and I must part And where I must resign my latest breath Then farewel life and welcome sweetest death To prisoners freedom to the weary rest Comfort to th' sad and ease to the opprest who 'd then indure such worlds of miseries When life 's but pain and death no more but this Now now I dye yet Love lives in me still Falls As if what Love does wound Death durst not kill Who doubt then whether thou immortal art O mighty Love could they but see my heart And bosom here where thou canst never dye It would assert thy immortality Enter Pamphilus Pam. Bless me amongst what a generation of Nymphs am I fallen here who are all so precise and pure as when they come but where men are they take the wind of 'um for fear of being got with child as Spanish Ginnets are and when they go away brush themselves carefully from the dust for fear of a spice of fornication ever since they understood that man 's but made of dust Ha! what have we here a Nymph a sleep ah pretty rogue have I caught you napping she sleeps as snug and soundly as a young sucking pig you can scarce perceive her breath what a great blessing is a sleeping woman for they 'l lie quietly yet methinks I shud know her Enter Lydia Lyd. No news of her yet 't is strange but who is here my goblin agen what 's that he looks so wistly at I wonder a Nymph asleep for modesties sake I 'le wake her out alas 't is she and dead help help the glory of Our Hamlets here the pride of all our plains Grace of the Nymphs delight of all the Swains Our Isles chief ornament Filena's dead The gentlest Nymph as Cyprus ever bread Exit Pam. How is she dead what a beast was I then to let her go for I 'me sure she was alive Enter Lydia agen with Polydor and Guards Pol. A Nymph dead in our wood it cannot be here are no Savage Beasts and much less men so barbarous and savage to kill and murther 'um where is she Lyd. There Pol. Alas 't is she indeed how came she dead d' ye know Lyd. Not I onely in this posture I found her and that stranger by her there Pol. Oh I know him and have cause to suspect considering his former misdemeanors here that he 's the likeliest man to have murther'd her seize on him and let him be examined Pam. So now am I finely serv'd for hunting after wenches to be catcht my self instead of catching them and like to be hang'd for it for ought I see well if I be my comfort is I 'm not the first man that wenching has brought unto the Gallows nor am like to be the last Enter Amaranthe with the other Nymphs Am Where is she where is she stand from about her there Pam. So wou'd I with all my heart if I cu'd get away Am. She is not dead but onely intranc't Pam. Marry and I 'm but little better Am. You 'l see with this cool water she 'l strait revive again Pam. And hot water will scarce bring me to my self again Mel. Take my tears too if water can only do 't Lyd. And mine Clo. And mine Mel. And all of ours to boot Enter Palemon Pol. O Palemon welcome I sent for you by order of Theotimus to let you know strange news of Bellinda Pal. I fear I am but too familiar with it already they whisper Am. See she begins to stir And opens her eyes I told you their fair light Was but ecclipst and not extinguisht quite Pol. Then you may let him go Pam. Marry and I 'le be gone then as fast as I can and flye the land too before I 'le be put in such a fright again Exit Fil. Where am I in what Region of the dead not in hell sure for there are far more horrid visions then are here nor yet in heaven for there agen are far more glorious ones where am I then An. She thinks she 's dead still Fil. Ha Palemon here nay then I see Love takes delight still in tormenting me And there 's some middle place 'twixt Heaven and Hell Where wretched Lovers such as I do dwell Where sh'ud I go to flye the sight of men And where to flye Loves fires and arrows when Where e're I go just like the wounded Dear I flye in vain that which I carry here Exit Am. Go follow her and look carefully unto her Her wandring minde you 'l see will come anon unto its self when her amazement 's gone Pal. Whate're it be methinks there 's somewhat here Whispers remorse and chides me as it were For my unkindness and stern cruelty Unto this Nymph who thus wo'd dye for me But as loud windes won't let us hear the soft And gentle voice of others so the thought Of dying for Bellinda will not let Me hear its voice nor hearken to it yet Enter Diophantes Dio. O noble youth whose famous memory Shall never be forgot or ever be remembred without praise Pal. What news brings Diophantes he 's so transported with it Dio. Thât which had I a thousand tongues to tell Or you a thousand ears to hear wou'd well Deserve them all Soon as 't was rumored Bellinda must dye for having falsified The sacred Oath but this stranger instantly Offered himself with such alacrity to dye for her as Love ne're gain'd so glorious a victory nor ever so triumpht over death before Pal. Oh me if this be so I shall become th' derision and the scorn of every one and was his offer accepted Dio. That you know by th' Laws here co'd not be refus'd him Pal. How Ha's he prevented me but do I stand Senseless and stupid as I were dead here and Had not a life to lose as well as he No generous stranger whosoe're thou be Since thou wert born my Rival thou shalt prove I 'le rival thee in Death as well as Love Exit Pol. I fear the event of this Am. And so do I But wherefore is Bellinda doom'd to dye Pol. For perjury and falshood whilst she swore She lov'd one here being betroath'd before unto that stranger there Am. All thât may be Without forswearing yet and perjury For what if he she swore she lov'd be he she was betroath'd unto Pol. That cannot be For she was in the sacred Cell 't is clear Long time before he e're arrived here In Sequestration separated from Society of all mean time her tongue Charm'd silent and eyes blinded as they were How co'd she see or know that he was here Dio. Are you convinced yet Am. No not alwayes they Convinced are who know not what to say For my part until farther proof shall shew Her guilty I shall ne're believe her so For just as Images in Tapestry Do all appear distorted and awry Until they 're fully explicate and then We see they appear all right and streight agen So shê we now think guilty we may finde Innocent
