yet divulg'd by fame whose valour Will be imploy'd i' th combat Phi. His knowledge Has not yet attain'd the notice of 't My Lord He does present his best respects to you Deplores your sorrows with a brothers griefe intreats you Have so much mercy on your glorious youth As not to spend its blooming pride in sighes Arg. My Lord I thank him and rejoyce his Fate Has sorted him so honourable a triall Of his undoubted valour for my griefes They doe increase on me like a disease Spreading through all my faculties which shakes My soule into an agony of death And will I hope ere long dissolve this flesh Into forgetfulnesse Kalan. Nay good my Lord Renounce this passionate temper wee 'l depart Hence to my Castle expell our cares with feasts Hunt the wild bore that will with masculine rage Resist the hunters till he foame to death View swift hounds running hotly in pursuit Of the chac'd game and from the neighb'ring hills Force Ecchoes to their shrilnesse Arg. Alas my Lord The sole conceit of faire Parthenia's losse Would from a heart of marble force salt teares Cold as the dew the stone distills invite An unremorsefull Crocodile to shed Drops as sincere as does the timorous Hart When he o'reheares the feath'red arrow sing His funerall Dirge Kala. See Alexis accompanied with a stranger Lady Enter Alexis and Parthenia Alex. Sir this Lady newly arriv'd from Corinth has Some businesse she will disclose to none but you Exit Parth. My vow 's absolv'd Arga. Angels or if there be a power has charge Of humane frailty shrowd me with their wings The sight of this divinity will strike More than my Eyes my Reason and inforce me Here to die gazing Phi. Blesse me 't is sure Parthenia Kala. My vertuous Neece recover'd Arg. 'T is her face I have examin'd with industrious eyes Each line each lovely circle that adornes This best perfect piece of nature and all speakes Parthenia's figure Parth. My honour'd Lords Arg. 'T is her voyce The same well-sounding musick did inchant With its melodious harmony my heart Let me adore the miracle Parth. My Lords Doe not distract with a deceiving joy Your noble soules I will not seeke to fold Your thoughts in doubtfull errour you mistake I 'm not Parthenia Arg. What delusion playes with our faculties Parth. My Lord afford me patient hearing my discourse Containes much consequence you never lov'd Parthenia dearlier than my selfe we wore The very figure of each others mind As well as body and I should transgresse Th' integrity of our inviolate truths Not to fullfill each scruple of her will With ceremonious duty she being dead Arga. Oh my just feares Phi. Deare Lady is she dead Par. Dead cold in her dark urne As was her Icy chastity she did arrive Some few dayes since at Corinth where resolv'd T' obscure her self to all but mee kind heaven Pitying her sad disaster by mild death Translated her to the immortall blisse Prepar'd for innocent lovers Arga. Sure I am insensible of misery or my brest Would burst with fulnesse of my griefes deare Lady Informe me where Parthenia is intomb'd That like some humble pilgrime I may visit The holy place with a religious zeale and bathe Her virgin ashes in my teares Weepe o're her grave till from my drops arise Parthenias monument Some crystall pyramid to tell the world Par. You interrupt what my sad heart as an unwelcome load Desires to be disburdend of before Her dying breath she did injoyne me by All our friendships rites when I had laid Her corps in earth straict to repaire with notice Of her expiring hither Phi. Deere my Lord be not so much distemper'd Parth. Tell quoth she my noble mother that I dy in peace Even with Demagoras commend me to my love My dearest Argalus informe him that His very name flies with my soule to heaven There to remaine for ever and ingage him T' accept of you as my last guift you are So like Parthenia that hee 'll love you for My memory So with a constant truth To my dead friend I 'm come my Lord to offer What she bequeath'd her legacy of my love To your acceptance Arga. Madam I must rest For your kind wish your servant but in me Parthenia only must have room to live While I have vitall motion Had she impos'd What charge but this soever I 'de endevour It's strict performance but I am resolv'd As she enjoy'd my first my latest love Shall on her memory waite till we do meet I' th happy shades together Part. Sure my Lord This is contempt of my desert I must not Be thus repuls'd to satisfie your feares I am your true Parthenia Argalus Parthenia Part. Yes and by the Queen of Corinth cur'd whose skill and care clens'd my fowle leprosie Arga. Parthenia 't was well your wisdom by degrees Diffus'd this comfort had you showr'd it all at once T' would like a torrent have o'reborne the banks Of my amaz'd mortality Kal. Come discourse Your story at your leisure Argalus Take your Parthenia treachery nor hate Cannot undo the firme decree of Fate Exeunt Sapho Aminta Strephon. Clitophon Strep. I le try your impudence have you the face To deny your libell