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1. Amyntas Pastorall.

The first part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch.

    The Speakers.

  • Cupid in a Shepheards cloake.
  • Daphne.
  • Phillis.
  • Amyntas.
  • Thyrsis.
  • Elpinus.
  • A Satyre.
  • Fuluia.
  • Ergastus.
  • Chorus, all of Shepheards.

The Prologue by Cupid in a Shepheards cloak.

Who would thinke that a God lay lurking vnder a gray cloake,
Silly Shepheards gray cloake, & arm'd with a paltery sheephooke?
And yet no pety God, no God that gads by the mountaines,
But the triumphantst God that beares any sway in Olympus:
Which many times hath made man-murdring Mars to be cursing
His blood-sucking blade; and prince of watery empire
Earth-shaking Neptune, his threeforckt mace to be leauing,
And Ioue omnipotent, as a poore and humble obeissant,

His three-slak't lightnings and thunderbolts to abandon.
And I beleeue, thus shap't, and thus with a mantle adorned
Lady Venus will scarce finde out her wily Cupido,
Mine owne mother, I hope, will skarce take mee for her owne son.
Shee makes me run away, and thus compells me to hide me,
For that still shee byds, and still commaunds as a mother
Boy, and bowe, and all: and still perswades as a woeman
Proud-harted woeman, that I bende my bowe to the Court still,
And, as a Lord, with Lords and Ladies still be a dwelling:
As for Parckes and woods, such woodden stuffe she referreth
Vnto the wanton wagges that waite on Lordly Cupido.
But let a woman talk, let boyes be afraid of a woeman,
Lord of loue's no boy, although that he seeme to be boylike:
I'le bestow myself, as best shall seeme to my owneself;
Doues be my mothers byrds, but desteny gaue to Cupido
All-inflaming lampe and golden bowe for a weapon.
Oftentimes doo I hide myself, and flie fro my mother
(Not that I owe any suite as a seruile slaue to my mother,
But that I can not abide to be dayly desir'de by my mother
For to renounce Hoblobs, and ayme at a King or a Kaisar)
Oftentimes doo I flie, and shroude my selfe in a thicket,
Leauing Christall throanes for bowres and rustical harbors:
But no sooner I can conuey myself from Olympus,
But she begins to demaund and aske for louely Cupido,
Wher's that wandring boy, that vile boy, louely Cupido?
Seeke and search my boy, my wagg, my louely Cupido:
Looke for a curldpate boy, his wings will quickly bewray him,
Looke for a boy with a lampe and bow and quiuer about him:
Whoso findes my boy, my ioy, my louely Cupido,
And brings back my boy, shall haue for a friendly remembrance,
Either a sweete sweete kisse, or somewhat more than a sweete kisse:
As though Louely Cupid to a fryend that loue's to be sylent,
Neyther could nor would allow for a fryendly remembrance
Eyther a sweete sweete kisse, or somewhat more than a sweete kisse.
And, I beleeue, my kisse, (if loue intend to be louely)
Wil be a sweeter kisse to a lasse then Queene Cytheræaes.
Thus, many tymes in vaine shee seekes for louely Cupido,
Louing girles are loath to bewray their louely Cupido.
Yet, to be more secure, my curledlocks I doo curtall,
My wings are layde downe, my bowe and quiuer abandond,

Weapons all set aside; and yet loue stands not vnarmed.
For this staffe, that seemes but a toy, that I beare for a fashyon,
Is Loues lampe indeede, and beares but a shew of a sheephooke,
Lou'es transformed lampe, with most inuincible ardor,
Most inuisible heate, and secrete ardor abounding,
Though in forme but rude, and goldhead seemes to be wanting,
Whoso feele's his force shall finde it not to be poyntles,
Where it lights it workes, and leaues impression endles:
This blunt dart shall giue that cureles wound to the hartroote
Of loueles damsel, most loueles damsel amongst all
Those loueles damsels that wayte on mighty Diana.
Phillis (that's her name) disdainefulst wench of a thousand
Shall in her hardest hart conceaue as mighty a loues-wound,
As was that, that I made in tender brest of Amyntas.
Now many pleasant springs are past, since yong Lad Amyntas
And yong gyrle Phillis, themselues were woont to be sporting,
Now to be gath'ring flowr's, and filberds now to be cracking,
Now to be laying gyns for byrds, and now to be anglyng:
And yet, that this blow may make more forcible entrance
And more speedily pierce, ile stay and looke for a fit time:
When pyty moues her mynde, and makes her brest to be tender,
Then wil I stryke and wounde; and that this louely begynnyng
May as luckyly end, ile talk and walk as a heardsman,
And so insinuate my self to the company rurall
Of these iolly Shepheards which hether now be repayring,
All in a braue meryment dame Flora'es wakes to be keeping,
With theyr garlands greene, and boughs of Myrtle adorned.
Here, eu'n here wil I make that most incurable harts-wound
Which no mortall eye shall see: then louely Cupido
Louely Cupidoe's fame in these woods shalbe resounding,
These woods then shall feele a triumphant powre to be present,
And perceaue that I woork by myself, and not by my seruants:
Noble thoughts wil I send, and high conceipts wil I breath foorth
Into the lowli'est myndes, and frame theyr voice to a sweeter
And more sugred tune: for wheresoeuer I harbor,
Wheresoeuer I keepe, ile stil be the louely Cupido,
Aswel in Hoblobs heart, as in heart of a King or a Kaisar,
And as I list, I doe make an vnæquall mynde to be æquall:
And this is only my ioy, and herein most doo I glory,
That by the quyckning heate, by the fire of louely Cupido

Oaten pipe contends with learned Lute of a Lording,
Which if my Mother (who scorn's that I am thus a wandring
Here and there by the woods) can not conceaue to be wondrous,
Then shee's blinde her selfe, and not sweete louely Cupido,
Whom some blinde fooles haue blinde boy vnworthily called.

The first Act

first Scene

Daphne, Phillis.
What? Will Phillis then confume her youth as an anckresse,
Scorning daintie Venus? will Phillis still be a Modder,
And not care to be cal'd by the deare-sweete name of a Mother?
Will not Phillis ioy to beholde her selfe in a Phillis,
And her trueloues face in a yong boyes face to be shining?
Change this minde, fond wench, and this resolution alter.
Phillis.
Seeke the delites of loue, who list, (if loue be delightfull)
This life is my loue, my bowe and shafts be my treasure,
Hunting is my ioy; with stubburne beasts to be striuing,
Vntil I fell them downe, and fearefull beasts to be chasing.
And, till woods want beasts, and quiuer feathered arrowes,
Phillis shall not want any sweete sports or prety pastimes.

Daphne.
Fine sweete sports indeede for a girle, and wise prety pastimes,
Still to be killing beasts, and still by the woods to be ranging.
This life, toylesome life, for a while doth seeme to be pleasant,
Only because as yet thou hast not tri'de any other.
So those simple soules that liu'd when Ioue was an infant,
Tooke for pleasant drinke, and meate well worthie a mans mouth,
Streames of purling brookes, and nutbrowne kernel of accorne:
But now, streames of brookes, and nutbrowne kernel of accorne
Are contemn'de as drinke and meate but fit for a beasts mouth,
Since that corne and grapes were once knowne how to be vsed.
If thou couldst, nay wouldst (and who would not, but a fonkin?)
Only but one time taste, and but taste onely the thousandst
Part of those pleasures and ioyes, which still be abounding
In true-louers soule, when he feeles himself to be loued,
Thou wouldst quickly repent, and quickly bewray thy repentance,
And say thus with teares; Each loueles life is a luckles
And accursed life: my best dayes vainly be ended,

Flowring time is gone, and age creepes hastily onwarde.
How-many fruyteles nights, poore foole, did I waste as a Wyddowe?
How-many ioyles dayes as a Nunne did I drawe to the eunyng?
Dayes, to be passed away with winged boyes prety pastymes,
Nights to be spent with toyes and ioyes of louely Cupido,
Pastimes, toyes, and ioyes, which more ioy'de breede me the more ioye.
Change this minde, fonde wench, and this resolution alter.

Phillis.
When that I seeme to repent, or seeme to bewray my repentance,
Or say so with teares; let floods run back to the fountaines,
Let Woolues fly fro the Lambe, and trembling Hare to the Greyhounde,
Let Beares range by the sea, and Dolphin swymme by the deserte.

Daphne.
See what it is to be yong; gyrles always vse to be peeuish:
Soe was I in tymes past, (Good tyme il past) when I wanted
Age and experience, and so did I trudg to the forrest.
Golden locks, cherylips, red-white face, yuory fingers,
Prowde as a praysd Peacock, and so did I trudg to the forrest.
Netts were then my delyte, and bended bow my reioycing,
Poynted dartes my ioy, and slaughtred beasts my triumphing.
If that I sawe myself (myself vnluckily selfwilde)
But by a glaunce, one glaunce of a Louers eye to be noted,
Downe did I hang my head, and bow myne eyes to my bosome,
Sore displea'sd forsooth, and, God wot, greately abashed
When my pleasing face to a loues looke brought any pleasure,
As though t'were some fault, or shame, or mock to my ownself,
For to be looked vpon, to be lou'd, and sought for of others.
But what can not tyme effect? What can not a louers
Continuall wooing, long seruyng, dayly deseruyng
Bring by degrees at length, at length, to a fortunat endyng?
Phillis, I must confesse, at last I began to be yeelding
Vnto a Loues conquest: and these armes made me be yeelding,
Long patience, kyndenes, sighs, teares, importunat askings.
Then did a night, one night, one shorte night teach mee a lesson,
Which many thousand dayes would neuer let me be learnyng:
Then did I quyckly repent, and quickly bewray my repentance,
And say thus with teares: Now farewel mighty Diana,
Bowes and shafts I renownce, and brutish life I abandon.
So, I doo hope, one day, thy gentle-mynded Amyntas
Shall with aboundant teares make thy hard hart to be tender;

And why should not I hope, when I see iust matter of hoping?
Is not Amyntas fayre? is hee not lou'd of many Lasses?
Dooth not hee loue Phillis? yet Phillis loue's not Amyntas:
And yet, alas, neyther thy hate, nor loue of an other
Can withdraw his loue: And, if thou looke to thy gentrie,
As sweete Cydippe is know'n to be truly thy mother,
Cydippe daughter to the sacred God that abydeth
In this syluer brooke; soe, father of haples Amyntas
Was good Syluanus, Syluanus son to the greate Pan,
Pan the shepheards greate God, that rul's and raign's by the forrest.
And, if Phillis chaunce to behould her face in a fountayne,
Phillis will not seeme more fayre then fayre Amaryllis:
And Amaryllis fayre lou's gentleminded Amyntas;
And Amaryllis loue is still contemn'd of Amyntas,
For that, Phillis loue still rests in soule of Amyntas,
Although Phillis alas hates her truelouer Amyntas.
Now suppose for a while (God graunt it proue but a suppose)
That Phillis sowre lookes dryue of this loue of Amyntas,
And Amaryllis loue draw on this loue of Amyntas,
And that Amyntas kisse, kisse and embrace Amaryllis,
And laugh at Phillis: what then wi' Phillis imagin?

