University of Virginia Library

Scene 3.

Leonida, and Paris encounter.
Paris in Shepheards apparrel.
Leonida.
What M'etamorphis's this? Paris a Druy'd
Become a Shepherd?

Paris.
Even such, well view'd,
All pow'rful Love transform'd all pow'rful Jove,
No wonder Mortals such Effects do prove:
But could you view my Inside, you should see,
Paris within yet far more chang'd to be.
My thoughts do feel an universal Spring,
And charm themselves with Harmony they sing:
Each Fancy doth beget a various Flow'r,
(As doth, in April, a distilling Show'r)
T'enamel richly our Hymenal Wreath,
Which shall with every wanton Zephire breath
More fragrant odors, then th'Arabian hils,
When each perfumed Leaf with hony fils
The no more busie Bee, who thus o'reflown
With plenty of delight, becomes a Drone;
While we there with be'ing crown'd by Virgin hands,
Unite our Souls in everlasting Bands.

Leonida.
Oh excellent! But whence all this? or why?

Paris.
To welcome my fulfraught Felicity;
Thou know'st my Love to Diana, and how
My Father gladly did the same allow;
My wingie Passions, greedy of their Prey,
Have got the Mothers Will; Children obey:
So said she, when my Love I did disclose;
She had no Pow'r, Bellinda must dispose.
Our Parents are agreed, the Contract's don,
And nothing wanting but to morrows Sun.
Who shall with such a Rev'rence be beheld,
As other Lights, Himself he had excel'd.

Leonida.
Inure your Pass'ions to a milder Strain,
You are not sure Diana's Will to gain.

Paris.
She is the Image of true Piety;
Her Obedience to doubt were Her'esie:
But here in vain my howers I do waste,
To find her out I will renew my haste.
My stay here was my Happ'iness to make known,
Which was imperfect till to others shown.

Exit.
Leonida.
'Tis very suddain, this Report be'ing true,
To Sylvander, pray Heav'n, no Ill ensue.
Alexis appears.
Now fair disguised Druy'd, what monstrous Race
Must we expect of this Cloud you imbrace?
Thrice hath the Moon fil'd full her horned Crest:
And thrice again her Orb she hath deprest,
Since you this Habit took, and yet I see
Of this our Purpose no Fertility,
Unless you do delight your self t'inflict,
(As did the Gods their Host, they did convict)
Plac'd in happiness to the very Lip,
Yet not suffer your thirsty Soul to sip.

Alexis.
Here cause is of your Pitty.

Leonida.
Or my Blame,
That you so often have abus'd the same;
Frustrating It with your own self-Neglect.

Alexis.
Blame rather my Love's too severe Respect.

Leonida.
Respect, to what?

Alexis.
To what I do obey.

Leonida.
Which her Repentance cancels ev'ry day;
Those Tributes of her Love she pays to thee,
Are Sacrifices to thy Memory,
Unto her dead; not by hers, but thy Guilt
Art thou become so, since so it thou wilt:
Nor do I think she would thee e're forgive,
Knew she thou from her hold'st whom thou could'st give:
How oft thee in her am'rous Arms inchain'd,
Hath she thee in her stifled Sighings nam'd.
Wishing thee Such, yet jealous of each Ear,
Scatter'd the Motions of her modest Fear
Into her Cheeks, which there such Thoughts betray'd,
As such, she would thou wert, she were afraid.

Alexis.
This be'ing granted, why doth she not revoke
Her own Sentence, and ease me of my Yoke?

Leonida.
She knows not that you are, or if she did,
Not knowing where you are, why it forbid?
Advise betimes, you long not conceal'd can,
A womans Habit long not hides a Man:
Besides, if such discov'ry you befal,
To Adamas 'twill be Reproach, to All.

Alexis.
Alas! I often it attempted have,
But want of Courage oft Repulses gave.

Leonida.
See, see, is this an Object to affright?
Astrea appears.
It rather is an Object to invite;
Still so intentive on your am'rous Chase,
Astrea aboards Alexis and kisses her.
I know you Celadon rather had imbrace
Then this fair Druy'd; Nay, let not his fair Name
Dye those fair Roses in a deeper Stain,
Unless it be it silently t'avow,
That is no Crime to which the Gods do bow.

