amar. Corisca Coris My dear Amaryllis here Amaryll Yes kind Corisca all that 's left of her I 'm to be Married all that once was mine My freedom and my heart all that was thine My friendship and my smiles are ours no more They are all seiz'd by a commanding Pow'r Corisc. Do not with needless fears disturb your peace Why must your freedom and our friendship cease There 's no such Fetters no such dangers wait Upon the sweet and happy Marryed state Amar. Happy and Sweet Alass Corisc. Why do you fetch That â—…igh Leave sighing to that Wretch Amar. What Wretch Corisc. Mirtillo Amar. What of him Oh that blest Name aside Corisc. Only I have saved his Life Amar. His Life How came His Life in danger Cor. By his dispair for you That hour he first your fatal Contract knew The kâ—…lling sound no doubt had mortal prov'd Had not my kindness half his pain remov'd By promising to break this Match which though I only said to comfort him I know The way if need were Amar. Dear Corisca speak Can thy kind help this cruel Gordian break Corisc. Yes easily Amar. My better Angel how Cor. By Heav'n she loves him and my fears are true Aside To break this Marriage off if you would please T' assist me is a thing I 'de do with ease Amar. Unkind Corisca had you in your pow'r This blessing and conceal'd it till this hour Well though you hide your secrets yet take mine Know when I think I must my heart resign And all my Life be subject to a Boy That hates me and does place his only joy In Woods in Beasts in Dogs and Hunts-mens crys That thought to my wrack'd soul all Peace denys Why was I born of Heav'nly race for this Happy that poor and humble Shepherdess Who has not half my weighty Cares to keep Her heart awake who feeds her Master's Sheep With the pearld grass and with her lovely eyes Some honest Swain that for her Beauty dyes Not such as Men or Gods choose to her hand But such as Love did to her choyce commend And in some favour'd shady mirtle Grove Desires and is desired and lives all Love This only is true Bliss which till the breath Deserts the body knows not what is Death Would Heav'n had made me such a one Coris Why that I 'le wish to save you 't is not yet too late Amar. Not late My Faith I have already given Both to my Father and what 's worse to Heav'n And break with them I neither will nor may But if your Industry can find a way T' unty this Knot so that my Honesty My Faith my Fame and my Religion be Preserved how blest how proud Cor. Leave it to me Coriscas Glory and her pow'r this day In all their colours shall their Pride display But when from an ill Husband thou art freed May not an honest Lovers hopes succeed Mirtillo you must Love you shall nay moâ—…e Must give him leave to see you and adore Amar. ' swere better he 'd in peace and silence rest And root so vain a love out of his Breast Coris Some comfort you shall give him e're he dye Am. Half favours do but heighten misery Coris If they do so the seeking is his own Amar. And what must I expect should it be known Coris How Cowardly thou art Amar. And may I still Be Cowardly in any thing that 's ill Coris And can you fail me in this small request Farewell so may I fail thee in the rest Amar. Oh stay Corisca. Coris If you 'l promise me To hear Mirtillo Amar. Well I 'le promise thee To hear him but provided it may be But once Coris But once Amaryl And that he may not know We meet with my consent or knowledg Coris No You cannot think I 'le be so indiscrâ—…et I 'le make him think 't is by my plot you meet Trust to my care your safety in my hand Your faithful Creatures pow'r and Life command Amar. Farewell kind Maid Exit Coris Believing Fool farewell Yes trust me I will serve thee but as Hell Serves Sinners I will lead her fairly on Till past Redemption lost she is undone She Loves Mirtillo And Rivalship enflames me to that height That now I love him at that senseless rate That for his sake I 'de startle at no crime Nay I could e'ne turn Fool and Marry him Enter Sylvano rushing from behind the Seene and catches her Oh Amaryllis I am caught I am caught Stay and assist me Sylv. No she hears thee not Thou Mrs. in the art of making Lyes That sell'st false looks false hopes at such a price With honesty stampt on thy haughty brow None of thy falsehoods shall deceive
be good Love is a God I 've heard our Shepherds say And all that Gods command we should obey If I 've more hearts than yet I understand Tell me they shall be all at his command Ger. Inquire no farther pretty Innocence But think of Loving Sylvio seaven years hence Dor. And must I stay so long so long a time Ger. Your Beauty then will be in all its prime Dor. Have I not all my Beauty yet is it For that my Sylvio caâ—…not Love me yet My wants in Beauty are this way supply'd I 've Love enough what e're I want beside Ger. Do but observe the Beauties of the May Yours will be once as ripe and bright as they Stay till your worth is better understood All these gay flowers were once but in the Bud. Dor. Must Virgins then grow up as Roses do Pray how is that Ger. To Age their Sweets they owe. Whilst by th'warm Sun and the kind Spring they blow Dor. If then my want of growth be all my fau't Me-thinks I need not stay seav'n years for that Let but my Sylvio Love me He has such charms Me-thinks I could shoot up in Sylvios Arms. His charming looks would make me any thing So kind a Sun would soon bring on the Spring Enter Sylvio and Hunts-men crossing the Stage Sylvio seeing Dorinda offers to go Dor. Stay Sylvio do not flye me Ger. Cruel stay Cannot such suppliant Beauty stop your way Sylv. My Torment here aside To stay I want the pow'r I 've no time now to fool away an hour Ger. Inhumane is this treat a recompence For all the groans of dying Innocence Thou man more barbarous than the Scythian Race And Savager than the wild Beasts you chace Dor. Dearer than Life and sweeter than the Spring My Joy my Love my Heart my every thing Oh unkind Nymph can you so Cruel prove To talk so harshly to the Man I Love Dear Sylvio What have I said Me-thinks I blush yet why I do not know Something I 've said or done I should not do To say I