University of Virginia Library

Scen. 5.

The virgins passe over the stage with waxe candles in their hands, Amaryllis goes the first, but she is staid by Damon, as unknown to be Amaryllis, she being vail'd and having on her head the garland that Laurinda took from Damon.
Amar.
Ceres has heard my prayers,
For all my morning orisons beg'd no more
Then one kind word from Damon.

Dam.
Amaryllis!

Alex.
That name breaths life & soul to poore Alexis.

Amar.
The same;—why startle you? you have not met
A poyson, Damon.

Dam.
Yes, a thousand vipers
Have stung my soule.

Alex.
As many joyes crown mine
With happinesse.

Dam.
Would I had met this morning
Infectious vapors nursing plagues, not thee;
No curse but that had power to ruin mee!

Alex.
No other blessing hath preserved mee.

Amar.
What should this mean, my Damon? how have I
Displeas'd you, sweet? heaven knowes it is my praier
More then for heaven, to please you.

Da.
O my torture!
Fly hence as farre as hell, and hide thy head
Lower then darknesse; would thou had'st been acting
Incest or murder, when thou cam'st to pray:
Thou hadst in any thing sinn'd lesse then this:
Vnseasonable devotion!

Amar.
Can it be
A sin to pray for Damon?

Dam.
Thou had'st blest mee
Had'st thou sate all this while in some dark cell
Loading my head with curses.

Ama.
Innocence
Let me not understand you.

Da.
I'le not stand
To her award, she is a partiall judge,
And will decree unjustly.

Ama.
How, to Damon?
To him she loves so deerely?

Dam.
That's the reason;
Shee does confesse, Alexis, that she loves me,
That's argument enough against her.

Amar.
Ceres, these obscure passions move me.

Alex.
I'le instruct you,
Take here the paper, pen and inke.

Ama.
Why yet sir
I know no more.

Alex.
You are to passe your censure,
Being the first Nymph that we have met this morning,
Which of us two must have the faire Laurinda.
Write your award; our mutuall oathes doe bind us
Not to deny't.

Da.
'Tis a meere plot contriv'd
Betwixt this cursed Nymph, and you, Alexis.

Alex.
Damon you wrong us both.

Dam.
Where did you steale
This Garland? it was mine.

Amar.
For that I love it,
Because it once was thine.

Da.
For that I hate it,
'Cause it is thine, had it been true to mee,
Me thinkes as soone as it had toucht thy head
It should have withered.

Amar.
So it would have done
Had it not first touch't yours. Laurinda gave me
This Garland, but nere told me of this accident.

Da.
Alexis, you deale false, 'tis a conspiracy
'Twixt you and her.

Alex.
How can it? you know, Damon,
I have not beene one minute from your presence.

Da.
You tooke your time while I was sleeping.

Alex.
Neither,
Nor I nor you could sleepe one winke this night,
The expectation of this morning tryall
Did keepe us both awake.

Da.
I doe not know,
But there is some trick in't, and I'le appeale
From her too partiall sentence.

Ale.
I'le the while goe fetch Laurinda, shee shall force you stand
Vnto her tryall.

Exit.
Amar.
Damon, thy harsh language is more then death
Vnto me.

Da.
I doe charge you to teare the paper,
And refuse to judge between us.

Amar.
No, I am resolv'd to write what I determine.

Da.
Now thou hast indeed a time wherein thou maist
Revenge my scorne. Take it, but I'le prevent thee.

he strikes her.
Amar.
Welcome death!
From him all things are so. Damon, fly hence,
Thou hast shed bloud here in the Sacred Valley,
Make hast away or thou art lost for ever.

Dam.
Thy counsell's good, no matter whose the guilt.

Exit Damon.
Ama.
What was it he said last?—Thou hast indeed
A time wherein thou maist revenge my scorne.
—With love, no otherwise: and there thou shalt not
Prevent mee, Damon. I will write—This inke
Deserves not to record the name of Damon,
Tis black and ugly; thou thy selfe hast furnisht mee
With that of better colour. 'Tis my blood
That's truly Cupids inke: love ought to write
Only with that;—This paper is too course;
O that I had my heart, to write it there!
But so it is already. Would I had
A Parchment made of my own skin, in that
To write the truth of my affection,
A wonder to posterity!—Hand make hast
As my bloud does, or I shall faint I feare
Ere I have done my story.—