the shepheards crew Which passed by just now who alwaies do On holydayes make sport within this plain And to be one of them my self I 'l fain Then with the best occasion give the blow So slyly as no mortall eye shal't know In a strange manner shall these woods to day Be heard of love to reason that it may Clearly my sacred Deity is here And not my under Ministers appear These rustick Silvane brests I will endue With divine sences teach them how to wooe In lofty language that it may be known That love where e're he is is alwaies one Whether he pleases for to make his nest Or in a Swains or in a Hero's breast Then if my beauteous mother who ha's tride Her utmost art to know where I abide By these feats know not she 's more blind then I For blind by wrong men call my Deity TASSO'S AMINTA Act. 1. Scen. I. Daphne and Silvia Daph. ARt thou resolv'd then Silvia to consume Thy fairest youth can't thy heart find a room For Venus pleasures wilt not know those joy 's A Mother takes to sport with her sweet boyes Shall so much beauty be to woods confin'd Change fondling that thou art change change thy mind Sil. Let others follow loves delights for me If that in love any delight there be This life me pleases best Nor do I know Ought I take pleasure in but in my bow This is my chiefest comfort for to follow The wild beasts in the chase hear huntsmen hollow Nor do I fear such sports will wanting be Da. More sottish sports more sottish life dost see This life thee pleases cause thou hast not prov'd As yet another cause thou hast not lov'd So in the infant world and when as yet The simple people knew no better meat Acorns and water were accounted sweet But when th' earth did abound with corn and wine Acorns and water then were food for swine So shouldst thou taste but one poor thousand part Of the sweet joys of love thou 'dst say dear heart Why didst thou six my pleasure on such toyes And leave me widow to more reall joyes Thou 'lt sorrowfull repent the lost time past And curse it now for running on so fast How many a widow night how many a day I 've ignorantly spent thou 'lt sighing say Change then sond fool change change thy mind I pray Lest when'ts too late thou do repent in vain Sil. Daphne when I repent or o're again Repeat these words of thine which thou dost feign ' Just as thou list then let the rivers turn Back to their fountains let the Ocean burn The wolves fly from the tender lamo the hares Pursue the greyhounds then let the fierce bears Inhabit waters and let dolphins range The fields whenever I my mind do change Daph. This is meer childishness Sister as thou Art I was once Alas although that now I 'me chang'd by age even just so neat so fair My count'nance was so golden was my hair Just such a cherry lip just such a Rose I did in th'middle of my cheek disclose 'T was my delight then Silvia now I find A foolish one it was to hunt the Hind Follow the footsteps of wild beasts my net Spread to untrap the birds take care to whet My dart and if I did but chance to spy Some youthfull Shepheard cast an am'rous eye I looked down with scorn and with disdain Counting what was my grace to be my pain And nought was more displeasing unto me Then see me pleasing unto others be But yet at length time and th'importunate Pray'rs of my faithful lover did abate That Virgin frost Sister I was and blesse The hour o'recome at last I do confesse And in one night's black shade I did learn more Then I had done in all my life before So now I did my former folly know I quite renounc'd both Cynthia's life and bow And so I hope thou wilt too and at last Aminta's sighs may melt thy flinty breast How canst thou choose but love him canst deny He 's handsom then pray tell the reason why Thinkst thou he loves thee not or does love any Better than thee though he be lov'd by many If so why do's he so thy love pursue Think'st him not enough noble if thou do Though from this Rivers god the third thou be Third from great Pan the shepherds god is he Why then despi'st thou him thinkst thou the lilies Of the fair cheeks of fairest Amarillis Are not as beautiful as thine yet he Thou seest despiseth her and follows thee She follows him and seeks his love and thou Though he seeks thine refusest his pray now Imagine he thus crost by thy disdain God grant th' imagination be but vain Should leave thee and take her I fain would know Whether it would not grieve thee yea or no 'T is better to accept him then by half Then taking her both at thy folly laugh Sil. Let ' minta and his loves disposed be As best him pleaseth little't imports me Nor who his love has so I do it misse Care I mine he can't be since I 'me not his And though he mine were his I would not be Daph. From whence proceeds this hatred now from thee If I were thee I 'd strive to love him rather Sil. It 's from his love Daph. Strange child of such a Father When was fierce tyger born of gentle lamb Or when from Swan's egge a black crow e're came Sister thou cheatest or thy self or me Sil. I hate his love cause he my honesty And I should love him while he would not crave Ought else of me but what my self would have Daph. Thou onely wil'st thy hurt he only would Wish that to thee which wish himself he should Sil. Daphne or talk of somewhat else or hold Thy peace I pray Daph. O gods do but behold This perverse wench but prethee Sister do But answer this If that another sue Should for thy love would'st thus requite his pain Sil. Who would entrap my chastity the same Requite should find from me what e're he be Whom thou stil'st lover I am enemy Daph. The Ram unto the ewe dost thou esteem Or to the tender heifer the bull deem En'mies to be or doth the Turtle dove Reject her mate because he doth her love Seest thou the fragrant season of the year How every thing doth sweet and green appear This pleasant verdure covering o're the plains Invites alas not only nymphs and Swains But very beasts to love and dost not see How all things in the world inamoured be See how those two doves whisper with what willing And joynt consent as 't were they two are billing You Nightingale which hops from grove to grove Still as she hops she sings I love I love The cruell Adder who doth stop his ears And having stung will not be charm'd by tears Or cries is charm'd by sweetest love 'i th woods The tigers love the fishes in the floods Love too but thou
more cruel then a beast Denyest sweet love an entrance in thy breast But what talk I of beasts seest thou each tree In this vast forrest they inamoured be Behold with what a sweet embrace the vine Does her dear consort lovingly intwine The firr doth love the firr the pine the pine You stubborn oak which scarce the wind can move Is mov'd by th'power of divinest love Hadst thou a spir't of love or if of stone Were not thy heart thou 'dst hear it sigh and groan And utter forth it 's am'rous plaints yet thou For all this art not mov'd to love why now Wilt thou than plants or beasts be more unkind Change fondling that thou art change change thy mind Sil. When I of plants the am'rous sighs shal hear I 'l likewise be in love til then forbear Daph. Well though thou now laugh at and dost disdain My faithful counsels know that to thy pain Thou wilt repent thou dost not while thou may Them follow for be sure there comes a day When what 's to thee a pleasure and delight Shall be thy greatest grief thy greatest spight And as thou now disdainest others so Thou 'lt then despise thy very self and know Those so clear springs in which thou oft dost use Thy most resplendent beauty to peruse Thou 'lt leave forsaken and neglected now Or stand amazed at thy wrinkled brow But why speak I of this since 't is a sure And common evil we must all endure I 'l tell thee more and mark me what I say 'T is what the sage Elpino t'other day Recounted unto Licoris the fair The gentile Licoris whose beauty rare Has such pow'r o're Elpino as his art In singing ought t' have o're her pliant heart If there be any debt in love He told It before am'rous Thir's and Battus old Just at the entrance of Aurora's cave Where writ in golden Characters you have All you that are profane depart from hence And said that it was told to him long since By the grand Poet who so high did sing The life of many a Heroe many a King Who dying did leave him his pipe There is Sayes he at bottom o' th profound abysse A horrid cave vomiting smoak with fire And a most constant stink out of the dire Fornace of Acheronta where do lie In torments dark and that eternally Those women who perswaded here above Neither by pray'rs nor tears could be to love And 't is a just and well deserved law Smoak should force tears which pity could not draw Then if thou thus thy cruelty continue Look to be consort with that curst retinue Sil. But what said Licoris to this and how Answer'd she him Daph. Why see thou fain wouldst know Others affairs but car'st not for thine own She answered with her eyes Sil. With eys alone How could she answer him Dap. Those very ey 's Were as 't were messengers or rather spies Which mix'd with pleasant smiles to him made known Licoris and her heart were now his own Except he did believe faith was as rare In them as beauty she as false as fair Sil. Why should he so believe Daph. knowst thou what Thir's That famous Master both of Love and Verse Did write when burning with the flames of love He wandring through the forrest did both move The nimphs swains to laughter but though he Did things worth laughter yet his writings be Not to be jeer'd this in a tree he writ With th'tree it grew and there I oft read it The looking-glasses of false hearts your eyes Are and in them all deceit hidden lies But what avails't since shun them love denies Sil. I here in pratling cast my time away And had forgot this is th' appointed day In which we ought to go as we were wont In Eliceto for to raise the Hunt Prethee do thou stay for me while i' th nigh Fountain I cleanse the sweat and dust which I Got yesterday by hunting of a Deer Which at the last I kil'd Daph. I 'l stay thee here Perhaps I 'l bath me too but first my gate I 'l homewards bend for it 's not yet so late As 't seems and thou at home for me mayst stay But in the mean time think of that I pray Concerns thee more then hunting and say I Bid thee take a fools counsel so god bu'y Act. 1. Scen. 2. Aminta and Thirsis A. I have with my laments my sighs my groans To pity moved both the rocks and stones But mov'd I have not nor can hope to move Her I adore to pity or to love Remorseless Nymph I know not which I best May stile thee or a woman or fierce beast For thou to be a woman dost deny Since more than best'al is thy cruelty Thir. The lambs on tender grasse wolves on lambs feed And both do satisfie their hungry need But though love feed on tears the more it have Of tears and sighs it still the more doth crave Amin. Alas alas love long since with the food Of my tears satiate is now for my blood It onely thirsts and therefore to the eyes Of it and that cru'l nymph I 'l mak 't a prize Thir. Why talkst thou thus Aminta if unkind And cruel she be thou'lt another find Amin. How can I find another when that I Can't find my very self or pray whereby Can one lost to himself e're pleasure gain Thir. Do not despair at length thou mayst obtain This cruel fair time teaches men to check Lions and bring fierce tygers to their beck Amin. But whilst that I wait out this long delay I shall with grief be quite consum'd away Thir. Short the delay will be for the disdain Of woman's kindled soon soon quench't again They 're moveable by nature nor the wind Can breath more changes then a womans mind Lighter than feathers and will readier bow Then ripened ears before a storm but thou Of thy condition farther let me know And the hard fortune of thy love for though Thou long since toldst me that thou wast in love Yet thou hidst from me who it was could move In thee this am'rous fire although that faith And ever constant friendship 'twixt us hath Oblig'd thee to discover that to me Which unto others might concealed be Amin. Thirsis I am content to tell thee what The woods and mountains know but men know not And 't is but just that I being now so nigh My death should leave the reason why I die To some dear friend who may when I am gone Report it or may grav't in tree or stone Near the place where my bloodlesse corps shall lie That if that pit'lesse Nymph chance to pass by She may stamp on 't with her proud foot and boast That her dire cruelty my life me cost And that she may rejoyce to see me lie There as a trophee of her victory Perhaps at last she may but things above Desert I hope both pity then and love Him dead who living by her hate
