University of Virginia Library

Scene 1.

Phillis, Diana, Astræa.
Phillis.
Our discontinu'd Sports we must repaire,
Lest yielding Sorrows should our thoughts insnare.

Diana.
I saw some Company in yonder Plain;
Let's bend our Courses them to entertain.

Leonida.
Leonida appears: With a little stop, strook with a kind of wonder. To her self.
My uncles absence gives me leave awhile,
In rural Sports my Passion to beguile;
As if a second Emulation drove
T' a new Trial each goddess from above!
Nature is but a Niggard in our Courts,
Prodigal here, beyond weak Fames reports;
To them.
Your flourishing Graces have made me poor,
In my weak wishes to salute your store.

Phillis.
Fair Nymph, if any such in us you see,
'Tis from your Presence they imparted be.

Leonida.
Nay, fair One, to vie ('tis not my Pretence)
With such false Coyn, might cost your Innocence.
Leave that unto the self-deceiving Court,
I come to partake of your Love and Sport.

Diana.
Your honour'd Presence will their VVorths exter.
If your high rais'd Thoughts can so low descend.

Leonida.
Rather such humble Calmness will inure
Sylvander appears on the Scene, walking as not heeding them.
To greater Thoughts, true Greatness to ensure.
VVhat Shepherd's that?

Diana.
'Tis One in whom appears
Nothing that's rustick, but the Coat he wears,
Yet so insensible (I mean to Love)
That any's Conquest he disdains to prove.

Leonida.
Of whence?

Phillis.
That were impossible to show,
Since he himself the same ne're yet could know:
His Extraction he thinks hath been from hence,
Which makes him here to place his Residence.

Diana.
He sees us not; else his civil Aboard
Would of himself more knowledge you afford.

Phillis.
Fair Nymph, wilt please you him to entertain?

Leonida.
Your Character's too fair that to refrain.

Phillis.
He salutes them, but passeth by; she speaking to him turns back.
Is this the fashion of those greater Towns
Where you were bred, who us intitle Clowns,
Our Entertainments thus to interrupt,
And second it with a Depart abrupt?

Sylvander.
Since 'twas m'ill hap, such Error to commit,
The fault is less, not to continue it.

Diana.
'Twas rather that no Object here you saw,
You from your self thought worthy to withdraw;
Yet if on this fair Nymph your eyes you turn,
Y'are too insensible if you not burn.

Sylvander.
Fair Shepherdess, Loves sole attractive Ties
Are onely bred by equal Sympathies:
The Disproportion 'twixt her worth and mine,
May easily discharge me of that Crime.

Leonida.
VVhere's the Diff'rence? in Body or in Mind?
Y'ave equal Properties of both I find.

Sylvander.
Fair Nymph, of ev'ry thing the reall Prize,
Not from th'Appearance, but the use doth rise;
Else many Beasts 'fore Man we might commend,
In many Properties they him transcend.
Yet since They for Mans Use, Man for the Gods
Was made, in Dignity this gives Man th'odds.
The Gods which thus distinguish't have each thing,
Imparting worth as they design their Being,
Were taxable, if equal Worth th'ordain
In you for Nymph, in me but for a Swain.

Leonida.
But why, these fair Ones then since as you say
Of like Condition, could not they you stay?

Sylvander.
The Lesser still gives place unto the Great.

Diana.
Disdainful Swain, so lightly us to treat.

Sylvander.
That is not such, which of her is a Part.

Diana.
VVe have enough to force a milder Heart.

Sylvander.
The principal you want that to fulfil.

Diana.
And what may that be?

Sylvander.
Fair One 'tis your will.

Phillis.
Which is so contrary to that Effect,
To Sylvander.
As ev'n Sylvander's is i'th' same respect.

Sylvander.
Fair Astræa! be you my Sanctuary,
He seems to fly behind Astrea.
To shield me from invading Treachery.

Diana.
Mine's the Outrage; whilst me thus to protect,
She renders both my Cause and Force suspect.

Sylvander.
Rather by th'last Stroke, seeing me o'rethrown,
Shee'd steal that Glory you had made your Own.

Phillis.
As though your VVorth were so consid'rable,
To vanquish you were somewhat hon'rable:
But leaving Words, it by th'Effects let's prove,
What Shepherdess hath it engag'd to love?

Sylvander.
All those to which it hath apply'd my Thought.

Phillis.
As you would say, you yet ne're any sought,
Which shews your want of Courage or of Wit,
Seeing what's lovely, and not loving it.

Sylvander.
Or want of Will the same to undertake.

Phillis.
Such is the proud Pretence you seem to make.
To this Troop I appeal; what words can't clear,
Let Demonstration make it to appear.

Leonida.
That is but just.

Diana.
To that we all agree.

