University of Virginia Library

SCENA III.

Nerina
, Dorinda.
Dorinda , I have mist the chase to day,
Such is my chance, and he that lodg'd the deere,
Told me it was the fairest in these Woods.

Do.
The Gods doe love you sure, that have left
Your thoughts so free for sport; mine are not so.

Ne.
Thou art in love, I warrant, art thou not?

Do.
That angry God pursues me in his fury,
And forces me to love where I am scorn'd.
Haplesse Dorinda, why should he despise thee?
Many a Swaine, and many a rurall God
Have sought thy favors, and have sought in vaine,
Now thou art justly punisht with disdaine.

Ne.
Trust me Sweet-heart, I cannot choose but wonder,
To thinke that one of such a comely grace
(I doe not flatter you) could sue to any
For love, who are much fitter to be lov'd:
Scorne him asmuch as he does thee, for men
Love us no more, when we love them agen.

Do.
Ah good Nerina, you have spoken truth:
It may warne other Nymphs by my example
How they professe their loves to any man:
I'me past the cure, he that wounded me,
Has left me quite disarm'd, and robb'd me of
All those defensive arts which men will say
Are naturall and proper to our sexe:
I cannot change a face, or weepe one teare,
Or laugh against my will, so violently
My Fate hath thrust me to this love, that all
My faculties confesse their weaknesse, and
My flame is got so much above my reach,
I can not put it out, nor smother it.

Me.
Alas poore wench, tell me who is the man
Made up of so much rigid cruelty,
That I may shun him where soere I goe.

Do.
Do not you know him?

Me.
No.

Do.
I heare he boasts
To every shepheard, and to every Nymph,
How much I love him.

Me.
Then it must be Daphnis.

Do.
Venus forgive me, if I do disclose him,
But he will do't himselfe: Tis he Nerina.

Me.
Daphnis, that woes my father to win me,
He is my daily suitor, now I know
How much he owes to pitty, and to thee:
Untill he pay that debt, I shall despise him.

Do.
Why, do not you love him as much as I?

Me.
Love him? I know no greater misery,
Then to love one that's not of humane race,
A Tyger rather, but a Tyger is
More milde then he.

Do.
For loves sake say not so.
He has a manly feature, and does shew
As much of grace in his comportment, as
The best of shepheards can, him Titan made
Of better clay, then he did other men:
Although his heart be flint, and hardest rocke.
Yet is his heart so hard, or are my parts
Rather unequall to his high deserts?
For he can love I see, since you he loves,
And you deserve it: had he thought me worthy,
He would have lov'd me too; but as I am
Worthlesse Dorinda, I am made his scorne,
And I had rather be so, then Nerina
Should want a servant such as Daphnis is.

Me,
Prethee no more of him, I hate his name
As much, as I would do the losse of honor,
Which he injuriously would rob me off,
No, no, Dorinda, if by love I be
Inthrald to any, Daphnis is not he.

Do.
Why, is there any can deserve you more?

Me.
Yes many, that I could tell how to love
Rather then him: for why should I love him
Whilst Hylas lives and languishes for me?
Hylas who lov'd me in my infancy,
And being then a boy was never well
If I was absent, nor indeed was I
Content with any but his company.
Our flocks still fed together, I on him,
And he on me did feed his greedie eyes.
Since though his yeares have stild him man, he has
Continu'd that first love with such respects,
So full of innocence and simple truth,
That howsoere my outward coynesse is,
My heart within tells me, 'tis onely his:
Ay me! my father! prithee let's away.

Do.
But Daphnis comes with him, for loves sake stay.