University of Virginia Library

Scene IIII.

To him.
Robin-hood. Clarion. Mellifleur. Lionel. Amie. Alken. Tuck. Servants, with musick of all sorts.
Rob.
Welcome bright Clarion, and sweet Mellifleur,
The courteous Lionel, faire Amie; all
My friends and neighbours, to the Jolly Bower
Of Robin-hood, and to the greene-wood Walkes:
Now that the shearing of your sheepe is done,
And the wash'd Flocks are lighted of their wooll,
The smoother Ewes are ready to receive.
The mounting Rams againe; and both doe feed,
As either promist to increase your breed
At eaning time; and bring you lusty twins.
Why should, or you, or wee so much forget
The season in our selves: as not to make
Vse of our youth, and spirits, to awake
The nimble Horne-pipe, and the Timburine,
And mixe our Songs, and Dances in the Wood,
And each of us cut downe a Triumph-bough.
Such were the Rites, the youthfull Iune allow.

Cla.
They were, gay Robin, but the sowrer sort
Of Shepherds now disclaime in all such sport:
And say, our Flocks the while, are poorely fed,
When with such vanities the Swaines are led.

Tuc.
Would they, wise Clarion, were not hurried more
With Covetise and Rage, when to their store
They adde the poore mans Eaneling, and dare sell
Both Fleece, and Carkasse, not gi'ing him the Fell.
When to one Goat, they reach that prickly weed,
Which maketh all the rest forbeare to feed;
Or strew Tods haires, or with their tailes doe sweepe
The dewy grasse, to d'off the simpler sheepe;
Or digge deepe pits, their Neighbours Neat to vexe,
To drowne the Calves, and crack the Heifers necks.
Or with pretence of chasing thence the Brock,
Send in a curre to worrie the whole Flock.

Lio.
O Friar, those are faults that are not seene,
Ours open, and of worst example beene.
They call ours, Pagan pastimes, that infect
Our blood with ease, our youth with all neglect;
Our tongues with wantonnesse, our thoughts with lust,
And what they censure ill, all others must.

Rob.
I doe not know, what their sharpe sight may see
Of late, but I should thinke it still might be
(As 'twas) a happy age, when on the Plaines,
The Wood-men met the Damsells, and the Swaines
The Neat'ards, Plow-men, and the Pipers loud,
And each did dance, some to the Kit, or Crowd,
Some to the Bag-pipe, some the Tabret-mov'd,
And all did either love, or were belov'd.

Lio.
The dextrous Shepherd then would try his sling,
Then dart his Hooke at Daysies, then would sing.
Sometimes would wrastle.

Cla.
I, and with a Lasse:
And give her a new garment on the grasse;
After a course at Barley-breake, or Base.

Lio.
And all these deeds were seene without offence,
Or the least hazard o' their innocence.

Rob.
Those charitable times had no mistrust.
Shepherds knew how to love, and not to lust.

Cla.
Each minute that wee lose thus, I confesse,
Deserves a censure on us, more or lesse;
But that a sadder chance hath given allay,
Both to the Mirth, and Musicke of this day.
Our fairest Shepherdesse wee had of late,
Here upon Trent, is drown'd; for whom her mate
Young Aeglamour, a Swaine, who best could tread
Our countrey dances, and our games did lead,
Lives like the melancholy Turtle, drown'd
Deeper in woe, then she in water: crown'd
With Yewgh and Cypressa, and will scarce admit
The Physick of our presence to his fit.

Lio.
Sometimes he sits, and thinkes all day, then walkes,
Then thinkes againe; and sighes, weeps, laughs, and talkes,
And, 'twixt his pleasing frenzie, and sad griefe,
Is so distracted; as no sought reliefe,
By all our studies can procure his peace.

Cla.
The passion finds in him that large increase,
As wee doubt hourely wee shall lose him too.

Rob.
You should not crosse him then what ere you doe:
For Phant'sie stop'd, will soone take fire, and burne
Into an anger, or to a Phrensie turne.

Cla.
Nay, so wee are advis'd by Alhen here,
A good sage Shepherd, who all-tho' he weare
An old worne hat and cloake, can tell us more
Then all the forward Fry, that boast their Lore.

Lio.
See, yonder comes the brother of the Maid,
Young Karolin! how curious, and afraid
Hee is at once! willing to find him out,
And loath to'offend him.

Alken.
Sure hee's here about.