University of Virginia Library

The second Scene.

Daphne. Thyrsis.
Thyrsis, I know too well, that tender-mynded Amyntas
Hath long lou'd this gyrle; and long may loue her, I feare mee.
And, as I tould thee before, my helping hand did I alwayes,
And will now much more for thy sake, lend to Amyntas.
But more soone may one make gentle a Beare or a Tyger,
And tame yong wylde Bulls, then learne yong gyrls any reason,
Gyrls as fonde as fayre: whose rude symplycyty knows not,
How theyr eye-arrowes can pierce mens harts in a moment.
Thyrsis.
Symple? I neuer yet could see soe symple a woeman,
But was most expert, though but new crept fro the cradle,
In these cosn'ing tricks; and knew her face to be framyng,
Now with a smyle t'allure, and now to repell with a frownyng.

Daphne.
What skilfull Mystres taught them this mystery, Thyrsis?

Thrsis.
As though thou knewst not: that Mystres, which did in ould tyme
Take yong byrds fro the neast, and taught them for to be flying,
Bull to rebut with a horne, and skaled fish to be swymming,
And proudhart Peacock her paynted trayne to be spreading.

Daphne.
Whats her name?

Thy.
Daphne.

Dap.
Fy, that's impossible.

Thy.
And why?
Is not dame Daphne trow you, to be deemed a Mystres
Sufficient t'enstruct ten thousand such bony lasses?
Though in truth they want noe skill, nor neede any mystres,
Coy by kinde, and proud by byrth, and surly by nature.
Yet nource and mother contend this folly to further,
And soe make in tyme yong cockrell lyke to the ould crowe.

Daphne.

Thyrsis.
Peace, peace, good Daphne: this noe newes, come to Amyntas.

Daphne.
Noe newes? yes mary ist: for noe such matter in ould tyme
Euer afore was seene: When Daphne was but a Damsell
Dapne was not soe: but world now waxeth an ould world,
Growes to be wayward now, and peeuish like to an ould man.

Thyrsis.
In those dayes, Townebyrds flewe not soe fast to the countrey,
Nor countrey lasses did gad soemuch to the Cytty.
Now all's confounded, now fashyons all to be mingled
All to be mangled quyte, and euery Madg is a Mystresse,
All's turn'd vpsyde downe. But may not, may not Amyntas,
And bonylasse Phillis yet talk once fryendly togeather
By Daphnes good meanes, and condiscend to a parley?

Daphne.
Thyrsis, I am not sure; shee's too too flatly denying.

Thyrsis.
And hee, alas, poorefoole, is too too fondly desyring.

Daphne.
Then let him aske, intreate, importune, nay let him offer,
Yea offer violence, and take noe nay; for a woeman
Loues to be woo'd of a man: thou know'st well, Thyrsis, a woeman
Runs, and yet soe runs, as though she desyr'd to be orerun;
Says, noe, noe; yet soe, as noe, noe, seemes to be no noe;
Stryues, and yet soe stryues as though she desyr'd to be vanquisht.
Woeman's like to a shade, that flyes, yet lyes by the subiect,
Lyke to a Bee, that neuer striues, yf sting be remoued.
Thou se'st, Thyrsis, I talk as a playne wench vnto a playne fryend.

Thyrsis.
Then good playne Daphne, its more then tyme to be playne now,
Help me to help our fryend poore helples fryendles Amyntas.

Daphne.
Well to be playne indeede, and end this matter in one woord,
Phillis goes with mee now by and by to the braue well,
Mighty Dianaes well, where largearm'd ash to the hunting
Nymphs giu's cooling shade; there Phillis shalbe presented
Naked, starcknaked to the open view of Amyntas.

Thyrsis.
And what then?

Daph.
What then? then I thinck thusmuch to a wiseman
Will seeme sufficient, and is too much for a fonkyn.

Thyrsis.
Now I doe know thy mynde: but I doubt least fearful Amyntas
Haue not soemuch hart, as boldly to offer an onset.

Daphne.
Then let Amyntas stay, til an other seeke to preuent hym.

Thyrsis.
If that hee were soe serud, he deserud wel soe to be serued.

Daphne.
But to thyself Thyrsis, wilt styl be a boy or a batchler?
Wer't not farr better to be husband or to be louer?

Thyrsis.
When that Thyrsis see's, that lou's not a plague to a louer,
Then shall Daphne see, that Thyrsis wilbe a louer.
But whilst hateful loue with teares and feares is aboundyng,
Loue whoe will for mee: let another learne to be mournyng,
Thyrsis enough hath mournd.

Daph.
But he hath not ioyed enough yet.

Thyrsis.
Noe such ioyes I desyre.

Daph.
But loue can force the resister.

Thyrsis.
Noe force; ile keepe back.

Daph.
And then loue hasteneth onward.

Thyrsis.
Ile run.

Daph.
Loue hath wings.

Thyrs.
But short wings in the begynnyng.

Daphne.
Louers feele not loue, when loue is first a begynnyng,
And when lou's once felt, its too late then to be runnyng.

Thyrsis.
But let my loue rest, til againe wee chaunce to bee meeting,
And let Amyntas now, for he most needs, first be releeued.
Ile seeke hym straight way and bring, if I can, the retyring
Beare to the stake.

Daph.
Ile goe, but this was far fro my meanyng.

Thyrsis.
And, if I gesse not amysse, loe yonder he coms, with a downecast
Looke, and wandring pace, pace and looke fit for Amyntas.