Phillis.
Well: let Amyntas deale as seemeth best to Amyntas,
And loue somewhere els; his loue hath made me to hate hym.

Daphne.
Loue breede hate? Sweete Syre of a most vnnatural ofspring
And vile degenerate bastard: but when wil a white swan
Hatch any coleblack crowe? or meeke sheepe foster a Tyger?

Phillis.
Daphne leaue this talk, or looke noe more for an answer:
His loue breedes my hate, when I hate to aford what hee loueth:
Hee's not a fryend, but a foe, that my virgynyty seeketh:

Daphne.
Why then, stifneckt bull is a foe, not a fryend to a heyfer,
And to a Turtledoue, not a fryend, but a foe is a Turtle.
Why then sweete springetyme breedes hate and works many mischifs,
Sweetesmyling spring-tyme, that wils each thing to be louing,
World and all in world; ô see how sweetly the Pigeon
There with a murmur sweete his copsemate sweete is a wooing.
Mark that Nightingale, which hops fro the bry'r to the hawthorne,

Harck, how brauely shee sings, I doo loue, and loue to be louely.
Nay eu'n fell serpents with cursed poyson abounding,
Strong and stoordy Lions, and Tygers fierce be a louing:
And yet Phillis alas Phillis more fierce than a Tyger,
Woorse than a wylde Lionesse, and more vnkyn'de than a serpent,
Phillis liues stil alone, and can not abyde to bee louely.
But strong stoordy Lions, fierce Tygers, slippery serpents
Haue sense and feeling, therefore noe wonder at all, if
Serpents, stoordy Lions, and Tygers fierce be a louing:
O then looke to the trees, and learne of them to be louely,
Looke to the senceles trees, and mark how dearely the vinetree
Lou's her louing elme, and clipps him fast with a thousand
Thousand embracements, and beech-tree cleaues to the beech-tree,
And wil'de ash to the ash, and pine-tree leane's to the pine-tree.
Yea that broadebrauncht oake which stands soe stoordyly pitched,
And seemes rude and rough, not moou'd with a storme or a tempest,
Yeelds to a kynde of loue; and, if thou were but a little
Tutcht with loue, thou mights perceaue his louely bewaylings,
And secreate groanyngs: and wilt thou then be for all this
Woorse then a senceles tree, and neuer learne to be louely?
Change this mynde, fond wench, and this resolution alter.

Phillis.
Well: when I see trees weepe, and heare theyre louely bewaylings
And secreate groanyngs, i'le frame myself to be louing.

Daphne.
Tis but a folly I see, to be wasting wyn'de on a prowd gyrle,
That knows nought her self, and wil not learne of another.
Thou that mak'st but a iest of loue, hereafter, I doubt not,
Wilt full sore lament, and fyn'de all true that I tell thee:
When thou shalt for shame fly back fro the watery fountayns,
Back fro the springs where now thou see'st thy face to be shynyng,
For very shame and griefe to behold thy beauty decayed
And face all wrynckled: that's bad, but that's but a common
Myschief, looke in tyme that a worse plague light not vpon thee.
I'le say nought; but I wot what news were truly reported
By sage Elpinus last day, to the louely Lycoris:
And he reported afore Corydon and Alphesibœus
Twooe greatest maysters of loues lawes, and he reported
In fayre Auroraes greate Caue, whose bewtiful entrance
Hath these woords engrau'd by the hand of louely Cupido,

(This place is sacred, for louers only apoynted)
There Elpinus sayd, and sayd that he heard it of ould tyme
Of that great pastor, (greate man, whose sweetly resoundyng
Pipe did passe fro the fyelds and sang of martial horrors,)
How that in hels deepe pitt, foule fyends haue framed a dungeon,
All as black as pytch, and all as darck as an ouen,
Hard by the ioyles bancks where smokes and foggs be arising
From wayling Acheron: and there these no-pyty-taking
Dames and scornefull gyrles are all condemn'd to be plagued,
All tormented there in dungeons ougly for euer.
There fitt place, fayre walkes for Phillis shalbe prepared:
There shall fogs, and mystes, and smokes, and palpable horror
Wring out teares from her eyes, and force her still to be wayling,
Whom no louers smart, no griefe could make to be weeping.

Phillis.
Good sweete Daphne peace, and tell this againe to Lycoris,
Terrifie babes with bugs: its tyme to be gone to the huntyng
Solempne great hunting which this same day is apoynted
In that pleasant parck, that sweetest parck of a thousand
Yuychurches parck, prety Yuychurch, that on hill topp
Flowring hill topp sitts, and looketh downe to the valleys,
There, ô there, I dooe heare (for soe Philoueuia tould mee)
There that Nymph, braue Nymph, that peareles Pembrokiana
Yuychurches Nymph doth meane herself to be present,
And with her owne person giue grace and life to the pastime.
Ile to my wonted well with Christall water abounding,
There wil I leaue this dust and sweate that I gate by my toyling
Yesterday, when I made that lightfoote Doe to be tumbling.

Daphne.
And i'le hoame, for an howre or twoo: and then to the huntyng,
Then to the parck wee'le goe: in meane tyme marck what I tould thee
More than parcks and wells, and, if symplicity blynde thee,
Know thy not knowing; soe, mayst thou know of an other.

The second Scene.

Amyntas, Thyrsis.
Hollowe caues, ragd rocks, waste hills, greene watery fountaynes
For pyty, sweetely reply, and aunswers make to my mournyng:
Strong oake, tall pinetree, greene laurell, bewtiful Yuy

For pity, sweetly reply, and aunswers make to my mourning,
Shake theyr leaues for grief, and bend theyr bowes to my groning:
Only that one in whom my ioyes are only reposed
Yeelds no louely reply, no aunswer mak's to my mourning,
Phillis faire and fierce; Phillis more fierce to Amyntas
Than strong oake, tall pine, greene lawrell, bewtiful yuy,
Hollowe caues, ragd rocks, waste hills, greene watery fountaines.
When blackmantled night mak's euery thing to be silent,
Euery thing at rest, then wandreth restles Amyntas:
Siluer moone, bright starrs, you knew these heauy bewaylings,
And for grief your course and due reuolution altred:
But shee alas greeues not, tak's no compassion on mee,
Whose hart-chearing face, and sweete illuminat eisight
Siluer moone, bright starrs, and all your brauery stayned,
And made you for shame, your due reuolution alter.
Thyrsis.
Harmeles sheepe and lambs eate grasse: and greedy deuouring
Woolues eate harmeles sheepe and lambs: but surly Cupido
Surly Cupido feeds himself on streames of abounding
Teares, and's neuer fild, and yet stands euer a feeding.

Amyntas.
No, no, Thyrsis, alas: Loue lacks no teares of Amyntas,
Surly Cupido's full, stuft full with teares of Amyntas,
And thyrsts now for blood, seeks blood of woful Amyntas,
And what he seeks, he shal haue; I'le quēch theyr thirst by my hartblood,
Blynde boy's, proud gyrles thirst: and glut theyr eyes with aboundant
Streames of purpled gore of tootoo wretched Amyntas.

Thyrsis.
O bloody word, fowle word, ô God forbid that Amyntas
Should or think, or woork any outrage vnto Amyntas.
Cast of these fancies, leaue these toyes, pluck vp a mans-hart:
If bony Phillis scorne, and make but a mock of Amyntas,
Yet shal Amyntas finde as braue gyrls as bony Phillis.

Amyntas.
Finde braue gyrls? ô griefe: if Amyntas finde not Amyntas,
How can he finde others? ô how shal he finde bony Lasses,
If that he loose himself? ô how shal I seeke any other,
Since my setled soule and hart are like to an aged
And well grounded tree, which now is come to the full groath,
And will rather breake, than bend, or yeeld to be turned.

Hate augments my loue; her frownes geue fyre to my fancy,
As gentle spaniel, whom beating makes to be louing.

Thyrsis.
Feare in a feareful man frets more than plagues that he feareth:
Hope, and haue, in time any man may gaine any woeman.
Long time mighty Lions at length hath brought to the brydle,
And wyldest Tygers at length are tam'de in a long tyme.

Amyntas.
Yea, but alas long tyme's too long for wretched Amyntas:
Death must speedely speede, noe wretch can abyde any long tyme.

Thyrsis.
Stay but a while, noe doubt these things will mend in a short time:
Thou knowst that woemen by kinde are mutable euer,
Soone hoate, and soone cold, like and mislike in a moment,
Change as a weathercock, and all as light as a feather.
But let Thyrsis now know more at large of Amyntas
His distressed state; for though thou touldst me a great while
Since, that Loue gaue first occasion vnto thy torments,
And that prowd Phillis gaue fresh increase to thy sorrowes,
Yet whence this loue sprang, who was that Phillis I knew not.
And sith soemany yeares w'haue liu'd so friendly togeather,
And apply'd ourselu's to the lores of learned Apollo,
Ther's cause why Thyrsis should know those things of Amyntas,
Which his Amyntas knows, and will shew only to Thyrsis.

Amyntas.
Know ô Thyrsis then, know this mine infinite anguish,
Which these hills well know, which these sweete watery wells know,
And yet no man knowes: my fatall howre is aproaching,
My death drawes so neare, that now its time to prouide some
Time to prouide some friend, which may and wilbe reporter
Of death and deaths cause, which wil for a friendly remembrance
Death and cause of death ingraue in barck of a beech tree,
Hard by the damned place, where corps of murdred Amyntas
Bloodles corps shall lie, that when that braue bony damsel
That pytiles Phillis shall chaunce that way to be passing,
Her prowde foote, and yet sweete foote may ioy to be treading
Treading and trampling these baleful boanes of Amyntas.
And that serpents tong, thus take a delite to be vaunting;
This death is my triumph, these bruysed boanes my trophæum;
That such strange trauelers as this way chaunce to be wandring,

And forren Pastors that passe by the graue of Amyntas,
May know this conquest, and make it know'n to the countrey.
And perchaunce (ô noe, that's too too good for Amyntas)
Yet perchaunce one day may once come, when bony Phillis
When bony sweete Phillis, now moou'd with a louely repentance,
Louely remorse, may take some small compassion on mee,
And, when tis too-late, lament this losse of Amyntas,
Sheading some sweete teares for death of murdred Amyntas,
His death; whom when hee lyu'd, herself did cause to be dying;
Saying, O that hee were, that hee were not a murdred Amyntas,
O that he liued now, and were my louer Amyntas.
But now harck and marck of cares and woe the beginning.

