University of Virginia Library

Scene. 4.

Leonice, Lycidas: encounter:
Leonice.
Propitious Fate; as I could wish! 'tis he;
To herself.
Now thrive my Vengeance by my subtlety.
Gentle Shepherd! saw you not pass this way
To him.
A lonely Swain, seems from himself to stray?

Lycidas.
Fair Shepherdess, how should I know the same?

Leonice.
Tis One, doth his dead Mistris Loss complain;
I heard he in the Company should be
Of Phillis, and her Servant:

Lycydas.
who is he?

Leonice.
He's sensible I see;—Tis one they call
Silander or Sylvander, slender, and tall;

To her self.
Lycidas.
By what judge you him her Servant to be?

Leonice.
By some seene freedomes of their Amity;
Which to my own Practice therein applyd,
That they are Lovers should not be deny'd,

Lycidas.
She speakes my feares; yet she a stranger is
To himself.
To them, or me, which confirmes true it is.

Leonice.
You saw none such?

Lycidas.
Not any, pass this way.

Leonice.
Good morrow Swaine.

Lycidas.
To you a better day.
Exit Leonice.
What Perfection can Man in VVoman find,
That may arrest the Levity of her Mind?

Phillis. Diana, Astræa,
She aboards Lycidas who Walks in a discontented posture. She takes him by the arme. He flings from her, goes out and she follows him.
Phillis.
VVhy walkes my Shepheard with so sad a cheare?

Lycidas.
As thou wer't innocent!—away, forbear.

Diana.
VVhat suddain change is this?

Astræa.
His hate to me,
Since his brothers death.

Diana.
Or his Jealousie.
Our purer Fire bent to each others sex,
This churlish Inmate us can never vex.

She kisses her.
Astræa.
I must not so conclude; for even now
I feel those Flames, that you so disavow,

Diana.
As how?

Astræa.
I fear by that intended Tress,
Diana having a bracelet of hair in her hand.
Others then I more favour should possess.

Diana.
Smiling, Imbraces her. They sit down seeming to finish it.
'Tis but for Wager; I am wholly Thine;
Come, thou shalt help the Residue to twine.

Astræa.
You blame th'Effects, yet still the Means supply
To administer to that Jealousie.
If Sylvander see this his Rival wear,
Impossible 'twere this Passion to forbear.

Diana.
I think she sought it with the same Intent.

Astræa.
And as unjustly you her it assent.

Diana.
As how?

Astræa.
In this to make his Enemy
Sylvander stealingly approacheth.
Triumph before determin'd Victory;
You are their Judge, and should with equal Eye,
As doth the Sun, reflect your Clemency.

Diana.
And surpriseth them.
She for this Favour made to me her suit.

Astræa.
And you, like Fortune, must reject the mute.

Sylvander.
Kneels to Diana.
If nothing else remain, on bended knee
I shall for It devoutest Suppli'ant be.

Astræa.
How, Sylvander! are you become so bold
T'intrude your Mistris privacies, t'unfold
Her secrets?

Sylvander.
Fair Shepherdess, th'are mine Own,
Which not of her learnt, are to my Self unknown.
But my rude Fate leads now but me to show
In m'Enemies Glory mine own overthrow.
Fair Mistris, if but your self to free
Fro'th' violence of Importunity,
You granted this: to greater Flames designe
Your equal Bounties; hers cannot equal mine.

Astræa.
Why so? one Object doth you both inflame;
Why follows not, th'Effects should be the same?

Sylvander.
Diff'rence is not from th'Agents Quality,
But from the Pati'ent's Incapacity;
So doth the equal Sun on either shine,
Corrupt the Dunghil, but enrich the Myne.

Astræa.
Then must her Love of yours th'Advantage gain,
Since hers produceth what yours can't obtain.

Sylvander.
Not by defect of Love, but unjust Fate,
Which 'gainst the worthi'st still doth bend his hate.

Astræa.
You have a double Conquest still in me;
Your En'my will your Intercessor be.
Shall Phillis Int'rest 'gainst us both prevail?
To Diana.
My Share's but light if't cannot turn the Scale.

Diana.
To Astrea.
You wrong my Love Competitor to take;
The expir'd terme must restitution make.

She flings Sylvander the bracelet.
Sylvander.
To Phillis returning somewhat disturbed, he shews the bracelet.
As for my Beeing such Gratitude I owe,
I pay it you, since you it better so.
Where's now your boasting Ensignes of Desert?

Phillis.
The want thereof that doth on thee revert.

Sylvander.
How mean you that?

Phillis.
To th'Ballance light in weight
Must still be added a superflu'ous Freight.

Sylvander.
So doth the Envi'ous miserable blame
What his own fruitless Travel can't obtain.

Phillis.
To Diana and Astræa.
It is to you my just Ire should extend,
Who violate the rights of Judge and Friend.

Sylvander.
Fair Mistris, prudent Love that reads our hearts,
Hath justly thus rewarded our Deserts;
For now you see her Jealousie doth prove,
That she incapable is of true Love.

Phillis.
How so?

Sylvander.
Love still is an active desire,
Kindled by vertue of a secret Fire;
But Jealousie (you know) a passive Fear,
Which always barren coldness Ensigns bear;
In one at once Contraries cannot be,
Nor Phillis feel both Love and Jealousie.

Phillis.
The coldest Flint oft Fire doth unfold.

Sylvander.
But yet the fire ne're produceth cold.

Phillis.
Ashes, which are, it doth.

Sylvander.
So't may be sed,
Jealousie is sign of Love, but Love that's dead.

Diana.
As ancient Ruines signs of Buildings are;
Not that still Such they be, but such they were.

Phillis.
My Judge m'Adversary? my cause must fail,
Sylvander lets fall a Letter.
When they should It protect, do it assail.

Astræa.
No more of this Subject; for as I fear,
Phillis in this Case hath a Cause more near.

Phillis takes it up.
Phillis.
'Tis Celadons; how comes it to his hand?

Astræa.
His Mistris that of him may best command.

Diana.
Servant: whose Letters this? to whom addrest?

Sylvander.
With a little astonishment, misses the Letter.
That on my Heart your Beauties have exprest,
Confer'd with th'Inscription, 'To you which are
Of all the most Beloved and most Fair;
From your faithful, unhappy servant, me.

Diana.
If so, this would your own hand-writing be.

Sylvander.
Finding a better Secretar'e then I,
With his Expressions I mine own supply;
Which must proceed from some Agent divine,
Since it to your Hand comes, as't came to mine.

Diana.
What riddle's this?

Sylvander.
Last night o're charg'd with thought,
In yonder Grove my Sense asleep was brought;
Waking, with wonder I was seis'd to find
So lively Characters of my dying Mind,
Which I intended to your Self; but see
My better Genius hath prevented me.

Diana.
Could you not, think you, guide us to that place?

Sylvander.
Takes her by the hand and leads her out. They follow
My best Endeavours shall that Hope imbrace.