 | Astraea, or, True Love's Myrrour |  |
Scene 2.
Alexis.Why sad? thou grasp'st a full Felicity
In her Favors, in her Society:
Full Liberty thou hast on her to gaze,
And lose thy Senses in a lovers Maze;
Beginning where ending; ending where begun,
So long, till like a Statue I become;
While she with blushing Smile awakes delight,
And lest o're suddenness should it affright,
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Her am'rous Accents 'twixt my lips doth shroud,
VVith so long fixt self-ravishing Desire,
As that great Workman did his work inspire;
VVhilst I new Being take, my self again
To lose my self cannot my self refraine.
Such heav'nly Raptures onely are exprest
VVhen Immortality doth the Soul invest,
VVhich to make perfect, she oft playes my part,
Exchanging Beings by our am'rous Art:
No place is left for Wish, Hope is but vain,
Yet all is fruitless wanting Celadons name.
'Twixt my divided self there is Debate;
Celadon envieth Alexis State;
Alexis fearth His; Nor can have bliss
In any place where Celadon absent is.
Desirable is the state of Celadon,
But redoubtable if to her made known.
Desire must cease where nought it higher rears,
And where so wretched is no place for Fears:
Yet still fresh Torments of them Both me press,
The One would regain what he did possess;
The Other strugleth what he hath to hold,
And still denies the Other to unfold.
But while my self thus doth my self revise,
He laies himself to sleep.
Nature's soft Slumbers would us reconcile.
Astræa.
I am become a Truant in my Love,
So long dull Sleep the Object doth remove.
'Tis full an hour since Days alarum rung
Her lofty Notes to greet th'approaching Sun.
Yet why by them do I account my Time?
It must be late, my Star hath left her Clime:
But see, her watchful Thoughts are forc'd repay
VVhat they took from the Night unto the Day.
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T'exact these thy untimely Tributes cease;
VVhisper unto her while she it enlight,
The world is cover'd in a mourning Night;
Yet least thou should'st astonish her with Fear,
See that in my shape thou to her appear.
VVhile I stoln Tributes of my Love exact,
Kisses her.
And yet but satisfie half the Contract;
Since thou from me withhold'st the better Share,
These little more then dreaming Shadows are:
How my Tongue unawares leads me to truth!
This, though awake, is but th'object of Ruth;
VVhich rather then my Senses should delight,
It should with Horror of my Guilt affright:
Yet since to cherish Celadon Death denys,
Ile worship here his sweet resembling Eyes.
Why, oh why! doth now churlish Fate refuse
Him thou present'st the Figure thus to use;
Kisses her.
These Kisses would not be less innocent,
If on more Heat and Moisture they were spent;
My better Self, my Pardon, I have broke
She awake
Those balmy Slumbers, Love did it provoke.
Alexis.
Dear Astræa! how long here thus alone?
Astræa.
No longer then two Kisses I have stoln.
Alexis.
Love was consenting, who these Pleasures knew,
Kisses her.
But dreaming false, awaking to be true:
Yet why so early?
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My unquiet Heart
Admits no Truce foreseeing your depart
To your devout Society, unless
With you I may enjoy like Happiness,
To which lend me your Aid.
Alexis.
For my Aid sue!
Alas! 'tis that I must attend from you.
Astræa.
To you wherein can I be Profitable?
Alexis.
That we for ever be Inseparable.
Astræa.
'Tis mine own Wish, which but on you depends.
Alexis.
In our Agreements both must have their Ends.
Astræa.
To mine ye holy Pow'rs Witnesses be,
Which broke, punish with just Severity.
Alexis.
It is enough, yet one thing more remains.
Astræa.
Hasten it quickly, then our Souls enchains;
Nothing if not impossible it be,
Can hinder this our sweet Felicity.
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Then command me; but—
She abruptly stops, and seems to faint: Is supported by Astræa.
Astræa.
Your grief to asswage.
Do you want nothing?
Alexis.
Nothing but Courage.
Phillis, Lycidas, Diana.
Phillis.
'Twas just; the Author of your Jealousie
Hath from her own mouth giv'n the Remedie.
Lycidas.
Which gives a new Displeasure; my Remorse,
Gives him her hand to kiss.
That durst attempt our Loves so to divorce:
Phillis.
Which thus I cancel.
Lycidas.
With a firmer Tie,
To Diana.
To bind our Loves unto Eternity.
Phillis.
Next is your part.
Diana.
Which I shall expiate
At first Encounter.
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Pray heav'n not too late.
Astræa.
From whence, my dear Compan'ions, pleas'd so well?
Phillis.
From discov'ring Treason by Miracle,
As we to shun the rigour of Days pride
Did us a well united shade provide;
VVe heard to Tyrsis Leonice recite
The foul Effects of her incensed Spite
'Gainst me, and Sylvander; VVho (as you know)
Did by his Judgement her Love overthrow.