Thyrsis.
Say on then, for I harck and marck perchaunce to a better
End, than thou thyself canst yet conceaue or imagin.

Amyntas.
When that I was but a wagg, yong wagg, soe yong, that I could scarce
Reach mine outstretcht arme to the bending bowes of a plumtree;
T'was my luck (ill luck) t'acquaint myself with a braue gyrle,
Brauest gyrle that spreades her golden locks to the tender
Wynde, faire Phillis I meane, but alas what meant I to meane her?
Phillis a flame to the soule, and Phillis a flowre to the forrest,
Phillis a Townish gyrls disgrace, and grace to the countrey,
Phillis a fame to the Parck and Phillis a shame to the Pallace,
Phillis that first made Cydippe for to be mother,
Phillis that first made that rich Montanus a father:
With that Phillis I was (most woeful was, when I am not)
With that Phillis I lyu'd (ô luckles lyu'd, when I lyue not)
Phillis a turtledoue, and faithful turtle Amyntas:
Both our bowres were nye, which made vs both to be neighbours,
Both our mynds more nye, which causd vs both to be fryendly:
Both our ages lyke, which first was cause of a lyking,
Both our lyues more lyke, which stil gaue fyre to a fancie.
If that Amyntas were disposed for to be fishing,
Phillis a fishing went: if Amyntas meant to be fowling,
Phillis a fowling went: if Phillis longd for a filberd,
Yonker Amyntas clymbde: if Phillis would be a hunting,
Whoe but Amyntas then, but greene-coate Huntsman Amyntas?
Eithers sport was lyke, and eythers portion æquall.
But when Amyntas thus bestow'd himself on his angling,

Other bayts and hookes tooke secreate hould of Amyntas:
Whilst that Amyntas thus layd trapps and snares for a Redbrest,
White-brest layd new snares and hidden trapps for Amyntas:
Whilst that Amyntas I say ran pricking after a Pricket,
Farre more poysned darts haue prickt hart-roote of Amyntas.
For, by degrees there grew (as an hearb that grows of her owne self)
In my brest there grew, but I wist not whence, a desiring
Still to be with Phillis, poore foole, and stil to be gazing
On those burning lamps, whence stil stil I sucked a sweetnes,
Strange kinde of sweetnes which ended stil with a sowrenes.
Oftentimes did I sigh, yet knew no cause of a sighing,
And was a louer afore that I knew what t'was to be louing:
But now Thyrsis, I know, and mark, Ile tell thee the manner.

Thyrsis.
Say on Amyntas then; this matter's worthy the marking.

Amyntas.
Once on a day (ô day, ô dismallst day of a thousand)
Once on a sommers day (ô sommer worse than a winter)
Vnder a beech (ô beech of Amyntas woe the beginning)
Phillis sate her downe, and downe sate Cassiopœa,
And I betweene them both: when a Bee that gathered honny
Here and there fro the flowres, conueys herself in a moment
Vnto the red-rose cheeke of smiling Cassiopœa,
And there bytes and bytes faire checke of Cassiopœa,
Thinking sure, (as I think) her red-rose cheekes to be roses.
Bee bytes, byting smarts, and smarting Cassiopœa
Wringeth her hands and cryes: But, peace, qd my bony Phillis,
Cassiopœa, be stil, crye not sweete Cassiopœa:
Ile with a word or twoo soone cause thy paine to be ceasing,
Ile soone charme thy cheeke; this secreate lately I learned
Of beldame Sagane, for an yuory combe that I gaue her.
Then sh'applyes her lipps (life-geeuing lipps to a Louer,
And yet alas, yet alas life-taking lipps from a Louer)
Vnto the smarting cheeke of whyning Cassiopœa,
And with a sweete sweete sound her spells she begins to be mumbling:
By and by (strange thing) her payne was past in a moment,
Whether charming woords did woork so mighty a woonder,
Or that Phillis mouth (which rather may be beleeued)
Heales where it tutcheth by some great grace of Apollo.
Then then, whereas afore I desired but to be seeing

Hart-inflaming eyes, I desired but to be hearing
Soul-inuading voyce, sweete voyce, and like to the purling
Streames of a siluer brooke that creepes with a louely resounding
Murmur among small stones, or lyke to the dayntyly warbling
Noyse of a gentle winde, that makes greene leaues to be trembling,
Then then alas did I long and looke and wish to be ioyning
This my mournfull mouth to the mouth of my bony Phillis:
And in fine I deuisd (Loue fynds out wyly deuises)
How t'obteine my desire: for I faind, that a wasp fro the bushes
Flew to my face in a rage, and poore lipps all to be stinged;
And my dolefull lookes did looke and craue to be charmed,
Though my toong was afraid, and made no sute to the charmer.
Then simple Phillis, who tooke my tale for a Gospell,
Came of her owne accord and ioynd her lips to my sore-lipp,
Sore-sick lip God knowes: But alas, whilst Phillis a fained
Wound with sweete lipps heal'd, her sweete lips gaue mee a true-wound,
Gaue me a mortall wound that ran fro the lipps to the lyuer,
Nay, immortall wound that pierst fro the mouth to the marrow.
No busie Bee can suck more sweete and sugered honny
From sweet-smelling flowrs, than was distild fro the roses
Of chery-lipt Phillis by the boyling breath of Amyntas;
Although bashful feare was somwhat a curb to my kisses,
And restraynd my ioyes: which made me the more to desire that
Poisned bitter-sweete, and faine yet againe that I smarted,
That with Phillis lipps my lipps might freshly be charmed:
And soe charmed I was, soe sting'd, soe deadly bewitched,
So sore inchaunted with spill-soule spells, that I must needes
Either breake my hart, or breake my loue to my Phillis:
This breaking of loue was a loues-breake; better it had bene
Harts-breake or necks-breake to the sore hart-wounded Amyntas.
Once on a time when Nymphs and Pastors chaunc't to be sporting,
Standing all in a round, and each one whispred a secreat
Into an others eare, poore foole I began to be buzzing,
Phillis, I burne with loue, ô take compassion on mee,
Help or I dy Phillis: But Phillis straight with a lowring
Looke and frowning face, and downe-cast eyes to the ground-ward,
Blusht for spite and shame, and gaue not a woord for an aunswer,
But conueyd her away, and flew fro the place in a furie.
From that time, no time would Phillis abide with Amyntas,
Lend no eyes to the teares, no eares to the playnts of Amyntas.

And now flaxen wheate his ripened stalk to the syckle
Hath threetimes yeelded, now cheareful spring, to the forrest
Flowring bowes hath brought threetimes, and flowr's to the meddow,
And each thing but death long since was try'de by Amyntas
For t'appease Phillis; my death now only remaineth
For t'appease Phillis: which death should soone be procured,
So that I were once sure that I should by my deadly departure
Wring any teares from her eyes, or bring any ioy to her hard hart,
Make her weepe or laugh; and wheather should I be wishing?
Indeede Phillis teares and mynde with mercy relenting
Were far better amends for death of murdred Amyntas,
And more friendly reward for luckles loue of Amyntas,
But that I may not wish sweete Phillis minde to be greeued,
Nor Phillis faire face and eyes with teares to be blubbred.

Thyrsis.
And what man, madman, can thinke it possible, if that
Once shee doe heare these plaints, but that shee'le yeeld to be louing?

Amyntas.
O good Thyrsis, I doubt, for I neuer gin to be speaking,
But shee recoyls fro my words, as subtile snake fro the charmer.

Thyrsis.
Doubt not, I hope ere long, Ile cause her friendly to heare thee.

Amyntas.
If thou get that I speake, then nought shal I get by my speaking.
Mopsus alas Mopsus foretould me my desteny long-since,
Soothsayer Mopsus that knows what mysterie secreate
And hidden vertues in stones and hearbs be abyding,
And by the flight and chirpe of byrds can tell many wonders.

Thyrsis.
What? that coosnyng squyre, that brokes and sells to the ould wyues
Pelting pills in a box, and so scrapes coyne fro the countrey?
Hope yet Amyntas a while; for I know ther's matter of hoping:
Only because Mopsus say's there's no matter of hoping:
Hope, and meete mee againe in this same place: for I doubt not
But that in one halfe howre, I'le bring good newes to Amyntas.

Chorus.
O sweete age of gold, not sweet, for that by the pastures
Euery brooke and bush with mylk and honny abounded;

Nor that fertile ground vntild, vntutcht was afording
Fresh increase of fruite to the pooremans dayly reioicing;
Nor that stingles snakes and harmeles slippery serpents
Slyded abroad by the fields and neuer breath'd any poyson;
Nor that clowdles skies seem'd euermore to be smyling,
And æternall Spring her spring-time dayly renuing;
Nor that noe pyne-trees as yet cut downe fro the mountaines
Ranged abroad by the rocks with salt waues all to be dashed:
But sweete age of gold, for that this name of a noething,
Idle name of nought, and dayly deceauable Idoll,
Which fooles afterward, fine-fooles haue made to be Honnor,
Was nor nam'd, nor knowne, nor brought new lawes to the countrey
And poore countreymen, whose liues were onely directed
By sweete Natures law, sweete Nature taught them a lesson,
If you will, you may: and strait-lac't rules did abandon.
Then by the greene-mantled pastures and watery fountaines
Lou's yong wanton waggs were always woont to be singing,
And had noe light lampes, and had no dangerus arrowes.
Then braue iolly Shepheards and Nymphs sate sweetly togeather,
Tempring woords with smyles; and euery smyle with a kissing.
Nymphs were not so nyce, but that they yeelded a full view
Of their bared brests to the searching eyes of a louer.
Gyrles were not soe coy, but that they would with a yonker
Friendly together wash, and bathe themselues in a riuer.
Honnor first cou'red wel-spring of louely Cupido,
Honnor pluckt water from scorched mouth of a Louer,
Honnor taught fayre eyes theyr glittring beames to be hyding,
And to the darckned soule theyr light vnkindly denying.
Honnor caught in netts those golden locks, that in ould tyme
Were leaft loose to the wynde dispersed along by the shoulders.
Honnor mar'd our myrth, and louelayes turn'd to a silence,
And all our pastymes to a sollempne grauitie changed.
Honnor taught vs first our mouthes by art to be moouing,
Lookes by a looking glasse, and gate with skill to be framing.
Honnor cal'd it a theft, which first was counted a free guift,
Honnor made it a cryme, which first was thought but a pastyme.
But thou supreame Lord of Loue, thou onely Monarcha,
Which rul'st mighty Monarchs, what doost thou here in a corner,
For soe great a Godhead ô too too simple a corner?
Goe to a prowd Diademe, to a golden crowne, to a scepter,

Breake those great mens sleepe; so shall thy fame bee the greater:
Disgrace not thy-self with poore contemptible abiects,
But let Countrey-fooles liue as they vsde to be lyuing,
Let them liue in loue, whilst they haue tyme to be louing.
Sun setts, and riseth; goes downe, and quickly reuiueth,
But mans light once out, æternall darknes abydeth:
Then let Countrey-fooles liue as they vsde to be lyuing,
Let them lyue in loue, whilst they haue time to be louing.