Clitophon Clit. Good Strephon urge me not I shall not want Audacity to expresse them to recant My just opinion were injust and fit To staine my resolution and my wit Amin. Clitophon how dare You arm'd with boldnesse greater than dispaire Venture abuse to woman or defile That name with scandall to whose meanest smile You have done worship Sapho Prais'd looks with flat'tring art Each look each lineament as the best part Of Natur 's choysest workmanship but men Are more inconstant than light whirlewinds trust The sea with feathers or March winds with dust Rather and let their words oaths teares vowes passe As words in water writ or slipery glasse Clit. This is more jugling O! with these h 'as found A passage through my Eyes to give a wound To my poore Heart it is their looks beget This soddaine alteration which as yet Does but with infant feathers strive to fly To heaven tels Justice of the injury I have done sacred womanhood thence Thou scrowle detracting spotlesse innocence Aminta deare forgive me Sapho see How my teares distill Stre. If they were every one as big as a Turnip it should not serve to feed my anger well wenches if you doe pardon him may your maidenheads be a burden to you till you bee forescore at least then may you turne Witches and some Goblin get them or else perish in your Virginity and leade Apes in Hell for 't Nay if you do forgive him I will have you arraing'd of treason against Venus and Cupid shall be your blind Judge and condemne you for the fact to loose your heads your maidenheads I meane and have a man of fourescore and ten for your Executioner Sapho Deare Strephon do not frown it does disgrace The sallow color of
you thus Fate Forces us act what we most truly hate Exit Phi. Deare Madam calme your passion and resolve To arme your soule with patience Parth. Patience Sir Doubt not so much my temper I am calme You see o' th sudden as untroubled seas I could stand silent here an age to view This goodly ruine Noblest Argalus If thou hadst died degenerate from thy selfe I should have flow'd with pity till my teares Had drown'd thy blasted memory but since Thou perish'd nobly let thy soule expect A joy not sorrow from me the greene oake Lawrell and lovely mirtle shall still flourish About thy sepulchre which shall be cut Out of a Mine of Diamonds yet the brightnesse Proceeding from thy ashes shall out-shine The stones unvalew'd substance Phi. Sure she is growne insensible of her griefe or fallen Into some wilde distraction Parth. You mistake 'T is not a fury leads me to this strange Demeanour but conceit that I should sinne Against my Argalus Should I lament His overthrow No Blest soule Augment th' illustrious number of the starres Outshine the Ledan brothers I le not diminish Thy glory by a teare untill my brest Does like the pious Pellican's break forth In purple fountains for thy losse and then It shall diffuse for every drop thou shed'st A Crimson river then to thee I le come To die for love 's a glorious martyrdome Exit The end of the fourth Act Actus 5. Scena I. Enter Strephon Clitophon Alexis Clito. 'T Is certaine my Alexis have not I Who in their presence for love dayly die A cause to blame my destiny and be Oppress'd with a continuall melancholy Alex. You are your owne Oppressour Clito. O wretched fate I in their presence doat on every one Yet in their absence am content with none Stre. Yet I am in a farre worse case Than any of you both alas This villaine Cupid play'd the knave Or at my birth his mother gave Some of her beauty to my naturall parts Which doe allure even stony hearts That I am weary of so many Good parts and would lend some to any I Clitophon even every limb About thee can with beauty trim And never miss'd I dare be sworne There 's not an inch about me worne Which has not all the Maids can tell Waiting on it of love an Ell Alex. O far more happy Strephon Stre. I doe mock me Alexis I will surrender you That happinesse with all my heart Were there but only two or three Or foure or five did doate on mee I grant you then 't were very well The handsome then should heare the bell But there 's not in this face a wrinckle Nor on my precious nose a pimple Nor a haire upon my chin But those you see are very thin Nor any squint comes from mine eye But that some wench for it does fry In loves hot furnace Though n'ere so coy Each Lasse would my good pars enjoy Clito. Why does not Strephon then Make use of time and chuse the richest Jemme Out of this Mine of beauty and enrich Himselfe by marriage Streph. My fingers itch at thee to heare thee talk so foolishly Would'st have me make an Anatomy of my selfe Or dost suppose That unto one I 'le wed my nose And to another all the rest Of this sweet face A pretty jest Should I pretend my selfe to match The wenches then would play at catch That catch may each get a limbe Or rather with themselves in rage They cruell civill warre would wage And with those terrible weapons their nailes Which them in battell never failes And farre