all the prizes from my hand Wherewith he 's crown'd I find him notwithstanding Stil melancholy may not this be in him Some sad effect of love blest Shepheardess Who e'r thou art thrice happy is thy fortune In which this noble stranger bound his choice He is so far above the common merit That a Nymph should not much abase her self In loving him CLIDAMANT Indeed he merits much And we esteem him all we love his vertues Without being jealous of them PARTHENIA Clidamant Comes nothing short of him in my opinion ISMENIA Thimantes too will go as far as he DIANA Another time Melintus without doubt Will perform better MELINTVS Yes when you shal turn Your eys on that side MELISSA Shepheards once again Prepare I pray you for the Nuptials Of Thirsis with Parthenia Neece that Shepheard Is worthy of you and you are not ignorant That I intend as soon as he returns To make him as I hope your happy husband PARTHENIA aside Yes if my heart can suffer violence MELISSA In the mean time let 's go unto the Temple Our thanks and our devotions to pay Vnto the Gods on this so glorious day The end of the first Act. ACTUS II. SCENA I. ISMENIA THERSANDER THIMANTES ISMENIA 'T Is true Thersander I have done for thee Asmuch as possibly I could I made Thy sighs thy constancy thy faith appear For to perswade her but I lost my labour Diana is insensible her heart Which loves sweet applications cannot touch Among so many rocks is become rock THERSANDER What shall I doe Thimantes what a rude And rigorous fortune steers my destiny THIMANTES Quit that ingrateful and come forth of slavery THERSANDER How shall I come forth I 'm born miserable Under the frowning and the fatal aspect Of an ungentle Star Which in despight Of all my studies to defend me from it Pursues Cleagenor under the name Of poor Thersander ISMENIA Softly What is that I hear Good Gods THIMANTES Thersander what haft thou discover'd Hath thy own mouth betrayed thus thy secret See into what great danger thy imprudence Puts thee at present fearest thou no more Nearchus and his power THERSANDER No I fear nothing After this sentence but seek death for since It is resolv'd by fate that I must die What matter is it by what arm it be Whether Nearchus or Diana kill me ISMENIA Oh Gods how happy is he softly Hath not she For whom thou diest had some intelligence That thy heart loves elsewhere if it be so And that thy inconstancy procures thy torment Thou wrongfully accusest her of cruelty THERSANDER Quite contrary this love therewith thou seest My heart disturb'd is a sure testimony Of my fidelity 't is true alas I sometime lov'd an object of such beauty That the Gods never fram'd so fair a peece The Roses and the Lillies form'd the colour Which dy'd her cheeks and in hersparkling eys The Sun was painted to express unto thee Yet better her divine perfections Diana is her Portrait to the life Celia is seen in her she like Diana Had a Magestick carriage she had A mouth and eys like her she had an air Fierce too like hers but amiable lastly In every thing she seem'd Diana's self My heart is constant therefore as before Since still I love her in her living Portrait I thought at first then that her death was false And that Diana was that lovely object But when I few Diana entertain With such contempt the fervent love wherewith My heart was taken when I saw her rigours And infinite hatred I perceiv'd my errour And said this is not Celia so that I saw well by her cruelties indeed That I pursu'd her picture and had passion But for a Portrait ISMENIA What! is Celia dead then THERSANDER Alas that 's my affliction I saw her Stretch'd out upon her death-bed dead Ismenia And more dead yet then she I saw those places Shine with a certain rest of brightness which Her eyes had darted presently on this I had a Combat with Nearchus for This charming Beauty that proud favourite Unto the King by infamous desires Form'd him an object to his filthy pleasures This outrage was intended to her sweetness We fought on this occasion it was My fortune to disarm him but the death Of Celia and the anger of the King To save me from the rigor of the Law Enforc'd me to a flight and made me wander Seven year from Province unto Province lastly Wearied to see the Court of every Prince I thought to free me of all dangers here Under the feign'd name of Thersander and The habit of a Shepheard to disguise me Yet better the afflictions of my heart Have chang'd my Visage ISMENIA Hast thou nothing with thee That formerly was Celia's THERSANDER Yes one day I receiv'd from her hand this pretious pledge Of her unfeigned love behold this Portrait And judge I pray thee if I love Diana Or Celia ISMENIA Let me have this Portrait with it I 'l cure thy evil Diana seeing it Will become gentle I 'l go shew it her THERSANDER What wilt thou do Ismenia but I see Diana O Gods end my misery SCENA II. DIANA THERSANDER ISMENIA THIMANTES DIANA I Sought thee every where to Ismenia THERSANDER You will oblige me to Ismenia Ismenia to restore my Portrait to me ISMENIA Troublesome Shepheard I have much to say to Diana To thee in private therefore let us enter Into this Wood. Exit Ismenia and Diana THERSANDER Shew her that Portrait oh my martyrdom Traitrous Ismenia is this that faith For which Thimantes alwaies answered To me for thee yes it is by thy counsels Thimantes only that my seduc'd soul Left her the conduct of my faithfull love Nothing from thee or me can work upon her She jeers at all but let us find her out Exit Thersander and Thimantes Ismenia returns with Diana ISMENIA I see w' are private here we may speak freely A Mistress yet at last sighs for Thersander And one too in this Island far lesse cruel Then thee accept his service and embrace His faith this portrait which thou seest here He receiv'd from her as a faithfull witness Of their reciprocal and mutual fires DIANA What do I see ISMENIA That portrait as I take it Whereof Thersander is so proud DIANA I gave Such a one to Cleagenor Ismenia Who gave it thee ISMENIA Cleagenor himself DIANA O Gods what saiest thou to me thou art in An extream errour ISMINIA I tell thee again Cleagenor himself gave it to me DIANA This discourse holds no credit ISMENIA Every day Almost I see him and thou seest him also As well as I. DIANA I comprehend not these obscurities ISMENIA He loves thee and thou fliest him DIANA I fly None but Thersander ISMENIA Well henceforth accuse None but thy self of these disasters 't is The same Cleagenor that loveth thee And whom thou fli'st DIANA Cleagenor Ismenia That cannot be is' t possible that I Should have been two moneths without knowing
Command from her to speak to thee again In her behalf THERSANDER Advise me what to do DIANA Since the Nymph loves thee with such passion As I perceive she doth 't is ft thou flatter Her grief a little otherwise I fear That I shall lose thee after having found thee What mischief can she not do when provoked THERSANDER Since there needs but to feign all will succeed DIANA In the mean time Ismenia will be carefull To inquire for us when the Merchant-ship That 's bound for Sevill will be fully ready To set sail from the harbour we shall hire him To land us where we will till when our care Must be not to offend the Nymph for fear She ruine us she 'l presently be here She 's come already act the Lover well Dissemble handsomly therein consists All that we can expect SCENA V. MELISSA DIANA THERSANDER MELISSA A Word Diana Hast thou remov'd that fatal obstacle Which came to intetrupt the pleasant course Of my affections hast thou setled My lifes content and razed Celia Out of thy Brothers spirit DIANA His heart follows Where my voice and his glory calleth him And cheerfully yieldeth obedience To such sweet Laws MELISSA Blessed Interpreter Of a most ardent love hast thou advis'd him To keep it secret DIANA Only that point Madam J have forgotten but J will redeem it And tell him on 't before you if you please That I go for him MELISSA Go and bring him hither DIANA softly Feign handsomely unto her THERSANDER softly to Diana Fear it not I 'l speak before her but of you and to you And yet not make her jealous Then he saith to Melissa by whose side is Diana whom he looks upon THERSANDER aloud Could you doubt My heart should be so stupid and insensible Of my felicity how happy is My fortune and how gentle was the storm That gave me this bless'd port whereof great Kings Are jealous What proud Conqueror would not Submit and lay his arms down with himself At the fair feet of such a charming object A rude obdurate rock would be consum'd The coldest Marble would be kindled by it Yes Madam a fair eye but openeth Its lid here 't is day the nights black shadows Fly only from the Sun of those bright eyes Her fires too at the sight of them grow pale I must confess then Madam that J love them And that J live more in this beauteous object Then in my self my spirit is charmed with A happiness unparallell'd when J Think that J love them and am lov'd again MELISSA Come thou but feignest love do not abuse me THERSANDER O Gods what do you say Madam J love Or rather J adore MELISSA How hast thou then Dispos'd of Celia that reign'd o'r thy heart THERSANDER That affair's ordered well I 've put her interests Into my Sisters hands sh' 'ath promis'd me To make all fair of that side and will answer To me for her MELISSA Hast thou not boasted to me That her eyes were the object of thy love That for thy sake she cherished the light Of the alternate day and that they would Cover themselves with an eternal night If thou shouldst cease to live or to be faithfull Think well of thy part what th' ast promised Be firm be constant fail not in that point Consider not at all this supream greatness Stick to thine object love it for it self And have no interest for thy ambition Flatter thee with the honour to possess her Look only if she loves thee not if she Enricheth thee the beauty whom thou