 | Hymens Trivmph |  |
SCEN. IV.
Palæmon.Thirsis.
VVhat Thirsis still in passion? still one man?
For shame shew not your selfe so weakely set,
So feebly ioynted that you cannot beare
The fortunes of the world like other men.
Beleeue me Thirsis you much wrong your worth:
This is to be no man, to haue no powers.
Passions are womens parts, actions ours.
I was in hope t'haue found you otherwise.
Thir.
How? otherwise Palæmon? do not you
Hold it to be a most heroicke thing
To act one man, and do that part exact?
Can there be in the world more worthinesse
Then to be constant? is there any thing
Shewes more a man? What, would you haue me change?
That were to haue me base, that were indeed
To shew a feeble heart, and weakely set.
Hold it to be a most heroicke thing
To act one man, and do that part exact?
Can there be in the world more worthinesse
Then to be constant? is there any thing
Shewes more a man? What, would you haue me change?
That were to haue me base, that were indeed
To shew a feeble heart, and weakely set.
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No no Palæmon, I should thinke my selfe
The most vnworthy man of men, should I
But let a thought into this heart of mine
That might disturbe or shake my constancy.
The most vnworthy man of men, should I
But let a thought into this heart of mine
That might disturbe or shake my constancy.
And thinke Palæmon I haue combates too,
To be the man I am, being built of flesh,
And hauing round about me traytors too
That seeke to vndermine my powres, and steale
Into my weakenesses, but that I keepe
Continuall watch and ward vpon my selfe,
Least I should be surpriz'd at vnawares
And taken from my vowes with other snares.
To be the man I am, being built of flesh,
And hauing round about me traytors too
That seeke to vndermine my powres, and steale
Into my weakenesses, but that I keepe
Continuall watch and ward vpon my selfe,
Least I should be surpriz'd at vnawares
And taken from my vowes with other snares.
And euen now at this instant I confesse,
Palæmon, I doe feele a certaine touch
Of comfort, which I feare to entertaine;
Least it should be some spie, sent as a traine
To make discouery of what strength I am.
Palæmon, I doe feele a certaine touch
Of comfort, which I feare to entertaine;
Least it should be some spie, sent as a traine
To make discouery of what strength I am.
Pal.
Ah worthy Thirsis, entertaine that spirit
What euer else thou doe: set all the doores
Of thine affections open thereunto.
Thir.
Palæmon no. Comfort and I haue beene
So long time strangers, as that now I feare
To let it in, I know not how t'acquaint
My selfe therewith, being vsed to conuerse
With other humours, that affect me best.
Nor doe I loue to haue mixt company
VVhereto I must of force my selfe apply.
Pal.
But Thirsis thinke that this must haue an end,
And more it would approoue your worth to make
The same your worke, then time should make it his.
Thir.
End sure it must Palæmon, but with me:
For so I by the Oracle was told
That very day wherein I lost the day
And light of comfort that can neuer rise
Againe to me: when I the saddest man
That euer breath'd before those Altars fell,
And there besought to know what was become
Of my deare Siluia, whether dead, or how
Reaft from the world: but that I could not learne.
Yet thus much did that voice diuine returne:
Goe youth, reserue thy selfe, the day will come
Thou shalt be happy, and returne againe.
But when shall be the day demanded I,
The day thou dyest, replide the Oracle.
For so I by the Oracle was told
That very day wherein I lost the day
And light of comfort that can neuer rise
Againe to me: when I the saddest man
That euer breath'd before those Altars fell,
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Of my deare Siluia, whether dead, or how
Reaft from the world: but that I could not learne.
Yet thus much did that voice diuine returne:
Goe youth, reserue thy selfe, the day will come
Thou shalt be happy, and returne againe.
But when shall be the day demanded I,
The day thou dyest, replide the Oracle.
So that you see, it will not be in these
But in th'Elizian fields, where I shall ioy,
The day of death must bring me happinesse.
But in th'Elizian fields, where I shall ioy,
The day of death must bring me happinesse.
Pal.
You may mistake the meaning of those words
Which is not knowne before it be fulfill'd.
Yeeld you to what the gods command, if not
Vnto your friends desires: reserue your selfe
For better dayes, and thinke the Oracle
Is not vntrue, although not vnderstood.
Which is not knowne before it be fulfill'd.
Yeeld you to what the gods command, if not
Vnto your friends desires: reserue your selfe
For better dayes, and thinke the Oracle
Is not vntrue, although not vnderstood.
But howsoeuer, let it not be said
That Thirsis being a man of so rare parts,
So vnderstanding and discreete, should pine in loue
And languish for a silly woman thus:
To be the fable of the vulgar, made
A scorne, and laught at, by inferiour wits.