more terrible tongues in fright They'd fighting scold and scolding fight Enter Sapho Aminta Florida Clito. Still dearest Sapho cruell Tygers may By prayers and teares be mov'd though cruell then Delight in murder you doe seeme to take Your naturall fiercenesse from them there cannot be So much sterne vigour in humanity As to contemne a suppliant and prove To him most cruell who does truliest love Saph. You are too fickle Clitophon you see Leaves in green Autumne scatter'd from each tree By the rude winds you are more light than they More fading than the flowrey dresse which May Attires the prickly thornes in lighter far Than frothy bubbles or dispers'd smoakes are Yet I should love you did not Strephons eye Dart flames might fire a marble heart they fly With nimble wings about me Strephon see She who refuses him will yeeld to thee Str. Would you could perswade me to 't my nimble toung'd Melpomene I must not bee injust to wrong my friend Clitophon my friend 's my friend sweet Sapho and you are a woman of which gender thanks be to Heaven and my good parts I have indifferent choyse a hundred or so If you Aminta or you Florida love me the best comfort or course you can take Is to run mad for my deare sake And hang your selves for you 'l so prove True lovers hang'd in chains of love Amin. A cruell resolution Sapho well We must resolve not to lead apes in Hell And we have vow'd never to match but where Strephon vouchsafes to give us for you two Unlesse he please our wils can nothing do Stre. Come hither Clitophon you love this witty rogue this Sapho Clit. Deare as my own eyes Stre. That 's deare enough and you Alexis love Aminta Alex. I dare not name that word yet ther 's in me A most severe and lasting constancy to faire Aminta Clit. O be gentle Strephon let kind pitty move Thy honest heart not to deprive our love Of its true comfort Stre. I shall be sure now to be famous for some thing Your hands your hands my pretty payre of turtles Amin. Will you forsake us Strephon Saph. Will you give me away Whose heart desires to live only by your affection Stre. I cannot helpe it lesse I should distribute my selfe amongst you I 'me very glad the matter is depos'd into my handling these wenches are in good hope now that I will have one of them my selfe and that makes them refer themselves to mee here Clitophon take Sapho and you Alexis the beautifull Aminta But bee sure to confesse you have but my reversions You 'l give mee leave to kisse your wives or so when you are married I le not goe an inch further as I am a true Arcadian and so shake hands and Heavens give you joy Now Clitophon you 're excellent at that sport shall 's not have a frisque or so at your Wedding ha Clito. We 'r all your servants Dance Saph. Now Strephon wee have suffered you to play the foole all this while Receive our true opinions of you Stre. I come let 's hear 't Sap. Thou hast a face So full of vilenesse it does disgrace Deformity it selfe ther 's not a woman Were she to filthy prostitution common That could affect thee Flori. Cease to torment him Sapho the pretty elfe Begins to see the beauty of it selfe We must attend our Lady Sap. Strephon go And hang
proclayme Their soddaine funerall This brave resolve Vanquish'd my steele wing'd Goddesse and ingag'd Peneian Daphne who did fly the Sun Give up to willing ravishment her boughes T' invest my awfull front and this shall prostrat Spight of all opposition your nice soule To my commanding merit Par. These high tearms were apt to fright an enemy or beget Terror in flinty bosoms Can you think A timorous Virgin can affect her feare Yeld the security of her peace and life To the protection of her horror You must not perswade my thoughts that you who vary so the Scene of love can act it perfectly Demag. Slighted in this 't is a contempt inhumane and deserves my utmost scorne Enter Chrisaclea Chri. Nay may most honor'd Lord be not transported with a needlesse rage 't is but her childish folly Parthenia You have done ill to entertaine a man Of such an absolute worth with such a meane Exeunt Dema and Philar Regardlesse value you must alter this Neglectfull temper or my anger will Surpasse my naturall love and I shall chide Your too affected nicenesse Parth. Gracious Madam The zealous duty which religious laws Teaches me owe my parents would inflict A heavy curse for disobedient guilt Upon my Innocence should I transgresse Th' intention of your honourable will In what I can obey it Chri. Then in this You are resolv'd t' usurp the priviledge Of your discretion and not fulfill My will in the disposall of your love Parth. Yes with that freedome that I would to Heaven Tender my best obedience but since love Is by example and discourse allow'd Reasons superior it must be esteem'd Above all duty Chri. Yet there ought to be Consent attayn'd from those whose power sh'ud guide Their childrens youth and actions Parth. 