University of Virginia Library

SCENA SECUNDA.

Hylas
, Mirtillus.
Beleeve Mirtillus, never any love
Was bought with other price then love alone,
Since nothing is more precious then it selfe.
It being the purest abstract of that sire,
Which wise Prometheus first indu'd us with;
And he must love that would be lov'd againe.

Mi.
Why? who can say Mirtillus does not love,
Mirtillus, he who has imploy'd his youth
Ever in service of the fairest Nymphs.

Hy.
Mirtillus cannot love.

Mi.
No, gentle Hylas?
This Ribband, and this haire you see me weare
Are they not ensignes of a lover? say
What shepheardesse whom ever Swaine thought faire,
Has not Mirtillus courted, and obtaind
Some favour from? but you will thinke because
I do not fold my armes, and sigh, and spend
The dayes the Gods have given me to rejoice,
In whining passion, walking still alone,
Now proud with hopes, then cast downe with despaire,
Unequall to my selfe in every thing,
I cannot love. No, Hylas, know I love
Dorinda, Cloris, Amarillis, all
Whom ever love did to his Altars call:
And when this Mistresse frownes, I am content
To take another, when that flame is spent
By time, or put out by a Rivall, straite
A third supplies her place, perhaps more worthy,
If lesse, because she loves, Ile thinke her so.

Hy.
Alas, Mirtillus, I doe pitty thee,
Pittie the error which thou wandrest in,
That thinkst thou lov'st, and know'st not what it is,

Mi.
Why what is love say you, if mine be not?

Hy.
I know Mirtillus, that no lover yet
Purchas'd a lasting pleasure without griefe;
For love has gall in it, as well as honie,
And so compounded, that who so ere will taste
The sweetes of it, must take the bitter too,
Out of both which is made our constancy,
You that embrace the false delights alone,
Are a faign'd lover, or more truly none.

Mi.
I know not what you meane by constancy,
I'me sure I loue the fairest.

Hy.
Still you erre,
For if you lov'd the fairest, none had bin
The object of your choise but my Nerina,
Nerina, she the glory of these woods
The only subject of all shepheards song.

Mi.
She has her share of beautie with the rest,
And I confesse she's fit for love as any;
But why she onely should take up your breast,
And shut out all that have a right as good,
Whose equall, or transcendent beautie pleades
As just a title to't, as hers can do,
I cannot reach the reason, but admire
Your faith, and what you praise, your constancie.

Hy.
Mirtillus, though I know your stubborn heart
Could never entertaine a lovers thought,
Yet did I thinke you would have bin more tender
How you prophan'd a name so sacred as
Nerina's is, whom never any Swaine
Nor rurall God, nor Satyr, though he be
Of savage kinde would ever violate;
Nerina in whose forme love ever dwells
Attended by the Graces, which do range
Themselves in order 'bout her comely face,
Whose breasts without are hills of whitest snow,
Within the seate of blamelesse modestie,
Regard of honor, and pure chastity
Nor may a loose thought ever harbor there
To tempt such lovers as you seeme to be.
Is it for that you slight her?

Mi.
No, I loue her
As I do others, with whom I compare her.
But you that loue with such intemperance,
Make of your love a glasse, wherein you see
Each thing much greater then indeed it is:
My loves too cold you say, but I am sure
Yours is too hot for any to endure:
A meane perhaps 'twixt these I might approve

Hy.
You might, if there were any meane in love.

Mi.
But whilst we talke thus, see, the flame has caught you,
your beauteous flame Nerina is at hand
Dorinda with her, dare you stay th'encounter.

Hy.
No let's with draw, and watch her where she gos.