her and me For 't is not hers but my inconstancy If I can think her false when I do know Falshood wo'd even be truth if she were so And nature of things quite change rather then she What she has been shu'd ever cease to be Enter Palemon Pal. Oh fortunate Palemon and the more The more unfortunate thou wert before And happy pains happy affliction From which such pleasure and such joys do come Now I perceive there 's none can better tell What heaven is then who first have past through hell Methinks great conquerors who in triumph come charg'd with the spoils of conquerd nations home Are but the Types of me who in triumph go To th' Temple to enjoy Bellinda now Exiturus Phi. Death If I can suffer this I shall deserve it Pray stay Sir for you have another victory to gain and enemy I 'de have you know to overcome before you triumph so Pal. What victory d' ye mean what enemy Phi. Why I my self and the victory over me for know Bellinda's mine and I her Lover Pal. You did you not say you were her brother Phi. I but that was onely a disguise put on to hide what thên was fit shu'd not be known Pal. Why this does take all faith away from you For eith'r 't was true or false you said before If true why then 't is false you tell me now If false there 's no believing of you more Phi. This fine Dilemma wo'd serve prettily i th' School but not i th' Field where it must be Somewhat of finer temper then your words Must make Bellinda yours I mean our Swords Layes hand on 's Sword Pal. I pray Sir hold and e're you go so far consider but a little where we are here in Love's Kingdom in a peaceful place where never any strife or quarrel was but onely loving ones Phi. And is not ours for Love too Pal. If it be let Love decide it are you content to put it to his Tribunal and Arbitrement Phi. That 's a way poor and low spirits findes This is the Tribunal and Arbitrement of mighty mindes Draws 'T were folly in me to refer my Cause Unto my enemies Tribunal and Laws Pal. Fortune as well as Love 's your enemy Of her as well as Love you fear'd shu'd be Phi. For Love already he 's declar'd my foe What Fortune yet may do I do not know I 'le try at least my comfort is I can Not be in worse condition then I am Cast down so low it is not in the power Of Love or Fortune e're to cast me lower Enter Polydor. Pol. What 's here a quarrel tow'rds Our peace disturb'd and their offensive Swords Th' uncivil Arbitrers of civil strife Already drawn threatning each others life Our guards where are they there Exit hastily Phi. We are discry'd Before they come our quarrel let 's decide Pal. Do and you 'l see how they but bluntly fight Who first consider not their Causes right Whilst those who well consider it before Have but their courages whetted by 't the more Phi. And unto me considering is but like The weak opposing of some bank or dike Unto some torrents rage which more y'oppose more raging and impetuous it grows They fight Enter Polydor with Guards and parts them Pol. Hold hold I charge you in Loves name or else We are to seize your weapons and your selves Phi. What violence is this Pol. Your self 's the cause who first have violate Loves peaceful Laws Phi. Then in Loves Kingdom here shall Lovers be Depriv'd both of their Loves and Liberty Pol. What Love d' ye mean Phi. Bellinda who is my betroathed Pol. How she your betroathed Phi. I all Crete can witness it Pol. If this be so y 'ave too much witness here already and you 've discovered a secret which now 't is known May prove Bellinda's ruine and your own Pal. O heavens now I remember me by another Law who e're doth falsifie the sacred Oath are instantly to dye sacrific'd to th' offended Deity But e're it comes to that my life shall pay the forfeiture of hers Pol. Come let 's away Palemon you 've your cliâmber for prison you Sir must along with me unto Theotimus to be examin'd Pal. I obey you Phi. And I obey necessity Exeunt Manet Palemon Pal. VVell Fortune thou giddy Goddess if Bellinda be to dye And thou hast onely rais'd me up so high To cast me down with greater force I 'le fall So gallantly and bravely yet as all Shall say at least how e're unfortunate Palemon yet deserv'd a better fate Enter Amaranthe in haste with other Nymphs Am. Run run and seek her all about or she 's but dead and when y 'ave found her out bring me word presently as you love her life VVas never a more unfortunate maid and wife Exeunt Nymphs several wayes Pal. What busie haste is this Am. What are you there flye flye Palemon or the Nymphs will tear you in pieces Pal. Why Am. For killing the gentlest maid eye ever saw or Cyprus ever had Pal. What maid d' ye mean Am. Filena Pal. Why is she dead Am. Dead dead kill'd by your cruelty And see poor soul what she does write to me She reads Filena's Letter Pardon me Amaranthe for having taken the poison unknown unto you and deceiv'd you once in my life rather then you shu'd deceive me in my death Commend me to Palemon and tell him that as I liv'd in hope of his love so now I dye for despair of it and let him aster I am dead but wish me rest and I shall rest in peace FILENA Am. And so I hope thou do'st fair gentle maid or th' Gods shu'd else be most unkinde and cruel shu'd they not to thee grant that rest in death which thou in life didst want Now you who for cruelty surpass The cruel'st savage Beast that ever was Some Tyger bore thee sure or thou wert bred With Tygers milk at least and nourished If thou who art the cause of all canst hear This and not vent a sigh nor shed a tear Pal. As for my sighing and my weeping that Is an expression too effeminate Onely for single losses such as mine Requires expressions far more masculine Where grief and sorrows are redoubled For dying Bellinda and Filena dead Exit Am. What 's that Bellinda dying does he say Sure Love and death have chang'd their darts to day and there 's some Planet reigns will kill us all but I forget Filena Enter a Nymph Oh now I shall hear news of her well have you found her Mel. No but Lydia sayes sh'ave trac't her footsteps to the sacred Grove Am. Take a cruise presently Of purest water then and follow me Yet there is hope I may retard her fate And save her life which Love does make her hate Finis Actus quarti ACTUS 5. Filena Sola The Scene a Wood or Boscage Filena THe poison now 's arriv'd unto my heart The place assign'd where life