serv'st Should be thy crown all greatness whatsoever Should be esteem'd in thy accompt beneath it THERSANDER Ne'r doubt it Madam J shall have those thoughts Greatness shall never blind me so far forth As to oblige me to forget my love Which alwaies shall pure as the day star burn Base interest shall never sully me DIANA I 'l tell my Brother now what I forgate To THERSANDER If thou know'st well to love know thou as wel To hold thy peace love like the other Gods Is not without his secrets he is serv'd Sometimes by hearts that can't express themselves Take heed how thou provoke his jealous power Adore his Altars but adore in silence For silence is a part of his Religion And oftentimes this fierce God is offended At his own name if any thing hereof Should be known in the Isle thou art undone Love without speaking of it that 's the law Which is imposed on thee she for her part Will love thee likewise use the secret well Melissa otherwise would die with grief J know th' excess of love wherewith thy soul Is filled but for thy own interest Put a seal on thy mouth MELISSA Yes have a care That none suspect our love I 'l take my time To publish it in the mean time I 'l study Thy setrlement and they repose which makes That of my life this free confession now Would call up envy from her Cell and make Our greatest Hero's to dispute with thee What J have promis'd thee thine enemies Judge then how precious thy obedience is Since all thy good and happiness depends Upon thy silence THERSANDER Sure J should be strucken With a strange blindness if J observ'd not This your command J will obey so well That Madam even you your self shal doubt Whether J love or whether you J love MELISSA In the mean time thy sister shall assist me And have the ordering of our Amours Believe what she shall say since I will make her My only bosom friend unto whose trust J will commit the secrets of my heart THERSANDER J will make use of her in the same manner Enter Melintus he speaks to Melissa MELINTUS Madam a Jeweller that useth still To come unto the Games desires accesse Unto your presence MELISSA Cause him to come in This Sevil Merchant cometh every year To sell and traffick in the Island with us SCENA VI. MELISSA MERCATOR THERSANDER DIANA MELINTUS MELISSA SHall you remain sometime yet on our shore MERCATOR I stay but for your Passport to depart Every year Madam by your Highness bounty My trassick thrives so well that whatsoever Commodities I bring unto you Isle J carry nothing back you empty still My casket now I 'l shew you if you please such rarities as can be had no where But in my hands MELISSA Let 's see them MERCATOR Here 's a Diamond Darts flame of all sides MELISSA 'T is a sparkling stone I like his lustre MERCATOR Will you have it Madam MELISSA I 'l tell you presently shew all at once Then I shall soon chuse let me see that Coral MERCATOR The piece is very fair till now your Isle Hath never seen the like MELISSA And what 's that other MERCATOR A piece of Amber-greece Madam 't is rare And of great price I have pass'd divers Seas To purchase it alone 't is worth as much As all my casket DIANA For my part J cannot See any thing
THE ENCHANTED LOVERS A PASTORAL By Sr. WILLIAM LOWER Knight Amico Rosa Inimco Spina HAGE Printed by ADRIAN VLACK 1658. ACTORS Thersander A Cavalier disguised in the habit of a Shepheard in love with Diana Thimantes Disguised also in the habit of a Shepheard in love with Ismenia Clidamant Disguised also in the habit of a Shepheard in love with Parthenia Melnitus A Shepheard of the Iland in love with Diana Mercator A Merchant of Sevil. Diana A young Lady disguised in the habit of a Shepheardesse Parthenia Neece to the Princess in love with Clidamant Ismenia A young Lady disguised in the habit of a Shepheardess Molissa The Princess of the Island and Inchantress in love with Thersander The Goddess Diana The Scene is in the Iland of Erithrea in Portugal THE ENCHANTED LOVERS A PASTORAL ACTUS I. SCENE I. MERCATOR MELINTUS MERCATOR IF you have any service to command me At Sevil honour me with your Commission To morrow I embarke and leave the I le Until you Mart returns and games renue MELINTUS But first you 'l kisse the fair hands of the Nimph And take her pasport with you MERCATOR That 's a duty I dare not fail in though my interest Were not concern'd in 't I intend this day To carry her my casket of my richest And choicest merchandise when she hath bought What best pleaseth her fancy I shall be Dismist having no more commodities To sell unto the Shepheards of her Court MELINTUS Have you sold well MERCATOR To what end should I feign The trade goes well enough I complain not Rich Rubies Pearls of price bright Diamonds Store of fair Coral costly Amber-greece Portraits and other such dainty devises Have passed through my fingers at good rates Diana's festival is still kept solemn And as the games which fail not every year To be renu'd invite unto those woods The neighbouring Shepheards to dispute the prizes Proposed on those dayes I saw among them Some noble strangers clad in pastoral weeds That for the honour of this Island chose it Their sanctuary and repose MELINTUS You need not Wonder at this the place which they have chosen Denotes their judgments here ambition Hath no imployment if at any time We sigh here 't is for love no other passion Is seen among us though this Island be A part of Portugal we have our laws And Empire to our selves she that rules here Hath not the name of Queen we subjects are Our Soveraigns companions and her vertue Makes us to taste so much repose that she Hath put the Sheephook into the hands of A hundred Hero's who wearied with Lawrels And the noise of the war are here retir'd From the four corners of the World She rules So sweetly that crime onely feels her anger And as she is descended from the blood Of Zoroastres she knows well the vertue Of Herbs and th' influence of every star She understands the secret misteries Of Magick and sometimes makes use of it To serve her interests there is no Prince Nor Monarch that stands not in fear of her And suffereth her not to raign in peace For his own safety MERCATOR I know this Asyle And charming residence looks not with envy Upon the Court o' th' King of Portugal Besides I am not ignorant that the fair Ismenia drawn here by the sweet report Of these inchanting pleasures to enjoy them In quiet left the favour of her Queen And that this beauty by a sudden change Adds no small lustre to this Paradise MELINTUS See where she comes Diana too with her I must in private speak unto this fair one An interest of love obligeth me Continually to make her my devotions MERCATOR Go Sir and prosper may your Saint prove sweet And gentle as those South-gales I expect In my embarkment Exit Mercator SCENA II. DIANA MELINTUS IS MENIA DIANA not seeing MELINTUS DIANA TRue I hate that horrid noise Now my free thought releas'd from such a trouble Enjoyes it self MELINTUS to DIANA So soon to quit the sports What was your fancy DIANA To avoid discourse That troubled me and here I meet with new MELINTUS Can such a subject as brings homage to you Produce th' effect you speak DIANA What doth not please me Both troubles and offends me MELINTUS You will one day Quit those disdainful rigours DIANA Yes when you Have neither hope nor love MELINTUS D' ye entertain Every one thus that loves you DIANA If he be such As you I use him just in the same manner MELINTUS Surely the Shepheard Clidamant speeds better DIANA 'T is then assuredly because he doth not Resemble you MELINTUS He entertain'd discourse With you in gentle whispers at the Sports DIANA I do confess it We talk'd of you and of your little skill MELINTUS Your subject was more serious without doubt DIANA What e'r it was yours I am sure offends me Remove this hated object from mine eyes Your presence will at last provoke my anger MELINTUS Can one displease you speaking of your Loves Thou Husband'st for him that so sweet discourse ISMENIA Every one knows that who but speaks Melintus Speaks jealous MELINTUS It is no secret what men think of thee Every one knows that who speaks but Ismenia Speaks cocket ISMENIA Really thou hast much reason To be afflicted at that late discourse Clidamant merits much and I 'le oblige him DIANA Leave us MELINTUS He doth expect you and I trouble you But wee 'l find out a way to cross his fortune DIANA to ISMENIA He thinks that Clidamant enjoys my love ISMENIA Thou hast no reason Shepheardess to draw him Out of his errour in the mean time wilt thou Not yield thee to the faithful services The prayers and tears of the devout Thersander Wilt thou not love him yet he that encourag'd By thy fair presence only to please thee Hath gain'd so many prizes who to give Thy anger no pretence thought he loves much Can more be silent since the ardent flame Where with he burns for thee is only known To me unto Thimantes and thy self DIANA Ne'r speak unto me of it ISMENIA What! still cruel But hearken I will give thee an advise Shall touch thee whilst we may we should lay hold of The flying time he only maketh beauties And he destroys them in the lovely season That thine lasts use the gifts which nature gives thee Thou wilt one day lose this fair lustre which So charmeth hearts and be an object of Comtempt as now thou art of adoration DIANA Rather that love whose Orator thou art Yet know'st his use so little doth times office 'T is he that withereth a face the cares The troubles and the griefs which by his means Possess a heart deface the lovely features And mow the flowers he is like time the Tyrant Of all things he in a few dayes dryes up Our Roses and our Lillies ISMENIA Shepheardess Such fear hath smal foundation quit this thought For thy own interest when love is once Lodg'd in the
