University of Virginia Library

PHILISSES.

LISSIUS.
Alas! what meanes this? Surely itt is loue
That makes in him this alteration moue:
This is the humor makes our sheapheards raue.
I'le non of this—I'le sonner seeke my graue!
Loue, by your fauour, I will non of you.
I rather you should miss then I should sue;
Yett, Cupid, poore Philisses back restore
To his first witts, and I'le affect thee more.

[Exit.
SILUESTA.
Faire shining day! and thou, Apollo bright!
Which to these pleasant vallys giues thy light,
And, with sweet shouers mixt with golden beames,
Inrich these meadowes and these gliding streames,—
Wherin thou seest thy face like mirrour faire,
Dressing in them thy curling, shining haire,—
This place with sweetest flouers still doth deck,
Whose coulers show theyr pride, free from the check
Of fortune's frowne, soe long as Spring doth last,
Butt then feele chang, wherof all others tast.
As I, for one, who thus my habitts chang,
Once sheapherdess, butt now in woods must rang;
And after the chaste godess beare her bowe,
Though seruice once to Venus I did owe,
Whose seruante then I was, and of her band.
But farewell, folly! I with Dian stand
Against loue's changing and blind foulery,
To hold with hapy and bless'd chastity;
For loue is idle—hapines ther's none
When freedome's lost and chastity is gone;
And wher on earth most blessednes their is,
Loue's fond desires neuer faile to miss;
And this, beeleeue mee, you will truly find.
Lett nott repentance, therfor, chang your mind,
Butt chang befor your glory wilbee most,
When as the waggish boy can least him bost;
For hee doth seeke to kindle flames of fire,
Butt neuer thinks to quench a chaste desire.
Hee calls his foe—hee hates non more then those
Who striues his lawe to shun, and this haue chose.
All vertu hates his kingdome's wantones;
His crowne desires his septer idlenes;
His wounds hott fires, his helps like frost;
Glad to hurt, butt neuer heales; thinks time lost
If any gaine theyr long-sought ioye with bliss;
And this the gouernment of folly is.
Butt heere, Philisses, comes poore sheapheard lad,
With loue's hott fires and his owne made mad.
I must away,—my vowe allowes noe sight
Of men: yett must I pitty him, poore wight!
Though hee, reiecting mee, this change haue wrought,
Hee shalbee noe less worthy in my thought.
Yett wish I doe hee were as free as I,
Then were hee hapy—now feels misery;
For, thanks to heauen and to the gods above!
I have wunn chastity in place of loue.
Now loue's as farr from mee as neuer knowne:
Then bacely tied, now freely ame mine owne.
Slauery and bondage, with mourning care,
Was then my liuing sighs, and teares my fare;
Butt, all these gon, now liue I ioyfully,
Free and vntouch'd of thought but chastitye.

[Exit.
PHILISSES.
Loue, beeing mist in heauen, att last was found
Lodg'd in Musella's faire though cruell brest—
Cruell, alas! yett wheron I must ground
All hopes of ioye, though tired with vnrest.
O deerest deere! lett plaints which true felt are
Gaine pitty once; doe nott delight to proue
Soe mercyles, still killing with despaire,
Nor pleasure take soe much to try my loue;
Yett if your triall will you milder make,
Try, butt nott long, least pitty come to late.
Butt O! she can nott, may nott, will nott take
Pitty on mee,—she loues and lends mee hate.
[OMITTED]

PHILISSES.
They that can nott stedy bee,
To them selues the like must see.
Ficle pœple fitly chuse,
Slightly like, and soe refuse.
This your fortune, who can say
Heerin iustice bears nott sway?
In troth, Dalina, fortune is prou'd curst
To you, without desert. Dalina, this is the wurst
That she can doe. 'Tis true, I haue fickle bin,
And soe is shee; 'tis, then, the lesser sin.
Lett her proue constant, I will her obserue;
And then, as shee doth mend, I'le good deserue.

