 | Astraea, or, True Love's Myrrour |  |
Scene 2.
Astræa, Diana.Astræa.
While yet Death's elder brother doth exact
His welcome Tributes; with Death we contract,
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From all Attachments we secure out Flight.
Yet by fair Cynthia's glim'ring light we see,
I judge this our intended Path should be.
Diana.
How hardy Love the frailty doth subdue
Of our weak Sex? No Fear doth us pursue,
Th'horror of Night, unguarded and alone
Dismaies us not, because no Evil known.
Astræa.
Such are thy happy Suff'rings; but my Guilt
Is onely clear'd, when for't my Bloud is spilt:
Thou art not faulty, cause anothers Force,
Not thine, as mine, wrought thy fair Loves Divorce.
'Tis just for it that I should onely die.
Diana.
Envy me not in Death Society;
Thine own Words plead thy Life, all do agree,
That Victyms spotless, innocent should be.
Astræa.
And such shall make me these repentant Floods.
She seems to weep.
Desist to dye; needless are both our Bloods;
One onely of our Sex must satisfie
Of true Loves Fountain the Divinity;
Whose Wisdome will provide a Lover fit
For the Releasment worthy to submit.
Diana.
With your Pardon, why should it not be I?
My Heart tels me it feels an Amity,
Is such as is requir'd; a faithful pair
Of the most perfect Lovers ever were,
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Astræa.
Disputes are vain to make known Amities.
Fair Diana, the Gods betwixt us judge,
Who will I hope preserve thee.
Diana.
Do not grudge
Me thy fair Glory thus but to partake.
Astræa.
Love in his Glory will no Rival make.
Our diff'rence ends! see, see, the new born day,
The fountains discovered, they approach, & Astræa first kneels.
The Fountains figure to us doth display:
All pow'rful Love, who Nature do'st preserve,
But me destroy'st; unband thee and observe,
As my pure Love is perfect in thine Eyes,
Receive me worthy for thy Sacrifice,
T'appease thine Ire; this Fountain to set free,
And render Lovers thy hid Mysterie.
Diana.
She kneels.
Thou divine pow'r of Love, I need not tell
My Love is perfect, for thou know'st it well.
Command thy Lions insensible to be
To fair Astræa, spare her sweet Beauty,
Else you destroy the Power you have got,
Amongst Mortals your Name will be forgot;
Your Temples rac't, your Tapers no more shine,
Your Altars smoke, nor you no more divine.
Accept my Death, your Anger to asswage,
I yield my Corps to satisfie their Rage.
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Dear Diana, wrong not your self and me,
'Tis ev'n herein your own preheminency
That pleads your preservation, if the Gods
Be just, and can distinguish Beauties odds;
Therefore I do again your Pow'rs implore,
Preserve her, and preserve your Treasures store.
She kneels again. Diana would kneel, but is withheld by Astrea. They imbrace one another, and fall one on the one side of the fountain, the other on the other, fast asleep.
No more; I do conjure thee by our Love,
'Gainst my Desire, and Peace, the Gods not move.
Alexis, Sylvander.
Alexis.
Each Mountains pride with new gilt Crown appears,
And fair Aurora hath dry'd up her Tears;
Let us renew our Speed; I fear some sent
In search of us, should our Design prevent.
Ha! Astræa!
Sylvander.
They draw nigh the fountain, and discover Astrea and Diana.
Good Gods! Diana see.
Alexis.
Or doth Heav'n mock our weak Humanity?
If she, you Gods, why grant you such Repose
To her unjustly caus'd me mine to lose?
Sylvander.
What hath ye hither brought, ye beaut'ous Pair?
Was it again our Lives to reinsnare?
They are become your Triumphs and your Spoils.
Cease yet again thus to renew their Broils.
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Kneels.
You Soul-charming Power! unclose her Eye,
Not to appease, but see her Cruelty.
You do withhold an Object more would please,
Then doth this your untimely flatt'ring Ease:
But you know better it doth her delight,
Thus to deprive me of her loved Sight;
In vain I you implore; Astræa hath shown
Div'nities now insensible are grown.
Sylvander.
Thou fair Inchainer of my Soul, receive
Kisses Diana.
My last Farewel; And do not me bereave
Thy blest Mem'ry; VVhich Favor if thou give,
I shall not dye, but in thee still shall live,
Kisses her hand.