heart the ey hath then more light The face receiveth thence its full perfection Then we esteem us then we please our selves And know out utmost value we correct By art even to the least defect we call Our Glass to counsel in the ordering Our gate our carriage and our countenance There our eye cheers with smiles or kills with frowns Or faintly darts its glances or with strength Either to wound neer hand or further of Therefore once more for thy own interest I say unto thee love at least a little Thersander that adores thee DIANA Really Thou dost surprise me to speak thus unto me Thou that hast never yet had love nor thought Tending to that sick passion thou that mak'st So many Lovers only for thy glory Without remembring one of them thou that Pleasest thy self by turns in their discourse Thou that wilt gain all conserve thee nothing Thou sufferest Thimantes to adore thee To day but tell me wilt thou entertain His love to morrow ISMENIA I love but I have alwayes had my method In love the Lover that is troublesome Unto me is my Lover for a day I burn not yet for love not do I sigh for 't I make a sport on 't still but ne'r a torment In thrusting no one of I 'm every day Attended by a multitude of servants That present courtship to me and all strive Who shall be formost on whom I command And raign as Princess they suppose they please me In putting up my praises when I go Unto the Temple they fail not to follow And carefully to tread in all my steps I am not pleas'd to see in such brave Shepheards A troop of slaves attending on my train I please them all in flattering their desires I 'm much delighted when I make them jealous Provided that their jealousy extend not So far as to betake themselves to arms For th' honour of my beautyl this high point Of evidences might perhaps enrage Even all my other lovers DIANA Ha! how ill Thou know'st love and his maximes I behold Thy changes as so many crimes for my part If my heart were ta'ne with an object once I could not pass from love unto contempt I should be fix'd unto my first Idea And that God wholly should possess my thoughts ISMENIA Well then Diana love if thou think'st fit Beyond the grave and make so fait a fire Arise beneath thy ashes DIANA Oh alas ISMENIA What signify those sighs DIANA They signify The sorrow of the heart ISMENIA But whence proceeds That sorrow is it from thy brothers death Or from some lovers come deal plainly with me Dost thou not love Thersander yet at last DIANA No I assure thee ISMENIA Speak I 'm very secret DIANA I 'le tell thee then in Sevil I receiv'd Both life and love Cleagenor Ismenia Is the name of the Conquerour whose image Is graven in my heart ISMENIA O Gods how this discourse Hath cosened my thought I was about To give instructions but pursue DIANA Our parents Approv'd our love and the day for our marriage Already was appointed when Nearchus Provoked by an infamous desire Came to solicit me unlawfully In favour of his flame this favourite Unto the King after a passion painted And coloured with sighs called his presents To the assistance of his faith but this Proving effectless he resolv'd my ruin He came with open force to satisfy His beastly and unruly appetite And to that end would carry me away My Mother having notice at that instant Of his design made me to take a drink To frustrate it and then her subt'le policy Spread through the Town the rumour of my death Indeed the vertue of this drink procur'd me So long a sleep that it appear'd to be The sleep of death Nearchus terrified With this sad news came to behold it painted Upon my face remorse of conscience Within his heart then quarrel'd with his love His sad despair arm'd him to kill himself But whilst his soul was troubled herewith I was conveyed secretly into A Bark scarce had I yet finish'd my sleep But at my first waking I saw my self Upon the Sea My Mother then related The whole adventure to me and the secret Imposture of my feigned death when suddenly A storm brake the discourse horrour and death March'd on the floods alas what shall I say Our vessel being carried by the fury O' th' winds and waves was split upon a rock The several pieces floated on the waters I know not which o' th' Gods took care of me In putting one under my trembling hand Which making me pass on those moving graves Through the disturbed empire of the winds Carried me to the shore in all apparence Devoid of life here in this quiet Island Of Erithrea where Melissa raigns My body found a receptacle she Returning at that instant from the chase Perceiv'd it lying which th' enraged Sea Yet threatened on its banks and that same God Which would compleat his miracle inclin'd Her heart to pitty at this spectacle She caus'd me to be carried to her Court It is unto her succour that I owe The remnant of my dayes here I first chang'd My name the better to assure my flight And so to disappoint Nearchus pursuit ISMENIA How Shepheardess is not thy Name Diana DIANNA No Celia was my true and only name But for my safety I made to Metissa A feign'd relation of the miseries Of my sad life since she receiv'd me Into her palace where I live with her And am now of her Court Seven times the Sun Hath finish'd his Carier since I have seen Or heard news of my mother ISMENIA Was Cleagenor Inform'd of all this DIANA Oh alas this is One of the point that causeth my affliction Cleagener surprised by the same Imposture came to see me in my bed As in my grave I wonder that the noise Of his redoubled cryes brake not my sleep The heat to revenge me dry'd all his tears He found his rival and assaulted him They fought on equal terms Nearchus fell Under his arms for dead Cleagenor was forc'd to fly t' avoid the fury of Th' offended King his sudden flight gave not My Mother oportunity t' inform him As she intended with the fiction Of my pretended death since his departure 'T is now seven years compleat in all which time I 've heard no news of him so that I know not Whether I mourn the living or the dead In the mean time to weep my fate more freely And to conceal my miserable fortune I feign'd a Brothers death ISMENIA I 'm sensible Of thy misfortune and will bear a part In thy sad grief if that will make it lesse I no more now condemne thy sighs nor tears But yet at last preserve thy beauty from Those murthering sorrows in this doubtfull case Fix thy fair thoughts upon some other object If death hath seiz'd thy Servant sure thou losest Too many tears and sighs or grant he live I st probable that he
will keep his constancy For thee whom he thinks dead but here 's my Lover SCENA III. THIMANTES DIANA ISMENIA ISMENIA to THIMANTES WHat busines brings thee hither THIMANTES Here I come A little to divert my thought DIANA What thought THIMANTES 'T is a disease which doth assault my sense ISMENIA What i st without more circumstance THIMANTES My plaint Without words would express it at the sports Too many Shepheards had unto my grief Too long thy free ear and perhaps thy heart A World of people pressed round about thee The Shepheard Dorilas me thought discours'd Too long with thee I saw so many others Prostrated at thy foot ISMENIA Without more words Thimantes is become a jealous fool Since thou wilt love me learn to know me well Thimantes I am free and will no Master I 'le ne'r depend on any but my self Tell me I pray thee did I ever promise To speak to none but thee dost thou imagine So vainly that thou art the only Lover That serves me have not I yet some which ought To be conserv'd and amongst all the Shepheards Whose faith I have receiv'd if I should open My mouth and eyes on none of them but thee And that one of those dayes thy mind should change And mine change too as all this well may happen Would all the others jealous of this kindness Express'd to thee thus in particular Be still my Lovers though I had lost thee And if my liberty were not expos'd For all which of them would commiserate My fortune in thy losse I think upon Th' event of things which thou canst not assure At least if one quits me another takes me Consider if this humour pleaseth thee If thou canst serve me all thy life time thus And not be jealous if thou canst hope one day Both mouth and hand and happily the heart May flatter thy affection THIMANTES This way Seems very strange unto me but almost Every fair evening some appointed place Of meeting seems t' assure me of thy love Sufficiently and not to flatter me With frivolous hope ISMENIA Yet hitherto it is But airy words THIMANTES I hope all things from time In waiting for that day our names engraven In every place will speak my love Ismenia I promise ISMENIA But no more here comes Thersander That Shepheard whose enflamed heart thine eyes Hath rendered as hes DIANA Well Ismenia I leave you ISMENIA This is too much rigour trust me At least afford the face if thou deny'st The heart SCENA IV. THERSANDER DIANA THIMANTES ISMENIA THERSANDER to DIANA OH stay dear object stay thou that art cause Of all my torments I have but one word To say before I dye the Nimph hath crown'd My valour with these prizes here I come To lay them at thy feet with them my heart If thou wilt triumph on this festival day Suffer at least thy conquest in thy sight That 's all th' ambition of this captive heart DIANA Captive to me if so make it change Master I freely do release it break its chain Thy self if thy design be not to have me Free it with my own hand THERSANDER Alas it is not Its liberty that I desire DIANA Then let it Live still a slave and sigh THERSANDER How Shepheardess Refuse a heart this precious present which Is alwayes worth a Temple and the Gods Think well upon it it becomes thy justice Not to despise this noble sacrifice Since I give but the same victime and incense Unto the powers above in my opinion Our Goddess in the Temple is less fair And thou dost bear the bright name of Diana As well as she DIANA Since this rich present is Of such high value as 't is worthy of A Temple and the Gods I believe Shepheard That it becomes my justice not t' accept This noble sarifice