University of Virginia Library

Scen 2.

Cloris. Melisso.
Clo.
Celia, my Celia:
But shee's not here, nor answers to my call.

Mel.
Ah daughter Cloris!

Clo.
Alas my father! whither now so fast?
Why with so sad a look?

Mel.
To thee I come my child.

Clo.
To me so troubled? woes me what's the cause?
What is the sad misfortune that you bring?

Mel.
Thracians arriv'd in Scyros: to this shore,
Death comes conducted by thine enemies:
Thou know'st too well, how that great Tyrant seeks,
And thirsteth for thy bloud.

Clo.
Ah me Thirsis, ô Thirsis!
Ah my dearest Soul!

Mel.
But fear not daughter; and yet prithee fear,
Fear, yea and tremble too; a surer Guard,
Then fear is, cannot now preserve thee safe;
In thine own hands thy welfare then consists;
And to a tender maidens heart, an easier help
Cannot be well prescrib'd then fear.

Clo.
You are deceiv'd Sir: Heaven yet denies
To grant me such a favour, as to fear:
Whil'st I am unresolv'd, and cannot learn,
Whether my Thirsis be alive or dead.
I cannot well tell whether I should fear,
Or rather seek mine end,
O Thirsis, Thirsis!
If I a thousand times on thy loud name
Have cal'd in vain, at least in this so great,
So suddain danger, answer me, and say,
Art thou alive or dead?
Dead or alive my Thirsis, tell me, Dear
Where must I seek thee out, amongst the cold
And naked shadows of uncloathed souls,
Or amongst living Men?

Mel.
Poor silly fool; See how her fancy raves
Still upon love: Dost thou beleeve that death
Bears such an Amorous look, that thou darst play
Thus with thy love, whilest he sits on thy Brow?

Clo.
If my lov'd Thrisis be amongst the dead,
Death cannot but seem lovely then to me.
And if perhaps (dear Father) you have sought
Out of a needless pitty to my woe,
Still to conceal his death:
High Heaven then (I know not which to say)
Reward, or pardon, this your pious fraud,
For what is past already: But since Fate
By these rude Thracians hands, doth open now,
So large a Path unto my wished end;
Cease then at last that merciful deceit,
Which is to me so cruel: For if death
Have seiz'd upon my Thirsis, then I know
That Death and He expect me both below.
And since he sees me now so neer the Bark
That may transport me thither, loe me thinks
I see him come to meet me: and whilest he
Kinde loving soul, puts forth his hand to me,
Shall I turn back from him? Ay me!

Mel.
With those deep sighs, let all thy fancies end,
Thy Thirsis lives, I say, thy Thirsis lives;
But thou art too incredulous: I oft
Have sworn by Heaven and Earth tis true; yet thou
Wilt not beleeve it; see I swear again,
Again he lives, and to thy love he lives,
And to thy Spousal Rites, and to thy Life
His Life he still preserves.

Clo.
Is it then true, and may it be beleev'd?
Lives yet my Thirsis? shall I ever see
That day, when I may see him once again?

Mel.
Thou shalt, if thou wilt but attend the time:

Clo.
But when, how long, how long shall that time be?

Mel.
Not long: Dost thou not see that Heaven which brings
And Marshals all our days, is restless still,
And in continual motion hastens on
With all the speed it can?
Suffer the Fates then to produce their Will
In their appointed time, and force them not
By an abortive Birth to bring thy Hopes,
To an untimely end.

Clo.
What shall I doe then, where, which way shall I
Defend my Life from cruel Thracians Hands,
Already I do fear and tremble.

Mel.
Even Hope it self, hath taught thee now to fear.

Clo.
Will you that in the Fields, the Woods, the Caves
I hide my self, or seek remoter parts?

Mel.
But what remoter Parts can be found out,
Where thou mayst follow either Beasts or Heards,
And not a Thracian trace thee by thy steps.
A Fair young Maid, if she remain alone
In secret places, cannot be secure
Where Thracians walk the Round.

Clo.
Will you that then I Sail-unto the Rocks?
Thither 'tis certain neither Beasts nor Heards
Can draw the greedy Thracians to pursue me,
Ile go, and if I cannot finde a Barke
Ready to waft me from this luckless Shore,
Though yet the troubled Sea, be not at rest
Ile Swim to save my Life.

Mel.
Fear makes thee now too bold: shal a weak Maid
By swimming, dare to press the angry Waves
Of a tumultuous Sea? Swim to the Rocks?
No, no, my Child, not in a well Rigd Boat.
The Coast is full of People, on the Shore
The Thracian Captain, keeps his Residence.

Clo.
Is there no way left for me to escape?

Mel.
I with my Hooks and Nets, will towards the Sea,
Direct my steps, pretending there to fish,
And so shall spie which way the Thracians tend,
And 'ert be long return to thee again
With a more sure advice.

Clo.
And wretched I, what shall I do the while?

Mel.
Wait here abouts, in open view of all,
Th' art yet secure, and till I shall return
Leave all the care to me: Let none perceive
That either flight or fear, sits on thy Brow:
If Nimphs come here for shade, doubt not to put
Thy self into their company, discourse,
And laugh, and play, and pass the time away.
If thus the Thracians finde thee with thy fears,
Thou mayst perhaps pass unregarded.
And yet I know not how those eyes of thine
Send forth a sparkling light, which cannot shine,
In any eyes besides; it shewes it self
But too too glorious, such resplendant beams
Cannot remain conceal'd.
Let fall thy hair in some quaint wanton guise
Over thy forehead, that in part it may
Cover those darting looks: The less thou shewst,
Fair as thou art the less thou shalt appear
Like to thy self.

Clo.
See not my hair alone dis-cheveld, but
My Vail let loose; Oh me I'm too too rude.

Mel.
And yet th'art not less fair, but thy best guard
Consists in the discretion of thy words.
Dost thou remember what was taught thee, when
Thou wert a little pratling Girle: Canst thou
Answer to him shall ask thee who thou art?

Clo.
Yes, very well.

Mel.
Answer me then. What is thy name?

Clo.
Cloris,

Mel.
Where wert thou born?

Clo.
In Smyrna.

Mel.
Who begot thee there?

Clo.
Melisso of Armilla.

Mel.
Thirsis?

Clo.
I know not who you mean.

Mel.
Eillis?

Clo.
I understand you not.

Mel.
Thracia?

Clo.
I never yet was there.

Mel.
Right, right, 'tis right, such thy Answers be
Beware of faultring if thou love thy life.
Does no man here us? See there comes a Nymph
Down from the Wood.

Clo.
Oh, oh 'tis Celia, Shee that hath my heart,
Shee whom I wandred up and down to find.

Mel.
Stay then with her.