Love him there 's no sin in that To tell the truth sure cannot be a Fau't And yet me-think A secret shame into my face does flye And says 't is men should Court and Maids deny Sylv. What is the cause fair Nymph Dor. Fair Nymph Ah no You call me fair but do not think me so Sylv. What idle frenzy can so pow'rful be To make you take such pains to follow me Dor. Why do you ask As if you did not know I would be near you whereso're you go Do let me follow you let me be near I 'le hold your Arrows and your Quiver bear And if your precious Life should e're By the wilde Bore you chace in danger be I 'le step between and he shall first Kill me In Sylvio's presence is my sole delight On you â—… think all Day and dream all Night And in the Morning when by restless Cares I early wake and go to say my Pray'rs All on a sudden when I kneeling bow And think I speak to Heav'n I Pray to You. Yet unkind Sylvio from Dorinda flyes Takes all my Heart yet gives me none of His. Sylv. Why do you throw away a heart so ill I never yet knew Love nor ever will Or if I did 't is in the Chace the Groves And Woods My Hawks and Hounds have all my Loves Dor. In Love with Hawks and Hounds Those Creatures Sir have got Their Loves already They 're by Nature taught To Love amongst themselves Those humble Creatures too Are not deserving to be Loved by You. Sylv. Well Nymph I see I wrong you by my stay I 'le take the Cause then of your Grieâ—…s away Adieu Dor. Stay but one minute must we part So soon I see the cause of all my smart 'T is Amaryll is takes up all your heart Sylv. Before I go That little satisfaction you shall have I gave my hand my heart I never gave Dor. Do you not Love her then Sylv. By Heav'ns not I. Dor. Does she want Charms Sylv. Their Influence I defie Dor. But are you sure you do not Love her Sylv. Why Dor. Do you not think and wish you know not how And Dream of her a Nights as I of You Sylv. I think not of her waking nor asleep My heart does no such worthless Triffles keep Dor. You 've eas'd me of I know not how much pain I 'm Charm'd to hear you taâ—…k with such disdain Malice or Love or both what e're it be I 'm pleas'd he Loves not her though he hates me The Hunts-men hollow from within Sylv. Hark I am call'd my pleasure I delay Farewell Dor. You shall not go Sylv. I must not stay Dor. Have you no Love nor pitty cruel Man Sylv. I pitty you as much as e're I can Dor. Well Sylvio If by your Hate I 'm Doom'd to be undone I 'm the first slighted Maid that dyed so soon Sylv. Well pow'rful Nymph For the unrest the sighs and pains so long You 've borne in Charity t' a thing so young For once I will be kind Dor. Will you be kind Kind to Dorinda Oh my lightned mind And will you Love me I ne're lived till now Shall I be youâ—…s My Joys too mighty grow If the unrest I 've borne your kindness win To keep you kind I 'le never sleep agen And if you ve Charity because I 'm young Be sure I 'le ne're grow old but why so long A silence why this distance Did you say You would be kind and do not know the way Swaâ—…ns when they 're kind their dearest Nymphs approach With all their greedy joys their hands they touch And kiss 'em o're and o're Then round their Necks their twining Arms they throw Were I a Swain in Love I should do so Sylv. Hold gentle Nymph and give me leave to speak Do not my promis d Charity mistake Your softness has my stubborn spirit bow'd So much that I would Love you if I could And this Effeminate Confession none Of your whole Sex could win but you alone Dor. And is it thus you 're kind Sylv. Love I ne're can Within my Breast that Feaver never ran You have my Pitty all I can I 'le gâ—…ant Nor will I say I Love you when I cant Dor. You cannot Love Sylv. My kindness is so great I will not pay your Love with Counterfeit Nay in compassion to your sighs and tears Each rising Sun shall hear my Zealous Prayers I 'le beg kind Heav'n that you may Love no more And your Conversion on my knees implore Once more fare-well Dor. Why all this hasty flight Stay and be cruel still and kill me quite Exit Sylv. Gerr. E'ne let him go and to requite this scorn May he by Heaven's pursuing Vengeance torne By some wild Monster in a Desart dye And injur'd Virgins curse his memory The noyse comes near â—…ye hence no longer stay What if the Savage Beast should come this way And Chafed with
Hunting spill your precious blood Dor. Alas I would forgive him if he â—…nou'd Since unkind Sylvio from my Love does flye Young though I am I 'm Old enough to dye Exeunâ—… The End of the Second Act. ACT the Third Enter Amaryllis with a Train of Shepherdess who enter Singing Song WHy does the foolish World mistake And Loves dull praises sing so loud What idle Subjects must they make Who choose a blind and Childish Boy their God What dearer Joys our Freedom brings Whilst the wing'd Quire on every bough Charm'd with our Bliss in Consort sings And Night and Day our harmless pleasures view Chor. 'T is Shame and the Night Loves folly does cover And only the Bat and Schreich-Owl that hover About the dark Windows of a drowzy dull Lover The Song ended they Dance which done they go off singing and Corisca enters and stays Amaryllis Manent only Corisc. and Amar. Cor. I Must go speak to him or he 'l not stir To her faint-hearted Swain what do you fear Calling to Mirtillo Enter Mirtillo Mirt. I would approach her but dare move no nigher How near to Impotence is strong desire Corisc. Make hast or she is lost Amar. What do I view Mirt. Stay If this action to thy scorn be due Behold the Weapon and the Breast holding his Dagger to his Breast Amar. Thou hast Deserved that Sentence thy rash tongue has past What cause bold man could thy presumption move To interrupt my sost Retirements Mirt. Love Amar. Love is not rude Mirt. Can it be rudeness when I kneel before That dear Celestial Creature I adore Is it a Crime t' approach what we admire Do but observe fair Nymph how the wing'd Quire Each wandring Bird flyes over Woods and Groves To mix its Ayrâ—…s with the dear Mate it loves And what their Loves and weaker sense has done Should dastard Man the Lord of Reason shun