and I should wrong Our puissant Gods in daring to partake Their glory and to share their incense with them My name 's Diana to thy eyes I 'm fair But I am not a Goddess like to her THERSANDER Although thou hast no Temple nor no Altars Thou mak'st thy self adored 't is to day Thy festival which I have celebrated I have no other worship nor no other Diana the fire of my love is not A profane fire and if some spark thereof Warm not thy breast a little I must suffer The violent heat on 't DIANA Rather I advise thee Quench it with my contempts this remedy Will cure thee that thou shalt complain no more THERSANDER Good Gods what remedy is this which thou Offerest me here I must dye shepheardess If thou cur'st so flatter at least I pray thee With on sole word the love which thou hast rais'd If I'm not happy make me think I am so Alas I cannot hear a single syllable To succour me if thus thou curest Shepheardess I must dye there is no prevention for 't ISMENIA Why carriest thou a heart still so rebellious To love THIMANTES Why dost thou persecute with scorn This faithful Shepheard DIANA It is best be gone THERSANDER Yet thrust of thy disdain if thou wilt spare My hand my death finish the forming of The sword that kils me one word more of hate And I die presently before thine eys Speak answer me ISMENIA No more here comes the Nymph DIANA Happy arrival which hath freed me from So great at touble THERSANDER Well for my part then I 'le try the temper of the marble rocks My plaints may pierce them though they could not move A Virgins heart to pitty much lesse love SCENA V. MELISSA PARTHENIA DIANA ISMENIA THIMANTES CLIDAMANT MELINTUS MELISSA SInce a full year and more that I have govern'd This happy Island in the right and lawful Line and succession of my Ancestours By the death of my Sister and since first Diana's feasts were celebrated here Never so many Laurels crown'd your heads Nor ever any day ordain'd for pastime Hath entertain'd mine eyes with such delight Every one striving to bear hence the prize Propos'd to his contention shew'd his skill Both at the Course and Lute how hand somly Thersander did behave him at these exercises With what a grace he acted every thing How charming was his port and if I may Say what I think of him he must be sprung Either from Kings or Gods how happy is Thimantes in his friendship THIMANTES This happiness which I enjoy's not new It hath a longer date then from to day His name is precious to me 't was my fortune To have the benefit of his acquaintance At my last voyage I saw his arrival Form his own native country at the Court O' th King of Portugal the sympathy Of humors which one man hath with another Tied us together in so firm a friendship That having met him sad and full of thought I prevail'd with him as to bring him here In hope that in this quiet region where Melissa reigns he should lose all his grief MELISSA Indeed although that prosperous Shepheard hath Received
him For so long 't is since he arriv'd among us ISMENIA Thy grief hood-winck'd thine eys thou couldst not see him Think'st thou that since those seven years thou hast liv'd Upon those fair banks time that changeth all things Hath not yet chang'd a face there comes Thersander Take a full survey of him whilst I hold him In some discourse make shew as if thou'd stenter Into that Wood and have a care thou do not Discover thee till I have ordered Thy meeting with him DIANA Happy pledge of love Entring into the Wood. SCENA III. THERSANDER THIMANTES ISMENIA DIANA THERSANDER to THIMANTES THou seest what she hath done unto Diana Sh' ' as given the Portrait THIMANTES See she enters there Into that Wood. ISMENIA A word with thee Thersander THERSANDER Perfidious finish here thy crime and be My murtherer strike strike this heart I pray thee That hopes no more but by what interest Hast thou betrai'd me ISMENIA Why complainest thou THERSANDER O gross dissimulation dar'st thou yet To ask what is my plaint DIANA He hath his gate Softly looking on him where she was hidden ISMENIA Thy heat hears nothing give me leave to speak THERSANDER Yes to feign more and to lie at thy pleasure Am I oblig'd stil to thee for my life ISMENIA How soon love doth degenerate into folly THIMANTES Thersander hear her THERSANDER What is' t she can say ISMENIA Since th' art so obstinate let thy love go Which way it will I 'l have no more to do in 't THERSANDER Speak then what wilt thou ISMENIA I have nought to say now THIMANTES Thou would'st speak to him ISMENIA 'T was to laugh a little THIMANTES I pray thee speak unto him THERSANDER I conjure thee Ismenia in the name of all the Gods Jeer not my Passion ISMENIA It is now my turn To be perverse THERSANDER I hear thee speak what sai'st thou ISMENIA Since thou wilt have it know then that a Rival Hath caus'd thy grief and torments THERSANDER How a Rival At that Word I 'm all fire a Rival ISMENIA Yes A Rival good Thersander but a lov'd one THERSANDER What! loved of Diana ISMENIA Yes of her And more too of thy self THERSANDER That 's very strange How should I chuse but bear a mortal hatred To him my Mistress loves who e'r he be I must revenged die DIANA Softly If this should be Cleagenor O Gods how is he chang'd THERSANDER Where is that Rival ISMENIA With thee Thersander Thou would'st defend him if occasion were At the expence of all thy blood believe me Thou never leavest him THERSANDER Without dissembling to Thimantes Tell me Thimantes art not thou that Rival She means I think thou art my friend deal plainly And freely with me art not thou that cruel That false and traiterous Rival THIMANTES Answer him Ismenia THERSANDER Well what wilt thou say at last ISMENIA Thersander hath for Rival in his love THERSANDER Speak whom ISMENIA Cleagenor THERSANDER Cleagenor Ismenia ha my joy sure is extream True I confess I love this Rival equal Unto my self and if he may be loved Of th' object whom I serve I will adore My chains Without condemning her of rigour ISMENIA Thou hast lost nothing by this bout thy fortune May create envy fair Diana hath Yielded to Celia's portrait DIANA Softly Who to see Those decay'd features could have known that face But my love hath at last drawn them afresh Within my memory I must draw neer him And yield to my impatience THERSANDER to ISMENIA Pardon me I can't believe thee but here comes Diana See if her eys ha' n't the same cruelty Alwaies the same pride and the same disdain DIANA Ismenia I am come to tell thee something ISMENIA Me Celia THERSANDER How Celia ISMENIA Yes Celia THERSANDER Alas I 'm in an error 't is her eyes Her gate her countenance but not her heart ISMENIA 'T is she Thersander whom thou do'st behold It is very self THERSANDER How is' t a custome To call forth from the bosom of the Grave Departed souls and by what priviledge Hath that God who at the eternal sleep Presides ordain'd her waking DIANA to THERSANDER Though thy faith Finds this point strange is not love strong enough To make thee to believe a Miracle Cleagenor sees me and knows me not How comes it is my Portrait false have J No more artractions see if 't be thy Celia At least if 't be not she it is no more That beauty which was late so cruel to thee Cleagenor THERSANDER My Celia DIANA Is it possible O Gods that J should see again what J Best love i' th' World THERSANDER Is it you that J see ISMENIA Take heed be moderate one may die with joy THIMANTES Ismenia follow this example here Grant only at this instant but a kisse To my impatience see at last Diana Ceaseth to be unkind ISMENIA What! doth the object rouse thee and th' example Provoke thy spirits thou wilt have but one kiss THIMANTES I will be satisfied ISMENIA Give me then Some verses or at least a nose gay of The choicest flowers THIMANTES Ismenia I 'l not fail To bring them thee ISMENIA Then trouble not thy self The kisse is thine THIMANTES Wilt thou with hold from me So long what is my due ISMENIA It will be better When it is much expected and long'd for THERSANDER Behold my whole adventure in few words DIANA I 've made thee too a full description Of my misfortunes thou seest how I feign'd To give my grief full vent a Brothers death In weeping of my lovers THERSANDER What felicity Do I injoy now THIMANTES Use your utmost skil To make it lasting to you and beware of The fickleness of fortune and her wrongs THERSANDER What! have we yet any thing more to fear Is not that blind inconstant Goddess weary Of persecuting us THIMANTES Love is a child He must be govern'd well Diana's beauty Hath gain'd her lovers they may hurt Thersander Melintus hath a subtle wit and we Both know he loves Daina and besides Is jealous of her fear some foul play from him If thou appear his Rival he disposeth The spirit of Melissa at his pleasure When he shall see you serve as obstacle Unto his love he will take speedy order For your removal THERSANDER But to hinder him To hurt me I conceive Diana hath No lesse power on the spirit of the Nymph THIMANTES But if the Nymph loves thee as I observ'd Her heart expressed some such matter lately When at her last return home from the Games Her free confession to us all declar'd How much she did esteem thee but at last With such an esteem that love followed Close at the heels in plain terms and indeed Spoken by her of purpose if she loves thee I say as I 'm confirmed in that thought How wilt thou steer thy course ISMENIA 'T is very true Her discourse comes into my memory THERSANDER O Gods what 's this you utter DIANA For my part I begin
