University of Virginia Library

Da dextram miseræ & tecum me tolle per vndas.

Phillis, Charon.

Ph.
A Boat, a Boat Charom, come set me over.

Ch.
VVho calls hells fatall ferriman?

Ph.
A Lover.

Ch.
And thou shalt stay the longer for't I vow,

Ph.
Youle not be so unmercifull I trow.

Ch.
Left handed luck light on yee every houre
Ime troubl'd to transport such brands as you are.

Ph.
Ney good sweet Charon, come

Ch.
Yes sweet on still,
VVhen I have nothing else to do, I will.

Ph.
VVhat?

Ch.
Grease my Boat, and patch my shattered sailes
And set me down and rest mee;

Ph.
Jove what ayle,
This froward patch? come prethee to the stath
I am a stranger, come put off thy wrath.

Ch.
Hence Cupids brands,

Ph.
Not so.

Ch.
Ile come no nigher:

Ph:
VVhy?

Ca.
For youl set my pitchy Boat on fire,
I fry already with transporting flames
Such as have almost drank up al my streams

Ph.
Canst thou feare that and see these fresh supplies.
So streaming from the Conduits of mine Eyes?

Ch.
VVell well,

Ph.
Nay more if Charon shall think good
These Armes as Oares shall wave the stigian flood,
This wast thy Mast: And this dishevell'd haire,
Ile into Cables twist;

Ch.
VVell you speak faire.

Ph.
Come then;

Ch.
I am at hand, but ere thy foot Boord mee,
How cam'st thou here timely or not?

Ph.
VVhat makes that to my speed? Come wast me over,
And talke of that anon.

Ch.
Nay soft, discover
Or thou art at thy furthest; Trust no trix
Nor falsities, But sweare by sacred Stix,
VVhich even the gods call not to lyes,
VVithout the forfeit of their deityes,
And loss of Nectar for a hundred years.
Speak, Phs VVhat is Phillis faultie here appeares.

Ch.
Thou canst not pass.

Ph.
The gods forbid O smother
That breath, This death is worse then th' other;
I past last night, That I implunged in
For love, and must I dye again for sin?
Is it decreed?

Ch.
It is, and signed by fate.

Ph.
Ile supplicate the Gods then.

Ch.
Tis too late.

Ph.
Hard hap, but sawst thou not my Demophon

Ch.
I did.

Ph.
VVhere;

Ch.
Hee is to Elysium gone.

Ph.
And I left here O Charon prethee either
VVast mee to him, or fetch him hither.

Ch.
Neither?

Ph.
Shall he live happy?

Ch.
Yes.

Ph.
Then let me come
For hee knowes I am his Elysium.

Ch.
Thou canst not wretch:

Ph.
Noe? whether shall I then
Betake my selfe?

Ch.
To yond fowle foggy fen,

Ph.
And what when there?

Ch.
Still tide it to and fro,
In deep despaire as those self murtherers doe,
Seest thou these Troops like Autumnes leavy spoile,
VVhat self bemoaning, what unpittied coyle
They keep? But I sterne Charon have no eares
To heare their plaints; no eyes to see their teares.

Ph.
Have I contemned life, neglected Thrace
And my imperiall scepter for this place?

Ch.
Blame thine own Rashnes to anticipate,
The supreame act of Adamantine fate.

Ph.
Has thou no pitty left for Queens.

Ch.
No, now
The basest beggar is as great as thou.

Ph.
O give me yet a draft of Lethe, that
I may forget the tyranny of fate.

Ca.
It cannot be allow'd alas thy woes
Begin but now

Ph.
VVhen end they then?

Ch.
God knowes.

Ph.
Pitty sweet Charon, pitty for his sake,
VVhose innocence must of my greifs pertake
For hee and I long since agreed upon
This, Hee should Phillis be, I Demophon
Our faithfull lipps were pledges of this twine
Hee giving his heart, I returning mine.
Tis I have sin'd, And must hee beare the blow.
Tis not my heart, but his that suffers now,
O either yeild then to my just desire,
Or let mee suffer in my selfe entire,
But if't may be, Celestiall pitty move,
To spare us both, and lay the fault on Love.

Ch.
Weell love shall blind the Gods & pittie shal
For once the faire quene be presidentiall.
Or if the Gods will not commiserate,
Ile steale thee over stix in spite of fate