Amar. And is this Love Did Love your soot-steps steer Prayers not surprizes would have brought you here Mirt. As a wilde Beast enraged with want of Food Rushes on Travellers from out the Wood. So I that only live on thy fair Eyes Since that lov'd Food thy Cruelty denys On my fair Prey a Ravenous Lover seize To my long famisht Love the only ease My Passion and my Fears were loâ—…g at strife And 't was a stratagem to save a Life Amar. Alas you persecute me but in vain What is it you can ask or hope t' obtain Mirt. Once ere I dye to hear me Amar. Well Sir that Boon I grant But this before Say little quickly part and come no more Mirt. Then that I love thee more than I do love My Life if thou doubt'st Cruel ask this Grove Each stâ—…pid Rock each Mountain which so ofâ—… I by the voyce of my Complaints made sofâ—… Behold these Flowers that make the Earth so proud Those Stars which naile the Firmament The crowd Of Nights bright Gems attest my high desires They 've all been witness of my restless fires To the adored bright Beautys of those Eyes My soul with all her wing'd affections flyes But since you bid me say but little I Shall say but little saying that I dye And shall do less in dying since I see How muâ—…h my death is coveâ—…ed by Thee Yet when I 'm Dead You 'l pitty what to Live you can't permit Must those bright Stars which my Loves Torches lit Light too my Funeral Tapers and fore run As once my rising now my setting Sun Amar. What shall I say I cannot speak aside Mirt. Fair Saint Have you no sense of my too just Complaint Have you no Pitty speak what have I done This Fate to merit Must I talk alonâ—… Say something Cruel Nymph Amar. What should I say You know I must not answer you your way Mirt. Say dye at least if nothing else you 'l say Amar. That honest pitty I may graâ—…t you have Other it is in vain to hope or crave For amorous pitty you must ne're implore From her who has given away all that before But if you love me and have told me true Love my good Name my Life and Honour too You seek Impossibles I am a Ward To Heav'n Earth watches me and my reward If I transgress is Death But most of all Virtue defends me Sir your heaâ—…t recall On barren Rocks none but th' unhappy fall And 't is the part of Viâ—…tue to abstain From what we love if it will prove our bane Mirt. He that no longer can resist must yield Amar. Where Virtue reigns all passioâ—…s quit the field Mirt. Love tryumphs over Virtue Amar. Let that man That cannot what he will will what he can Mirt. Necessity of Loving has no Law Amar. But effects cease when Causes do with draw I 'le see you then no more Mirt. Oh stay your form 's fixt here In vain we flye what we about us bear There is no Cure but that which Death affords Amar. Death Let me speak then and be sure these words Be as a Charm to you Although I know When Lovers talk of dying it does show Rather an amorous custom of the tongue Then a râ—…solve of mind continuing long Yet if in earnest you should ever take So strange a frenzy know that when you make Your self away you murder my Fame too Live then is you do love me and adieu Mirt. And must I live for ever in despair Doom'd to a Life that is not worth my care Amar. Mirtillo 't is high time you went away You have already made too long a stay Be gon and let your griefs not grow too strong Of hopeless Lovers there 's a numerous throng There is no wound but carryes with it pain And there are others who of Love complain Mirt. How can I leave you Amar. Why Sir should you stay You know my heart 's already given away You know I 'm to be Marryed Sir yet still Oh Heav'ns I 'de like t' have said against my will aside Be gone be gone For should he longer stay aside I shall the weakness of my soul betray Mirt. Why must I flye so sast from all that 's dear Amar. Should but the Nymphs return aâ—…d find you here This place they hold so sacred that they 'd tear You Limb from Limb The Thracian Nymphs ne're tore And Murder'd Orpheus so on Hebrus shore Mirt. Is that a fear should drive Mirtillo hence What if the place be sacred the offence Proceeds from Love and Love is sacred too They could not hurt the Slave that dyes for you Amar. He has staid too long his presence has such pow'r aside My Father I expect this very hour And if he find you here I shall pull down A Nations anger and a Fathers frown Sir for my safety go Mirt. That word alone could force Me hence but can I suffer this Divorce And yet not dye the pangs of death I 'm sure I feel and all that parting souls endure Exit Amar. Mirtillo oh Mirtillâ—… couldst thou
me now Coris To me this barbrous Language Sylv. Yes to thee Now I 'le reward thee for thy Treachery Thou Cheat Dissembler Witch and Sorceress Perjur'd Corisca. Corisc. Yes I do confess I am Corisca not that happy she Who once was Courted and beloved by thee My gentle dear Sylvano Sylv. Gentle dear What sweetning words what a new stile is here Oh the Conversions that are wrought by fear Was this the language this the humble look When Me for the young Thyrsis you forsook And from that heart just sealed to me before All your repeated Oaths to Niso swore Coris Who I â—…orsake thee take back the lest part From thee of that intire devoted heart Which is thy sacred right Sylvan Oh wondrous strange No no Your constancy can never change Since of your Crimes you can forgetsul be My Vengeance shall refresh your memory Coris Vengeance Oh Heavens on whom Sylv. On thee Enchantress thee fair Infidel Thou hast not playd the Traytors part so well As I will do the Lovers Thanks kind pow'rs After so many sighs and tedious hours My Life and Fortune 's spent to buy your smiles Kind Fate at last rewards my weary toyls And my false fair one now I 'le tryumph in the spoyls Since so much Hell within your Bosom reigns I 'le Conjure all the Devils in your Veins Corisc. Oh Horrour My soft Peace how can you fright Can you hurt her whom once you call'd your dear delight What Faith in Men can Wretched Virgins find If my Sylvano ceases to be kind Sylvan Cease to be kind to thee By Heav'n not I I 'le be so kind Coris Oh my hard destiny Sylv. That not thy Father