may have done for me In what to do he promis'd but if he Have nothing done why then before that I Will be consum'd to nothing I will die Before the rigid Silvia that abate My death may somewhat of her cruell hate She that so pleas'd is with that plague the Dart Of her fair ey 's ha's gi'n my love-sick heart Wil with that wound which my brest shal endure From mine own hands be doubly pleas'd I 'm sure Thir. I new's of comfort bring thee and content Then deare Aminta cease thus to lament Amin. What say'st thou Thirsis must I live or die Thir. I bring thee life and safety for if I The other had I 'd not it bring but need There is of courage man and that with speed Amin. What need is there of courage pray and where Must I employ it Thir. If thy Silvia were Within a wood encompass'd round with rocks Where lions and fierce Tigers by whole flocks Did range no way to scape by strength or art To go to rescue her would'st have the heart Amin. More joyfull farr then on a holy day A Countrey wench doth run to dance or play Thir. If she ' mongst murd'rers were I fain would know Whether thou dar'st unto her rescue go Amin. I 'd go more readier then the Stag does fly To the long-wish'd-for fountain when he 's dry Thir. But greater proofes more courage do require Amin. I would for Silvia's sake passe through the fire Or through the floods when down the Mountains throw With a full torrent their dissolved snow I 'd go to hell it selfe if hell could be Where there is one so fair so good as she But tell me pray where is' t Thir. Hark then Amin. Go on Thir. Silvia attends thee naked and alone At that same fountain call'd Diana's well Dar'st thou to go Amin. Alas what dost thou tell Me Thirsis naked and alone do's she Stay for me sayst thou Thir. Unlesse Daphne be There who of our side is alone I say Amin. But naked prethee do's she for me stay Thir. I say she there stayes naked for thee but Amin. But what thou kilst me if that word thou put Thir. But I can't tel if thou hadst best to go Amin. Oh hard conclusion which all the forego Ing sweetnesse doth imbitter with what art Dost strive to wound my almost bloodlesse heart Is' t not enough that thus unhappy I Am but thou wilt increase my misery Thir. Aminta if thou wilt my counsel take Thou mayst be happy Amin. What for the gods sake Dost thou advise me Thir. What! That thou be bold And on what fortune thee presents lay hold Amin. The gods I hope will keep me that I may Ne're think a thought to displease Silvia I ne're displeas'd her yet but by my love Nor was 't my fault her beauties power did move Me to 't but let me when I cease to strive Silvia to please no longer care to live Answer me now If in thy Pow'r it were To leave her love wouldst do 't to ple asure her Love lets me not say so nay 't does deny That I should think to leave her love though I Could do 't Thir. Why then though leave her love thou could'st Yet in despight of her love her thou would'st Amin. Not in despight but yet I 'd love her still Thir. Why then thou love her would'st against her will Amin. Yes certainly I should Thir. Then dar'st thou not Against her will fool as thou art take what At first may hard and heavy seem once past Sweeter and sweeter growes unto the last Amin. Thirsis love for me answers and my heart Know's it's own means but cannot them impart Thee constant use ha's skil'd in loves great Art But that ha's bound my tongue which bound my heart Thir. Why then we wil not go Amin. Yes go wil I But not where thou dost deem Thir. Whither Amin. To die To die alas I 'l go if this be all The favour thou hast done me Thir. Think'st it small Think'st Daphne counsel would to go if find In part she did not that 't was Silvia's mind And who can tell it may be Silvia too Know's it her selfe but would not have that you Should know she knows it now if thou dost crave Her full consent thou do'st desire to have What would displease her most and then foole where Is that desire of thine to pleasure her Or if she would that thy injoyment were Thy theft and not her gift what need'st thou care Amin. But who assures me such is her desire Thir. Why see thou do'st that certainty require Which does and ought displease her and which thou Ought'st not to seek but pray imagine now That such were her desire and thou not go Equal the doubt is the losse equal so I think it better that couragiously Thou like a man than like a coward die Ar't silent thou' rt o'recome confesse I pray This love Aminta it occasion may Thy greater Vict'ry let 's go then Amin. I pray Thir. What stay seest not how fast the time does run Amin. Pray let us think first w ht is to be done Thir. We by the way wil think the rest but who Do's too much think things seldom wel doth do CHORUS LOve who can teach us thy mysterious art Who thy divinest fancies can impart Where may we learne them who can them display Since though the mind them comprehend away Arm'd with thy wing'd prowes they soare above Not learned Athens ere the art of love Could teach nor its Liceo could it shew Phaebus in Helicon thy art ne'r knew He could discourse of love 't is true but so As if he did thy art but blindly know Or were a learner cold were his desires Nor did his voice burn with celestiall fires As sits thy power nor could his thoughts arise To comprehend thy sacred mysteries Thou only Love a worthy master art In thy sublime and more then heav'nly art To rustick brests thou mak'st known those Divine And most Celestiall Characters of thine Writ by thine own hand in anothers eye Thy faithfull servants tongues thou dost untie And mak'st them glide in pure and nobler stream's Then ever issu'd from Poetick veines By thee divinest love there 's more exprest In broken words and speeches then the best Of Orators can do and more doth move Thy silence then their Rhetorick to love Heart-conquering Love to others leave will I To learn thy art in blind philosophy Or from the learned schooles I only will In faire ey 's study this mysterious skill And their high stiles and Poetry will lesse Then shall my rough or rustick times express Act. 3 Scen. 1. Thirsis Chorus of Shepherds O Horrid cruelty unheard unseen Or ever yet remembred to have been In humane brest three hundred times nay four Ingratefull sex thou nymph ingrateful more Why didst thou Nature show thy utmost art Thus in adorning womans outward part Why did'st her beaut'ous countenance indue With such a
Alas there is for me No way but to despair since hope wil be As 't ha's been yet my ruine stil I find It strives as 't were to blossom in my mind And whispers to me live and can ought be Worse then a life to such a wretch as me Daph. Live wretch live stil I say and let this be Support unto thee in thy misery That if thy hope in life do but maintain thee At length thar naked fair one it will gain thee Amin. Both love and fortune though that at the brink Of wretchednesse I was yet did not think Me yet forlorn enough until that I Had fully seen what fully both denie Ner. Must I then alwaies have the luck to be The messenger of such sad news ay me Wretched Mantano what sad heart wil thine Be when thou com'st to hear this newes of mine O sad and des'late father thou nay rather By losse of thy dear Silvia no more Father Daph. I a sad voice do hear Amin. And I hear sound The name of Silvia which my heart do's wound Who is it names her Daph. it seemes at first sight To be Nerina Cynthia's cheife delight Who ha's so sweet comportment so fair face Such charming ey 's such a bewitching Grace Ner. And yet alas I 'm forc'd to let him know Of this most fatal chance of thine that so He may seek those unhappy bones if no More rests of thee oh my deare Silvia oh Amin. Ay me what say's she Ner. Daphne Daph. what and why Do'st to thy self name Silvia and then cry Ner. Alas with reason I lament her sad And cruel fate Amin. What fate can be so bad To make thee thus lament Ay me I feele My heart a dying as though pierc'd with steele Is she alive Daph. Prethee to us relate What thus thou mutter'st of her desp'rate fate Ner. Ye Gods why am I messenger yet I Must tel 't did she you know the reason why Come e'n now naked to my Lodg and there Re-cloath'd her selfe again she by her pray'r Prevail'd with me that I would with her go In Eliceto for to hunt a Do. I pleas'd her and we went when neer the ground Gather'd together many Nymphs we found Scarce had we spoke to them when lo we see A mighty wolfe start from behind a tree Great out of measure was he and with blood His nose was di'd he fiercely looking stood Silvia streight to her bow an arrow fits And she nere us'd to misse so now she hits Him just upon the head he fly's again Into the wood she followes him amaine Amin. O sad beginning which do's pierce my heart What end wilt have Ner. I with another dart Follow'd her track but at great distance since She was i' th wood ere I could move me thence Yet I her footsteps made a shift to trace Until I came to the most desert place Of all the wood where lo by chance I found My dearest Silvia's dart upon the ground And not farr off from it I did espy That snow-white vaile which I my selfe did ty Upon her head which as you see is di'd With crimson gore and looking round I spi'd Seven fierce wolves which seem'd to lick the blood Of a nak'd body about which they stood Such was my hap and so intent they were Upon their prey they saw not I was there So I return'd and this is the full tale I tell of Silvia can see here the vaile Amin. Th' ast told too much this vaile