University of Virginia Library

Scen. 3:

Cast.
Indeed Arismena I must chide you for't,
'Cause you are fair, indeed the fairest Shepherdesse
In all Arcadia, must that make you cruel?
That Beauty would become you more, if you
Would shew you had a heart like other Nymphs;
Or if you cannot love, you need not scorn

26

Those that express their service.

Aris.
Thou art foolish,
I do 'em Justice; should I smile upon
Their passions, and pity 'em, or but nourish
Their folly, they would more afflict themselves,
And trouble me; I give 'em soon their answer,
Tell 'em what they shall trust to, that they may not
Languish in expectation.

Cast.
Well, you have a heart—

Aris.
Yes, I feel it beat, but 'tis not yet
Infected with that mischief you call Love,
Nor I hope sha'not; but if Virgins lov'd
Themselves, they would place a better guard about
Their bosomes, and preserve their innocent freedome,
And not let every flattery betray 'em.
Give up their liberty for a song or sigh
Of any whining Lover.

Cast.
Do you think
That no man can deserve your love?

Aris.
I ne're
Examine their deserts, that may endanger me,
They'r all alike to me that court my favour.
Arismena sings.

1

Now fie on Love, it ill befits,
Or man or woman know it,
Love was not meant for people in their wits,
And they that fondly shew it.
Betray their too much feather'd brains,
And shall have only Bedlam for their pains.

2

To love, is to distract my sleep,
And waking, to wear fetters,
To love, is but to go to School to weep,
I'le leave it for my betters.
If single love be such a curse,
To marry, is to make it ten times worse.

Cast.
Come Arismena, you in vain do hide
Yourself from me, I see through your disguize

27

'Tis prety well dissembled, but I know
Your heart is not so empty as you speak it,
I know you love—

Aris.
Whom prithee?

Cast.
Nay, he does
Preserve you too, were you more fair, and to
That beauty had a soul above your Sex,
You know Philaritus.

Aris.
Ha, ha, ha!

Cast.
A Gentleman,
Heir to Cleobulus, but his Fortune is
The least addition, he is Fames darling,
And one whose service is an heaven to you
Being but a Shepherdess.

Aris.
But a Shepherdess!
Why Castarina, I do value my
Being a Shepherdess above all his hopes
And fortunes, nor should change that honest title,
For all the honors of the Court, but, 'cause
It seems thou hast opinion that I love him,
I'le clear my heart to thee, and hold it truth
What I affirme: 'Tis true Philaritus
Is a desertfull Gentleman, and hath made
Expresse signes of his dear affection to me;
But by Diana's self, he is to me
In point of Love, no more then he that is
The rudest Shepherd of the Plain.

Cast.
No more;
I do believe you, and rejoyce to hear it,
For in her heart poor Castarina loves him,
Though he knew it not.

Philaritus comes from the Bush.
Aris.
Who's that? Hath not
Some Shepherd overheard us?

Phil.
Yes, but one
That shall take no delight to publish what
Concerns his own misfortune.

Aris.
Is not this Philaritus?


28

Cast.
Turn'd Shepherd for your sake:
How every garb doth become him?

Phil.
Do not
Fly me sweet Arismena, for I bring
No danger to your person, sooner death
With torture should let fall his strings upon
My heart, then once Philaritus should bring
A thought that should displease fair Arismena?

Aris.
What is your will Sir, for I now have but
Short time for stay; and if your businesse be
No other then you late propounded to me,
You need not a repetition,
Unlesse you take delight to hear me say,
I cannot love?

Phil.
Why then I cannot live.

Aris.
Yes, many a fair day, and enjoy a love
Of far more worth then Arismena is,
A foolish Shepherdesse.

Phil.
He must not be
A man, and hold his life long, that should dare
To speak that language.

Aris.
Well Sir, is this all
Th' affairs with me, the minutes call me hence.

Cast.
Poor Castarina, in what plight art thou
Philaritus and Arismena talk aside.
To see the treasure of thy heart slide from thee,
And powre it self into anothers Bosome:
She is compos'd of tyranny; I should not
Be so hard-hearted, would Philaritus
Direct his passions hither. Oh my Fate!

Aris.
Indeed Philaritus I cannot help
All this, I'm not your Fathers Governour,
'Tis but your disodedience, you may
Recover him again, if yon will take
My counsel, and throw off this foolish love;
Your Father's wise, and I am of his minde
Partly; you take a course to lose your self:
And where you urge the penance you are willing
To undergo for love of me, I answer,

29

As you cannot resist what love compells you to,
I cannot help that I am not in love,
It is your fate to have too much, and I
Too little love, all this must be obey'd.

Cast.
Steel break his heart, let me advise you Sir
Be not too much dejected, this is but
A short liv'd humour, I dare prophesie
You may be happy in your affection.

Phil.
Make not my wound ridiculous I pray
By flatt'ring me with hope; she is all marble.

Aris.
Come Castarina; stay, is not that Gracculus?