ARCAS.
Who choseth next, Lissius? Nott I, least such I proue.

SILUESTA.
Nor I; itt is sufficient I could loue.

ARCAS.
I'le wish for one, but fortune shall nott try
On mee her tricks, whose fauours are so dry.

DALINA.
Non can wish, if they their wishes loue nott;
Nor can they loue, if that wishings moue nott.

PHILISSES.
You faine would soulue this busines, Dalina. Who would I?
Nay, my care's past; I loue, and his deny.
Loue and Reason, once att warr,
Loue came downe to end the iarr:
Cupid said Loue must haue place—
Reason, that itt was his grace.
Loue then brought itt to this end—
Reason should on Loue attend;
Loue takes Reason for his guid—
Reason can nott from Loue slide.
This agreed, they pleas'd did part,
Reason ruling Cupid's dart.
Soe as sure Loue can nott miss,
Since that Reason ruler is.

LISSIUS.
It seemes hee mist beefore hee had this guid.

PHILISSES.
I'me sure nott mee; I nere my hart could hid
Butt hee itt found; soe, as I well may say,
Had hee bin blind, I might haue stolne away;
Butt soe hee saw, and rul'd with reason's might,
As hee hath kil'd in mee all my delight.
Hee wounded mee, alas! with double harme,
And non butt hee can my distress vncharme.
Another wound must cure mee, or I dy.
But stay,—this is enough; I hence will fly,
And seeke the boy that strooke mee. Fare you well!
Yett make nott still your pleasures proue my hell.

LISSIUS.
Philisses now hath left us; lett's goe back,
And tend our flocks, who now our care doe lack.
Yett would hee had more pleasant parted hence,
Or that I could butt iudg the cause from whence
Thes passions grow! itt would giue mee much ease.
Since I parseaue my sight doth him displease,
I'le seek him yett, and of him truly know
What in him hath bred this unusuall woe;
If he deny mee, then I'le sweare hee hates,
Or else affects that humour which debates.
[OMITTED]

SILUESTA.
Silent woods, with desart's shade,
Giuing peace,
Wher all pleasures first ar made
To increase,
Giue your fauor to my mone
Now my louing-time is gone;
Chastity my pleasure is;
Folly fled—
From hence now I seeke my blis,
Cross loue dead,
In your shadows I repose.
You then, loue, I now haue chose.

MUSELLA.
Choise ill made were better left,
Beeing cross;
Of such choise to bee bereft
Were no loss.
Chastity you thus commend
Doth proceed butt from loue's end;
And if loue the fountane was
Of your fire,
Loue must chastitie surpas
In desire.
Loue lost, bred your chastest thought—
Chastity by loue is wrought.

SILUESTA.
O poore Musella! now I pitty thee.
I see thou'rt bound who most haue made vnfree.
'Tis true disdaine of my loue made mee turne,
And hapily, I think, butt you to burne
In loue's faulce fires yourself. Poor soule, take heed—
Bee sure, beefor you too much pine to speede!
You know I loued haue—behold by gaine!
This you dislike I purchas'd with loue's paine;
And true-felt sorrow yett my answer was
From (my then deere) Philisses. You must pas
Vnlou'd by mee, and for your owne good leaue
To vrg that which, most vrg'd, can butt deseaue
Your hopes; for know Musella is my loue.
As, then, of duty I should noe more moue,
And this his will hee gott, yett nott his minde,
For yett itt seemes you are noe less vnkind.

MUSELLA.
Wrong mee nott, chast Siluesta! 'Tis my greif
That from poore mee hee will nott take reliefe.

SILUESTA.
What! will hee lose what hee did most desire?

MUSELLA.
Soe is hee led away with iealous fire,
And this, Siluesta, butt to you I speak;
For sonner should my hart with silence break,
Then any els should heere mee thus much say
Butt you, who I know will nott mee betray.

