University of Virginia Library

Scena secunda.

Dorinda, Linco.
Dor.
But Linco, didst not thou know me indeed?

Lin.
Who could have known thee in this savage weed
For meek Dorinda? But if I had been
A ravenous hound (as I am Linco) then
I to thy cost had known thee for a beast.
What do I see? What do I see?

Dor.
Thou seest
A sad effect of Love; a sad and strange
Effect of loving (Linco.)

Lin.
Wondrous change!
Thou a young Maid, so soft, so delicate,
That wert (me thinks) an infant but of late,
Whom in mine arms I bore (as I may say)
A very little childe but yesterday,
And steering thy weak steps, taught thee to name
(When I thy Father serv'd) Daddy and Mam,
Who like a tim'rous Doe (before thy heart
Was made a prey t'insulting Love) didst start
At every thing that on the sudden stirr'd,
At every winde, at every little bird
That shook a bough, each Lizard that but ran
Out of a bush, made thee look pale and wan;
Now all alone o're hils, through woods do'st passe
Fearlesse of hounds or savage beasts.

Dor.
Alas!
“She whom Love wounds no other wound doth fear.

Lin.
Indeed fair Nymph, Love shew'd his godhead here,
From woman to a man transforming thee,
Or rather to a wolf.

Dor.
If thou couldst see
Into my brest (O Linco!) then thou'dst say,
A living wolf upon my heart doth prey
As on a harmlesse lamb.

Lin.
Is Silvio
That wolf?

Dor.
Alas, who else can be't?

Lin.
And so
'Cause he's a wolf, thou a shee-wolf wouldst be,
To try, since on thy humane visage he
Was not enamour'd, if he would at least
Affect thee in the likenesse of a beast,
As being of his kind. But prethee where
Gotst thou these robes?

Dor.
I'le tell thee: I did hear
Silvio would chase to day the noble Bore
At Erimanthus foot; and there before
The morning peept, was I from wood to wood
Hunting the Hunter; by a crystall flood
From which our flocks did climb the hils, I found
Melampo the most beauteous Silvio's hound,
Who having quench'd his thirst there as I ghesse,
Lay to repose him on the neighb'ring grasse.
I, who love any thing that's Silvio's,
Even the very ground on which he goes,
And shadow which his beauteous limbs do cast;
Much more the dog on which his love is plac't,
Stooping laid sudden hold on him, who came
Along with me as gently as a lamb.
And whilst t'was in my thoughts to lead him back
Unto his Lord and mine, hoping to make
A friend of him with what he held so deer,
He came himself to seek him, and stopt here.
Deer Linco, I'le not lose thee so much time,
As to tell all that's past 'twixt me and him;
This onely, to be brief, After a long
Preface of oathes on one another strung,
And treach'rous promises, this cruell swain
Flung from me full of Anger and disdain,
Both with his own Melampo (to his Lord
So true) and with my deer and sweet reward.

Lin.
O cruell Silvio! ruthlesse swain! But what
Didst thou do then (Dorinda?) didst thou not
Hate him for this?

Dor.
Rather (as if the fire
Of his disdain Loves fire had been) his ire
Increast my former flame. His steps I trace,
And thus pursuing him towards the chace,
I met (hard by) with my Lupino, whom
Before a little I had parted from.
When straight it came into my head, that I
In his attire, and in the company
Of shepherds might be thought a shepherd too,
And undiscover'd my fair Silvio view.

Lin.
In a wolves likenesse amongst hounds? and none
Bite thee? 'Tis much (Dorinda) thou hast done.

Dor.
This (Linco) was no miracle: for they
Durst not touch her who was their Masters prey.
There I, out of the tents, amidst the crue
Of neighb'ring shepherds that were met to view
The famous passe-time, stood admiring more
To see the Huntsman, then the hunted Bore:
At every motion of the furious beast,
My cold heart shiv'red in my brest:
At every action of the brave young man
My soul with all her touch'd affections ran
In to his aid. But my extreme delight
Again was poyson'd with the horrid sight
Of the fierce Bore, whose strength and vast
Proportion, all proportion past.
As an impetuous whirlwind in a great
And sudden storm, which all that it doth meet
(Houses, and trees, and stones) before it bears,
All it can get within its circle tears
To pieces in an instant: so the Bore
Wheeling about (his tusks all foam and gore)
Pil'd in one heap dogs slain, spears knapt, men wounded.
How oft did I desire to have compounded
For Silvio's life, with the inraged Swine!
And for his blood; t'have giv'n the Monster mine!
How oft was I about to run between,
And with my body his fair body screen!
Spare cruell Bore, (how often did I cry!)
Spare my fair Silvio's brest of Ivory;
Thus to my self I spake, and sigh'd, and pray'd;
When his fierce dog (arm'd with a brest-plate made
Of hard and scaly barks of trees) he slipt
After the beast, now prouder, being dipt
Throughly in blood, and lifted from the ground
On slaughter'd trunks. The valour of that hound
(Linco) exceeds beliefe: and Silvio
Not without reason surely loves him so.
As a chaft Lion, which now meets, now turns
From an untamed Buls well brandish'd horns,
If once he come with his strong paw to seize
Upon his shoulder, masters him with ease:
So bold Melampo shunning with fine slights
The Bores short turns, and rapid motion, lights
At length upon his ear; which having bit
Quite through, and lugg'd him twice or thrice by it,
He with his teeth so naild him to the ground,
That at his vast bulk now a mortall wound
Might levell'd be with greater certainty,
(Before but slghtly hurt) then suddenly
My lovely Silvio (calling on the name
Of Dian) Goddesse do thou give me aim
(Quoth he) the horrid head is thine. This sed,
His golden Quiver's swiftest shaft to th'head
He drew; which flying to that very point
Where the left shoulder knits with the neck joint,
There wounded the fierce Bore, so down he fell.
Then I took breath, seeing my Silvio well,
And out of danger. Happy beast! to die
So sweet a death, as by that hand, which I
Would beg my end from.

Lin.
But what then became
Of the slain beast?

Dor.
I know not; for I came
Away, for fear of being known; but, I
Suppose, the head to th'Temple solemnly
They'l bear, according to my Silvio's vow.

Lin.
But wilt thou not get out of these weeds now?

Dor.
Yes: but my garments with my other geer
Lupino has, who promis'd to stay here
With them, but fails. Dear Linco, if thou love
Me, seek him for me up and down this grove:
Far off he cannot be; mean while I'le take
A little rest (dost see there?) in that Brake;
There I'le expect thee; for I am ore-come
With wearinesse and sleep, and will not home
Accoutred thus.

Lin.
I go: but stir not then
Out of that place till I return agen.