and this blood be Sure tokens of her death Daf. Ah poore wretch he Is dead with greife too Ner. No he breathes revives 'T is but a sudden fainting see he lives Amin. Greife why alas do'st thou torment me so And do'st not kill outright if thou too slow Beest or wouldst have my hand the instrument To do 't to this I 'me very well content And it shal execute that death which thou Refusest or to do or know'st not how Then since the certainty of this we know And nothing wants now to augment my woe Why should I longer stay oh Daphne why Did'st not permit me when I would to die To this sad end reserv'dst thou me to this Sure sweet my death had been nay more a blisse And greatest happinesse had but that dart Which cruel thou withheldest pierc'd my heart But heav'ns deni'd it and did feare least that I by my sudden death forerun should what They had ordain'd me now my utmost ill They executed have permit they will To make the full summe of their cruelty And thou permi too must that I may dy Daph. Restrain this frantick humour of thy youth Until we do heare further of the truth Amin. Why do'st thou strive to keep me off with such Delay 's I 've staid too long and heard too much Ner. I would I had been dumb Amin. Nymph pray bestow On me that blood-bespotted Vail that so Small but whole relique of my Silvia That since no more there rests of her it may Witnesse my death and if there ought can be To do 't may serve t' augment my misery Though I confess 't is not so small that I Need to increase it to perswade me dy Ner. Had I best giv 't him or deny 't him I Think for th' occasion I were best deny Amin. What cruell one so small a gift to me Who am resolv'd nere to ask more of thee In this too wretched fate I yeeld with you Then let the Vaile remain and so adieu I go to turn no more Daph. Aminta stay Gods with what fury do's he fly away Ner. He flies so fast that it will be in vaine To follow him I down in yonder plaine Wil seek Montano but I do not know If I were best to tell the newes or no. CHORUS THere is no cause which death may move To bind him ha's a noble heart His faith 's enough first then his love Nor is so hard of love the art By him alone that loves wel love is sought And like a Merchandise by love is bought And seeking love we often find A Glory which we leave behind Act. 4. Scen 1. Daphne Silvia and Chore of Shepherds Daph. THat wind that brought the sad new's of thy death Brought with it likewise in the selfe same breath Thy present and thy future ill but thou Thanks be to God art live and well when now I deem'd thee dead Nerina with such greife It told had she been dumb or others deaf Sil. The danger sure was great and she indeed Had just occasion to suspect me dead Daph. A just occasion for to tell it though She had not but let me thy danger know And how thou scap'dst Sil. I 'l tell thee I in chase Of a fierce wolf unto the thickest place Came of the wood so that I quite the track Did of his footsteps loose but turning back Again I spi'd him by my shaft I knew That 't was the same wolf first before me flew He with some others feeding was
amain On a dead carkase they had newly slain Of what I could not well discern but he Leaving his prey came running after me I stood him with intent to make him feel My dart than arrow was the sharper steel And thou knowst well I 'm mistresse of the art Of brandishing and lancing wel a dart I seldom use to misse and so when nigh Enough I thought him I my dart let fly But was it fault of fortune or of me I mist the wolf and stuck it in a tree The Wolf more fiercely at me runs and I Seeing 't was vain to use my bow did fly He follows me now hear a chance my vail Hap'd to untie and with the murm'ring gale Came through the woods blew up and down at last A bot a bough tangled it self so fast That though my force redoubled was my strength Could not prevail a rescue but at length Seeing no way t o'scape I thought it best Quite to untie it and there â—et it rest Which done I ran again with all my might Feare adding thousand wings unto my flight That he nere joyn'd me and I came out safe Unto my lodge where first of all I have Encountred thee and wondred much to see Thee stand amaz'd and wondring so at me Daph. Thou liv'st alas but others not Sil. doth't greive Thee Daphne then that I am still alive Hat'st thou me so Daph. no Silvia I 'm full glad Thou liv'st anothers death 't is makes me sad Sil. Whose death Daph. Aminta's Sil. Is he dead and how Daph. Well how I cannot tell nor do I know If it be certain Sil. Strange but can'st divine What was the occasion of his death Daph. why thine Sil. I understand thee not Daph. The tidings sad Brought of thy wretched death such power had O're him poore foul and o're his wearied life That I beleive 'thas brought him cord or knife Sil. I hope that vaine will this suspect of thine Be of his death as vain was that of mine For when men come to the effect they strive Let them boast what they wil before to live Daph. Silvia thou know'st not what the fire of love Can in a heart that 's not of marble move But thine 's more hard than stone else thou believe Would'st him for whom thou yet seem'st not to grieve And would'st have lov'd him who far more did prize Thy love than the dear apples of her ey 's I wel believ'd him knew and saw 't when he Having unloos'd the Tigresse from the tree An act that would have forc'd thee him to love Had'st had a heart but what is' t thee can move I say I saw him there reverse his dart And with his ful force strive to pierce his heart Nor did repent him though at first he di'd It in his crimson gore but once more tri'd To make it enter farther and he sure Had pierc'd his heart but I could not endure To see 't so staid him yet believe the rage Of that smal wound did not at all asswage His desp'rate constancy but onely made A freer passage for his thirsty blade Sil. What dost thou tell Daph. I saw him too when he First understood news of the death of thee To swound for grief reviv'd he fled away In fury with intent himself to slay And he 'l have done it surely Sil. Think'st thou so Daph. I cannot doubt it Sil. Oh my Daphne oh Why followedst not to hinder him with me Come now and seek to find him for if he Thinking me dead resolv'd himself to kill Sure now I live remain in life he will Daph. I follow'd him and sought him but in vain For when he once got out of sight again I could not find him nor his footsteps thou Then whither prethee wilt go seek him now Sil. Alas let 's go however for if we Don't stay him he will his own murd'rer be Daph. Perhaps it grieves thee then that any one Should boast of killing him but thee alone Or cruel one dost think it scorn his heart Should wounded be by any but thy dart Content thy self how e're he dies yet he Dies for thy sake thou wilt his murd'rer be Sil. Ay me thy comfort 's harsh but now I find That grief of heart which overswayes my mind For his sad chance imbittered is the more By how much I was rigorous before And the remembrance of my cruelty Torments me now I call'd it honesty And so it was but too severe by far Too cruel since it did all pity bar Now I repent me Daph. Strange what do I hear Pitiful thou what can thy flint heart bear The least impress'on weep'st thou what can move These tears are they of pity or of love Sil. They tears of love not but of pity are Daph. Pity to love is alwaies messenger As lightning to the thunder Chor. Oft when rest He hidden seeks within a virgins breast Who had with too strict honesty before Against his sly charms shut and barr'd the door He of mild pitie his fond servant takes The shape and habit and so entrance makes Daph. Silvia these tears of love be 't is too plain Art silent dost thou love thou lov'st in vain O divine force of love how justly thou Chastisest those who don 't thy pow'r avow Wretched Aminta like the Bee who leaves Sorrow to him he stings but yet bereaves Himself of life so now thou victor art And dying wounded hast that stony heart Which living thou ne'r couldst and if thou be A wandring spir't as I believe then see Her tears and though to thee all joy be past Rejoyce that thou hast overcome at last Lover in life belov'd in death if thy Eate 't were not to be lov'd til thou didst die Or if this cruel one at no lesse price Would sell her love then to him for it dies See thou hast given her the price she sought And with thy early death her love hast bought Chor. Dear price to him that gave it but more griev Ous far alas to her did it receive Sil. Could I but with my love his life regain Or with my life call him from death again Daph. Ah pitiful too late and too late wise Pity assists not where fate help denies Act. 4. Scen. 2. Ergasto Chore of Shepherds Silvia Daphne Erg. SO full my breast of pity is and so Clogd up with horror that I do not know Whither to turn me nothing comes to sight Nothing I hear which doth not me affright Chor. What newes brings our Ergasto sure 't is bad His countenance and accent both are sad Erg. I bring the sad news of Aminta's death Sil. Ay me Erg. The noblest shepherd that did breath Within these woods whose sweet comportments were Unto the nymphs and muses both so dear Chor. And is he dead and how relate that we May his untimely end lament with thee Sil. I dare not listen to this sad discourse Nor yet go near to hear it though of force Hear it I must wicked
was slain And with salt tears may wish me back again But listen now Thir. Proceed I wel thee mind And am to help thee at thy need inclin'd Amin. I was as yet a child scarce could crop Those fruits the willing trees did seem to drop From their full loaden branches near the earth When full of jollity and harmlesse mirth Not knowing love or caring it to know With th' sweetest nymph I did familiar grow That in the wind e're spread a golden hair It was the rich Cidippe's daughter fair Grandchild unto the great Montan whose flocks And mighty heards fill both the woods and rocks Silvia the glory of the woods the fire Of every heart of all souls the desire With her I kept such faithful company That 'twixt two Turtles ne're the like could be Nothing to me than Silvia was dearer Near were our houses but our hearts were nearer Her age was equal almost with my own But 'twixt our thoughts there was no diff'rence known With her I often us'd to spread the snares To catch the simple birds or fearful hares With her I us'd to force swift Does to flight Equal the prey was equal the delight But whilst we thus made prize of beasts a prize My self was made to her all-conqu'ring eyes And like a weed which of it self doth grow So grew there in my bosom from I know Not yet what root a strange and unknown fire Which made me Silvia's presence more desire Her eyes were food to me sweet but did leave A bitter did me of all joyes bereave And though my sighs alas now were not few Yet of those many sighs no cause I knew Thus was I e're that I could it discover By her fair ey 's forc'd to becoem a lover But how I came to know 't at last do thou Take notice pray Thir. Proceed and tell me how Amin. When Phoebus bright his hottest