SILUESTA.
Betray Musella!—sonner will I dy!
Noe, I do loue you; nor will help deny
That lies in mee to bring your care to end,
Or seruice which to your content may tend;
For when I lou'd Philisses as my lyfe,
Parseauing hee lou'd you, I kill'd the strife
Which in mee was; yett doe I wish his good,
And for his sake loue you, though I withstood
Good fortunes. This chast lyfe well pleaseth mee,
And yett ioy most if you tow hapy bee.
Few would say this, butt fewer would itt doe;
Butt th'one I lou'd, and loue the other two.

MUSELLA.
I know you lou'd him, nor could I the less
Att time loue you; soe did hee posses
My hart as my thought, all harts sure must yeild
To loue him most and best. Who in this field
Doth liue, and haue nott had some kind of touch
To like him?—butt O, you and I to much!

SILUESTA.
Mine is now past; tell mee now what yours is,
And I'l wish butt the meanes to work you blis.

MUSELLA.
Then know, Siluesta, I Philisses loue;
Butt hee, allthough (or that because) hee loues,
Doth mee mistrust. Ah! can such mischief moue
As to mistrust her who such passion proues!
Butt soe hee doth, and thinks I haue Lissius made
Master of my affections, which hath staid
Him euer yett from letting mee itt know
By words, allthough hee hids itt nott from show.
Some times I faine would speake, then straite forbeare,
Knowing itt most vnfitt—thus woe I beare!

SILUESTA.
Indeed a woman to make loue is ill;
Butt heere, and you may all thes sorrowes kill.
Hee, poore distressed sheapherd! eu'ry morne,
Befor the sunn to our eyes new is borne,
Walks in this place, and heer alone doth cry
Against his lyfe and your great cruelty.
Now, since you loue soe much, come butt and find
Him in thes woes, and show yourself butt kind;
You sonne shall see a hart soe truly wunn,
As you would nott itt miss to bee vndunn.

MUSELLA.
Siluesta, for this loue I can butt say
You haue of mee—
That peece of hart which is nott giuen away
Shalbee your owne; the rest will you obserue
As fauor of tow harts, which tow will serue
You euer—soe true and constant loue,
Your chastity ittself shall itt aproue.

SILUESTA.
I doe beleeue itt; for in soe much worth
As liues in you, vertue must needs spring forth.
And for Philisses, I loue him, and will
In chastest seruice hinder still his ill.
Then keepe your time—alas! lett him nott dy
For whom soe many sufferd misery.

MUSELLA.
Lett mee noe ioy receaue if I neglect
This kind aduise, or him I soe respect.

SILUESTA.
Farewell, Musella!—loue and hapy bee.

[Exit.
MUSELLA.
And bee thou blest that thus doth comfort mee!

[Exit.
PHILISSES.
O, wreched man! and thou, all-conquering loue!
Which showst thy pouer still on haples mee,
Yett giue mee leaue in thes sweet shades to moue;
Rest but to show my killing miserie;
And bee once pleas'd to know my wrecched fate,
And somthing pitty my ill and my state.
Could euer Nature or the heauns e're frame
Soe rare a part—so like themselues deuine—
And yett that work be blotted with the blame
Of cruelty, and dark bee who should shine;
To bee the brightest star of deerest prise,
And yett to murder harts which to her cries
Cry, and euen att the point of death, for care.
Yett have I nothing left mee butt dispaire.
Despaire! O, butt despaire, alas, hath hope!
Noe better portion, nor a greater scope.
Well, then, dispaire with my life coupled bee,
And for my soddaine end doe soune agree.
Ah mee, vnfortunate! would I could dy
Butt soe soune as this company I fly!

[Exit.
DALINA-CLIMENA-SIMENA-FILLIS-DALINA.
Now wee're alone, lett euery one confess
Truly to other what our lucks haue bin—
How often lik'd and lou'd; and soe express
Our passions past. Shall wee this sport beegin?
Non can accuse vs, non can vs betray,
Vnles our selues our owne selues will bewray.

FILLIS.
I like this; butt will each one truly tell?