her you took from her before For all the Isle knows 't was Filena who Enkindled the first sparks of Love in you Till haplesly for both Bellinda came And after rais'd those sparks unto a flame And holy Vestals ne're with greater care Preserve their fires then we Loves fire's air Enkindling one straight in anothers room Pal. In tepid hearths fires kindle not so soon The. Call not that tepid where late such a fire Did burn ne're any in Cyprus flamed higher Pal. But Loves fires once extinguisht leave hearts more Tepid and cold then e're they were before The. Come don't dispute for I 'm to be obey'd And now but look upon this gentle maid And tell me truly did you ever see A fairer or a sweeter Nymph then she One for whose love there 's not a gentle Swain In all the Land but sighs and sighs in vain And she to love you and to love you so She willingly would dye for love of you What cleansing water or what purging flame Can expiate your not loving her again Fi. Fall all the fault on this devoted head Rather then blame him for 't wou'd I were dead 'T is my unworthiness and no fault of his He does not love if any fault there is The. Yet obstinate as you are are you not mov'd To love again where y' are so dearly lov'd Pal. These vaults and walls built for eternity Love's Temple shall be sooner mov'd then I The. Nay then 't is needful we apply I see Our utmost and extreamest remedy Lest the contagion o' th' example shu'd Nourish bad humors and corrupt the good Let him to th' desart Island straight be led Whither all Loves Rebels are banished Pal. Unto what place so e're I am confin'd I may change place but cannot change my mind But stay what sudden earthquakes this I feel Makes the walls totter and foundations reel o' th' Temple here The. 'T is well 't is a good sign Love who moves stones will move that heart of thine More hard then they and see O wondrous sight The Temples fill'd with unaccustom'd light And love with flaming brand amidst it flyes Illuminating with it all the skies Now rebel as thou art thou soon shalt know Whether Love's God have any power or no. Pal. Just as some gentle gale does fan the fire There 's somewhat here within that does inspire My breast and now't increases more and more Till that which onely was a spark before Does by degrees so mighty a flame become As I am all but one incendium O Love to whom all bosoms must submit I feel thy mighty hand and reverence it The. Just so Phaebus the Delphick God inspires The Pythonesses breast with sacred fires Onely the God of Love more mildly burns And ' stead of raging unto sweetness turns Chorus sings So gentle Love does all command In fire and water air and land And all with his commands inspire In Land and water aire and fire Pal. And can you pardon me Fi. I can pardon any thing in my Palemon but onely his doubting whether I can or no. And for the rest Account my self by Love most highly blest Who payes debts best the longer he forbears T' have all my morning sighs and evening tears My daily griefs and nightly sorrows past Rewarded thus abundantly at last They embrace Pal. My dear Filena Fi. My dearest dearest Palemon The. Enough enough leave your embraces till At fitter season you may take your fill Of such delicious pleasures and contents Such sweet delights such joyes and ravishments No heart can e're conceive no tongue express The thousandth part of their deliciousness To Phi. and Bel. Now see and wonder these are Lovers too This is the least of miracles Love can do Phi. Noble Palemon I congratulate Your and the fair Filena's happy fate Pal. And I noble Philander rejoyce no less At your and fair Bellinda's happiness The. Never was more abundant joy and now To th' paradice of happy Lovers go Where with redoubled flames Love's God does prove Whose hearts are most capacious of love And then with all becoming rites and state When once your marriages are celebrate Philander you and fair Bellinda may At your best pleasure either go or stay Exeunt Manet Evander to whom Pamphilus enters Pam. And what shall we do Evan. I for my part since there 's so much joy and happiness in marriage resolve first to go home and dispose of all I have and after come and marry here Pam. Promise you so won't I if there be no wenches nor wenching businesses here it is no place for me wherefore my word is Come here no more Ev. And mine is Come agen Pam. I 'm sure I shall have the greatest part of my opinion Ev. And I all the nobler and the better And now let 's see which number is the greater FINIS Filena's Song of the commutation of Love's and Death's Darts In the narrative Style LOve and Death o' th' way once meeting Having past a friendly greeting Sleep their weary Eye-lids closing Lay them down themselves reposing Love whom divers cares molested Could not sleep but while Death rested All in haste away he postes him But his haste full dearly costs him For it chanc't that going to sleeping Both did give their darts in keeping Unto Night who Errors mother Blindly knowing not one from t'other Gave Love Death 's and ne're perceiv'd it Whilst as blindely Love receiv'd it Since which time their Darts confounding Love now kills instead of wounding Death our hearts with sweetness filling Gently wounds instead of killing Another Song CElia weeps and those fair eyes Which sparkling Diamonds were before Whose precious brightness none could prize Dissolves into a pearly showre Celia smiles and straight does render Her fair Eyes Diamonds again Which after shine with greater splendor As the Sun does after rain Now if the reason you would know Why Pearls and Diamonds fall and rise Their prices just go high or low As they are worn in Celia's Eyes FINIS A Short DISCOURSE OF THE English Stage A SHORT DISCOURSE OF THE English Stage To his Excellency the Lord Marquess of NEW CASTLE My Noble Lord I Send your Excellency here a short Discourse of the English Stage which if you pleas'd you could far better treat of then my self but before I begin it I will speak a word or two of thôse of other Countreys About the midst of the last Century Playes after a long discontinuance and civil death in a manner began to be reviv'd again first in Italy by Guarino Tasso de Porta and others and afterwards in Spain by Lopes de Vega the French beginning later by reason of their Civil Wars Cardinal Richlieu being the first that brought them into that Vouge and Esteem as now they are well knowing how much the Acting noble and heroick Playes conferr'd to the instilling a noble and heroick Spirit into the Nation For ûs we began before them and if since they seem to have
