ARGUMENT TO THE Second Pastoral.
Fauney and Lallet had an equal Value
for each other. Fauney was Young,
and of a most taking Aspect: Lallet
beauteous and particularly tender-hearted.
These walk together to a Grove at
hand; to tast the pleasance of the Season, and the
sweets of each other's talk. There long they bay
themselves in the soft Delices of the Morn; the
harmless Swain and gentle Shepherdess. Lallet, at
length, leaps up to gather Strawberrys for her Lover;
while he, for her, sate plaiting Flowery Gyrlonds,
and wishing her return. Long he sate, and
long he wish'd. But she, to raise his Love, delay'd
her return. Fauney, as she was about to surprize
and joy him with her sight, rises and runs to
Paplet to enquire for her. Then 'tis that Lallet's
softness of heart appears. With watry Eyes she rambles
thro' the Grove; and accuses her self of Cruelty.
There find her another Lad and Lass, endeavour to
allay her Grief, and sing a chearful Song for her Diversion.
At length, Cubbin begs her to go home
with him. She declines it, lest it might occasion a second
Uneasiness to Fauney; and resolve's to punish
her self by staying where she was. She does so. Till
Fauney, at length doth come. He skulks behind the
Cave she sat in, and hears how uneasy she was for
making him so. Anon he surprizes her with his sight,
drys up her Tears and conducts home in the height of
Good-Humour.
As for the Time, tho' it begins in the Morning,
the main of this Pastoral is in the
Eventide, and
the Moon-light Night that succeeds. The Season
Midsummer-Day. And the I Scene, a delightful
Grove near
Lynheath.
ΣΤΕΡΓΕΤΕ δ' υμμες αιτας, ο γαρ Θεος οιδε δικαζειν.
Theoc.