Astræa.
Diana was there.
Phillis.
Or else still (I fear)
VVould last her Jealousie.
Diana.
VVhich now is clear.
Alexis.
Sylvander must have Right.
Diana.
I not deny,
Preserving still a Virgins Modesty.
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Appears in a discontented posture.
Phillis.
Sylvander, the Triumph at length is mine,
And you your usurp'd Trophies must resign;
VVhether by Force or by Subtility,
Matters not which; glorious stil's Victory.
Do you remember by fein'd Love to me
You strove t'increase Licidas Jealousie.
I now am quit, that Message which I brought
VVas but the Stratagem wherewith I fought.
Sylvander.
What do you mean?
Phillis.
Those VVords I said to you,
VVere things invented Diana ne're knew.
Sylvander.
No more my Foe, and justifie but this,
VVho by you is subdued, crowned is.
Phillis.
For better proof, first I surrend my Theft,
Flings him the bracelet.
Those Tears content me which it hath bereft.
Sylvander.
To heav'n, to you, and to Diana give
My humble thanks, I by your Favours live.
Kneels, kisses the bracelet, and puts it on his arm. Who was at distance before approaches.
Diana.
VVhat part have I in your Discourse? I hear
You named me.
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Not now such are, but were;
As pleased me to represent you still,
In Words or Actions both fram'd by my Will.
Diana.
I thank you, but I hope you have well chose,
Since you so freely of them both dispose.
Diana.
As for mine own Advantage best might prove.
Phillis.
I thank you dear Companion for your Love.
Sylvander.
The Satisfaction's greater which I have,
To Phillis.
Then the Displeasure which before you gave;
But know, th'unhappy Effects of this Strife
Can never cease but with m' unhappy Life.
Phillis.
My Veng'ance never did so far pretend.
Lycidas.
Those Ils are great which cease but with our End.
Diana.
'Tis just, me thinks, that Phillis bear her share,
Since she the Author was of his Dispaire.
Lycidas.
Unto the Cure at least.
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Provided still,
That you t'effect the same will grant your Will.
To Diana.
Diana.
Your Skill on others Help you do repose.
Alexis.
You can't deny what Char'ity doth propose.
Diana.
I must submit.
Phillis.
The Cure Ile undertake,
If he have courage his Ils known to make,
Sylvander.
Know then, by this your Wyle, o're charg'd with Grief,
I to th'Oracle flew for my Relief,
But in the Answer more cause of It found,
With this irr'evocable Edict be'ing bound.
Oracle.
He take a little billet and reads.
Thy present Ils e're long shall end;
But Her thou would'st, Paris shall wed.
To thy Desires do not pretend,
Untill such time Sylvander's dead.
Thou fair Disposer of my Soul, though Fate
Kneels to Diana.
On this poor trunk seems thus to vent his Hate.
Lest I you Others see, suffer me die,
Then suffer still of Death's varietie:
'Tis but the hast'ning of mine own Desire,
Which is accomplish'd when I do expire.
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Phillis having paws'd awhile.
No, no, this Oracle no such Sense bears,
Each Oracle mysterious Senses wears;
Diana, you'l not from your Promise flie?
Astræa.
VVe all become therein her Suerty.
Phillis.
First, that your present Ils e're long should end;
On what is now past plainly did depend:
Next is, but whom thou would'st, Paris shall wed:
VVed is oft in a double sense used,
The Priests office herein it doth include:
Paris, whom you would, wed's to you as Druy'd.
Sylvander.
But where (your Desire's not pretend) 'tis sed,
VVhat Remedy until Sylvander's dead.
Phillis.
O thou Ignorant in Love's Mysteries,
VVho loves an Other, to Himself he dies.
'Tis your own Doctrine.
Lycidas.
Nothing is more clear.
Alexis.
As she with Heav'n Intelligencer were.
Phillis.
Diana's promise must the Rest fulfill.
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Wherein? I see no need thereof.
Phillis.
Your will:
Without you aid him this cannot be true,
That he should dye in Him, and live in You;
Such Myst'ry in Love, as yet, was ne're known,
This could in any wise subsist by One.
Alexis.
We are ingag'd.
Astræa.
And must not see you fail.
Diana.
What is requir'd of Both must needs prevail.
Phillis.
Since he unto Himself must cease to live,
You must likewise your Self unto him give.
Diana.
It is too much.
Sylvander.
For my Worth.
Phillis.
But no less,
From her own Self exacteth her Promess;
Phillis takes Diana by the hand, and gives it Sylvander to kiss.
Here, take her Hand, and thereon seal your Vows.
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Thus guarded, Heav'n in vain you bend your brows.
| Astraea, or, True Love's Myrrour | |