when in all his heat And Youth he did thy wanton Mother treat To raise this Cursed race to damne Man-kind Was ever half so hot or half so kind He lazy Nuptial Fool did only move In the dull humane Path of making Love But I 'le turn Ravisher and sport like Jove Coris Behold me at thy feet Oh pardon me If ever I by chance offended thee My Idol by those God-like looks these more Than humane Knees which clasping I adore By thy dear self Sylvano thy more dear Affection which thou once to me didst swear By the sweet influence of those Eyes which thou Wert wont to call two Stars two Fountains now Sylv. T' extract these Tears what wonders have I done Such soft Dew falls not after every Sun Corisc. Dear Sylvan pitty me and let me go Sylv. Thinkst thou still Syren to deceive me No. Corisc. Oh let me go try me but once and see How just how faiâ—…hful and how kind I 'le be Sylv. No I am grown too wise to credit thee And he that takes thy word himself ensnares Beneath this humble shew beneath these Prayers Is hid Corisca. I too long delay My Pleasure and Revenge calls me away Come my fair Martyr Corisc. Oh Inhumane stay Hear me but one word more Sylv. You beg in vain Corisc. Have you no pitty left shall I obtain No Mercy Sylv. None I 'le drag you to my Cave And no more treat you as my Saint but Slave There Oh my Vengeance Oh my pleasure Corisc. Hold. Are you resolv'd Sylv. As firm as Fate and less to be controul'd Have you done whining Corisc. Oh thou base and not To be exampled Slave half Man half Goat And all a Beast thou Natures Out-cast born For her Disgrace and for Corisca's Scorn Corisca Loves thee not thou think'st the truth What should she see in such a Charming Youth Sylv. Now your true self appears but do not think Curses or Prayers shall make Sylvano shrink Corisc. Infernal Beast let go your hold be gone Think not the impious deed 's so easily done That minute thy Impiety shall dare But touch me with my shrieks I 'le fill the Ayre And call down all Heav'ns Thunder on thy head Nay I 'le turn Basilisk and look thee dead Sylv. Call Thunder down as if the Gods would hear Thy out cryes Devil I so little fear Heav'ns Anger for so just so brave an act That in the very height of all the Fact I 'le with such pride the glorious deed commit That Iâ—…le my self call Heav'n to witness it Corisc. Hell and Damnation thy black soul confound And everlasting Horrour shade me round Sylv. But I 'm Too gentle In this posture I appear More like a Courtier than a Ravisher Furâ—…'s the garb my Iâ—…j'ries should wear Beast as thou art I 'le drag thee by the hair Le ts go her Arms and twists his hands in her Hair My Rage cannot commit an act too foul Fright me away I 'm not that easie Fool As he drags her away her Hair comes off and Sylvano falls at which time she runs off Perdition seize her Oh she 's gone was e're Such an Escape such a defeat as here Was ever man so Fooled Thou all made up of Wiles Was 't not enough thy words thy looks thy smiles Were all deceit false treacherously fair But you must likewise falsifie your hair The glowing Amber and the flowing Gold Which you mad Poets so extol behold Blush blush now at your errour and recant Your thread-bare Theam instead whereof go paint The arts of a deform'd and impious Witch Breaking up Sepulchâ—…es by Night from which She steals the hair which upon Deaths-head grows To Imp her own which she so neatly does That she has made you praise what you shou'd more Then dire Megaeras Snaky locks abhor Exit SCENE the Third Enter Gerana and Dorinda Dor. To follow Sylvio is that a Crime I 'de wander o're the World to follow him Not Savage Desarts with their Beasts of prey And all their frightful Rocks should stop my way Ger. Come dear Dorinda do not figh in vain Come Love no more but shake off all this pain Should Maids in wild Young Men place their deligâ—…t Alas they 're Creatures not to please but fright Dor. You were young once and if you told me true You said You Lov'd And did they frighten you Ger. But when I Loved 't was at a Womans Age. I stood upon my Guard against their rage I was more able too the storm to bear But they are Creatures which You ought to sear Ravenous as Lyons and more fierce than they Whilst Slavish Women must their Wilâ—…s obey And to their furious Appetites give way They have desires to which You cannot bow Dor. But you have tryed and you shall tell me how Ger. Poor Innocence you know not what you say There 's Debt in Love you are too young to pay Alas thou' rt Ignorant Dor. Why then I 'de learn Ger. Alas your own desires you can't discern Dor. To please my Love What is it that I want Can he ask any thing I cannot grant No I have so much Love that I believe I 've rather more than I know how to give Instruct me for I 'de please him if I cou'd What are those Debts I know they must
see That heart which thou condemn'st of cruelty Soul of my soul thou d'st find it so much thine thou d'st give me pitty and not ask me mine Oh why if Love be such a natural And pow'rful passion is it Capital Law too severe that Nature doest offend Nature too frail that dost with Law contend Why must our bleeding hearts with sorrow break Whilst modesty forbids our Sex to speak Oh dear Mirtillo pardon thy fierce Foe In words and looks but in her heart not so But if addicted to Revenge thou be What greater Vengeance canst thou take on me Then thy own grief For if thou beest my heart As in despite of Heav'n and Earth thou art Thy sighs my Vital spirits are the flood Of tears which follows is my vital blood And all these pangs and all these groans of thine Are not thy pangs are not thy groans but mine Enter Corisca and Celia Corisc. Why pangs and groâ—…ns what should your peace destroy What hinders your desires or bars your Joy Come you must love Mirtillo Why so coy Amar. What do you mean You know our breach of Faith Is punisht by th' Arcadian Laws with death Corisc. And is it that dull Nymph keeps you in awe Whâ—…ch is more ancient tell me Love or Law Love 's a Majestick pow'r Came in with Nature and grew up with Man And with the world its Soveraignty began Laws were but Innovations