University of Virginia Library

THE SECOND EGLOGVE Sapphus' tale

Dym.
Good Sapphus say, what was thy lasses name?
Was it not Siluia?

Sap.
The very same;
It seemes thou knew her.

Dym.
Yes exceeding well,
And might haue knowne her, but I would not mell,
In more familiar sort.

Sap.
Unworthy Swaine,
Did her affection merit such a staine?
Suppose she threw some looser lookes vpon thee,
And thou collected thence she would haue won thee,
Is this th' requitall of the loue she bore?

Dym.
Nay on good Sapphus, I'le do so no more.

Sap.
No more! why now I sweare, and may be bold
That Dymnus would haue done it if he could.
Why sir, what parts were euer in you yet,
That she on you such fancie should haue set?

Tech.
Fie, shepheards fie, we come not here to scold:
Come Sapphus, tell thy tale as we haue told.

Sap.
Dymnus doth interrupt me.

Lin.
Dymnus ceasse.

Dym.
Nay I haue done, so he will hold his peace.
But to vpbraid me, that I had no part
To gaine her loue, I scorne it with my heart:
For Ile auouch.

Tech.
Nay then the strife's begun.

Dor.
Dymnus for shame.

Dym.
Nay shepheards, I haue done.

Dor.
Pray then proceed good Sapphus.

Sap.
Willingly:
Though I can hardly brooke this iniury.

Dym.
Why Sapphus, I am sure thou know'st all this,
That she was light.

Sap.
I know she did amisse,
Yet I must tell you Dymnus, 't had bene fit,
That rather I then you had noted it:
For it concern'd me most.

Dym.
Pray let it rest,
I did not know so much, I may protest.

Sap.
Dymnus, enough: and thus I do proceed;
Vpon a time when I my flocks did feed,
Her father Thyrsis chanc'd to come that way,
And to obserue me more, a while made stay
Upon the Downe, where I did feede my sheepe:
Who eying me, how duely I did keepe
My woollie store (as I had care) from worrien,
Scab, sought, the rot or any kind of murren:
Tooke such a liking on me, as to say
The very truth, vpon next holy day,
He did inuite me to his house, where I
Found what was loue in louely Siluia's eye.
In briefe, I lou'd her, I may boldly tell,
And this her father notes, and likes it well:
For oft vs'd he to say, right sure I am,
A penny in a man then with a man,
He did esteeme more of, which he applide
Unto that care which he in me descride.

Dym.
A iolly Swaine he was.

Sap
He was indeed,
And on these Downs more frolicke rams did breed,
Then any Swainling that did dwell about him,
And truth to say, they would do nought without him.

Dor.
Tis said that Thirsk frō Thirsis tooke her name,
Who thither with his heards a grazing came,
And plaid vpon his pipe such pleasant straines,
As he yet liues vpon the neighbour plaines.

Sap.
This know I Dorycles, that in my hearing,
He pip'd so sweete, that many shepheards fearing
Th' melodious straines which issued from his reed,
Would so amaze their flocks they could not feede:
Ioyntly together in a secret caue,
Where Palms and Mirtles their increasing haue,
They so contriu'd an harbour for the nonst,
That he might from the scorching Sunne be sconst,
And sing at pleasure, while his accents raising,
Heardsmen were hearing, and their heards were grazing.
For curious seats hewne from the solid stone,
Were aptly fram'd for Swaines to sit vpon,
Who in his voice conceiu'd such choice delight,
As a whole Sommer day from morne to night,
Seem'd but an houre, so sweetly did be sing,
While every day he found out some new spring.
But all too long digression haue I made;
Falling in loue with Siluia as I said,
I saw and perishd, perishd, for it cost
My libertie, which I by seeing lost.

Dor.
Deare was that sight.

Sap.
Yet dearer may I sweare,
Was she to me, then any senses were:
For other obiects I did wholly shon,
Chusing her selfe for me to looke vpon.
Neither was I hope-reft, for she did seeme
To fancie me, hows'euer she did meane;
And I deseru'd it, as I thought that day,
For clothed in my suite of shepheards gray,
With buttond cap and buskins all of one,
I may assure you (heardsmen) I thought none
On all our Downe more neate or handsome was,
Or did deserue more kindnesse from his lasse.

Dym.
A good conceit doth well.