beams displai'd Silvi ' and Phillis once chanc't ' seek a shade Under a spreading beech when lo a Bee Buzzing about Phillis fair cheeks chanc'd see The lovely red she did in them disclose Did make the Bee mistake them for a Rose And think to gather honey from that sweet She lights but with too harsh salute did greet Those rosean cheeks and Phillis with the pain Of the sharp sting most sadly did complain When my Dear Silvia told her Phillis pray Lament not thus I soon will take away Thy pain with an inchantment which I learn'd Of the sage Aresia and I earn'd It well for in requital of it I Gave unto her my horn of Ivory VVhich was adorn'd with gold Thus having said Her sweeter lips to Phillis cheek she laid Just where the Bee had stung her and she there Muttred some words which well I could not hear But O most wonderful Phillis had ease Immediately and all her pain did cease VVhether it was her Magick art or no That so soon wrought the cure I don 't well know But I believe in her sweet mouth was such Vertue that it did heal all it did touch I that before had so restrain'd the fire Of love that nothing else I did desire But Silvia's presence and a paradice It was to feast my self on her fair ey 's Or hear the sweet tunes of her warbling voice More pleasing far to me than was the noise The little pibbles make in murm'ring sloods Or than the wind when 't sings among the woods Was now by an ambitious spirit inclin'd To a desire which wish'd my lips were join'd To hers This amorous desire me taught A very subtile craft which at length brought Me wish'd successe do but observe how love Makes mens ingenio's nimbly for to move Her wondrous cure on Phillis I did see The sight of that taught me to feign a Bee Had bit my under lip and though her pray I durst not for to take my pain away By her inchantment yet did my lament Expresse as 't were to her my hearts intent She harmlesse soul pittying the grief that I Made shew of proffered freely to apply Her cure to my feign'd wound which added fuel To my hearts wound and made it far more cruel Oh Thirsis never Bee did suck from Rose Honey so sweet as I did suck from those Sweet cherries of her lips though every kisse Me thought did yet want some part of its blisse For though I had a ful desire yet I Was or restrain'd by fear or modesty But whilst this honey mixt with gall descended Thus to my heart I sorry so soon ended Should be my blisse feign'd that her charms did ease Me somewhat but not quite the pain surcease Which made her willingly to take the trouble That to me sweet inchantment to redouble Thus so increas'd this love within my breast That at the last 't was forced to leave its nest Nor would it be kept secret so one day When we were sit as we were wont to play Shepherds and Nymphs together on the grasse Each lad some secrets whispering to his lasse I Silvia told Silvia I burn for thee And sure shal die unlesse thou helpest me Strait at my words there in her face arose A blush both shame and anger did disclose Bow'd to the ground her fair face was and she With nought but an harsh silence answer'd me And from me turn'd nor ever would she deign Since that to see or hear me speak again Though ful three years are past and I have tri'd All means I could to get her pacifi'd Except my death and could but that appease Her anger I methinks could die with ease And should account it highly worth my pain If I by death her pity could obtain And for my faith would deem it recompence Should she lament me when I 'm gone from hence But why should I wish grief unto that breast In which I fixed have my joy my rest Thir. But is it possible if she should hear Thee say thus much she longer could forbear This true love to requite Amin. That know not I But when I 'd speak she more my words doth fly Than doth an aspe the charmer Thir. Trust to me Aminta and I will procure that she Shal hearken to thee Amin. Nothing from her can you Thirsis procure or if procure you do That I speak to her yet alas in vain Will be my speech and I shall nothing gain Thir. Why dost despair so Amin. Just occasion I Have to despair nay rather for to die For the wise Mopsu's long since did foreshow This my hard fortune Mopsus who doth know The vertue of all herbs and talk of birds Thir. Which Mopsus speakst thou of of him whose words Are honi'd and who has a friendly smile In 's face but in his heart has nought but guile Be of good cheer Aminta do not fear Those uncouth prophesies he sels so dear To unadvised persons I reject As foolish for they never have effect This know I by experience and I Cause he hath thus foretold do hope thereby
That in thy love all things wil succeed wel Amin. If by experience thou canst ought me tell Which comfort may my hope pray don't it hide Thir. When I came hither first for to abide Within these woods I knew and did esteem This Mopsus such as thou dost now him deem I had by chance occasion for to go To the great Citie which I let him know As hoping his advice when thus to me He spake To the great land thou go'st said he Where the sly Citizens and those o' th Court Of simple rusticks make a scoffing sport Therefore be sure this counsel take of mine Come not near those whom thou shalt see to shine With gold and stones and other vain devices But above all and slight not my advices Beware least thou be led by thy ill fate Or youthful curios'ty to the gate O' th magazine of pratlers Then strait I Demanded of him what that place might be In this place Sorceresses live said he Who by inchantments do all things unvail What to thee seems pure gold to them is pale And sordid brasse those arches thou with treasure Deemst fil'd are dirt and mire out of measure There are the wals built with great art and do Speak themselves and to speakers answer too Nor do they answer a dumb voice alone As Eccho here but in words one by one Tables and stools and all go tittle tattle And should a dumb man enter here he 'd prattle But ther 's worse evil yet here maist thou be Chang'd into water fier or a tree Water of tears and fire of sighs content With this fond foresight I to th' City went Where guided by blest fate I chanc'd to spy The happy lodge as I was passing by With curious eye expecting something worth My sight I chanc'd to hear at length come forth Out of the gate such pleasant murm'ring noises Of nymphs and Sirens the harmonious voices As made me stand astonied with delight The object pleas'd so both my ears and sight Just by the gate as guard to things so good A man of a magnan'mous aspect stood To whom I do not wel know which I were Best give that stile of Duke or Cavalier He with benign and grave aspect together Invited great and smal to come in thither Nor did he me poor simple soul despise O gods what did I see there near mine eyes Enjoy'd such blessed sights nymphs ful as fair As heavenly goddesses or far more rare Beauties more bright then glittering Phaebus beams When at his rise he guild's the eastern streams There sate Apollo and the Muses nine Shining in all their Graces so Divine And ' mongst the Muses sate the sage Elpin Then was I ravished with a high desire Then first I flam'd with a Poetick fire I sang the lives of Kings o th ' ancient times Scorning a mean verse or pastorall rimes And though again I to these woods return'd By my ill destiny yet still I burn'd With some part of that fire yet did abound My Pipe still with a more then rurall sound But envious Mopsus chancing me to spy One day cast at me a Malignant eye Whereby I hoarse became and then long time I silent was and sung no more in rime Seen by the Wolfe Pastors supposed me Which caus'd my silence but that wolfe was he This I have told thee that thou maist perceive How willing is this Mopso to deceive And void of faith and therefore cause he will Thee void of hope I 'd have thee hope more still Amin. It pleases me extreamly for to heare What thou hast told then of my life the care To thee I do commit Thir. Let me alone I care will take of it as of my own I le go see what for thee I can prevaile Then in an houre to meet me do not faile CHORUS MOst blessed age of gold not cause the floods Stream'd down pure snow white milk nor cause the woods Distill'd sweet hony or the free earth bore Her fruits untouch't nor had her bowells tore As yet by th' labr'ing ploughman lambs might erre Through the thick forrests without noise or fear Nor yet because no winters clouds begun T ' ecclipse that Radiant Splendor of the Sun With which it's warme and pleasant beames did bring The wish'd-for happ'nesse of a constant spring Nor wandring pines did yet with sails unfold For warr or gain compass the late known world But only cause that foolish and that vain Idol of errors and deceit that name So without substance which the Vulgar mad Did afterwards call Honour as yet had No Power to play the Tyrant or controule The Peace and Freedome of a joviall soule But nymphs and pastors sweetly liv'd nor knew Any delight but what from freedom grew Not subject but to law perform'd with ease Which nature writ Is lawful if it please No need there was of Cupids torch to move Or shafts to force the Nymphs and Swains to love Their very sports inflam'd them and their smiles They mix with their sweet words and then e're while Both with their sweeter kisses then the rose Of her fair cheeks the Virgin did disclose Freely to all which now alas are blown To the delight and pleasure but of one Then often by the waters of a bright Spring lovers us'd to take their full delight But thou perversest honour first didst shade This fountain of delight and thou first made This freedom cease and thou didst first deny Water to quench his thirst whom love made dry Thou taught'st those splendant beauties first to lie Vail'd and obscur'd from every am'rous eye Their all gold shining hair thou didst restrain Into a net and thou hast put a rein To all sweet dear lascivious acts and we Think now that theft which us'd loves gift to be And all these acts of thine turn to our pain But thou great Jove who with thy power dost reign O're love and nature with a word can'st tame The greatest Monarchs and whose very name Strikes terrour why alas dost take delight To disturb us poor miscreants kings of might And power best fit thy thoughts disturb their peace And grant great god that we may live at ease And by thy divine providence be hurl'd Into the golden o th' ancient world We 'l hope since there 's no joy when once one dies We 'l hope that as we have seen with our eies The Sun to set so we may see it rise Act. 2. Scen. 1. Satyre alone SMall is the Bee much smaller is her sting Yet doth its wound both pain sorrow bring But what 's more smal then love since it conceals It self within such minute parts and steals Into the smallest spaces now it rests Within the valley of two alp-like breasts Now creeps and hides it self within the fair And curled tresses of a golden hair Now under twinkling eye-brows now i' th' sleek And rosie dimples of a laughing cheek Yet are it's wounds it's plagues so sad so sore That nought can