That Thirsis being a man of so rare parts,
So vnderstanding and discreete, should pine in loue
And languish for a silly woman thus:
To be the fable of the vulgar, made
A scorne, and laught at, by inferiour wits.
Thir.
In loue Palæmon? know you what you say?
Doe you esteeme it light to be in loue?
How haue I beene mistaken in the choice
Of such a friend, as I held you to be,
That seemes not, or else doth not vnderstand
The noblest portion of humanity,
The worthiest peece of nature set in man?
Ah know that when you mention loue, you name
A sacred mistery, a Deity,
Not vnderstood of creatures built of mudde,
But of the purest and refined clay
Whereto th'eternall fires their spirits conuey.
And for a woman, which you prize so low,
Like men that doe forget whence they are men;
Know her to be th'especiall creatue, made
By the Creator of the complement
Of this great Architect the world; to hold
The same together, which would otherwise
Fall all asunder: and is natures chiefe
Vicegerent vpon earth-supplies her state.
Doe you esteeme it light to be in loue?
How haue I beene mistaken in the choice
Of such a friend, as I held you to be,
That seemes not, or else doth not vnderstand
The noblest portion of humanity,
The worthiest peece of nature set in man?
Ah know that when you mention loue, you name
A sacred mistery, a Deity,
Not vnderstood of creatures built of mudde,
But of the purest and refined clay
Whereto th'eternall fires their spirits conuey.
And for a woman, which you prize so low,
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Know her to be th'especiall creatue, made
By the Creator of the complement
Of this great Architect the world; to hold
The same together, which would otherwise
Fall all asunder: and is natures chiefe
Vicegerent vpon earth-supplies her state.
And doe you hold it weakenesse then to loue?
And loue so excellent a miracle
As is a woman, ah then let mee
Still be so weake, still let me loue and pine
In contemplation of that cleane, cleare soule,
That made mine see that nothing in the world
Is so supreamely beautifull as it.
And loue so excellent a miracle
As is a woman, ah then let mee
Still be so weake, still let me loue and pine
In contemplation of that cleane, cleare soule,
That made mine see that nothing in the world
Is so supreamely beautifull as it.
Thinke not it was those colours white and red
Laid but on flesh, that could affect me so.
But something else, which thought holds vnder locke
And hath no key of words to open it.
They are the smallest peeces of the minde
That passe this narrow organ of the voyce.
The great remaine behinde in that vast orbe
Of th'apprehension, and are neuer borne.
Laid but on flesh, that could affect me so.
But something else, which thought holds vnder locke
And hath no key of words to open it.
They are the smallest peeces of the minde
That passe this narrow organ of the voyce.
The great remaine behinde in that vast orbe
Of th'apprehension, and are neuer borne.
And therefore if your iudge cannot reach
Vnto the vnderstanding of my Case,
You doe not well to put your selfe into
My Iury, to condemne me as you doe.
Let th'ignorant out of their dulnesse laugh
At these my sufferings, I will pitty them
To haue beene so ill borne, so miscompos'd
As not to know vvhat thing it is to loue.
Vnto the vnderstanding of my Case,
You doe not well to put your selfe into
My Iury, to condemne me as you doe.
Let th'ignorant out of their dulnesse laugh
At these my sufferings, I will pitty them
To haue beene so ill borne, so miscompos'd
As not to know vvhat thing it is to loue.
And I to great Apollo here appeale
The soueraigne of the Muses, and of all
Well tun'd affections, and to Cinthia bright,
And glorious Lady of cleere faithfulnesse;
Who from aboue looke down with blisfull beames
Vpon our humble groues, and ioy the hearts
Of all the world, to see their mutuall loues;
They can iudge what worthinesse there is
In worthy loue. Therefore Palæmon peace,
Vnlesse you did know better what it were.
The soueraigne of the Muses, and of all
Well tun'd affections, and to Cinthia bright,
And glorious Lady of cleere faithfulnesse;
Who from aboue looke down with blisfull beames
Vpon our humble groues, and ioy the hearts
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They can iudge what worthinesse there is
In worthy loue. Therefore Palæmon peace,
Vnlesse you did know better what it were.
And this be sure, when as that fire goes out
In man, he is the miserablest thing
On earth, his day-light sets, and is all darke
And dull within; no motions of delight,
But all opprest, lies struggling with the weight
Of worldly cares: and this olde Damon saies,
Who well had felt what loue was in his daies.
In man, he is the miserablest thing
On earth, his day-light sets, and is all darke
And dull within; no motions of delight,
But all opprest, lies struggling with the weight
Of worldly cares: and this olde Damon saies,
Who well had felt what loue was in his daies.
Pal.
Well Thirsis, well, how euer you do guilde
Your passions, to indeere them to your selfe,
You neuer shall induce me to beleeue,
That sicknesses can be of such effect.
And so farewell, vntill you shall be well.
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