Phillis.
Then fair Diana you the Judge shall be;
Injoyn him strait some Shepherdess to serve,
On whose forc't Love he prove he doth deserve.

Diana.
Love violence to suffer doth disdain,
But what his Object sweetly doth constrain;
Yet thus much I ordain, on One he trie,
With due Respect to gain an Amity.

Sylvander.
Though you pass Judgement e're you hear me speak,
I do assent; Nor this decree will break,
Provided such she be, you me design,
Have Worth and Knowledge to distinguish mine.

Phillis.
You seek Evasion you in vain to free;
For ev'n Diana's self the same shall be;
Diana seems averse to that motion.
She wanteth neither; none can it gain-say,
She hath Worth worth to judge, Worth worth to pay.

Leonida.
Nay fair One y'are ingag'd too far to flie.

Astræa.
'Tis the Nymphs request, you must not deny.

Diana.
So that three Moons decreas'd he not presume
(My judgement past) such liberty t'assume.

Sylvander.
To which he vows, with Purity no less
He kneels and kisses her hand.
Then sacred Vestals, when they do profess.
To you, fair Mistris, one Plaint I prefer
For wrongs I suffer.

Diana.
Say what you'd infer.

Sylvander.
If 'cause my Worth 'gainst one did it despise,
I vainly held, to Proof condemn'd arise;
Why ought not she, who, then I, vainer far,
Suffer the like, being Author of this war?

Astræa.
So just a Sutor cannot be deny'de.

Leonida.
It pretty Musick is, thus to divide.

Diana.
Say then what is't?

Sylvander.
That she research in Love
Some Swain, th'advantage of her Worth to prove.

Diana.
'Twere unreasonable; Reason doth not tie
To make good ought with breach of Decency:
On some Shepherdess she shall try the same.

Phillis.
Let it Astræa be.

Astræa.
That were your shame,
That you suspect your Merit 'twill be thought,
To choose VVork to your hand already wrought.

Leonida.
This difference by one Judge should be decreed.

Astræa.
Diana, 'tis your second Charge.

Phillis.
She kisses Diana.
Agreed.

Tyrsis, Leonice, Hylas.
A SONG.
They appear at far end of the Scene.
By Tyrsis.

Leonida.
What Shepherd's that which Sings?

Sylvander.
'Tis one bewails
His Mistris Death, whom Love again assails
By th'Importunities of a new Desire,
Inviting him to quench his former Fire.

Leonida.
That Shepherdess you mean.

Sylvander.
Fair Nymph, the same;
You more shall know, when we them entertain.

A SONG.
By Hylas.

Leonida.
This last it seems is of another Mind.

Sylvander.
Fair Nymph, the pleasant'st that you e're shall find.
To all Objects he doth his Heart enure,
That who gives him the wound, may give the Cure.

Leonida.
He's no Deceiver that declares the same.

Sylvander.
He makes hi Glory what we think his Shame.

Hylas.
I'th' intrim they come up to the face of the Scene.
Should I, as you, each Mistris Loss lament,
Eternity not bound could griefs extent.

Tyrsis.
Were you as I, you need lament but One.

Hylas.
Were you as I, you would lament for None.
Heartless Mistris, will you not Courage take,
This Shepherds scornful usage to forsake?

Leonice.
I grieve that thus my want of Pow'r is shown,
Not for your Consid'ration, but my Own.

Hylas.
Well, since you are of the same Humor still,
Though you command not yours, I do my VVill,
I take my Leave, or else will give it you,
Holds out his hand.
My love grows Stale, I must exchange a New.

Sylvander.
To Tyrsis.
Gentle Shepherd, the cause of your sad Fate,
Our Countries custome wils you to relate.

Tyrsis.
Kneels.
First unto Heav'n my thanks, and then to you;
What you desire to hear, we both must sue:
By you it is th'Oracle doth intend
To give our Diff'rence and our Sorrows end.

Sylvander.
How hap's e're now so much you me ne're told!
Y'ave seen me often.

Tyrsis.
He takes a little billes out of his Scrip and reads the Oracle.
Oracle.

Sylvander.
You must make vow t'observe what I decree.

Tyrsis.
As to the Gods.

Leonice.
We both to It agree.

Sylvander.
To Diana, and takes her by the hand.
Fair mistris, are you not dispos'd to sit?

Phillis.
Your honor to the Nymph you do forget.

Sylvander.
It should be so indeed in civil Tyes;
They sit all but Leonice, and Tyrsis.
But Loves rights are prefer'd 'fore Ceremonies.

Leonice.
Addressing her self, to Sylvander, who is more eminently seated then the rest.
Most worthy judge, I hope you'l condiscend
To mee, as Plaintiffe, first your ear to bend.

