University of Virginia Library

Scen. 2.

Alexis. Laurinda. Medorus.
Alex.
Now my Laurinda, now (o happy now!)
All lets that stood between my joy and mee
Are gone and fled.

Lau.
Long, o too long, Alexis,
My doubtfull fancy wavered whom to love,
Damon, or you; in both was happinesse,
But double happinesse was my single misery:
So far'd it once, Alexis, (for I well
Remember it) with one of my poore ewes,
Equally mov'd between two tufts of grasse,
This tempting one way, that inticing t'other,
Now she would this, then that, then this againe,
Vntill poore foole (true embleme of her mistresse)
Shee almost starv'd in choosing which to feed on;
At last (so heaven pittied the innocent foole)
A westerne gale nipt one, which being blasted
Shee fed upon the other.

Ale.
Pretty fool! lets now no more deferre our nuptial joyes.

Med.
How sweet a folly is this love? But rash youth, Alexis,
(As youth is rash) runnes indiscreetly on
While mature judgment ripened by experience
Stayes for loves season.

Alex.
Season? why, can love
Be ever out of season?

Med.
Yes, Alexis,
Nothing's borne ripe, all things at first are greene,

Alex. Lau.
And such shall our affection still be seene.

Med.
You are to hasty reapers that doe call
For Sickles in the spring:

Alex.
Loves, harvest shall;
(Lovers you know) his harvest ought to bee
All the yeare long.

Lau.
In Cupids husbandry,
Who reapes not in the spring, reapes not at all.

Med.
Woemen indeed too soone begin their fall.
Yet till curst Claius dye, as now he must,
Alexis, and Laurinda, let my counsell
Asswage the heat of youth; pray be perswaded
A while for to deferre your nuptiall blisse;
'Tis but a while.

Alex.
A while in lov's an age.

Lau.
Maids in a while grow old.

Med.
Temper loves fire.

Alex.
'Tis but cold love that's temperate in desire.

Med.
Yet, loving paire, stay 'till a fayrer gale;
He deserves shipwrack, ('tis the Marriners flout)
And justly too, that in a storme sets out.

Lau.
I will supprsse my flame, (ah still it glowes.)

Alex.
And I, but how unwilling Cupid knowes!

Med.
Tis well; now let's goe take our place, to see
For our sad griefes a sadder remedy.