sun-like soul-bewitching hue And didst afford to grace her mind within Nothing but falsenesse cruelty and sin Negligent Mistresse But ay me my dear Aminta will have slain himself I fear 'T is full three houres that round about the ground Where I him left I sought him but have found Nor him nor yet his footsteps 't is too plain I clearly see that he himself hath slain But stay perhaps those shepherds yonder be May tell me news of him friends did you see Aminta or hear of him Chor. Thou dost show So troubled that the cause we fain would know Of this thy grief from whence proceeds this sweat This sorrow tel us if thou think'st it meet Thir. I fear Aminta's ill did you him see Chor. No him we have not seen since that from thee Long since he parted but pray tell us plain What dost thou fear Thir. Lest he himself have slain Chor. That he ha's slain himself but what could move Him such an act to do Thir. Hatred and love Chor. Who two such potent enemies don't fear What can't they do but tel us pray more clear Thir. His great love of a nymph and her no smal Hatred of him Chor. Nay prethee tell us all This is a place of passage and whilst you Relate it news may brought be perhaps too Himself may come mean-while Thir. I willingly Recount it wil that the just infamy Of such a strange ingratitude may rest Upon that cruel and remorseless breast Aminta told was I alas was he That told it him and he was led by me Now I repent me that his Silvia dear This day with Daphne in a fountain clear Would bath her naked limbs he thither went Not mov'd by his desire but to content My importunities oft back have gone He would but that I still did thrust him on Now when we come were to the fountain nigh We thought we heard a womans woefull cry And not far off we Daphne saw her ey 's Swollen with tears when she saw us her cries Did pierce the heav'ns run and make haste said she Silvia is forc'd Amintas presently Not staying to hear more flew away so Swift as I never yet saw swifter Do I followed him when lo we straightway see The beauteous Silvia ti'd unto a tree The rope to tie her was her brightest hair Which in a thousand knots intangled were About the plant that girdle us'd to be The former warder of her chastitie Was us'd now to her rape and serv'd to bind Unto the tree her snow-white hands behind The very plant it self did condescend To this foule act and seem'd as 't were to lend It 's ful assistance to the rape for round About her legs two pliant twigs were bound Just before her a cruel Satyre stood With looks denoting villany and blood Who finisht had to bind her she poor heart Did strive with all her force and all her art But what alas could all her force or skil Prevail ' gainst him who had such strength at will Aminta with his sharp wel-brandish'd dart Aim'd at but mist the cursed Satyres heart I gather'd up what stones I could but he Seeing us two thought it was best to flee We him pursu'd Aminta as his flight Gave leave turn'd back his ey 's to have the sight Of her fair members which more soft by far Seem'd than Swans down and whiter much than are The snow-deck'd Alpes but when we had in vain Pursu'd the rogue he turning back again Accosts her thus Pardon O Silvia fair These hands of mine which with such boldness dare Approach thy members for they 're forc'd to loose These knots which ministred to thy abuse Then since that fortune has been pleas'd to send Them such a blisse let it not thee offend Chor. Words that would mollifie a heart of stone What answer did she give him then Thir. Why none But looking down disdainfully she tride All that she could her fairest breasts to hide He from the tree begins her hair to loose And thus he seem'd to say Durst thou abuse These golden curls base plant which do to thee So great an honour ah unworthy be Thy branches of such knots what vantage pray Can we poor Lovers boast of Since trees may Enjoy those comforts which we want entwine By force those locks which blesse these hands of mine By their bare touch this done he from behind Unties the knot and does her hands unbind In manner so as if he seem'd to fear Their touch and yet to touch could not forbear Then stoops that he might loose her feet but she Finding her hands were now at libertie Looks on him scornfully says touch not I Am Dians nymph I can my feet untie Chor. Can so much pride reign in so fair a heart O for so good an act ingrateful part Thir. He did respectfully himself retire Not looking on her though he did desire Deny'd himself that pleasure which on trial He fear'd would give her trouble of denial I heard and saw all this and hid did lie And though about to check her cruelty Yet I with-held but heare the most unkind Part of all yet she did at length unbind Her self scarce loose nor bidding him adieu Faster then fleetest Stag away she flew And yet to fear I 'm sure she cause had none For his respect to her was ful wel known Chor. Why did she fly then Thir. She would of her rape The rescue attribute to her escape Not to his modest love Chor. Ingrateful too In this but what said he what did he do Thir. I know not I vext at her rigor ran To overtake and hold her but in vain For soon I lost her track then turning where I left Aminta could not find him there My heart presages ill for this I 'm sure He 'd rather die than this sad chance endure Cho. The custom 't is we know of those that are In love to threaten death but very rare Are those effect it Thir. But pray god that he One of those rare ones be not Cho. He won't be So foolish fear not Thir. I 'l go to the cave Of sage Elpino where I sure shal have News of him if he lives for that 's his hant There on his oaten pipe he us'd to chant Sweet songs and there lament him of his love And make the very rocks and mountains move The Rivers stop their course to hear his layes The trees incline and wild beasts leave their preys Act. 3. Scen. 2. Amintas Daphne Nerina Amin. PItilesse pity Daphne sure was thine When thou with-heldst this hand this dart of mine That so my death being delay'd by fate Might be more bitter by how much more late And why dost trace me thus or thinkst to force Hope into me by this thy vain discourse What dost thou fear that I my self should slay Thou fear'st my good then prethee goe away Daph. Despair not thus Aminta for if I Know Silvia wel 't was shame that made her fly Not cruelty Amin.
relentlesse heart Of mine what fear'st thou go receive that dart Which he brings in his tongue that so thereby May be made known thy heartlesse cruelty Shepherd I come a partner here to be Of that grief which thou promist's others me Perhaps it more concerns and as a due Debt of my rigor I receiv't from you Erg. Nymph I believe thee well for at his death He with thy name gave up his latest breath Daph. Now begin this sad story Erg. I surround The Mount did with some nets spread on the ground When lo Amintas passed by and he Was too much chang'd from what he us'd to be Too troubled and too sad I ran and staid Him though with much ado he to me said Ergasto I 'd intreat a courtesie Of thee 't is this to come along with me And be a witnesse of what I shal do But this I shal requier first of you That by streight oath your firmest faith you bind Neither to hinder nor oppose my mind I for who could have thought so strange a case Or such mad fury let his will take place And did conjure Pan Pales Priapus And all those gods are honour'd most by us He at my oaths went forward and me led There where the cliffy rock hangs o're it's head Road it was none for there no path at all But from the mount a precipice doth fall Into th' adjacent valley here a stop We made when I with looking from the top Such was the height so level to the ground That with a giddinesse my head turn'd round I started back he smil'd to see me start Which too much did assure my fearlesse heart Then to me said Ergasto I 'd have thee Recount to Nymphs and Pastors what thou'lt see So looking down began Had I here ready to my will The teeth of rav'nous wolves to spill My blood I 'd onely choose that death By which she di'd who was my breath They tear this body should of mine As they did that fair corps of thine But since that heav'n is so unjust As to deny though die I must My death desired nor will send Fierce beasts to help me to my end I 'l find a death though not the due Shall end my life as soon as you Silvia I come I come to thee Disdain not then my company Contentedly I shall endure The sharpest death were I but sure 'T would not again begin our strife Thy anger ceas'd were with thy life Silvia I come this said he in a trice Threw himself down I frozen stood like Ice Daph. Wretched Aminta Sil. Ay poor me Chor. But why Some way to hinder him didst thou not try Perhaps thy promis'd oath did thee restrain Erg. No for rejecting oaths in that case vain When I discern'd his purpose though too late I ran to stay him such was his hard fate I onely caught this silken girdle here But he went with such force it could not bear His body's weight and so it did remain Thus broken in my hands Chor. But what became Of the unhappy corps Erg. That know not I I had not heart enough to see it lie Pity and horror having fill'd the place So shattred into peeces Chor. O strange case Sil. If this newes kil 's not me my heart 's of stone Or rather I believe that I have none Shall the false rumour of my death have such Power o're his life whom I did hate so much And shall not his true death who life did leave For love of me me of my life bereave It shall and if that griefe can't do 't a knife Or else this girdle shall command my life This girdle left behind alone to be The just revenger of my cruelty Unhappy girdle of a Master farr Unhappier disdaine not that you are Lodg'd in this justly to thee hatefull brest Since there thou as an instrument do'st rest Of that revenge which is in justice due To your so haplesse Master and to you For since t was by my cruelty deni'd Aminta should my consort here abide 'T is just I should by work of thine be made His consort in the sweet Elizian shade Chor. Comfort thy selfe poore wretch thou fault hast none In this but fault of fortune 't is alone Sil. Shepherds weep not for me your tears you loose Those pity don't deserve who none did use Or if ye weep his losse ye weep in vain Since that deserves a far more dolefull streine And thou too Daphne dry those teares of thine If from no other cause they come than mine This s'd intreat thee do not for my sake But for his worthy was the pains to take To go with me to see those wretched bones I feare me crush'd among the rocks and stones And helpe to bury them and when that I Have perform'd this what should I do but dy This office I 'l repay him since no more I can for that great love which he me bore And though these hands of mine contaminate Will this good work yet since pernicious fate Permits me only to do this I know It will be deare to him he lov'd me so Daph. Who would their help to such a work deny But afterwards thou must not think to dy Sil. Till now I liv'd have to my selfe alone And to my cruelty what rests to none I 'l live but to Aminta and if fade My hopes do there I 'l live to his cold shade So long I 'l live till in one point can I Finish his saddest obsequies and dy Shepherd direct me that I may not faile To find the way which leads unto the vale Where ends that cursed precipice Erg. You are Just in the way nor is it very far Daph. Come I 'l go with thee thou my foot-steps trace And I 'l thee lead directly to the place Sil. Then Shepherds Nimphs Meadows and Plaines adieu Woods Rivers Fountains all farewell to you Erg. Alas she takes her leave with sighs so sore As if she were resolv'd to turn no more CHORUS WHat death must yeeld that love retains Thou peace's friend he wars unkind Ever his triumphs vaunts and reignes And whil'st thoudo'st twofair souls bind Thou rendr'st earth so like the heavenly sphear That thou thy selfe deign'st to inhabit here There is no anger there above And thou hast mortal brests inclin'd By thy divinest art of love To put all hatred out of mind And with a pow'r exceeding earthly Kings Thou here below dost govern mortall things Act. 5. Scen. 1. Elpine Chorus of Shepherds Elp. IN truth the divine law by which love sway 's His sacred Empire is not hard nor stray's In oblique paths sage providence the guide Is of his workes and all his actions glide In deepest mysteries see by what art By what strange uncouth meanes he leads a heart To happinesse and when man thinks that he Is now arriv'd at th' depth of misery And wretchednesse why then the winged boy Transports him to the paradise of joy Behold Aminta by his fall