crept in since Which envying Loves Imperial Excellence Like Rebels Circumscribed an Absolute Prince Amar. Oh Heavens I scarce dare guess at what you mean But could I thy wild Counsels entertain And for th' offence the Law my Life should take Can Love of Life a Restitution make Corisc. Thou art too nice If Women all were such And on thy scruples should insist too much Good days adieu Laws are not for the Wise. If to be kind Should merit death â—…ove help the cruel mind But if Fools fall into those Snares 't is fit They be forbid to steal that have not wit To hide their Theft Amar. Hold this wild subject change You starrle me to hear you talk so strange Corisc. Why strange One minute of our Life 's not in our pow'rs And who but Fools would lose whole days or hours Celia convert her with that Song I taught you â—…elia Sings Let us use time whilst we may Snatch those joys that hast away Earth her Winter Coat may cast And renew her Beaâ—…ties past But our Winter come in vain We solicite Spring again And when our Furrows Snow shall cover Love may return but never Lover Amar. Thou say'st all this only to try me sure Not that thy thoughts are such but rest secure Unless the way to break this Contract be A plain safe way from guilt and scandal free Your useless Councels you propose in vain I 'de dye a thousand Deaths e're I 'de my Honour stain Corisc. But Amaryllis dost thou seriously Believe thy Sylvio rates his Faith as high As thou dost thine Amar. Alas how should I know What 's Faith to him who is to Love a Foe Corisc. Loves Foe There 's thy mistake Oh these coy souls Believe 'em not The deep stream silent rowls No Theft in Love so subtle and secure As to hide sin by seeming to be pure In short thy Sylvio Loves but 't is not thee He Loves else-where Amar. What Goddess must she be For certainly she 's not of mortal frame That could the heart of Sylviâ—… inflame Where are her Altars what 's this Goddess Name Corisc. No Goddess nor yet Nymph Amar. What was 't you said Corisc. Do you know my Lisetta Amar. Who the Maid That tends thy Flocks Corisc. The same She 's all his joy Amar. A proper choyce for one that was so coy Corisc. But will you know what Magick 's in her Arms And what great pains he takes to meet her Charms He feigns to go a Hunting But i' ch' heat Of all the sport he does by stealth retreat From his Companions and comes all alone Into my Garden by a way unknown Where underneath a Haw-thorne-hedges shade The Gardens sence the poor expecting Maid Hears his hot sighs and amorous pray'rs which she Comes Laughing afterwards and tells to me Amar. 'T is well Corisc. Now hear my plot and let my Friendship prove My ' industrious Zeal to Crown your Sacred Love I think you know that the same Law which does Enjoyn the Woman to observe her Vows To her Contracted likewise does Enact That if the Woman catch him in the fact Of falsehood all her tyes and contracts cease And she' has free pow'r to Marry where she please Amar. I know Examples Egle having found Lycotas false remaind her self unbound Corisc. Now hear me out My Maid by me set on Has bid her Credulous Lover meet anon In yonder Cave with her whence he remains The most contented of all living Swains And waits but th' hour You shall surprize him there And I too as your Witness will be near Amar. Already I 've a prospect of my Bliss I like it rarely but the way Corisc. 'T is this In th'middle of the Cave o th' right hand lyes Another lesser Grot. There thou shalt hide Thy self and hidden in that place abide Till the two Lovers come I mean to send Lisetta first and after her her Friend Following aloofe my self and when I have Perceiv'd him safely Lodg'd within the Cave I will rush after him and at my cryes You shall come in and the false Swain surprize That done shall take the penalty oth'Law I and Lisetta then will straight with-draw And to the Priest and then thou shalt untye This Fatal Knot Amar. Before his Father Corisc. Why What matter 's that Think'st thou Montanoes blood Will stand in Ballance with his Countrys good Amar. Go on then setting all disputes aside I wink and follow thee my faithful Guide Corisc. Then linger not dear Nymph but enter in Amar. Before this mighty enterprize begin I 'le to the Temple and the Gods adore And by my Prayers from Heav'n success implore Exit Corisc. Go and return then quickly How I 'm pleas'd Of half my Troubles I 'm already eas'd But to go on there 's something must be done T' abuse my honest Lover Coridon I 'le say I 'le meet him in the Cave and so Will make him after Amaryllis go That done by a back-way I 'le thither send The Priest of Cynthia her to Apprehend Guilty she will be found and by our Laws she dyes The cause of all Mirtilloes Crueltyes Enter Mirtillo He 's here I 'le sound him till she comes Now rise Rise all my Love into my Tongue and Eyes Mirt. Hear ye damnd Spirits that in Hell lament Hear a new sort of pain and punishment See in a Turtles look a Tygers mind She crueller than death 'cause she did find One death could not suffice her bloody will And that to live was to be dying still Enjoyns me not to make my self away
By the concern they shew in losing ' em Your â—…age and storms to think me perjur'd prove The violence and ardence of your Love And to requiâ—…e the tedious pains you 've bornâ—… Accept in blushes this last just return Gives him her hand To morrow at the Altar seal my heart Sylv. Thou wilt be true thou must by Heav'ns thou art Kisses her hand Corisc. In all my Charms there my Dear Love I 'le meet And lay my soul at kind Sylvano's feet But one thing I forget Do not defend that naughty Womans cause Let the lewd shameful Wretch suffer the Laws They have met there before a hundred times But let her dye vile Creature â—…or her Crimes I hate that odious sin so much may all That practice it as much unpittyed fall Sylv. Forgive me if I take my self away To morrows Bliss permits me not to stay I must prepare for our dear Nuptial day And the bright Sun when he salutes the skie No Persian shall adore so much as I But see I find you true Corisc. Can you suspect me now By my Religion