The second Act

first Scene.

The Satyre alone.
This same foolish Bee's but a Bee, and Bee's but a small thing,
Yet this buzzing Bee with a small mouth maketh a great wound:
But what's lesse than Loue, that lurketh in euery corner,
Euery smal smal nooke; and hides himself as a false-thiefe
Sometimes vnder an hayre, and sometymes vnder an ey-lidd?
Yet this least least Loue, when he smiteth, maketh a great-wound,
Great great mortall wound, great cureles wound in a louer.
My flesh's nought but a mark all ouerprickt with her arrowes,
My body naught but a wound, my bowells naught but a bleeding.
O Loue, nay not Loue, that loue vnlouely requiteth,
Loue was as ill cal'd Loue, as this prowd paltery Phillis
Was well cal'd Phillis; (disdainfull Phillis an ill is,
Ill to her owne-self first, and always ill to an other:)
As this Mountaine-byrd; Montanus daughter I should say,
Was well cal'd Phillis; since hill-borne Phillis a hill is:
Wylde waste hills and woods and mountaines serue for a harbor
Vnto the rau'nous brood of woolues, beares, slippery serpents;
And hillish Phillis makes her faire brest, as a lodging
For fowle pride, fell spite, and most implacable anger,
Woorse beasts, far more woorse, than woolues, beares, slippery serpents,
These with a pray are pleasd, but shee's not moou'd with a prayer.
If that I fetch her flowrs, fresh fragrant flowrs fro the forrest,
My fresh fragrant flowrs, ô spite, with a scorne shee reiecteth,
For cause her faire cheekes with fairer flowrs be adorned.
If that I bring in a dish queene-apples vnto my deare Queene,
Dish and queene-apples, ô griefe, with a mock shee renounceth,
For cause her bosome with fruite far sweeter aboundeth.

If that I range by the woods and fyelds, and gather her honny,
Honn' and honnyes combe, ô death, with a flout shee refuseth,
For cause her sweete mouth more sugered honny afordeth,
O then Phillis, alas, if my poore state can aford thee
Naught, but what thy self mayst haue more louely within thee,
Take myself for a guyft, ile geue myself to my Phillis,
And why should Phillis disdaine this guift that I giue her?
My face is not fowle, my lookes are not to be loathed,
Yesterday I beheld myself when I walkt by the seashore,
When seaes were calmed, when windes theyr rage had omytted
My sanguyne count'nance with moisture lyuely replenisht,
Bristled brest, braund armes, and shoulders stoordyly squared
Are all signes of strength, and marks of manlynes only,
And if Phillis doubt, let Phillis try what is in mee.
What should Phillis doo with a curld-pate paltery cockney?
What with a smooth-fac't foole, with a carpet squyre, with a mylksop
What with a pyping goose, with a whistling boy, with a mynstrell?
Gyrles indeede, and gyrles in shew, effœminat each way?
If perchaunce Phillis, (this chaunce may easyly happen)
Should encounter a Woolfe, or a fell shee Beare, or a wilde Boare,
Then farewell Mynyons, then bristled brests be the best men.
O but alas, Phillis dooth know right well, that I want not
Mans face or mans hart; but gold and syluer I haue not,
Gold and syluer I want, and this makes Phillis abhorr mee
Countrey learnes of towne to be bought, and euery Malkin
Lookes for a purse of sylk, or a ring, no lesse than a Lady.
Here is an age of gold indeede, gold only triumpheth,
Gold rul's and orerul's from a mylkmayd vnto an Empresse.
Thou, thou wicked wight that first taughtst mayds to be Marchants,
And mad'st gyrles sell loue; ô let thy graue be a dungeon
For foule sprytes and snakes; ô let thy damnable ashes
Feele both wynde and rayne, and bones ly all to be scattred
Here and there by the fyelds, bones bruysed of euery footeman,
Troaden of euery beast, accursed of all the beholders,
This wretch, noble loue did abase, when he made it a hireling,
Made it a slaue of gold, and made it a monsterus Hydra,
Monster of all monsters that land or water afordeth.
But what meane I to curse in vayne? since euery creature
Vseth such weapons, as nature gaue, to defend him?
Clawes to the greedy Lyons, and foaming tuske to the wilde Boare,

Winged eggs to a hart, and pleasing face to a woeman,
Why doe I not then deale according vnto my nature?
Why doe I not shew force, since nature fram'es me to forcing?
Ile take by violence and rape those ioyes fro the proud gyrle
Which are due to my loue, and Phillis stoutly denyeth.
When shee begins herself in woonted well to be washing,
(Silen shewd me the well, fayre well, well worthy a fayre lasse)
Ile rush out from a bush (where first ile lye as in ambush)
And take her napping, when I see occasion offred.
If that I once can rowle my hand in her hayre, let her hardly
Scratch and byte and whine, shee'le neuer scape fro my clutches,
Till, for a woorthy reueng, her blood, my blade be a bathing.

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.
Well crow'd, gentle Cock: your song may chaunce be requyted:
But to the matter in hand, in truth, in truth I remember
One odd toy, Thyrsis, that makes mee scarcely resolued,
Wheather Phillis fayne and make but a shew of a symplesse,
Or for a truth doth meane as in outward shewe shee pretendeth.
For, last day when I went to the greene fyeld neare to the cytty,
Phillis sate her downe by the brooke that runs by the greene fyeld,
And soe her count'nance composd, as though she requyred
Counsayle from that brooke, and would, b'aduisd by the water,
How to be disposing, and how to be dayntyly ordring
Gold wyr'de hayre on her head, and how with skill to be setting
Call on gold wyr'de hayre, and how at last to be sticking
Flowres in a golden call, (her lap with flowrs was abounding)
And now takes vp a Rose, and straight way takes vp a Lylly:
And compares her cheekes to the Rose, and neck to the Lilly:
And then smyles for ioy, seeing her louly triumphant
Cheekes more red than a Rose, and neck more white than a Lilly,
And disdaigns poore flowrs, and thus seemes them to be scornyng,
Foolish paltery hearbs, your pyde coat's nought to my countnance,
Your flowr's naught to my face, your brauery nought to my beauty,
Foolish paltery weedes, I doo beare you often about mee,
For your owne disgrace, and not for a grace to my person,
That your fading flowrs may serue as a foyle for a Phillis.
As she was all this while pruning herself by the water,
Princking and prancking, at last by chaunce she reflected
Her bright beames sydeward, and then saw well, that I saw her,
And was asham'd and blusht, and let fayre Lilly be falling.
More that Daphne laught, more Phillis still was a blushing,
More that Phillis blusht, more Daphne still was a laughing.
But yet, her hayre half trest, half vntrest well she remembred,
And with a stealing eye to the waterglasse she repayred,
Spying whether I spyde; and see's herself to be vndrest,
And yet lykes herself, seeing herself to be seemely
Though vndrest, for I saw, yet would not seeme to bee seeing.


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.

The third Scene.

Amyntas, Thyrsis.
Thyrsis gaue good woords: Ile see what's doone for Amyntas;
And, if noe thing's done, then afore that I seeme to be vndone,

Myself-murdring hand shall reaue this breath from Amyntas
Eu'n in Phillis sight, that lyke as now she delyteth
Herself with this wound, loues wound, that cleaues to my hart roote,
Wound of her owne fayre eyes: soe may she be freshly triumphing
At this gaping wound with purpled gore that aboundeth
Wound of myne owne hands, last wound of murdred Amyntas.
Thyrsis.
Leaue of thy mourning: Thyrsis brings news to Amyntas.

Amyntas.
What news? life, or death?

Thyr.
Life, loue, blisse, ioy to Amyntas,
Yf that Amyntas dare ioy, blisse, loue, life be a meeting.
But then he must be a man, not a mome, man fully resolued,
And not shrynck with a showre, as a feynthart foole or a dastard.

Amyntas.
And what greate cowrrage, or what resolution is this?

Thyrsis.
If that thy Phillis should wander alone in a desert,
Desert walled about with rocks of monsterus hugenes,
Where sharpe-tusked Boares, and Tygers only resorted,
Wouldst thou goe to thy loue by this soe feareful a passage?

Amyntas.
Yea, with a better will, than gyrles or boyes to the stooleball.

Thyrsis.
If thy Phillis were with a theeuish company compast,
And saw nought but sweards and glistring armor about her,
Wouldst thou goe to thy loue through this same company theeuish?

Amyntas.
Yea, with a greater ioy, than thirsting Hart to the fountayne,

Thyrsis.
Yet for such exployt, more courage wilbe required.

Amyntas.
Ile with a good will goe through scorching flames of a fornace,
Ile through swelling streames increast with snow fro the mountaynes,
Ile through damnable hell, through loathsome Styx, to my Phillis,
Yf that can be a hell where heu'ns-ioy Phillis abydeth:
But say, shew mee all.

Thyr.
Harck then.

Amynt.
Tell speedyly, Thyrsis,

Thyrsis.
Thy loue sits by a well, sits naked, alone, by a well-spring.
Phillis sitts by a well, and stays for gentle Amyntas,
Dar'st thou goe to thy loue, and wilt thou goe to thy Phillis?


Amyntas.
What? doth my deare life, doth my loue sit by a wellspring?
What? doth Phillis alone and naked stay for Amyntas?

Thyrsis.
None els but Daphne; and Daphne woorks for Amyntas,
Otherwise she alone, and naked stayes for Amyntas,
Naked, but.

Amynt.
But what? this vile, But, murdreth Amyntas.

Thyrsis.
But Phillis knows not that Amyntas coms to the wellspring.

Amyntas.
O wellspring of woe; this cold conclusion endeth
All my hope conceau'd, and draws confusion onward;
O pytyles Thyrsis, was sowl-tormented Amyntas
Not yet plagued enough, but thou must heape on a new plague?

Thyrsis.
If thou meane to be ru'ld, thou mayst be a happy Amyntas.

Amyntas.
How ru'ld?

Thyr.
Take that good, which opportunyty offreth.

Amyntas.
God forbid, that I take such opportunyty offred
As t'attempt any thing displeasing vnto my Phyills.
Yet did I neuer thing offensiue vnto my Phillis,
But that I lou'd her alas, yet alas she'enforc't mee to loue her,
That fault's hers, not myne, and beauty to blame, not Amyntas.