Sylvander.
It is your right:

Leonice.
Be pleased then to know,
Unto what Country we our Beeings owe.
Nigh that great City, which, as saies old Fame,
From the Goddesses Judge first took the Name,
Of one Cottage we are, and equal State;
Nature seem'd each for Other to create,
Till like a harsh Stepdame she did produce
She seems to weep.
A third, whose memory these Floods unsluce:
Whether with greater Endowments or less,
I do not know; yet Greater you may guess,
Since he thought so, whose thoughts alone give prise
To all Beauty, at leastwise in my Eyes:
He, as I him, pursues with eager Flames
My happier Rival; me and my Love disdaines.
She yeild's at length? for who could him resist
In Love? I'me sure my bonds I often kist
Neglected; here his cruelty not staid,
But with new slights he me the author made
Of my ruine; to cover, or provoke
Their exchang'd Fires; he stoopes to fained Yoke,
Makes me the Object, yet with her advise,
So cunningly; that, thriving his disguise,
As they intend, the worlds eye to divert,
He then on me the same craft would revert,
Though for unequal Purposes; for now,
Holding my facile Faith, with displeas'd brow,
He dislikes what he sought; The world, he saies,
Doth over clearly on our Freedomes gaze;
Which to prevent, though true, he seems to faign
Love unto Clëon, Clëon was her name:
And this his Craft yet better to disguise,
He me intreates her him to love advise;
But Juster heav'n, whilst me he thus deceaves,
By Clëons Death; Clëons Love him bereaves.
Yet, as to wrong my Love, he did delight,
Fantastique Love he cherisheth with spight.
Justice, just Judge, for this Abuse, I crave;
She making reverence, retires.
Yet but his Love I seek, or else my Grave.

Sylvander.
Gentle Shepherd, y'ave Liberty to speak.

Tyrsis.
More Gentle Judge, more words we need not break,
With obeisance.
The Truth is said; The Truth we must avow;
Yet this Request vouchsafe us to allow;
That each, by lot an Advocate may have,
So he appointed who th'Oracle gave.

Sylvander.
Giving each a glove, they draw Lots.
Ti's granted you; who takes his Own must plead.

Hylas.
Hylas for 'th living;

Phillis.
Phillis for the dead.

Hylas.
Nature her self, whose true Rules cannot err,
Hylas standeth forth and makes his obeysance.
Two invincible Arguments doth inferr
In this Different; and by a double Tye,
This our Cause grants, the others doth deny,
In this Shepherdess, both Beauty and Love:
The 'ffect of One the Gods themselves do prove,
Pigmalyon-like from the work of their hand:
The other is wise Natures firmest band,
VVherewith Sh'unites the world; whose purest Fire
(No other Incense) do the Gods require;
And shall weak Man then dare thus to reject,
VVhat Gods and Nature hallow with Respect?
Th'other Objection, that doth him deny
VVhat he affects, Is Contrariety,
Love's only Opposite his Enemie;
Can there twixt Life and Death be amitie?
Besides, Mans Piety should even dread
Thus to disturb the quiet of the Dead.
Just Judge, to you thus I my Reasons show,
He maketh obeysance, and retires.
My charge to clear; not, that you them not know.

Phillis.
That self Nature, whose spotless Decree
Phillis with obeysance on the Judge stands forth.
You would wrest to your Purpose; she, ev'n she,
By equal pow'r of Beauty, and of Love,
Reignes in this shepherds heart; though yet above
Your Apprehension; or your Loves Pretence,
To Hylas.
VVhich makes Love only th'Object of the Sense.
But thou would'st have him them again to trie,
As though in Natures Laws were a diversity.
No, Shepherd, no; Disorder would orethrow
VVhat Nature Linkes, if she proceeded so.
True Love, of two souls is the unity,
VVhich may without the Bodies Union be.
If this you grant (as who can truth deny?)
His Loves Object still lives; Souls cannot dye:
But thou think'st, th'are disjoyn'd by heav'ns distance,
Know'st not her peircing nature, whose swift glance
Can pass each Sphear in twinckling of an eye,
Nor can hers less, puts on Divinity;
Besides, Love is an Act so freely born,
Ev'n our own VVills subjection it doth scorn.
How then can loath'd Importunity gain,
VVhat our conspiring Selves cannot constrain.
Just judge, they do themselves themselves deny,
That ask of us Impossibility.

Sylvander.
The chiefest point wherein ye agitate,
With obeysance she retires. Stands up.
Is, if Loves Essence subject be to Fate,
Perishable or not; Love hath two objects,
The Body and the Soul; since both Effects
This Shepherd feeles; The Gods in me pronounce
The Body perishable, such Love he renounce;
But since Souls Love, as herself, cannot dye,
He that continue to Eternity;
And that this Shepherdess her Pretences cease,
Your vowes observe, and sanctifie your Peace.

Tyrsis.
As heav'ns Edict!

Leonice.
VVhile my unruly Fire
Threatning Revenge exchangeth into Ire.