and my Lise I 'm true Sylv. Pray Heaven this pious resolution last For to your Sex that Grace comes not in hast Corisc. Why this mistrust Sylv. You know you never told me truth before Corisc. Now you 're unkind Sylv. Well I 'le suspect no more I will believe you just and live in hope Falsehood in Woman is a stream may stop Grant ye great Gods that one kind 〈◊〉 do Once in a lâ—…fe a Woman may speak true Exit Corisc. Poor credulous Fool What dangers did I shun Had I not us'd this Cheat I had been undone Had the bold Slave appear'd in her defence He had crusht my Plots and prov'd her Innocence But now thanks to my Wit His preparations for his faithful Bride No doubt has found him work enough beside Proud Rival nothing now thy Fate shall stay The gaudy Sacrifice must bleed to day Exit SCENE the Second Enter Montano Amaryllis bound with Attendants Mont. Base present Age which dost with thy impure Delights the beauty of the soul obscure Teaching to Nurse a Dropsie in the Veins Bridling the look but givest desire the Reins Thus like a Net that spread and cover'd lyes With leaves and tempting Flowers thou dost disguise With coy and holy Guiles a Womans heart Mak'st Life a Play and Vertue but a Part. They think it not a fault Loves Sweets to steal So from the World they can the Theft conceal Amar. Had I been guilty then it wou'd have been Less grievous to me to have Death pay sin But now to dye thus Innocent in all My pride of Youth and Forâ—…une thus to fall Is a sad case Mont. A sad one 't is indeed When at one stroke th' Arcadian hopes must bleed Thou born of Heavenly Race born to asswage A Nation 's griefs t' appease a Goddess Rage One that for Heavenly Beauty merited Temples and sacred Victims to be led Thy self to th' Altar as a Sacrifice Who could behold it without melting Eyes Oh wretched faâ—…l Amar. For all this have not I Transgrest the Law but Innocently dye Must I then dye Montano must I dye None left to hear none to defend me left Of all abandon'd of all hope bereft Only of such a mocking pitty made The wretched object as affords no aid Mont. Be patient Nymph and give me cause to tell Though thou didst ill yet that thou suffer'st well Look up to Heaven that gave thee Birth and be Content with what is writ above for thee Amar. Oh 't is a cruel Sentence whether given By Men or Gods or writ in Earth or Heaven But writ in Heaven I am sure it cannot be For that does my unsullied Bosom see And there my injur'd Innocence is known Stands fair and shines before th' Eternal Throne But what does that avail if I my Life must pay Mirt. Who fears to dye dyes every hour i'th'day Why hang'st thou back and draw'st a painful breath Death has no ill in 't but the fear of Death And they that dye when they have heard their Doom Flye from their Death Amar. Perhaps some help may come Mont. Good Nymph no more our duty calls us hence I with your stay no longer can dispence Amar. Dear Woods adieu then my dear Woods adieâ—… Receive these sighs my last ones into you Till my cold shade forc'd from her seat by dire And unjust Seel to your lov'd shades retire For sink to Hell it can't being Innocent Nor soar to Heaven laden with discontent Mirtillo dear Mirtillo most accurst The day I saw the day I pleas'd thee first Without thy Love death would less frightful be My greatest pain in death is losing thee Enter Corisca. Is this the Nymph accuses me dear Friend Thy goodness cannot to such crimes descend Rescue my Honour and my Life defend Corisc. Dear Amaryllis your own actions blame You lâ—…st my Friendâ—…hip when you lost your Fame Amâ—…r Nay then my ruine does too plain appear I little thought such Treason harbour'd here Corisc. Treason Heaven knows my heaâ—…t Treason in me No I 'de not wrong my mortal Enemy Because I 've spoyld her amorous design She would repair her Fame by wounding mine But Sir I am a Witnâ—…ss of her sin I saw this Wanton Nymph steal softly in A glowing colour all her Face o'respread It maâ—…e me blush to see her look so red At her approach behind a Bush I stept And unperceiv'd my watching station kept The eager Youth came after her in hast His looks less fearful and his steps more fast And blustring rusht into the Cave whilst I Oh the strange Charms of Curiosity Amar. Oh my tir'd patience Oh thou barbarous In humane Nymph t' abuse my Virtue thus What Treacheries did ever I design Against thy blood that thou should'st thirst for mine Corisc. Abuse thy Virtue thou hast none to wrong But not to make th'unpleasing tale too long Close to the Rock my list'ning Ear I lâ—…id And th'hollow Cave this gentle sound convey'd On the cold ground as the Nyâ—… panting lay In a faint dying Voyce I heard her say What shift does poor Love make to which the Swain With a brisk joy thus Answer'd her again No shining Monarchs in their Beds of Gold And their prâ—…ud Arms do so much Treasure hold Not half my Bâ—…ss nor half thy sweetness tast Amar. Oh torture me no more dear Sir make hast Send me to Execution let me dye T is worse than death to hear this Blasphemy Ex guarded Corisc. See with what hast she takes her self away Her guilt 's so terrible she dares not stay Yet there 's such winning Beauty in her Face That I protest were I to judge her case My tender-hearted Nature is so good I should forgive her sin I Vow I shou'd Exit Mont. Fair Golden Age when Milk was th' only Food The Cradle of the Infant World the Wood Rockt by the Winds when th' untoucht Flook