'T is confest But not except it justly sympathise With their affection you would have suffred A conflict in your peace had you been forc'd When your free will had yeelded up your heart My fathers choyse t o've had it ravish'd back And in despight of your resolve confer'd Upon another Chri. I was not so childish To contradict my parents but subscrib'd To their discretions as I would advise You would obey mine and yeeld consent To wed Demagoras Parth. What can your Wisdome Behold in him if with impartiall Eyes You would survay his quality that should ingage Your inclination to inforce my love Besides the native fiercenesse of his looks Apter to fright a Lady than beget Fancy his courtships cloth'd in angry threats As if that Love were turn'd a Souldier And had unyok'd her teeme of spleenlesse Doves To have her Chariot drawn by ravenous Wolves Tygres or trecherous Leopards had put off Her wreath of harm esse Mirtle to invest Her brow with Yew or Cipresse Chri. This excuse Proceeds not from his merit but your love To Argalus a stranger only known For his brisque Courtship the Queen supports His wavering Fortune he depends on her And should she faile by death his utmost hopes Embrac'd a soddaine ruine Parth. Argalus Were he more abject in his fate than your Imagination could conceit deserv'd My Equalst fancy in his youthfull looks Sits a divinity able to inchant Queenes to admire nay to adore his worth Continued smiles make Summer on his cheeks At his bright Eyes does Cupid warme his wings When he intends to fly at Womens hearts Musick and rich perfumes are in his breath Aptly resembling aromatique winds That sing the Phenix Exequies Chris. Can my daughter So much decline the greatnesse of her spirit Hereditary to her bloud To affect a person meerly for his smiles Effeminate carriage without any proofe Of manly valour in him Parth. You mistake His character though he can tread in peace An ayery measure to the warbling Lute Demeane his actions with that sweet deceit Can cosen Ladies of their soules yet when The glorious war does summon him to th' field He does excell in feats of active armes The ablest youth of Arcady instructs Old Souldiers Martiall discipline that those Who had beheld his sweetnesse in the Court Pusled in Faith believed that conquering Mars Had cloth'd his fiercenesse in a Cupids shape To vanquish some more beautious prize than was The blind Gods mother Chri. 'T is offensive I 'le heare no more of this Parth. Thus I 'me inforc'd to prove Dead to obedience if I live to love Chri. Your nicenesse Must not excuse the due respects we beare The Lord Demagoras if the shepherds be prepar'd They shall present their mirth to expell his melancholy Exeunt Chris Parth. Scena 2. Clitophon Strephon. Strep. Pish you 'r as fierce an aspen leafe you wag every way Clitop. I 'le tell thee honest Strephon I No more affect a woman than the Sky Does Birds that sore in it they are as vaine Inconstant as the flying showers of raine In Aprill Strephon Strep. The more dissembling fellow you why do you protest to every Wench you see you are inamor'd on her why you should see and seeing ought to imitate your betters Clitophon ther 's not a Lasse That trips nimbly ore the Arcadian grasse When shee does faire Strephon veiw Though I fly but will pursue Throw her eyes out on my shape Call me Pigsny pretty Ape Some there are that doe suppose Loves hot fire in my nose With which they scorch'd for pitty cry Blow it ou't Strephon or we die Others say my head 's a bell My hayre the ropes that ring the knell My tong the clapper which though their deaths it rings They sweare no Courefeu halfe so sweetly sings The hollow of my eyes the grave Which with their nailes they dig but have But who comes here Enter Sapho and Aminta Sapho Strepho you 'r well-met good Aminta see Is he not chast and faire as young Goates be His head like to a Cedar over-growes His studded cheeks and rich enameld nose Strepho. I would be loath to give my face for the washing Girle now Clitophon doe not you not imagine Venus girdle was My swathband the maids so doate on my well timber'd limbs Here 's a leg Sapho that 's as neatly made As any that ore Shepherdesse is laid A thigh proportionable I tak 't I know thou longst to feell it nak't A taile some say does hang therby Which none must know but thee and I I have a back too though I say 't That should not can beare any waight Full limbs with sinews strong and plump A lusty chine and for my rumpe 'T is so well made and firmely knit The Nymphs are all stark mad for it Because they think the rest of my members proportionable Clito. What a quick flame Into my brest from Saphos bright eyes came Another from Aminta's my desire Erst cold as Ice grows active as the fire Dearest Aminta Sapho lend your eare To my just vowes Ami. Fond Clitophon forbeare To sweare in earnest I do know your heart Was never wounded with the blind Gods dart Saph. See how bright Strephon does intice