happy and thou art no lesse Since thy good fortune offereth it self Unto thy hand from whence thou mai'st expect All that thou canst desire without that jealous PARTHENIA to ISMENIA Come let us go the Nymph expecteth us ISMENIA softly to CLIDAMANT Having no opportunity at present To speak unto thee read J think 't will please thee CLIDAMANT Read it J think 't will please thee what i' th name Of wonder doth she mean MELINTUS Take but the pain To open and to read it thou shalt find CLIDAMANT J think J may make thine eys withnesses Of what it doth contain there 's nothing in it Secret of serious Ismenia loves To jest and to be talk'd of and this is Some new piece of her wonted merry wit MELINTUS J am impatient prethee open it CLIDAMANT Let me see what divertisement is here Which she expounds good fortune what is this He reads List of my Lovers by an exact order Of Alphabet 'T is very well put of But so far forth as J can see yet neither Obsetve J here Melintus or my self MELINTUS For my part J renounce there turn the leaf Go on CLIDAMANT reads Stanza's of Dorilas upon inconstancy 'T is true Ismenia thou are fair But more inconstant then the air And every Lover is a Mark Exposed to thy humourous dart As soon as he meets thy disdain He flies to death to cure his pain And makes but one large step in all From his bright glory to his fall With these defects yet thou canst charm But I 'l not love for fear of harm Yet J approve all things in thee Yea even to thy inconstancy And will not to incur thy hate Jealous Melintus imitate Whose humour every thing offends And nothing pleaseth but its ends CLIDAMANT Melintus what sai'st thou unto them MELINTUS J see for what design she put those Tables Into thy hand J call'd her cocket lately And that it seems provok'd her to return me The injury with one of the same nature CLIDAMANT continues to read Sonnet of Silvio my most faithfull Lover A Madrigal of Thirsis what 's this follows Unto the Shepheard Clidamant CLIDAMANT Melintus Am J not purblinde see if this name doth Strike thine eyes thus like mine Melintus looking into the writing Tables MELINTUS Nothing 's more certain It is address'd to thee thou art more happy Then thou imagin'st CLIDAMANT reads As soon as the dark shadows of the night Hang o'r the light At th' Eccho of the Garden let us meet But be discreet 'T is love invites thee more anon When w' 're alone Ismenia Melintus would take the writing Tables MELINTUS Prethee let me see them Grant me this favor not then J believe Thou do'st disguise the truth and read'st Ismenia When 't is subscrib'd Diana CLIDAMANT Oh fond jealous How long wilt thou thus be thy own tormenter MELINTUS Yet shew them me CLIDAMANT To cure thy troubled spirit J ' l first o'r come thy curiosity And since the discreet Lover what vain heat So ever presseth thee never shews thus His Mistress name MELINTUS But CLIDAMANT Quit those blind suspicions as soon As it is night I 'l go unto the Eccho Alone and with our noise I 'm all a fire To know what she will tell me in the mean time Let 's go unto the Nymph to seek Thersander MELINTUS sofly To be more sure and to inform my self Yet fuller of thy faith in this my doubt I 'l to the Eccho too and sind it out The end of the second Act. ACTUS III. SCENA I. MELISSA DIANA MELISSA I Say to thee again that J receive Much pleasute at this news that thou Diana Art sister to the generous Thersander He hath inform'd me with the strange misfortune Which separated on the churlish Sea The Brother from the Sister in what place Upon a plank escaped from the wrack The storm remov'd him from the anger of Th' inraged Sea what countries he hath seen What pains and troubles he hath undergone Lastly he nam'd the happy fortune which Conducted him to us here I thank Heaven That made thee know him I 'm as sensible Of this content as thou canst be thy self He is so highly qualified that he 's worthy The name of King ye both shal find with me A Sanctuary and what ever fortune Ye have I will partake it good or bad My fortunes ye shall bare too so that all things Between us shall be common I believe Diana towards me will be so well Dispos'd of her part and that whatsoever Concerns me will touch her DIANA Madam I should Be barbarously ingratefull otherwise I still remember that being on the Shore Cast as a wretched wrack there by the floods Expecting every minute deaths approach I met with you my port and sanctuary Oh that I have not power for all this goodness T' express how much acknowledgement I have MELISSA Thou hast DIANA How Madam MELISSA In expecting nothing But death as I do now thou canst be to me At thy turn both my port and sancturary Thou canst subdue the enemy that braves me That of a Soveraign will make a slave He 's in thy power thou canst abate his courage DIANA What is that enemy which troubles you MELISSA He 's one whose Magick can enchant the arms Of the most Valiant he can draw tears from The most Heroick nothing is so strong Which he can't compass and without respect To any place or person whatsoever He equally distributeth his flames DIANA I know him not yet by this Character MELISSA How know'st thou not that tyrant of great Monarcks That famons Conqueror of Conquerours Who notwithstanding is but a blind child DIANA If J durst to express me J believe I know him MELISSA Speak it freely DIANA I 'm mistaken Or I have seen love painted in such colours Blind and a child yet a great Conquerour MELISSA 'T is the same love whereof I speak unto thee DIANA Who is the happy Lover that procures Your martyrdome MELISSA Alas could'st thou not spare me The shame to speak him cover gentle night Immediately those places and my brow With the same colour so to please my heat I love but let us finish since I 've said I love Thersander is my object DIANA What My Brother MELISSA He. If his heart be a prize Not easie to be gain'd there 's nothing which I would spare for him I would arm to have him Nought should oppose me every obstacle J would o'rcome already by some words Which he observ'd not spoken by the bie My love was half expressed DIANA As he should not Dare to pretend unto so great an honour He would be criminal if he believed To understand you MELISSA Well then be thou here The mouth and true interpreter of my heart Express the kind heat of my timerous soul Tell him that I 'm a subject to his Laws That he may boldly fix his thoughts upon The person of Melissa and not fear To be condemn'd that his ambition May soar so high
a pitch and not be check'd That he may sigh the same sighs with a King Husband thar heart for me to which mine aims But let him not think that it comes from me My honour would receive a prejudice By such a thought thou only shalt acquaint him With this as from thy self DIANA J understand you He must needs yield to this I 'l do your will MELISSA As soon as he appears I will retire me And from one of these places I shall hear Every word that you speak one to another In reference to my flame DIANA I should methinks Act with more freeness if J were to treat With him alone MELISSA No J will hear my self What he thinks of me J can best of all Trust mine own ears and eyes in this affair DIANA But Madam after all MELISSA Shepheardess The thing 's resolv'd thou need'st not say no more Untill he come J pray thee entertain These woods here with some air and let us see If the Eccho will answer to thy discourse DIANA Your prayer is a command some plaints of love Shall make the subject of it MELISSA What thou wilt DIANAS Song Ye Trees ye Rocks perfumed Valleys sweet And charming Zephirs murmuring fountains keep My griefs close in your bosome you alone Are witnesses unto my fires and mone Tell me if my sad heart not daring to Delare it it self at least may sigh its woe May sigh its woe Eccho Well then my sighs make no noise as pe passe The airy Regions only breath alas Vnto the heart that sent you forth since I Can't speak to thee dear object of my cry Let th' Ecco that 's attentive say for me That if I love as sure I do 't is thee 't is thee Eccho SCENA II. THERSANDER MELISSA DIANA THERSANDER DIana's here about her voice assures me MELISSA to DIANA softly Thy Brother comes here take this opportunity Be sure thou speak unto him loud enough Thou art my only hope I go from hence To hear and to observe thee DIANA softly We are undone Thersander will discover all in speaking THERSANDER 'T is now no longer time to utter sighs Let us resume our joy and dry our tears Crown our sad spirits with flowers and think no more of Our pass'd misfortunes let 's form our discourse Of the most pleasant thoughts and let us chat Of love DIANA Let me alone I 'l entertain thee Upon that subject THEERSANDER It belongs to me To speak of that and when I do consider With what darts in my heart DIANA I know it well 'T is of a longer date then from to day That I have read thy heart and I believe That never any one hath seen a Brother To love his sister so THERSANDER The love wherewith I am assaulted and would make thee see Exceeds that of a brother it begets Complaints and Sighs it driveth to despair And kills the love we bear unto a Sister Makes not so many sufferings but J love DIANA J divine whom thou burnest with desire To speak unto me here of Celiaes love THERSANDER Thou do'st divine right J take a great pleasure To speak of it with thee methinks I see her Still when J look on thee how sit I find thee To be the faithfull guardian of my love Assur'd of thy fidelity and that Thy heart is alwaies mine DIANA Thou need'st not doubt it THERSANDER O my dear DIANA Brother I 'm not ignorant How dear I am unto thee THIMANTES Thy fair eyes DIANA How flatter and court thy sister By thy discourse THERSANDER I cannot speak unto thee Thou interrupt'st me still DIANA Th' advice is worth it and I 'l give thee notice That from esteem they pass to love for thee That scarce arrivedst thou unto this place But thy good fortune without any trouble Gain'd thee the conquest of a heart for which Great Kings will envie thee it is Melissa's THERSANDER O Gods what dost thou say DIANA What doth astonish thee I see how thou art troubled to believe it This great heart finds no place yet in thy faith To make thee happy in 't I must imbrace thee She speaks softly to him in imbracing him The Nymph hears our discourse 't is fit thou