this from me your Nymphs are bashful and so cautious too they will not seem to love although they do and 'twod appear a miracle to me she shu'd not feel love who makes so many feel it or that her heart shu'd resist that alone was never yet resisted by any one But there 's I fear some farther misery in 't and the gods are highly offended w' ye or they 'd ne're inflict on you as they do so heavy a punishment to love one who neglects you and the while to neglect one so dearly loves ye and see where she does come Enter Filena Fi. Where shu'd this Nymph be she 's not at home nor in the sacred Grove and 't is too soon to go to th' Temple yet Pol. Well I 'le leave you Pal. What will you go and leave me alone then Pol. How can I leave you better accompanied Pal. In company of one I hate Pol. In company of one who dearly loves you and for your hate to her in these pretty skirmishes there is no fear of danger for now y' are foes and then the peace is made and you are friends agen and so I leave you Exit Pal. What shall I do she has spy'd me and there 's no avoiding her I 'de best dissemble then and by one importunity avoid another Gentle Filena well met Fi. Kinde looks aside that guild the sun-shine as that guilds the day Kinde words whose ravishing sweetness melts into my heart at sun-shine of those looks of his how I 'me o'rejoyed with them Pal. I have a suit unto you Fi. And I another to you Pal. To me fye fye Nymphs sue to men Fi. Why not Palemon here where Love 's not onely Love but Vertue too it no wayes misbeseems a Nymph to wooe But what 's your suit you may be sure that I am too much yours Palemon to deny you any thing Pal. You know Filena how much I love Bellinda and how much I long to know if she loves me which you can tell me best are confident of all the secrets of her breast Fi. Some secrets she confides to me 't is true but of her Love I know no more then you for that 's a warfare where each one 's a spy and every rival is an enemy She 'd ne're trust me with 't then whom she does know am both a Lover and her Rival too Pal. Howe're Filena you do know at least those softer minuts when Nymphs minds are best dispos'd for the impressions of Love in one of those then prethee do but move my Suit unto her especially before she goes to th' Temple when she must needs be more dispos'd then ever and thou shu'dst infinitely oblige me by so dear a courtesie D' ye hear Fi. I do and will you hear me now Pal. If y 'ave any new thing to say I will but of old businesses I pray no more Fi. That can't be old that 's every day renew'd Pal. And how can that be new I pray that needs renovation every day But of this enough prethee Filena go and if you love me as you say you do know now 's best time to shew 't for Love's best shown by doing their wills we love before our own Fi. Well then to shew how much how dearly I love you I will go and though Love a burthen be which two hearts equally shu'd bear and then 't is sweet and light But when once all the weight lyes upon one alone a grievous and intollerable one my heart shall bear it yet and ne're repine or else I 'le not acknowledge it to be mine Pal. That 's bravely and nobly resolv'd Fi. But is there no hope no pitty for Filena Pal. To deal ingeniously w' ye and not abuse you with civility There 's pitty but no hope for Bellinda has all my stock of Love and consequently for loving any other has rendred me so poor as I can dye but I can love no more Fi. Since you are so resolv'd Palemon know Filena too can dye as well as you and be assur'd that the same messenger brings news Palemon does Bellinda wed shall carry back the news Filena's dead Pal. Soft soft Filena for I 'de have you know to th' thing call'd dying there goes more then so and every Coward is valiant enough to talk of death but when it comes to th' proof their hearts do fail as yours no doubt will too wherefore dear Filena I 'le be gone and shall not fear to leave you here alone spoken scornfully â—xit Fi. Cruel Palemon is 't not enough that thou refusest me but thou must scorn me too This is not to be endur'd one nobly born can better suffer injury then scorn but what do I say wretch as I am or how com these high thoughts in one that 's faln so low I 'me now engag'd what ever does befall and those who are slaves to Love must suffer all Exit Enter Pamphilus looking after her Pam. Hey whurr there boults another wench the Warren's all full of them and I like a good Tumbler am ready to throw my self after every one and see here coms another alone too Enter Amarantha this opportunity is the shell that Love is hatched of and the Nymphs here just like young Lapwings run away with 't on their heads you shall see how I 'le accoast her now Fair Nymph might I be so bold I pray to request the time o' th' day of you Am. Oh Sir with all my heart it shall be any time o th' day you please for me I 'le not stick w' ye for half an hour or so Pa. Lo ye there now there 's ne're a sextons wife in all Cyprus co'd answer ye more courteously a kinde Wench I 'le warrant her Let 's see what 's next now Pox on 't I better know what to do with wenches then what to say to them and we Complementers of the first head when w' are past our legs faces are past the greatest part of our discourse It shall be so and how have you done I faith since I saw you last Am. Right and methodical how d' ye and what 's a clock I 'le wager now next is what news or somewhat about the weather the ordinary discourse of those who can discourse of nothing and when was 't I pray you saw me last Pam. Why in Plato's great year don't you remember it I do as perfectly as if 't were but to day by the same token meeting you just as I do now I took you by the hand and kissing it led you just into such another Grove as this Am. Just no such matter pray stay a little sure you don't remember well Pam. Most perfectly by the same token I saluted you too She puts him by Am. I knew you were quite wide not me I 'le assure you Pam. You can't deny 't I 'me sure Am. Indeed Sir but I can Pam. And thereupon I told you that having so fair opportunity but lose it you 'd never have