CLIMENA.
Trust mee, I will;—who doth nott, doth nott well.

SIMENA.
I'le plainly speake; butt who shalbe the first?

DALINA.
I can say least of all, yett I will speake:—
A sheapherd once ther was—and nott the wurst
Of these were most esteem'd—whose sleepe did breake
With loue, forsouthe, of mee: I found itt, thought
I might haue him att leasure, lik'd him nott.
Then was ther to our house a farmer brought,
Rich and liuely; butt those bought nott his lott
For loue. Tow folly youthes att last her came,
Which both mee thought I very well could loue;
When one was absent, t'other had the name;
In my staid hart hee present did most moue.
Both att a time in sight, I scarce could say
Which of the tow I then would wish away;
Butt they found how to chuse, and as I was
Like changing, like vnsertaine, lett me pass.

LISSIUS.
I would nott this beeleeue, if other tongue
Should this report, butt think itt had bin wrong;
Butt since you speake this, could nott you agree
To chuse some one, butt this vnchosen bee?

DALINA.
Truly, nott I. I plainly tell the truth,
Yett doe confess 'twas folly in my youth,
Which now I'le mend; the next that comes I'le haue;
I will noe more bee foulish, nor delay,
Since I do see the lads will labor saue—
One answere rids them, I'le noe more say nay;
But if hee say, “Dalina, will you love?”
And “Thank you,” I'le say, “if you will proue.”—
The next go on, and tell what you haue dunn.

SIMENA.
I am the next, and haue butt losses wunn;
Butt yett I constant was, thoug still reiected.
Lou'd, and nott lou'd, I was lik'd and neglected;
Yett now some hope reuiues, when loue, thought dead,
Cloth'd like the spring young bud when leaues ar fled.

FILLIS.
Your hap's the better—would mine were as good!
Though I as long as you dispised stood—
For I have lou'd, and lou'd butt only one—
Yett I disdained could butt receaue that mone
Which others doe for thousands,—so vniust
Is Loue to those who in him most do trust!
Nor did I euer lett my thoughts bee showne
Butt to Musella, who all els hath knowne,
Which was—long time I had Philises lou'd,
And euer would, though hee did mee dispise;
For then, allthough hee euer cruell prou'd,
From him, nott mee, the fault must needs arise;
And if Simena thus, your brother deere,
Should bee vnkind, my loue shall still bee cleere.

SIMENA.
'Tis well resolu'd; but how lik'd she your choyse?
Did she or blame or els your mind commend?

FILLIS.
Niether she seem'd to dislike or reioice,
Nor did commend I did this loue intend,
Butt, smiling, said 'twere best to bee aduised:
Comfort itt were to win, butt death dispisde.

SIMENA.
I doe beeleeve her. But Climena yett
Hath nothing said: wee must nott her forgett.

CLIMENA.
Why, you haue said enough for you and mee;
Yett, for your sakes I will the order keepe,
Who, though I stranger heere by birthe I bee,
And in Arcadia euer kept my sheepe,
Yett heere itt is my fortune with the rest
Of you to like, and, louing, bee oprest;
For since I came I did a louer turne,
And turne I did, indeed, when I lou'd heere,
Since for another I in loue did burne,
To whom I thought I had bin held as deere;
Butt was deseau'd, when I for him had left
My friends and country, was of him bereft
And all, but that you kindly did imbrace
And welcome mee into the hapy place,
Wher, for your sakes, I ment to keep some sheep,
Nott doubting euer to bee more deseau'd;
Butt now, alas! I am anew beereau'd
Of hart. Now time itt is myself to keepe,
And lett flocks goe, vnles Simeana please
To giue consent, and soe giue mee some ease.

SIMENA.
Why, what have I to do with whom you loue?

CLIMENA.
Beecause 'tis hee who doth your passion moue.

SIMENA.
He! les I fear the wining of his loue,
Since all my faith could neuer so much moue;
Yett can hee nott soe cruell euer bee,
Butt hee may liue my miserie to see.

