University of Virginia Library

[SCENE the First.]

After a sound of Horns, and cry of Hunts-men, Enter Silvio and Lynco.
Silvio.
There's Musick in this sound, Life, Soul, and Charm.
What Breast so frozen, but this sport can warm?
Deserted Woods, and unfrequented Plains,
And you, your Countreys shame, poor frighted Swayns,
I am your Champion; 'tis by Me decreed,
The long disturber of your Peace shall bleed.
This Savage Bore must Dye.

Lynco.
“Oh Silvio,
“Had I thy fresh and blooming Cheek, adieu
“I'de say to Beasts, and nobler Game pursue.

Silv.
A Game more noble? what more Sacred task,
Could Fortune grant, or his Ambition ask,
Who for his Country does with Monsters fight,
And the VVorlds Terrour makes his dear delight?

Lync.
This Savage Chace leave t'an Ignobler hand:
A fairer Prize does your pursuit demand.
For which—
No less does the Arcadian safety call,
Then for this Erymanthian Monsters fall.
Have not our Oracles long since design'd
From Silvios Nuptials, we our Peace should find?
“And thou
“To have a Nymph so fair, that not a Swain
“So proud, but sighs for her, and sighs in vain:
“To have this matchless bright Divinity
“By Destiny and Gods reserved for Thee;
“Nay thrown into thy Arms without one sigh or tear;
“And thou (unworthy) not to value her?

Silv.
Love, the dull Fetter of all slavish souls;
No such weak power my free-born mind controuls.

Lync.
“Oh Silvio, hadst thou tryed Love once, & found
“In Mutual Lovers, what true Joys abound,
“I know thou'dst say, Oh Love, the sweetest Guest,
“Why hast thou been a stranger to this Breast?
“Leave, leave the Woods; leave following Beasts, fond Boy,
“And follow Love.

Silv.
Love, an unmanly Joy!
“Keep they those Pleasures to themselves alone
“Who find a Soul in 'em, for I find none.

Lync.
“No Soul in Love, the Worlds great Soul! Dull Youth
“Too soon (beleiv't) thou'lt find this pow'rful Truth;
“Perchance too late; for he'l be sure, before
“We dye, to make us all once feel his pow'r.
“And be assur'd, worse torment none can prove,
“Than in old Limbs, the Youthful Itch of Love.
“Old Men
“In Love are doubly wrackt, both with the sense
“Of their Youths Pride, and Ages Impotence.

Silv.
Must then my Youth, for glorious actions lent,
Be on dull Woman, prodigally spent?
“For those Chimeras in a Lovers head,
“Those strange Elysiums by Mens Feavours bred?

Lync.
“Tell me, if in this pleasing month of May,
“When Earth is drest in all her rich array,
“Instead of bladed Fields, Brooks uncontrol'd,
“Green Woods, and painted Meads, thou should'st behold,
“Bald Fields and Meads, Brooks bound with Ice; the Pine,
“The Beech, the Ash, the Oak, the Elme, the Vine,
“And Poplar-like inverted Sceletons
“Stand desolate, ratling their naked bones;
“Wouldst thou not say, Nature is out of Tune,
“The World is sick, and like to dye in June?
Now turn thy Eyes into thy self, and see
How ill thy Passions, with thy Youth, agree:
“Behold a much more monstrous Novelty
“Then this would seem in Nature. Courteous Heaven
“To every Age has proper humours given.
“And as in Old Men, Love absurdly shews;
“So Young Men, Enemies to Love, oppose
“Nature and Heaven. Look Silvio round about,
“Examine this whole Universe throughout;
“All that is fair or good, here or above,
“Is either Lover, or the work of Love.

Sylv.
How canst thou with such trecherous Arts perswade:
And thus the freedom of my Soul invade?
“Was it for this I had my tender years
“Committed to the care of thy grey hairs?
“That thou shouldst thus Effeminate my heart
“With Love? Know'st who I am, or who thou art?

Lynco.
“Thou art a Man, or should'st be one, and I
“Another; what I teach Humanity.
“And if thou scornest that name, which is thy Pride,
“Take heed, instead of being Deified,
“Thou turn not Beast.

Silv.
“That Monster-taming King,
“From whom my lofty Pedigree I bring,
“Had never been thus Valiant, nor thus Famed,
“If first the Monster Love he had not tamed,
And his great deeds by Glorys Standart framed.

Lync.
See foolish Youth, how weak thy Reasons prove;
“Had great Alcides never been in Love,
“How then had'st thou been born? If he o're-came
“Monsters and Men, to Love impute his Fame;
“To Love his Conquests. Souls like his untamed,
“In their own Nature rough, when once inflamed
“With generous Love, and with its Sweets allayd,
“Are clearer, apter for great actions made.
“If thou'rt Ambitious then to imitate
“Great Hercules, and not degenerate
“From thy high blood; since Woods thou dost affect,
“Follow the Woods, but do not Love neglect.
Not that I'de have thee thy mean thoughts debase
To poor Dorindas Love of low-born race.
Thy Amaryllis is of race Divine;
Besides by Contract, she's already thine.
Thy Wife already.

Silv.
Heav'n defend me!

Lync.
How?

Silv.
My Wife?

Lync.
Can Silvio forget his Vow?
Your mutual promises received, and given?
“Take heed, bold Youth, how you dare sport with Heav'n.

Silv.
“Mans freedom is Heav'ns gift, which does not take
“Us at our words, when a forc'd Vow we make.

Lync.
“I; but (unless our Hopes and Judgments fail)
“Heav'n made this Match, and promis'd to Entayl
“A thousand blessings on't.

Silv.
“'Tis like that there
“Is nothing else to do. A proper care
“To vex the calm rest of the Gods above.
Lynco, I scorn both Lovers Oaths, and Love.

[Exit.
Lynco.
“Thou sprung from Heav'n, harsh Boy? nor of Divine
“Can I say suppose thee, nor of humane line.
“Alectoes Poyson thy cold Limbs did fashion;
“Fair Venus had no hand in thy Creation.

Exit.