feign She speaks loud again Wilt thou not yield to this excess of honour Think that thy Celia in this conjuncture Hath no resentment in her heart against thee Nor murmurs at it THERSANDER In this extasie Wherein I am through this excess of honour I 'm seeking of my self but cannot find me How dare to love the Nymph t' aspire to her No my ambition 's not so criminal DIANA Under those high respects J see thy love THERSANDER How can I otherwise express it Sister It the Nymph tempts me and will make a crime on 't It shall then have the name but of a lawfull Respect and if I see occasion T' express me further on this point this lawfull Respect shall bear the bolder name of love DIANA Brotherm it hath that name and J am ready To boast unto her her illustrious conquest But the Sun J perceive plungeth himself I' th' waters and the shadows seise the tops O' th' Mountains it is time now to betake me Unto Melissa but behold she comes Melissa comes forth from the place where she was hidden MELISSA What serious discourse have you together DIANA Our subject is of Love of Mistresses Of Servants and of Sighs MELISSA What! hath Thersander Already gotten him a Mistress THERSANDER Madam I have too little merit and address Besides to serve to honour and obey you I have no other thought our discourse was Your goodness for us which my heart shall ever Record as in a Register of Brass Where my acknowledgements shall never pass SCENA III. MELINTUS MELISSA DIANA THERSANDER MELINTVS calling HO Clidamant MELISSA It is enough let 's go I hear some noise and would not be seen here I' rh ' night Exeunt Melissa Diana Thersander MELINTUS continuing to call Ismenia Clidamant they hear But flie me and the night robs my sight of them But this is not Ismenia and I am Deceived much if I saw not the gate The stature and the gesture of Diana Yes Clidamant abus'd me with a lie Diana builds his fortune at my cost And that note which he would conceal from me Without doubt was subscrib'd with her fair hand Yes 't was Dianaes though he read Ismenia To spare my grief a little and my trouble How simple was J that J followed Not close upon his steps but soft methinks J hear a noise perhaps it may be he SCENA IV. CLIDAMANT MELINTUS CLIDAMANT O Night lend me thy silence make these woods To hold their peace in th' absence of the day And let no sound be heard here but my love At last I 'm happily delivered from A troublesome companion that would Obstruct my fortune that same jealous Shepheard Without respect and faith MELINTUS I 'm much oblig'd Unto thee for this noble character Thou giv'st me in
to believe it and remember The passage too I fear all things from thence This is the only mischief we should shun ISMENIA What can she not do ' gainst your interests When your refuse shall come to arm her anger Against you Know that with a single word I' th twinckling of an eye too she can calm The floods and make a mutiny amongst them Call froth corrupted bodies from their graves Make their cold ashes speak and their pale ghosts To walk these were the secrets Zoroastres Taught whil'st he raign'd to his posterity She is descended from him and to give Her self content will make use of her art To serve her passion THERSANDER I know that her skill Extends to Magick Yes I fear her love With so much power and yield unto thy counsel Advise us what to do THIMANTE'S Disugise your selves Under the names of Brother and of Sister In the mean time we 'l spread abroad the rumor Of this event that every one shall hear it Within the Island THEERSANDER J approve this project DIANA My life lies on it ISMENIA I go to begin To lie unto Parthenia SCENA IV. PARTHENIA ISMENIA DIANA THERSANDER THIMANTES PARTHENIA JSmenia I would speak one word with thee but a moment ISMENIA Immediately when you have born a part In the contentment of this pair Diana Hath for the future no more cause to weep Heaven hath been pleas'd that she hath found her brother It is this happy Shepheard they acknowledge Each other PARTHENIA This event J must confess Confounds my spirit Thersander found her brother DIANA Yes Nymph it is the same For whom my grief was hither to extream The Gods at length have heard my prayers and sighs THERSANDER Yes Madam they have granted our desires PARTHENIA J'm very glad on 't and my soul is ravish'd With this good fortune of our friends which makes Our lives content Diana will obilge me If she please at her leisure to inform me with the discovery but acquaint the Nymph Therewith and to that purpose go to see her THERSANDER We ow that duty to our Soveraign Exeunt Ther 's and Diana PARTHENIA In the mean time Ismenia and my self May entertain each other in discourse Thimantes J believe will not be jealous THIMANTES Let not a third come Madam and J fear Nothing from you Exit Thimantes PARTHENIA Ismenia J know not If J may safely tell a secret to thee Alas ISMENIA J know it well since the heart sighs When one would say J love and dares not speak is The heart at the nam'd point gives an Alas Have not J well divin'd PARTHENIA Ismenia I do confess it see too if thou canst Divine the object that procures my grief Let me not speak him spare my cheeks those blushes ISMENIA I cannot a sigh carries not so far You love but what more is beyond my skil To understand unless vour self unfold That sigh unto me by its cause PARTHENIA 'T is true I love ISMENIA But whom PARTHENIA 'T is ISMENIA Outwith't PARTHENIA Clidamant ISMENIA Behold a handsom way to name a Lover Ha! how you fear your lips should touch upon it One must draw 't word by word out of your mouth You have then but one lover really 'T is well as 't happens had you lists of them As I have which I name and reckon over Every hour of the day your bashfullness Would well become you love is a fair fruit But then it must be gathered modesty Leaves it to fall and wither but I pray you What will Melissa say to 't who intends To match her Neece to Thirsis PARTHENIA Oh! I hate That Thirsis and shall be even in despair If the Nymph force me to observe my duty In that particular yet I would keep it Without disturbance if the love I bear To Clidamant should not return me his For to speak truly I am violent Where honour doth ingage me therefore would I Have his heart to be sounded and as I Find it dispos'd I should pursue my love Or quench my flame ISMENIA Speak unto him your self Nothing 's more easie PARTHENIA But Ismenia Thou hast a wit would help me if I should Speak to him he hath little understanding If he should not know that I first was taken And I should sin against the rule of maids To make such a confession ISMENIA You may write then PARTHENIA That is all one still the same point of honour Forbids it me my Letter would discover My love and make him boast thereof perhaps To my dishonour if he might have once That mark on 't in his hand ISMENIA Let him then Divine it if he be Astrologer PARTHENIA Treat not my passion thus with railery ISMENIA I must then serve you in it I perceive Well I 'l about it with my best invention I 'l write a Letter to him and invite him By a feign'd love as soon as it is night To meet me at the Eccho of the Garden To entertain us there PARTHENIA So in my absence Thou shalt discern his thought ISMENIA This business Concerns you Madam and requires your presence You shall speak softly to him and in those Sweet moments you shall understand much better What his thoughts are and thus you may your self To find out if he loves speak of your self PARTHENIA Thou wilt be present too ISMENIA Yes J'l so well Contrive it that he shal believe undoubtedly That it is I that speak PARTHENIA But how can we Speak to the Eccho for thou know'st the Nymph As soon as it is night retires her self And then we cannot come there what devise now Hast thou that we may speak to him ISMENIA Cannot we Speak to him from the terrass which joins close Unto the Garden you know that you can Conveniently come there at any hour From your apartment 't is upon this ground And these conjunctures that I 've ta'n the plot For my invention PARTHENIA J admire thy wit T is wonderfull industrious and ready ISMENIA I 'l write the Letter here before your eyes Behold the paper for it PARTHENIA How these are Thy writing Tables ISMENIA They can speak of Passions Discreet and secret J'l about my business And use my smoothest stile PARTHENIA Especially Appoint him wel the hour and place of meeting How redevable am J to thy wit For this great favour what do J not ow thee For this good office thou giv'st me again Life and repose ISMENIA See what J write unto him In two words for you they are very pressing And will ingage him to betake himself Unto the place appointed to know more PARTHENIA 'T is very well it rests now how to giv ' 't him ISMENIA Leave me the care of that but here he comes SCENA V. MELINTUS CLIDAMANT PARTHENIA ISMENIA MELINTUS to CLIDAMANT YES J have heard Diana is his sister CLIDAMANT to PARTHENIA Madam Melintus and my self are going To seek Thersander to congratulare With him his happy meeting with his sister ISMENIA to CLIDAMANT seftly Thersander's