Thyrsis.
If thou couldst leaue loue, wouldst thou leaue of to be louing,
That by not louing, thou mightst please thy bony Phillis?

Amyntas.
That, wil I neuer say Thyrsis, nor neuer imagin,
Loue wil not consent, that I euer leaue to be louing.

Thyrsis.
Thou wilt loue her then, though in despyte of her owne hart.

Amyntas.
In despite? ô noe, yet needs needs must I be louing.

Thyrsis.
What then? against her will.

Amynt.
Loue wills soe, if shee be wilfull.

Thyrsis.
Take then against her will that, which though in the begynnyng
Seemes to be paineful a while, yet prooues to be ioyful in ending.


Amyntas.
Thy long experience, ô Thyrsis, maks the be talking,
Maks the be discoursing of loue: but freshman Amyntas
Is possest with loue, and loue must frame him an aunswer,
Loue, that cloggs hartty'd and tongty'd louer Amyntas.

Thyrsis.
Why then, wilt not goe?

Amy.
Yes.

Thyr.
Whether?

Amy.
Straight to my long home.
If noe help, but this, can bring any ioy to Amyntas.

Thyrsis.
And is this nothing? would Daphne send for Amyntas,
Vnles that Phillis seem'd in some part to be willing?
And perchaunce Phillis doth know herself, that Amyntas
Coms to the well indeede, but will not seeme to be knowing.
Now if thou wouldst haue her full consent to be vttred,
And mynde expressed, which euery woman abhorreth,
Where is then thy desyre, thy Phillis still to be pleasing?
And if Phillis wil, that Amyntas ioy; be Amyntas
Thest, not Phillis guyfte, what further seeketh Amyntas?

Amyntas.
O but alas whoe knows, that Phillis lyketh Amyntas?

Thyrsis.
And whoe knows for truth, that Phillis lyks not Amyntas?
And in an æquall doubt, that part is best to be taken,
Which to the parties minde is most conformable always;
Therefore come.

Amy.
Stay yet.

Thyr.
For what? tyme passeth Amyntas.

Amyntas.
O stay good Thyrsis, let's here consult for a whyle yet.

Thyrsis.
Wee'le consult by the way of things that seeme to be needefull.
Who soe thincks many things, brings feaw to a fortunat ending.

Chorus.
O heart-ennobling great loue, where shall wee bee learnyng
These thy sacred sawes? in what schoole must wee be trayned
Vp to thy high conceipts? or what soe skilful a mayster
Possibly may vnfould those supreame thoughts of a louer
Which his soule possesse, whilst with thy wings in a moment
His mynde mounts to the skies, and Christall-mantled Olympus?
Neyther learned Athens, nor greate fame-worthy Lycaeus.
Could loues force expresse, or loues perfection vtter;

Neither Castalian Muses, nor great-God Apollo,
Nor rymewright singers could once aspyre to the thousandst
Part of those ioys, which in a louers brest be abounding:
Their voyce is not a voyce of fire, they sing but a cold song,
Song and voyce vnfit for loues vnspeakable ardor:
Soe then Loues owne voyce is a fittest voyce for a loues-lay,
So then Loue himself is best exprest by his owneself.
Loue learnes rurall witts, and base-borne brests to be reading
Hart-burning secreats and woonders, dayntily written
In faire-flaming eyes, by the hand of louely Cupido.
Loue (ô strange eloquence of Loue) with a sigh, with an half-speach,
Interrupted speach, confused speach of a Louer,
Sooner a Tygers heart to a true compassion vrgeth,
Better a secret smart and inward passion vttreth,
Than trope-turned tale, or ryming ditty, deryued
From foole-hardy Poets, or vaine-head Rhetoricasters.
Nay, those silent looks, and louely regards of a Louer
More, than a thousand words, expresse those pangs of a Louer.
Let those famous Clercks with an endles toyle be perusing
Socraticall writings; twoo faire eyes teach mee my lesson:
And what I read in those, I doe write in a barck of a beech-tree,
Beech-tree better booke, than a thousand Dainty deuises.

The third Act

first Scene.

Thyrsis, Chorus.
O extreame disdaigne, ô most vnmerciful hard-hart,
O vnthankfull gyrle, ô prowde, and no-pity-taking
Woemen, curst by kynde, vnkynd kinde, kyn to a Tyger,
Kyn to a poysned snake. O dame, nay rather a stepdame,
Bunglyng artificer Nature, which framed a woemans
Externall countnance, and outward parts to be chearfull,
But th' internall soule, and inward part to be spytefull.
O perchaunce, poore wretch, himself hath murdred his ownself.
Euery place doe I seeke and search our euery corner,
Euery bush, each caue, each banck, and euery fountaine
All these three howres long, by the well where lately I left him;
Yet noe sight can I get, noe hearing, no not a footestepp
Wherein he troade of late, not a footestepp yet can I light on:

Sure hee's kild, hee's dead, himself hath murdred his owneself.
Ile ask these Pastors, if they can shew any tydings:
Good friends, haue you seene, doe yee know any newes of Amyntas?
Chorus.
Some bad misfortune thy minde seemes greatly to trouble:
What mean's this sweating and blowing? Fearst any mischif?

Thyrsis.
Mischif I feare indeede of Amyntas: shew mee Amyntas.

Chorus.
No-body here sawe hym, since you twoo lately departed.
But what mischif fearst?

Thyrs.
That Amyntas murder Amyntas.

Chorus.
Murder Amyntas. Why? What works so desperat outrage?

Thyrsis.
Hate and Loue.

Chor.
Twoo foes, th' one th' other deadly maligning,
Either sufficient, but both more mighty to murder:
Yet make this more playne.

Thyrs.
To be tootoo hartily louing,
And of a loued Lasse to be tootoo spytefuly hated.

Chorus.
But shew all at large: this place is an ord'nary through-fare:
Here some man may passe that may bring newes of Amyntas,
And some wynde himself may hither chaunce to be driuing.

Thyrsis.
Ile shewe all indeede, for I should vniustly be dealing,
If that I blaze not abroade so shameful a fact to the whole world.
Wretched Amyntas knew, and knew by my only relating,
(Now I repent too late, that I was soe fonde a relator)
That Daphn' and Phillis would wash themselues in a well-spring:
Thither Amyntas went, but went very faintily thither,
All vnwilling went, and backwards oft he retyred,
But that I stil stil droue him most vnluckily forward.
Forward thus wee went, and now came nere to Dianaes
Well, when alas wee heard some dolefull sound of a damsell,
That stil cryed, Alas; and saw how woefuly Daphne
Wringed her hands and wept, and seeing vs to be comming,
Lifted her hands and voyce; O run run quickly to Phillis,
Phillis alas is forst, ô run run quickly to Phillis.
Louer Amyntas leapt, as a Rowe-buck prickt with an arrow,
At these woords, and flew, and quickly I hastened after:
When wee came, wee saw faire Phillis bound to a willow,

Naked, stark-naked, bound head hand foote to a willow.
Her locks seru'd for a cord, her gold-locks lapt in a thousand
Knotts, (noe true-loues knotts) were all ty'de fast to the willow:
Her braue Belt, which first that pure virginity guarded,
Bound both hands to to the trunck, and this fowle villany furthred:
And wynding willow, vnwilling foe to be winding,
(And yet glad those leggs with tender twiggs to be tutching)
Lends her slipps to be strings (each thing can further a mischif)
Strings those trembling leggs (ô rufull case) to be bynding.
And that beastly Satyre, which causd this monsterus outrage,
Stood with lusting rage, and raging fury before her,
And now, eu'n iust now had left of fully to bynde her.
Phillis stroue asmuch as Phillis might be a striuing,
But for a naked gyrle with an armed foe to be striuing,
Booteles it had bene sure, if sharpned dart of Amyntas
Gainst that fleshly Satyre had not been tymely directed:
And I myself meane while my lapp with stones was a filling,
Which made lusting beast at last for feare to be flying.
When this flight gaue leaue to the louing eyes of Amyntas
For to behold his ioys, those lyms so dayntily trembling,
Trembling yet for feare; at last, at last he aproached
Vnto the naked Nymph, and yet yet somwhat abashed:
Pardon, faire Phillis, qd Amyntas, pardon I pray thee
This my toobold hand, which tootoo rashly presumeth,
And to thy spotles lyms, lyms neuer tutcht yet, aprocheth,
Sith soe extreame neede, soe greate a necessity forceth
Forceth Amyntas his hands faire Phillis her hands to be loosing:
Let not then this grace which fortune seemes to aford them,
Seeme any fowle disgrace, or woork any wooe to my Phillis.

Chorus.
Woords well woorthy to make any hart of flynt to be tender:
But what said Phillis?

Thyrs.
Not a woord; but scornfuly blushing
Looks downe, hyding all that bands would haue to be hidden.
Gentle Amyntas coms, and golden lockes he releaseth,
And as he vnknits knotts, thus golden-locks he beespeaketh,
Golden locks too good this senceles tree to be chayning,
What shal Louers haue, wherein they may be triumphing,
If loues-lace can abide to be stretcht from a Nymph to a willow?
Paltery willow breakes with rude and boysterus handling,
Golden chaine, which gaue such grace to the paltery willow.

Then those hard-held hands in such odd manner hee loosed,
As that hee wisht and feard hart-holding hands to be handling.
Lastly, to free her feete, himself he begins to be kneeling:
But when Phillis her hands from bands felt fully released,
His louing seruice with these proud words she refused,
Tutch me not, hence Pastor, mine owne hands shall be my owne leggs
Freedome tutch not a Nymph, that's consecrat vnto Diana.

Chorus.
O graceles guerdon for seruice dutiful offred,
How can a Nymphs sweete brest harbor so fylthy a monster?

Thyrsis.
Gentle Amyntas straight with these woords myldely retyred,
And withdrew himself, not daring once to be lifting
Vp those loue-sick eyes, himself vnkindly denying
Ioyes to his owne poore self, that he might ease his bony Phillis
Of that paine, small paine, of geuing him the deniall.
All this I heard and saw, whilst vnder an oake I did hide mee,
All this I heard and saw, and once I began to be speaking
For very grief; yet I stayd: But marck yet, marck yet a woonder.
After long toyling her feete at last she released,
And scarce, scarce her feete from bands at last she released,
But those winged feete she bestyrs as fast as a yong Hynde,
And to Amyntas giues noe not soemuch as a farewell:
Yet noe cause of flight, for Amyntas made not an offer.

Chorus.
What did he then poore man, when Phillis leaft him alone thus?

Thyrsis.
That can I noeway gesse; for I was soe mad to behold this
Scornefull pride, that I ran t'haue brought her back to Amyntas,
Ran with might and mayne, in vayne: for I feard her away still;
And when I came backward to the well, then I missed Amyntas.
Surely I feare hee's dead, for I know that he fully resolued
Ere that he came to the well, himself t'haue speedily murdred.

