University of Virginia Library

SCE. 2.

Dorinda, Linco.
[Dorinda.]
Linco , I am assur'd thou knowst me not.

Lin.
Who would haue thought that in these rusty rags
Gentle Dorinda had been euer hid.
Were I some Dogge, as I but Linco am,
Vnto thy cost I should thee know too well.
VVhat do I see?

Dor.
Linco, thou seest great loue,
VVorking effectes both strange and miserable.

Lin.
One like thy selfe, so soft so tender yet,
That wer't but now (as one would say) a babe,
And still me thinkes it was but yesterday
Since in mine armes I had thee little wretch,
Ruling thy tender cryes, and taught thee too
To call thy Father Dad, thy Mother Mamme:
When in your house I was a Seruant hir'd,
Thou that so like a fearefull Doe wa'st wont
To feare earch thing before thou feltst this loue,
Why, on a sodaine thee would scarre each blast,
Each Bird that stird a bush, each Mouse that from
Her hole did run, each Leafe would make thee start,
Now wandrest all alone by hills, by woodes,
Fearing no Beast that hauntes the Forrestes wilde?

Dor.
Wounded with Loue, who feares another hurt.

Lin.
Loue had great power, that could not onely thee
Into a Man, but to a Wolfe transeforme.

Dor.
O Linco, could'st thou but see here within,
There should'st thou see a lyuing Wolfe deuoure
My wretched soule like to a harmeles Lambe.

Lin.
And who's that Wolfe? Siluio.

Do.
Ah, thou hast said.

Lin.
Thou, for he is a Wolfe, hast changd thy selfe
Into a Wolfe because no humane lookes
Could mooue his loue, perhaps this beastes yet mought.
But tell me, where had'st thou these cloathes so ragd?

Do.
I'le tell thee true, to day I went betime
There where I heard that Siluto did intend
A noble hunting to the sauage Boore,
At Erimantus foote, where Elicett
Puts vp his head, not farre off from the lawnd,
That from the hill is seuer'd by discent,
I found Melampo my faire Siluioes Dogge,
Whose thirst I thinke had drawne him to that place:
I that each thing of Siluio held full deare,
Shade of his shape, and footsteps of his feete,
Much more the Dogge which he so dearely lou'd,
Him straightway tooke, and hee without adoo,
Like to some gentle Cade, came quietly with mee:
Now whilst I cast this Dogge to reconuey
Home to his Lord and mine, hoping to make
A conquest of his loue by guift so deare,
Behold he comes seeking his footsteps out,
And heere he stayes. Deare Linco I will not
Leese further time in telling euery thing
That twixt vs past, but briefly to dispatch:
After a heape of faigned vowes and wordes,
The cruell Boy fled from me straight away
In ire'full mood with his thrice-happy Dogge,
And with my deare and sweetest sweete reward.

Lin.
Oh desperate Siluio! Oh cruell Boy!
What didst thou then? Disdaind'st thou not his deed?

Dor.
As if the heate of his disdaine had been
Of loue vnto my hart the greatest fire,
So by his rage increased my desire:
Yet still pursuing him vnto the chace,
Keeping pursuing him vnto the chace,
Keeping my broken way, I Lupus met,
Heere thought I good with him to change my cloathes,
And in his seruile habite me to hide,
That mongst the Swaines I for a Swaine might passe,
And at my pleasure see my Siluio.

Lin.
Went'st thou to hunt in likenesse of a Woolfe,
Seene by the Dogges, and yet returned'st safe?
Domida, thou hast done inough.

Do.
Linco
No wonder t'is, the Dogges could do no harme
Vnto their Maisters preordeyned pray.
There stood I by the Toyles amongst a sort
Of neighbour Shepheards, come to see the sport,
Rather to see the huntsman then the game.
At euery motion of the sauadge Beast
My hart did quake: At each of Siluioes actes,
My soule stept out, push't on with all her will:
But my chiefe hope the fearefull fight disturb'd,
Of that immeasurable Boore in force,
Like as the rau'nous strength of sodaine storme
In little time bringes trees and rockes to ground:
So by his tuskes bedew'd with blood and foame,
VVe see Dogges slaine, Staues broke, and wounded men.
How many times did my poore blood desire
For Siluioes blood to combat with the Boore,
How often times would I haue stept to make
My brest a buckler for my Siluioes brest,
How often say'd I in my selfe, excuse,
Excuse the daintie lapp of my deare Loue:
So to my selfe spake I with praying sighes,
VVhilst he his Dogge all arm'd with hardned skin,
Lets loose against the Beast, who waxed proud
Of hauing made a wretched quarries sight
Of wounded Shepheardes and Dogges slaine outright:
Linco, I cannot tell this Dogges great worth,
And Siluio loues him not without good cause.
Looke how an angry Lyon entertaines
The poynted homes of some vndaunted Bull,
Sometime with force, sometime with pollicie,
And fallens at the last his mightie pawes
So on his backe as no powre can remou't:
So strong Melump' auoyding craftely
The Boores swift strokes and mortall wounding blowes.
At last taints on his eare, which first he shakes,
And afterward so firmely him he holdes,
As his vast sides might wounded be at ease:
The dismall token of a deadly stroke,
The Siluio innocating Phœbes name,
Direct this blow (tayd he) and here I vow
To sacrifize to thee his gastly head.
This fayd, from out his quiuer of pure gold,
He takes a speedy Shaft and to his eare
He drawes his mighty Bow, and straight the Boore
Betweene his neck and shoulder wounded, dyes:
I free'd a sigh, seeing my Siluio safe.
Oh happy beast that mightst thy life so leaue,
By him that hartes from humane beastes doth reaue.

Lin.
But what became of that same fearefull beast?

Dor.
I do not know, because I came away
For feare of being seene: But I beleeue
That solemnly they meane to carry it
Vnto the Temple, as my Siluio vow'd.

Lin.
And meane you not to change these rustie cloathes?

Dor.
Yes wis full fame, but L[illeg.] hath my Gowne,
And promised t'attende me at this Spring,
But him I misse: deare Linco if thou lou'st me
Goe seeke him in these Woods, he is not farre,
I'le rest me in the meane time by this Den,
For weerinesse makes me to sleepe desire,
Nor would I home returne in this attire.

Lin.
I go, and stirre not you till I returne.