did beaâ—… Their dear Young for themselves None then did feaâ—… The Sword or Poyson no black thoughts begun T' Eclipse the light of the Eternal Sun Nor wandring pines unto a forreign shore Or War or Riches a worse mischief bore That Idol Honour which th' Ambitious blinds Was not till now the Tyrant of our minds No Lawless wishes then no Perjuries Corrupted Love then the blind God had Eyes Husband and Lover signifi'd one thing True Love and the delights true Love does bring Was Honour to those sober minds that knew No Happiness but what from Virtue grew Dear Heaven that state of Innocence renew Exit Enter Mirtillo Mirt. Wretched Mirtillâ—… to the Temple flye And there behold thy Amaryllis dye A Martyr to thy groundless Jealousie Oh damn'd Corisca thou Infernal Hag Do boaâ—… thy Treasons and thy Trophies brag And as the greatest Curse that I can give May'st thou but dye with half the pains I live SCENE the Third Enter Dorinda disguis'd in a Coat of Furs Dorind Sylvio when I appear in my own shape Takes all the care my presence to escape And when my sighs I utter then he speaks With so much sâ—…n that my poor heart he breaks But thus disguis'd I may his foot-steps trace Securely gaze upon his lovely Face Live in the Sun-shine his fair Eyes do cast Follow my Love and near my Heaven be plac'd But what if he should see through my Disguise Tho Love they say is blind yet Hate has Eyes Wretched Dorinda every way thour' t lost Was ever poor unhappy Maid so crost Well from my Love you too unkindly flye The Nymphs will chide you Sylvio when I dye I 'm the last Conquest too you e're will make For none of 'em will Love you for my sake Wearied and tir'd I grow so faint I 'le try If I can sleep in yonder brake I 'le lye If they can fleep that Love so much as I. Exit Enter Sylvio with Linco and other Shepherds a Bores Head being carry'd before him in Tryumph the Shepherds Sing Oh glorious Youth true Child of Hercules That kilst with ease such Monstrous Beasts as these Lynco Oh glorious Conquerour by whom lyes slain The terrour of th' Arcadian plain This is the famous Trophy Noble Toyle Of him whom we our Demi-god must stile Extol his great Name Shepherds and this day Keep ever Solemn ever Holy-day The Shepherds Sing Oh glorious Youth true Child of Hercules That Kilst with ease such Monstrous Beasts as these Lynco Oh glorious Youth who didst despise thy own For others safeties Sylv. All that I have done Was but my duty Vertue climbs her Throne By these steep Staiâ—…s and the high Gods have set Danger and Toyle before her Pallace Gate The Shepherds Song Thanks Conquerour to thee nâ—… more shall the Clown Be scar'd from the Plough and the Tillage lay down He shall Sow the plump Seed from Earths pregnant Womb Expect the wisht fruit when the Season is come No more shall the Shepherds be frightned away The Nymphs and their Loves in the Forrests shall play Chor. No more shall the Shepherds c. Lync Such peradventure was the famous Bore Alcides slew yet so thy glory 's more 'T is thy first labour but his third But with wild Beasts thy Infant Valour playes To kill worse Monsters in thy riper dayes Sylv. But stay I see unless my eyes mistake A greyish thing at Couch in yonder brake Sure some wilde Beast most certainly 't is one More Tryumphs still my Victories to Crown Direct this Arrow by thy power Divine And Cynthia the devoted head is thine Sylvio draws an Arrow and shoots at which Lynco and some of the other Shepherds go out Sylv. What have I done what have my Eyes beheld In a Beasts skin I have a Shepherd kill'd Sylvio an end to all thy Tryumphs give Throw down thy Weapons and inglorious live Enter Lynco and the former Shepherds leading in Dorinda bleeding as wounded with an Arrow Lync Lean gently on my Arm. Dorin May I not know Sylv. Dâ—…rinda Dorin To what hand my death I owe Lynco To Sylvio's Dorin Must I Sylvio's Martyr prove Sylv. How ill poor Nymph have I repaid thy Love Dor. Kill'd by so dear a hand Sylv. How can I gaze On so much ruine dare I see that Face And live No flye thy guilt flye thy disgrace Yet something holds me and would make me run To her whom I of all the world did shun Dorin Why do you look so wildly do not start At what you 've done if you have struck my heart It was your own and that can be no â—…ault Those hands to wound me your fair Eyes have taught Sylv. Run Lincâ—… flye and bring some quick relief Bring all your help Friends Arts to save her Life Fly as you value my Eternal Bliss Exit Linco Dorin This Care is wondrous kind indeed it is But now I fear it comes too late Sylv. Too late Divert ye Gods this bloody Scene of Fate And save her Life or I must ever howle Horrors and Hell will haunt my tortur'd soul Dorin Wipe your dear Eyes this grief I cannot see You are too good to be disturb'd for me But if you think my death a fault has been Let me enjoyn the pennance for your sin When I am dead dear Sylvio do but come Once in a day and visit my cold Tomb. And when you see the pretty Garlands hung About my Grave to shew I dy'd so young And think how the bewailing Nymphs all meâ—… With trembling hands the Cypress branches set And mixt the flowers their tender Eyes all wet When you shall read upon the little Stone Here lyes Dorinda by her Love undâ—…ne And o're my dust the weeping Marble see Then with a sigh you will remember me Sylv. Remember thee is this weak Tribute all That I must pay for thy unhappy â—…all Doâ—…in And is not this enough Will you do more Then sigh for my poor sake nay then you shall weep too And mouâ—…n for me as I have done for you Say will you not Sylv. Is that all I can pay A Pious Mourner at your Grave I 'le stay And on your Marble weep my Life away Why could our meeting Souls no sooner joyne Now dear Dorinda I am intirely â—…hine Dorind Then I 'le dye pleas'd if Death hath made you mine Sylv. Must so much goodness dye when thou aâ—…t dead And all that 's dear on Earth's for ever fled Thus o're thy Dust I 'le hang my drooping Head Dorin But will you wish I were alive agen Sylv. More then for Heaven Dorind But would you love me then Sylv. More than the Saints love Bliss I 'de be all thine No Constancy no Faith no Love like mine Dorind With Joy before I could my Life resign But Death will now but little welcome find Now I 'de fain live to hear you speak thus kind Enter Lynco and Dameta Sylv. Oh save her Life with hers redeem my Fate to Da. Restore
