University of Virginia Library

Scena secunda.

Enter Pyrontus solus.
Pyron.
This sweet and solitary Grove (adjoyning
To our Citie's walls,) I have made Choice to vent
My sorrows in: This Place that many times
Clorina's smiling eies have graced more,
Then Phœbus with his beams could ever do.
Happy you Trees, whose roots received vigour
From the life-giving virtue of her looks:
And you sweet Birds that choose this shady place,
To warble forth your various notes were blest,
To learn new Aires from bright Clorina's voice:
And all those Beasts are fortunate, that here
Enjoy the cooll shades, and the Crystall springs;
The waters and the grass receiving virtue
(From her rich presence) towards their ease, and nourishment
Even all th'Inhabitants of Tomos choose
This place to recreate their minds withall:
Pan, Faunus, Satyres, and the Dryades
Have not afforded me so good success.
Wherefore alas! thus do I vainly taxe
The rurall gods? Clorina is my foe,
Else I had been as happy as Bassanes;
Who is the most blest man of all the Empire,
And that unparallel'd Beauty doth enjoy,
Whose Loss I must perpetually lament;
Whose Loss must sit so neer unto my Soul,
The world will want a Cure to make me whole.

Enter Cypassis.
Cypas.
Thanks to these Trees auspicious shades, whereby
I, undiscover'd, have been made partaker
Of Lord Pyrontus Love unto the Bride.
I will observe (with all the curious search
I may) what progress he intends to make,
And hope I shall raise motives to withdraw
Bassanes from the dotage on his wife,
And fix his heart again upon Spinella.

Enter Pyrontus, and Philocles.
Philo.
I have been searching for you long

Cypas.
Tis best I do retire, where unperceiv'd
I their discourse may over hear.

Philo.
You should not
Give such a Liberty to your Melancholy,
Nor take delight in solitary walks.
My Lord Pyrontus in your early youth.
You was instructed (by the ablest Masters
That famous Athens, or triumphant Rome
Could glory in) in all the Principles
Of grave Philosophy; reflect upon them
And raise your self thence strength to conquer these
Unruly passions.

Pyron.
My dear Philocles,
Tis very easy for a man to give
That counsell to his Friend, he could not follow
Himself, were he in his condition;
I want a power to perform't. The world
Cannot afford me means: I must enjoy
Clorina, or I utterly am lost.
And therefore (though Bassanes is my Friend,)
My Amity cannot enjoyn me silence
I must pursue my suit, and will.

Philo.
Take heed:
You then will run a course against all Virtue,
Offend the sacred Deities, whom we
Are bound by strictest Obligations,
To observe in all they have commanded us.

Pyron.
But they are mercifull, and will forgive

Philoc.
But tis inglorious to commit a Crime
Out of presumption of a pardon; and
Your breach of friend-ship, all mankind will censure
An Act degenerating from true Nobility.

Pyron.
These Moralls (Philocles) are cast away
On me, who am so overwhelm'd in Love,
I have not Reason left to practise them.

Philo.
But you will have sufficient if you would
Take up a Resolution to withstand
This dangerous passion.

Pyron.
Tis in vain to preach
These things to me: I must enjoy Clorina,
Or leave you friend for ever, I shall dye.

Philoc.
How this untoward Love destroyes your sense!

Pyron.
There is not Oratory enough on earth,
To win me from the Pursuit of my love,
One way or other I must get Clorina:
And to invent a Means to compass her,
Shall be my only study; And if I prove
So fortunate as to accomplish that,
I shall account my self a Favorite,
The most esteemed of by the Gods.

Philo.
Fiends rather.

Pyron.
Then I shall find there is a Fate attends
On Lovers; Harsh Beginnings, happy Ends.
Exit Pyrontus.

Philo.
I will not give him over thus, but follow him.
And though I have small Hopes I shall prevaile
Yet I (in Friendship) am obliged to do
My best to stop him in this vitious Course.
O brave Pyrontus! How hath impious Love
Abus'd thy Reason with this mighty Dotage!
He that hath been the Glory of this Province,
Will make himself, this way, the shame and scandall.
Exit Philocles.

Cypassis discloseth her self.
Cypassis.
Is he so hotly set that none beside,
The Bride can satisfy his luxurie!
This shall Bassanes know. Now will I work
With all the treacherous Art I'm Mistris of,
To raise of a Discord in their Marriage, she
Is made of Flesh and blood and may prove false!
Pyrontus is resolved to Court her strongly;
A Gallant Gentleman, hansome as any,
Perfect in amorous Complements no doubt.
I wonder how he mist her, if he ever
Made it his business to obtain her favour.
I wish him good Success. May this Clorina
Fall into his Embraces: Then my Girle
Spinella it is likely may arise
Into her former Favour with Bassanes.
Hee's rich, and bountifull; And such are we come
Unto young Women; who will loose no time
And love to live in Flourish of the fashion.