Chorus.
That's but an ord'nary thing, for a louer death to be threatning,
But not an ord'nary thing any man for loue to be dying.

Thyrsis.
God graunt it proue soe in Amyntas.

Chor.
Doubt not.

Thyrs.
I feare it.
Yet to the Caue Ile goe, where sage Elpinus abydeth:
There, if hee liue, its like, that Amyntas wilbe recounting

His forepassed paines to the rocks and watery fountaines,
And with pleasant pipe, with voyce soe sweetely resounding
Make those rocks to resound, and wring out teares fro the fountaines.

The second Scene.

Amyntas, Daphne, Fuluia.
Thy pity was pityles, Daphne, my dart to be plucking
From this dolefull brest, my paines and pangs be redoubled
By differring death: what meanst thou thus to be turning,
Turning and wynding my troubled minde with a thousand
Fruytles discourses? thou thinckst perchaunce that Amyntas
Will dispatch himself: if he dooe, that's best for Amyntas.
Daphne.
Fy for shame: leaue of these wicked words; for I know, that
Bashfulnes, not pryde, made Phillis run from Amyntas.

Amyntas.
O wretch; sole despaire, that dryues all hope from Amyntas,
Is my sole comfort: fonde hope first wounded Amyntas;
And fond hope, eu'n now (ô endles grief) is a budding
In my balefull brest, and only because that I liue yet,
Which is of all others the deuouringst woorme to the wretched.

Daphne.
Lyue yet wretched a while, and keep thyself for a comfort;
Thinck thou see'st Phillis sitt naked still by the welspring.

Amyntas.
Had not fell fortune and lewd loue plagued Amyntas
With paines sufficient, but wel-springs must be presented
Vnto my eyes: and then to my scortched tong be denyed?

Fuluia.
What? shal I then be the Crow, whose neuer-lucky resounding
Still brings baleful newes? shal I first bring death to the aged
Father Montanus, whose gray-haires now be depriued
Of their chiefe comfort, fayre Phillis, braue bony Phillis?
Ould Father, chyldles Father, nay, now not a Father.

Daphne.
Some sad voyce I doe heare.

Amynt.
I doe heare most dolefuly sounded
Phillis dearest name, which eares and hart is a wounding:
Whoe's that which name's her?

Daph.
Fayre Fuluia, Fuluia dearest
Nymph to the high Huntresse of forrests mighty Diana.


Fuluia.
Know it he must and shall, that he may with speede be procuring,
That those louely reliques of Phillis may be preserued;
If those louely reliques of Phillis yet be remaining,
Luckles Phillis.

Amynt.
Alas, what? yet more plagues for Amyntas?

Fuluia.
O Daphne.

Daph.
What's that? Say on, sweete Fuluia, what's that
Which thou spakst to thyself? What made faire Fuluia stil stil
After Phillis name our eares with sighs to be filling?

Fuluia.
How can I choose but sigh, soe ruful a sight to remember?

Amyntas.
O that rueful sight makes my colde hart to be ruefull:
Is my Phillis aliue?

Daph.
Good Fuluia kil not Amyntas
With soe long suspence, let's know what may be the matter.

Fuluia.
O God, why shal I tel such dead news? and yet I must tell.
Phillis came naked to my house, and tould me the cause of
Her comming naked: new drest, she desyr'd mee of all loues
Louing gyrle, that I would accompany her to the pleasaunt
Yuychurches parck, and frame myself to the hunting.
Both content, both went, and met with a company gallant
Of flowring damsells wayting on Pembrokiana,
With bowes and arrows on princelike Pembrokiana.
Much tyme with pastimes was past, sports drew to an ending,
And on a soddayne loe, where earst no woolf was abyding,
Rau'ning woolf runs forth with blood-red mouth fro the bushes,
And on a soddayne loe, whilst others bows be a bending,
Phillis sent her shaft from her owne eare vnto the woolus eare:
Soemuch wrought in her hart sweete sight of Pembrokiana,
Soemuch did she desyre to be praysd of Pembrokiana.
Wounded woolf to the wood, stout Phillis runs to the wounded
Woolf with a dart in her hand.

Amynt.
O dreadful dart to Amyntas,
How can a pleasant ende come from soe deadly begynning?

Fuluia.
And with an other dart to theself same place I repayred;
But Woolf and Phillis (grief spurd th' one, glory the other)
Were quyte out of sight: yet I trac't them both to the thickest
And most desert place: there, (ô deare dart to my Phillis)
There lay Phillis dart, and not far thence was a white lawne

Wherein Phillis locks enwrapped were by my owne hands.
And as I turned about, seu'n other woolus by the naked
Bones of a mangled corse, gore blood were greedily licking:
And as chaunst (would God such chaunce had Phillis) I saw them,
Yet they saw not mee, they were soe greedily gorging,
And soe bent to the pray: So thence for feare I retyred:
And this is all that I know: and here's that lawne, that I spake of.

Amyntas.
And is this not enough? ô lawne of my bony Phillis:
O bony Phillis blood, th' art dead my sweete bony Phillis.

Daphne.
O dooble deaths wound: dead Phillis murdreth Amyntas.

Fuluia.
Tis but a swowne; for he breath's; and loe, hee's quickly reuyued.

Amyntas.
Griefe, leaue of lingring: make quick dispatch of Amyntas:
Griefe, th' art too too slowe; if death be reseru'd for Amyntas
Hand, hee'le take it in hand. For alas, if nought be a wanting
Vnto the highest poynt of griefe, if nought's to be added
Vnto Amyntas woe, for what then stayeth Amyntas?
O Daphne, Daphne, was Amyntas lately repelled
From death, sweete deaths dore by Daphnes meanes? Was Amyntas
Kept saulf for these ioyes? O, then, then I might in a good time
Haue dischargd myself of a huge and horrible Ætna:
But Daphne would not, but cursed Desteny would not,
Least that I might by death those plagues haue tymely preuented,
Which accursed Fates for Amyntas lately prepared.
But now, since my woes at last are come to a full groath,
Desteny and Daphne may well, well let mee be dying.

Daphne.
Yet differ thy death til certaine newes be receaued
Wheather Phillis lyue or dye; and then be resolued.

Amyntas.
Lyue or dye? whoe doubts? would God that were to be doubted.

Fuluia.
And would God my tongue had clou'n to my roofe, when I blabbed.

Amyntas.
Geaue mee the lawne, good Nymph, white lawne, which only remaineth
Of sweete-white Phillis, that I may in stead of a Phillis
Kisse my Phillis lawne, and soe my ioyes be prolonging,

Soe my shortned dayes with contentation ending.

Fuluia.
What? shal I giue or keepe? Lewd cause wherefore he desir's it
Wills me to keepe it still, least it bring fancy to fury.

Amyntas.
Nymph extreamely cruel, that thincks it much to be geuuing
One poore peece of lawne, eu'n at last gasp of Amyntas.
Well, then I yeeld to my death, and destiny noe-pity-taking:
Let lawne stay with you, and you stay here for Amyntas.

Daphne.
Harck, come back, here, take, ô stay, and run not Amyntas.
And yet Amyntas runs, enraged, desperat, headlong.

Fuluia.
Yea, and runs soe fast, that hee is not like to be outrun.
Therefore better I were to my iourneys end to be hasting:
And yet I greeue myself, Montanus minde to be greeuing,
Least these newes inflict as deadly a wound in a father,
As they gaue eu'n now to the feynting hart of a Louer.

The fourth Act

first Scene.

Phillis, Daphne, Chorus.
Bvt what a dart was that, which mightily flew fro the fingers
Of braue Lady Regent of these woods, Pembrokiana,
Vnto the forreine Beare, which came with greedy deuowring
Iawes to the harmeles game? Whose dying howre was a birth-day
Vnto her owne yong whelpes, whose groanes thus lastly resounded,
Deaths dart, (yet sweete dart, as throwne by Pembrokiana)
Make my wound more wyde, giue larger scope to my yong ones,
Geue them a free passage, herself hath geu'n them a pasport.
Daphne.
Phillis, for your sports I doe much ioy, but yet a thousand
Times more for yourself, sith you soe quickly reuiued
Lyue yet safe and sound: for Fuluia lately reported
Strange newes of your death: would God that Fuluia had beene
Dumme, or an other deafe: one mischif draws on an other.

Phillis.
And in truth iust cause had Fuluia for to beleeue soe,
Sith that I was not lyke from deaths dore soe to be scaping.


Daphne.
But yet noe iust cause had Fuluia for to report soe.
Now let's heare at large, thy dangers and thy delyu'ries.

Phillis.
Whyl'st I ran after a woolf, I was all inclosd on a soddayne
With darck dens and groues, and forc't that chase to be leauyng:
But when I sought to retyre and company lost to recouer,
There did I see this woolf (for I knew this Woolf by an arrow
Which myself did shoote, and gaue her a wound by the least care)
There did I see this Woolf and more Woolus greedyly praying
On some beasts carkas late slayne by them, but I could not
Well discerne what beast: this wounded Woolf in a fury
Coms with a gored mouth, (it seemes my face shee remembred)
And soe makes onward, whoe had beene worthyly welcomd,
Had not a tree by a chaunce my dart vnworthyly hindred.
My dart mislighting, fell Woolf more fiercely aproching
Drew soe neare, that I saw 'twas booteles now to be shooting,
And darts were all spent: Therfore at last I retyred
And fled back for feare, but wyl'd Woolf hastened onward:
Now marck what chaunced, my lawne hang'd downe to my shoulders
And stooke fast to a bush, and stayd my flight, but I plucked,
Yet bush held it fast; at last my lawne I relinquisht
For to reserue my life, and tore it away with a greate part
Of my scattered hayre, and feare soe forcibly vrged
Lightfooted Phillis, that a fearefull death shee auoyded.
As to my house full glad for ioy I repayred, I met thee
Daphne, there full sad by the way, and greately amased.

Daphne.
Phillis alas is aliue, but an other's gone to be dying.

Phillis.
And what mean's this, Alas? am I now soe lightly regarded,
That my life with, Alas, of Daphne must be remembred?

Daphne.
Phillis, I loue thy life, but I lyke not a death of an other.

Phillis.
Whose death?

Daph.
Death of Amyntas.

Phil.
Alas how dyed Amyntas?

Daphne.
How? that I can not tell; nor yet well whether it is soe:
But noe doubt, I beleeue; for it is most lyke that it is soe.


Phillis.
What strange news doe I heare? what causd that death of Amyntas?

Daphne.
Thy death.

Phil.
And I aliue?