fame and vertue groan'd to raise their tomb We might more justly praise to Otho lend Who liv'd a woman like a man did end The Defiance 1. NO more no more no more fond love will I Own thee to be a deity No longer fear thy bow or dart Or think th' hast pow'r to wound a heart There 's none but fools are subject to thy skil I 'l scorn thy force and love but where I will Let dotards hold thou canst controul The motions of a noble soul I 'l never fear to be thy slave Or think that o'r my heart thou pow'r canst have 2. Then childish boy go let thy weaker darts Pierce sottish fools or mad-mens hearts In vain in vain they here are thrown Think not with steel to pierce a heart of stone No thou maist sooner move the firmament Make the poles meet than make my heart relent T is too too firm nor will it be bound to so base a slavery Nor can my noble constant mind To any force or power be confin'd 3. Nay I 'l not onely not be slave to thee But thou shalt be a slave to me I will usurp thy powâ—r and find Ways to subject a female mind Which thou fond boy couldst never boast to know And not insnare but fairly force my foe Whilst thou shalt pine because My power exceeds thy laws And shalt be forc'd to yeild to me Thy bow thy dart thy very deity The wonder 1. I Can't devise what Devil 't is can move Men to this fond this foolish passion love In the best woman I spy not one part Worthy to wound a noble heart Nor can the beauties of a face A comely carri'ge or a grace Wit or discourse in my poor soule take place 2. 'T is true in beauty I find some delight But yet no farther than to please my sight I love fair eyes I love a Rosie cheek I love a skin that 's smooth and sleek I love soft breasts but of all these There 's none that with my heart agrees They onely serve my outward sense to please 3. Strange that menssouls should be bewitcht and 〈◊〉 Subject to darting of a female eye No soule 's sure so ignoble to take fire From such a low base-born desire They 're made our servants and shal we By loving them make them to be Equal nay grant them superioritie 4. There may be witchcraft in a comely grace There may be witchcraft in a beauteous face But I for ever that pow'r in love dis-own That makes me others slave then 's own 'T is worse than Turkish Tyranny In love for him to make me be To her that is my slave in slavery The Composition THreat'st thou to wound me fool thou threat'st in vain Thou maist shake heav'n with lesser pain Or make the mountains plain The Northern pole go move Go bring the bright Sun from above And then come boast th' hast forc'd me love 2. I 'd have thee know I have a flinty heart That scorns thy utmost power or art Nay thy all-piercing dart Go and let it 's steely head Imprint it self on hearts of lead None break a flint but on a feather-bed 3. I dare thy foolish threats but hadst thou come With pray'rs and humbly sought a room Perhaps I had gi'n thee some Strong Rhodes was found ' Gainst Turkish force to keep her ground But fair conditions offer'd did compound 4. Then if that laying by thy bow and dart By league thou wilt secure my heart Let 's thus conditions part I 'l leave that whole to thee But thou must let me still go free With bag and baggage both from it and thee The Conquest GEntly kind love restrain restrain thy hand Keep back thy cruel pricking dart Lest it not wound but kill my heart I yeild who dare resist if thou command O let it be enough for thee That thou hast gain'd o'r me the victory Do not insult upon my misery 2. Shouldst thou continue still to conquer me And should'st not to my o'reflown grief Send some small comfort or relief Death would at last of both have victory Be merciful and let me live Lest while t' inlarge thy power thou dost strive Thy cruelty Subjects of life deprive 3. I ask no more but so far pity me As with the self same dart To wound her frozen heart That so she may no more relentlesse be And thus shalt thou two subjects gain Who will this victory of thine proclaim And ever honour thy all-conquering name Reason in Love T Is not the lustre of thy darting eye Which shines so gloriously Nor is' t thy twin-born milk-white breasts which shew Like mounts of purer snow 'T is not thy cherry lip or golden hair Which makes me judge thee fair Nor is' t thy pleasant sweet discourse or wit Nor what proceeds from it Thy comely carriage or thy grace can move Me to adore or love But 't is thy purer soul which still I find Compliant to my mind In all things but what would most pleasant be That is thy loving me Wer 't then fair Hellen fairer couldst thou boast Thy beauty o'r the most Didst thou in all mens judgments where thou' rt seen Exceed the sea-born Queen If the least falsenesse in thy soul I see thou 'dst seem most foule to me Were thy mind blemisht with the smallest blot Or the least faithlesse spot The blackest ill-look'd Indian would appear To me than thee more rare 'T is the bright soul that darting out it's light Makes beauty a delight Which else like the inclouded Sun would be Gloomy and dark to me 'T is that alone which me thy slave can make And love thy body for thy fair souls sake Beauty 1. THou soul-bewitching devil at first made Mens inward senses to invade That hast the power to invite Mans purer mind unto a feign'd delight That first dost conquer with thy flatt'ring eye And then insult'st upon our misery 2. Thou heart-entrapping witch which do'st deprive Men first of sense and then of life Thou snake that li'st'mongst fairest flower Rais'd by the moisture of sweet Aprill showers And so with greater ease do'st work our harmes Regarding none but only thy own charmes 3. Thou meere conceit of mans imagination Blown up and down fixt to no station Which hast no more in thee of blisse Then what by his fond soule imagin'd is So if a Chaos by him deemed be Faire 't is by much more beautifull then she 4. Thou painted garnish'd flower only made To flatter men and then to fade That so they punished may be Like Tantalus not to enjoy but see Mounting them up first to a promis'd blisse To let them fall to more unhappinesse 5. Thou fruit like cursed Sodoms which do'st lie Delighfull pleasing to the eye But if once toucht like them thou' rt found But onely fair without within unsound Like summer pears a pleasant outward part But if once cut found rotten at the heart The Variety THou saist I swore I lov'd thee
best And that my heart liv'd in thy breast And now thou wondrest much that I Should what I swore then now deny And upon this thou taxest me With faithlessenesse inconstancy Thou hast no reason so to do Who can't dissemble ne'r must wooe 2. That so I lov'd thee 't is confest But 't was because I judg'd thee best For then I thought that thou alone Wast vertues beauties paragon But now that the deceit I find To love thee still were to be blind And I must needs confesse to thee I love in love variety 3. Alas should I love thee alone In a short time I should love none Who on one well lov'd feeds yet Once being cloy'd of all loaths it Would'st thou be subject to a fate To make me change my love to hate Blame me not then since 't is for love Of thee that I inconstant prove 4. And yet in truth 't is constancy For which I am accus'd by thee To nature those inconstant are Who fix their love on one that 's faire Why did she but for our delight Present such numbers to our sight ' Mongst all the earthly Kings there 's none Contented with one Crown alone She inconstant HA now you think y'have cheated me oh no I did believe you would do so Who ever did the various wind Still constant to one corner find Whenever did the changling air Show it self stil serene and fair Yet we might sooner hope these thus should be Than think to find in woman constancy 2. We may as well command the Sun not move As you with constancy to love Or bid the sea be free from waves When stormy blustring Boreas raves Nay we as well the Moon might wooe To leave her weekly change as you Your nature 't is and should you constant be I fear you 'd prove unnatural to me 3. You lighter much than feathers are and so Must move with whar e'r wind doth blow Hurried about now here now there Now yonder but yet fixt no where Perhaps at length a gust may be To bring you back once more to me But Jove forbid for yet I fear thou'dst move My ensnar'd soule to ruine in thy love The Resolution 1. NOw by that beauty I so much adore I am resolv'd to dote no more No longer shall my passions strive Me of my reason to deprive No longer will I subject be But nobly set my heart at liberty 2. Then go dear heart and be no more confin'd To a womans changling mind Why should'st thou a subject be To their selfe-will'd tyranny Break break thy bands and fetters know Subject to her thou' rt subject to a foe 3. There 's nought in her that thee her slave hath made 'T is thou that hast thy selfe betraid By fanc'ing that her beauties shine Like something more then halfe divine Think then thy selfe deceiv'd to be Thou' rt undeceiv'd and art than thought more free 4 'T is men alone that womens Empire raise By wooing them with fancied praise When if we would their masters be They must grant Superiority Nay did we cease to flatter thus 'T would not be long ere they would flatter us 5 Cease then my heart and dote no more in vain Thou never thus the fort wilt gain No more upon entreaties stand But learn like her how to command Those Castles which find no remorse On summons must be taken in by force She Weeping 1. SEe how she weepes with what a grace Sorrow it selfe showes in her face See how her ey 's still