University of Virginia Library

Scen. 3.

NEREA. AMINTAS.
Ner.
And wouldst thou then that I should speak of love
To Celia, and that for Niso too?
A hard employment to perswade a heart
Estrang'd from love, to love a stranger streight.

Amynt.
O gentle Nerea, full well I know
No enterprize in Love can seem too hard
For thee to undertake, who canst dispose
Of Loves great Empire as it pleaseth thee.

Ner.
Courteous Amyntas, time once was, 'tis true,
I could doe much, when in these lips I bore
Vermilian Roses, and in these curl'd locks
A golden treasure; but when beauty fades
All force of love decaies.

Amynt.
What then thy beauty for thy self could do
Thy wit can now procure for others too,
Amongst those locks where gold then glittering shon,
Love hath sowen judgements now, and on those lips
Where formerly Vermilan Roses grew
He hath plac'd honey, and the pleasing sound
Of sweet perswasive words, for where thou goest,
The most ingenuous Bee brings to the hive
The honey sweets of love.

Ner.
O true, but yet unpleasing Simile,
I am the Bee, which now to others bring
That honey which my self must never tast.
Such is the will of love, great love, who frees
No age from love, but hath decreed that those
Who in their younger yeares themselves did love
Shall in their age be others instruments,
To win their loves, that so all Ages may,
And all men living serve his powerfull will,
Either as tinder to endure his fire,
Or steeles which send out sparkles to raise that fire,
Either as burning flames of love to all,
Or bellows to encrease those flames withall.
O what soft, delicate, and tender things
In things of love, did Nature shoure on me!
In fine, I never brook'd, nor ever shall
To be entreated in a case of love,
And to deny my help.
Behold me then Amyntas ready prest
To do whatever thou canst ask of me.
But yet (my Son) how much more willingly
Should I receive those prayers which now thou mak'st
To me for others, were they for thy self.
Fond youth (I needs must call thee so,
Though I am sure I speak but to the air)
How canst thou without shame, without disdain
And just displeasure 'gainst thy self behold
A new come stranger, one who scarce arriv'd
E'r yesterday within our native soyl,
And one that never looked since he came
But with his eyes still rowling in the dark
And gloomy shades of his approaching death?
Who yet could know how with delight to gaze
Upon that beauty, and desire it too.
Which thou, who first were born here, and bred up
Still in her sight, wouldst never look upon.

Amynt.
O Nerea I am not blind.

Ner.
But at the least thou'rt purblind, so is he,
And lookes on all a squint that can behold
So rich a beauty, and yet knows not how
Or which way to conveigh it to his heart.
For thee, Amyntas, O against thy will,
Happy Amyntas, yea for thee alone,
And yet thou know'st it not, do'st not care for't,
For thee the heavens sent fair Celia,
Do'st not beleeve me? look on her fair eyes,
Look on thine own, love gave them to you both,
That both of you might still admire and gaze
Upon your native beauties.
Those her fair curled locks, these crisped hairs.
Seem onely fram'd that each of you might tye
Each others soul in them eternally.
Her fair plump rising cheecks, thy downy chin,
Were made that each on other might repose,
After the stormy blasts of loves sad woes,
Her rosie mouth, and thy Vermillion lips,
Invite you both with mouth to mouth to taste
Those purple Strawberries which there are plac't:
Seest thou not how in her white bosom rests,
Those tender swelling, and well raised brests,
Which challenge thee into the lists of love.
And thou like a Coward dost refuse
To answer to their call? discurteous youth
Canst thou invited thus, refuse to try
Their loving force? and so in love withstand,
Eternal Fate which all things can command.

Amyn.
Ah me most miserable!

Nerea.
What's that thou saiest?

Amyn.
Nothing: Ah me! I scarce can breath a sigh.

Nerea.
And dost thou sigh? alas wherefore?
Thy heart devoyd of love, deceiv'd perhaps,
Borrows those sighs, that sighing thou maist seem
To be in love, why do I call them sighs?
Thine are no sighs: he that sighs not for love,
Sighs not but Yawns, such sighs no love can move.

Amyn.
But if those sighs be too too truly sighs,
Which issue from the bottom of my heart,
And such as I need seek no other where,
They then perhaps break out onely to shew
The secret grief enclos'd within my breast;
O Nerea, Nerea!
Perhaps the very rocks perceive ere this
That heart which thou deceived thus dost call
A heart devided? of Love, so set on fire
And burning in the lively flames it feels,
As without other help, it may find out
Cause in it self to spend these sighs about.

Nerea.
Behold a new Amyntas lately come
Out of the bosom of his Silvia,
And from beyond th' Arcadian Hills ariv'd.
Newly in Scyros here,
How feelingly he can discourse of love.
A breast, a heart, love, flames, and burning fire:
Sighs and Ah me's, all these are proper words
Taken from loves best language, and thus all
True lovers speak which are Inhabitants
Of loves great Empire: But when wer't thou there?
Or where Amyntas didst thou learn so well
To speak their mother Tongue?