have J and how skilfull art thou In this affair of love I do admire Thy wit and thy invention the thing Answered my wish ISMENIA By this discourse of his You may perceive love under that respect Like fire under its ashes 't is not lately Your charms have taken him PARTHENIA In the mean time ISMENIA In the mean time live all fair wits say J Without me you had been reduc'd unto A sad condition to die with grief And love without expressing it PARTHENIA 'T is late Come in the absence of the day let 's prove If sleep will follow on the steps of love The end of the Third Act. ACTUS IV. SCENA I. THIMANTES ISMENIA THIMANTES HOw in the night perfidious to exasperate My anger dar'st thou to grant private meetings To any but my self yea in the night Without light and attendance in the Garden Thou entertain'dst the Shepheard Clidamant ISMENIA How 's this Thimantes in a rage O Gods Who would have thought it THIMANTES Wilt thou say that J Complain now without reason that J have A crack'd brain and bleer'd eyes it is too long Inconstant to arrest thy spirits behold This witness it hath told me every thing Yet J should not believe that thou wert guilty If such an evidence accus'd thee not But since J dis-ingage my faith to thee This very instant J restore thy papers And will have nothing more to do with thee ISMENIA Well let it be so then J doubt it not But J shall be provided in good time When one forsakes me presently another Offers his service otherwise J should In this unlucky moment of thy change Be destitute of an officious Lover But thanks unto the Gods more then one calls me His Mistress and J shall have no less courtship And press for thy departure these notes here Express the names of those that I 've subjected I 'l blot thee presently out of my Table-book THIMANTES Light Shepheardess ISMENIA For all this J am troubled For thy disquiet without further jesting Know that this trouble which possesseth thee Proceeds but from a fiction speedily I 'l clear it to thee only have but patience To stay here till the Shepheard Clidamant Arrives before whom I have order to Discover the deceit and then I know Thou wilt excuse me for it here he comes SCENA II. CLIDAMANT ISMENIA THIMANTES CLIDAMANT HAve J not staid too long suspect me not Thimantes J was sent for well what is Your pleasure ISMENIA Thy misfortune is extream Thimantes cannot suffer that another Should love me and one that accompt intends To measure with thee sword and arm to day CLIDAMANT He is my friend and therefore J am loath To have a quarrel with him to accord it Chuse of us two him whom thou think'st most faithfull I am content to stand unto my fortune ISMENIA Thimantes what say you THIMANTES J agree to 't ISMENIA to CLIDAMANT Then thus for him J do confess I love him A little but for thee nothing at all My mouth interprets truely what my heart thinks CLIDAMANT O the most fickle and most want on issue Of the inconstant sex thou lov'st a momen J love a moment also ISMENIA Notwithstanding J have a secret to impart unto thee CLIDAMANT A Secret in thy heart loseth its name In less time then a minute without doubt ISMENIA Thou thought'st last night that I discours'd with thee At th' Eccho of the Garden CLIDAMANT Yes ISMENIA But what If thou wert then deceiv'd and that another In my place counterfeited there my voice CLIDAMANT What hast thou told me ISMENIA That which may be true CLIDAMANT J cannot comprehend it nor find thee Thou dost do nothing but deceive at all times And in all places thou canst turn thy heart And eyes into all sences how another Possess my place ISMENIA What if by this advise J gained thee the heart of a fair Mistress One that 's illustrious and of noble blood And who after the Nymph hath the chief rank CLIDAMANT Well feign thy fill thou may'st speak what thou list I 'm henceforth in no humour but to laugh ISMENIA If by the greatest oaths wherein my honour Can be ingag'd thou wilt believe the truth Of what J told thee that another person Beside my self receiv'd thy vows last night J hope thou wilt find out some fitter Epithies Then false and wavering for me CLIDAMANT After such An obligation my charity Would sway me much ISMENIA Then solemnly J swear It was Parthenia in my place to whom Thou didst express thy love she borrowed My name and shape and thine eyes suffered This sweet imposture CLIDAMANT Still thou dost abuse me J knew thee by thy voice ISMENIA When we spake loud 'T was I that spake then presently Parthenia Advancing in my place discovered softly Her soul and thought unto thee after this Iudge if I have deserv'd from thee or no. CLIDAMANT How is it possible that she to whose High rank I should not dare t' aspire unto So much as in a thought that she to whom I durst not speak a word in way of plaint That she to whom my high respect conceal'd My amity should yet feel pitty for me Alas this cannot be 't is sin to think it ISMENIA Thou shalt see if I lie and how sh' esteems thee I wait her here CLIDAMANT Therein I should obtain The hight of my ambition for this favour Oh let me kiss thy hands and die with pleasure SCENA III. PARTHENIA ISMENIA CLIDAMANTES THIMANTES PARTHENIA WHat spectacle is this I see Ismenia Sports with my fortune if I trouble you I will retire continue that rare favour Who freely gives the hands may give the heart ISMENIA Ha! Madam really you are a novice In love I gave him intimation of The arri fice we us'd and he at first Received my discourse with so much joy That he crav'd from me that civility Unto what jealous strange suspitions Are you drawn by this object he but aim'd To kiss my hand and you are like to die for 't Trouble you self no more thus to no purpose PARTHEIA Ismenia thou restor'st me life and rest I love thee Clidamant this jealous fit Methinks might well have spared me the shame Of telling it CLIDAMANT Fair Nymph believe PARTHENIA But let us Enter into this Wood. CLIDAMANT I wish the Eccho Sometimes a friend to Lovers would redouble My voice in saying to you that J love And make you to repeat my words J love PARTHENIA Ismenia be a faithful witness of Our chast amours and come along with us To hear what we discourse Thimantes be Discreet and secret THIMANTES Madam I 'm all silence See what a strange unnecessary evil Is that a jealous person doth sustain Foolish Melintus how thou art deceiv'd In thinking that Diana is the object Gf Clidamant's affection here she comes Discoursing with her brother J will leave them SCENA IV. DIANA THERSANDER DIANA LEt us consider what we are to do She loves thee infinitely and J have
THERSANDER Madam this Merchant doth compose Romants And tells you all these strange adventures only To shew his wit and faculty that way MELISSA Yet his discourse in not without some ground I find good reason so to judge of it If I remember well you willingly Did put the interest of Celia Into your sisters hands she promised To make all fair of that side and to answer To you for her Merchant another time See us again How both of you abuse me With an Imposture form'd under false name 's To carry on your love in a disguise What in my Palace in my Court my presence Sport with my person thus in a contempt Insolent wretches you shall feel what force My anger hath when thus provok'd I 'l make you THERSANDER Oh Madam MELISSA Go Impostor thou shalt answer For all the troubles of my heart none ever Affro ntd me yet without punishment I 'l sacrifice you both to my disgrace In such a manner that ye shal repent Eternally that e'r ye made me blush Depart my sight THERSANDER O what misfortune 's this MELISSA to MELINTUS See that you separate them one from another In several apartment that they may Hold no discourse together O misfortune Not to be parallell'd What shall I do Of whom should I take counsel in this case Shall I hear yet my love that murmureth Ought I to suffer or repel the injury It is resolv'd in my offended heart That those black Passions shal succeed my love By which the soul when in disorder breaks The chain wherewith she 's ti'd break forth my fury And ruine these ingratefull they shal know My power as they have seen my goodness to the They shall not mock at my simplicity Nor reproach me for my credulity How treacherous Thersander oh that name Thersander combats yet within my heart In its defence my spirits at this name Are wavering and my anger 's weak my hate Is in suspense I am not pleas'd with that Which I demand I fear what J would most Ha traitor must J to torment my self Suspend my judgement upon thy destruction Must J dispute the case within myself As doubtfull to determine no pass sentence Against him for this barbarous affront Arm my despair and inspire thou my rage And let me see how faithfully my Art Will serve my vengeance in the punishment Of these ingratefull Lovers I intend not To give a sudden death to either of them But they shall suffer that which shall be worse By the effect and strange force of my charms They shall have without dying every day A thousand deaths I will continually By turns afflict the sad eyes of the Lover And of his Mistress both of them shal see That they may suffer equally each other To die and to revive this punishment Is strange and cruell but 't is that I use In my revenges come why loiter we In our design my heart like flint shall be Insensible of their calamity The end of the Fourth Act. ACTUS V. SCENA I. CLIDAMANT PARTHENIA CLIDAMANT MIne eyes and ears ne'r saw nor heard the like The miserable cryes of those poor Lovers Fill all these places with astonishment Thersander and Diana are so chang'd I could scarce know them as I now came from them Pale death by turns skipping from face to face Can't make them yet to dye unto their love But Madam is it true what 's publish'd here Among the people that those strange inchantments Come from Melissa PARTHENIA Yes they are the works Of her Art without doubt she could do more yet Nothing 's too hard for her the destiny Of mortals seems to be held in her hands And as she pleaseth she disposeth it What can she not do when she is in choler The miserable Thirsis feels th' effect And rigour of her power by sad experience Hath not same yet inform'd you with his sufferings CLIDAMANT Yes Madam J have heard them fully spoken PARTHENIA You know then that he lov'd Roselia And so deceiv'd the expectation And desire of the Nymph who hitherto Design'd him for my husband and knows not That I have love for you to her commands This Shepheard was Rebellious what did she Roselia was fair she became sick She wept she pined she complain'd the brightnes Of her fair eyes extinguish'd in a moment The whiteness of her Lillies as soon faded And of so many beauties there remain'd Only the place where sometime their seat was Her Lover