University of Virginia Library

SCEN 3.

Learchus Picus Hippolon.
Lear.
Thus Far haue wee (Hippolon and Picus)
Tended on the Person of Orion
Twoward Purchase of his Right in this Land,
Yet vnto our selues wee haue not as yet
Obteyned least Fruite of our long Longings
Concerning th'Appetition of our Loues
To these Sauage and Cruell Huntresses
Florida, Camilla, Fancia, Then
Saye deare freinds and fellowes in woodmanship,
What course haue wee to take herein? O saye.

Pic.
Learchus, the eyes of Camilla haue
So bewitcht poore Picus that be hath not
Sence or Feeling what course to take herein,
Yet the Ardure of that Flame that burneth
Within him is so feirce and violent
That Hap had, Hap dab, what course so euer
May be deuised in the enterprise
Will seeme to be both small and vnæquall
To th'obteyning the Palme of his desire.

Hipp.
Nay, Picus, nay, Rather an ordinary course

dilue

Is to be attempted before wee shall
Put in vre an Extraordinary
For Mylde wordes and gentle Locutions haue
Moued the Gods of Olympus come down
In releif of their suppliant Mistrisses
As by our sacred Poets hath beene told.

Pic.
Hippolon, Hippolon, those radiant gleames
Camilla gloomes from the circumference
Of her sweet Arched eyen will terrifye
Any shall but dare pleade his cause to her.

Lear.
And for those ruddy cheekes of Florida,
They do seeme to mee those starting Apples
Of Tantalus if I should offer but
One Snatch at their back-sliding boughes, I weene.

Hipp.
But the wordes of Fancia nere so feirce
Will qualify vpon the notes I know
Of my strick and feruent affection of her—
If any tyme I may but sing my suite to her.

Lear.
For there is such a chill of Chastitye
In the Breasts of these Impes of Diana
And that by their continuall Practise
In Hunting, that sooner you shall split Rocks
In Twayne then breake them of their Frowardnes.

Pic.
Nay, I think Camilla's extract from line
Of that Camilla in greate virgil told
That sooner would flye ouer Spikes of corne
Then to be tayne by Man in this round Mound.

Lear.
And Florida will sooner leape from Rock
As Ino did then yeild her little Lambe
Vnto the vse of feirce Learchus lust.
So keene she is against th'Assault of vs.

Hipp.
Fancia of an other strayne is sure,
As I am thouroughly persuaded of her,
For as her name doth forcibly Implye
She may Fancey some though late it be,
Nunquam sera est ad bonos mores via.

Lear.
Who that some should be I cannot decerne.
My self, I cannot rectifye my mind so,
Florida myne in any sort will be.

Hipp.
Si vox est canta, si mollia brachia salta,
Et quæcunq, potes dote placere place.

Lear.
For haue I not vsed those many shifts
Could be deuisd to bring my wind about,
Yet see, Oh see, she will be none to mee.

Hipp.
Si precibus non vult cedere rumpe moras.

Pic.
Well brought about, Hoa, For women if soft
Toucht will sting lyke nettles, if rubd againe
Well will beare the Touch, Oh, beare vp, I saye.

Hipp.
Now Picus sheweth him a Man of Proofe.

Pic.
And trye the Conclusion, For my lime-Bush
Shall hent the flightest Haggard, flyes this day.

Lear.
Yet in Importunity men do saye
No losse is, wherefore giue th'Assault once more
And if wee shall not speede so, then let vs
Sing the black Saunce the one against the other.
Come.

Pic.
Well vyde, Learchus by my Truth; Come.

Hipp.
So goe wee on and first see the Tryall.

Lear.
Then come, And follow mee to Court you too.

Hipp.
I doe.