with brightnesse Heavens protect me What strange delusion 's this Arg. Surely a mist Shades our amazed opticks or has some Black Devill taken her habituall forme To mocke our erring fancies 't is her face Vail'd in a robe of darknesse yet her eyes Shoot their accustomed brightnesse through the clouds To tell the admiring gazers two such lights Cannot indure privation Horror friend What should portend this ominous sight Deare Madam have you devis'd this embleme of disguise That when disperc'd 't may give more perfect lustre To your most exquisite figure Parth. Oh my Lord Look not on such a monster lest my sight Infect your spotlesse purity I am Stop your innocent eares lest the harsh sound Pierce them with horror poyson'd Philar. What ignoble villaine Madam has spoil'd natures most glorious frame Demolish'd such a beauty as the most Cunning Painters with their skill shall never imitate Arga. Let her name Guesse at his appellation that has ventur'd This irreligious blemish to white truth And were his heart wrapt in a marble rock Fenc'd with a Mine of Adamant this hand Should from the stony casket dig it out And with his vile blood poyson all the world Parthe. Deare Sir the employment of this fruitlesse rage Cannot attach him for this mischiefe 'T was Demagoras who mad with the conceit That for your sake I did neglect his love Surpris'd my guitlesse person in the wood And with a juyce more poysonous than the foame Of angry Dragons sprinkled my cleare face By th' powerfull venome straight ore bespred with this Contagious leprosie and then he fled Arga. Whither What place can be so strong to guard So mercilesse a Tyger Should he mix His conversation with unsetled aires Breake like a cunning Pioner through the earth And hide himselfe i' th Center some quick wind Or hideous earthquake would inforce him thence To his deserved punishment Oh friend Me thinks this object should affright the light Into a sad concealment force the clouds To drop upon the earth in floods of teares And drowne it everlastingly Philar. Poore Lady Parth. Doe not Lords Urge violent rage to discompose your peace I will like The pleasing aire wrap in that cloud my head That has infected it and seeke out death Nor doe I grieve for my vaine beauties losse Since shivering sicknesse or the hand of age Would have perform'd that office which his poyson Usurp'd upon its lustre this onely wounds My fraile resolve since I beleeve that you Lord Argalus affected me that I Should be so wretched as to be depriv'd Of that indifferent forme for which I might Have merited your favour Arga. Gracious soule Inforce my immortality from my brest Which like a flame inclos'd 'twixt walls of brasse Strives to ascend to heaven and fetch from thence Thy ravish'd beauty 't was thy excellent minde That I admir'd no noble soule can fix Onely on fleshly glory and since that Remaines intire immoveable as faith I should undoe my honour in revolt From sacred truth should I renounce thy love I 'le yet imbrace thy Nuptialls with a heat Holy as altars incense for thy face A thousand virgins with immaculate teares Shall weep upon it bathe it in their bloods Till from the different colours the fresh Rose And glorious Lillie in that snowy field Regaine their ancient seats and re-create thee The absolute Queene of beauty Par. Oh my Lord Your fancie wanders in distracted paths Of vanquish'd reason since infortunate I Must like a piece of Alablaster By an unskilfull Carver needs become A most imperfect statue Since I cannot Boast any thing that 's meriting your love Strive to forget Parthenia who will seeke Some desert where poore mortall never trod To spend the wretched remnant of her life in Farewell my Lord hereafter wish to meet As I doe in one tombe one winding sheet The end of the second Act Actus 3. Scena 1. Enter Demagoras and servant ARe all our forces muster'd Serv. They are my Lord Demag. Let them be All in a readinesse I meane this night T' attempt Kalanders Castle my great soule Is not yet satisfied by my revenge Upon Parthenia's beauty the contempt Cast on me by refusall of my match Cannot be wash'd off but in streames of bloud Serv. But my Lord thinke on Kalanders strength Demag. I know my owne And 't were a sin 'gainst my undaunted courage To doubt 't is large sufficiencie has not power To vanquish any enemy Let hosts Conjoyne to hosts affront me yet this arme Has an innated vertue that shall force Victory from their multitudes as due Onely to my deservings Let the Captaines Prepare our forces while in this grove I meditate The sweetnesse of my just revenge Arga. Pray Sir to whom belong yon forces Serv. To Lord Demagoras there is the Generall Exit Servant Arg. You 'r happily encountred Doe you know me Demag. Though such things as you are Fit onely for effeminacie and sport Doe seldome meet my knowledge you are If I mistake not Argalus I sent you A glorious present lately your Parthenia Dress'd in her new robes of beauty such as might Intice your wanton appetite to love Arga. Villaine to glory in thy most detested act Shewes that thy Fiend-like nature has forgot All lawes of noble manhood but I sinne To interchange a word with such a Monster Yet before thou dost fall by me as if heaven have not Lost all its cure of innocence thou must doe I 'le force thee heare the blacknesse of thy mischiefes What devill cloth'd in humane shape except Thy barbarous selfe would have atchiev'd the wrack Of so much matchlesse beauty Demag. 