University of Virginia Library

Scæn. 4.

Enter Menaphon.
Oh Menaphon, hark, I am undone, as a man
Should undo an oyster.

Men.
Why Doron, what's to do with thee now?

Dor.
Why man, thy sister Carmela is grown proud,
And is just such another as thy self, she slights
And scorns poor Doron; and yet because I love her,
As my sister doth thee, she laughs at me. Well,
I will be even with her; for if she won't love
Me with a good will, I'll love her against her
Will; and I think I shall be even with her there.

Men.
Come, Doron, come, count love a toy,
As I do, who take far more joy to view
My flocks; here's my content; when heavens frown,
I think upon my faults; and a clear skie
Puts me in mind of the gods gracious love:
Envie o're-looketh me, nor do I gaze
So high as tall ambition; and for love,
I feed my self with fancies, such as these.
Venus (the Poets say) sprang from the sea,
Which notes to me th'inconstancie of love,
Changing each day with various ebbs & tides,
Sometimes o're-flowing the banks of fortune
With a gracious look from a lovers eyes,
Ebbing at other times to th'dangerous shelf
Of cold despair, from a Mistris frowns.
Your Cupid must be young, to shew
He is a boy, his wings inconstance tell:

22

He's blind, to note his aym is without rule,
Or reasons guide; such is the god ye serve.

Dor.
Treason, treason against the god of love: well
Menaphon, though you be my friend, I will
Have you articl'd against at the next meeting
Of the Shepherds.

Men.
Lovers sorrows be like to the restless
Labours of Sisyphus.

Dor.
Like thy tongue then.

Men.
Your Mistris favour's honey mixt with gall
A bitter sweet, a folly worst of all,
That forceth reason to be fancies thrall.
Then love who list for me, if beauty be
So sowr, then give me labour still.

Exit.
Dor.
How I would laugh to see Menaphon once
Manacl'd with loves fetters, that he might repent
His blasphemy against the shepherds deitie.

Exit.