the like agen Am. Opportunity for what Pam. Nay if you know not that we shal never have done com leave dissembling I know you Nymphs here are all so learned as your husbands can teach you nothing on the marriage-night but what you knew before Am. Bless me I never heard man talk thus wildely Pam. And how first time you went abroad after fifteen when you return'd agen you found y 'ad left your gloves handkercher and maidenhead with some such odd toyes behinde you Am. Wilder and wilder still I begin to be afraid of him pray let me go is this discourse for Maids Pam. I as good a Milkmaid as my Nurse I 'le warrant you but stay she may be one perhaps and that 't is makes her so shie and timerous for maids apprehend the loss of a maidenhead as fearfully as the loss of an arm or leg and imagine they shall be maim'd forever after Come come ne're fear I perswade you to nothing but what I will do w' ye my self for company Am. I 'me more and more afeard of him I wo'd some body wo'd come to rid me of him and see in happy time here 's some and yonder 's more now I may be Some pass over the Stage as merry with him as he ha's been with me Cry mercy Sir now I remember this Plato's great year you talk of as perfectly Pam. Oh do you so I knew you could not forget it Am. By the same token Theotimus chief Governour of the Isle past by with a numerous train just as we were alone together Pam. Yonder I think he comes indeed Am. When I made bold to ask you one question Sir Pam. What was that Am. Why whether you lov'd dancing or no Ham. Oh exceedingly Am. Right so you told me and thereupon I said he 'd help you then to a certain spritely instrument to dance after call'd a whip a whip d' ye hear Sir worth a hundred of your Kits and Violins to make such gallants as your self to frisk and caper Pam. Umh I remember nothing of all this now but be shrew me next Plato's great year I fear I shall indeed ' less I get me gone the sooner Am. Nay hark ye hark ye Sir Pray don't go yet now I remember me I can tell ye what time o' th' day 't is too Pam. As for that I know it now I thank you it is time for me to get me gone as I take it Exit Am. Why then farewel my Platonick Philosopher and Anteplatonick Lover Enter Theotimus Chorus of Musicians and young Virgins Polydor Evander Diophantes Palemon c. The Song sung by a Bass Tenor and Treble Chorus sings Prais'd be the Deities above Ten. We love Bass. We lov'd Treb. And we shall love Cho. O ye blest immortal Powers Grant this happy Land of ours 1. Pure fires 2. Pure fewel Cho. All things pure And that our flames may ever dure The. Now Children in a word to tell what noble Love is mark me well it is the counterpoise that mindes to fair and vertuous things inclines it is the gust we have and sence of every noble excellence it is the pulse by which we know whether our souls have life or no and such a soft and gentle fire as kindles and inflames desire until it all like Incense burns and unto melting sweetness turns Ev. Whose heart melts not within his breast at hearing this The. Who 's that Dio. A noble stranger come hither on devotion unto Love's sacred Shrine The. He 's welcome Evan. kisses his hands Pal. Somewhat more then this to boo't by experience I can adde unto 't Love is a union of all we happy and unhappy call a mixture where together meet both pleasing pain and bitter sweet the greatest joy and greatest woe a mortal breast can ever know to shew its great disparity in fair Bellinda and in me in her face 't is a paradice where all delicious pleasure lies and in my heart it is a hell where all your worst of torments dwell Th. Once more y' are welcom now set forwards and with all the pomp and ceremony you may proceed to Celebration of the day Exeunt Manent Theotimus and Polydor. The. Polydor stay you you 're Loves Inquisitor look well unto your charge we hear there are besides Atheists who impious deny Love's sacred Power and Authority and Libertines whose vicious lives are such as they profane the Deity as much new Heresies in Love sprung up of late Platonicks Scepticks dangerous to the State e're they take deeper root and farther spread be it your care to see 'um extirpated Pol. It shall most reverend Sir The. Other abuses there are beside 'gainst which we must most carefully provide as talking of Cupid so familiarly as if he were some vulgar Deity and making Love the business and employ of every idle Girle and wanton Boy taking of every fond desire for it whilst difference 'twixt them is as infinite as 'twixt folly and wisdom vertue and vice or deep abyss and highest Paradice This must be lookt unto Pol. As 't is most fit The. Is the Nymph summon'd to the temple yet Pol. 'T is not time yet till the sixth hour be past The. When 't is be it your care to summon her and see that all be ready for the Solemnity This day peculiarly Love is thine work miracles and shew thy self divine Finis Actus primi ACTUS 2. Bellinda sola The Scene a Wood or Boscage Bellinda YE aged Oaks the semi-gods abodes and who your selves in ancient times were Gods and solitary Woods whose walks and shade Lovers so oft their confidents have made whilst never did your walks nor shades disclose either a Lovers joyes or Lovers woes You I dare trust with secrets which I ne're durst trust with any since my coming here I love but Oh! if any list'ning ear shu'd have o'reheard me now as 't is my fear And see where this inquisitive Nymph do's come Wo'd she were deaf or else that I 'de been dumb Enter Filena Fi. I faith I faith I 'me glad I 've found you Bell. Why Fi. For now 't is clear you love Bell. How so 't is as I fear'd she has o'reheard me Aside Fi. These very trees and woods declare it aside Bel. Ay me this 't is to trust ones minde with trees whose leaves whisper with every wind with woods whose very walks shades have ears and babbling Eccho that tells all it hears Fi. She fears 't is a good sign I le urge her further your solitude and retirement too confirms it for no Nymph here retir'd from company ever walks alone but Love is still gentle companion of her solitary thoughts Bell. If that be all 't is well Aside Fi. And why shu'd you with so much caution now conceal this from me as I did not know how Love did all things out of chaos make and all to chaos wo'd agen turn back If all things did not love from Gods and men to senseless