dart their beams Nothing ecclipsed by those streams See how those teares sprung from her eye Like pearles enchas'd on rubies lie 2. So have I seen the clouds distill Their heat drops yet the Sun shine still Which only some refreshment yield To the before Sun-scorched field Ah! precious teares might you but be Of halfe that comfort unto me Then should I deeme them far more rare Then all the Ocean jewells are But what avails it since in vaine I hope they should refresh my pain Since Ah poore me I plainly see They tears of greife not pity be The Wish 1. NO my desires are limited nor expand They halfe so far I do not crave To have dominion o're a mighty land Nor Cressue riches would I have The Grecian Empire would not be Of any comfort or content to me 2. While she deare she deigns not to cast an eye Of pity or regard my greife Rather insults upon my misery So far so far shee 's from releife Ah fairest Nymph all that I crave Is that one look of pity I might have 3. Would'st thou be pleas'd but once to smile on me For that smile I 'd the Indies slight In them there could not halfe that comfort be Not half that pleasure or delight No the whole world to me would seem For such a favour of too smal esteem 4. One smile I wish nor would I have thee be Too lavish of such boons as those Ah! how much would poor one recomfort me One smile enough thy pity showe And should'st thou not it then with-hold With joy I die or else grow over-bold Despair 1. AH me my tears and sighs I waste in vain In vain of her I beg releif Who neither pity's nor regards my pain Nor will yeild comfort to my grief 2. No more no more in vain to thee I 'l cry No thou my sighs no more shalt hear But to some lone shade I 'l retire and lie Lamenting my hard fortune there 3. Where the kind Echo from th'inclosed air Shall grant to me what e'r I say And from the hollow rocks answer my pray'r Nor ever like thee say me nay 4. But yet I fear lest while I here impart And tell my griefs unto each tree My bosome be not left without a heart 'T wil stil burst out and fly to thee Love or no Love I Think I lov'd but for pastime or so Nor can I well tell if I lov'd or no Sure Love I did but jeer thee for I find Thou hast left no impression on my mind Thy shafts ne'r yet touch'd me nor did thy dart That I was sensible e'r wound my heart Yet I can love without thee nor canst thou Subject that heart will sooner break than bow Strange that men should be causers of their woe And fancy passions when they are not so Thou hast no pow'r to conquer but what we By fancying a subjection give to thee I can love so that neither my desire Can mount so high as to be term'd a fire And I can cease to love when e'r I please Nor one nor t'other shall disturb my ease Go then fond boy and break thy feebler darts And boast no more thy pow'r to conquer hearts Since I have learn'd to fool thy pow'r and thee And love or not love with Tranquillity Gold 1. BAse sottish Idol which dost vainly boast T' extend thy pow'r from coast to coast Vaunting that there Temples be Rear'd in every heart to thee Boast no more for
be imagin'd torment more Ah me my very bowels and my heart Boil o're with blood and like a cruel dart So Silvia's fair ey 's pierce me I may say Cruel Love but far more cruel Silvia Cru'ler then woods Oh! how wel doth agree Thy nature with thy name wel did he see That it impos'd thee woods in their green brakes Do hide fierce lions tigers wolves and snakes Thou under covert of thy sairest breast Hid'st anger hatred and disdain which beasts Are worse by much alas than those of prey As lions tygers wolves or snakes for they May be appeased but ay me these are Such as will not be charm'd by gift or pray'r Thou slights the flowr which from the fields I chose Because thy cheek flowers much fairer showes I from the orchards bring thee apples fair Which thou rejectst disdainful cause there are In thy fair bosome apples far more rare I bring thee sweetest honey even such From hives I stole thou deignst it not to touch Cause on thy sweet lips sweeter ther 's by much But if my poverty permits me not To give unto thee any thing but what In thee 's more sweet and fair my self then take Unjust why shouldst thou such a gift forsake I 'm not to be despised no for I Saw my self in the sea when it did lie Becalm'd free from waves this my fierce stern And sanguine look these shoulders large this arm So strong and nervous this rough shaggy breast These big-bon'd thighs of mine and all my rest So well knit members are a sign that I Am strong and lusty if believ'st not try What wil't do with these tender fooles whose sleek Face scarce allowes them down upon their cheek Women in show and Workes they be nor are Skill'd in ought else but to dispose each haire In it's due order ther 's not one that dare Follow thee through the woods to hunt the Bear Or durst encounter wilde Boares for thy sake I 'me not so ugly no nor dost forsake Me ' cause I am thus form'd alas but why Because I 'm poor thou dost thy love deny Alas the Villages do follow now The custom of the Mighty Cities how Well may the golden age this called be Since gold alone Commands imperiously O! thou who first didst teach the way to sell Divinest love may torments worse then hell Still waite and tend upon thee maist thou dy Unpitied let thy cold ashes ly Unburied let Nimphs and Shepherds cease Passing to say Soule do thou rest in Peace Let the raine wet thee move thee may the wind Let flocks and strangers too be so unkind As for to trample on thee thou first sham'd The Nobility of love not to be nam'd Horrid and Monstrous 't is not to be told How Love is made the Price of abject Gold But why in vaine lament I since I see Beasts for their safety use those Armes which be Allotted them by Nature Tigers paw's Use for defence Lions their teeth and claw's The Stag does for her safety use to fly A womans weapon is her Beauty Why Then since all these do use their nat'ral armes To conquer foes or save themselves from harms Should not I when that nature ha's me made Apt for to ravish make use of the trade I 'l force I 'l ravish what she me denies Nor will be moved with her pray'rs nor cries Not long ago I told was by a Swain That in the fountain lies in yonder plain She often baths her self there I intend To hide me in the bushes to the end That when she comes I may be sure to take Hold on her what resistance can she make ' Gainst me poor tender soule and for her cries I 'l neither them nor of her beauty prize The power Oh if I can but once entwine This hand within her locks why then she 's mine Nor shal the gods release her til that I For my revenge my armes in blood do dy Act. 2. Scen. 2. Daphne and Thirsis Daph. THirsis as I thee told I long since thought Amintas did love Silvia and have sought God knows all way 's to further this his love And shall the more since thou art pleas'd to move Me in it but I rather had by far Chuse for to tame a lion or fierce bear Then such a simple girle who does not know How piercing be her beauties armes and though She others kils yet is her self stil sound And wounding others knows not how to wound Thir. And where 's that child so simple han't a mind As soon as out of swathling bands to find Arts to seem handsom and to make her please And how to kil with pleasing and with ease Can tell what armes they be cause death nay more What armes they be which life again restore Daph. Who mistresse is of so much art Thir. As though Thou knewst not Daphne 't is the same doth shew Flight to the winged birds and doth infuse Swimming to fishes teaches Buls to use Their hornes and makes Juno's proud bird to spread Her Argus-eye-deckt feathers o're his head Daph. I 'd very fain know how you cal this same Mistress of arts Thir. Why Daphne is her name Daph. Out filthy liar that thou art Thir. why fool Art thou not able then to keep at school A thousand girls although no need there is In this same Art of Love of Mistresses For nature is their mistresse though 't is true The mother and the nurse bear a share too Daph. Come thou too knavish art in sum I 'l tel Thee that I am not yet resolved well If Silvia be so simple as she feigns Her self to be for down in yonder plains Where the clear waters of the silent lake Incircled round a pretty Island make I t'other day saw Silvia counsel take How she the golden tresses of her head In pretty curls might o're her forehead spread And then how she might fittest o're them place Her snow-white vail o're that with better grace Order some fragrant flowers with lilies fair Her white neck she 'd adorn and so compare Which was the whitest now a lovely rose To her sweet cheeks to see which did disclose The liveliest hue then with delight would she Smile as 't were boasting of the victory Methought she seem'd to say I onely do For your disgrace base flowers carry you Not for my ornament since all may see How much in beauty you must yeild to me But whilst she flatt'red thus her self her eye By chance she turn'd and turning did espie That I sat laughing in th' adjacent bowers At which she blush'd and strait let fall her flowers When laugh the more to see her blush did I Which her cheeks tinged in a deeper dy But cause that onely on one side her head Her hair was gathered on the other spread She fearful I should see again poor soule As 't were from the clear fountain counsel stole And though she were undrest yet pleas'd was she That so undrest she look'd so