Fil'd with those Joys, which Mortals do recite,
When to the Gods they shall themselves unite.
Alexis.
Kisses Astrea.
The like Farewel to thee, thou glorious Pride
Of her that fram'd thee, now we must divide.
But to what Heav'n so ever I do go,
Depriv'd of thee, I shall not think it so.
Ile there attend thee like a mournful Dove,
Kisses her hand.
Perhaps when dead, thou wilt approve my Love;
Why tempt we so our Frailty? thus to greet,
Approaching Death makes Heaven with Hell to meet.
Sylvander.
They both rise.
Yet be perswaded gentle Friend to live,
She that was once offended may forgive;
Can any think, who sees that heav'nly Face,
Anger there moves a Circulary Race.
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A greedy Partner thus to dispossess
Him that did give thee to thy Share Access.
My jealous Love would me provoke to chide,
They imbrace. He kneels to the fountain.
But that we must Unite e're we divide,
You Pow'r inclin'd to Pitty, who inspires
This only Cure to unquiet Desires,
Least that my Grief, as your Divinity;
Both immortal, and infinite should be,
Receive this Body for your Sacrifice,
My Soul too you should have, but that her Eye
With sacred Charms so captive it retains,
(Though cruel she) It other Bonds disdains,
Yet let my Death, to satisfie her Crime
Against my Love, be to you a Victyme.
Let the Subject of our unhappy Strife
Be subject to prolong her Peace and Life.
Sylvander.
Kneels to the fountain.
Thou cruel Pow'r, whose irrevocable Law,
My Soul through all those Ils could hap, did draw.
He rises.
See your Sentence fulfill'd, and see that you,
As in the Evil, in the Good be true.
Alexis.
I fear these Beasts should forth their Limits stray,
And hurt these fair Ones.
Sylvander.
Let's bear them away.
Alexis.
The eager Beasts approach.
Sylvander.
Let's them defend.
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Alexis hastily enters, Sylvander follows and fals down at the entry.
Rather secure them avancing our End.
Phillis, Adamas, Bellinda, Paris, Lycidas, Hylas, Stella, Leonida.
Phillis.
Undoubtedly th'are there, the Shepherd said
He saw them both asleep, but be'ing afraid,
Durst not approach, the Lions being nigh
Unto the same place, whereon both did lie.
Adamas.
'Tis very strange! from thence we are not far.
Phillis.
Approaching, she spies them.
Whereof Each one may be Discoverer.
Bellinda.
The company afar off seem distracted with wonder. Bellinda would run to her daughter, but is withheld by Adamas.
Oh my Shame! thus unto the world made known,
And in thy Disobedience onely shown.
Adamas.
Stop your rash Speed, you must approach no nye'r,
We must invent some Means them to retire.
Paris.
Betwixt my Wonder, Sorrow and my Love,
I strange Distractions in my self do prove.
Lycidas.
But see, me thinks i'th Fountain doth appear,
As if two other Persons yet there were,
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By their Habits they should your Brother be,
And Sylvander.
Lycidas.
VVould Heav'n I could him see!
Adamas.
How strangly hath the Day forsook his Light,
After thunder & lightning, a flaming Cupid, on a Porphir Pyramid, appears as 'twere in the mid'st of the fountain. They fall on their knees; after some intermission the Oracle is delivered.
Our scarce born Noon is ev'n become our Night!
See, how contracted Clouds do mask the Skie,
Almost forbidding their Discovery.
Oracle.
Let this your Wonder cease,
Your Murmurs not increase
Against my Miracles:
Those Corps convey away;
And next ensuing day,
Consult my Oracles.
Cupid vanisheth; they approach the fountain, and find the bodies as dead, and without blemish, Lions converted to marble.
Adamas.
Ha! they are unblemish't.
Lycidas.
And yet are dead.
Phillis.
Without a Bruise.
Paris.
Or any Bloud being shed.
Adamas.
These Lions which so fearful did appear,
To coldest marble now converted are.
Bellinda.
Of Diana.
Thy just Punishment, but my double wrong.
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Too soon I find, what I have sought too long.
Paris.
Oh my afflicted Soul!
Phillis.
Oh cruel death!
Adamas.
Heav'n hath you charg'd to cease your murm'ring breath.
Hylas.
They carry forth the corps.
See now the wise Effects of constant love,
Which in their ends such Tragedies still prove.
| Astraea, or, True Love's Myrrour | |