University of Virginia Library

Scen. 4.

NEREA.
Either I nothing understand in love,
Or else Amyntas loves fair Celia:
But wherefore speaks he then for Niso thus?
It is perhaps a lovers folly that
Under a feigned affection seeks to prove
The faithful heart of his beloved love:
Oh ill advised youth, how darst thou tempt
A womans faith by forging new loves still?
Darst thou trust fuel in a burning flame?
Or feathers to the winde? full ill thou knowst,
How many I have seen these tryals cause
Soon to repent them of their former love;
But it may be the pitty of a friend,
Perhaps it may be so, and Niso doth,
Himself too burn for love of Celia.
And yet the simple soul Amyntas speaks
Onely for him, and doth not know that love,
Values no friend when once his force doth move:
But be it as it will, I'me glad to see
Them both sad frequent lovers yet, that so
I may be double arm'd and with more force
Give on a brave assault to that hard heart
Of pittiless, but lovely Celia.
For I will kindle in her Virgine brest,
Both these hot flames, that one at legst may take:
And pittifully paint before her eyes
Them both for love of her, brought to deaths dore,
And both from love, and from her father too.
I mean to tell her that in her own hands
The power of choice doth lye.
Th'art but a fool my Celia, if thou starve
For want of love, when to such lovers bring
Such dishes to the feast: Oh that I could,
But change, change fortunes with thee cruel Nimph.
Change and take thou my hot inflamed brest,
Or lend one thy soft golden glittering hair,
White snowy locks, with an heart all on fire.
Soft golden hairs, with an heard Iron heart,
Are Monsters too too cruel, but Ile go
And seek her out, sure I shall conquer her,
For I ner'e knew a fair young maid deny,
To love at last, if su'd to constantly.