University of Virginia Library

Sce. 5.

Corisca. Amarillis.
[Corisca.]
Hide you no more my Amarillis now.

Ama.
Wretch I discouered am.

(Co.)
I all haue heard,
Be not afraid, did I not say I lou'd you,
And yet you are afraid: and hides your selfe
From her that loues you so? Why do you blush?
This blushing is a common fault.

Ama.
Corisca I am conquer'd I confesse.

Co.
That which you cannot hide you wil confesse.

Ama.
And now I see too weake a thing doth proue
A womans heart t'encounter mightie loue.

Co.
Cruel vnto Mirtillo, but more cruel to your selfe.

Ama.
It is no crueltie that springs of pitie.

Co.
Cicute and Aconite do grow from holsome rootes.
I see no difference twixt this crueltie
That doth offend, and pitie helping not.

Ama.
Ah me Corisca!

(Co.)
These sighes good sister
Are but weakenesse of your heart. Th'are fit
For women of small worth.

(Ama.)
I could not be
Thus cruell but I should loue cherish hopelessly.
Therefore to shun him shewes I haue compassion
Of his ill and mine.

(Co.)
Why hopelessly?

Ama.
Do you not know I am espows'd to Siluio
And that the law each woman doomes to death
That violates her faith?

(Co.)
Oh simple foole,
Is this the let? Which is more auacient among vs,
Dianaes lawe or loues? this in our breasts
Is bred and growes with vs, Nature her selfe
With her owne hands imprints in our hearts breasts:
And where this law commands both heau'n & earth obey.

Ama.
But if the other law do take my life,
How can loues lawe restore it me againe?

Co.
You are too nice, were eu'ry woman so,
Had all such straight respects Good times farewell,
Small practisers are subiect to this paine.
The lawe doth neuer stretch vnto the wise.
Beleeue me should blame-worthy all be slaine,
The countre then would soone prooue womanlesse.
It needfull was, theft should forbidden bee
To them that closely could not couer theft.
This honestie is but an art to seeme so,
Let others as they list beleeue, Ile thinke so still.

Ama.
These are but vanities (Corisca) t'were best
Quickly to leaue that which we cannot hold.

Co.
And who forbids thee foole? This life's too short
To passe it ouer with one onely loue:
Men are too sparing of their fauours now,
(Whether't be for want, or else for frowardnesse)
The fresher that we are, the deare still:
Beautie and youth once gone w'are like Bee hiues
That hath no honey, no nor yet no waxe.
Let men prate on they do not feele our woes,
For their condition differs much from ours,
The elder that they grow, they grow the perfecter:
If they loose beautie, yet they wisedome gaine:
But when our beautie fades that oftentimes
Conquers their greatest witts, strait fadeth all our good,
There cannot be a vilder thing to see
Then an old woman. Therfore ere thou age attaine,
Know me thy selfe, and vse it as thou shouldst.
What were a Lion worth did he not vse his strength?
What's a mans wit worth that lies idly by?
Eu'n so our beautie proper strength to vs,
As force to Lyons, wisedome vnto man,
We ought to vse whilst it we haue. Time flies
Away and yeares come on, our youth once lost
We like cut flowres neuer grow fresh againe:
And to our hoary haires loue well may runne,
But Louers will our wrinkled skinnes still shunne.

Ama.
Thou speakest this (Corisca) me to trie,
Not as thou think'st I am sure. But be assur'd
Except thou show'st some meanes how I may shun
This marriage bonds, my thought's irreuocable,
And I resolued am rather to die
Then any way to spot my chastitie.

Co.
I haue not seene so obstinate a foole,
But since you are resolu'd I am agreed.
But tell me do you thinke your Siluio is
As true a friend to faith as you to chastitie?

Ama.
Thou mak'st me smile. Siluio a friend to faith?
How can that be? hee's enemy to loue.

Co.
Siluio an enemy to loue? O foole,
These that are nice put thou no trust in them:
Loues theft is neuer so securely done
As hidden vnder vaile of honestie,
Thy Siluio loues (good Sister) but not thee.

Ama.
What goddesse is she? for she cannot bee
A mortall wight that lighted hath his loue.

Co.
Nor goddesse, nor a Nimph.

(Ama.)
What do you tell?

Co.
Know you Lisetta?

(Ama.)
She that your cattell keeps?

Co.
Eu'n she.

(Ama.)
Can it be true?

(Co.)
That same's his hart.

Ama.
Sure hee's prouided of a daintie Loue.

Co.
Each day he faines that he on hunting goes.

Ama.
I eu'ry morning heare his cursed horne.

Co.
About noone-time when others busie are,
He his companions shuns, and comes alone
By a backe way, vnto my garden there,
Where a shadow hedge doth close it in,
There doth she heare his burning sighes his vowes,
And then she tells me all, and laughes at him.
Now heare what I thinke good to doo. Nay I
Haue don't for you alreadie. You know the law
That tyes vs to our faith, doth giue vs leaue
Finding our spowses in the act of perfidie,
Spite of our friends the marriage to denie,
And to prouide vs of an other if we list.

Ama.
That know I well, I haue examples two,
Leucipp to Ligurine, Armilla to Turingo,
Their faith once broke, they tooke their owne again.

Co.
Now heare! Lisetta by my appointment hath
Promist to meet th'vnwary Louer here
In this same Caue, and now he is the best
Contented youth that liues, attending but the houre
There would I haue you take him. Ile be there
To beare you witnesse oft't, for else we worke
In vaine, so are you free from this same noisome kno:
Both with your honour, and your fathers too.

Ama.
Oh braue inuentiō, good Corisca what's to do:

Co.
Obserue my words. In midst of this same caue
Vpon the right hand is a hollow stone,
I know not if by Art or nature made,
A litle Caue all linde with Iuy leaues,
To which a litle hole aloft giues light,
A fit and thankfull receptacle for loues theft.
Preuent their comming and attend them there:
Ile haste Lisetta forward, and as soone
As I perceiue your Siluio enter, so will I:
Step you to her, and as the custome is,
Weele carry both vnto the Priest, and there dissolue
This marriage knot.

(Ama.)
What to his father?

Co.
What matter's that? Think you Montanus dare
His priuate to a publike good compare?

Ama.
Then closing vp mine eyes, I let my selfe
Be ledde by thee my deare, my faithfull guide.

Co.
But do not stay now, enter me betime.

Ama.
I'le to the Tmple first, and to the Gods
My prayers make, without whose aide no happy end
Can euer sort to mortall enterprise.

Co.
All places (Amarillis) temples are,
To hearts deuout, you'le slacke your time too much.

Ama.
Time's neuer lost in praying vnto them
That do commaund the time.

(Co.)
Go then dispatch.
Now if I erre not, am I at good passe,
Onely this staying troubles me, yet may it helpe,
I must goe make new snares to traine in Coridon.
Ile make him thinke that I will meet him there,
And after Amarillis send him soone,
Then by a secret way Ile bring Dianaes Priests:
Her shall they finde, and guiltie doome to death.
My riuall gone (Mirtillo) sure is mine,
See where he comes. Whilst Amarillis stayes
Ile somewhat trie him. Loue now once inspire
My tongue with words, my face with heau'nly fire.