and inanimate things agen and what a monster shu'd Bellinda prove if onely she of all things did not love Bel. Of all the Nymphs that ever spoke with tongue this Nymph has Magick I must bless me from Fi. Where is the friendship y've so long profest to make me such a stranger to your breast Bel. Trust me dear friend if what you say be true I am more stranger to my breast then you Fi. See how you blush now when you tell me so Bel. Ay me mine own blushes betray me too What is it can be secret in a Lover when even their blushes do their Loves discover Fi. What and sigh too nay then you love 't is clear for but for Love none ever sighed here Bel. my sighs betray me too how many traytors have Lovers about them Aside Fi. But why shu'd yôu sigh you live happily and sighs are for the miserable such as I Palemon loves yôu and so loves you too as he even pines away for Love of you consumes with grief languishes with despair melts into tears and sighs himself to air faith give him some comfort e're you go unto the Temple sweet Bellinda do poor Youth he 's in so desperate estate I fear lest after it may come too late Bel. What greater comfort can he expect of me then that if any i' th' Isle I love 't is he Fi. Poor comfort that it shall be him alone if any i' th' Isle you love if you love none this is to mock his hopes and they deny rather then grant who promise doubtfully Bell. More Filena I neither will nor can give him until I go to th' Temple anon and there consult the Gods what I shu'd do Fi. Consult your own thoughts rather and your minde Bell. 'T is not easie as you think to finde the source and origin of our thoughts and minde of which t'one is so deep t'other so high as there are Opticks made to pierce the sky plummets to sound the bottom o' th' ocean but for to pierce and sound a heart there 's none Within Bellinda Bellinda Enter Polydor. Bell. Here who calls Pol. 'T is I. Fi. Gentle Polydor what news from th' Temple w' ye Pol. Nothing but onely all 's prepared there for th' grand solemnity and onely fair Bellinda's presence expected Bell. If 't be so let us away Pol. Soft 't is not time to go this hour yet Bell. And that a day will seem to be a moneth a year a very age to me Exit joyfully Pol. D' ye think she knows Fi. I know not let 's divine and joyn your observations to mine D' ye mark with how great joy away she went none goes so chearfully to banishment Pol. But if her body 's here and mind elsewhere 't is she does banish us and not we her Fi. Well if she love I wonder at her art can carry fire so smother'd in her heart as none nor by the flame nor smoak can know whether sh'ave any in her breast or no. Pol. And if she do not love agen then she of all the Nymphs I yet did ever see the most my admiration does move t' have so much beauty and so little love Fi. I 'le follow and observe her better Pol. Do and I 'le but stay awhile and follow you Exit Filena Enter Pamphilus Pam. That Wench that wench wo'd I give a limb for now though I halted to an Hospital for it and there are many have ventur'd as far for wenches as that comes to I must needs have her and hê here shall be my Agent in the business D' ye hear d' ye hear Sir a word with you I pray Pol. With me your pleasure Sir Pam. D' ye know that Nymph there Pol. Very well what then Pam. Why then I shu'd desire your better acquaintance for look ye suppose a man shu'd have a minde unto her Pol. A minde what minde Pam. Why a moneths minde or so Pol. Why then after a moneth you may be rid of 't Pam. I hope Sir you do not mock me Pol. Indeed Sir but I do you must pardon me Pam. 'T is well you confess it and ask my pardon I shu'd be very angry else I can tell you Pol. This is some simple stranger ignorant of our manners and customs rather meriting pitty then anger Aside aside Pam. He understands nothing but plain down-right language I see that calls every thing by its right name Well Sir since I perceive you are a little dull in plainer terms I 'de fain you understood me Whispers Pol. How Sir Pam. Even so Sir Pol. D' ye know where you are Pam. Why in Love's Kingdom where shu'd I be Pol. But not in Lusts remember that Pam. Pox a these nice distinctions that onely serve to break Dunces heads and keep Maidenheads so long till they are quite marr'd Come come I know no other love but what I 've told you Pol. Then you must be taught and learn other language too or else this Isle I can tell you will prove too hot for you Pam. Wo'd the Nymphs were not so cold and let the Isle be what it will Aside Pol. And now to instruct you a little better know that for all lewd and lascivious speeches we have a gentle punishment here called whipping Pam. Gentle d'ye call it Pol. And for fowl libidinousness an other excellent remedy call'd castrating that takes it clear away Pam. Clear with a witness bless me and all mine from it why this is cruel sir have you no regard then to peoples infirmities Pol. O yes a special one for your wild and unruly heats of youth w 'ave an admirable way of cooling 'um by marrying 'um unto old women of fourscore there 's a cooler for you Pam. A cooler with a vengeance ah ha it makes my teeth chatter in my head to think of it but sure sir y' are not in earnest all this while Pol. It seems sir you love to jest but look to 't and say y 'ad fair warning and so farewel Exit Pa◠Farewel quoth ye marry 't is time to bid farewel indeed if this be so whipping castrating and marrying to old women of fourscore a great consolation for a man that loves a wench but he said all this sure onely to fright me yet let him say what he will woo'd I had that wench say I. Enter Amaranthe Cloria Lydia Melissa c. Whow here comes a whole ocean of them now am I in my element and I shall wallow like a Porposs amongst them Am. What my Platonick Philosopher and Anteplatonick Lover agen Pam. 'Slid is she there I 'd best be gon then I 'm as feard of her as a dog is of a whip Am. What is he going I must needs have some sport with him before he goes Hark ye hark ye sir pray stay a little Pam. Now will she trappan me into a whipping I 'm sure yet I am such a fool I must needs tarry Am. These nymphs here wo'd be glad of your better