'T was too meane too light a sacrifice for my revenge Had her whole Sex beene there attired in all The glory of their beauty and you Sir present My anger had invaded them and spight Of your defence converted their choice formes To the same loathsome leprosie Arga. Peace Monster Each syllable thou utterest does infect The aire with killing pestilence it was Heavens never-sleeping Justice that directed My erring person hither to revenge Parthenia's murder'd beauty on thy life Nay stare not on me Sir were you defenc'd With heaps of men as numerous as your sinnes This sword should force a passage and dig out Thy heart from that black cabinet of thy brest And cast it a prey to Vultures Demag. You 'r very confident Young gallant of your fortune prithee goe Poore boy and fight a combat in the court With some soft Mistresse dance or touch a Lute Thou art a thing so abject thou' rt not worthy The anger of Demagoras arme be gone Lest I doe frowne thy soule away My sword Will be an uselesse instrument 'gainst such A childish enemie Arga. Glorious Devill My furies growne to that unequall height 'T will not admit more conference thy crimes Are now ripe for my punishment though Fiends Guard your black brest I 'le peirce it Demag. So valiant I shall chastise your fury Fight Demag falls Arg. Parthenia
thy wither'd face Stre. You would faine cog your selfe into my favour again but till you bee converted from this Clitophon you shall not kisse the worst part about me Saph. O say not so Thou art more sweet than Yewe or Miscletoe Alex. O Clitophon Aminta every voyce Be fill'd with admiration sing rejoyce Till th' earth dance like our young Lambs till trees Grow active at the musick all degrees Of greefe are banish'd all our flocks shall play For joy Parthenia O Parthenia Clito. What of Parthenia Alex. Is return'd her right Beauty new shining like the Queen of night Appearing fresher after she did shroud Her gawdy forehead in a pitchy cloud Loves triumphs in her eyes audacious I That durst name love and faire Alexis by Be dumb for ever Sapho Stay Alexis She shall now revoke that loving tyranny Since our Parthenia 's return'd I 'le turne My Elegiack strains away and burn in high love raptures Alex. She must strait be wed to Lord Argalus The bridall bed is in preparing Sapho At a verse of mine Hymen shall light his Nuptiall flaming pine I will enchant them to embraces free With a devoted Epithalamy Till I sing day from Tothis armes and fire With ayry raptures the whole morning quire Till the small birds their Silvan notes display And sing with us joy to Parthenia Dance Exeunt The end of the third Act Actus 4. Scena 1. Argalus Parthenia Kalander Philarchus Kalan. SIt my most honor'd Cosen you are Lord Both of this house and feast the honest Shepheards Were taken too much o' th soddaine to provide A fitting entertainment but they 've striv'd With their most early haste t' expresse their duty Sapho inspir'd with her Poetique fury Will speake your Epithalamy They do intend to dance too I see This Musicke declares their purpose Musick Enter Shepheards and Shepheardesses Sap. The joyes of health and what the spring Of youth strength happinesse can bring Wait upon this noble paire Lady may you still be faire As earliest light may you enjoy Beauty which age cannot destroy May you be fruitfull as the day Never sigh but when you pray Know no griefe but what may be To temper your felicity And you my Lord may truest fame Still attend on your great name Live both of you espous'd to peace And with your yeares let love increase Goe late to Heaven but comming thither Shine there two glorious stars together Song and Dance Kalen. Does these presentments please you our dull wits Are not so fortunate in rich conceits As your quick Cyprian intellects Exeunt Sheepherds Arga. You vouchsafe Too much to grace them but Parthenia The King as conscious of my meane desert To make me seeme more worthy of thy love Has by imposing a command confer'd An honor greater on my sprightly hopes Then the addition of estate or bloud Before enrich'd me with possession of Part. Let me participate your happinesse My dearest Lord what is it Argal. An honor which like the Eldest child of Fame treads on the neck of glory Kalan. Come my Lord let 's leave these happy lovers to themselves Part. What may it portend tell me and I le rejoyce As much to heare it as when I recover'd my poyson'd beauty Arga. Thou shalt know 't And with lowd acclamations sound my fate For most compleatly happy by the King I am elected instantly to meet In single opposition honors type The brav'st of Soldiers and the best of men The noble Lord Amphialus Par. Blesse me divinity can you