her Heaven but if I pray too late If Faith on Earth the Gods above regard With Constellations and with Crowns reward No common Coronet's reserv'd for thee In Heav'n in Hell no common pains for me Exeunt The End of the Fourth Act. ACT the fifth SCENE the Temple of Diana Amaryllis appears bound with Guards of Shepherds attending with a Heads-man and an Axe Enter to her Mirtillo who kneels to her Amar. MIrtillâ—… rise this posture does not fit My dying state And though our Sex admit Such humble Tribute in their Pomp and Pride Now I must lay that Vanity aside Mirt. If so much Innocence must bleed and all sh' unaiding Gods can see such Virtue fall Where all my Vows and all my Prayers are due Be not offended if thus low I bow You are a part of Heav'n and 't is my Duty now Amar. Mirtillo do not chide me when I own I grieve in death we two must part so soon Mirt. Oh my charm'd Ears dear Excellence go on Amar. Had Life been mine I hâ—…d kept this secret hid But Modestys strict Laws sure can't â—…orbid To own my kindness now Yet if it be A fault my dear Mirtillo to impart The tender secrets of a dying heart I shall be quickly punisht for my sin That Tongue that utters it ne're speaks agin And you 'l soon see in Scarlet currents flow That blood that blushes when I tell you so Mirt. What divine Raptures from this sweetness flow But after all these blessings must you dye Never was happiness wound up so high To break so soon Amar. Since I have gone thus far I can't but let you all my weakness hear By a feign'd Plot the false Corisca laid Into that fatal Cave I was betray'd To have found Sylvâ—…o false and enter'd in By the just forfeit of his Faithless sin To break the Fetters I was doom'd to wear And so recall my Vows to pay 'em here Mirt. Now t' all this dazeling kindness hear From me the barbarous return I made I too was to that fatal Cave betray'd I saw you enter in and my blind Jealousie By false Corisâ—…as Arts was rais'd so high That my Accurst misguided soul had fram'd Those black and hideous thoughts for which 't is daâ—…'d I went to find a Base-born Shepherd there Divinely good and excellently fair Now judge if in the race of man there be A Devil such as I or Saint like thee Amar. Mirtillo 't was unkind 't was much unkind Mirt. Is that the harshest name that you can find Why was I made the Monster of Man-kind Suspect such Innocence such goodness doubt No Infidel but I durst harbour such a thought Just Heav'n by your wing'd Lightning let me burn And fall a Funeral Taper at her Urn. Amar. Hold unkind Sir Mirt. Let me go on What Curse too great can be For that Infernal Slave that Murders thee Amar. As I â—…orgive you Sir and may Heav'n too No sarther this unpleasing style purâ—…ue Mirt. Must I be silent then Amar. Yes Sir you shall To our unhappy Stars impute my fall Mirt. Oh Miracle of Goodness Amar. And if e're You truely Loved let your calm looks appear This as I 'm dying sure you can't deny 'T is worse to bear your horrours than to dye Mirt. Divinest of thy Sex thou art obey'd I 'le summon all my Courage to my aid Enter Corisca. Corisca here Corisc. The Priest within and the chief Ministers Are feasting Heav'n with Sacrifice and Pray'rs The place is saâ—…e and I may speak Her Guards Keep distance and I shall not be o're-heard Mirt. Dares thy Accursed Face Corisc. What dismal Prologue 's there aside No Sir it is my kindness brings me here I come to save her Life Mirt. Wilt thou protect her Life and clear her Fame Cor. I will Mirt. Then I 'le raise Altars to thy Name Corisc. When I betray'd you Mirt. I forgive the sin Name it no more thou art all white agen Save but her Life and in immortal Charms I 'le Live for ever Corisc. Hold. Not in her Arms. Mirt. What do I hear Corisc. Unseal your blinded Eyes I am that Nymph who for Mirtillo dyes And once my Rivals Murder had design'd But thanks to Heav'n I 've chang'd that bloody mind The Guilt 's all gone but yet the Love remains Mirtillo if in pitty to my pains You can be moved by a sad Virgins Prayer To save my Life by killing my Despair Your hand to me before this Altar give And Amaryllis for that Grace shall live Amar. Oh horrour what a killing sound is here Corisc. Nor for her safety think you pay so dear I rob you Sir of nothing She can ne're Be Yours the Bars that Destiny has thrown Betwixt your Loves have your vain hopes undone Amar. By her false Accusations let me dye If nothing but your Love my Life can buy That mighty sum do not too Prodigally pay That hour that takes Mirtilloes heart away My Death begins Then let it gently come Let me not sink in Tortures to my Tomb. Corisc. Oh my wrack'd heart Mirt. Oh my transported soul Was ever Love so true Corisc. Was ever Fool So Idle Yes embrace thy amorous Prize Fill thy fond Arms and glut thy greedy Eyes But know in one half hour thy darling dyes Mirt. Infernal Fiend Forgive me Angel was the word I meant Kneels to Corisca. Save but her Life and be my Tutelar Saint Enter Montano Ergasto Linco and several Shepherds and Priests in Procession singing SONG Sols Sister Daughter of great Jupiter That shin'st a second Sun in the first Sphear To the blind World Thou whose Life-giving and more temp'rate ray Thy Brothers burning fury does allay Ah pitty thy Arcadia and that rage Thou dost in others in thy self asswage Mirt. Once more your sacred Voyces all Unite And once agen invoke the Queen of Night Second SONG Where 's artless Innocence and guiltless Loves If they are Banisht the Arcadian Groves Fair Cynthia though late Pitty the Ruins of a World Create In us true Honour Virtue 's all the State Great souls should keep To these poor Cells return Which were thy Courts but now thy absence mourn From their dead sleeps awake All those Lethargick Infidels Who following their corrupted Wills Thee and the glory of the ancient World forsake Mirt. To what dire Prodigies does sin give Birth The Goddess sweats cold drops of blood the Earth Is Palsie shook the sacred Cavern houls With such unwonted sounds as tortur'd souls Send out of Graves Our blasted Victims show Our Ills too plain and our Revenge too slow Mirt. These Prodigies by angry Heav'n are sent To prove this perjur'd Beauty Innocent Mistake not Holy Sir When Justice strikes and suffering Criminals dye The Gods look smiling and serene their Sky These horrors all from Innocent blood arise Heaven's only Clouded when the guiltless dyes Corisc. How guiltless would she were Then these chast Groves Had never been profaned with impious Loves Her Insamy had