as ever I met withal that refus'd presents when they were offer'd her and I think will be the last This is a strange Countrey where a man can't get a wench neither for love nor money well I perceive this handling 'um with so much ceremony is that which spoils 'um and makes 'um so nice and ticklish there is no touching 'um women shu'd be handled like nettles but press them hard and you may do any thing with them and I 'le try that way with the next I meet Enter Filena Fil. I have bethought me of a way to dye and must go seek out Amaranthe's help Pam. Stay Lady a word with you I pray before you go Layes hold on her Fil. Was ever such a rudeness unhand me sir and know that Virgins are like sacred Reliques beheld with reverence but let men come to touch 'um once their reverence is gone what wou'd you with me Pam. What a question 's that when a man 's alone with a woman you may easily guess what he wou'd have with her Fil. Hence and avoid my sight for now I see How all that we call vicious is in thee Foul corrupter of honour as cankers of fairest flowers Shame of thy Sex dishonourer of ours Pam. Whow whow is the woman mad Fi. Avoid my sight I say thy glowing eyes like Basilisks will kill me else go and repent thee of thy crying sins Exit Pam. What are those I know no crying sins I have but mine own Bastards Well go thy wayes if e're thou marriest I 'le give thy husband this com̄fort he shall have no other issue of thee but nails and teeth if thou be'st such a Vixen Enter Evander and Diophantes Ev. Now Pamphilus what 's the matter that the Nymph is gone in such a rage away Pam. Nothing nothing onely I offer'd her the courtesie o th' Countrey and she refus'd it that is all Ev. Why then I see you need not multiply the Phenix to sum up all the Maidenheads you 'l leave in Cyprus before you have done with them Pam. Well well you do not know yet Ev. Yes but we do Sir more then you imagine of a certain Nymph you met in Plato's great year and how she entertain'd you Pam. ' Slid how comes he to know of that Ev. And of divers other encounters with them since when you could not desire to be better mockt and laught at then you were Dio. And now Sir pray as you finde our Nymphs here so report of them and know 't is not the way for men to gain them reputation here to make themselves more vicious then they are Pam. Nay if he chide once I 'me gone Ev. Y' are deceiv'd he chides you not but rather gives you good counsel Pam. That is as 't is taken 't is good councel to those who mean to follow it but to me 't is flat chiding and I 'le hear no more of it Ev. Nay pray Pam. Not I I swear Chide me who have liv'd like a Saint here and not toucht a Wench to day Exit Ev. But tarry a little Dio. No let him go I see he 's forfeited to vice and debauchery beyond redemption and such as he when vice is once turn'd nature ne're repent till they find their shame or feel their punishment Exeunt Enter Filena and Amaranthe meeting The Scene a Landskip or Paisage Fi. Amaranthe well met I 've sought you all about And co'd not rest until I 'de found you out You know whilst you and I the other day In yonder Mead beheld our young Lambs play One of them stragling from the rest we spy'd Fell down stretcht forth its tender limbs and dy'd In as short time as I 've been telling t' ye And wondring what the reason of 't shu'd be You said 't was with eating a venomous herb grew there Am. 'T is true what then Fi. You know besides how here where Love is even the vital air we breath and its privation consequently death depriv'd once of our Love 't is lawful for us to despair and dye Am. Whither tends this discourse I wonder Fi. Now Amaranthe I must entreat of thee one courtesie Am. What need you with so many circumstances intreat her whom you may command What is 't Fi. 'T is that thou'dst shew me this same slye And subtle Thief that so insensibly Does steal us from our selves the lookers on Do scarce perceive w' are going till w' are gone Am. And why wo'd you know this Fi. Onely for curiosity Am. Take heed take heed Filena it is no Good curiosity to desire to know Such dangerous secrets as we well may say Their ignorance does no harm their knowledge may Fi. See Amaranthe how unkinde th' art grown Wo'dst all my secrets know but tell me none But now to satisfie your curiosity In plainer terms know I 'm resolv'd to dye And having heard how death's a bitter cup To tell thee true before I drink it up I 'de sweeten it so as though the Fates do please That I shu'd live in pain I 'de dye with ease Am. How you dye now the Gods forbid Fi. No no Thou art deceiv'd for Amaranthe know They are so good as when 't is misery For us to live I 'me sure they 'd have us dye Am. But think think what death is Fi. What is it more then going to rest when we are weary or sleep when we 'd rest Am. I grant you when w' are dead Death is like rest and th' grave but like our bed But if we chance to finde unrest there thên As we lye down can we rise up agen Fi. What is in t'other life I cannot tell But what there is in this I know so well As I 'me resolv'd to dye spare then your pain To seek to hinder me for 't is in vain There 's but one way to live but nature ha's Provided us to dye a thousand wayes And hinder us from living every one Can do but hinder us from dying none Am. I must take some other way to hinder her Aside For this but makes her long for death the more And for the way that she ha's chose to dye Unknown to her I know a remedy Well then since you are so resolv'd I 'le shew You this venomous herb upon condition you Let me ha'th ' tempering it to make 't so sweet You even shall be enamour'd with taste of it Fi. On any condition Amaranthe I 'le dye But on no condition live in misery Life is not worth it and For noble spirits 't is brave necessity When they can't honourably live to dye Whilst to ignoble ones the Gods do give For punishment dishonourably to live Exeunt Enter Philander Phi. Since no where we a constant woman finde But all light and wavering as the winde And there is no woman in all this wide Circumference true but she was never try'd Why shu'd I grieve as 't were my fate alone What 's common I perceive to every one But these are thoughts unworthy