conceive my Lord That act an honor upon which the losse Of the unvalued treasure of your life Has strict dependence sure my Lord the King Cannot be such a Tyrant to employ You in your infant age of peacefull love To sutch a cruell warfare Arga. Now I see Parthenia loves not Argalus if she wish him Turne recreant to his valour what account Unlesse of Coward shall I give the King Should I refuse this honorable taske Which but to meet I 'de scale star-neighboring rocks Travell through desarts scarcely known to beasts And combat all that durst oppose my passage To this brave enterprise Par. My dearest Lord This resolution does oppresse my soule With torments worse than death there 's not a word Which you have utter'd but like mandraks grones Or howles of wolves affrights me Can there be Such a contempt of my regardlesse love Be got so soon Can you forsake my bed Before I scarce conceive my selfe a wife Or you a husband Oh Argalus I thought We should have liv'd and taught the erring world Affections primitive purenesse grown like Palmes That do with amorous mixture twine their boughes Into a league-union and so florish Old in each others armes when now if thou Proceed to triall in this bloudy taske My feares do with prophetike motion tell me We are undone eternally Arga. Have you so slight an estimation of my worth In managing bright armes that you can feare My persons suffrance O Parthenia Thou wouldst deprive me of that same which time Should he decline his restlesse course away Shall never equall from my youth-full head Thou wouldst detaine a chaplet of such bayes As not Penein Daphne first transform'd Could boast the like for freshnesse dry my love Those sacred eyes drowned in christall streames Or if thou wilt I 'le kisse away thy teares In stead of heavenly Nectar Part. This but ads to my misfortune Sir I am your wife And never yet requested any grant Unlesse your love deny me not my first And only suit leave my good Lord to tempt Your destiny Amphialus is so good In his kind love to women that I doubt not To find some meanes without your honors breach To put this fatall combat off Arga. No Parthenia 'T is but in vaine to tempt me with your prayers Could he spit thunder would afright the Gods Or wore at each lock of his haire a flash Of piercing lightning yet I should attempt To snatch the fery chaplet from his head And as a garland of victorious bayes Wreath it about these temples Par. Well my Lord since no perswasion will reclaime your will Goe and be happy in your disastrous task My maids and I will pay each houre to heaven A thousand vowes for your successe I give You my free licence O that deathfull word Comes from the Organs of my troubled soule As a constant does from a timorous maid To an inforcing ravisher Arga. Why now thou art my best Parthenia doubt not love But I will bring white victory to crown Thy glorious front give me but one kind look T will fill me with heroick force let 's in And fearelesse take a happy parting kisse Suspicion hinders loves immediat blisse Exeunt Clitophon Enter Clitophon Strephon Alexis Sapho Aminta Florida Clit. Sweet Sapho will you still persist and kill whom you might save Sapho 'T is your owne various will Inforces my contempt but heere 's no place T' afford our loves an answer the kinde grasse
That decks the plaines will smile when we do fit On its greene tapistry and aptly fit Our wilde affections Shepherdesses let Our woolly charge within our folds be set Lest the hoarse Wolfe to sate his ravenous thirst With blood of Lambes doe through our weak flocks burst After let 's meet upon the neighbouring plaine And there determine of our loves I 'le straine A little on your patience to rehearse On the late Nuptials this ensuing verse Amint. Doe my deare Sapho Flor. Shepherds attend her Layes Amint. They get us credit and our Sapho Bayes Sapho The holy Priest had joy'd their hands and now Night grew propitious to their Bridall vow Majestick Iuno and young Hymen flies To light their Pines at faire Parthenia's eyes The little Graces amourously did skip With the small Cupids from each lip to lip Venus her selfe was present and untide Her virgine Love when loe on either side Stood as her handmaids Chastity and Truth With that immaculate guider of her youth Rose-colour'd Modesty These did undresse The beauteous maid who now in readinesse The Nuptiall tapers waving 'bout her head Made poore her garments and enrich'd her bed While the fresh Bridegroome like the lusty Spring Did to the holy bride-bed with him bring Attending masculine vertues down he lay'd His snowy limbs by a far whiter mayd Their kisses linke their minds as they embrace A quire of Angels flew about the place Singing all blisse unto this paire for ever May they in love and union still persever Amin. 