that perceiv'd her taken from him Seeks her in every place but cannot find her That was a Master-piece of her Apprentiship But this without doubt is another work Of higer knowledge if in her resentment But for my interest she made poor Thirsis A miserable Lover judge how far She may be carried mov'd at her offence In her revenge for her own interest CLIDAMANT If the Nymph knew the love I have for you I could expect no other usage from her She would without doubt cause me to be carried unto some fearfull Island where I should Be rendered miserable all my days But let her art do what it can against me Imployed by her hate it shall work nothing Upon my faith to do it prejudice Oh! could I flatter me with the same hope That you would have like constancy for me PARTHENIA You need not doubt of it I 'm wholly yours My love is strong and little fears her anger I 'l keep it still sincere and firm unto you And you shall find me constant unto death Should she destroy me with her power kil me I 'le rather dye my self then my affection My life can't pay the debt J owe unto you SCENA II. ISMENIA THIMANTES PARTHENIA CLIDAMANT ISNENIA WHat strange news do we hear is it true Madam That by th' effects of fortune and inchantment Thesander and Diana dye by turns And live again to wail their miseries PARTHENIA Ismenia t is too true they are inchanted THIMANTES If I durst speak my thoughts what I 've heard They impute this injuftice to the Nymph PARTHENIA It is not to be doubted but she is The Author of it and this cruel punishment Denoteth that she studies high revenge When she 's offended CLIDAMANT Whatso'er her power be Which causeth fear let us go presently With our complaint unto her in my judgement This is no way to make her self obey'd Fear is the parent not of love but hate And that same fatal art which her revenge Calls to her aid establisheth her crime And not her power But here J see she comes SCENA III. MELISSA MELINTUS CLIDAMAT PARTHENIA THIMANTES ISMENIA MELISSA to MELINTUS WHat doth this stroak surprize thee MELINTUS Truly Madam Their punishment's too great and all the Jsfland Murmureth at it MELISSA Shepheards what say you Can J revenge me of an injury CLIDAMANT Ye Madam and th' estate wherin y 'ave put them Hath made all those their friends that envi'd them Hear our petitions for them and be pleas'd To do them justice
onely Madam be without Compassion for him MELISSA Yes without compassion Since he took pleasure alwaies to displease me I 'le please my self by a most just return Jn my revenge and never cease t' afflict him No think not that J will incline to pitty I 'm too much injur'd to be pacifi'd His sorrow makes my joy and I am glad To see that by this famous punishment I shall establish my authority THIMANTES Diana's turn is now see he revives To weep her lover and immediately To follow him by the force of your Art Sad spectacle hearken unto her grief And ope your eyes and heart to her complaints Diana upon Thersanders body DIANA What my dear Lover art thou then but dust Alas thy mouth wants speech and thine eyes light But inspight of the plot which makes me sigh I have the happiness yet to lament thee Flow flow my tears and pour upon this object Torrents of flame not water there is nothing So cold in the dark bosom of the Grave Which the fire of these Rivers cannot warm Yes by my tears at last my cryes my plaints Dear ashes I will kindle you again Though cold now and extinguish'd like the Phenix I 'le raise you up again by force of sights Which you shall Eccho to me THIMANTES Madam can you Behold this sight and not be moved at it DIANA Love canst thou not answer to my desires Thou art a miracle thy self and therefore Methinks should'st do one art thou in the world No more a source of life oh canst thou not Restore my lover to me from whose armes They 'ave ravish'd him which of the Gods can call him Back from the gates of death if thou canst not My dear Cleagenor J pray thee answer me By these my tender sighs by Celia's name How 's this I can pronounce thy name and mine And yet O Gods thou answerest me nothing I see alas thy mouth and eyes still shut He 's dead and these names cannot touch him now Love since thou hast no power to succour me In that point as to make him live at least Make me to dye I come my faithful lover It is impossible I should survive thee I feel that my despair t' enjoy thee here Gives me to death my heart hath lost the spirits Which made it move J scarce can utter more Happy thy Celia if her death could give Thee life again if thy sleep might have end By mine and if I could with all my blood Redeem thine J have done any love is coming To meet thy flame and I espire upon thee The rest of my sad soul CLIDAMANT What! is your heart Not touch'd yet with this object are you still Jnsensible of so much grief as she Suffers by your means oh let pitty yet Disarm your anger the Inchanted Lovers Have suffered enough Nymph break the charm MELISSA Yes I am touch'd at last J must confess And really am sorry for the evil Which they have drawn through their temerity Upon themselves but though their grief appeaseth My anger now the charm which I have made J can't undo to tell you truly Shepheards Jt is so strong that onely a Divinity Can break the chance on 't t is decree'd by fate That it shall last yet longer and J cannot Prevent it though it be my proper work THIMANTES How cannot you prevent it heavenly Gods What saying's this no no you have not left Your anger but retain it still and willing To punish them and to revenge your wrong Will make of them a lasting spectacle Unto the eyes of all and to excuse Your self the better of this cruelty Would put it off to some Divinity But the Gods by our prayers and tears appeas'd Jnspight of your attempts wil stop your charms Yes Madam the great Gods condemn your plots They are the Soveraigns and absolute Masters Of destiny we hope all things from them And that they 'l suffer crime no longer here To raign and tyranize Thou Goddess which Art in this place ador'd which holdest fate And fortune in thy hands which hatest crime and whose cares keep the Shepheards that serve thee In this delightful Island look upon The sad estate whereto love hat reduc'd Two miserable Lovers whom the Nymph Pursues with horrid cruelty to death By fatal charmes destroy the power of them And render to this government again The liberty to lover and to declare it Thunder and lightning PARTHENIA Ha! what a sudden flash of lightning's this That strikes mine eyes and what a clap of thunder Shakes all this place ISMENIA With what a thick black cloud The Skie is cover'd MELISSA I believe Heaven trembles And its Arch openeth behold the Goddess Descends and maketh sign as if she 'd speak We must give audience SCENA Ultima The Goddesse DIANA DIANA YOur prayers are heard let nothing trouble you Fair Celia and her Lover both shal live And love for ever their afflictions Are ended and I have dissolv'd the charm No accident shall henceforth trouble them They stir'd up pity in you now they may Make you to envy them search all Records You 'l find no subject equal to their love THERSANDER to DIANA By what inchantment is thy life restord DIANA to THERSANDER By what inchantment do'ft thou live again The Goddesse continues I 'l recompense their inexemplar vertues And pay the price of their affection To consummate their happy Nuptials I 'l ope my Temple and assure you all Of my protection 'T is my pleasure also That the love of the Shepheard Clidamant Be at the same time crown'd with Hymen's honours And that he end his daies with sweet Parthenia That henceforth he command in the Isle with her My justice hath made choice of them to reign The Nymph I do degrade she is too criminal And dispense you of your obedience to her I 'l make the power of her Art unusefull And free this Island from all future fear And danger but to save her from the Thunder Of the offended Gods I will recive her Into my Temple which shall be her Sanctuary Her Sex hath long enough ruled the Province I 'l change the order of its Government And henceforth it shall be under the power And wise administration of a Prince Which shall be of the blood of Clidamant From father unto son Melissa seeing the Goddess to ascend MELISSA I confesse Goddesse You do me justice in approving crime One makes himself a complice without you The Gods high Soveraigns Masters and disposers Of destiny would sure have punish'd me With death I go into your temple now To imploy other charms to wash away My criminal defilements with my tears To pray unto the immortal powers whilst J Have breath and so disarm them at your Altars But to the end her law may be fullfill'd In every point Cleagener fail not To love your Celia THERSANDER O how redevable Am I to your rare goodness MELISSA Clidamant Enjoy what you deserve accept Parthenia With her the crown and succeed happily The rank which I freely resign unto you CLIDAMANT You command still and keep your Soveraign rank When the raign is conferr'd upon your blood And by all my respects I shall express That 't is but in your name that I 'l be Master PARTHENIA Though Heavens kind hand chuseth a husband for me Since you allow him I 'l hold him of you And will possess no honour here nor power But to express the more my service to you And my acknowledgements THIMANTES Ismenia Must we not couple too ISMENIA Yes if the Goddess Had said it we 'l defer our marriage Till she descends again CLIDAMANT Ismenia I command in this place now and J will it ISMENIA Since you will have it I accept his vows Offaithfull service If Melintus too Hath shaken of his jealousie J must Be reconcil'd with him MELINTUS Well J agree to 't Let us remain friends CLIDAMANT Heaven hath promis'd us That we shall all be happy let us go Forthwith unto the Temple to conclude This triple marriage and henceforth we shall Honour this day as a great Festival FINIS