perhaps when she explains her minde Pol. Pray heaven she may mean time let us go see This stranger who shall ever honour'd be Alive and dead and be all Lovers boast and honour to Love's Kingdom Am. And that most deservedly for never any yet For truly loving did more honour get Nor ever any whilst the world lasts or There 's Lovers in the world shall e're get more Exeunt Enter Theotimus Chorus of Musicians Philander led to Sacrifice crown'd Victim-wise Youths and Virgins with baskets of flowers strewing the way c. Evander The. Go noble youth who does in dying prove Death who has power o're all has none o're Love And shews to th' world that who refuse to give Their lives for honour ne're deserv'd to live Go take with thee this consolation You lose a life that easily wo'd be gone But gain one by 't when thousand years are past And thousand other lives shall alwayes last And though you might have longer liv'd yet know You ne're could dye more gloriously then now To have all our Youths and Virgins strew With flowers all the way you go With Roses and with Mirtle Boughs Adorning your victorious browes And singing with triumphant Song Your praises as you go along Chorus sings Thus shall he ever honour'd be Who dyes for Love and Constancy And thus be ever prais'd who dyes Love's Martyr and his Sacrifice The. And if alive you thus are honoured Much more you shall be after you are dead If such as you can e're be said to dye By whose noble example and memory A thousand Lovers when y' are dead and gone Shall spring up in the world instead of one Who every year on pilgrimage shall come To honour your dead ashes in their tomb Seeing whose votive gifts and offerings The greatest and the mightiest of Kings In envying you and wishing them their own Shall for your tomb gladly exchange their throne Chorus sings Thus shall he ever honour'd be Who dyes for Love and Constancy And thus be ever prais'd who dyes Love's Martyr and his Sacrifice Enter Palemon Diophantes Polydor Amaranthe c. following Pal. Justice Justice Sir The. For what or against whom Pal. Against that stranger there who 'd rob me of the honour and happiness of dying for Bellinda Phi. He 's more unjust then I who ' as rob'd me of the honour and happiness of living for her and now won't let me dye Pal. As if no rocks nor seas nor flames there were Nor other wayes of dying but for her Chuse any of them you please your choice is free Onely dying for her belongs to me Phi. You may live for her what wo'd you more were I So happy as you who 's list for me shu'd dye Pal. You talk as if there were no life to come No blessed Shades nor no Elizium Where those who have been Lovers here possess Eternity of joyes and happiness Phi. Heaven is my witness I ne're think upon The joyes and pleasures of Elizium Nor any joyes or pleasures whatsoe're But that of dying and suffering for her Ev. How like two towering Hawks they mount and soar Love never flew so high a flight before Dio. There'l be no end of this Pol. Peace let them alone Greater example of Love was never shown The. Then let Bellinda come and sentence give Whether of them shu'd dye and whether live Are you content Pal. I am Phi. And so am I ready for her either to live or dye The. Bring her forth thên with all the ceremonies requisite in so dire a Sacrifice All the Nymphs in mourning accompaning her The fatal Axe and Executioner Before her and the whilst they go along The Chorus singing of her Funeral Song The Song sung whilst the Nymphs put on their mourning Veils Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Never was there greater woe Let us all the habits borrow And the face of grief and sorrow who 'd not spare a sigh nor tear From all mishaps to spend it here Enter Bellinda veil'd brought in by Polydor the Popa or sacred Executioner before her all the Nymphs weeping c. Ev. Wherefore this ceremony since she 's not to dye Di. Onely for terrour and formality Th. Come thus I unveil thy eyes that thou mayest see Unto what misery and calamity T' hast brought thy self and us and thus uncharm Thy tongue the fatal cause of all this harm Bel. What means these sable weeds and mourning chear Whilst not a face but wears death's Livery here Th. 'T is all for thee unhappy Nymph put on That thou shud'st dye so untimely and so young Bel. I understand you not nor can I fear Death whilst my dearest life Philander's here Pal. How 's this She goes to embrace Philander and he turns away Ev. This is more strange then t'other Bel. Ha! Philander prove unkinde nay then away With the fatal Axe and Executioner And all these deadly preparations here They need not now one unkinde look or two Of his can kill me sooner then they can do The. It is thy falshood and perfidity Unfortunate Nymph that kills thee and not he Whilst falsly and perfidiously you swore You lov'd one here being betroath'd before unto another Bel. How I ne're did swear That I lov'd any but Philander here Pal. Oh killing declaration The. That cant't be For as for him all Cyprus knows that he Arriv'd not here till after you were inclos'd i th' facred Cell and separated from All conversation i th' mean time your tongue Charm'd silent and Eyes blinded as they were How could you see or know that he was here Bel. Love is a fire and there needs no eye But onely heat to tell when fire is nigh And Lovers by their glowing bosoms know When those are near they love but lest this now Might seem too mystical to make 't more clear As in the Temple I came forth to swear I heard his voice and swounding instantly For joy to hear it whilst officiously They lifted up my Veil to give me air I glanc'd my eyes aside and saw him there The. Can any thing be more clear Pol. Or any more Deceiv'd in judgement then we were before Am. Did I not tell you she was innocent I Bel. Yet can you doubt my faith and constancy Phi. No but I doubt whet'r yet I wake or dream My extasie and joy is so extream They embrace Ev. See how they stand so ravisht with delight And so transported each in t'others sight 'T can scarcely be conceiv'd by humane breast Much less by humane tongue can be exprest Th. Disturb them not now a word with you Palemon Fi. Now Love grant my hopes be true Bel. Co'd you be jealous of me Phi. Dearest know I shu'd not love so dearly as I do Were I not jealous for jealousie 'S but scorching of Loves fire and he shu'd be But a cold Lover who sometimes at least Felt not a little of it in his breast The. Come come I here command you to restore That heart unto