University of Virginia Library

Scene 1.

Alexis.
Lonely Drsert! affrighting Solitude!
Such winding Path like Error hath indu'd
My wilder Thoughts; whose Turnings as thine might
Lead to the entrals of eternal Night;
How you become my Fortunes thus o'regrown
With Time, and Neglect, and thus still alone:
No rude Hand comes to fell your high rais'd Crown,
To lop your Branches, or your Trunks cut down,
Unless some Tempest do a Member tear;
Yet none, but such, as long corrupted were,
Which like a faithful Surgeon takes away,
Lest it the Whole to ruin should betray;
While you close rank't in your united Band,
His rude Incounter securely withstand.
Alas, my scatter'd Thoughts disbanded are,
And wage against themselves a civil War,
In their divided discord laying waste,
What should, like thine, a mournful Peace have grac't;
The Cause I would relate; But that, I fear,
It would to you it self so much endear;
In tears you would your fertile Juyce dispend,
So with your fragrant Burthens you would end
Continual Food her Altars to supply,
Whose acceptable Sacrifice, I dye.
Ne're Victim yet immolish't twice became,
'Tis only I must suffer twice the same;
And since my Love all others doth exceed,
'Tis fit more often I for it should bleed:
Nor yet Astræa, shall less cruel Fate,
As once before, again renew thy Hate.
Not thy Sentence to shun, I yet do live,
But greater glory I the same may give;
My better Genius prompts me to an Act
Doth hitherto mine own sought End protract,
Wherein, as Authors, those fair Eys shall be
True VVitness to true Loves Fidelity;
I hear the Boughs rustle; my self Ile hide,
Retires.
Lest to prevent me Fate some hither guide.

Sylvander.
Wy 'gainst the Heav'ns irrevocable Decree
Yet struggles this my weak Humanity?
If it not pow'r have these twins to divorce,
Yet sure Diana's Sentence is of force.
I charge thee, said she, till I others be,
Against thy self act no Hostility;
I am from that Protraction now dismist,
And from the Execution long will not desist,
As curious Fear me to yon Valley led,
I met a Swain, whose care-discharged head
Rung on his Oaten Reed such merry Notes,
As Birds when Emulation strains their throats.
His nimble Feet did equal Measure beat,
To what his nimbler Fingers did repeat;
I him approach't, and of him sought to know
Why he in Mirth did so much overflow?
Who said, our Shepherds Glory's wed to day,
And 'tis our universal Holiday.
A secret Fear seis'd my distracted Sense
Presaging strait without Intelligence
That it Diana was; which true I found,
VVhen of his Mirth he had disclos'd the Ground.
Cruel Diana! did thy command intend
To witness this should be deferr'd my End?
But 'tis no Time for Plaints; both Heav'n and thee
Do glut your selves with your slow Cruelty;
Yet stay! what shall the welcome Agent be?
Or Sword, or Floud? in neither's Certainty;
Ile to yon Heav'n neighb'ring Mountains summit,
And where he doth his head out hanging jet,
I will precipitate my self to Dust,
And make my hasty Execution just;
He, that pretends to such Divinitie,
Must fall like him, who to the Heav'ns would flie.

Alexis discovers her self, and holds him.
Alexis.
Stay thy rash Execution yet a while;
Of thy charitable Office, not beguile
(In Mis'ry) thy Companion.

Sylvander.
Celadon!
For such, disguis'd, thou wer't to me made known.

Alexis.
And such I am.

Sylvander.
Wherein can I thee aid?
Who to my own Misfortunes am betray'd?

Alexis.
If that my own Griefs had left any room
For an Increase, they greater would become;
Let thy Favor give to my Grave a Peace,
And from me bid m'incensed Brother cease
His renew'd Enmity t'Astræa's Race,
Whose Command, dying, tell her I imbrace;
And will revive to all Posterity
The forbid Fountain of Loves Verity
With my own Death, wherein she plain shall see,
My Love most priz'd by that Divinity.

Sylvander.
I envy this thy Glory, and do blame
My self, I thought not to attempt the same.
Like Charity I must request of you,
That which you sought of me, to me now shew;
Admit me Partner to your Enterprise,
From you the Glory only shall arise.

Alexis.
Preserve thy Vertue to a greater End,
It may a Nation, nay a World defend.

Sylvander.
I must not leave you.

Alexis.
They imbrace.
Nor must be deny'd,
VVith thee 'tis Glory Glory to divide.