The Shepheards Holy-Day :: :: University of Virginia Library

Hylas, Mirtillus, Chorus of Shepheards and Shepheardesses, representing Paris, Oenone, Uenus, and the Graces.
It was my dreame, and I will send it to her;
Though I my selfe by her too cruell sentence,
Must never see her face.

Mi.

What paper's that?
Love-verses, as I live; what's here, a Dreame?
Nay, I will read 'em, therefore stand aside.

Mirtillus reades.

Sleepe , thou becalmer of a troubled sprîte,
Which leadst my fancy to that sweet delight,
Wherein my soule found rest, when thou didst show
Her shadow mine, whose substance is not so:

Wrappe up mine eyes in an eternall night.
For since my day springs onely from that light
Which she denies me; I account the best
Part of my life is that which gives me rest.

And thou more hard to be intreated, then
Sleepe to the heated eyes of franticke men;
Thou that canst make my joyes essentiall,
Which are but shadowes now, be liberall,
And out-doe sleepe, let me not dreame in vaine,
Unlesse thou mean'st I ne're shall sleepe againe.

Alas poore foole! will she not let thee sleepe?

Hy.
I knew I should be mock't, but I'le divert him;
What are these thou brought along with thee?

Mi.
The Masquers, Hylas, these are they must trip it
Before the King: dost like their properties?

Hy.
What Paris, and Oenone, the old storie?

Mi.
But newly made, and fashion'd to my purpose;
Brought hither to make good my owne positions
Against the company of puling lovers;
Which if I doe not, and with good effect,
Let me be one my selfe; and that's a torture
Worse then Apollo laid upon the Satyr,
When the rude villaine durst contend with him:
Looke this way Hylas, see Oenone here,
The fairest Nymph that ever Ida blest,
Court her departing shepheard, who is now
Turning his loue unto a fairer object;

And for his judgement in varietie
See how the seaborne Goddesse, and the Graces
Present their darling Helena to him
Be happy in thy choise, and draw a war
On thee, and thine, rather then set thy heart
Upon a stale delight: Do, let her weepe,
And say thou art inconstant. Be so still;
The Queene of love commands it: you that are
The old companions of your Paris here,
Moue in a well pac'd measure, that may shew
The Goddesse, how you are content for her
Faire sake to leave the honor of your woods:
But first let her, and all the Graces sing
The Invitation to your offering.

Venus
, and the Graces sing.

[1.]

Come lovely boy unto my Court,
And leave these uncouth woods, and all
That feed thy fancy with loves gall,
But keepe away the honey, and the sport.

Cho.

Come unto me,
And with varietie
Thou shalt be fed, which Nature loves, and I.

2.

There is no Musique in a voice,
That is but one, and still the same,
Inconstancy is but a name,

To fright poore lovers from a better choice.

Cho.

Come then to me, &c.

3.

Orpheus, that on Euridice
Spent all his love, on others scorne,
Now on the bankes of Heber torne,
Findes the reward of foolish constancy.

Cho.

Come then to me, &c.

4

And sigh no more for one love lost,
I have a thousand Cupids here,
Shall recompence with better cheere
Thy mis-spent labours, and thy bitter cost.

Cho.

Come then to me, &c.

The Dance ended.
Enter a Messenger.
Nun.
Shepheards, if you have any pittie, come,
And see a woefull spectacle.

Mi.
What is't
That can be worth the breaking of our sports?

Nun.
The gentle Nymph Nerina.

Hy.
What of her?

Nun.
The last of her I thinke, she lies a dying,
And calls to speake with you.

Hy.
Curse of your follies;

Do I live here whilst she is dying there?

Mi.
But shepheard, what disease is't that so soone
Could spend his force upon her? she was well
This morning, when she made poore Hylas sicke.

Muu.
I know not, I am sent unto the well
Of Æsculapius to fetch some water
For her recovery. I must be gone.

Mi.
Shepheards here let us end. I thinke we are
Perfect in all the rest: This night the King
Must see't, resolve on that.

Cho.
We are all ready.

Mi.
Then lets away, and see what will betide
This gentle Nymph Nerina.

Cho.
We'le goe with you.