Amyn.
Even in the very Center of that blest
And happy Kingdom, where loves Septer rules,
There have I been, and so that country ayre.
Pleaseth my sense, as though it seems to me,
Still turbulent and cloudy, yet no other skye
Can ever be more welcome to my eye.

Nerea.
Thou speak'st in such a tone Amyntas, and so well
Dost mix thy sighs together with thy words,
And make sad looks accompany thy sighs,
As I could almost swear thou wert in love.

Amyn.
True love cannot be feign'd: 'tis true that once
I fled from love, but since he overtook
Me in my flight, I follow him as fast.

Nerea.
Oh admirable power against whose will
Nor flight nor pollicy can ought avail.
Now blest be lov'd, great love that thus can give
Unto thy stony heart a lively sence:
But wilt thou not then tell me who she is
Whom love hath chosen for a worthy means
To do so great a work?

Amyn.
No I have told too much already, but
The tears which spring out of my heart, do cause
My tongue to glide so fast: and now 'tis time
To teach it silence.

Nerea.
Silence to me? well then be silent still.
But yet if I be she, which can dispose
Of loves great Empire, as it pleaseth me;
Perhaps one day thou wilt entreat me hear
The story of thy love, and lend thee help,
When I will be as deaf unto thy prayers,
As thou art silent to me now.

Amyn.
Good Nerea, let us talk of somewhat else,
Let us discourse of Niso, and for him
Employ thy care, for as for me, I yet,
Nor seek, nor hope, nor can desire thy help.

Nerea.
What a rude rustick lover have we here?
If love be lodg'd in a rough savage heart,
Poor love himself becomes a savage too,
And so hath neither hope nor yet desire:
But be it as thou wilt, for Niso then
I will employ my cure, and if or will,
Or Art, have any power to win a love
In his content thou shalt learn first to see,
And then repent thine error, when thou shalt
See that cold Celia, that Mass of stone,
By my endeavours, and but easie cure,
All burning in loves flame, and in these fields.
In these same very fields wherein she now,
Like a unwearyed huntress beats the ground
With her still erring foot, when thou shalt see
Her in the Arms of lovely Niso. Print
Upon these flowry banks more tender steps,
And gentler signes, of a more pleasing choice:
What then alas, what will become of thee?
I know too well that then I shall thee see,
Crying Oh help me Nerea, Oh help:
But all in vain, for then I will not help,
But laughing scorn thee for thy foolery.

Amyn.
And dost thou then Ah-me, with Celia hope:
Dost thou with Celia hope to do so much.
And that for Niso too?

Nerea.
Hope? Yes with Celia, or with any else,
More out of love, with love then she can be,
And that for Niso, or for any else,
Unhappier in love then he can be.
This I can do, and this I will doe too,
Make Niso to enjoy his Celia.

Amyn.
Ah me! I'me dead.

Nerea.
And I will make her thine, who ere she be
Whom thou desirest so, if thou wilt but
Disclose thy love to me.

Amyn.
That Niso my enjoy his Celia,
That's all I ask.

Nerea.
But wherefore dost thou then lament? in time
Demand my help, and thou shalt have it.

Amyn.
Shall Niso then, Ah me, have Celia?

Nerea.
Hee's much perplext, and certainly this man
Deceives me yet, and wisheth somewhat else,
Then he seems to desire: Ile sound his thought
Which very hardly can conceal it self:
Thou troubled soul, what i'st that greeves thee now?
Celia shall be for Niso, as thou dost desire.
Though it be true, that with less pains I could
Procure her for Amyntas, if Amyntas would
As Niso doth, burn for fair Celias love.
I know well what I say, but 'tis not fit
I should so easily discover yet,
The secret thoughts of a young virgin maid,
To him that cannot apprehend them.

Amyn.
Dost hear me Nerea? tempt me no more,
For Niso 'tis I speak, and 'tis for him
That I would have thee speak.

Nerea.
He shakes already, and will quickly fall;
Well I will do't, but if she shall be found
To him inexorable, wilt thou then
Permit me try what I can do for thee?
All women are not cruel to all men?

Amyn.
She moves my very soul, nor can I tell
How to withstand it: But poor Niso then,
What will poor Niso say?

Nerea.
Amyntas did for me more then he would
Do for himself, and therefore I rejoyce,
His bliss can rise out of my misery,
This will he say: But whereon dost thou think?
Why dost thou scratch thy head, when all the itch
Thou feel'st is in thy heart?

Amyn.
Mercy, Oh Mercy, I am overcome,
And hear me Nerea: Yet peace,
Peace tender lover, but unfaithful friend:
But I were best be gone: Nerea adieu,
Thou knowst what I desire:
I speak for Niso, dost thou conceive me?