handsomely I saw it and was silent Thir. Thou dost tell What I before told thee guest I not well Daph. Well didst thou guesse but I have been told how Pastors and nymphs were not so sly as now In former times nor young was I so bold The world do's grow more wicked as more old Thir. 'T is true that then Citizens us'd not so Oft in the Countrey come nor Rusticks go Unto the City now their crafty race As well as customes do with us take place But to our purpose canst not thou procure That the hard-hearted Silvia may endure To hear Amintas speak alone or 't least In company with thee which she 'l think best Daph. I 'l tell thee Silvia now so coy doth grow That well how to obtain it I don't know Thir. Amintas too respectfully is nice Daph. True sayst thou Thirsis there can no worse vice In lovers be he that would learn the art Of divine love must lay respect apart Must dare demand solicite importune And if by these means he can't overcome Must ravish too Thirsis thou knowst so well That I am sure there 's none need thee to tell The nature of a woman if she flies 'T is cause she 'd be pursu'd if she deny's Alas 't is onely cause that she would have Men to force that which first they did but crave She fights to be o'recome laugh not at me That I speak thus in considence to thee And that I speak in rimes but thou knowst Thirsis I can for rimes return thee more than verses Thir. Thou hast no reason to suspect that I Should e'r tell ought against thy modesty But I conjure thee Daphne by the dear Remembrance of thy youth that thou wilt here Lend thy assistance with me for relief Of poor Amintas who else dies with grief Daph. How neatly he conjures me by the joy Of mine that 's past and by my present'noy But what wilt have me do Thir. Judgement and skil I know thou hast then onely that thou will Daph. In sum I 'l tell thee then Silvi ' and I This day at Dians well which is hard by Intend to wash where an inviting shade For nymphs and shepherds by a beech is made And there she 'l naked bath her tender wast Thir. What then Daph. What then if thou hast wit thou maist Guess at the rest Thir. I guess but do not know Whether he 'l have the heart to come or no. Daph. If come he wo'n't for ought that I can say Stay until she looks after him he may Thir. He so deserves Daph. But Thirsis may not we At leisure now talk somewhat too of thee Why dost not thou a sweet-heart get Alas Thou' rt yet but young and scarce dost four years passe Of the fifth lustre and full well do I Know when these arms have danc't thee lullaby Why wilt neglected live and void of joy Since without love there 's no delight my boy Thir. A man may shun fond love and yet not fast From Venus pleasures he the sweet do's taste Without the bitter Daph. Most unsavorie 't is The sweet's not seasoned with some bitternesse Soon satiate Thir. Better once satisfide Then before meat and after to abide Stil hungry Daph. Thirsis if the meat you have doth please the more you tast the more you crave Thir. But who can alwaies present have that food Which though he 's hungry to his taste is good Daph. Who seeks no good shal find none Thir. There 's no ease In seeking that which found 't is true doth please But if not found when sought torments us more Thirsis wil ne'r a lover be before That cruel love shal leave it's company Of sighs and tears enough already I Have sigh'd and wept Daph. Enough enjoyed though Perhaps thou hast not Thir. Nor desire if so Dear I must buy it Daph. Well if nothing move Thee can at length thou wilt be forc'd to love Th. Love cannot force who 's out of his command Dap. But who is' t can out of loves empire stand Thir. Who fears his witching charms and flies away Daph. Where wilt thou fly if love his wings display Thir. But love when young ha's his wings short and so Can't overtake the man will from him go Daph. The birth of love there 's no man can discry And when discri'd his wings grown great he 'l fly Thir. Some by experience his first birth can tel Dap. Thirsis since thou pretendst to know so wel That Art we 'l see if thou canst from him run This I protest to thee I 'l not be won A hand a foot or eye-brow for to move Either to help or aid thee in thy love Thir. Fy cruel one then couldst thou dead me see If thou wilt have me love why love thou me Daph. Why dost thou mock me Thirsis perhaps thou Dost not deserve so fine a mistresse how Many a colour'd and smooth face be guiles Thir. I do not mock thee no but thou meanwhiles With this pretext my love dost not accept This is the common trick but if reject My love thou dost I without love will live Daph. Thirsis maist thou contently live and thrive More then e're yet thou didst maist live in ease And leisure without which love ne're doth please Thir. Daphne this leisure god hath granted me One who a god may here esteemed be To whom on verdant plains and cliffy rocks From sea to sea we feed our herds and flocks Thirsis said he let others take a care To chase the wolves and thieves let others share Rewards unto the servants others guard My wal'd-in sheep thou from these labours bar'd Shalt sing then just it is my pipe should move Not in fond fancies of a worldly love But that in higher strains it onely hollow The ancestors of my Jove or Apollo For which of those to call him well in troth I know not since he do's resemble both Progenitors of greater worth by far Then or bright Saturn or the Heavens are Low Muse to such a merit but yet he Sing I or clear or hoarse rejects not me His praise I dare not chant nor well can I Worthily honour him but silently And with due reverence but his altars ne'r Without my flowers or sweet perfumes yet were And when I do forget him to adore Or worship then let Thirsis be no more Let Rivers change their beds the Soane advance To wash the Persian banks the Tigris France Daph. High ho thou' rt flown too high prethee descend Unto our purpose Thir. Daphne I intend That thou shouldst as thou go'st along the way Endeavour for to soften Silvia I 'l procure that he come this task of mine I doubt will harder be by far than thine Then go thy waies Daph. I do but I did mean By this talk part of which thou didst not dream Thir. If I can wel discern him by the face Aminta 't is appears in yonder place Act. 2. Scen. 3. Aminta Thirsis Amin. I 'Le see what Thirsis
ascends To his long wish'd-for and desired ends Happy Aminta happy so much more By how much more mis'rable thou before By thy example why should I despaire But rather hope that cruell one though faire Who under smiles of pity doth conceale Her mortall rigor now at length may heale My wounded heart and may true pity have To cure that wound her feigned pity gave Chor. see how the sage Elpino yonder walkes And to himselfe of poor Aminta talkes As though he living were he fortunate And happy calls him O the sad estate Of lovers is his judgement so misled To call those happy who find pity dead Is this the paradise of joy is this His wish'd contentment his desired blisse Is this the great reward the greatest ease Love gives his servants can this so much please Can this suffice Elpino is so bad Thy luck that thou stil'st sprtunate the sad Death of Aminta such an end do'st crave Elp. No Shepherds no but let your sorrows have An end false the report is he was dead Chor. O! how much comfort hath this good new's bred Did he not then himselfe precipitate Elp. He did but his more than thrice blessed fate Under deaths dolefull image did him give Both life and joy shepherds he still doth live And lives content for now his head doth rest On his deare Nymphs so much desired brest She whom before nor tears nor sighs could move To pity him is now as full of love Is now as mercifull and from his ey 's With her own mouth his teares of joy she dry's I go to seek her father old Montane And to conduct him unto yonder plaine Where they two be for nothing to the sill Of their content there wants but his good will Chor. Equal their birth is equal are their years Their wills agree and good Montane who bears Desiers to have nephews and to fence His drooping age with such a sweet defence Will make his will be theirs but dear Elpine Relate to us what fate what god divine Could of our poor Aminta such care have As might in that same desp'rate fall him save Elp. I am content to tell it and no man I 'm sure can tell it better then I can Just at the entrance of my cave stood I Which you know well at the hils foot doth lie I reasoning was of her who in a net First Thirsis caught and after me and yet I did my thraldom far prefer above His life of freedom or his flight from love When a strange voice our ears and ey 's did call Up to the top from whence to see one fall And see him on a bush of briers light Which stood in the mid-way was all one sight Nature had planted on the mountain's side A sett of thornes so thick that they seem'd ti'd Or wove together here at first he fell Which though 't was like a net yet could not well His bodi 's weight susteine but let him go Quite through that at our feet he fell yet so Much of the force and shock it took away That 't was not mortall only there he lay Astonished and void of sence Amaz'd We at the sad chance stood but when we gaz'd More neerly on and knew him then our trouble Our sorrow and our anguish did redouble But to our griefe it was some small repreive That he was not quite dead perhaps might live Then Thirsis t' me the secrets did discover Of this disconsolate and desp'rate lover We knowing 't was in vain him to lament Bethought a remedy and while we sent For learned Esculapius whom Apollo Taught Physicks art when he him us'd to follow At the same time he did on me bestow The skil to tune a harp and bend a bow Silvia and Daphne thither seeking came That body which they did believe was slain When Silvia saw Aminta's cheeks once fair Now void of life now grown so pallid were So wan that the bleak violet display's Not half that palenesse scorch'd by Phoebus rayes She stupifi'd neer void of sense doth rest Lamenting crying beating her fair breast She on him falls to take her latest kisse And joyn'd his face to hers her mouth to his Chor. Could she that was so coy now not restrain Her passion but extend the bounds of shame Elp. Weak love is held by shame but love grows bold As strong what is it then can it with-hold She as though in her ey 's she did contain Fountains of tears did with such plenty rain Them on his cheeks and they such vertue had That it reviv'd again the breathlesse lad His ey 's he weakly opens and he sends From his afflicted soule a sigh which ends In his dear Silvia's spirit by her sweet Mouth it was catch't and seem'd with it to meet Her Echo quite enliv'ned him but who Could now declare the joy possest these two Aminta thought 't was more then heav'nly charms That thus enclasp'd him in his Silvia's armes He that loves servant is perhaps may guesse Their blisse but none there is can it expresse Chor. And is Aminta fully cur'd canst tell No danger of his life Elp. He 's fully well 'T is true he 's somewhat bruis'd but nothing he Do's it account and nothing it will be Thrice happy he who did so fully prove Love's worst and now doth tast the sweets of love His sufferings and his torments onely be Sweet seasonings of his felicitie Shepherds farewel For I must once again Make haste to find out the good old Montane CHORUS CAn that Martyrdom he prov'd While he serv'd and while he lov'd While he hop'd while he dispair'd While he sigh'd and while he car'd Ever recompensed be Though with joy 's eternally What if sweet things sweeter more Are when bitter go before What if good things better will Be if savour'd with some ill Yet Love I pray give me the lesse Not this greater blessednesse If thou wilt blesse others so Who this full blisse crave to know But let me my nymph enjoy For a word or for a toy Without sighs and without care Without tears without dispair Let the season'ngs of our love Such be as may onely move Not such torments or such pain Sweet repulses sweet disdain To which kind kisses may succeed To show our hearts are still agreed FINIS Poems Lucretia ravished by Sextus Tarquine to her Husband Collatine and her Friends TO whom should poor Lucretia bemoan Those wrongs that outrage she has undergon But to the Collatine no more ah me No more no more thy faithful spouse is she Since Sextus did my innocence invade And our chast bed a lustful stew hath made If 't be a sin to suffer this if 't be A fault to yield to forcing Tyranny Rome judge me guilty but if will alone In crimes be argu'd then Lucrece has none My body onely he defil'd but stil My purer mind rests guiltlesse from the ill Nor ever did my noble soul yet move One footstep from it's loyal constant love I ne'r