CLIMENA.
And when his eyes to loue shall open bee,
I trust he will turne pitty vnto mee,
And lett me haue reward which is my due.

SIMENA.
Which is your due! What pitty's due to you?
Dreame you of hope? O, you to high aspire!
Think you to gaine by kindling an old fire?

CLIMENA.
My loue wilbee the surer when I know,
Nott loue alone, butt how loue to bestow.

SIMENA.
You make him yett, for all this, butt to bee
The second in your loue; soe was nott hee
In mine, butt first and last—of all the chiefe—
That can to mee bring sorrow or reliefe.

CLIMENA.
This will nott winn him! You may taulke and hope,
Butt in loue's passages ther is larg scope.

SIMENA.
'Tis true; and you haue scope to chang and chuse—
To take and dislike—like, and soune refuse.

CLIMENA.
My loue as firme is to him as is thine.

SIMENA.
Yett mine did euer rise—neuer decline.
Noe other mou'd in mee the flames of loue;
Yett you dare hope as much as I to moue!
Folly, indeed, is prou'd—and only vaine;
And you his seruants feeds with hope of gaine.

CLIMENA.
I loue him most, Simena; I loue him best: can you
Chaleng reward—and can nott say you'r true?

SIMENA.
In this you wrong mee; faulce I haue nott binne,
Butt chang'd on cause, Climena. Well, now, you hope to winn
This secound; yett I, like those, lose noe time.
Butt can you thinke that you can this way clime
To your desires? This showes you loue haue tri'd,
And that you can both chouse and choise deuide.
Butt take your course, and win him if you can,—
And I'le proseed in truth, as I began.

DALINA.
Fy! what a lyfe is heere about for loue!
Neuer could itt in my hart thus much moue.
This is the reason men ar growne soe coy,
When they parseaue wee make their smiles our ioy.
Lett them alone, and they will seeke and sue;
Butt yeeld to them, they will with scorne poursue;
Hold awhile of, they'll kneele, nay, follow you,
And vowe and sweare, yett all their othes vntrue;
Lett them once see you coming, then they fly;
Butt strangly looke, and they'll for pitty cry.
And let them cry!—ther is noe euill dunn:
They gaine butt that which you might els haue wunn.

SIMENA.
Is this your counsell? Why, butt now you said
Your folly had your loues and good betraid;
And that heerafter you would wiser bee
Then to disdaine such as haue left you free.

DALINA.
'Tis true that was the course I ment to take;
Butt this must you doe your owne ends to make.
I haue my fortunes lost—yours doe beginn,
And to cross those could bee noe greater sinn.
I know the world; and heare mee, this I aduise—
Rather then to soune wunn, bee too presise.
Nothing is lost by beeing carefull still,
Nor nothing soe soune wun as louer's ill.—
Heer Lissius comes: alas, hee is loue-strooke!
Hee's euen now learning loue without the booke.

LISSIUS.
Loue, pardon mee! I know I did amiss
When I thee scorn'd, or thought thy blame my bliss.
I pitty mee—alas, I pitty craue!
Doe nott sett trophies on my luckles graue.
Though I, poore slaue and ignorant! did scorne
Thy blesed name, lett nott my hart be torne
With thus much torture. O, butt looke on mee!
Take mee, a faithfull seruant, now to thee!

CLIMENA.
Deere Lissius—my deere Lissius—fly mee nott!
Lett nott both scorne and absence bee my lott.

LISSIUS.
Pray lett me goe—you know I can nott loue;
Doe nott thus farr my pasience striue to moue.

CLIMENA.
Why, cruell Lissius! wilt thou neuer mend,
Butt still increase thy frounes for my sad end?

LISSIUS.
Climeana, 'tis enough that I haue saide;
Bee gon and leaue mee! Is this for a maide
To follow and to haunt mee thus? You blame
Mee for disdaine, butt see nott your owne shame.
Fy! I doe blush for you! A woman woo!
The most vnfittest, shamfullst thing to doo.