Sap.
And truth was this,
She shew'd me all respect that I could wish,
And vndissembled too, I am perswaded,
Though afterwards all that affection faded.
For on a day, (this I thought good to tell,
That you may thence perceiue she lou'd me well)
In a greene shadie harbour I repos'd,
With Sycamours and Iunipers enclos'd,
She priuately into the harbour crept,
Which seene, I fain'd a sleepe, but neuer slept.

Tech.
A faire occasion!

Lin
How did she reueale
Her loue?

Sap.
If you had felt, what I did feele,
You neuer would awakt, but wisht do die,
In such a soule-beguiling phantasie.
For first she eyed me, nor contented so,
With nimble pace she to my lips did go:
And calls, and clings, and clips me round about,
Using a soft-sweete dalliance with her foote,
Not to awake me from my chearefull dreame,
But to impart what she in heart did meane;
Wherewith I seem'd to wake.

Tech.
Why didst thou so?

Sap.
Technis, I thought she trod vpon my toe,
But as I wak'd, she without further stay,
Dying her cheekes with blushes, stole away.

Dym.
This shew'd she lou'd thee.

Sap.
So I know she did,
But who can perfect what the fates forbid?
For long we liued thus, and loued too,
With vowes as firme as faith and troth could do,
That nought should ere infringe that nuptiall band,
Confirm'd betwixt vs two with heart and hand,
So as with Thirsis knowledge and consent,
After so many weekes in loue-toyes spent,
It was agreed vpon by either side,
That I should be her Bridegroome, she my Bride.
And th' day of Solemnization was set downe,
So as the choisest youths in all the towns,
Addrest themselues, for I was valued then
Amongst the chiefest Swaines, to be my men.

Lin.
I know it Sapphus, both thy wealth and worth,
Were both of power enough to set thee forth.

Sap.
In briefe, for I your patience might wrong,
To stand vpon these marriage rites too long;
To th' Church we went, suspecting I may sweare,
No such euents as after did appeare.

Tech.
What sad euents, good Sapphus?

Sap
Being now
Come to do that which we could nere vndo,
The Priest pronounc'd a charge, whereby was ment,
If either of vs knew impediment,
Why we should not be ioyned, then to speake,
That we in time might such a wedlocke breake;
Or any one there present should shew cause,
Why we might not be married by the lawes:
There to declare, in publicke one of these,
Or else for euer after hold their peace.
God speed them well, said all, saue onely one,
Who stood from thence some distance all alone,
Crying, aloud in open audience,
Sapphus forbeare, there is no conscience,
That thou should ioyne thy hand to one defil'd;
At least prouide a father for her child.
Which she kind pregnant wench is great withall,
And, who ere got it, will thee father call.

Tech.
This was a strange preuention.

Sap.
I confesse it,
But ify'ad heard how Meuus did expresse'st,
(For so his name was) you would haue admir'd
His frontlesse impudence.

Dym.
Sure he was hir'd,
To frustrate these solemnities.

Sap.
Ah no,
Beleeue me Dymnus it was nothing so:
For she was fruitfull long before her time,
But th' fault was hers, is was no fact of mine:
So as her neighbours iudg'd and censurd on her,
That she begun by time to take vpon her.
But this shall be in silence past for me,
Onely she's shadowed in my

A Poem entitled Omphale.

Omphale,
And so charactred, as the time may come,
Siluia shall be as Flora was in Rome.

Dor.
But what succeeded hence?

Sap.
Upon this voice
There streight arose a strange confused noise,
Some Meuus tax'd, and said he was to blame,
To blemish any modest Maidens name;
Others were doubtfull, lest it should be true,
And thus they thought, and thus it did ensue.
I now suspicious of this foule dishonour,
Which Meuus publickly had laid vpon her:
Resolu'd those solemne spousals to delay,
And put them off vntill another day:
Meane while, (attend me Swains) when th' day came on
That I should marrie, Siluia had a sonne.

Cor.
God blesse the boy.

Dym.
Who might the child begit?

Sap.
Nay Dymnus sure, who euer fatherd it.

Dym.
Who I!

Sap.
Nay blush not man for you haue told,
You might oft-times haue done it if you wold;
But I do wish her all the good I can,
And praise her choise, though I be not the man.

Tech.
Vnhappie choice!

Dor.
Hard fate!
T'is nothing so,
You'le heare a choise more fatall ere you go.
These were but toyes to entertaine the time,
Prepare your handkerchers if you'le haue mine.

All.
What, must we weepe?

Lin.
Shepheards a while forbeare,
And if there be no cause, iudge when you heare.