Daph.
Thy death was lately reported,
And he beleeus thy death, and therfore seeketh his owne death.

Phillis.
Feare of Phillis death prou'd vayne, and feare of Amyntas
Death will prooue vayne too: life eache thing lyuely procureth.

Daphne.
O Phillis Phillis, thou knowst not what be the torments
Of truelouers hart, hart made of flesh as Amyntas,
Not flynte hart, as thyne; els wouldst thou loue that Amyntas,
Which lou'd Phillis more than life or sowle of Amyntas.
Phillis, I know, for I saw, then when thou fledst from Amyntas,
Fledst, when by reason thou shouldst haue kissed Amyntas:
Then did Amyntas tourne his poynted dart to his owne brest,
And thrust brest on dart: and vile dart pierst in a moment
Through his coate, skyn, flesh; and would haue speedily pierced
That same hart, which thou hadst more vnluckily pierced,
But that I grasped his arme, and stayd that desperat outrage.
And now that smalle wound perchaunce wil serue for a first proofe
Of cursed courage, and mynde vnkindely resolued,
And that dart make way, and passage shew to a damned
Knife, or a balefull swoord, with freer scope to be murdring.

Phillis.
Is this true?

Daph.
Noe doubt.

Phil.
But alas would noebody stay him?
O let's goe, let's run, let's seek and search for Amyntas.
Yf that Amyntas dy'de, when Phillis seem'd to be dying,
Then, sith Phillis lyues, let Amyntas truly be lyuing.

Daphne.
Yes yes, quyckly I ran; But whoe can deale with a madman?
Rage and griefe fro my sight conueyd him away in a moment.
Therfore now toolate, it's toolate now to be runnyng,
And thanck thy running that it is toolate to be running.

Phillis.
O, this fretts my soule Daphne, this deadly remembrance
Of my scornefull pryde, that I then my Chastyty called,
And it Chastyty was, but Chastyty noe-pyty-taking,
Now I repent it alas, but now toolate I repent yt.


Daphne.
Good God, what doe I heare? can Phillis now be repenting?
Can she relent or yeeld? What playnt, what passion is this?
Can proud Phillis loue?

Phil.
Noe loue, but yet pyty-taking.

Chorus.
When pyty runneth afore, loue always hasteneth after:
And now Phillis loues, since Phillis now pyty-taketh.

Daphne.
But toolate, Phillis, toolate. O wretched Amyntas,
Thou (eu'n lyke to a Bee, that stings, yet dyes as hee stingeth,
And his wounding life doth leaue in place that he woundeth)
Hast by thy death at last pierst Phillis through to the hart-roote,
Whereas in all thy life thou couldst not possibly moue her.
Now if Amyntas soule from flesh and blood be released.
And here wandreth abroade (as I thinck it for to be wandring)
Let that sowle now see, and ioy her paynes to bee seeing,
Sowle, that lyuing lou'd, and by death, bought, to be loued.

Chorus.
Pryce to the buyer deare, and shamefull price to the seller.

Phillis.
O that my loue might once purchase life for Amyntas,
O that Amyntas life with my life might be redeemed.

Daphne.
When steedes are stollen, then Phillis looks to the stable.

The second Scene.

Ergastus. Chorus. Phillis. Daphne.
My hart with pyty melts, my sowl's soe drowned in anguish,
That noe sight, noe sound obiects itself to my sences,
But drawes teares fro my eyes, and horror brings to my hearing.
Chorus.
What's this newmans news, that makes hym looke thus amased?

Ergastus.
News of Amyntas death.

Phil.
This deaths-newes brings mee to deaths dore.

Ergastus.
Most noble Pastor, that these woods lately frequented,
Gentle, loued of all, to the Nymphs deare, deare to the Muses,
And but a stripling dy'de, and what death?

Chor.
O, let vs heare it,
O, let vs heare it alas, that wee may all be a mournyng
His mischaunce, our grief.

Phil.
O deare God, I dare not aproach hym,
Least that I heare these news, yet these news must I be hearing.
Hart of stone, hard hart, curst hart, what maks thee be fearing?

Goe and encounter these kniues, these darts that he bringeth
In sowle-wounding tongue, there shew thyself to be stony.
Pastor, I come for part of thease news rightly belonging
Vnto my damnable hart, and due, more due to my hearing
Than thou canst conceaue; then spare not freely to geue it.

Ergastus.
Phillis, I surely beleeue, that I heard this wretched Amyntas
With thy name his life and lamentation ending.

Daphne.
Il news differring, is a plague as great as an ill news.

Ergastus.
Late as I mended netts on a hill, soretroubled Amyntas,
Horribly vext and chaft, in face and action altred,
Past by my side in a rage: but I stept and hastened after,
And ouertook him; for I mus'd what might be the matter.
Good fryend Ergastus, qd hee then, now doe me a pleasure,
Come with Amyntas now, and marck what hee dooe's as a witnes,
Stand as a witnes by; but first sweare, soe to be standing,
And my deedes soe marckt, in noe respect to be hindring.
Here I alas poore foole (for whoe would euer imagin
Such a detestable act, as he purposd then to be woorking?)
Rapt out horrible oathes straight way, and sware by the mighty
Nightwandring Hecate, Pallas, Pomona, Priapus,
And Pan Pastors God, that I would performe what hee wild mee.
Then did he leade me along to a steepe and horrible hill topp,
All abrupt and rough, and made soe feareful a downefall,
That my lyms all quakt, when I lookt fro the hill to the valley.
Here did he pause for a while, and somewhat seem'd to be smyling,
Which rather made mee noe mischif for to bee deemyng
Then, qd he, what thou see'st, that tell to the Nymphs, to the Pastors,
And at last, these woords with a downe cast looke he resounded,
If that I could aswell commaund those greedy deuouring
Throates and teeth of Woolues, as I can soone leap from a hilltopp;
As my life did dye, ô then soe would I be dying;
Then should these my lyms and cursed corps be dyuyded,
As those tender ioynts, ô grief, were all to be mangled.
But since frownyng skies wil'd beasts now will not aford mee,
(Which yet I know in tyme wil come this flesh to be tearing)
This must serue, short death, though sharper death I deserued.
Phillis, I come straight way, Ile com to thy company, Phillis,

If thou doest not yet disdayne my company, Phillis.
If that I were but sure, that death brought end to thy anger,
And that my commyng would giue noe cause to molest thee,
Then should life with ioy leaue wel contented Amyntas;
Phillis, I come, scorne not, scorne not my company, Phillis.
Thus sayd, lightly he leapt, and headlong fell to the valley;
My soule quakt for feare.

Daph.
O griefe.

Phil.
O woeful Amyntas.

Chorus.
And why staydst him not? wast feare, thy oath to be breaking?

Ergastus.
O noe, for when I saw his mynde thus bent to that outrage,
Oaths (in such case vaine) I began to be lightly regarding.
And cought hould (naught hould) cought hould by a paltery gyrdle;
Paltery gyrdle brake by the swing, and weight of Amyntas:
Part with Amyntas went, and th' other part I reteigned.

Chorus.
O but wher's that corps, and bruysed bones of Amyntas?

Ergastus.
God knows; for by the fall my senceles soule was amased,
Neyther durst I behould his corps vnluckily quashed.

Chorus.
O strange news indeede, breakneck, breakheart of Amyntas.

Phillis.
O pytyles Phillis, wel may thy hart bee a stony
Hart, if breakeneck news can not yet breake it a sunder.
Yf false tales of death, her death, whoe hated Amyntas,
Tooke his life yet away; good reason then that Amyntas
True death, too true death, whoe my hate louely requyted,
Should take life from mee; and soe it shall, with an endles
Griefe of troubled sowle, or a too too slowly reuenging
Stroake of a murdring hande, or this same peece of a gyrdle,
Peece of a gyrdle alas: that left his mayster Amyntas
For good cause, that soe proud Phillis might be rewarded,
And his maysters death with Phillis death be requyted.
Luckles gyrdle alas of too too luckles Amyntas,
Take noe scorne for a while in a bosome vile to be lodged,
Sith to requyte, to reueng thou mean'st therein to be lodged.
Phillis should haue beene true turtle-doue to Amyntas
In this lightsome world, but Phillis prowdly denyed;
Therfore by thy meanes Phillis shall meete with Amyntas

In those darcksome dens, as Phillis rightly deserued.

Chorus.
Poore distressed soule, forbeare thyself to be plaguing:
His fact, not thy fault, drew his confusion onward.

Phillis.
Pastors, why doe ye mourne? What meane these heauy bewaylings?
Yf you mourne Phillis; Phillis noe mercy deserueth,
Sith this merciles hart to Amyntas mercy denyed:
Yf you mourne his death, whoe had noe cause to be dying,
Noe such mournyng can suffice for murdred Amyntas.
Dry those teares, Daphne, and wipe thy watery fountayns,
And come, yet come not for mee, but come for Amyntas,
Help mee to seeke and fynde, t'entombe those bones of Amyntas;
For this I stay yet aliue: this funeral obsequy only
Phillis can performe for balefull loue of Amyntas.
And though murdring hand pollute soe sacred an office,
Yet sith Phillis her hand performs soe sacred an office,
This wil Amyntas take as a most acceptable office.

Daphne.
Phillis, I yeeld my help his scattred bones to be searching,
But soe that Phillis make noe more talk of a dying.

Phillis.
All this whyle to myself did I lyue; but now to Amyntas,
Or to Amyntas bones, crusht bones soe long wil I liue yet,
And lyue noe longer; my life, his funeral ending.
Pastors: But yet wher's that way which leads to the downefall?

Chorus.
There: and t'hill stands thence but a lytle more than a furlong,

Daphne.
Come, let's goe, and search: Ile guyde thee; the place I remember.

Phillis.
Pastors al farewel; farewell fayre Pembrokianaes
Yuychurches parck, and fountaynes watery, farewell.

Chorus.
This Nymph taks her leaue, as though these soe many farewells
Wereher last farewell, which should cause deadly departure.


The fifth Acte

first Scene.

Elpinus. Chorus.
Lou's æternall lawes are most vnworthily blamed,
Vpright laws in deede, in shew though somwhat vnæquall.
And greate Lord of loue his men with mercy protecteth,
And yet, with iustice, with due moderation ordreth.
O by what strange meanes and wondrous ways, fro the dungeon
Of despayre, to the bowre of blisse doth he bring in a moment
His louing subiects? loe, gentle-mynded Amyntas
Eu'n to the highest poynt of ioy hath clymbd by a downefall,
Vnto a loues Paradise, by a hell ful of infynit horror.
Blessed Amyntas now; soemuch more blessed Amyntas
Now, by how much then more wretch more cursed Amyntas.
Now may Elpinus conceaue some matter of hoping
By thine example, that he shall haue fortunat ending
Of these loueles toyles, and most vnluckly begynnyngs.
Chorus.
Sage Elpinus coms, and speaks strange words of Amyntas,
As, that hee were yet aliue; and thinks his state to be happy,
For that he dy'de for loue, and by death, bought to be loued.
Bitter bowre of blisse, where monstrous murder aboundeth,
Louing fooles Paradise, that leaues his life to be loued.
What meanes Elpinus soe woeful an end to be wishing?