CLIMENA.
Vnfitt and shamefull, I,—indeed 'tis true,
Since sute is made to hard, relentles you.
Well, I will leaue you and restore the wrong
I suffer for my louing you too long;
Noe more shall my words trouble you, nor I
E're follow more, if nott to see mee dy.

[Exit.
LISSIUS.
Farewell! you now doe right; this is the way
To wine my wish; for when I all neglect
That seek mee, she must needs something respect
My loue the more. And what though she should say
I once denide her, yett my true-felt paine
Must needs from her soft brest some fauor gaine.

DALINA.
Lissius is taken! Well said, Cupid! Now
You partly haue parform'd your taken vow.
Of all our sheapheards, I nere thought that hee
Would of thy foulish troupe a follower bee.
Butt this itt is a goddess to dispise,
And thwart a wayward boy who wants his eyes.
Come, lett's nott trouble him: hee is distrest
Enough—hee neede nott bee with vs oprest.

SIMENA.
I'le stay, and aske him who 'tis hee doth loue.

DALINA.
Do nott a pensiue hart to passion moue.

SIMENA.
To passion! Would I could his passion find,
To answere my distress'd and griued mind!

DALINA.
Stay, then, and try him, and your fortune try;
Itt may bee hee loues you. Come, lett's goe by.

LISSIUS.
O, sweet Simena! looke butt on my paine!
I grieue and curse myself for my disdaine;
Now butt haue pitty—loue doth make me serue;
And for your wrong and you I will reserue
My lyfe to pay, your loue butt to deserue,
And for your sake I doe my lyfe preserue.

SIMENA.
Preserue itt nott for mee; I seeke nott now,
Nor can I creditt this, nor any vow
Which you shall make. I was to long dispis'd
To bee deseau'd; noe, I will bee aduis'd
By my owne reason: loue shall noe more blind
Mee, nor make mee beeleeue more then I find.

LISSIUS.
Beeleeue butt that, and I shall haue the end
Of all my paine and wishes. I pretend
A vertuous loue; then grant mee my desire,
Who now doe wast in true and faithfull fire.

SIMENA.

LISSIUS.

SIMENA.
Nor lett the least cloud rise to dim this light,
Which loue makes to apeere with true delight.
[Exit.
[OMITTED]

VENUS-CUPID.
Now haue thy torments long enough indur'd,
And of thy force they are enough assur'd.
O, hold thy hands! as I pitty now
Thos whose great pride did whilum scorne to bow,
Thou hast parform'd thy promise, and thy state
Now is confest;—O, slacken, then, thy hate!
They humble doe theyr harts and thoughts to thee:
Beehold them, and accept them, and milde bee.
Thy conquest is sufficient, saue the spoyles,
And them only taken bee in toyles;
Butt sett att liberty againe,—to tell
Thy might and clemency, which doth excell.

CUPID.
I meane to saue them, butt some yett must try
More paine ere they theyr blessings may come ny;
Butt in the end all shall bee well againe,
And sweetest is that loue obtain'd with paine.

MUSIQUE.
Loue! thy powerfull hand withdraw—
All doe yeeld vnto thy law.
Rebells now thy subiects bee—
Bound they are who late were free;
Most confess thy power and might,
All harts yeeld vnto thy right.
Thoughts directed ar by thee;
Souls doe striue thy ioys to see.
Pitty, then, and mercy giue
Vnto them wher you doe liue;
They your images doe proue—
In them you may see great loue;
They your mirours—you theyr eye,
By which they true loue doe spy.
Cease awhile theyr cruell smarts,
And beehold theyr yeelding harts.
Greater glory 'tis to saue
When that you a conquest haue,
Then with tiranny to press,
Which still make the honor les.
Gods doe prinses' hands direct—
Then to thes haue some respect.

CUPID.
Now your part coms to play;
In this you must somthing sway.
Soe you shall, and I, your child,
When you bid, can soone bee milde.