Astræa.
Fair Nymph, I know not why I should aver
Before Alexis Love I His prefer.

Leonida.
In vain you do from me your Passions hide,
I have to trace them a more subtile Guide
Then you yet know of, who hath to me shown
Each passage of your Loves to your selves known:
For proof whereof, the Cause of his late Death
Was not, as you report; your Aid, but Breath.

Astræa.
I am amaz'd with wonder; but whereby
Comes this to your Knowledge?

Leonida.
Ile satisfie
Your Thoughts in that, provided you conceal,
As religi'ous Secrets, what I reveal.

Astræa.
I shall.

Leonida.
My Uncle hath a secret Art,
Which he to me not long since did impart;
By which, of what is, was, or yet shall be.
We have true Knowledge: this said Mysterie
Inlightned me in what I you disclos'd,
And more had said, had you it not oppos'd.

Astræa.
It were a second Inj'ury to his Love,
Should I deny that I such Passion prove;
Nor shall ought I can hear of him offend,
Unless it be the Subject of his End.

Leonida.
If you him love, you would him wish to see.

Astræa.
Beyond imaginary Felicity.

Leonida.
Then know, the Power of my Art Ile try,
Provided you your Succor not deny.

Astræa.
I am afraid we shall disturb the Peace
Of his eternal Rest.

Leonida.
Those your Fears cease.

Astræa.
Nor shall I Courage have to see the Ayre
With horror maskt, while you your Charms prepare.

Leonida.
Nothing less, th'Ayre shall be more calm, more bright,
And smile on each thing with more fresh delight.
Each Tree, and Flower, reassume their Spring,
Each aery Chorister more cleerly sing.

Astræa.
I do assent.

Leonida.
Then you must first untie
What your Command impos'd; That to your eye
He may appear.

Astræa.
If my Love still have force
To reunite, as it had to divorce;
Celadon, I command thee to appear,
And leave those Bonds of thy respectful Fear.

Leonida.
Leonida with a book of Characters in one hand, and a bough in the other, after many turnings, kneels and invokes.
Enough. You happy Spirits, who still prove
The everflourishing delights of Love;
Afford us One from your Society,
We will rear Altars to your Diety.
There he is, do you not him see?

Astræa.
Not I.

Leonida.
Your Intents wanting to his Liberty,
Although your Words seem essent'al to be.

Astræa.
They both are truly present.

Alexis.
So is he;
Alexis fals on his knee and imbraces Astrea's.
Recieve thy Cel'adon, whom the milder Wave,
Least it should quench his Flame, deny'd a Grave.

Astræa.
Why do you mock me? sweet Alexis rise.

Alexis.
Alexis I am not, but in Disguise;
See here the spoiles unwittingly I forc'd
She shews her from her breast first a ribbon, then a picture,
From thy fair self, when from't I was divorc'd;
Or if thy Celadon thou knowest not,
See if thine own Face thou hast not forgot.

Astræa.
Ah cruel wretch! thy Impr'dence hath betray'd,
With thy false Charms, the Modesty of a Maid:
Thou Impudent Attempter 'gainst my Fame,
How dar'st thou to thy Treach'eries seal thy Name?
Or before me thy self thus represent,
Whose knowledge all my life I must repent:
Disl'yal Deceiver! haste thee from mine Eye
Unto thy Ruine, hence, away and dye;
Since thou had'st Courage to incur my Hate,
Take it again the Same to expiate.

Alexis.
Still honour'd Mistris, I ne're did attend,
He holds her, who struggles to be gone.
To what you me reproach, a fairer End;
Yet since you do Deaths Sentence me pronounce,
Tell me what kind of Death you do denounce.

She flings from him, whom Leonida runs after.
Astræa.
Such as thou wilt, so thou maist cease to be.

But seeing Celadon flie another way, she pursues him with distraction.
Leonida.
Astræa, Celadon, why thus disagree.