Elpinus.
Fryends leaue of mournyng: you heard false news of Amyntas.

Chorus.
What, did hee not leap downe?

Elp.
Yes downe to his only desyred
Ioyes, and past by the shade of a feareful death, to a heauen,
And now leaneth his head on brest of sweete bony Phillis,
Sweete bony Phillis now, more louing now by a thousand
Parts, then loueles afore; and sucks those sweetly beseemyng
Teares from Phillis her eyes, with a mouth with Nectar abounding.
And now nothing els is wanting vnto the full ioy
Of thease louing sowls, but that Montanus is absent;
And Montanus I seake, whose woord maks absolut ending.

Chorus.
Theyre yeares are æquall, and theyre affection æquall,

And both learned alyke: ô, now Montanus is happy
Happy to haue this stay and comfort vnto his ould age.
But shew yet, what luck, what God soe saued Amyntas.

Elpinus.
Heare, ô heare then that, whereof these eyes the beholders
Were, and whereof now this tong may well be reporter.
By my caue did I syt with Thyrsis down by the downe-fall,
Talking of my loue, loueles yet louely Lycoris:
When from an high wee saw some man fall downe on a soddayn.
There was a heape of thorns and bows compact on a cluster
Somewhat aboue our heads; 'twas his hap there first to be lighting:
Which although by the swing and weight it bursted a sunder,
And all came tumbling, and fell downe flatly before vs,
Yet by this encounter that fall prou'd not to be mortall,
Though fore and painefull, making him lye as amased
One whole howre and more, as vnable his eyes to be op'nyng.
Wee twooe, astonyed to behold soe feareful an obiect,
Stood starck dumme for a while, although wee knew t'was Amyntas;
But perceauing that this fall seem'd not to be mortall,
Our whole endeuours w'apply'de, his woe to be swaging,
And sent one forth-with, for cunnyng Alphesibœus,
Alphesibœus whom that greate God learned Apollo
Made to be skilful in hearbs, when he gaue mee the guyft to be singing.
But now in meane tyme, when Thyrsis gan to rehearse mee
All those secrete woes and forepast pangs of Amyntas,
Daphne and Phillis did meete vs there on a soddayne,
Daphne and Phillis, whoe sought bruysd bones of Amyntas
Whom they thought to be dead, as then was told mee by Daphne.
But when Phillis saw her longlookt louer Amyntas,
Discolored, bruysed, sorewounded, then with a raging
Voyce, and beaten breast on Amyntas flatly she falleth,
Face to Amyntas face and mouth to the mouth of Amyntas:

Chorus.
Was not Phillis abasht, vnseemely to ly on Amyntas?

Elpinus.
Shame to a feynthart loue doth sometimes serue for a brydle;
But trueloue indeede contemns soe basheful a brydle.
Afterward with teares his bloodles cheeks she bewashed,
And those teares soe wrought that Amyntas quyckly reuyued,
Op'ned his eyes, and breathd; which breath soe luckily vttred

Encountring Phillis sweete breath was louely receaued.
With what an endles ioy these twooe lay sweetly togeather,
Eyther in others arms, and eyther sure of an others
Life and loue, louers may thinck, none els can imagin.

Chorus.
Is then Amyntas saulfe, that he needs not feare any danger?

Elpinus.
Saulfe and sound, but that those thornes haue partly defaced
His fayre cheekes, and sydes did somwhat chaunce to be bruysed:
But that's iust nothing, and woorks noe woe to Amyntas,
(Happy Amyntas now, that shew'd such signe of a louing
Hart, and soe at last obteynd to be lou'd of a louing
Soule, his passed paines, make present ioyes to be greater)
As yourselues shall see: for Phillis coms with Amyntas
Hytherward hard by: myself must first to the lodging
Of rich Montanus, perswading hym to be yeelding
Vnto the purposd match; and thyther they be apoynted
Shortly to com, this way: and now its tyme to be walking.

The second Scene.

Amyntas, Phillis.
Deare life, when shal I once haue full possession of you?
Phillis.
When tyme com's, Ile tell: fruyte too-soone pluckt, is a sowre-fruyte.

Amyntas.
If too-late, rotten.

Phill.
Then pluck when tyme is apoynted.

Amyntas.
O yet, come sweete light of these myne eyes to the harbor,
And ten-thousand woes with a good-turne once be requyting.

Phillis.
What good-turne would you?

Amyn.
That which cost you not a dodkin,
And yet would content my minde much more than a treasure.

Phillis.
What's that? I vnderstand not yet what may be the meanyng.

Amyntas.
Harck in your eare then.

Phil.
Fy, noe: is that but a tryfle?

Amyntas.
Yet let's sleepe for a while; for your sake long was I watching.


Phillis.
Content.

Amynt.
O sweete Nymphe.

Phil.
But stay, and stir not a finger:
As you sleepe, Ile tell, what flowrs I doo keepe for a brydes-wayne.

Amyntas.
How can I heare in sleepe?

Phil.
What pleasure then can Amyntas
Take, when he sleepes by my side, if he feele noething when he sleepeth?
And yet I can not sleepe, for ioy, that I found my Amyntas.

Amyntas.
Then let's kisse: kist mouth is nothing woorse for a kissing:
Soe Bee sucks sweete flowrs, flowrs noething woorse for a sucking;
And you kisse roses, then thinck my lips to be roses.

Phillis.
Well: but these roses soe kist, ask not to be kissed:
Then let Amyntas stay, till Phillis meane to be kissing.

Amyntas.
Yf nought els, yet geue mee leaue those eyes to be kissing,
Those faire eyes, and soe shal I seeme fayre sowle to be kissing.

Phillis.
You would kisse myne eyes: which euer afore, with a thousand
Sighs and sobs you curst, for throwing darts at Amyntas.

Amyntas.
Now I desyre your eyes of purpose for to be kissing,
Thereby soe to declare by this soe louely a token,
That your murdring eyes, my cursing lips be for euer
Now made faithfull fryends, and all contention ended.
And, if Phillis thinck herself not fully reuenged,
Then let her owne teethe byte these lying lipps of Amyntas.

Phillis.
If that Amyntas cease myne eyes any more to be cursing,
Why should Phillis then for spyte his lips be a byting?

Amyntas.
If noe kynde of kisse from Phillis may be procured,
Yet let an embracement to Amyntas his arms be aforded.

Phillis.
With good will.

Amynt.
Most good; what better will to Amyntas?

Phillis.
But yet stay: Phillis must first get a boone of Amyntas.

Amyntas.
O what guyft shal I graunt? what boone seeks my bony Phillis?

Phillis.
Fowre or fiue apples fro the tree that growes by the hil-topp.


Amyntas.
How can I come to the tree for bry'rs and soe-many bushes?

Phillis.
Ile bring you soe neare, as you may easily tutch it.

Amyntas.
If that I may clasp it, then doubt not, Phillis, Amyntas
Will clymbe vp to the tree, or shake downe soe many apples.

Phillis.
Ist true? clypt Phillis must then looke soe to be serued.

Amyntas.
My life, geue me the leaue, this faire red rose to be putting
In this bosome, where my hart hath made his abyding,

Phillis.
O soe might you prick your hart with thorns of a red rose,
Or take it fro my brest perchaunce, and geue it an other.

Amyntas.
Graunt me this one grace yet: this fauour dooe me for all this,
Geue me thy snowe-white hand, to be clypt and kist of Amyntas.

Phillis.
Soe by the hard-gryping, hoate-kissing Louer Amyntas,
Phillis snowe-white hand may melt, or chaunce to be bruysed.

Amyntas.
What kinde of loue's this, that Phillis bear's to Amyntas.

Phillis.
Discreate and sober.

Amynt.
Well, then this shalbe my sober,
And yet louely request; Sit downe, that I may be beholding
That faire Phillis face, and heare her sweetly resounding,

Phillis.
Phillis must needs yeeld, when Amyntas duly demaundeth.

Amyntas.
They sing these Asclepiades.
Sweete face, why be the heu'ns soe to the bountifull,
Making that radiant bewty of all the starrs
Bright-burning, to be fayre Phillis her ornament?
And yet seeme to be soe spytefuly partial,
As not for to aford Argus his eyes to mee,
Eyes too feawe to behould Phillis her ornament?

Phillis.
First and lastly belou'd, only my only ioy,
Why hath not thy belou'd soemany lou'ly harts
As those Partriches haue of Paphlagonia?
One brest is not enough for to reteigne my ioy,
More harts would that I had for to receaue my loue,
As those Partriches haue of Paphlagonia.

Amyntas.
Let come fayre Helene, Troys tribulation,
Or braue Endymions sweete speculation,
Or Nymph Idalian friendly to passion:

None but Phillis alone holdeth Amyntas hands:
None but Phillis alone pleaseth Amyntas eyes:
None but Phillis alone woundeth Amyntas hart:

Phillis.
Let come that prety Boy, fonde of his owne image,
Or Codd sse Mynion kylde by an ougly Boare,
O youthfull Ganymede rapt by the Thunderer:
Phillis stretcheth alone hands to Amyntas hands.
Phillis turneth alone eyes to Amyntas eyes,
Phillis ioyneth alone hart to Amyntas hart.
O, this Amyntas name enchaunts my soule, that I can not
Leaue this Amyntas name: my tonge stil runs on Amyntas,
And my harte, and mynde, and soule stil thincks on Amyntas:
And yet, Amyntas, I know, its more than tyme to be going:
Elpinus longe since hath made all known to my father,
And my father, I know, his new son longs to be knowing.

Amyntas.
Let mee help you vp: your hand is in hand of Amyntas
Now at last surprysde: yet I ask but a kisse for a ransome.

Chorus.
Yf that such sowre sawce for sweetest meates be reserued;
Yf that Amyntas must serue, loue, weepe, dy for a Phillis,
Yf those great pleasures with greate payns must be procured,
Then good loue, geaue those greate matters vnto the greate-men.
Let my Loue soone loue; let a sawdrey lace, or a thymble,
Or yong nightingale suffice my fancy to further:
Let not such torments and martyrdoms be requyred
My poore simple ioyes, and pleasures lowely to season:
But sweete-bitter woords, but kinde and louely repulses,
And such falling out, as may be a speedy renuing
And fresh increasing of loue: let such be the louing
Iarres, and warres, as peace and truce may end in a moment.

FINIS.
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