University of Virginia Library

SCEN 3.

The Direction.
Picus
in Saphoes attyre, and in Skin other lyknes ouer his face, sowing in a Samplar, soft singing to herself Sir Philips Song ( The Time hath beene etcæt) to the tune of Green sleeues, being but a by-song to this Pastorall, sayd as followes.
Sir Philip Sydneis Song.
The Tyme hath beene that a Taudry lace
Or a Bonnet for my Ladyes grace.
A Ring of a Rish or Needles case
Would make any Lady to loue mee,
But now the world is grown so ritch,
They will haue it be it ne'er so mich,
Yet by your leaue they will keepe no tich,
The which doth not a little moue mee,
Fye vpon honestie Fye.
Your heade is full of Jelouzie.
There is no fault in my Lady
For to suspect the contrarye.

Philip Sydneye Knight. Picus alone.
Pic.
It was a Tyme when gallant Caualleeres
To please their Dames abandond Speare and sheild
And tooke the Rayle and Rocke, But now's the Tyme
Faeryes of former dayes Symplicity
Must doff their kind and habit to be auengd
On a Faeryes Treachery; Hercules
Tooke Needle to sowe in his Ladyes Samplar,
Picus I, to pricke my Dame a Leçon,
Joue Dians shape to obtayne a Goddesse, I
A womans to beguile a woman. Now,
Mistris Camilla, looke vnto your self,
I'haue besome, faith, in brine to breetch you with,
But what? He that enuironeth a Praye
Must waite his Tyme and catch it when he may.
Then be thou ready, Picus, with thy wyles,
Thy cases, thy vizards and deuices
This foreintended Comædy to Act
Now on the stage of her vntowardnes.
It was a Fashion among the Romanes
To celebrate the Holiday of Risus
(When eury Hed did grin and shew the Teeth)
With some Ridiculous and notorious Jeast,
Now then if Risus be a God as well
I do account him, I will so Polish
His spleene with the Fyle of a Jeast, that from
God Laughter I will make him to become
God Rupture, For as a Pickle of Mirth
Applyde on some will cause men gently laugh,
So the same practised vpon an Elf
Will force them burst their bounds which Bounds
Once burst a Rupture must ensewe. But what?
Least lyke an vnskilfull Preacher that drawes
His Prayer longer then he does his Sermon,
I wrest my Prologue longer then my Playe,
Since lusty gallants I am alone here
In silent groues with which there euer is
Such Joint affinity with Harmonye
I'll giue you my voice yet ere Play begin.

The Fifth Song.