'T is almost sung for the nuptialls Why was 't not sung with musick Saph Castalia's voyce would have been tir'd with it Come let 's depart Love though obscur'd still flames about the heart Exeunt Enter Amphialus Argalus Philarchus Amph. I could have wish'd the King Had destin'd any to this fatall task But noble Argalus in him there rests Such a commanding fulnesse of true worth That as 't will be a glory to o'recome 'T will be a griefe equall to think 'gainst whom The present fury of my arme must be Unwillingly directed Arg. Famous Amphialus 'T is so much honour to be held your friend 'T were indiscretion in me to admit A thought of being your enemy we two Should meet my Lord to revell not to fight But since th' injustice of our Fates does force This sad contention deare Amphialus Think that two brothers may with hot resolve Strive to atchieve one crowne yet still be friends The lawrell destin'd for my head will wither If it be snatch'd from thine Amph. More famous Argalus Under whose hand the great Demais fell These attributes of curtesie doe speake Your noble natures freenesse you and I Should rather exercise our able armes In one anothers quarrell than imploy them Upon our selves Deare Argalus our fates Are too in just t' ingage our swords against Our bodies for in harming thee I offer Wounds to my selfe we two retaine so much Affinity by friendship we must needs be One individuall substance Phi. Good my Lords Since there 's that sympathie of love and nature 'Twixt your two soules dissolve it not the blow That shall divide your hearts will be more impious In sep'rating that union than in cutting Your twists of life asunder Arga. Philarchus you are so noble Our wills desir'd you an indifferent Judge In our unwilling difference since you are An equall friend to both Amph. Philarchus We two are fortunes scorne that we should be Such friends in soule yet by our deeds be thought Severest enemies Deare Argalus Let not thy lenity regard my life Which is so worth lesse 't is a weight I wish Rather to lose than keepe but guard thy owne Preserve that precious bloud which I shall grieve To see diffus'd on earth nay rather weepe Than shed a drop of it Arg. How much my Lord you vanquish him with curtesie Whom your arme means to conquer But Amphialus Since we are mutuall friends and yet must seeme Mutually enemies to testifie 'T is by our fate not malice we are foes I 'le make thee my full Executour bestow A gift upon thee of that pricelesse worth Posterity shall never boast its parallell When I am ashes if there be a wretch For some there are that dare blaspheme the Gods Does injure my Parthenia prithee friend Let be thy Care to punish that contempt 'Gainst vertuous purity and as the last And most supreme inducement of my love If by thy hand I perish let my heart Be sent to my Parthenia Amph. The same justice I beg of thee my Argalus to have mine Convay'd to my Philoclea and if fame As it may chance traduce me after death Noblest Argalus justifie thy friend Thy poore Amphialus and defend the deare Authour of my misfortune sweet Philoclea otherwise Posterity inform'd by bad report May black her precious memory and say A worthlesse man fell by thy sword Let us embrace my Argalus and take A true though sad farewell and once Let us employ our hands against our hearts Arg. Kill our selves mutually for who first does fall Leads but the way toth ' others funerall Fight Enter Parthenia Parth. Eternall darknesse seaze me O my Lord You are reported to be thrall to love for her sake you affect most doe not make A breach in ebbing nature More This bloud Clothing the grasse in purple does convert My heart to Alablaster O Argalus Arg. O Parthenia Never till now unwelcome have I liv'd To such an abject lownesse that my life Must like a malefactors be by prayers Redeem'd from death Let us renew the fight Ha Me thinks I tread on slippery glasse my unsupporting feet Dance measures on light waves and I am sinking Into the watery bosomes there to rest for all eternity Amph. I have seene So dying tapers as it were to light Their owne sad funerall expiring dart Being but stirr'd their most illustrious beames And so extinguish Parth. Angels if ye have charity afford Some Surgery from heaven Now I see the cause Why my sad heart fill'd with propheticke feare Sought to have stopt your journey and why I Compell'd by power of overruling Fate Follow'd you hither Oh Argalus Arga. Parthenia I doe feele A marble sweat about my heart which does Congeale the remnant of my bloud to Ice My Lord I doe forgive you friend farewell Parthenia showre on my pale lips a kisse 'T will waft my soule to its eternall blisse Parthenia O Parthenia Dies Phi. So cracks the cordage of his heart as Cables That guide the heavie Anchors cut by blasts Of some big tempest My Lord your wounds are many And dangerous 't is fit you doe withdraw And have 'm cur'd Amph. I am carelesse growne my life Is now more odious to me than the light Of day to Furies Madam I am past The thought of griefe for this sad fact and am Griefes individuall substance pray forgive me Heaven knowes it was not malice that betray'd Your Lords lov'd life but a necessitous force To save my owne Joy comfort