Enter Bassanes.
Bassanes.
I like this Marriage well, For now lead
My Life in favour of our best of gods.
I have liv'd loosely long enough, and paid
My services to Venus, and wild Priapus,
Juno will now befriend me, sure, and Hymen
Rain blessings on my head, and Family.

Cypassis.
Good day, my Lord Bassanes! what alone?
Can you so soon deprive your self of the
Fair Sun-shine of your bright Clorina's eies?
Find in your heart to be out of her Company?

Bassanes.
I must not be a shadow to my wife,
Nor she to me: we must not evermore
Follow each other; so our Loves might prove
Troublesome to our selves. But say, Cypassis;
That business brought you hither? Is't for health's sake
That you are come to walk, and take the Aire:
Or out of hope to meet me here, to tell me?
Fictitious stories of Spinella's Love to me?

Cypassis.
I had not any such intention:
Affection to the Groves, and a desire
To exercise my self a while in walking,
Did bring me hither. But I've lost my labour,
And (as you came) was a returning home.

Bassanes.
This is a Riddle, Who could hinder
You from walking?

Cypassis.
My own Curiosity,
I have been listning to the saddest speech,
What ever yet did pass a Lover's lips.

Bassanes.
Prethee Cypassis, Who had the ill Fortune,
To vent his Sorrows in thy hearing?

Cypassis.
A friend
Of yours: But tis no matter who, you are
In a Condition of such Happiness
That it would be an Incivility in me,
To cause the least sad thoughts in you. Continue
In mirth, and Jollity; And so, Farewell.

Bassanes.
I pray thee stay a while. I must confess
I have a Curiosity to know,
Who this is that you call a Friend of mine,
Who can be sad now I am grown so happy.

Cypassis.
My Lord Bassanes! I must crave your pardon,
Secrets of Love you know should be conceal'd

Bassanes.
I am no Common Brother.

Cypassis.
For old Acquaintance sake I cannot choose,
But tell you any thing you shall request.

Bassanes.
I thank you. How doth fair Spinella?
Should have enquired sooner of her health,
But your discourse drew me aside from it.

Cypassis.
Oh! how you flatter me. I easily can
Believe you have forgotten her for ever.

Bassanes.
You wrong our Friendship: Happiness I wish her,
As much as you and she can both desire.

Cypassis.
He tell her so, and so again Farewell.

Bassanes.
Nay tell me (ere you go) what Friend of mine
Is grown so Amorous, and so passionate.

Cypassis.
Since you will have me, think.

Bassanes.
I cannot guess,

Cypassis.
It is Pyrontus.

Bass.
It may be so, yet he
Never reveal'd to me he was in love.

Cypassis.
At that I make no wonder.

Bassa.
Whom should he
Be so enamour'd of?

Cypassis.
Clorina's eyes
Have Beams enough a Province to enflame.

Bassanes.
My wife!

Cypassis.
The very same.

Bassanes.
He surely then will stifle
His passion generously, and not attempt
The wife of his approved Friend.

Cypassis.
You guess amiss. He is resolv'd to try
Her to the utmost. He's a proper Gentleman,
And (I believe) hath a prevailing language:
You may be civill to him, and be wary.

Bassanes.
It is too likely. On our Marriage-night
He so abruptly did depart, he gave us
Not leasure enough to take our leaves; A signe
He wanted patience to look on my Joyes.

Cypas.
I thought he somwhat suddainly was gon;
But Love's a passion not to be commanded.

Bassanes.
What was't he in your hearing said?

Cypassis.
Alas!
Enough: Too much. He doth deserved pitty,
Philocles did surprise him, and did use
His best Perswasions to divert him from
So vain, and dangerous an Affection.

Bassanes.
Come to particulars, my good Cypassis,
Conceal not from me any thing. The gods
Did guide you hither t'over-hear him, Why
Stand you in such suspence?

Cypassis.
Take heed, my Lord Bassanes! Oh, beware
Of Jealousy, Tis an accursed Fiend,
That otherwise your Quiet will molest,
Involve you in a Perpetuity
Of hideous Chimæra's. Fair Clorina
Is innocent, and of a spotless virtue,
She is not accessary to his fault;
If to be beautifull be not a Crime.

Bassanes.
I am not jealous; neither will be ever.

Cypassis.
A Resolution worthy your great mind,
And worthy the Respects you ought to owe,
And pay, unto the virtues of your Lady.

Bassanes.
I know her excellent body is enrich
With so sublime a spirit, and so pure,
That Vice dares not approach her thought Be free
Therefore, and tell me all thou know'st.

Cypassis.
You may command me; And I will conceal
Nothing from you.

Bassanes.
Good old Cypassis! thanks.

Exeunt Ambo.